Relocating to Atlanta - Need help on where to choose: Brookhaven/Vinings etc (Sandy Springs: condos, buying a house)

[Stacey1313]

Hello all.

I am going to relocate to Atlanta when my house in NJ sells. I'm search for that "perfect" location where I can meet other people my age (30's) and not have to drive/walk/train too far from the hot restaurants, entertainment, nightlife in the area. I hear of Brookhaven, Chamblee, Vinings, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs....all very close to eachother, but is one area a better buy than the other....or a more fun location than the other? I may do new construction since it will give me some time to sell my place in NJ. I have seen online: Views at Lenox Crossing, Turnberry gates, Sera City Homes, Haven on Briarwood. They all look great but it's SO confusing!! I also heard that in 2 yrs this builder called Sempler is going to be building some huge live, work, play community very close to Turnberry Gates in Chamblee....ever hear of this?

Thank you SO SO much in Advance.
Stacey.

[Go Blue 99]

Stacey, I live in one of the areas you are considering. We recently bought new construction at Danbury Parc, which is off Ashford Dunwoody in the Brookhaven area. It's about 1.5 miles from the Turnbury Gates development you saw. You are correct- Sembler is building a huge development right next to Oglethorpe Univ. It's going to have a Best Buy, Costco, LA Fitness, Barnes & Nobles, Petco, an adults only movie theater, and 10-12 local restaurants. It's scheduled to open in summer of 09 and I can't wait! It is only 2 miles from our home.

I think you would be very happy in that area. I am 2.5 miles from Perimeter Mall, 10 minutes from Lenox and Phipps, and have easy access to 400/85/285. Those other areas you mentioned are good spots too; I would focus on wherever is close to your job.

[wxjay]

Find out where you/your husband/significant other will be working. That needs to be done before deciding on a great place to live.

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by wxjay

Find out where you/your husband/significant other will be working. That needs to be done before deciding on a great place to live.

Exactly. If one of you wind up working near Vinings but move to Brookhaven, or vice-verca, you'll have a hellish commute across the top-end Perimeter (the beltway around Atlanta). That's the biggest mistake by far that newcomers make here - they move on the opposite side of the city as their jobs. BIGGO mistake.

IF you'll be working near Brookhaven, it's a nice area. You'll be just North of the Buckhead area with lots of restaurants, shopping, Lenox and Phipps malls, etc. You'll also have access to the Brookhaven MARTA rail station if you need to go downtown and don't want to drive. So if you'll be working in that area or downtown near a rail station, my vote for Brookhaven goes in.

P.S... the Sembler info on that project is: TOWN Brookhaven - Atlanta, GA - The Sembler Company

[Stacey1313]

Thanks all!

My job (for the time being - could be temporary though) is with my current company in NJ which has a location at 340 Interstate parkway north which I think is closer to Vinings, am I correct? But like I said I could end up getting a new job once I am down there downtown , who knows. I usually leave for work around 6:45am though, so would I hit traffic that early?

Thanks again!

[SCJ]

When we moved to Atlanta 10 years ago (from Boston), the BEST advice someone gave me was to live inside the perimeter if at all possible. We ended up buying a house inside the perimeter, in the north Brookhaven area, near the intersection of 400 and 285. 10 years later, we are still here, and love our location...easy to get to everywhere. We are mid-way between Perimeter and North Buckhead. Vinings seems like the other side of the world to me.

[wxjay]

Originally Posted by Stacey1313

Thanks all!

My job (for the time being - could be temporary though) is with my current company in NJ which has a location at 340 Interstate parkway north which I think is closer to Vinings, am I correct? But like I said I could end up getting a new job once I am down there downtown , who knows. I usually leave for work around 6:45am though, so would I hit traffic that early?

Thanks again!

At 6:45 AM you should be OK in traveling I-285, but the trick is getting out. I-285 across the top end is one of the most congested highways in Atlanta.

I still think that, given your situation, Vinings might be a better option for you. It is still a quick drive to Midtown/downtown (15-20 minutes, depending on what time you leave).

[scgraham]

Originally Posted by Stacey1313

Hello all.

I am going to relocate to Atlanta when my house in NJ sells. I'm search for that "perfect" location where I can meet other people my age (30's) and not have to drive/walk/train too far from the hot restaurants, entertainment, nightlife in the area. I hear of Brookhaven, Chamblee, Vinings, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs....all very close to eachother, but is one area a better buy than the other....or a more fun location than the other? I may do new construction since it will give me some time to sell my place in NJ. I have seen online: Views at Lenox Crossing, Turnberry gates, Sera City Homes, Haven on Briarwood. They all look great but it's SO confusing!! I also heard that in 2 yrs this builder called Sempler is going to be building some huge live, work, play community very close to Turnberry Gates in Chamblee....ever hear of this?

Thank you SO SO much in Advance.
Stacey.

Here's a good site for new construction homes

You can search by single family, townhomes, condos, city, county and so forth.

[kagmypts]

Originally Posted by wxjay

At 6:45 AM you should be OK in traveling I-285, but the trick is getting out. I-285 across the top end is one of the most congested highways in Atlanta.

I still think that, given your situation, Vinings might be a better option for you. It is still a quick drive to Midtown/downtown (15-20 minutes, depending on what time you leave).

I used to work in Vinings and lived extremely close to the development on Briarwood you mentioned. To avoid the I-285 congestion in the afternoon, I used to take I-75 into the city and then took I-85 north. I would exit at North Druid Hills. I rarely hit any traffic.

On a side note, Brookhaven and the area immediately around there is my favorite part of the entire city!

[Stacey1313]

Thanks So Much For All The Great Advice All!!!!