Seniors Moving to Atlanta (Marietta, Smyrna: transplants, apartments, rental)

[SeniorTransplant]

I hope there are some people out there who are seniors or have family there who are. We are a senior, white, middle-middle class couple - originally northerners from liberal NYC and Washington, DC. We have been living in ultra conservative Richmond, VA for 18 years. We are over the Southern culture shock. My NYC accent has even become a source for a friendly tease. We visited Atlanta for a week in October to confirm our interest in moving there and liked it a lot. We plan to move down in August. We have no children and no interest in schools except to the extent they reflect the quality of the community. We will be retired, so we don't care about commuter traffic - although after Washington, D.C. I found mid-day traffic in Atlanta no big deal, depite complaints of the locals. We are renters, looking for a 2-bedroom apt. in a nice area near shopping. We do NOT want to be in a retirement community OR one that is predominantly for singles and very young families. We want a mix. We enjoy cultural pursuits and exploring new areas. We would be paying $755/mo. in Richmond (including gas heat), and must stay near that or below in Atlanta. Good healthcare nearby is important. I picked up an Apartment Finder guide in Atlanta and there seem to be several nice complexes in the Marietta & Kennesaw areas of East Cobb - east of I-75. Yet, I have seen other posts on this forum quoting $1000/mo for 2-bedrooms. Am I missing something? I would love some recommendations to pursue, if anyone has any. I would also love to hear from any other retired transplants.

[jeweloflight]

Originally Posted by SeniorTransplant

I hope there are some people out there who are seniors or have family there who are. We are a senior, white, middle-middle class couple - originally northerners from liberal NYC and Washington, DC. We have been living in ultra conservative Richmond, VA for 18 years. We are over the Southern culture shock. My NYC accent has even become a source for a friendly tease. We visited Atlanta for a week in October to confirm our interest in moving there and liked it a lot. We plan to move down in August. We have no children and no interest in schools except to the extent they reflect the quality of the community. We will be retired, so we don't care about commuter traffic - although after Washington, D.C. I found mid-day traffic in Atlanta no big deal, depite complaints of the locals. We are renters, looking for a 2-bedroom apt. in a nice area near shopping. We do NOT want to be in a retirement community OR one that is predominantly for singles and very young families. We want a mix. We enjoy cultural pursuits and exploring new areas. We would be paying $755/mo. in Richmond (including gas heat), and must stay near that or below in Atlanta. Good healthcare nearby is important. I picked up an Apartment Finder guide in Atlanta and there seem to be several nice complexes in the Marietta & Kennesaw areas of East Cobb - east of I-75. Yet, I have seen other posts on this forum quoting $1000/mo for 2-bedrooms. Am I missing something? I would love some recommendations to pursue, if anyone has any. I would also love to hear from any other retired transplants.

Paying $1000 a month for a 2 bedroom in Atlanta is very, very, possible, but that depends on what part of town you're talking about. Kennesaw is a nice area, and stick with East Cobb as far as Marietta; it's the best thing going there. The East Cobb part of Marietta really is a home buyers community, and not a lot of apartments are over there. The area is great though, with expensive homes (nothing decent under $500k) and good schools, lots of families and professionals, and is very safe. There are also hopitals in those areas that are a part of the Well Star Health System.

With that said, $755.00 is doable, depending on how nice of an area you want. If you could push it to $800, you would get something a little nicer. In the city of Atlanta itself, $800 would be the beginning price of a one bedroom. Let me refer you to a relocation agency called Promove. Type this into google search. You want to speak with Richard, the manager, at the Piedmont Rd. location in Buckhead. I have dealt with him many times and he's great. This is a free service to you, and they will make their money off the back end once you sign a lease. Their commission comes from the apartment management company. This company has locations all over Atlanta, and Richard is familiar with almost every apartment in this city, literally. This will save you tons of time and footwork, and you don't have to just go by pictures in a book or on the internet. When you speak with him, he will tell you first hand what each community and neighborhood is like. You just let him know your buget and what amenities you need, and he'll point you in the right direction.

