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4 home buying tips to help secure your school of choice
When government schools open applications for 2020 in February and March next year, you may need to be living at an address in the feeder zone of your school of choice to stand the best chance of getting in. Crispin Inglis, CEO of PropertyFox, says admission to South Africa's top schools is highly competitive and having an address in the right area is not a guarantee of entry, but it does increase chances.
Earlier in 2018, PropertyFox conducted deep research into South African feeder zones with a view to helping house hunters make the right decisions regarding schooling.
“Catchment area information is extremely hard to find, so our aim was to give parents some direction as to how to approach their property search, or how to find a school near their home. We’ve shared as much information as possible - from provincial legislation around policies through to hints as to which suburbs are viable options near schools,” says Inglis.
After conducting deep research into South African feeder zones, here are PropertyFox’s top four tips for a school-focused house hunt.
1. Consult the PropertyFox School Feeder Zone Guide
To assist buyers with better decision-making, PropertyFox commissioned research into South Africa’s feeder zones and catchment area policies. The first PropertyFox School Feeder Zone Guide has extensive information about provincial feeder zone policies, individual school feeder zone policies of the top schools in South Africa, as well as information on the best areas to buy or rent property in to be close to that school.
2. Call the schools you are interested in to verify the policy and find out details about admission periods and processes
Even if you live in a catchment area, if the school is oversubscribed, you won’t be accepted, so don’t wait until you’ve moved to find out if your prospective address is in the right area. Start chatting to schools to find out if the investment you are willing to make will work in your favour when it comes to your child’s education.
3. Do deep research into suburbs in the catchment area
Don’t let your eagerness to get your kids into a particular school sway your judgement. Buying a home is a big investment and you need to take into account whether the great value property you buy now is likely to appreciate, is in a safe area etc. There is a wealth of information online.
4. Drive the route to school and then to work in peak traffic
It is a good idea to go into any property deal with your eyes wide open. Doing a dummy run of the school run and drive to work is a good idea when selecting a property so you can work out how convenient your lifestyle will be when you move in.
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