Moving to Atlanta

[katy1844]

Hi Ladies,

We are considering moving to Atlanta from Northern Virginia. I've never been to Atlanta so would love to hear about it. Are there many "mothering" types of people there? We are NOT major commuting types of people so is it going to be really $$$ living there? THanks!!!!!!

[pigpokey]

Wow not enough information. $$$ compared to NoVa? No, I don't think so.

We live in Decatur (near the Square, not south of the Decatur city limits don't do it!!!) and DH bike commutes to Midtown. I do put a lot of miles on my car but they are generally not rush hour miles and it is because we are homeschoolers and doing a lot of classes and sports and such. You don't *have* to do it but as long as it's not rush hour I don't mind so much. If I was not so type A about offering them The Optimal Schedule, Full Without Being Too Full, then we probably would not leave Decatur and could bike everywhere. There's plenty to do here.

[kattykay]

Yeah, we need more info like where he would work, how much house you can afford, if you will public/private/home school, whether you are a city type or a suburban type.

There is a big circle around Atlanta called the Perimeter (I-285). In general, more liberal crunchy types live inside this circle especially around the Decatur area. In general more conservative (but some crunchy conservative) live outside this circle. It costs much more to live inside the Perimeter.

Give us details and we can give better advice. And you will never really know until you get here.

[littlebb]

I agree with PP. My DH and I are considered Crunchy Conservative and live northwest of the city. You'll find a lot of homeschooling and playdates and family-oriented things in the 'burbs, too. We didn't know what crunchy meant until we started seeing our midwife to plan a homebirth and got involved with our chiropractors, who are very, very crunchy and promote a natural lifestyle. There is a lot more crunchy in the 'burbs here than we ever realized.

[philomom]

Yep, its a big red state. Decatur is a small blue oasis of liberal, crunchiness. That's where I lived when I was there. There's a nice waldorf school if you are into that. The homeschoolers meet at McKoy park every Thursday and they offer classes at the Boys and Girls club in Oakhurst to supplement your own classes. The farmer's market is awesome. There is some public transportation but you will find it is not used by the middle class at all.


Why did I leave?
I left mostly to find a bigger Decatur. Portland fits the bill nicely for me.

[katy1844]

Hi Ladies,

Okay he'll be working here: 2635 Century Center Parkway, NE
Atlanta, Georgia. As far as crunchy I'm into homeschooling (although my daughter LOVES school and currently is going into 1st grade after all!. I'm hoping for a homebirth next, we try and eat an organic diet, I nurse all my kids for 2-3 years and while I would be considered pretty liberal my DH is on the other end- yes there are quite a few subjects we just don't talk about at the dinner table . As far as a house it is VERY important that we have a yard and a big yard, I would like a bigger house too, we've spent the last 3 years in 3 different houses ranging from 1200 sq feet to 4500sq feet and were looking for something in the middle maybe 2500-300sq feet (were a big family and were not even done yet!). As far as cots we would like to be around the 500k mark, so ladies do u think it can be done.... oh and I forgot to mention I HATE heat in general but will put up with it its there is 4 seasons, so how's the weather? Were a VERY outdoors family and can't stand to be inside for long periods of time if its super hot, cold no problem that's what wool is for! Thanks again!!!

[zjandosmom]

With that housing budget you should have no problem. I LOVE intown living but we couldn't afford a house big enough for our family (4 kids). We just moved out. Candler Park is awesome. Grant Park is nice but can still be a little 'transitional'. Candler Park is part of the only school system in the city I would even consider sending my kids to. Decatur is really nice too. Good luck!

[kattykay]

ITA, you will be fine.

[pigpokey]

http://www.kingteam.com/MyHomeDtl.asp?HomeID=776451&P=8 is on my street. Price is really good for the street. It's just outside the Decatur city line so the taxes are low, it's still safe and you can still bike to the Square etc.

[housefullofboys]

check out oakhurst neighborhood in city of decatur. schools are good, community is progressive and friendly and most importantly, it's very walkable. it's hard to find houses with big yards. however, with a $500K budget you may find something.

[katy1844]

I looooooove the house posted here, but I'm afraid with so many toddlers in my home I need all the bedrooms on the same floor (to many kids switching beds at night). I am also worried about the yard, its not that we need TONS of space as much as I don't want to worry about my kids being loud and having it bother the neighbors- bad bad experience in the bay area has us nervous about anything under .50 acre. My husbands co-workers all suggested Duluth- any thoughts on there? It's about 18 miles from work....

[kattykay]

With your house budget you have the opportunity to live intown, so don't pass it up. You can find a good size yard in Decatur, Virginia Highlands, or Lake Claire (but maybe not .5 acres). Altanta is crawling with kids so don't worry about neighbors.

