The neighbor's dogs...

[Andrew S.]

All,

I'm looking into a buying opportunity - nicely fixed up college rental (4/2) in good location. All well, EXCEPT: neighbor has a pack of dogs (4 or 5) in the backyard and they stir up one heck of a racket every time someone enters the backyard or deck of the adjacent property (presumably that's the case for the neighbors on both sides). My agent has shown the property several times and says it's always the same problem. As soon as anyone steps outside, the barking starts (and lasts!).

This is obviously a big turnoff for any buyer, but I suppose it would also make finding tenants really difficult. Does anyone have experience dealing with such a situation? I'm sure there are city-noise ordinances in place, but can those realistically be enforced? What does that usually involve? I'm going ot guess that talking ot the owner of the dogs will probably not help much as I'm sure he is aware of the issue. The property has been on the market for a while and the asking price has dropped below market (in my estimation) - I'm guessing the neighbor's dogs have something to do with that....

Any thoughts?