Tucson, AZ to Georgia?? (Atlanta, Roswell: relocate, real estate, condo)

[bayarea-girl]

Not too many people want to live in the Burbs now a days. So much is being built and the market isn't good for selling. People have to reduce their rents just to get people in the door. I think a lot of people are moving into the city to be closer to jobs. But keep in mind most places for rent that are being advertised online are horrible in person. You will really need an agent that can find you a good place. I learned that after a week of wasting my time with my own searches. Please get an agent that can help you find the right place.

Also, there is a newer and older part of Roswell which you can easily notice the difference when driving around. There is a certain section of Alpharetta where a lot of homes are up for sale and the cost is considerably less than the rest of Alpharetta (I couldn't figure that out while I was there, but I'm sure it will become clear once I move). Alpharetta overall is nice, but there are parts which are nicer than other parts (of course). In both areas for something suitable in my opinion you will have to spend a minimum of $2000/mo if renting. You could always rent a townhome for a lot less though. Hope this helps.

[AnitaL]

I have lived in the Dunwoody, Roswell, Alpharetta area my entire life and have seen the progress Atlanta and the metro area has experienced. Still love it!
Most of the schools in the Roswell/Alpharetta area have high test scores, although there are pockets, as there are in all cities, where you might want to avoid. These areas are easy to find, go to the internet and check it out.
The town of Roswell has a an Alive After Five the 3rd Thursday of each month through November that is fun and I always meet new people on the sidewalk cafe setting at Pastis. There are numerous art galleries, reataurants & shopping that stay open late & serve complimentary wine.
The first Saturday of each month through the Fall, we have another event at Riverside Park/Roswell (on the Chattahoochee) where you bring your chairs, blankets, cooler, frisbees, etc. and listen to local muscians. Always Fun!
Much success with your move and Welcome!

[galove]

In general, Fulton County has the most expensive real estate. Cumming, Canton, and Woodstock are further from the city and are less expensive and are still growing and developing. The ATL area has fabulous planned communities with swim teams for kids, tennis, workout facilities, and planned neighborhood events. Those are great communities for newcomers. Meeting people is so much easier with all the activities going on. There is one in the Canton area, I believe it's called Bridgemill, that's really nice.
I lived in Gwinnett County in Hamilton Mill and loved it. The schools are fantastic and the growth is tremendous. They are building new schools constantly. The area your husband's office is in is a very nice area, however traffice will be a nightmare. My husband worked in the same general vicinity. Good luck-you'll love ATL!

[jenml]

I'm really getting freaked with all this traffic talk! Wow it must be really BAD! Now that I've been looking more...Canton seems really nice and definately cheaper and the schools seem to rank pretty good. I'm just concerned with my husbands drive to work. From the houses I've looked at(in canton), it looks like anywhere from 18 to about28 miles to his work. The 18 miles said about 30 minutes...is that realistic? I think he will be able to have a flexible work schedule, maybe if he goes in earlier and gets off earlier that would be better??

I guess what I want to really know is would you live in Canton if you worked in Roswell? Does that seem realistic? Someone had said that from Canton to Atlanta would be rediculous.... but I see on the map that Roswell is closer to Canton than ATL.

Alpharetta seems nice...but a bit out of our price range.

[BobKovacs]

I live in Canton and commute to downtown Atlanta, and it's not as painful as some folks make it out to be. I do go in early and leave early, which definitely helps, but even during rush hour it's a doable commute. I go in at 6 and leave at 4, and it takes me 40-45 minutes in the morning, and 45-1 hour in the afternoon.

The commute to Roswell will depend on where in Canton you're starting, and where in Roswell you're ending, but in general, it's probably +/- a 45 minute commute.

And, yes, the schools in Canton are very good- we've been very impressed with the school our daughter attends, and thats comparing it to the highly-touted NJ schools that we left behind.

[jenml]

Wow thanks! That puts me at ease a little. His commute to work now (here in Tucson) is 40-45 minutes anyways (sometimes longer, he has run into it being an hour and a half before). So I suppose it'll be nothing new.

[willrusso]

Canton is the country. Do you want to live in a rural area jenml?

[bayarea-girl]

jenml, what is your price range? And like willrusso wrote do you really want to live in the country? Roswell and Alpharetta are really nice areas and you can find what you are looking for in your price range I'm sure. Will you be renting or purchasing on both fronts there is a lot out there and prices are negotiable.

[suzie02]

I just saw this thread. My dh has been getting e-mails and phone calls all week about the closing of the Tucson office. We are now wondering if my dh knows you dh. My dh just left his job in Roswell this month because of many reasons. But we lived in Cumming and we were happy with the area. My dh commute was about 30 minutes when he left early. Canton is too far. Woodstock is closer in distance but there is only one road. My dh says it can take 15-20 minutes to cross hwy 9 and 400 because of congestions. For good schools East Cob (Marietta) or Cumming. If you PM me I can tell you about my neighborhood.

[jenml]

Originally Posted by bayarea-girl

jenml, what is your price range? And like willrusso wrote do you really want to live in the country? Roswell and Alpharetta are really nice areas and you can find what you are looking for in your price range I'm sure. Will you be renting or purchasing on both fronts there is a lot out there and prices are negotiable.

I really dont know what I want. Can you define "country" for me? I picture barns and cattle and nothing close such as stores, restaurants. Where I reside in Tucson is a bit of a drive from everything (its a new community they started just outside of Tucson its actually called Marana)...about 10-15 minutes to the nearest grocery store...and to be honest I dont like that. I want to be able to drive down the street to the grocery store,Target, Walmart, Starbucks or to run to Taco Bell if I want and it not take a half hour roundtrip. I dont mind living a little ways from like a mall, but the everyday things I'd like to have a bit closer.

We initially were wanting to rent. But my husbands company offers quite a bit of help to purchase (pay all closing costs, etc) so we might go ahead and try to buy. Our price range is around 180,000 to 200,000 for a 3 bed +den or a 4 bedroom. I noticed rent prices are a bit higher than here in Tucson and thats another reason we might end up buying. It just seems like you get more house for your $$$ outside of Roswell and Alpharetta. But if I found a house in that price range that wasnt too small or too old I would love Alpharetta/Roswell I'm sure.

I'm hoping on our trip out there, I will have a much better idea of where I want to live. But with this board and with my husbands co-workers I at least have a good idea where to "start" .

Suzie02 I pm'd you