When looking for the perfect Chicago home, you’ll need to consider a host of factors, everything from price to the size of your new home to the neighborhood that most excites you.
And if you’re the parent of school-age kids? You’ll probably consider the quality of the local public schools one of the key factors in your buying decision.
But here’s the thing: While good schools are obvious crucial, you shouldn’t let the quality of a local school district convince you to buy a home that otherwise isn’t right for you and your family.
The Chicago Tribune recently ran a feature story on this issue. As the story explains, buyers often focus so much on schools, they overlook other negatives that might make living in a specific home a challenge.
First, there’s price to consider. Homes in desirable school districts are an average of 49 percent costlier than are homes priced at the national median, according to 2016 research from REALTOR.com. If you buy in an area with top-rated schools, then, you might also be looking at higher prices. Don’t purchase a home that is out of your budget, no matter how good the local public school. You don’t want to struggle each month to pay your mortgage.
Don’t overlook other potential annoyances, either. You might find a home in a great school district, but that residence might lack some amenities such as garage parking. Do you want to lug your groceries two blocks to get them into your home?
Maybe the only home you can find in a great school district is too small for your family or doesn’t offer enough bathrooms. Those might seem like annoyances you can live with, until you actually try to do so.
Of course, good public schools are important. Even if you don’t have school-age children, living in an area with good schools could boost your home’s value. But don’t forget to consider the other factors that could make a home a perfect fit for your family.
The post Schools are Important, But They’re Not All That Matters When Looking for a Chicago Home appeared first on The MG Group | Chicago Real Estate.