Possible Atlanta Move...

Hi D.!

My name is Jenny Wu. I moved from Sunnyvale, CA to Atlanta, GA five yrs ago and work in the Buckhead area. Homes here are half the price of the Bay Area and at least double or triple the size. I'm a realtor with Hartwell & Associates Realtors (owner: Lisa Wu Hartwell on reality tv show called: The Real Housewives of Atlanta). My suggestions would be Alpharetta, Duluth, Buckhead or Roswell. If you have any questions, please feel to contact me at: ____@____.com or call my cell: ###-###-####.

Have a great day!
Jenny

Depends on which part of Bay Area you are coming from. I'm originally from Berkeley/Oakland and feel that The City of Decatur (not Decatur the city) has a "Berkeleyish" feel. If you are from Concord/Walnut Creek/ San Jose then you might like Alpharetta, Duluth, Buckhead or Roswell areas. Like mentioned befor, you have many options with your price range.

I've lived in the city for almost 20 years as a single, young married and now a mother. We live in Grant Park and LOVE IT, and there are great charter schools here. If you want something close to Buckhead, check out Garden Hills,Chastain Park, Morningside, Va Highlands and Ansley Park. All have great public school options! Don't be misled that you have to use private schools intown. That's simply not true. We have some fabulous private schools, but we also have some excellent public schools and public charter schools. Druid Hills and city of Decatur aren't TOO far from Buckhead and have fabulous schools and lovely homes. Decatur is a wonderful community with a great small-town feel and a fabulous downtown area of shops, bars, restaurants,etc. It's a very kid-friendly and diverse community as well.I have to admit, I cannot STAND the suburbs of Atlanta (and I have lived in several of them), and many friends of mine have moved out there because they thought they had to when having kids only to discover that those of us living intown had the real community feeling with tons of playgroups, good charter schools, great shopping, cultural events and diversity.

One thing you need to think of is what your socio-political beliefs are. There are definitely some interesting pockets in the 'burbs, but you can think of the city of Atlanta (commonly referred to as ITP -inside the perimeter as opposed to OTP -outside the perimeter (I-285 that rings the city)) as a little island of blue in a sea of red. There are certainly differing views everywhere, but you find a lot of liberal and independent viewpoints in town. Intown Atlanta also has a large and active gay community and, far the most part, it's very racially diverse. Depending on the suburb you choose, some are racially diverse, but many are not.

If you're looking OTP, I would suggest Vinings/Smyrna. The people I know who have moved out of the city to the burbs have been happy there, but that's really the only place. It's VERY close to town and has really pretty homes.

If you want to email me privately, please feel free. I grew up an hour south of the city and have lived in the city my entire adult life. I don't want to completely offend anyone, but I would be happy to let you know some places you do NOT want to buy in and why!

Cobb county is known for having great options if you want to stick with public schools. (I have heard great things about Walton High School, Dickerson Middle School and Sope Creek Elementary School.) There are some nice homes off of Paper Mill Road in Marietta that would put you in that school district, but it could make for a time-consuming commute.

Personally, I like the Garden Hills area in Atlanta; it is an adorable area right in the middle of Buckhead. There are also some really great parts in The City of Decatur, and I hear the school systems there are relatively good. Personally, though, if I was going to send my son to school in Atlanta, I would opt for private school. There are some great private school options (I LOVE The Galloway School, but there are many great options.), including the Atlanta International School for language immersion programs and multiple options for those interested in religious programs.

Good luck, and welcome.

Chastain Park area - great homes and neighborhood but not a town feel or Virginia Highlands/Morningside which has shops and restaurants in walking distance and top public elementary schools. Garden Hill is great too and right in Buckhead, but not such a great public school area.

Just read the other responses...I personally wouldn't want to have to commute from way north when your husband is working in Buckhead. Vinnigs isn't too far but I still like the neighborhoods above better.

I have 2 Realtors I would suggest. You should meet a few and choose the one that fits best with you. Kate Burke with Dorsey Alston ____@____.com or Jared Sapp of Remax - ____@____.com both are fabulous and really know the intown areas.

We are building a new house in Buckhead near Chastain Park. Our kids aren't school age yet but we plan that they will go to public school which include Jackson Elementary, Sutton Middle and (right now) North Atlanta High School. Jackson is a Blue Ribbon school and Sutton was recently renovated and has been 'up and coming' for a few years now which I understand means it's doing very well.

North Atlanta doesn't have a great reputation right now but the former Principal from Sutton who 'turned the school around' is now the Principal at North Atlanta. Also, North Atlanta is a huge school so motivated kids will find plenty of opportunties there - IB program and classes you couldn't find at a smaller school (one of my neighbor's friends took Mandarin Chinese and started an internet business in China before he graduated from High School!) Also, Atlanta Public Schools are in the process of buying land to build a new high school for Buckhead and one option is that the current North Atlanta High School will become a middle school with kids going to Sutton for 1 or 2 years then North Atlanta for 1 or 2 years - i.e. - breaking up the middle school - to alleviate projected overcrowding (more kids in the area).

We love everything Buckhead and specifically Chastain Park has to offer enough that we demolished our 1950s era 2-bedroom ranch and are constructing a 5 bedroom home on the same site. Our family will be there for many years!