I live up by Duluth right now and really don't like it. Way too suburban and far away from anything. And it could be an hour commute for your DH easy. You just need to come down and see for yourself, but I really can't recommend living ITP enough.

[bellydance2290]

I agree with living ITP. I currently live in Duluth as well (katykay we should get together ) and we don't love it here. Actually, once the market turns around and we can sell our house (whenever that happens!) we plan on most likely moving to the Decatur/Oakhurst area.
As far as the people that live in the suburbs, I've found everyone to be pretty nice but most of the other Mom's I've met are more conservative than I am. I would consider myself crunchy liberal. There are some around, just few and far between. You also can't judge a commute by the miles - 18 miles could easily be a hour in ATL.
The best way to decide would be to come on down and look at the neighborhoods and decide for yourself. Only you will know what feels right for your family.

[BensMom]

Going from any of the outer suburbs to the city will be very congested. Atlanta has wicked traffic. I would even venture to say its worse than Los Angeles just because in LA there are eleventymillion freeways so you can always find a 2nd or 3rd way around. Here, there are like 4, so its either one big fat congested freeway or a bunch of congested side streets with lights at every corner. Yeah, I hate trafffic.

500K. not a problem. I would say avg houses cost 200-300K around here, slightly more in the premium intown areas, so you should find pretty close to what you want.

[pigpokey]

Originally Posted by katy1844

...Duluth- any thoughts on there? It's about 18 miles from work....

NO. 18 miles is no joke tied to highways in rush hour. Do not do it.

Unless your kids are figure skaters.

[hennaLisa]

Stone Mountain

If you really like being outdoors, you could think about buying around Stone Mountain. There is a huge park with a stone mountain with trails. I know some people who got a 3000sq ft house on 3 acres with a view of the mountain from their backyard. They have a pool and are part owners of a lake which their property backs up to. They got all this for about 300k (house needed some repairs though). Stone Mountain is just East of Decatur, just outside the Perimeter.

[BetsyS]

We live in Gwinnett, too, and we're also itching for the market to return so we can leave.

If we had that budget, we'd be intown in a heartbeat. Our favorite areas are just off Clairmont, just east of 85. Neighborhoods like Sagamore Hills, Leafmore, Oak Grove, etc. Close to Toco Hills, Emory, the Dekalb Farmers' Market. All the good stuff.

[lolar2]

My mom is from NoVa and my dad is from Atlanta, and we all live in Atlanta now.

What everyone else said, on buying in town. COL is DEFINITELY cheaper here than in NoVa. It's a much less emphatically southern city than, say, Richmond, these days, in case you were concerned about that.

[lisavark]

I'm also from NOVA and now live in Atlanta!

You definitely need to live intown. For 500K, you can absolutely afford it, and although there are a few crunch people in the suburbs, you'll find a lot more of us ITP (inside the perimeter).

I live in Grant Park and love it! But it is pretty transitional. Great great parents' network, though, and big lovely park. There are lots and lots of kids here. Decatur is awesome, and East Atlanta, which is halfway between Decatur and Grant Park, is another great neighborhood with lots of families. Or Lake Claire, like somebody else said.

[Yo Becca]

Originally Posted by BetsyS

We live in Gwinnett, too, and we're also itching for the market to return so we can leave.

If we had that budget, we'd be intown in a heartbeat. Our favorite areas are just off Clairmont, just east of 85. Neighborhoods like Sagamore Hills, Leafmore, Oak Grove, etc. Close to Toco Hills, Emory, the Dekalb Farmers' Market. All the good stuff.

I think these sound like a good fit for the OP - Sagamore HIlls and Oak Grove areas have ranch-style and 2 story houses, with slightly bigger yards and more sq ft than those closer to Decatur or Inman Park/Candler park (with older bungalow-style homes on wee little lots, mixed with new mcmansion styles). The public schools there are good - DeKalb County, feed into Lakeside and Druid Hills High schools, I think. You would be close to lots of things - A pretty straight shot into all the "intown" stuff in buckhead or Midtown, close to downtown decatur for the small town stuff, yet also close to Northlake and Tucker for all your mall/big box needs. And convenient to I-85 for commuting. But they are "off the path" neighborhoods, and there is TONS of cute stuff popping up in Oak Grove (Off La Vista Rd. ITP) - little neighborhood eateries, local shops, etc. It seems very family friendly, but it's not the suburbs.

I wouldn't consider Duluth unless you really like the suburbs, b/c that's really what it is. (sorry, Duluth people - I respect your choice to be suburban, it's just not for me!)

With your house budget, you really won't have a problem finding anything you want. Intown, I see houses I love all the time for 300-400K. Too bad that's not *my* budget!