School, Schmool

You may be surprised how many people tell me that good schools are not in their criteria for a home.  The goal when selling is to make your home appealing to the largest pool of buyers.  Not everyone likes stainless steel appliances, but right now most people do.  Not everyone wants a move-in ready home, but 87% of buyers do.  If your home has 1960's harvest gold appliances and the need for many updates, the pool of buyers that are going fall in love at first sight is mighty small.

from uglyhousephotos.com

However, an unpopular appliance color and the need for general updating (two small examples) CAN be remedied.  School districts and lot location are here to stay.  District lines may be redrawn, or your neighborhood could experience a revitalization, but those things are rare and often take years.  Location, Location, Location isn't an empty saying.

If you don't have kids, even if you never plan to have kids, please do yourself a favor and research schools when buying a house.  Many of the folks that will look to purchase that home from you down the road will care about schools.  I have a listing right now that was purchased by a bachelor.  He is now married with two kids and they can't sell the house because of the poor location and undesirable schools.

Your real estate agent isn't going to be able to "steer" you, but he or she will likely tell you where you can go to get informed.  I tell my clients to visit greatschools.org.  It ranks schools by test scores among other things.

So buy that house with the ugly wallpaper in the fantastic district over your dream home zoned for crummy schools.  You will be thankful that you did when you need to sell.