Families pay up to $800k more for school-zone homes

New research shows families are paying extraordinary premiums to buy into New Zealand’s top school zones, with homes in some catchments selling for as much as $800,000 more than comparable properties just outside the boundary.

The findings, from OneRoof and Valocity, highlight the enduring power of education in shaping buyer behaviour and property values across the country. Demand for homes in elite public-school zones remains “mind-blowing”, with agents fielding calls from desperate parents every July to September as out-of-zone ballot results are released.

The surge comes as the housing market shows renewed vigour, with Reserve Bank data revealing residential mortgage lending jumped to $8.18 billion in September — up from $7.56 billion in August. First-home buyers led the way with $1.57 billion in new loans, signalling growing confidence among families competing in high-demand suburbs.

Western Springs leads school-zone price gap

According to the analysis, Western Springs College in Auckland recorded the largest school-zone premium in the country, with the average property value $781,000 higher inside the catchment than outside it.

Houses in the zones for 17 of the 50 schools on the Crimson Education Top Schools list were more expensive than those out of zone.

• Auckland Grammar School buyers pay an average premium of $262,000.
• Rangitoto College homes are priced around $335,000 higher.

The most expensive public-school catchment is St Mary’s College in Ponsonby, with an average property value of $2.5 million. By contrast, Long Bay College on the North Shore is Auckland’s most affordable top-school zone, averaging $1.377 million.

Christchurch school zones see biggest value growth

While Auckland’s double grammar zone saw prices ease around 8% in the past five years, Christchurch’s top school catchments outperformed.

Suburbs such as Strowan and Merivale, home to St Andrew’s College, Rangi Ruru Girls’ School, and St Margaret’s College, have seen values jump more than 39% over the same period.

Harcourts Gold agent Lydia O’Loughlin said school zones dominate nearly every buyer conversation in Christchurch.

“Families might be buying properties two or three years out before their children are ready for high school,” Loughlin told OneRoof. “It really blows my mind.”

Double grammar demand still dominates Auckland

In Auckland, demand for homes in the prized Auckland Grammar and Epsom Girls Grammar zones remains intense.

Bayleys agent Steve Koerber said enquiries surged following ballot results.

“I would say if you had the same house across the street and it wasn’t in grammar zone, it would be a $200,000 difference,” Koerber told OneRoof.

Barfoot & Thompson agent Rawdon Christie said many vendors use their property’s in-zone status as a key selling point.

“The conversation was, ‘If I don’t do it now, I’ve missed the boat come January,’” Christie said.

Buyers turn east and north for affordable options

East Auckland remains competitive, particularly around Macleans College and Botany Downs Secondary College, where listings draw multiple bidders.

Agent Kitty Long said demand spiked in August and September: “I recently sold a near-new home on Waller Avenue, in Bucklands Beach, for $200,000 more than its RV to a family who wanted to secure entry to the school.”

On the North Shore, Harcourts Cooper & Co auctioneer Andrew North said catchments for Rangitoto College, Westlake Boys, and Westlake Girls are at capacity.

“Rangitoto College, for example, is at absolute capacity,” North said. “Even siblings of existing students will miss out.”

Competitive edge extends beyond big cities

In Wellington, Tommy’s salesperson Alice O’Styke said demand is strongest in zones for Wellington College and Wellington Girls’ College.

“Families tend to look for three to four-bedroom character homes with good-sized yards for the kids in Karori, Northland, Wilton, Wadestown, and Kelburn,” O’Styke said.

In Hamilton, Lodge Real Estate agent Megan Smith said open home numbers in popular zones are up by a third, while colleague Chase Gray said Hamilton Boys’ High remains a powerful drawcard.

“Everyone dreams their kid will be a great sports star,” Gray said, noting some families buy small in-zone homes or rent addresses to secure entry, OneRoof reported.

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