Living near a school: things to consider
Originally appeared in Bay Area News Group publications on April 11, 2010
Buying a home close to a school can be wonderful or a huge mistake. It depends on the exact proximity of the house to the school, the school’s size, and the administration’s policies regarding neighborhood relations. The agents listing or selling the home often are unaware of the actual or potential problems, which is all the more reason for you to personally investigate before committing.
A short walk can be a blessing
If you have young children, a school within a short, walking distance is a big plus. Owning near a sought-after school could add value to your property. My buyers with children are typically willing to pay more for a home that is designated for a highly rated public school because the option is often the tuition costs of a private facility.
There is a big difference, however, between being two to four blocks away from a popular school and seeing it from your front door. Just being close enough for major annoyances can be worrisome.
Too near can be bad
Living directly opposite from a school detracts, rather than adds, value. One obvious reason is that, in most cases, looking at a school is not as visually appealing as viewing a row of attractive houses that are similar to your own.
Homes around the corner or on a walking or driving route to and from the school can also be disadvantaged. Numerous, unimagined consequences of living near a school can quickly move from an irritation to a regular, unrelenting pattern of daily aggravation.
Elements of a bad dream
The list of possible problems you might encounter living near a school varies and is based on many factors. Nevertheless, the following are some common complaints of those who mostly suffer in silence.
- Noise. To some, the sound of children playing in a schoolyard is a happy experience. Others, especially those close to recess or playground areas, may find it exasperating.
Large truck deliveries to the school very early in the morning or at night can lead to unexpected and unwanted noise. These trucks sometimes exceed the speed limit, thereby endangering neighbors.
- Traffic. This includes both auto and pedestrian traffic. Depending on the school’s location and size, morning student drop-off and afternoon pickup can be extremely disruptive.
Neighbors of one East Bay school experience twice-daily gridlock from long lines of parent cars, on both sides of the street, during peak drop-off and pickup hours. In fact, double-parking, pulling out into traffic without looking and illegal U-turns routinely create a dangerous situation for both neighbors and students.
Pedestrians, students and parents, can further foul up traffic when students walk to less congested, but still dangerous, spots to be picked up. In addition, schools may have off-limit entrances. Disruption to nearby properties occurs when parents, to beat the backup out front, allow unauthorized students to enter and leave this way.
- Parking. Staff, teachers and, at the high school level, students drive to and from school. Unless there are sufficient parking spots, often not the case, the overflow affects the neighborhood.
This can be especially vexing if it is a large school with many events, e.g., intramural games, plays and entertainment where parents and the public are invited, and parent-teacher nights. In each case, neighbors may find blocked driveways and a lack of parking on the street.
- Litter. Those who live in the path of the school may discover, on the street or their lawn, all manner of discarded items, presumably left by students, such as pages of homework assignments, candy wrappers and soda pop bottles. Many schools have litter programs, but are unable to keep up with the problem.
It depends on the school
Schools are among our most important and worthwhile institutions. Many are extremely proactive in minimizing disruption to those who live in the neighborhood.
Make sure to check with neighbors, online blogs and school authorities regarding its potential impact on you. Are there ongoing difficulties between the school and neighbors? If so, when did they begin? If there are continuing issues, is there a group of neighbors who meet regularly with the school? If so, contacting these folks makes sense. Is the school responsive to complaints in a timely manner?
Final Thoughts
As someone contemplating buying a residence, or, as a homeowner who now lives near a school, you need to be aware of how the issues cited above, and others, can influence both livability and value. Remember that sellers and agents are legally responsible to disclose all “material facts.”
This is information that could influence a buyer’s decision to buy or not and/or how much to pay. Although the seller may consider these problems minor nuisances, the buyer might see them as unacceptable impediments to his right of “quiet enjoyment” of the property.
If you do your homework, you should be able to determine if living near a school has greater drawbacks than benefits. Better to discover this before you buy than to be distressed about it afterward.