Buying a Home Near a School: Tips and Considerations

Posted by Edmonton Homes.ca on Thursday, June 8th, 2017 at 8:37am.

Buying Home Near SchoolA neighbourhood with a school can be convenient for home buyers with school-aged children. However, for home buyers who don't have young children, having a school nearby can be more cons than pros. Knowing what to expect from the neighbourhood before buying a new home can help you decide whether or not purchasing homes for sale by school district is right for you.

Advantages of Living Near a School

For buyers with children who go to school, the advantages of living in a neighbourhood with a school can be numerous.

  • Convenient pick-up and drop-off. Picking up and dropping off kids at school is far more convenient when the building is nearby. For children who are old enough, this also makes it easy to walk to school safely.
  • School playgrounds give children a place to play. Kids seeking a place to play after school and on weekends can easily find what they're looking for on the nearby school playground.
  • Neighbourhoods with schools tend to be neighbourhoods with children. For households with kids seeking friends, having other children in the neighbourhood can be important.
  • Parents who want to be involved at the school have ease of access. Parents who like to volunteer at the school will find that being close-by makes it easier to run over after dinner, before work and at other times.

Disadvantages of Living Near a School

Schools can have disadvantages for some neighbourhood residents. Some of the most common complaints from people who live near schools include:

  • Disruptive noise levels. Groups of children playing in the mornings, at recess and over the lunch hour can make noise that can be disturbing for the nearest neighbourhood homes and condominiums. At schools with older children, sporting events, band competitions and other outdoor activities can be loud in the evenings.
  • Inconvenient traffic. Schools attract people, and people bring cars. Congested, slow traffic can be a problem in the mornings before school begins, in the late afternoons after school is over and on evenings when sporting events take place.
  • Scarce parking. If the school does not have adequate parking for some of the events that take place on the school grounds, street parking may be difficult to find at certain times of the day.

Research the Neighbourhood

For those considering the purchase of a home near a school, there are ways to research and find out what life would be like in that area.

  • Talk to neighbours. Ask neighbours about noise levels, traffic and parking to help paint the picture about what the neighbourhood is truly like.
  • Stop by during the day and in the evening. When school is in session, it's easy to see how the school impacts the neighbourhood. Stop in before school begins, during recess or when school is over to find out what the neighbourhood is like at these high-traffic times.
  • Call the school to ask about the impact to the neighbourhood. People who work at the school itself may be able to provide information about the impact to the neighbourhood. Call to find out during school hours.

Work With a Knowledgeable Real Estate Agent

Working with a knowledgeable Edmonton real estate agent can help buyers decide whether or not a home near a school is the right choice. For more information about different neighbourhoods or to search homes by school district, talk to a real estate agent today!

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