https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 06 May 2026 12:54:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-neighborhoodbad-schools-wwyd#post-845713 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 17:04:21 +0000 Ra 845713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, I just looked into things, and it appears if we went with the cheaper neighborhood we could still send our child to public school after all. Both counties I applied to teach in allow children of employees to be enrolled in that district. The neighborhood we are considering is right on the Baltimore City/Baltimore County line. The schools close by in Baltimore County are great schools. So, theoretically, if we chose the cheaper neighborhood I could send DS to a school in Baltimore County instead. Then, we wouldn't even have to worry about private school tuition.</p> <p>Still not sure if this is the road we are going to take, but good to know we have options! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-neighborhoodbad-schools-wwyd#post-845616 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 16:22:01 +0000 DigAPony 845616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rahlyrah: I would check to see if the school district you prefer has open enrollment. It depends on the district, but sometimes if a school is open enrollment, they'll take students from outside the official district if there's room--so you could buy the more affordable house, but still hopefully send your kids to the better district. That's how the district I grew up in (and the one in which my mom teaches) operates, but I don't know how common it is in other parts of the U.S. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-neighborhoodbad-schools-wwyd#post-845579 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 16:05:57 +0000 plantains 845579@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always follow the 'buy the worst house on the best block' metality. A horrible school system can seriously make life stressful. I would go for teh more expensive neighnourhood and look for a smaller house to ensure a more affordable mortgage payment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-neighborhoodbad-schools-wwyd#post-845572 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 16:03:44 +0000 woodentulip 845572@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My vote would also be to make the more expensive school zone work. Only because that would likely mean a neighbourhood school, which brings community, activities, social circles and more. If you have to leave your community to take your LO to school, you are also likely to have to commute to friends houses, to any extra curriculars, etc.<br /> We are big fans of local schools, parks, businesses, etc. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-neighborhoodbad-schools-wwyd#post-845546 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 15:56:32 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 845546@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rahlyrah: I'm just curious about what constitutes a "horrible" school district? Is it test scores or on-line ratings? Word of mouth (you said you're looking to start teaching, did you hear it from other teachers?</p> <p>I ask, because that would influence my choice. If the district was "bad" &amp; I knew that first hand (like, people I know who's children went there/heard it from teachers in the district), then I'd go for the houses in the better district. If I only had national ratings to go on, I might go for the less expensive house. Then again, in our area any kid can get on a waiting list to choice into any school in the city. </p> <p>Buying a house is so stressful, especially with these concerns added in! What does your husband think? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-neighborhoodbad-schools-wwyd#post-845271 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 14:21:27 +0000 PurplePumps 845271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Unless you feel the private school education would be much better than those better neighborhoods public schools, I'd go for the more expensive house in the better school district.<br /> You can deduct the interest on the mortgage and on the property tax, but I dont think you can deduct all the private school tuition. The money paid into the house is money you can make back when you sell, money paid into private school is just a sunk cost. And I know it's not good to think like this, but the mortgage payments will be a set cost, so hopefully they don't feel so big as your income gets bigger with hopefully yearly raises. But who knows how much private school is going to cost a decade or so down the line. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-neighborhoodbad-schools-wwyd#post-845178 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:55:49 +0000 littlek 845178@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think school district is more important. Can you buy the least expensive house in the best neighborhood? This will also help resale values. It's always location, location, location!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-neighborhoodbad-schools-wwyd#post-845164 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:53:07 +0000 Ra 845164@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I would be ok with this, but DH is set on whatever we buy being at least a 7-15 year commitment.</p> <p>If I had it my way, we would go for a home in our ideal neighborhood/school district that I fell in love with. The house was reasonably priced and full of charm/quirk. DH thought it was too small though and that we could potentially grow out of it and break his 7-15 year rule. </p> <p>I suppose renting isn't that horrible. I just hate where we live now and want out asap! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-neighborhoodbad-schools-wwyd#post-845152 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:49:51 +0000 Foodnerd81 845152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rahlyrah: Are you willing to consider buying more of a 5 year house and moving when LO is starting school? We ended up not buying, but when we were considering, it was in an area where I was fairly certain I would not send LO to school (past, like, kindergarten at least). So anyplace we looked at was with the intention of moving and selling within about 5 years. We aren't ready for the suburbs yet, but we'll see how we feel in a couple of years once the baby is a kid who wants to play outside and stuff. But we have no problem renting for a few more years in the city just to allow us that flexibility. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-neighborhoodbad-schools-wwyd#post-845146 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:48:44 +0000 Ra 845146@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: Baltimore is very "swiss cheese." The city is known for having great areas and not-so-great areas being right next to each other. The zoning is a little weird as well. For example, we looked at a home less than a mile away that we decided against. It was off a main road and while the house/street was nice there was a bus stop/lots of pan handlers almost right outside. That house, in a less "nice" neighborhood, is zoned for the blue ribbon school. Meanwhile, the two we are looking at now, in a much nicer neighborhood, are zoned for schools in a sketchy area. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-neighborhoodbad-schools-wwyd#post-845136 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:45:36 +0000 Modern Daisy 845136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would be okay with 'not as good' public schools in a more affordable area, but I think I'd draw the line if they're as bad as you describe. If the overall cost of adding a private school is the same as a mortgage + taxes in the better neighborhood, I would just go with the better neighborhood. You don't want to have to stress or worry about your childs education and this is still a buyer's market so it's a good investment in everyone's future. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-neighborhoodbad-schools-wwyd#post-845131 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:43:44 +0000 Ra 845131@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sigh. You guys are probably right. </p> <p>We had to walk away from the last house we loved because our mortgage would have been $2800 a month. As much as we loved it, that would REALLY push our budget. Most homes in that area would result in a comparable mortgage payment.