Oh, I thought I'd mention looking into Gwinnett County which includes Duluth, Lawrenceville, Suwanee, Buford, Dacula, Grayson, Norcross and Snellville. The traffic is bad up there, but you said that wasn't an issue for you. Norcross or Snellville I woudn't consider, but the other cities are great. Gwinnett has 3 major malls in a 20 mile radius and since you said you like diversity, this is the most diverse county in the Atlanta area. Asians, Blacks, Hispanics, Romanians, Whites, you name it. The people are pretty open minded. Anyway, good luck! Tell Richard Kendra sent you!

[SeniorTransplant]

No, No, No. You misread my post. We are interested in cultural pursuits! We do not want to live in a culturally or racially diverse area. I am familiar with the Gwinnett County demographics. It is on my "Not an Option" list. We want an area of mixed ages. I don't want all my neighbors using walkers, or having todlers, that's all. But many thanks for your quick reply. On Apartments: We currently live in a modest, 2-bedroom, 760 sq ft. unit with worn wall to wall. I have 1 1/2 baths, W/D, dishwasher, and "free" gas. The complex was built of masonite (mostly) and brick in 1973. The roofing is stained and the roads full of potholes. There is a bare bones clubhouse and the management holds pizza dinners for us one a month. There is no tennis court, and the pool is small. There is not much grass; it's mostly parking lots. There are a few swings for kids. That's it. This complex is set back off a main road in a commercial area that is within walking distance of a major mall. They give cops a break on their rent to live here and park their cruisers so they are visible. It is safe and clean. Maintenance fixes things quickly. and the management is very nice. But when I look at what is offered in Marietta for the same money, it seems like luxury to me - large rooms, fireplaces, vaulted ceilings, screened in porches, exercise rooms, acres of walking paths, multiple pools. People in Richmond pay $1200/mo and more for that in the few newly built complexes. So - what does "a little nicer" mean in Marietta? I will certainly call Richard next month, when I start planning in earnest, and I thank you for the information, Kendra. Also, if anyone else has any personal experience with apartments in Marietta or Kennesaw, I would be happy to hear from you. I want to factor in as much information as I can as soon as possible. BTW, who are the gas and electric companies that serve the area. I want to get rates to compare to mine. Thanks.

[jeweloflight]

Originally Posted by SeniorTransplant

No, No, No. You misread my post. We are interested in cultural pursuits! We do not want to live in a culturally or racially diverse area. I am familiar with the Gwinnett County demographics. It is on my "Not an Option" list. We want an area of mixed ages. I don't want all my neighbors using walkers, or having todlers, that's all. But many thanks for your quick reply. On Apartments: We currently live in a modest, 2-bedroom, 760 sq ft. unit with worn wall to wall. I have 1 1/2 baths, W/D, dishwasher, and "free" gas. The complex was built of masonite (mostly) and brick in 1973. The roofing is stained and the roads full of potholes. There is a bare bones clubhouse and the management holds pizza dinners for us one a month. There is no tennis court, and the pool is small. There is not much grass; it's mostly parking lots. There are a few swings for kids. That's it. This complex is set back off a main road in a commercial area that is within walking distance of a major mall. They give cops a break on their rent to live here and park their cruisers so they are visible. It is safe and clean. Maintenance fixes things quickly. and the management is very nice. But when I look at what is offered in Marietta for the same money, it seems like luxury to me - large rooms, fireplaces, vaulted ceilings, screened in porches, exercise rooms, acres of walking paths, multiple pools. People in Richmond pay $1200/mo and more for that in the few newly built complexes. So - what does "a little nicer" mean in Marietta? I will certainly call Richard next month, when I start planning in earnest, and I thank you for the information, Kendra. Also, if anyone else has any personal experience with apartments in Marietta or Kennesaw, I would be happy to hear from you. I want to factor in as much information as I can as soon as possible. BTW, who are the gas and electric companies that serve the area. I want to get rates to compare to mine. Thanks.

