New factor in house prices is ability with a bat or a ball

House prices have long been linked to the academic reputation of local schools. Now a real estate firm reckons sporting prowess may also have a big effect.

Bayleys Realty Group found average property values in Auckland were easily outpaced by values in the zones feeding six Auckland state schools whose students won top sports awards.

Residential property values in Auckland rose 21 per cent between March 2015 and March 2017 — from $695,000 to $840,000 — but values in the six schools increased by up to 41 per cent.

Bayleys national residential manager Daniel Coulson said a school’s sporting prowess often translated into academic successes.

“Sport is a pillar of a school’s culture and ethos. So it’s no coincidence that the better performing sports schools also tend to have higher academic achievement.”

The leading schools by the number of accolades achieved in the 2016 Young Sportsperson of the Year awards, and their catchment suburbs were:

● Rangitoto College: Mairangi Bay, Murrays Bay and Campbells Bay.

● Westlake Boys High School: Forrest Hill, Milford and Sunnynook.

● Westlake Girls’ High School: Forrest Hill, Hillcrest, Takapuna and Sunnynook.

● Epsom Girls Grammar: Remuera, Parnell, Mt Eden and Epsom.

● Takapuna Grammar School: Devonport and Takapuna.

● Mt Albert Grammar School: Kingsland and Mt Albert.

Homes near Rangitoto College soared by 41 per cent in the two-year period. The median sale price of properties in Mairangi Bay rose by $420,000 to hit the $1.4m mark, and houses in Campbells Bay are going for almost $1.9m.

Notable alumni from Rangitoto College include former Tall Blacks star Sean Marks, who was the first Kiwi to play in the NBA.

House prices in surrounding suburbs for the other five schools identified rose by as much as 34 per cent. The most significant increase in median sale prices, since March 2015, was in Remuera where prices have risen by $477,250 to $1.8m.

Coulson said real estate agents in central Auckland often espoused the “double grammar zone” in Epsom, Newmarket, Remuera and Parnell, but zoning was just as relevant in Auckland’s East Coast Bays, where four of the six top sporting schools are.

Westlake Boys’ was the highestperforming school of the top six in the 2016 sport awards, taking home eight prizes, including young sportsman of the year.

The North Shore school produced America’s Cup skipper Dean Barker, former All Black Luke McAlister and basketball player Corey Webster.

Mt Albert Grammar, whose famous sporting students include Sonny Bill Williams and Maria Tutaia, and Epsom Girls’ Grammar collected five awards each for their top athletes.

Massey University Professor Paul Spoonley, said sporting success was a growing factor in how attractive a school could be.

“What [parents] are also looking for are a range of additional success elements including sports and arts.”

He added that immigration was playing a part as people coming here to live were targeting highperforming, high-decile schools and would look to buy in those areas.

Fee-paying schools are exempt from zoning requirements.