What Bothers Americans Most About Their Homes

A shortage of storage, loud neighbors and irresponsible drivers are just a few of the things that annoy Americans the most about where they live, according to a survey from mortgage data research firm HSH.com. The firm commissioned a survey of 1,001 U.S. owners and renters about their houses and neighborhoods. When it comes to their houses, 67% percent of respondents said inadequate storage really gets on their nerves. Two-thirds of residents complained their homes required too much maintenance. More than 60% said loud neighbors were a top concern. Residents of the Northeast, the survey found, were more concerned with the proximity of those living nearby. Gabriele Sewtz, an agent for the New York real estate firm Compass, said that New Yorkers expect to hear sound from the street, but are less likely to put up with noise from their neighbors. “The minute the unit itself isn’t quiet, there’s a problem,” Sewtz said. (Compass was not involved in the survey.) When it comes to their neighborhoods, the survey found that more than three-quarters of the respondents were most bothered by speeding drivers and traffic. See the full results here. Write to Gina Faridniya at gina.faridniya@dowjones.com