WWYD Schools vs Price

[Anonymous]

We're looking at two houses. Very similar in layout, amount of work needed, and size. They are $100K apart in price. I can only imagine that part of the reason is the school situation. House #1: 9/10/10 schools, small lot, a little closer to amenities, $100K more House #2: 6/6/7 schools, bigger lot $100K less

They are both nice houses in seemingly decent neighborhoods. Would you go for the $100K discount and the worse schools?

[Anonymous]

BTW, forgot to mention these are not in DC so commute is not an issue

[Anonymous]

I would go for House #1, assuming your budget allows it. Homes with higher school ratings will help preserve your investment.

[Anonymous]

How much do you value better schools and walkability versus having more of a budget for getting work done? How much work needs done on these houses? Are they both within your budget?

[Anonymous]

Are you "only imagining" the school situation or have you done thorough research on the school situation, via the web, asking parents and talking to the principle/ assistant principle of the schools in question?

[Anonymous]

#1 schools all the way. Better schools also reflect a higher quality of people in the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Yes, they are both within our budget. I do appreciate the walkability factor but don't absolutely need it. Of course, the school is one of the amenities that is walkable with house #1.

As far as "imagining" the schools. I'm clear as to what the schools in each area are. House #1 feeds into more affluent and less diverse schools. I'm presuming that the test scores reflect that. House #2 feeds into less affluent (more FARMS) and more diverse schools. However, the neighborhood that we would be in, although diverse, is very nice. Frankly, I guess I'm a little astonished that the schools could be worth $100K -- but maybe they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Yes, they are both within our budget. I do appreciate the walkability factor but don't absolutely need it. Of course, the school is one of the amenities that is walkable with house #1.

As far as "imagining" the schools. I'm clear as to what the schools in each area are. House #1 feeds into more affluent and less diverse schools. I'm presuming that the test scores reflect that. House #2 feeds into less affluent (more FARMS) and more diverse schools. However, the neighborhood that we would be in, although diverse, is very nice. Frankly, I guess I'm a little astonished that the schools could be worth $100K -- but maybe they are.

That's not very far off the difference between 6/7s vs 9/10s is substantial think of D and C vs A and A+

[Anonymous]

I'd pick #1 too. No question.

[Anonymous]

go visit and see how the schools are different

Visit a 4th grade class. This is about where you start seeing some differences in behavior. Stand outside of school at dismissal - see how children interact with each other (and the language that is used).

The situation you described for house #2 sounds like a set-up for Haves and Have Nots.

[Anonymous]

A "6" is a D. Ah, OK!

P.S. Those rating are bullshit. They are for closeted bigots.

[Anonymous]

I'd pick number 2, but we are a mixed family and diversity is a must in our book.

Better schools also reflect a higher quality of people in the neighborhood.

BTW, this sounds very shitty.

[Anonymous]

We were in the same boat and we chose the slightly lesser rated schools in the more diverse neighborhood. We imagined what things would be like for our kids going to a mostly white, rich high school where all the other kids are driving their new cars to school when they turn 16, and we decided that we prefer the diversity and we don't want our kids to be embarrassed about being driven around in an old Honda. We feel like the neighborhood we chose is less superficial.

[Anonymous]

Frankly, I guess I'm a little astonished that the schools could be worth $100K -- but maybe they are.

I believe it because schools are definitely worth $100K in Kensington. Same house in BCC or WJ cluster easily goes for $100K more than one a couple of blocks away in the Einstein cluster.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes the rich white kids are a bit more wild and experimental in the teen years than the working class kids. Just an annecdotal observation formed over many years of being a teen and working with teens.