Well, I assume by your no,no,no, you want to be in an all white area. That's fine, but it's difficult to go to any part of town and not see minorites. Even if it's a predominately white area, everywhere just about in Atlanta area is mixed, that's just how it is. Especially since you don't have a ton of money to be in an exclusive community, you'll likely end up in a mix of some kind, so good luck with that. If you're determined to be in Cobb County you might also want to check out Vinings in Smyrna. Houses in this area start at about $600k. It's the most upscale part of Smyrna, and where I live with my parents. They have a 2 bedroom, 2 bath, with a sunroom, and a fireplace would have been included if they took the upstairs unit, 1350sq.ft. for $835 per month, but I think that was a special they were running here. Vinings is pricey, but you can always find a deal. There is Cumberland Mall over here and Perimeter Mall in Dunwoody is 20 minutes away. And Vinings is not full of elderly people, since you like a mix. It's actually a small community, and very safe.

The big gas company here is Georgia Natural Gas, and the big power company is Georgia Power. Our gas bill easily runs $200 per month in the winter. Try to find an apartment with all electric, and it may save you some money. There were a lot of complaints some time ago about gas companies over-charging.

[lastminutemom]

Atlanta may not be the right place for you...

In Atlanta, even the most expensive rental housing properties are diverse. I guess if you go way north in Cobb county or into Cherokee County, for example, this might not be the case. The type of housing you are living in now would be predomiately (if not exclusively) Hispanic in most of Metro Atlanta. New is definitely where it is at.

If you do go very far north, you will be further from high quality medical care and cultural opportunities. There is not much (at all) public transportation outside of Fulton and DeKalb. I don't think this is important to you now, but may be as you age.

because of the large size of metro Atlanta, ownership housing is available to many people if they are willing to move further out -- therefore, you don't have a lot of long term apartment dwellers.... you will find many young professionals and single parents in most apartments.

good luck. Atanta is very racially mixed at all but the lowest income stratas.

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by SeniorTransplant

We do not want to live in a culturally or racially diverse area.

And you're picking Atlanta??

You should note, Atlanta is around 68% black, with the suburbs being around 80% white in many areas. There will be a smattering of Asian, Latin, and other people along with a rapidly growing Mexican population pretty much anywhere you go in the metro area. Everyone has their own preferences as to who they want to live around, and I don't judge anyone for wanting an all white or all black or all "whatever" area, but the fact is, in Atlanta you stand a better chance of winning the lottery than finding an all white neighborhood.

In terms of apartments, any that are in decent-to-good areas are going to START around $800 a month for a 550-600 square foot studio, and go up from there. Yes, you can expect to pay around $1,000 - $1,150 for a decent 2BR/2BA apartment. You can find a few places for a bit less, but to be honest, I have no desire to listen to Rap or Cantina music through the walls all night, or hear babies crying 24/7 in order to save a few dollars. Avoid those from Post Properties and certain other "cookie cutter" developments - they're built out of matchsticks and when there's an apartment building fire (almost a daily happening here), the entire building goes up in 15 minutes or less. Look for things like sprinkler systems and good firewalls as features when looking around.

Good luck in your search, but like someone else has said, I personally do not see Atlanta as a "retirement type of town" considering what you've pointed out in your post.

[Derrick_TheRiskTaker]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

And you're picking Atlanta??

You can find a few places for a bit less, but to be honest, I have no desire to listen to Rap or Cantina music through the walls all night, or hear babies crying 24/7 in order to save a few dollars..

Well Atlantagreg30127; I guess it is fair to say you don't like Hip Hop music...

