Our Central Florida area has many well known and sought after school districts which has proven to be a draw for many to purchase their new homes here. Our nearby Orange County Public Schools and Seminole County Public School districts are a two fantastic ones which many of our children and good friends are either enrolled within or involved with. Another thing about our beloved school districts is that many of our greatest campuses sit in some of our greatest neighborhoods! If you’ve been looking to buy a home in Central Florida or Orlando, it’s likely that you have come across your share of listings that sit near our schools, so let’s talk about some of the pros and cons that come with living so close to a local campus.
Pro: Great Investment
Like I said before, our Central Florida schools and school districts are highly sought after. Being that our schools encourage many families to move to these areas, overtime we have seen an increase in property values near our great campuses. As an investor or as a homeowner, you want to purchase your property in an area which has already shown to be a draw for one reason or another. If you purchase near one of our great schools, you can bet selling this home in the future will be easy and will bring you top dollar.
Con: Traffic
We need to consider the influx in traffic that will occur during certain times of the day in your neighborhood due to student drop off and pick up times. Depending on the size of your nearby school, traffic can potentially change the way you need to time your day, having to always consider the added trip time. I have friends who live right next to one of our Orlando schools and although this periodic traffic build up can be inconvenient, once you know when these buildups occur and how long they will hold you back, you become accustomed to this and it's seemingly insignificant. This may be a con of living in a school zone, but if you’re patient and somebody who doesn’t mind planning ahead, this shouldn’t be a deal breaker.
Pro: Kids can walk to school
If you have school aged children, living nearby campus can be one of the most convenient things you can do. As a parent you’ll save countless hours that would have otherwise been spent driving to and from school, waiting for the bus and just waking up early to do these things. This is also convenient and brings a sense of peace in the potential event of an emergency. If your child is sick or for any reason needs you, you’ll be just a minute or two away.
Con: Noise
While it will likely be only occasional and insignificant, being that you live near a school presents the chance that students will congregate near your home and therefore be noisy. This may not be a bother to you, but I felt the need to include this potential downside for those who need to live in as quiet of a community as possible. Depending on the school, this may also be the result of after school activities and sporting events.
So basically...
All in all, living in a school zone can be a great option for home buyers in many different situations. It may not make much sense for you if you don’t have young children or if you’re looking to live in a quiet and calm neighborhood, but if you find what you're looking for in a home near a campus, it’s definitely worth taking a look at.
Some of my favorite homes which I’ve helped families buy and sell have been just a short walk to and from school! If you’re looking to buy or sell near campus, reach out! We’re happy to help and are very familiar with that situation.
Comments