School Boundary Search Catching On

While for-sale property listings often identify the school district serving the neighborhood in question, real estate brokerages and websites are starting to recognize the need for a tool that lets parents narrow down their home search based on the desire for a child to attend a specific school. Trulia, Century 21 Real Estate, Redfin, and Estately are among those that offer school boundary search options. And as of Nov. 1, all members of the National Association of Realtors have access to school boundary information through the Realtors Property Resource database. The capability to search for homes by school attendance boundary is increasingly important for families with children, particularly those with special needs. But it also has implications for general house-hunters, according to residential appraiser Richard Hagar of American Home Appraisals. He notes that properties within the attendance zone of a good school may be more desirable — and command a significantly higher price — than ones that fall within the attendance zone of a less esteemed school. | Read More