Pencils, paper, markers, crayons, rulers…this list might look familiar to you if you are getting ready to send your child back to school, or to school for the first time. But really, how important are schools when you are looking to buy a home? Most first time home buyers either do not have children, do not plan to have children in this particular home, or their children are younger and school may seem far off to them. No matter how many kids you have or don’t have what school district you live in is still a very important factor when searching for a home.
Did you know if a school has low test scores your home value could decrease? Or if the crime rate is moderately high near you, the proficiency tests at schools will be lower. So whether or not you have kids, schools play a huge factor when searching for a home.
Here are some great websites to use to research schools and the surrounding neighborhood…
Wisconsin Department of Instruction https://apps2.dpi.wi.gov/sdpr/spr.action
When you are narrowing down your list of potential homes, make a call to city hall, or go to their website and check out what others are saying about the schools, crime rate, and neighborhood. If you are planning on purchasing a home near a school, take a drive there either before or after school and check out traffic patterns and the noise to see if you are okay with all of that.
Talk to friends and family to see what they know about the school district you might be moving into. Or call the school and talk to their principal or guidance counselor about any possible concerns you may have.
Once you do select a home and school district, we encourage you to get involved. Help keep your neighborhood and school great by being an active participant.
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