More than half of Canberra schools zones record double-digit house price growth: Domain report

Canberra buyers are spending more on properties in school catchment zones, with new data revealing house prices around primary and secondary priority enrolment areas have soared by up to 33.8 per cent in the past year.

The dramatic hike in prices comes amid fierce buyer competition and tight rental conditions in the capital’s key family hotspots, as Canberra home hunters place primary and secondary school access at the top of their wishlists.

According to the annual Domain School Zones Report, released on Thursday, the Mawson Primary School priority enrolment area – which includes the suburbs of Mawson, Phillip, Isaacs and O’Malley – had the strongest growth, with house prices up 33.8 per cent year-on-year to a median of $1.07 million. 

Ryan Thomas, of Blackshaw Woden, said he wasn’t surprised by the rise in house prices in the priority enrolment area, and noted that families “would pay a premium to get into the right suburb of a school zone”.

Mr Thomas said parents may be drawn to schools offering educational programs that extend beyond the traditional offerings, particularly in regards to language.

“Mawson Primary School is one of only three bilingual schools in the capital and is the only public school that offers a Mandarin-speaking program,” he said.

The Kaleen Primary School priority enrolment area – which includes the suburb of Kaleen – trailed behind, with median house prices up 28.6 per cent year-on-year to $900,000. This was followed by Gordon Primary School – which includes the suburbs of Conder and Gordon – where median house prices were up 27.3 per cent year-on-year to $661,750.

The report also revealed that median house prices across more than 30 public school priority enrolment zones in the capital recorded double-digit growth over the year to July.

Domain chief of research and economics Nicola Powell said a number of school priority enrolment areas across the ACT had performed so well that prices outstripped overall suburb growth.

“Nine primary school zones and two secondary school zones had outperformed their respective suburb growth, with Belconnen and Tuggeranong weighing heavily on that list,” Dr Powell said. 

“These are two districts that are renowned as family-oriented areas that offer affordable detached homes.”

Dr Powell said the momentum in Canberra’s housing market had pushed house prices around school zones upwards.

The report showed house prices had risen in 91 per cent of primary schools analysed and all secondary schools analysed, aligning with Canberra’s rising property market.

School zones were a key consideration for recent Belconnen buyers Dan and Sarah Hawcroft, whose daughter Maisey attends St Vincent’s Primary School. Its catchment includes the suburbs of Aranda, Macquarie and parts of Belconnen.

The couple moved to Canberra from the UK in 2017 and had rented in the Belconnen region until they purchased a home in May this year. 

While the couple was initially looking for a standalone home, rising house prices across the capital had led them to purchase a three-bedroom apartment in Belconnen in a bid to remain within the St Vincent’s Primary School zone.

“Our number one priority was making sure Maisey was able to stay at the school that she wanted, and because of that, we were limited in our property choice,” Mr Hawcroft said.

“So in the end, we decided to purchase a unit so Maisey can stay at her school and when she reaches high school, we can look for a standalone property.”

This was a story that Kris Hellier, of McGrath Canberra, had often heard in the property market, with parents moving mountains to ensure their children were able to attend a certain school. 

“I have buyers at the moment with young children, not yet of school age, who are moving from the Gungahlin region to the Inner South to get into a certain school zone so that when their kids do come of age to be enrolled into a school, they’ll be eligible to,” he said.

“Canberra is spoilt with quality schools across the city so no matter where parents buy, there’s bound to be a good school nearby.”

Dr Powell added that, while purchasing property solely on a priority enrolment area wasn’t the key driver for some buyers, “it influences the decision because ultimately where you live dictates the school you’re allowed to enrol your kids in”.