School zones: what you need to know before you buy

School zones can add hundreds of thousands of dollars to a home’s value. So if you’re buying into one it pays to know how to make sure you’re getting the best property possible.

It’s well worth doing the math when navigating the complexities of a home purchase with your kids’ education in mind.

Homes near good schools get top marks from educated buyers — but there’s more than just being in the zone to finding an A+ address.

With the new school year starting in as little as nine weeks time, buyers advocates have warned those yet to make a move will “go all out” in the next few weeks.

But it’s still important for families to do their homework.

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IS IT IN THE ZONE?

PropTrack data shows the number of searches on realestate.com.au for schools declined in the past year. But economic research executive manager Cameron Kusher said this reflected that buyers were now so aware of schools they already knew key details before they got to the site.

State government websites with school zone maps are available online, most of which will confirm if a home is in a catchment, but often only for the current year and one after.

These include schoolfinder.education.nsw.gov.au, qgso.qld.gov.au/maps/edmap, education.sa.gov.au and findmyschool.vic.gov.au.

Final zones for schools in Adelaide's eastern suburbs which will take effect when the Morialta Secondary College opens in 2023 show how catchments can change over time.

“The big thing in terms of doing your homework is making sure the school zones aren’t going to change,” Mr Kusher said.

Key warning signs for a change in school zone geography were typically population growth or new schools being built nearby.

PREMIUM PRICES

National Property Buyers director and buyer’s advocate Antony Bucello said it wasn’t uncommon for families to pay an extra six figures in the most sought-after school zones.

“I have had clients for a home I’ve assessed as worth $1.8m who then say ‘here’s $2.1m, make it happen’,” Mr Bucello said.

If buyers wanted to know how competitive buying near a certain school would be, he advised them to see what reviews and locals said about the school. Even a slick website extolling the curriculum could drive up demand, he warned.

There could even be added competition from younger families if there is a good primary school nearby.

If you think school is stressful for kids, spare a thought for the parents trying to get them into the right zone at the same time as interest rates rise.

Australian Parents Council president Jenni Rickard said the key to reputation for most parents wasn’t test scores.

“NAPLAN is not even close to the top of the list,” Ms Rickard said. “It’s more the location of the school and a principal that they can trust and is forthcoming when they meet with them.”

Mr Bucello said getting into the right zone ended with some families sacrificing on the home’s size, condition or even swapping to a townhouse in some areas. But he advised pursuing size over condition, as it was cheaper to update than extend a home later on.

He added that lockdowns during the pandemic had also raised premiums for homes with enough space to ensure kids could learn at home. NBN connections are also being sought out.

TESTING TIMES

Mr Bucello said with a new school year looming October and November were the best times to sell a house in a sought-after school zone, while buyers might face slightly less competition in the first half of the year.

“If they have missed out on a few, some buyers will go all out to get it before the end of the year,” he said.

Education is high on the list of things that buyers consider when purchasing a house.

Mr Kusher added that with better educations likely to open more doors to a better income, parents might increasingly factor in that getting their kids into a good school today could help them on their home journey in a few decades time.

“There are very few instances where prices become cheaper, and housing affordability is already an issue and it seems it’s an issue that is unlikely to be resolved quickly,” Mr Kusher said.

BEYOND THE ZONE

Ms Rickard said even for parents enrolling their kids in private schools, location could dictate sporting, musical and social opportunities.

“Schools are increasingly building their community relationships … so having a look at those key relationships before you move is important,” Ms Rickard said. “Anything that supports the social and emotional wellbeing of children, and the activities that parents want their kids to do after school as well.”

NAPLAN scores aren’t the only thing that matters for a school’s reputation.

She said schools often had information packs about their wider community, which she advised seeking out before you made a decision to buy.

Mr Kusher said there could also be impacts to prices based on distance from schools.

“Being able to walk safely, without crossing major roads, I think there would be a premium for that over being further away and having to jump in the car to get to school,” Mr Kusher said.

“But you probably don’t want to be too close, where you get a big rush of traffic in the mornings and afternoons.”

EXTRA CREDIT

Even if you’re not looking to get into a school zone, buying just outside of one could deliver top marks when it comes time for you to sell.

Even those planning to send their kids to private school should also be aware of local school zones.

Mr Bucello said buying just outside of the most sought-after public catchment area near their desired private school could cut prices.

“And there’s every chance that the zone could increase in size, and that could be a six figure bonus for you,” Mr Bucello said.

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