When the Sound of Pickleball Silences a $1.3M Sale

A Massachusetts couple’s attempt to sell their million-dollar Cape Cod home has turned into a legal dispute due to the continuous noise from neighboring pickleball courts. Despite their property’s ideal location near Sagamore Beach, Judith Comeau and her husband couldn’t find a buyer after eight months on the market, with potential buyers being deterred by the constant sound of pickleball. After slashing the price from $1.3 million to $995,000, they ultimately delisted the home. The couple claims that the noise from the four nearby private pickleball courts, built by the Sagamore Beach Colony Club, has rendered their property unsellable, leading them to consider legal action against the club.

The pickleball courts, which were installed four years ago, have become a point of contention not just for the Comeaus but for other neighbors as well. While the Sagamore Beach Colony Club has been part of the community for over a century, the addition of these courts has stirred unrest. Complaints about the noise have been met with resistance, with Comeau’s suggestions for using softer balls or paddles falling on deaf ears. The couple’s frustration reached a peak when their realtor revealed that other homes in the area had sold quickly, indicating that the noise issue was a significant factor in their home’s market failure.

This situation highlights a growing issue across the country as the popularity of pickleball surges. What started as a backyard game in the 1960s has now become a widespread phenomenon, often clashing with the quiet expectations of residential neighborhoods. The Comeaus’ case is not isolated; similar disputes have emerged in other affluent communities, where homeowners have gone as far as selling their properties at a loss to escape the relentless noise. As pickleball continues to grow, so too does the need for communities to find a balance between this booming sport and the tranquility of residential life.