choosing-school-district-home

Whether you have kids already or plan to have them soon, the school district your new home is in is almost as important as the features of the home itself. In fact, sometimes choosing school districts can be almost as challenging as the home buying process itself. There are simply too many things to consider, and your children’s futures depend on making a good decision. At PaydayLoansCashAdvance, we understand how important this is for you, and we wanted to provide you with some tips to help make this decision easier.

Understand Your Real Estate Agent’s Role

First, remember that choosing school districts is your responsibility. Your real estate agent is not going to be able to give you too much advice on this aspect of your home search. They can tell you what neighborhoods are near good schools, but ultimately you will need to decide the district you wish to live in and the school you wish to send your children to. Telling your real estate agent that you want to live in a particular district, rather than saying that you want to live near a good school, will help them as they try to help you find the perfect school.

Internet

The Internet is going to be a valuable resource in helping you choose the right school district. Many reputable sites let parents list their schools and what they love or hate about them, while others provide ratings for schools. Find one of these sites that will allow you search by zip code, so you can know exactly where you should be looking for a house. You can also use the Internet to find out the test scores of the schools you are considering. When choosing school districts, this information can help you determine which districts have strong academics.

Consider Your Drive

Once you have determined a good school district for your family, consider how far you are willing to commute to school. Some areas have broad district boundaries, and you might not be living around the corner from your chosen school. Decide if you will let your children ride the bus, and if not, determine how far you are willing to drive every day to get your kids to and from school.

Details about the Schools and District Policies

Remember to look at the type of school that you are considering and the enrollment policies. If the right school district for you is also the one hundreds of other families have chosen, you may find that your child’s grade is full and you would be forced to go elsewhere. You might also find that the highly rated school you found while doing your research is an expensive private school, and not one you can use. When home buying, always do all of the research first to ensure that your children’s education needs will be fully met.

Some areas will allow you to send your kids to a school even if you do not live in that district. If you cannot find a house in your price range in the district you like best, ask your realtor or the school district office if this is a possibility. You may be able to get the best home and the best school if you live in an area that is willing to be flexible.

Buying a house is a major financial step, and most people buy with the intention of staying in that house for many years. If you buy a house without choosing school districts first, your children could be forced to attend sub-par schools for several years. If you have or intend to have kids, look into the schools in your area before making a home purchase decision, and you will be able to find a great home in a district you and your kids both love.