</p> <p>My only other option is the fact that I will be a public school teacher (looking for a position right now). I know a few teachers who were able to get their children into the district they worked in (as opposed to where the live). I'm not sure how difficult of a process that is though!</p> <p>DH refused to live in the county and most of the schools in Baltimore City are sub-par at best. So, if we want city schools, we are limited to the expensive areas. </p> <p>I also worry about fact that DS isn't even born yet so there is always the possibility for rezoning/good schools becoming bad/bad schools becoming good/new schools popping up, etc. by the time he reaches school age.</p> <p>So much to consider! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-neighborhoodbad-schools-wwyd#post-845116 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:40:48 +0000 regberadaisy 845116@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: good point.</p> <p>The other thing to think about is usually <i>horrible</i> schools are in not so great neighborhoods! So I'm kinda surprised to hear you say the neighborhood is good but district is HORRIBLE.</p> <p>FWIW I'm pro public education. :D </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-neighborhoodbad-schools-wwyd#post-845113 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:40:20 +0000 Foodnerd81 845113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Good point-- special services at private schools can me limited or complicated to get. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-neighborhoodbad-schools-wwyd#post-845111 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:39:47 +0000 rattles 845111@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Of course you won't get back your investment in private school when you sell your place. I would still buy in the cheaper area, if I were you though. I'd love to be able to afford to send my kids to private school (parochial for me), and if living in a neighborhood I loved and doing that were an option, I'd be sold. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-neighborhoodbad-schools-wwyd#post-845106 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:39:05 +0000 Foodnerd81 845106@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Assuming I was looking at this as a forever home, so wasn't worried about resale value for a long, long time (because @MamaMoose: is right, in that case)-- I would look at the private school options before deciding anything. Are there private schools that you would be very happy to send your kids to nearby? Would your kids have a long commute to school-- which makes after school activities really hard (I went to private high school half an hour away from my home, took an hour on a bus). Are you fairly certain your kids would get into the private schools you like? And how much are they-- will the reduced mortgage more than offset the cost of the school? </p> <p>I'd be more inclined to stay in the neighborhoods with great schools, but I wouldn't rule out the other neighborhood, I'd just factor all those other things in as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-neighborhoodbad-schools-wwyd#post-845102 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:38:26 +0000 MsLipGloss 845102@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rahlyrah: I agree with @MamaMoose. We recently bought a house, and we only considered houses that fit the school district criteria we set. And we passed up some seriously amazeballs homes in so doing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-neighborhoodbad-schools-wwyd#post-845096 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:37:37 +0000 LindsayInNY 845096@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Would the neighborhood + cost of private school equal the same as a mortgage payment in the original neighborhood? I know the costs for private schools vary but the overall cost might end up being the same. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-neighborhoodbad-schools-wwyd#post-845095 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:37:36 +0000 looch 845095@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I believe in the public school system, so I would rather pay higher property taxes as opposed to paying for private school, if that makes sense. My reasoning is that if your child needs special services, such as speech therapy, they are often not available in the private system, so you have to find services elsewhere. In public school, these services are easier to come by. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-neighborhoodbad-schools-wwyd#post-845093 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:37:12 +0000 regberadaisy 845093@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you said the cheaper home was in a OK district I would lean towards that one. But you said HORRIBLE so I say better district but more expensive home. Hopefully something cheaper comes up!</p> <p>Are you guys handy? Fixer upper? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-neighborhoodbad-schools-wwyd#post-845092 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:36:54 +0000 spaniellove 845092@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can tell you from having bought a more expensive home with $12,000/year taxes and mediocre schools - you're better off having your money go back into your home than private school tuition. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-neighborhoodbad-schools-wwyd#post-845086 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:35:39 +0000 mrsjyw 845086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would buy the home in the better school district. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-neighborhoodbad-schools-wwyd#post-845083 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:34:47 +0000 tequiero21 845083@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with @MamaMoose: .... Whereas u can't get your money back in private schools.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-neighborhoodbad-schools-wwyd#post-845076 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:33:22 +0000 MamaMoose 845076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would prefer to the put the money towards my mortgage rather than towards private schools mainly because the resale value of your home would be better if it's in a better school district. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-neighborhoodbad-schools-wwyd#post-845047 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:27:30 +0000 Ra 845047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and I have been house hunting for a few months now. We have had to walk away from two homes and were pretty heart broken over them.</p> <p>So far, we have been focusing on two neighborhoods in Baltimore. Both are our ideal neighborhoods with blue ribbon schools, parks nearby, and shops/restaurants. The problem is, the neighborhoods are extremely expensive and property taxes for both are in the $6,000+ a year range. If we stay focused on houses in these areas, with their average price range being $325,000-$400,000, our mortgage payments are going to be pretty astronomical. </p> <p>We recently found another neighborhood that we really like. The houses are adorable and the neighborhoods still have that wooded, historic appeal that we like. The neighborhoods have low crime rates, and while not as walkable as the others, are close to plenty of shops and restaurants. The homes in this neighborhood average $260,000-$300,000 and the property taxes are more in the $4,000-$5,000 range so our mortgage payment would be much, much more reasonable.</p> <p>The only issue with the new neighborhood we like is that the city schools they are zoned for are HORRIBLE. I mean really, really bad. So, if we purchased in this area we would have no choice but to send our child to private schools.</p> <p>What would you do? I feel like the money we would save on mortgage could be used to help contribute to private schooling. Would that make it worth it? Or would you prefer a much higher mortgage payment but amazing public schools?</p> <p>House hunting is so stressful! </p>