With the amount of money you are looking at, you have a lot of choices. It all depends on whether you plan for your kids to go to a public or private school.

If you plan for them to go to a Public school, then you might want to be looking at the JohnsCreek /Alpharetta area, but traffic might be an issue with your husband's commute. If you plan for them to go a private school, then you might want to find an area around Dunwoody/Sandy Springs/Brookhaven

Atlanta has a lot of choices, and is a place I am sure you will love. You might also want to research the schools if you plan for your kids to go to a public school.

Good luck!

Oh D., you have such great possibilities! The cute town feel that's safe sounds like Vinings. It is probably not on a map but is next to (or maybe even in) Smyrna (NW side of the perimeter, I-285) . I lived there when I first started my career and it took me to Atlanta years ago. It's even nicer now. Cobb County schools are supposed to be good. Buckhead is a great area for visiting, shopping and "yuppie" type living but it wouldn't be my first choice to raise a family. It wouldn't be my last either :)

McDonough and Henry County schools are good as well and that's on the SE side of the perimeter and you'll have more of a southern, rural feel. Homes will be a lot less expensive. Peachtree City is a SW suburb that is a nice place to live but quite a commute to Buckhead. The entire planned town has golf cart trails, lakes and would be a wonderful place to raise a family. My husband has always said that would be his first choice if he had nothing else dictating area.

Atlanta is like any other large city and there are a lot of little hidden treasures. Up around Chamblee there are a lot of older homes with character and really good private schools and Alpharetta is a newer area with good schools as well. If you pin down your area a little further feel free to PM me and pick my brain if you like!

M.

Cute village, good public schools and close to Buckhead don't all match up well. Ture vinings (inside the perimeter and outside 75) is a cute village and within a 30 min commute but schools aren't good. It is close to all the good privates though. Anywhere in Buckhead has great elementary and middle schools but not high schools. A realtor can show you some of the enclave neighborhoods in Buckhead (Riverside, Brookwood Hills,Brookhaven, Westside). Marrietta, Sandy Springs and Dunwoody might work but a little further out. Good luck...be carful to really investigate commute times. The map can tell a story that is diiferent than reality. All of these areas are a safe as anyother large city neighborhood. Your price of 500k will give you a lot of options.

Updated

Cute village, good public schools and close to Buckhead don't all match up well. True vinings (inside the perimeter and outside 75) is a cute village and within a 30 min commute but schools aren't good. It is close to all the good privates though. Anywhere in Buckhead has great elementary and middle schools but not high schools. A realtor can show you some of the enclave neighborhoods in Buckhead (Riverside, Brookwood Hills,Brookhaven, Westside). Marrietta, Sandy Springs and Dunwoody might work (good schools and villiage feel) but a little further out. Good luck...be careful to really investigate commute times. The map can tell a story that is diiferent than reality. All of these areas are as safe as any other large city neighborhood. Your price of 500k will give you a lot of options.

Updated

Cute village, good public schools and close to Buckhead don't all match up well. True vinings (inside the perimeter and outside 75) is a cute village and within a 30 min commute but schools aren't good. It is close to all the good privates though. Anywhere in Buckhead has great elementary and middle schools but not high schools. A realtor can show you some of the enclave neighborhoods in Buckhead (Riverside, Brookwood Hills,Brookhaven, Westside). Marrietta, Sandy Springs and Dunwoody might work (good schools and villiage feel) but a little further out. Good luck...be careful to really investigate commute times. The map can tell a story that is diiferent than reality. All of these areas are as safe as any other large city neighborhood. Your price of 500k will give you a lot of options.

Updated

Cute village, good public schools and close to Buckhead don't all match up well. True vinings (inside the perimeter and outside 75) is a cute village and within a 30 min commute but schools aren't good. It is close to all the good privates though. Anywhere in Buckhead has great elementary and middle schools but not high schools. A realtor can show you some of the enclave neighborhoods in Buckhead (Riverside, Brookwood Hills,Brookhaven, Westside). Marrietta, Sandy Springs and Dunwoody might work (good schools and villiage feel) but a little further out. Good luck...be careful to really investigate commute times. The map can tell a story that is diiferent than reality. All of these areas are as safe as any other large city neighborhood. Your price of 500k will give you a lot of options.

Hi D.. We live in the Atlanta area, not far from Decatur. My children live in Decatur and own a real estate business. Decatur is known for its school system and having a "small and cute" town feel as a suburb of the bigger metropolitan area of Atlanta. If you want that type of small town feel and want to be close to the big town "amenities"; and have your children in a great school system; then I believe the Decatur area is your best bet. Call RealSouce Brokers, phone # ###-###-####. They will help you ALL the way with great advice and help in finding the best area for you and your family. Like I said, my husband and I have an Atlanta address, but live very close to Decatur and do most of our dining and leisure in Decatur, because we love that small town feel. And Decatur is a lovely town with beautiful homes and "hometown" businesses that cater to ones every need. My son and his wife chose the Decatur area because of it's great school system (they have a 4 yr old daughter that will start pre-k in Aug.); and live in the Oakhurst area for it's charm! I hope this gives you some help in making a decision....good luck with your move!!