Are You Choosy about Your School District?

• A good school district means a good education

As a parent, this topic is near and dear to my heart. We want the best for our children. Our goal is to make them more successful than ourselves, and to try to pave an easier road for them to grow. While what we teach them at home is fundamental, the reality is that our children will spend more time in an educational institution than they do within our four walls. So don’t rely on word-of-mouth when looking into schools, dig deep. I have found that GreatSchools.org is a great place to do your research. This site allows you to explore both public and private schools throughout the United States. They consider a broad scope of data when ranking the schools.

• A good school district means stable value and growth in your home equity

Home prices can fluctuate in a volatile housing market. While there are many factors out of your control, living in the right district can be a life preserver. Neighborhoods with higher school ratings tend to have higher home values. More and more buyers make school district one of the top considerations when deciding on where to buy. A recent survey by Realtor.com found that 73 percent of home buyers prioritized school districts in their home search. The survey found that home buyers were willing to compromise two of the top most desirable home features — a garage or an updated kitchen, to buy a home in their desired school district.