Declining birth rate hits school district homes? Zhongzheng District's 35-ping family homes exit, 10-ping small homes become new mainstream

The allure of Taipei's top school districts remains strong, even amidst a declining birth rate. In the Zhongzheng District, junior high schools like Zhongzheng, Jinhua, Longmen, and Dunhua are highly competitive, with over 10% of their students gaining admission to elite high schools such as Jian Guo High School and Taipei First Girls High School. Zhongzheng Junior High leads this trend, with 20% of its students achieving this feat, highlighting a growing concentration of educational resources.

This educational pull is significantly influencing the Zhongzheng District's real estate market. Previously dominated by 35 to 45 ping family homes, new developments around popular school catchments like Dongmen Elementary, Xing'an Elementary, Zhongzheng Junior High, and Jinhua Junior High now offer a diverse range of unit sizes. This reflects a shift in parental purchasing strategies, moving from "buying a home to live in for nine years" to "early strategic planning for educational choices."

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The appeal of star school districts has not diminished. The concentration of educational resources is becoming increasingly evident.

While the declining birth rate continues, the appeal of star school districts has not diminished. The concentration of educational resources is becoming increasingly evident. This effect is clearly reflected in the Zhongzheng District's housing market. The district's desirable school districts have long been a primary consideration for parents buying property. Given that enrollment in popular schools often depends on the order of household registration, many parents are willing to invest early.

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Compared to the past, where the primary purchasing model was based on a family of three living long-term, the market has recently seen new changes.

Compared to the past, where the primary purchasing model was based on a family of three living long-term, the market has recently seen new changes. A review of current new property listings in Zhongzheng District reveals a high degree of product diversification around popular school districts. For instance, a development with dual school district advantages near Dongmen Elementary and Zhongzheng Junior High offers units ranging from 7 to 15 pings, while another nearby offers 42 to 75 pings. Further down the road, near Xing'an Elementary and Jinhua Junior High, different product positioning is also evident, with one project offering 12 to 34 pings and another focusing on larger units for upgraders.

Notably, star school districts no longer correspond to a single housing type. Instead, both dual-income small families and high-net-worth upgraders are competing for the same educational resources. In contrast, the traditional purchasing model of "a family of three, living in a 35-ping three-bedroom for nine years" is gradually fading from the market. Conversely, buying smaller units for early registration and strategic planning is redefining the appearance of school district housing. However, the biggest driving force behind this change remains high housing prices. According to transaction data, the average price of new homes in Zhongzheng District (0-5 years old) is NT$1.4582 million per ping. In recent years, prices in the pre-sale market have continued to rise, especially for new projects around popular school districts, with some achieving average transaction prices of NT$2 million per ping. Both small and large unit projects are approaching or exceeding the NT$2 million per ping mark, presenting buyers with a dual challenge of school district access and asset allocation. Bi Wu-jie, director of the 591 New Homes public relations department, pointed out that at the current transaction price range of NT$1.5 to 2 million per ping in Zhongzheng District's star school districts, assuming an average of NT$1.8 million per ping, a 10-ping unit would cost approximately NT$18 million, a 20-ping unit NT$36 million, and a 30-ping unit NT$54 million. Even the previously mainstream 30-ping three-bedroom product has crossed the high total price threshold. Amidst high housing prices and market consolidation, it is difficult for the market to return to the era previously dominated by 35 to 45-ping family homes.

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Amidst high housing prices and market consolidation, it is difficult for the market to return to the era previously dominated by 35 to 45-ping family homes.