Homebuyers encouraged to buy in school catchment areas

Homebuyers looking to purchase a house for sale in the UK as an investment have been encouraged to look in school catchment areas.

Nigel Ellis, director of Picket & Ellis, has said that people will pay more to buy a house that is close to their children's educational facility.

He suggested that as catchment areas are shrinking, this could bring house prices up even further.

"The criteria is so tight that people do pay more to get into a house that is within that distance of a school," Mr Ellis commented.

His comments were made after the Nationwide reported last month that parents are willing to spend £8,670 extra for a property that is in a good catchment area.

It also showed a school achieving a ten per cent increase in the Sats pass rate is likely to make nearby properties sell for 3.3 per cent more than other homes.