10 things to consider before buying a home next to a school

Finding a suitable property can be challenging, especially if a potential homeowner has specific criteria for what to look for in a home, neighborhood or new city. Sometimes the best prospects may be located near a school, which can be a boon for some — especially those with children or college goers — and a deal-breaker for others. Here are some pros and cons of living next to a school.

Pro: Affordability

Neighborhoods with schools and colleges – especially college towns – tend to have a lower cost of living than other surrounding areas. This is largely because many properties are rented out to students who attend classes and may not have a lot of money to spare. Choosing a home near a school/campus may be more affordable than a comparable home in a different neighborhood.

Con: Increase in traffic

In a school zone, expect to see a flood of traffic at certain times of the day during drop-off and pick-up times. This goes double for elementary schools or schools with no parking lots. Depending on the size of the school, heavy traffic can potentially reduce surrounding air quality and create a lot of noise during the beginning and end of the school day.

Parking can be nearly impossible to find on a day when school is in session. If there is an event, it may be worse if parents, friends and family members of the students are going to the school to watch a sporting event or performance. If the school does not have enough parking for its employees, the overflow will park on the surrounding streets. In addition, some parents may not obey traffic and parking laws, blocking or parking in the driveway and double parking on the street.

Pro: Nearby playground

This is a plus for parents with young children. Often after school is out, nearby schools will have a playground accessible to the community. This means that there is no need for everyone to pack in a car to visit the park. Depending on the age of the children and if the yard is fenced in, parents may feel safer letting them out to play alone, which can help foster independence in them. There may also be a basketball court and other facilities.

If the school does not have a playground on the property, there may be opportunities for fundraising to install a professionally constructed playground at the school for future students to enjoy.

Con: Noisy neighbors

Any time too many kids gather in one area, it’s bound to create noise. For those who prefer a quiet neighborhood, choosing a home near a school is not the best idea. During school hours, houses near the schools can be heard in everything from students playing during recess to the bells marking the beginning and end of each class.

In general, these sounds will stop around the end of the school day, but neighbors may also have to deal with sounds from after-school sporting events and other activities that can continue into the evening.

Pro: Increase in property value

Homes located near schools—especially good schools—are often coveted by homebuyers. Many home buyers willingly pay a premium to live near a good school for their children. A survey of potential homebuyers found that 20% of them would pay 10% more than their budget for a home near a good school. and 10% were willing to increase their budget to 20%. Being near a good school can increase the value of the home, which is important for anyone looking to sell soon.

Con: Hard to sell

While proximity to a school can increase a home’s value, it can also make it harder to sell. Living near a school is a good thing for many people, but others would prefer to live in a box rather than buy a home near a school, so it narrows down the potential pool of home buyers.

If a property’s selling point is its proximity to a school, then the home’s ability to sell will also depend on the quality of the school. Schools with poor ratings—and this includes schools at all grade levels, including colleges—will make it harder to sell a home than schools with higher ratings or are highly regarded.

Pro: Part-Time Neighbor

Most schools are in session for 180 days and will be empty during the holidays and summer. And for the most part, the school is quiet in the afternoon, so living near a school is a great option for homeowners who prefer to be with neighbors only during half the year.

Con: school emergency

School emergencies will affect the neighborhood around them. Even if there is no actual emergency, the fire alarm means that all students must evacuate until the school can be inspected by emergency services to ensure that the students are safe. is safe to return.

Depending on the layout of the school, students may camp in an adjacent front yard or on the sidewalk in front of a neighbor’s house while waiting for the fire department.

During other emergencies such as hurricanes, schools often become shelters for local residents who need to get out of their homes, causing additional noise, traffic, and parking problems.

Pro: Kids Can Walk to School

Parents who live within walking distance of their child’s school can avoid drop-off (and pick-up) crowds, and may even have the option of walking themselves to school . Not to mention the savings of not having to buy a bus pass for the student and, even better, not having to wake up early to get to school on time.

Con: Potential trespass

If there is a middle school or high school nearby, there may be some privacy concerns because teens may wander, cut into yards, or trespass on property. If this is a concern, it may be better to find a property a few blocks away to take advantage of the benefits of living in the vicinity of a school without the possible issues.

Whether a property near a school is desirable or not depends entirely on the home buyer or renter. There are pros and cons to considering homes near a school, as we’ve just seen. It’s important to weigh them when deciding where to buy a new home or sign a lease for a rental property.

Note by BiggerPockets: These are the views expressed by the author and do not necessarily represent the views of BigPockets.