Home buyers who are parents of school-aged children, or who plan to be in the future, rightly consider school catchment zones important when purchasing a home.
The general rule of thumb around these geographical areas is that parents wishing to enrol their children in a particular state or government school must live in this school’s designated catchment.
Such students will be favoured over others living outside the catchment, and many highly-sought-after schools will only allow students living in this zone to be enrolled.
Private or independent schools may also preference local students over those who live further afield.
As a result, real estate close to quality schools is far more favourable than others and thus commands higher demand and better prices than surrounding areas.
Unsurprisingly, such homes are also very tightly held.
Thus, even childless sellers, or vendors, should take note of their home’s school catchment as it can greatly increase their property’s value.
Domain’s School Zones Report released in February 2023 revealed real estate prices had increased in 77% of metropolitan government school catchments.
Regional property prices increased 79% in secondary school catchments and 94% in primary school ones.
In early 2020, Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) research found properties in popular school catchments could attract sales of $100,000 and more above similar real estate outside the catchment.
With property prices already high, it’s now common knowledge that home buyers are using different tricks to ensure their children can still attend a quality school.
Such tricks include purchasing an investment property in a preferred catchment and living elsewhere, even just during the time of enrolment.
However, schools are becoming increasingly smart about such tricks and anyone using them should be highly cautious.
Schools will generally require parents to provide strong proof that their home is a child’s primary place of residence and has been so for a reasonable amount of time prior to enrolment.
This proof can include rates notices, mortgage contacts or rental agreements and other bills.
At the same time, parent home buyers should also do their research when it comes to schools, and there are plenty of ways to do so.
The government-run My School website offers information on National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) results as well as the student population, attendance rates and funding allocations.
NSW’s School Finder website enables home buying parents to track similar details and, in particular, the school catchment boundaries.