School catchment zones a key factor when buying property

Parents battling to secure homes within the catchment for the best government schools are increasingly paying a premium to come out on top.

That was case for Matthew Coley, who recently settled on a townhouse in West End.

The father of three forked out $750,000 for the three-bedroom property, specifically searching for a new home within the Brisbane State High School catchment area around South Brisbane.

Mr Coley said he was determined to make sure his children could attend the school, which is partially selective and co-educational, so narrowed his search down to suburbs within the school’s catchment for the sake of Aidan, 14, Ethan, 12, and Zarah, seven.

“It will increase their opportunities down the track,” he said.

As Domain launches its School Zone feature, agents say homehunters are seeking out the best catchments.

Ray White agent Luke Croft, who sold the property to Mr Coley, said 80 per cent of his clients bought in the area so their children could attend Brisbane State High School.

“The catchment is Highgate Hill, West End, South Brisbane, Dutton Park and parts of Woolloongabba,” he said.

“Brisbane State High School has got sports scholarships, music scholarships. You look at the fees of a private school and they’re $25,000. This is basically a private school, without being a private school. The quality of teachers and everything it offers students is why parents want their kids to go there.”

It appears Matthew Coley isn’t alone when it comes to listing a school catchment zone as a high priority.

There are about four million Google searches nation-wide on school zones every month, proving that a school catchment area is now a key factor for families when buying property.

And it’s not just high schools. The best primary schools are highly sought after too.

Some of Brisbane’s most popular school catchment areas for primary schools include St Lucia, for Ironside State School, Bardon, for Bardon State School and Rainworth State School, and Indooroopilly, for Indooroopilly State School, which were all ranked in the top 10 government schools, according to the 2014 ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) results.

Brisbane Real Estate agent Benjamin Smith said Ironside State School, ranked in the top five government schools in Queensland, had a good reputation.

“The school has a definite impact and benefit to properties being sold there,” he said.

“It’s difficult to say how much more they would pay. But it’s certainly an attraction.”

Ray White agent Nick Kouparitsas said Ascot State School was also popular with Brisbane families, because it was primarily run by the parents.

He said Ascot was one of Brisbane’s most expensive and highly sought-after suburbs and families with young children aspired to live there.

“It’s one of the first questions people ask when they’re moving into the area,” he said.

“They say, ‘is this in the Ascot State School catchment?’ If a house doesn’t suit someone’s standards, but it’s in the catchment, they’re more likely to buy anyway then spend the money to fix the house.”

Mr Kouparitsas added families also donated a lot of money to the school.

“They put a fair bit of money into the school,” he said.

“Once the kids finish primary they generally go to the higher end private high schools, your Grammar, Churchie, and BBC (Brisbane Boys’ College).”