Back Again--Question regarding Overlook at Clarimont--Decatur (Druid Hills: for sale, rental, condo)

[kranjan]

I am back on the forum with my question for you all. I have looked at the place in Overlook at Clarimont. I am sure it will be a very long commute for me to GaTech. But my wife will be probably joining Emory University as a faculty next year. So, it feels that this will be close place for her.

However, I am read horrible reviews about the school district. The schools associated with this place are Elemantary--Briar Vista and Middle/High--Druid Hills.

We have no kids right now. So, for is it won't be an issue for next 5 years. But I do understand now that folks with kids will look at the school district. Therefore, it will dictate the resale/rental options later if we decide to move OTP to the suburbs.

Does anyone has any views about this place?

1869 Ridgemont Ln # 0, Decatur, GA 30033 is For Sale - Zillow

I just lost out on another unit at Spire. I was offer 95% of the asking price. So, it seems like the market is very hot around Mid-town and places which are 1300 sq ft range and priced close to $350k is moving very quickly out of the market.

[lastminutemom]

Originally Posted by kranjan

I am back on the forum with my question for you all. I have looked at the place in Overlook at Clarimont. I am sure it will be a very long commute for me to GaTech. But my wife will be probably joining Emory University as a faculty next year. So, it feels that this will be close place for her.

However, I am read horrible reviews about the school district. The schools associated with this place are Elemantary--Briar Vista and Middle/High--Druid Hills.

We have no kids right now. So, for is it won't be an issue for next 5 years. But I do understand now that folks with kids will look at the school district. Therefore, it will dictate the resale/rental options later if we decide to move OTP to the suburbs.

Does anyone has any views about this place?

1869 Ridgemont Ln # 0, Decatur, GA 30033 is For Sale - Zillow

I just lost out on another unit at Spire. I was offer 95% of the asking price. So, it seems like the market is very hot around Mid-town and places which are 1300 sq ft range and priced close to $350k is moving very quickly out of the market.

If it is condo/townhome, you probably need to understand the rental rules and realize that being able to rent it isn't guaranteed

Briar Vista is a challenging school. It isn't particularly attractive to people who do research -- and the same goes for for Druid Hlls Middle. However, DH High is slightly more desirable. A big problem with all of them is the fact that they are in DeKalb County. You can't reasonably expect them to improve any time soon.

Keep in mind though, that the likely buyers, should you want to sell it, are going to be a couple like you, young professionals, no children.

While others on this board may disagree, I believe that vast majority of people with children desire single family homes and in that price range, they can find something. I don't think the market in ATlanta is such that people have to live in townhomes or condo for ownership opportunities.

[kranjan]

So, you think school district should not be a criteria while looking at the townhomes/condo. With that in mind, do you think the Overlook at Clarimont is a good place to buy compared to Spire or other condo in the mid-town?

[Tarzanman]

Find a bungalow near or around Virginia Avenue in the north part of the VA highlands. This will put you almost smack dab between GaTech and Emory. Morningside has some very good schools from what I have read... you could also try to rent around that area.

[lastminutemom]

Originally Posted by kranjan

So, you think school district should not be a criteria while looking at the townhomes/condo. With that in mind, do you think the Overlook at Clarimont is a good place to buy compared to Spire or other condo in the mid-town?

I think school district is a less important criteria in townhome/condo type purchases.

Originally Posted by Tarzanman

Find a bungalow near or around Virginia Avenue in the north part of the VA highlands. This will put you almost smack dab between GaTech and Emory. Morningside has some very good schools from what I have read... you could also try to rent around that area.

Can 350,000 buy anything in VAHI these days?

[George Chong]

Originally Posted by lastminutemom

Can 350,000 buy anything in VAHI these days?

No - and at that price, it would be a tear down.