Bhavi and Nilesh Patel’s search for a family home exposed the brutal price gap facing Melbourne parents chasing sought-after public school zones. Picture: Ian Currie
Bhavi and Nilesh Patel spent months watching Glen Waverley homes soar hundreds of thousands of dollars above price guides before finally securing a house in the Highvale Secondary College zone.
The family, based in Mount Waverley, had been living in a townhouse but wanted more space and access to a strong public school catchment for their children Shubh, who is in Year 9, and Krisha, who is in her final year at university.
Ms Patel said the move from townhouse to house quickly exposed the price gap facing families trying to buy into sought-after school zones.
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“Even with $1m, it’s very hard to secure a property here,” Ms Patel said.
“If you want a good four-bedroom house, you are realistically looking at $1.7m and above.
“At auction, it’s even harder. We’ve seen knockdown homes, houses that need to be demolished, selling for $2m. That’s just for the land.”
The Patels began searching in September, with Ms Patel saying auction prices repeatedly pushed beyond the advertised range.
“We thought maybe homes would go $50,000 or $100,000 above the guide, but in these areas, prices were going far beyond that, sometimes unbelievably high,” she said.
“We saw homes advertised around $1.1m to $1.2m sell for $1.45m or more.”
Bhavi and Nilesh Patel with children Shubh and Krisha after buying into the Highvale Secondary College zone following months of fierce competition. Picture : Ian Currie
Ms Patel said the family had considered other areas, including Mulgrave and Knoxfield, but her husband and daughter were determined to stay close to Glen Waverley.
“So we stayed patient, and again, I believe God helped us find the right home in the end,” she said.
Ms Patel said Highvale Secondary College had stood out because of its reputation among families they trusted.
“Highvale Secondary was one of the closest strong schools to us, and we had heard very good things from friends,” she said.
“In this area, after Glen Waverley Secondary, Highvale is also considered a very strong option.”
Ms Patel said education had shaped the family’s home search.
“Education is everything for us,” she said.
“We truly believe that when children are in a good school, they learn not just academically, but from the people around them, their teachers, their friends, their environment.”
Ms Patel said buying in the area had required persistence, patience and faith.
“In the end, I truly believe it was God who made it happen for us,” she said.
Despite the pressure, Ms Patel said the family felt grateful to have secured their home.
“We’re happy, the vendor is happy, and we believe we got a good price considering how the market has moved since,” she said.
But she warned other families not to overextend themselves just to buy into a school zone.
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