Most of us think about schools, traffic, shopping, and nearby development when we buy a home.

But data centers may be a new addition to that list.

Charlotte is paying much closer attention to them right now. City Council placed a temporary moratorium on new data centers while officials study their impact and consider possible policy changes. The city is also holding public meetings throughout September so residents can ask questions and share concerns. Click here if you would like to voice your concerns: 

Why does this matter to homeowners?

Data centers are essential to cloud computing and artificial intelligence we increasingly rely on, but they can also be enormous facilities. Some nearby residents worry about noise, lighting, appearance, energy demand, and how a large industrial-looking property could change the feel of a neighborhood.

Here is where it gets especially interesting.

Recent research has found little measurable overall impact on nearby home values, yet some individual homeowners and real estate agents say buyers are hesitant when they discover a large data center nearby. In one recent Charlotte-area example, a seller reported buyers canceling showings because of concerns about a nearby data center.

So which side is right?

It may simply be too early to know the long-term answer.

My takeaway: I don’t think homeowners should panic about data centers. But I do think this is another reminder that what happens around a property can matter almost as much as what happens inside it. Even when the statistics say values have not been significantly affected, buyer perception can still influence demand.

And that leads to the question I’d really like to hear your answer to:

Would living near a data center affect your decision to buy a home?