[backfist]

I agree with another poster; Atlanta's not for you. A small but growing percentage of Atlantans believe that attractive, safe, and family-friendly communities with good schools can also be diverse, and we're trying hard to make that a reality. Considering Atlanta's history and its affect on the present, the odds are against us. But anything good is worth hard work.

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by Derrick_TheRiskTaker

Well Atlantagreg30127; I guess it is fair to say you don't like Hip Hop music...

------------

Well, I have no problem with it... so long as I'm not forced to listen to it (or any other type of music) through my living room wall from the unit next to or above or below me. ;-)

[SeniorTransplant]

OK, let’s try again. Kendra, you assumed completely wrong and I guess others who read your assumptions bought into that misunderstanding and never read my original post. I did not mean I only want to live in an ALL WHITE area. I never said that anywhere, and I don’t think it. Maybe it is a question of regional semantics. Here in Richmond, which is 65% black BTW, “diverse” is a code word for an area with a large minority population – 50% or more. “Mixed” is the code word for around 40% minority. Maybe that’s not true in Atlanta. I grew up in New York City – not Scarsdale, not Washington Heights – plain old working-class Bayside, Queens. Later I lived in working-class Canarsie & Flatbush, Brooklyn – those places comics joke about. I went to high school with guys like Robert DeNiro, Richard Belzer and Dennis Farina. But, for those of you old enough to remember, I wasn’t Archie Bunker, I was the Meathead, and still am. In the late 50’s, I routinely had black and Puerto Rican friends and neighbors, and knew mixed race couples at a time when such marriages were illegal in the south. Somehow, we all just lived our lives together and dealt with the social issues as they came up. Like animals at a scarce watering hole in the wild, we worked things out. But, when Civil Rights hit in the 60’s, I had to take a stand. I came down easily with the far left Democrats. (In Richmond, I keep my politics to myself! There are probably only about 150 of us here . When I went to vote in the primary, the polling place was empty.) . Now I am 73. I have mellowed some. I don’t shoot my mouth off as much anymore, but my values are the same. I didn’t have to deal with trying to be politically correct as a kid, and I never really got the hang of that. I am who I am. What you see is what you get. However, I am not the old racist pig you think I am. Not by a long shot (An aside to Backfist: I am your champion, not your opponent.) That being said, it also true that, unless you are a social activist, most human beings like to live among people like themselves. And the more vulnerable an individuals is, the more that is so. It’s easier to understand and communicate with people. You know what the rules are, what the pitfalls are, what to expect. It’s easier to make friends, give and get support and protection. Minorities feel that way, too. I’m 73. For me, an area that is 75% white or above is fine; 50% white is not. Gwinnett County has become a magnet for minority groups, recently. I read in the Atlanta Constitution last year that it’s population will be over 50% minority in a few years. It is a magnet for incoming Hispanics and Asians, who want to live with their own groups, too. CNN ran a special recently on the illegal Mexican crisis there. There is an increase in crime there. That’s why it is on my “Not an Option” list. I don’t need to deal with that. As I said, I’m 73. I want to retire from the culture wars. Also, for everyone else, I don’t want to live in metropolitan Atlanta. I want to live out in the suburbs. Why Atlanta? Because IT’S A CITY! It’s cosmopolitan. I am a big-city-person. Richmond is a very small city with a small town mentality. Civic life revolves around going to church and fundraising. Atlanta has 3 1/2 seasons a year. I want that. Atlanta has a lot of things to do and see. I want that. I can afford to live better in Atlanta; I can’t afford to live in San Francisco, or Chicago, or Miami (Ugh!) at all. Why NOT Atlanta? As for music, those of you who addressed it are right. I hate rap and cantina music. I have a radio at work and listen to classical or jazz all day long on NPR. On weekends I watch C-Span and C-Span2 (Book TV). I like crime shows, but I don’t want to be the subject of one.

As for the Vinings, they are on my list to look into. How long have your folks lived there? Does that rent reflect increases since they moved in? Thanks again for all your inputs.

The Old Racist Pig