{"id":103778,"date":"2021-07-04T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-04T15:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/renewsblog\/?p=103778"},"modified":"2024-01-15T13:03:32","modified_gmt":"2024-01-15T20:03:32","slug":"buying-house-next-to-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/buying-house-next-to-school","title":{"rendered":"Should You Buy Property Next to a School? Don&#8217;t Make a Bad Decision\u2014Here Are the Pros and Cons"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n      <iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/playlist.megaphone.fm?e=BIGPOC7719381770&#038;light=false\" width=\"100%\"><\/iframe>  \n\n\n\n\n<p>Finding a suitable property can be challenging, especially if a potential homeowner has specific criteria for what they look for in a home, neighborhood, or new city. Sometimes the best possibilities might be located near a school, which can be a boon for some\u2014especially those with children or those attending college\u2014and a deal-breaker for others. Here are some pros and cons of living next to a school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pros<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Increased property value<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Homes located near schools\u2014especially good schools\u2014are often coveted by homebuyers. Many home shoppers willingly pay a premium to live near a good school for their children. An <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nar.realtor\/research-and-statistics\/research-reports\/home-buyer-and-seller-generational-trends\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NAR survey<\/a> of recent homebuyers found 26% of them were influenced to buy a home due to a well-regarded school. The number was even higher for buyers in the age range of 30-39.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This can increase competition for homes near schools, which can push up home prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Good for families<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Living near a school is a plus for parents with younger children. Often, nearby schools will have a playground accessible to the community after school lets out. This means there is no need to pack everyone in the car for a trip to the park. Depending on the age of the children and if the yard has a fence, parents may feel safe letting them go out to play alone, which can help foster independence in them. There may also be basketball courts and other amenities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also means that there are likely other families living in the area, which can be great for getting kids outside and making friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kids can walk to school<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Parents that live within walking distance of their child\u2019s school can avoid the drop-off (and pick-up) rush, and there can even be an option for the kids to walk to school on their own. Not to mention the savings of not having to buy a bus pass for the student and, even better, not having to wake up as early to get to school on time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cons<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Affordability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Neighborhoods near schools and colleges\u2014college towns in particular\u2014tend to be more pricey. If you look at the local housing prices near some of the top universities in the country, such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Duke, and Princeton, you&#8217;d see a similar pattern of highly-priced homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Harvard and MIT are both in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where the median sales price is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/city\/2833\/MA\/Cambridge\/housing-market\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">$1M<\/a>. Stanford, in the San Francisco-San Jose metro, has a median sales price of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/city\/17420\/CA\/San-Jose\/housing-market\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">$1.28M<\/a>. Duke, in Durham, North Carolina, is up to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/city\/4909\/NC\/Durham\/housing-market\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">$415k<\/a>. Then Princeton, in Princeton, New Jersey, has a median sales price of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/city\/15686\/NJ\/Princeton\/housing-market\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">$1M<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These are prestigious schools in prestigious areas, so it&#8217;s not perfectly representative of all schools, but it should be known that proximity to a school does matter and can enhance competition. It also means a solid supply of tenants, reducing vacancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Increased traffic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In a school zone, expect to see an influx in traffic at certain times of the day during drop-off and pick-up times. This goes double for elementary schools or schools without parking lots. Depending on the size of the school, heavy traffic could potentially lower nearby air quality and generate a lot of noise during the beginning and end of the school day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Parking on days that school is in session can be near impossible. If there are events, it could be even worse with parents, friends, and family of the students going to the school to watch a sporting event or performance. If the school does not have enough parking for its staff, the overflow will park in the surrounding streets. Also, some parents may not follow traffic and parking laws, blocking or parking in driveways and double parking in the street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Noisy neighbors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Any time a lot of kids gather in one area, it\u2019s bound to cause noise. For those who prefer a quiet neighborhood, choosing a home near a school isn\u2019t the best idea. During school hours, homes near schools can hear everything from students playing during recess to the bells marking the beginning and end of each class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In general, these sounds will cease around the end of the school day, but neighbors may also have to contend with the sounds of after-school sporting events and other activities that can carry on long into the evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">School emergencies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>School emergencies will affect the neighborhood around them. Even if there is no actual emergency, a pulled fire alarm means all students have to evacuate until the school can be checked by emergency services to ensure it\u2019s safe for students to return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Depending on the school&#8217;s layout, students could end up camping out in surrounding front yards or on the sidewalk in front of a neighboring house while they wait for the fire department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During other emergencies like hurricanes, schools often become shelters for the local residents who need to evacuate from their homes, which leads to additional noise, traffic, and parking problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Potential trespassing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If there is a middle school or high school nearby, there may be some privacy concerns since the teens may loiter, cut across yards, or trespass the property. If this is a concern, it will be better to find a property a couple of blocks away to still reap the benefits of living in the vicinity of a school without the possible issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether a property near a school is desirable or not totally depends on the home buyer or renter. There are pros and cons to consider for homes near a school, as we&#8217;ve just gone over. It is important to weigh those when deciding where to purchase a new home or sign a lease for a rental property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"hero-block_62ee867235a1c\" class=\"first:mt-0 hero-block py-4    has-background has-slate-300-background-color has-text-color has-slate-800-color\">\n    <div\n        class=\"gap-10 lg:gap-20 flex flex-wrap lg:flex-nowrap max-w-screen-xl mx-auto px-4 relative lg:items-center \">\n\n        <div class=\"relative z-30 lg:w-2\/3 \">\n            <main class=\"py-4\">\n                \n\n<p class=\"has-theme-slate-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Close MORE deals in LESS time for LESS money <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"my-3 md:my-5 lg:my-8 has-theme-slate-color has-text-color\" style=\"font-size:16px\"><em>Wealth without Cash<\/em> will fully prepare you to find off-market leads, uncover sellers\u2019 motivations, negotiate with confidence, close more deals, build a team, and much more.&nbsp;This book by Pace Morby has everything you need to become a millionaire investor without utilizing your own capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=button-custom-event-block_641384b1eb1d8 class='button-custom-event'>\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Wealth-without-Cash-Supercharge-Subject\/dp\/1947200887\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=9KZLGF71C0N1&#038;keywords=wealth+without+cash+pace+morby&#038;qid=1684186115&#038;sprefix=wealth+witou%2Caps%2C119&#038;sr=8-1\" x-on:click=\"window.analytics.track(&#039;Blog Block | Publishing: WWC&#039;, {\n      referrer: &#039;https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/buying-house-next-to-school&#039;,\n    });\" class=\" btn-shape inline-block no-underline has-background has-theme-gold-background-color has-text-color has-white-color\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Get Your Copy<\/a>\n  <\/div>\n\n            <\/main>\n        <\/div>\n\n                <div class=\"lg:w-1\/3 first:mt-0 relative h-full lg:flex lg:items-center\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"object-cover w-full relative z-20 my-0  rounded-md hidden lg:block\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/WWC_Cover-Flat-1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\n        <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Whether a property near a school is desirable or not totally depends on the home buyer or renter. There are pros and cons to consider for homes near a school, and it&#8217;s important to weigh those when deciding where to purchase property.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":120484,"featured_media":152325,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7390],"tags":[609,189,58,59],"class_list":["post-103778","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-acquiring-property","tag-money","tag-property","tag-real-estate","tag-real-estate-investing"],"acf":[],"comment_count":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103778","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/120484"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=103778"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103778\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/152325"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=103778"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=103778"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=103778"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}