China's most expensive close - to - school homes

Beijing: A widening gap between close-to-school and regular homes

There is a price gap of as much as 10,000 yuan ($1,600) per square meter between homes close to schools and others in less-educationally advantageous locations. One 37-sq-m, one-bedroom apartment carried a price tag of 3.5 million yuan, or 94,600 yuan per sq m, and if tax and commission are included, the total cost per sq m was 98,600 yuan, the Beijing Youth Daily reported on May 24.

Shanghai: The city's most expensive close-to-school apartment sold for more than 80,000 yuan per sq m

A 28-sq-m one-bedroom apartment sold for 2.35 million yuan, or 83,000 yuan per sq m, in the Jing'an district. The buyers were happy to pay the price to get their child into a good school nearby, the Shanghai Morning Post reported.

Guangzhou: The most expensive close-to-school homes cost 40,000 yuan per sq m

The average price of the most popular close-to-school residential properties has surged to between 36,000 yuan and 40,000 yuan per sq m, the Guangzhou Daily reported. A one-bedroom apartment costs more than 1.7 million yuan, and three-bedroom apartments can cost 4 million yuan.

Tianjin: Close-to-school homes remain popular, despite high prices

A 12-sq-m apartment carries a price tag of 900,000 yuan, or 75,000 yuan per sq m. A 71-sq-m apartment is on the market for 4.7 million yuan, according to Soufun, a property market information portal. Close-to-school apartments built 15 years ago have become popular as an increasing number of young couples make education plans for their children.

Nanjing, Jiangsu province: The price of close-to-school homes averages 9,500 yuan per sq m

Apartments in a newly built residential project located near one of the city's best-known schools are priced at an average 9,500 yuan per sq m. Small to medium-sized apartments in the project sold out in a single day. In stark contrast, a separate residential project nearby also started presales on the same day, but with an average price of 8,000 yuan per sq m, only a small number of apartments were sold on the first day.

Shenyang, Liaoning province: Close-to-school apartments are more expensive than luxury dwellings

Pre-owned apartments are priced as high as 25,800 yuan per sq m in one area of Shenyang because they are located close to a good school. The average price of a newly built apartment is 7,577 yuan per sq m. Villas in the city are priced between 6,000 and 20,000 yuan per sq m, according to the property website, Sohu.

- Wang Ying

(China Daily 07/02/2013 page6)