Decatur bound, questions (Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Alpharetta: for sale, foreclosures, rental)

[hunterseat]

I'm breaking the cardinal rule of not doing searches and reading all the good info already posted here but look-it. I got the offer today and will probably be there w/in a month.

Looks like there are foreclosures to choose from. We have NO clue except we'd like a little land in an area where we aren't the only really pale people. 50/50 would be fine. I'd like to squeeze my horse in if possible. I moved to Hawaii without him and I promised I'd bring him next move.

My dear other is a builder and we are not faint-hearted when it comes to remodelling/restoration. But we'll have to live there as we work if at all possible.

Heaven help us we won't have anything but a couple of suitcases Life is an adventure!

Thanks for any info. I plan to accept in the morning. It's 10pm here now. Mahalo!

[lastminutemom]

So, no potential for a horse in Decatur. Plus, it sounds like you are talking about unincorporated DeKalb (if you are seeing foreclosures) which doesn't allow horses either. There are parts of DeKalb that are not diverse and I am guessing the foreclosures are in those areas.

Please answer these questions and we can be infinitely more helpful.

Helpful Tip,
For all of those about to move or thinking about moving to the Atlanta metro area, in order for us to better assist you and for you to get more responses please provide us with as much of the following information as possible in your initial post please:

1. Budget
2. House/Condo/Townhome?
3. Employment Status(commute/work from home)
4. Children(public school vs. private)
5. Suburban or Urban lifestyle preference or a mix of the two
6. Easy access to public transit, important or not?
7. Preferable demographics of desired neighborhood.

[hunterseat]

Thanks for the reply!
1.We could do a couple thou a month but prefer to spend way less.
2.We probably should rent the first year but would prefer a house.
commute to Decatur
3.Kids grown
4.Prefer living in the boonies but anything in that direction is preferred. We're on Oahu now and we can hear our neighbors blowing dust off their windowsills. :/
5.Public transit not a consideration.
6.Diversity and a measure of safe atmosphere required.

It might be a good idea to find a rental for the first year. We just don't know which direction we should be looking. We're guessing east.

We can drive 20 or 30 miles - again, not sure what the traffic is coming into Decatur.

ANY water feature nearby will be helpful to our mental health.

[dblackga]

Oh, honey . . . . *shaking of head*. "We can drive 20 or 30 miles" is the single most optimistic line I've read here in a long time. :-)

Atlanta is Traffic Central. Serious traffic in and out of the metro area. A commute of 30 miles could easily cost you over 3 hours a day of commuting time alone. My husband commutes to Decatur from the Dunwoody/Sandy Springs area just north of the Perimeter -- it's a half hour driving in mid-morning, but it's a solid hour or hour-fifteen in the afternoon if he does not get out by 4:30 pm (which rarely happens) -- and that's only 14 miles. And there's not too many places to keep a horse in Dunwoody/Sandy Springs (except for one iconic farmhouse) -- it's solid suburbia.

But if it's "land, lots of land, under starry skies above", then you are looking outside the Perimeter. As far as growing areas go, I would also include Milton, GA in your search -- lots of acreage and horses tucked up there, it's practically Horse Central. Alpharetta, Cumming and Suwanee also has some equestrian communities. Home values are definitely on the rise in the areas I've mentioned.

[Newsboy]

Check out Rockdale County or Henry County

[Caleb Longstreet]

If you are going, keep an eye on your wife or girlfriend...make sure she doesn't start wearing "comfortable shoes" or you are toast!

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by Caleb Longstreet

If you are going, keep an eye on your wife or girlfriend...make sure she doesn't start wearing "comfortable shoes" or you are toast!

WHAT?!

[hunterseat]

Keep the ideas coming. We've seen some stuff on craigs at Snellville and Stone Mountain.... Caleb in regards to Clayton & Henry? we're not seeing much we're interested there. btw I have no gf. I AM a gf! (hunterseat is a style of riding, English, jumping)

[Iconographer]

There are boarding stables in North Decatur.

www.littlecreekfarmconservancy.org

[hunterseat]

Thanks for the link. We're scrambling to do what's necessary for things to fall into place for the jump. Pets need vetting, vehicles need some attention and they need to be listed for sale. They're island cars and we got them SOOO cheap so getting rid of them will be no problem.