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As the 2022 school year has started, whether you have kids or not, you’ve probably been affected by the hustle and bustle of back to school. Reconsidering where you live? There are times when you might come across the dream home but aren’t sure whether to make an offer due to the location, and school proximity is one of the major common concerns.
Buying a home near a school has its advantages and disadvantages. The general consensus is that the positives outweigh the negatives, but it really depends on your preferences. Depending on your circumstances, it may be the best thing ever, or it could be the start of a nightmare. Therefore, let’s take a look at all the potential benefits and drawbacks.
The Benefits
If you’re a young family looking for a home that falls into a school area, depending on the age of your kids and the type of school in question, if it matches up, the location of such a home has many advantages.
- Proximity means that your kids can safely walk to and from school each day, negating the need for a lengthy commute or bus ride, saving time and money.
- Based on the school’s reputation, you can be sure there will always be a market for your home. This means a higher potential resale price when the time comes to move on. Investors can use this to their advantage to find long-term tenants who are willing to pay a little more.
- A school can be seen as merely a part-time neighbour. Especially if it’s a smaller, out-of-town facility. For 180 days a year, schools are out, and in the case of elementary schools, the evenings are typically free too.
- School zones are generally seen as safer than other neighbourhoods. This is due to a higher police presence and regular monitoring. Strict speed limits are enforced, meaning you can rest easy when the kids are playing outside.
The Drawbacks
Of course, there are many common home problems you should pay extra attention to, but in this case, you might be more concerned about things like higher noise levels during school hours.
- From the sound of buses and children playing to the ringing bells, it might seem like there’s never a moment of peace. For those working from home, or working the night shift, the noise can be a real turn-off.
- If your commute coincides with the start or end of school, you could find your street has become a parking lot.
- The combined efforts of buses coming and going, and parents parking here, there, and everywhere can ensure you don’t get out of your own street for up to 30 minutes.
- Besides the everyday grumbles, school events or emergencies can cause even more issues. School emergencies such as fire drills, ambulances, and other issues can also cause negative impacts. With large numbers of kids loitering, it can result in potential trespassing on your property.
Do Your Homework!
It’s worth researching and thinking about whether your lifestyle will be positively or negatively impacted by living near a school. Look at what type of school it is – elementary, middle, or high school. What kind of reputation does it have? Ideally, spend some time in the area during busier periods of the school day to see how much of an issue things like noise, parking, and pollution actually are.
