Confused..

chris2003394

I am completely confused and would like your advice/suggestion on the option
I am currently a home owner and am looking at part exchanging.

Option 1. Exchange with builder 1 but the problem is the catchment area school is not good and I am worried about when it comes to selling I might find it hard because of the school.

2. Another developer has great location and great school in the catchment area. The problem is the prices are a bit too steep and I may be stretching a bit here.

My question is do you think catchment area school plays an important role in people’s decision to buy a house and do you think it would be difficult to sell a house because of that.

Many Thanks,
Chris

NoDebtForMe_2

I am a mother of 3 children. I have two older boys in high school. I would like my daughter to go to the same school. However by the time she goes to high school, the boys will have left and I wont be able to get her into the school on the basis of them being there. I will be moving to a new development in May. We are not in the catchment area for the same school my boys are going to. In other words I probably wont have a catting hells chance of getting her into the school I want her to go to as we are moving out of the catchment area. I am still buying the house even though I hadnt considered all this before I started the process. So to me, obviously no it doesnt matter. However I am sure there will be plenty of responses saying yes it does matter. So to answer your question it will be about half and half and wont really aid in your decision.
I think it also depends on how good a school it is at the time you sell it. A good school now doesnt guarantee it will still be in demand in a few years. It depends on the head at the time.
Sarah x

Doozergirl

I'm don't think it plays a major role in the majority of buyers decisions. Houses sell all over the place. If the area is more desirable by the fact there is a good school then it's often reflected in asking prices (perhaps it's the area and the populous that has more of an impact on house prices, in fact, and the quality of a school is reflected in the type of pupil that goes here rather than the other way round) - many people are not prepared or able to pay a premium for that.

The fact that less good schools have pupils must be testament to the fact that some people don't really mind!

We have cars and are happy to drive our children to school elsewhere so that we get the best of both worlds. Many people are.

loki13

The house I am currently buying is in the catchment of a not so good school - not the worst first school in our town, but far from the best. We are stiill buying, having looked at the catchment areas and with a child who starts school in 2010. The catchment areas were a factor we were looking at, but the house and it's immediate surroundings were much more important. We are both teachers, though, and did discuss that the school DS goes to isn't too important, as we know he will do well anywhere.

chris2003394

More views on this would be helpful.

Thanks
Chris

paulsin

I currently have no chidren, nor any buns my other halves oven, however we are looking to buy our first house and the catchment area for schools is a major factor. Whats more important, saving a few pennies or trying to give your child the best opportunity possible. I'm not saying anything against other schools, but statistically the better schools have better teaching, however just because your child goes to a 'poor' school does not mean they will not do well. From speaking with people at work, most are considering or planning to move to get into catchment areas for schools. Its very common, house prices around good schools, are as such slighty higher.

poppysarah

Haven't they recently changed the way school admissions take place? They've put lotterys in popular places so location is no guarantee.

Robert_Sterling_3

chris2003394 wrote: »

My question is do you think catchment area school plays an important role in people’s decision to buy a house and do you think it would be difficult to sell a house because of that.

It certainly does play a big part.
Other things being equal a house near a good school cost more than a house near a bad school.

Looked at another way a house near a bad school is cheaper than a house near a good school.

There is no reason why the cheaper house would be difficult to sell because it is cheaper.

There is no reason to think the house near a good school would be difficult to sell because although it is dearer it is near a good school.

This is Supply & Demand working.

I moved to be nearer a good school.

Home_Swap_Advice

I agree with Robert. School Catchment can sometimes be the only reason why some people move into a particular area. However, it is always best to check with local authorties that a property is in a certain catchment. You will find many a time nowadays that there are no gurantees.

Have you tried negotiating with the builder, they will often accept a much lower asking price, especially in these times. You would be suprised.

lil'H

huge part of my buying process, but don't fotget secondarys and primarys.

The house I've brought has a terrible primary catchment but that doesn't bother me as my son already is in primary school and will stay where he is. However it has a FANTASTIC secondary catchment, for two secondary's that are far harder to get into than any of the primarys. That meant the world to me as we will still be at the house when my son applies for secondary.

When I sell eventually? Well hopefully someone will be after secondarys, already have their children in school, or not have children. TBH i'll only need one buyer so I won't worry about too much.