Help: Need to move close to Decatur (Atlanta, Tucker: rental, low crime)

[udee]

Hi I really need everyone's help who is familiar with the city of Decatur. I am planning to re-locate to Atlanta next year, and I need some serious advice. I plan to work in Decatur along Clairmount road. Decatur with area codes 30030 and 30033 are very pricey. I am interested in a gated community....3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths town house in a really nice, safe area. I have checked out area codes 30034, 30035, and 30032 which seem to be high in crime. Can someone please recommend a nice area with low crime that is close to decatur. My price range is..$170.000-$ 195.000...Thanks

[TheChooch]

I'm no expert, but I think you pay a premium to be in a "gated community". Are you open to living in a non-gated neighborhood?

[udee]

Originally Posted by TheChooch

I'm no expert, but I think you pay a premium to be in a "gated community". Are you open to living in a non-gated neighborhood?

I think I would be, as long as it is safe.

[antv]

Is there much crime in a gated community, where the gate actually works and the riff raff is not inside?

[udee]

I think a gated community helps to lessen crime that can come into a subdivision. Of course it may not get rid of it altogether, but it does lessen it for it makes it harder for anyone not living there to have easy access to enter in.

[BobKovacs]

A gated community is worthless for preventing crime unless there's a guard at the gate who logs license plate numbers and authorizes everyone who enters.

In gated communities without a guard, within a month of the subdivision opening, every pool cleaner, pizza delivery guy and boyfriend of teen girls who live in the subdivision has the the gate code. Add in the fact that you can easily follow a car through the gate at any time, and the fact that there's always times where the gates are broken and wide open, and you've got worthless security.

And yes, you're going to pay a premium for this false sense of security in the way of higher association fees and higher property costs due to the "perceived security".

[cmtiger]

Your best bet is to get a big dog. They work better than a gated community any day!

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by udee

Hi I really need everyone's help who is familiar with the city of Decatur. I am planning to re-locate to Atlanta next year, and I need some serious advice. I plan to work in Decatur along Clairmount road. Decatur with area codes 30030 and 30033 are very pricey. I am interested in a gated community....3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths town house in a really nice, safe area. I have checked out area codes 30034, 30035, and 30032 which seem to be high in crime. Can someone please recommend a nice area with low crime that is close to decatur. My price range is..$170.000-$ 195.000...Thanks

For your price range and other requirements, I recommend looking in Tucker, just to the northeast of Decatur (a very easy commute).

Tucker is an unincorporated city that is becoming very popular for people who considered the city of Decatur, but then found things too pricey.

You will be very happy once you start researching/looking in Tucker. You'll find what you are looking for.

Good Luck!

P.S.-Don't worry about a gate.

[goozer]

Off hand, I cannot think of any "gated" communities in the City of Decatur, except for a couple of rental complexes in the area. Most of the homes in the City of Decatur are either old 1920s to 1950s houses, or else new houses that have been built in existing neighborhoods with 1920s to 1950s houses. I understand your concern for safety, but if you are living in the City of Decatur, I think you will find it to be very safe. When you get outside the city limits of Decatur (that includes a larger area contained in the 30030 zip code, much of which calls itself Decatur, but is not), you get to areas that are a little bit dicier.

Unfortunately, as you noted, the prices for virtually anything in the City of Decatur, including townhomes, are going to be over $200k. Someone mentioned Tucker, which is definitely worth exploring given your requirements. The best part about it is that you would have an easy commute to work without having to get on I-285 or any other freeways. And you might be able to find a gated community out that way. Good luck.

[jma1216]

There are no areas around the City of Decatur tht have low crime. There are some wonderfull pockets, and some amazing older houses in the Tucker area.