Where should a young professional buy a house/condo/townhome in Atlanta? (Sandy Springs: for sale, real estate)

[goodlife36]

Originally Posted by jsvh

I was in Viewpoint and had no noise issues. It is amazing how sound proof they can make them. You could really tell a difference when you left the door open.

That is good to know. I liked apartment living but the noise has been unbearable.

[ATLTJL]

That's going to depend a lot on your neighbors, too.

I remember I had a friend who lived in one of the Novare properties, can't remember which, and I asked what it was like with neighbors. I lived in an apartment and could always hear the people above me walking around. He said there's a lady who lived above him and he can always hear her when she walks around with her shoes on. Click clack, click clack.

Even with the 8 inches of concrete between floors, I asked? Yep, even with that, he said.

Just because you live in a condo building doesn't mean you won't hear noise.

[jsvh]

It does depend on the property (and neighbors some too). I have heard Metropolis (Novare) has some noise issues because it was originally built as apartments. Which apparently are often built with less sound proofing.

[Vitamin Z]

Thanks for the advice here. Midtown looks really attractive to me but the properties are definitely selling at a bit of a premium there. As for Buckhead, I have looked around the Roswell/Piedmont intersection area but what I have found is that there are a lot of very old properties selling for dirt cheap and some newer properties selling at or above Midtown prices. If I had to pick between the two, I would lean towards Midtown but am I looking at the wrong parts of Buckhead?

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by Vitamin Z

Thanks for the advice here. Midtown looks really attractive to me but the properties are definitely selling at a bit of a premium there. As for Buckhead, I have looked around the Roswell/Piedmont intersection area but what I have found is that there are a lot of very old properties selling for dirt cheap and some newer properties selling at or above Midtown prices. If I had to pick between the two, I would lean towards Midtown but am I looking at the wrong parts of Buckhead?

Where in Buckhead is your job and what areas of Buckhead have you been looking at?

[Vitamin Z]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Where in Buckhead is your job and what areas of Buckhead have you been looking at?

Job is on Peachtree Road close to where it intersects with GA-400. As far as my Buckhead search, I have been mostly looking around the western border of Lenox Park and westward, until about where Roswell and Piedmont intersects. Also, although much less important, I am trying to be sensitive to my buddy who I may have room with me. He works near Downtown.

[Zanarkand A East]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

But I always say....live by work and commute to fun.

Yikes! I definitely subscribe to the opposite.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by Vitamin Z

Job is on Peachtree Road close to where it intersects with GA-400. As far as my Buckhead search, I have been mostly looking around the western border of Lenox Park and westward, until about where Roswell and Piedmont intersects. Also, although much less important, I am trying to be sensitive to my buddy who I may have room with me. He works near Downtown.

That is about where my office was in Buckhead and probably the best areas of Buckhead to consider for condos convenient to your job. You could also look at some smaller and older condos further south down Peachtree in south Buckhead.

Midtown would be closer if you end up with a roommate heading to downtown. There are some older / less expensive options in midtown too. There are also some 2/1 available for less if you don't mind sharing a bathroom. That is what I had.

I will add: if you are wanting to buy this as more of an "investment", you may want to consider downtown. You can get condos for half what they would cost in midtown and Buckhead. But there seems to be a lot of potential brewing in downtown and is an area I am seriously considering buy in next. However, downtown is still years away from being as vibrant as midtown, nor is it as prestigious of an address, plus it can still be pretty sketchy. Something to consider depending on what your "strategy" is. But Midtown sounds like the best fit to me based on your comments so far.

[ElleKaye]

Originally Posted by westau

Buckhead or Vinings. Midtown you get a lot less for your $$.

I agree with the earlier posters who said the OP should probably not buy if planning to sell within 3 to 5 years, but if he's bound and determined to do it anyway, I'd try Vinings or Sandy Springs.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by ElleKaye

I'd try Vinings or Sandy Springs.

Any reason why? Just for more of a suburban feel? I don't think the prices are that much cheaper and the commute will be bad.