The FCBOE has admitted that they have built Bennett's Mill in the wrong place at the wrong time. If they can make a mistake like that don't you think they can make another mistake, like taking kids out of the community they have grown up in. I' d love to find out what other mistakes they have made recently. Oh let's see... it seems to me the latest one might be, not listening to the people that they have been elected to serve. I think that they will pay dearly for all the mistakes they have made concerning this school and the process in which they are trying to populate Bennett's Mill.

I'll bet the residents of Lakemont and Lakeside would disagree with you.

While Holly is thinking up an answer that matches her self-serving convenience argument, I'll answer your question. Home values do not change even if an entire subdivision is moved from the best school in the district to the worst school in the district. Home values are determined by supply and demand and replacement cost. As long as you remain in the same county school system, your home will sell for what it is worth.
Don't believe that? Ask any appraiser if there is a place on his form that calculates value based upon which school or even how far away it is. Reason being - and this will shock you - most homebuyers do not have school age children (nationally).
Certainly, some families with children confine their search for a home to a specific area based upon the schools and that may make a home in that area sell more quickly - which is a good thing, but that does not increase its value.
One thing that does happen, Holly and others - is that real estate agents promote a specific school district as being superior (whether it is or not) and then their clients who bought there get plenty riled up when the schools are changed around as is happening now.
meow

Moving a subdivision from the best school district to the worst will not affect home values. What a stupid comment. This is not about being sent to a worse school - no one has ever said that - it could be the best school in Georgia, I hope it is. This is not about property values. It is the fact that you erode communities when you take a small group of kids out of the middle of their community and bus them 8 miles to a school. They are just trying to fill up a school built in the wrong place. Board members words not mine. No one is immune to their logic and while they are too scared for any two way dialog with the public they can do whatever they like. Just remember that in 2008.

Who's smoking?

MainFrame

My understanding of realestate Mudcat, is that homes sell for what they actually sell for, not what is always on an appraisal. If you talk to realtors, they will tell you about the three L concept: Location, location, location. Much of that Lx3 has to do with the actual schools that will be attended. I live here in south PTC because when we did a web search on Georgia schools from Oklahoma, the Starr's Mill complex came up as a brand new, highly rated school. We moved to our neighborhood for that school primarily. The seller of our home would disagree with your premise that school doesn't play a heavy factor. Many, many of my neighbors also picked our neighborhood because of the actual schools their children would attend. But we aren't having ulcers or receiving counseling over potential redistricting. As always, thanks for throwing your hat in the ring.

Cheers,

Kevin Hack King

I also bought a home based on the local schools. We live so close to Booth that our kids ride their bikes to school in less then 10 minutes, but we are being moved 8 miles to Bennitt's Mills. You may not want to feel so smug. At the FCBOE workshop last Monday, the board discussed the opening of a new elementary school in the fall of 2008. They said that every elementary school would have new boundaries. It was also said that 300 kids would be moved out of Peoples with these changes. I can tell you, no neighborhood is close enough to a school to feel secure.

What is wrong with very large schools where about four high schools could be made to accomodate all of Fayette's students, that assumes of course that the land is bought big enough to begin, and could be used as an agricultural preserve til needed.
Why, you say:? much cheaper, less administration, safer, and best of all, the air the kids breath could be purified to the extent that they are comfortable and well. We build cheap boxes now! Those are our kids! We ought to be ashamed of our schools, and especially of these "day-care" holes we allow where disease is spread like a pox.

Hello RR. Please don't confuse being low-stress and at peace with being smug. Too many battles for me to fight in the military to come unhinged over redistricting. We participate in meetings and I've provided feedback to the FCSB, but I can't afford hypertension. And read my post: I am absolutely acknowledging the effect of schools on property value. Cheers, and God Bless

Kevin Hack King

to fight the home battles while my husband fights the world's, and I bet your wife would agree. I have seen the effects of constant school changes on my two older children. We've dealt with it when it was necessary, but the BOE moving our small number of students to B.M. is unnecessary and not in our children's best interest. If my children aren't worth getting an ulcer for, what is?

with old man Sweat on your side and all the developers political clout on the south side. You will enjoy many more years in your great school complex of that you can rest assured.

You are correct that most homebuyers do not have children (nationally)...but we are discussing our local situation. The people of Fayette County need to understand that one of our top franchises is the Fayette County Schools...and homebuyers in this area are very aware which neighborhoods are in a particular school zone and even which ones are at risk...don't believe me, why have the resales of John Weiland homes on Redwine increased far more dramatically in the communities near Starrs Mill vs the communities near FCHS (same road, same builder, same homes, NOT the same schools).

Look at the number of local relocations that have occurred in Starrs Mill...and some starting to occuring in Whitewater.

People who choose this area (I am one) did so because they have to live on the southside of Atlanta (my commute from Vinings was brutal)...we chose the county first based on education, then we chose the specific school, then the community. (and for all those that are going to tell me they were born and raised here, blah, blah blah, don't bother...you didn't choose to live here you chose to not leave "which I think is great")

Or, to make your point even more CRAZY...based on your theory, homes in Alpharetta and Roswell should be selling for the same as homes in Fairburn...it is as you point-out the same School System just different communities...also, I would like to sell you a nice place accross the street form Creekside High, it is a 3000sq.ft. beauty and I am asking $945,900. PS (i am not really a realtor, just thought that was funny)

Here's what I wrote -
" Home values do not change even if an entire subdivision is moved from the best school in the district to the worst school in the district. Home values are determined by supply and demand and replacement cost. As long as you remain in the same county school system, your home will sell for what it is worth."

And that is what I meant and more to the point it is true. All the other stuff about transportation and anxiety for the kids and all that is also true, but Holly claimed that in her professional opinion that her home would be devalued (actually neighborhoods being destroyed) and that is what I was addressing. Only that.

Holly, are you out there? Please respond.
meow

And, justaguy - yes we can easily see you are justaguy. Put down the beer and read carefully. You seem stressed and disconeccted. Chill, dude.