It's All About the Schools: Buying in the Right District

Critical to every home buyer’s home search is education. Whether or not the home buyer has children, schools add or lessen value for every home in their district. Therefore, finding good schools is important for everyone and especially important for parents whose children my one day attend these schools.

Here are a few helpful pointers for discovering information about local schools and knowing which schools are the right ones to live near.

Your Realtor:

There is no substitute for the knowledge and expertise that an agent familiar with the area can provide. An area expert would know about any significant grants the school recently received, any changes in the neighborhood surrounding the school that might contribute to the school’s success, and any special programs the school might have to cater to your child’s unique skill set. At Fitzpatrick & Prince, our agents work together as a team. This means that we have a greater knowledge base to draw from.

California Department of Education:

Assuming that you are moving into California, the Department of Education in this state provides very useful data to help you get a snapshot of the performance level of schools by county, district, or individual school. At-a-glance, site users are able to see average test scores, school rankings, and demographic statistics. This site provides the quickest and easiest way to review school performance in the areas where you are considering moving. Visit the site.

GreatSchools.org

Great School’s is a tremendous resource for parents looking for the inside scoop on a school. The site features a step-by-step guide to help parents locate the ideal school for their children in the city or county in which they are looking to live. Perhaps the most helpful feature of this site are the reviews submitted by parents and students. Many of the schools on the site have been reviewed and these reviews offer an important insider’s perspective on life at the school. Visit the site.

Facebook

Take advantage of the opportunity to ask a hundred or more of your friends for their school recommendations. Even if you are moving to the opposite side of the country, odds are you have friends or friends of friends who know something about the area to which you will be moving. Post a status and see what your friends have to say.

Google

If all else fails, Google can help you find the answer to the questions you are asking.