When you’re in the market for a new home in Birmingham, there’s a lot to consider: affordability, neighborhood and square footage to name a few. However, a Trulia survey found that nearly twenty percent of Americans indicated that their dream home is located in a great school district. Those participants who were parents of children under 18, that percentage jumped to thirty-five. Even buyers who don’t have kids are looking to buy in school districts with a good reputation. Living in a good school district doesn’t just bring better teachers, upgraded technology and advanced test scores, it also helps preserve home values.  Homes in good school districts tend to sell faster and hold their value even in economic downturns.  A recent article in Birmingham Business Journal accessed education in Birmingham to determine how local schools and school systems compare to the state. The study found that Vestavia Hills City Schools, Shelby County School and Trussville City Schools all made the list for top performing school systems. Oak Mountain High School in Shelby County is ranked 6^th within Alabama and is located within our new Griffin Park community. As a highly sought-after school district, this is one of homebuyer’s last chances to get in. A common misconception for living in a popular school district is that new homes are not affordable; however the new homes that will be featured within Griffin park will start in the $300s. Education is top priority in Vestavia Hills and the school district has been repeatedly recognized as top performing.  Children residing in Altadena Ridge will attend Cahaba Heights or Liberty Park Elementary, Liberty Park Middle and Vestavia Hills High, which all have a 10 out of 10 ranking on GreatSchools.org. For older students or those interested in continuing education, the community is just a short commute to the prestigious Samford University. For residents in the Trussville Springs community, natural and man-made amenities are only a few of the perks of living here. The Trussville school system is ranked as the seventh best district in Alabama by SchoolDigger.com, with Trussville High School ranked as the eighth best high school. Three of the four area schools were given a rating of ‘9’ or ‘10’ out of 10 on GreatSchools.org. In addition to the community and surrounding nature, the homes in Trussville Springs will not disappoint. Prospective home buyers can choose from 13 home plans that are priced from the mid-$200,000s through the $400,000s. At Harris Doyle, we build new homes in Birmingham within great school districts because we believe quality schools are part of the foundation of a great community. For instance, our neighborhoods in Vestavia Hills, Trussville and Griffin Park are all situated within award-winning school districts. Factor in the outstanding amenities and convenient locations, and homebuyers are living in a community that supports strong home values. For more information on our neighborhood locations and school districts, please visit www.harrisdoyle.com.