Do nice homes in nice areas for under $250k exist in Atlanta Metro? (Marietta: for sale, HOA fees)

[atlcharm]

Hi Everyone,

So here is my dilemma. I have been house hunting. My affordability is a home in a range of $235k to $250k depending on taxes, HOA, etc. Currently, I live in the Smyrna/Vinings area. I would like to stay here as I am used to the diversity, the ease of shopping and restaurants less than 5 to 10 minutes from more door. It's also a hop skip and a jump from Buckhead, Downtown and Perimeter. I was open to moving to other areas with similar features such as peachtree corners and Duluth. Here is my problem: $250k in those areas is only going to get you a townhome. I'm totally fine with that, but because of HOA fees I'm being priced out. In order to afford a $250k mortgage, I will need to look in other areas where I can get a home way below $250k so that I can afford the hoa or I will need to find a single family home that is $250k but does not have HOA or has extremely low HOAs. Not happening in Smyrna, Duluth or P'tree corners.

So the reality check is that I'm going to have to expand my search. The problem is I've already looked in certain areas like Norcross and Marietta; the parts I can afford are not diverse and don't have good shopping around. I keep getting recommended to areas such as camp creek and Decatur as I am African-American, but I like to live in diverse areas. I lived in camp creek before and I missed Smyrna very much which is why I moved back. I don't know much about Decatur, but I know 30032 I don't want to live in. There are beautiful very affordable homes in the 30034 areas of Decatur. I don't know much about the area and know it's primarily African American, but if it's a nice area I may have to consider it. There were homes in 30315 zip of Atlanta, but the area looked and felt unsafe to me. It was also very depressed looking. I guess I'm looking for advice on areas that are similar to what I want, not too far outside of the perimeter and diverse. Does it exist or must I resolve myself to living far out or in a less diverse area? I'm hoping there are areas I haven't thought off. There seems to be affordable areas in 30064 part of Marietta, but it seems really far to me.

Any thoughts or is this the reality of the situation.

[jsvh]

Depends on how you are defining "nice".

I have had three different homes in Atlanta in the last decade all of which I bought for under $250K. For me they were nice and in nice areas. Of course, none of them were single-family-homes. If you start defining "nice home" as needing lots of space and easy car convince you will need to spend more.

[Stormhammer]

How far is too far? Buford/Sugar Hill area is decently diverse ( the 30518 area code ). Parts of Cumming are as well.

The you have the east side of 85 - Tucker, Lilburn area - vastly diverse.

I suppose it's like this

$250k w/HOA included, diversity, shopping/restaurants.

Pick two.

Mableton might also be an option to look into.

[Stormhammer]

For under $200k you can have a ranch home with a garage in Sugar Hill

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/9...14838671_zpid/

Others

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2...91911949_zpid/

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5...14842136_zpid/

As for shopping, I mean you have the freaking Mall of Georgia 10-15 minutes down the road. Nothing like idk, Streets of Buckhead or what have you, but you do have options.

[AtlJan]

There are a few houses for $250k in the Lakeside High area of Dekalb--to me it isn't quite as charming as Smyrna, but it is diverse, close to town, tons of restaurants and close to Decatur. If it isn't too far from your work, it would be an area to look at. They will be older and not newly renovated.

[atlcharm]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Depends on how you are defining "nice".

I have had three different homes in Atlanta in the last decade all of which I bought for under $250K. For me they were nice and in nice areas. Of course, none of them were single-family-homes. If you start defining "nice home" as needing lots of space and easy car convince you will need to spend more.

hmmm. I guess I I would define nice as not a teardown or needing renovations. For instance, trying to find a single family home under 250k in Smyrna needs a lot of work. Townhomes, no problem, but again the HOA's are pricing me out.


Can I ask what areas you lived in?

[Clayton white guy]

Yes! Tons. Try south of town. Nice areas in Clayton, Henry, even older (late 1970's early 1980's vintage)in sought after Fayette County. Contrary to popular belief, "nice residential areas" of Metro Atlanta DO NOT stop at I-20!

[evannole]

Creatwood and Vinings Vail on the Atlanta Road corridor in Smyrna might provide options enough below your $250k maximum that the HOA fees wouldn't put you over budget. I don't know what the HOA fee is at Creatwood, but there's a unit for sale there now for $200k.

https://www.redfin.com/GA/Smyrna/115...m_content=link

Vinings Vail doesn't have any active listings at the moment, but recent sales have been in the high $100s and low $200s. HOA fee there is right around $100 per month.

https://www.redfin.com/GA/Smyrna/217...m_content=link

Good luck in your search! You've certainly picked a great area, and if you're patient I think you'll find what you're looking for.

[atlcharm]

Originally Posted by Stormhammer

How far is too far? Buford/Sugar Hill area is decently diverse ( the 30518 area code ). Parts of Cumming are as well.

The you have the east side of 85 - Tucker, Lilburn area - vastly diverse.

I suppose it's like this

$250k w/HOA included, diversity, shopping/restaurants.

Pick two.

Mableton might also be an option to look into.

Awesome suggestions!!! Thanks

[goillini8]

I don't know the complete breakdown of all neighborhoods in Tucker, but I'd recommend Tucker - there are many nice areas, there are $250k and under homes, it's very diverse and it's right off the perimiter.