Parents pick property based on Perth’s top schools
PARENTS are attending home opens armed with academic ranking lists and information on local catchment areas, real estate agents say.
WA BUDGET 2015: Blow for first-homebuyers
A-GRADE PROPERTY: Top schools could add value
PARENTS are attending home opens armed with academic ranking lists and information on local catchment areas, real estate agents say.
And many are prepared to splash out to secure homes in Perth’s prestigious and top public schooling areas to lock in the best education options.
Some parents are making the choice while their child is still in nappies and joining long waiting lists for private schools as soon as their child is born.
Realmark sales associate Davina McDonald said she saw buyers heading in “droves” to get into the zones of “super” public schools.
“In the Scarborough area, homes that are within the Churchlands and Carine catchments get a lot more attention from families,” Ms McDonald said.
“It’s not just public schools. Parents also will buy to be close to their private school of choice. So homes that are in areas that are close to multiple schools always do well.”
Davey Real Estate agent Dirk Jooste said every second buyer he dealt with asked about schools.
“Some plan well in advance,” Mr Jooste said.
“I’ve had young couples coming through home openings who haven’t had children yet, but know all about the school catchment zones. Homes in good school zones tend to do well even when the market is softer.”
North Beach agent Phil Pope said for most parents being close to their child’s school was more important than being close to their own workplace.
“For school you’re making twice the trips,” he said.
“It’s certainly in the forefront of parents’ minds and I’ve seen some buyers pick the school before they pick the home.”
New Realestate.com.au figures revealed 31 per cent of house hunters said school information is important when it came to buying.
REA group chief product officer Henry Ruiz said the site had recently added a new school function to cope for the demand for school information.
“We know that school information is important to people looking to buy property on our sites,” Mr Ruiz said.
“What we’re also noticing is the number of overseas/interstate investors keen to buy primarily in the vicinity of desired schools.”
Altitude agent Paul DiLanzo said parents chose to save money on private-school tuition by purchasing a home in catchment areas for top-performing public schools.
“They are doing the maths and deciding that rather than spend up to $10,000 a year on a private school, they’d prefer to put that an extra $60,000 into a mortgage,” he said.
Mr DiLanzo said as well as the popular Churchlands Senior High catchment zone, traditionally top ranked schools Shenton College, Willetton Senior High and its neighbouring Rossmoye Senior High, Applecross Senior High and Mount Lawley Senior High, were continuing to command buyers’ attention.
“Buyers are also purchasing to get into the primary schools that are feeders for the top high schools, such as West Leederville Primary School,” Mr DiLanzo said.
Property valuer Gavin Hegney said being in a school zone for a top-performing public school could add as much as $60,000, or 10 per cent, to the value of a family home.
He said while being physically close to a school, either public or private, would generally add value to home, it also had drawbacks.
“It’s a bit like being close to a train station,” Mr Hegney explained.
“While the convenience of the amenity adds value, some buyers might be cautious of gridlock of in the morning school run.
“But, a family home close to a mix of good schools could never be a bad thing.”
Agents recommended sellers included catchment tips in their sales material.