The Power of Good Schools: For Many Buyers, Education Rules -- And It Shows in Area Home Prices

Barbara Ruben:

In their quest to move out of their rented Rockville townhouse and buy a single-family home, Lisa Hollaender and her husband, Laurent, first considered the Carderock Springs neighborhood of Bethesda, then moved on to Potomac and later explored Olney. They also ventured across the Potomac to Vienna. But they haven't been to a single open house, let alone made an offer.

Hollaender is first finding the school she considers best suited for her son, who is both very bright and physically challenged.

"Ultimately school fit is number one, house location a far second," said Hollaender, whose son recently started kindergarten. The family has decided to stay put in Rockville this year and send him to a private school, but that's a temporary solution. "We cannot continue to pay for private school, plus buy our 'dream home,' " Hollaender said.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at September 26, 2009 1:59 AM
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