Ex Military family moving to ATL from UK

[BillWagner]

mxd.brit, First I would stay out of Jonesboro. I would recommend Summergrove in Newnan. They are built by Bob Adams, who is a great detailed builder. It is a PUD community with a lake, golf course, tennis, swim, community with lots of community activities. I used to own a home there, my brother still does, my mom used to live in the retirement community there. It is not England!!! I do business with some english companies and Georgia is very different from what you and they are describing, so do not be surprised by the difference. Fayetteville is a nice community, especially on the southern/eastern end, but has some communities near it that are not as good. The farther east/southeast you are the better. Peachtree City is good, but it is not England. Fairburn is directly down I85 more towards Atlanta and the airport. This area is booming with growth. It has changed very much since I lived there. There is a lot of planning for tremendous growth in that area just north of Union City. A lot of new subdivsions are being built and you will have quick access to I285 and I85 there. Good luck and I hope you have a good, easy move. Let me know if you have any more questions, or I can help in any way...Bill

[mxd.Brit]

Originally Posted by BillWagner

mxd.brit, First I would stay out of Jonesboro. I would recommend Summergrove in Newnan. They are built by Bob Adams, who is a great detailed builder. It is a PUD community with a lake, golf course, tennis, swim, community with lots of community activities. I used to own a home there, my brother still does, my mom used to live in the retirement community there. It is not England!!! I do business with some english companies and Georgia is very different from what you and they are describing, so do not be surprised by the difference. Fayetteville is a nice community, especially on the southern/eastern end, but has some communities near it that are not as good. The farther east/southeast you are the better. Peachtree City is good, but it is not England. Fairburn is directly down I85 more towards Atlanta and the airport. This area is booming with growth. It has changed very much since I lived there. There is a lot of planning for tremendous growth in that area just north of Union City. A lot of new subdivsions are being built and you will have quick access to I285 and I85 there. Good luck and I hope you have a good, easy move. Let me know if you have any more questions, or I can help in any way...Bill

Thank you very much for your response, i will certainly make a note of the areas you have recommended. I should imagine when my husband gets back from his tour (due back any minute now - military life!!!) he will get a message to you with more questions. Do you know of any other good builders to look out for - this will be our next big challenge.

Many thanks again!!!

[BillWagner]

In the Atlanta area there are lots of good builders and lots of available homes on the market with incentives to buy because of the overbuild of homes and the slow market. The thing to look out for when dealing with builders is to make sure that they hire good contractors to build their homes. It is different in each area of town. Take a builder such as Legacy, in Covington they have a good subdivision and hire good subcontractors but in Henry County they have a shoddy product because of the subcontractors and I would gues the managers that work for Legacy are not doing their jobs very well. It is probably a subdivsion to subdivision thing to look for. Bob Adams is a great builder and has been building in this subdivision for a decade and I am very familiar with them. Let me know where you concentrate your search and I will help as much as possible...Bill

[mxd.Brit]

Originally Posted by BillWagner

In the Atlanta area there are lots of good builders and lots of available homes on the market with incentives to buy because of the overbuild of homes and the slow market. The thing to look out for when dealing with builders is to make sure that they hire good contractors to build their homes. It is different in each area of town. Take a builder such as Legacy, in Covington they have a good subdivision and hire good subcontractors but in Henry County they have a shoddy product because of the subcontractors and I would gues the managers that work for Legacy are not doing their jobs very well. It is probably a subdivsion to subdivision thing to look for. Bob Adams is a great builder and has been building in this subdivision for a decade and I am very familiar with them. Let me know where you concentrate your search and I will help as much as possible...Bill

Those are very good points about variations from division to division. I just looked up bob adams homes and they look like a reputable builder and we had not come across them in our search, so thank you once again. I will stay in touch - hubby is due back any day now then we really have to get the ball rolling as we are also expecting our 2nd baby in november so we have to be somewhat decided before hurricane 'new baby' comes along!!!!

THank you!!!!!

[ptcgirl]

Peachtree City or Fayetteville (on the border of PTC) are good options. Excellent schools, lots of recreation and very open to many cultures. I've met lots of Brits here. Your price range will be hard to work into PTC. Maybe Ardenlee Subdivision or off Pebble Pocket Dr. in PTC?

[mxd.Brit]

Originally Posted by ptcgirl

Peachtree City or Fayetteville (on the border of PTC) are good options. Excellent schools, lots of recreation and very open to many cultures. I've met lots of Brits here. Your price range will be hard to work into PTC. Maybe Ardenlee Subdivision or off Pebble Pocket Dr. in PTC?

Thanks ptcgirl,

I for one am getting very confused with what we should do, we did a search for houses in PTC and surrounding areas and our budget becomes a problem. We have thought about living in an good safe neighbourhood (forget education) and put the kids through private school or trying to find everything in one and put our budget up which we didnt want to do because I wont be able to get a job until I get there (green card) - so hubby will be paying mortgage and everything else for the foreseeable future. I have been reading as far back as page 69 to get different perspectives on all areas. We will be visiting before moving but this may not be enough - renting is not an option, we want to get on the housing ladder asap (retirement etc) lousy as it is.

...... mmmm confused but will def check areas suggested in my thread in detail.

Thank you

[afonega1]

Originally Posted by mxd.Brit

Thanks ptcgirl,

I for one am getting very confused with what we should do, we did a search for houses in PTC and surrounding areas and our budget becomes a problem. We have thought about living in an good safe neighbourhood (forget education) and put the kids through private school or trying to find everything in one and put our budget up which we didnt want to do because I wont be able to get a job until I get there (green card) - so hubby will be paying mortgage and everything else for the foreseeable future. I have been reading as far back as page 69 to get different perspectives on all areas. We will be visiting before moving but this may not be enough - renting is not an option, we want to get on the housing ladder asap (retirement etc) lousy as it is.

...... mmmm confused but will def check areas suggested in my thread in detail.

Thank you

My suggestionif you want a good safe area to reside in and IF you are putting your kids in private school.You should try the Rex/fairview area of and on the border of Henry and Clayton county.Really nice neighborhoods with low crime and direct access to all the interstates and the Airport.Its near I675 and also near Ft.Gilleum Army Base.Its a diverse area mainly because of the base.House are reasonable and many don't seemed to be affected by the foreclosure mess in some neighborhoods.Clayton as a whole has had some image problems as far as crime and education but theses ares aseem to be immune from those very negative issues.You would be doing yourself a favor to check it out.(Im in the military as well).

[Alt Dach]

Originally Posted by mxd.Brit

Help!!!
My husband and I have read all threads relating to moving to ATL but we have a few extra questions so decided to join this forum. My husband is US active duty air force but getting out next year, I am a Brit we have a 2 year old and one on the way. My husband is a FLoridian and we have been priced out of that market possibly by my fellow Brits.

We would prefer to live South of the city - easier commute for the Floridian family, but flexible.
Budget 200K or less. 1hr max commute to the city for jobs. Good public schools, we are also considering private school. Low crime rate. NOt too far from ammenities - shops restaurants etc

Can anyone recommend any culturally diverse areas and communities. Really important. We will spend about 2 weeks looking but want a few areas to start with.

We currently live in a lovely english village outside of Cambridge with cycling tracks, walking paths, park and very friendly. Can we get this in GA?

HUH? Of course not-there is no place in the US remotely as nice as Cambridgeshire esp, in that benighted area.