Getting down to the nitty gritty, almost ready for an offer acceptance so now starting

[livinginbuffalo]

young children. One is in first grade here, the other won't be in kindergarten until 2012 (so not a big issue for her) but I don't want to move my first grader out of school in NY to start school in GA in September next year at one elementary school and then move her into another elementary school once we finally find a house. If we rent, it would only be because we could not find a house we like in time for school to start in the district we want.

We are looking at Forsyth or North Fulton school districts and we definitely need to check out the commute first. My husband would be down there for six months before we come down and buy a house so he could certainly spend those six months driving around, checking commutes and asking around. I will be able to come down at least three times to look around.

It's hard to know what to do but I feel like a gated golf community is going to be ok as far as value goes.

BTW, my husband is from Lewiston and we lived in Youngstown and commuted to Depew for a long time so a 45 minute drive was normal for him. We don't want to do that if we don't have to but he will.

Any other advice is appreciated. WE do have a good realtor (our friend used her who just moved down there from here too) so I feel like she is helping to guide us as much as she is allowed. Thanks again

[darkchild80]

You have to do the best thing for your family! My daughter is two years old so I have a few years to make my big move, lol!

It is great that your husband will be here for six months. He can learn the area and hear perspectives from other Atlantans on the best areas to live. Good Luck!

[cityhopper]

Originally Posted by capoeira

The key to an easy life in the suburban Atlanta metro is to live close to your workplace.

Truer words have never been spoken. When I first moved to Atlanta, I spent my first few years on the road and it made the experience terrible. Choosing school systems is so important but do not negate the "quality of life" issue which can be extremely degraded by unnecessary, horrendous commutes.

[tomno00]

^so true. Most schools in metro atlanta are good. so TRY to limit your commute as best you can. It can really have an impact on your life. Trust me... I see it on my sister's face.

[bluebonnetbabe]

Originally Posted by darkchild80

Hello LivinginBuffalo,

I am from the WNY area too (Niagara Falls). I have been down in ATL for six years now. I would recommend renting for at least one year before narrowing your search. I regret settling in my current location. You have to live here to understand traffic patterns and various community attributes. In Buffalo you are used to not driving far to get to certain spots or attractions. I hate driving 30+ minutes in heavy traffic just to go to my favorites stores and/or restaurants. Atlanta is very spread out and you want to live around amenities that are important to your family.

I loved my current area on paper but once I purchased my home and lived there I was not satisfied. I wish I would have settled in another location.

As for schools... I teach here in Atlanta. Schools change quickly down in Atlanta due to neighborhoods changing. My school was once a great place with nice families. Now a lot of "hood" folk have moved in the area and the good families moved out. I can say that Gwinnett is one area experiencing this issue. Some families have moved to Hall and Forsyth counties. Alot of burbs have experienced major demographic changes in the short time that I have lived here. I would hate for you to buy a nice home and lose property value in a few years because the neighborhood went down. In Atlanta it is good to stay in neighborhoods that continue to keep value like Alpharetta and Duluth or better find up and coming locations that are projected to increase in value.

Please don't make your decision lightly or blindly!!!! If I could do it again I would rent for at least one year and educate myself on the best neighborhoods. The only way to learn to Atlanta is to live here.

Why do you regret where you settled and what area of Atlanta is it?

Anybody have any opinions about Hall County? Is it an up and coming part of ATL? Particularly Flowery Branch and FBHS? We have 2 HS aged daughters and we will be moving to ATL soon from Keller, TX (just north of Ft.Worth) and we looked at a house at Sterling on the Lake because it is BEAUTIFUL in that neighborhood. What would you say are the up and coming neighborhoods/areas projected to increase in value? Would this be one of them?