Friday, August 2, 2019 / by Harvey Rosenberg
Should You Buy a Home based on School Districts
Back to school is almost here. If you're in the market for a home, you probably hear that you should look to buy a home in the best school districts. But do you need to buy a home based on that? We look at a few things to consider when you're considering where to buy home.
It may not be at the forefront of your mind about sending your kids to school. Or maybe you're kids have grown and flown the nest. Should a school district still matter? It depends.
Homes in higher-rated school districts do tend to have a better resell value. If you think you'll move in the next ten years, a school district should be one of the factors of your search. Of course, because of the higher resell value, the previous owner gets a higher resell as well. These homes may be more expensive than your target price range.
And what if you have kids, but can't get into that school district. Florida does have zone waivers, but that doesn't guarantee you can get in if you're outside the zone. It's a safer bet if you want a certain school to buy in that school district. That being said, district lines change. If you're looking at the outskirts of a high school zone, you may not be in that zone by the time your preschooler gets to Freshman level.
Plan to homeschool your kids? You may think that it doesn't matter what school zone you're in. However, homeschoolers can participate in extracurriculars in the public school system. If your child plays sports or is involved in the arts, they can play or take classes. Again, think about what school you'd want them to attend for these activities. This plays a factor in where you buy a home. Homeschoolers can apply for zone waivers for sports and extracurriculars as well, but could likely end up at the bottom of the list when it comes to approvals. (There's no way of knowing what factors play into zone waivers.)
Homeschool families should also consider price and resell value based on school districts and desirable neighborhoods.
At the end of the day, you should choose the home that's right for you and your family. Priorities and schools change over time and you should be happy with where you live.
I Don't Have Kids
It may not be at the forefront of your mind about sending your kids to school. Or maybe you're kids have grown and flown the nest. Should a school district still matter? It depends.
Homes in higher-rated school districts do tend to have a better resell value. If you think you'll move in the next ten years, a school district should be one of the factors of your search. Of course, because of the higher resell value, the previous owner gets a higher resell as well. These homes may be more expensive than your target price range.
Kids and Zoning
And what if you have kids, but can't get into that school district. Florida does have zone waivers, but that doesn't guarantee you can get in if you're outside the zone. It's a safer bet if you want a certain school to buy in that school district. That being said, district lines change. If you're looking at the outskirts of a high school zone, you may not be in that zone by the time your preschooler gets to Freshman level.
Plan to homeschool your kids? You may think that it doesn't matter what school zone you're in. However, homeschoolers can participate in extracurriculars in the public school system. If your child plays sports or is involved in the arts, they can play or take classes. Again, think about what school you'd want them to attend for these activities. This plays a factor in where you buy a home. Homeschoolers can apply for zone waivers for sports and extracurriculars as well, but could likely end up at the bottom of the list when it comes to approvals. (There's no way of knowing what factors play into zone waivers.)
Homeschool families should also consider price and resell value based on school districts and desirable neighborhoods.
Pick the Perfect Home
At the end of the day, you should choose the home that's right for you and your family. Priorities and schools change over time and you should be happy with where you live.
