Potential job at Emory. Where to live? (Tucker, Lawrenceville: foreclosure, townhouse)

[jerim]

Hi,
I am considering a new job at the Emory University Hospital. I can probably afford something in the $300-$350k range. I think I'd prefer a home over a townhouse because I'd like having a small yard and I've always lived in a planned neighborhood with sidewalks to walk my dog. I don't need a big yard but a little greener is always nice.

I want to have a commute time of no more than 30 minutes. I believe the area immediately around the Emory area is going to be out of my price range because I want a home that is new or <5 years old so I won't have to deal with maintenance issues and would want about 1900 square feet.

What suggestions do people have in terms of areas for me to focus my home search?

[xxman777]

Emory is hard to get to because of the massive volume of traffic which commutes to and from the complex on a daily basis (the complex includes the uni, two hospitals and the CDC). I would suggest looking in places like Tucker, Snellville, and Lawrenceville. Most of Tucker is a little older but you can probably find something newer on the fringes of Tucker. All three of the these places are probably outside of 30 minutes but they are the closest places that fit your other criteria. Everything new inside the perimeter is going to be 500k+ for single family and most townhomes are still going to be over 350k.

There are also a couple of neighborhoods in the Bolton neighborhood which would fit your criteria. The older parts of the Bolton neighborhood are pretty iffy and dangerous, but quickly gentrifying and several new neighborhoods are new and still a good buy.

[JPD]

Tucker is close enough to get you to Emory in under 30 minutes. New houses in Tucker typically cost more than $300k, though. You can find tons of well built older ('60s) brick ranches or traditional 2-story houses in Tucker in the $175k-$275 range.

There are not ANY new houses anywhere near Emory that sell for under $350,000. Also, builders don't even bother building 1900 sq. ft. houses in that area anymore. Everyone wants a starter castle. On the other hand, considering the insane foreclosure rate maybe you could get a bargain. Anything's possible these days.