For those braving current real-estate conditions and buying a home, the school district in which the home resides may be one of the most important elements to look at these days, according to a study by Trulia.com.

The study found that despite the overall downturn in residential real estate, homes that were in highly rated local school districts generally maintained or increased in value.

"In this uncertain economy, people are really searching for ways to ensure the big purchases they make are going to be sound," said Pete Flint, co-founder and CEO of Trulia. When buying a home, selecting one in a good school district is one way to do that, according to the study.

To drive home the point, the firm singled out some large markets and "educational value" areas within 50 miles of a core city.

While the median list price in Chicago, for example, fell 4% between March 2007 and March 2008, according to the Web site, the median price in suburban LaGrange, Ill. -- where the schools are highly rated -- rose 4%. The median list price in Boston may have decreased 24% over the period, according to the site, but nearby Swampscott, Mass., with its highly rated schools, experienced a gain of 15% over the period. See Trulia.com's school study.

Read more real-estate news in this week's pages, including the latest figures on single-family housing starts and an audio report on why the Fed's rate cut may not help home buyers. Plus, read a Realty Q&A about when to run a credit check and get preapproved for a mortgage.

And if you're thinking about buying a home, do some homework on the neighborhood schools. It's not only kids that stand to benefit from them, it's the value of your home too.

-- Amy Hoak, real estate writer