3 things you should ask about school districts when you’re house-hunting
This story was originally written in 2017 but was reviewed and updated in September 2026.
If you’re reading this story, I’m going to make some assumptions about you:
- You’re a current or prospective homeowner
- You have (or have thought about having) kids
- Public schools are up for consideration
I am by no means an expert on schools or children (although I do deal with both on a daily basis). And I certainly wouldn’t try to advise you on what kind of school district is “best.” But I do suggest you investigate a few school-related questions if you’re looking to purchase a home and there are actual or theoretical children involved.
Because if you’re wondering just how important a school district is when you’re house-hunting, the answer is … very.
Pay attention to these 3 things:
But what is a counteroffer, you ask?
A seller might not like a buyer’s initial bid, so they’ll use a counteroffer to accept some terms of the offer while changing other aspects of it. Counteroffers often involve modifying the home’s sale price, but they can also be used to negotiate closing costs, repairs, contingencies (like the closing date) and even personal property acquisition (like appliances that come with the house). A buyer can either accept the seller’s counteroffer, or counter with their own counteroffer (and on, and on, and on). Ultimately, either the buyer or seller can accept, reject or counter any offers they receive.
Rather than something to fear, counteroffers should be expected when you’re shopping for a home, even in a market very favorable to buyers. Read these tips to learn how counteroffers work – and how you can navigate the counteroffer process like a seasoned pro, even if you’ve never bought a home before.
Tip #1: Get pre-approved
A pre-approval letter from a reputable lender makes your offer more attractive and throws some real weight behind it. The seller knows you’re “good” for the funds to purchase the home – they may take you more seriously and be more willing to compromise on the details of the final contract, knowing you’ve already been vetted by a lender.
Tip #2: Make your initial offer competitive, but don’t put all your chips on the table
In other words: Don’t lowball, but do make an offer that makes sense given the market. (A “lowball” offer in real estate is generally one that comes in at 15% or more below market value.) Not only will a seller likely consider a lowball offer a waste of their time, but you also take the risk of insulting them. And the last thing you want to do is offend the seller.
So, do some research! Learn the fair market value of the home you’re looking to purchase, and find out what other homes in the area are currently selling for. This will help you determine how high or low to go with your initial offer to purchase. Remember, if you start at the very top of the home’s market value (or the top of your budget, for that matter), you won’t have much room to negotiate later.
If it’s a buyer’s market, there are a lot of homes for sale – a glut of inventory – and that means the buyer has the upper hand when it comes to counteroffer negotiations. But if it’s a seller’s market, there’s more demand than supply, so the seller will typically receive multiple attractive offers on their property and thus has less incentive to meet a buyer’s demands or give in to any counteroffer negotiations they find unfavorable.
Shelley Sines
Shelley Sines has been writing for MGIC since she graduated from college in 2007. Currently raising a sweet little family with her husband in the suburbs of Milwaukee. Happiest when cooking or gardening. Competitive Scrabble player. Enthusiastic about road trips, wine, good TV.