ATL Bound (Atlanta, Smyrna, Tucker: real estate, apartments, to rent)

[lilhamp]

Hello all...so I've decided that I'm going to be looking in Decatur. I've heard really nice things about it from a close friend. I just don't know exactly what part I should look at, as far as a place to live. I'm moving from Miami, so I want to be in a progressive area with shopping centers, coffee shops, and malls. I'm looking to rent and then look into buying. I need some advice? The truth about Hotlanta. The pros and cons. Again, I'm a young woman, looking for a secure place to live. Diversity is a must and I'm looking to get into a growing area (progressive.) Have yet to find a job, but I am a teacher and looking into the Atlanta Public Schools system. Any info on that would be great as well. Thank you.

[Tdiddy0027]

DEcatur is probably one of the mose liberal areas in metro Atlanta. Its loaded with coffee nooks, gay and lesbian bookstores, and all that kind of stuff. YOu can get a nice little bungalow or a condo in one of downtown Decatur's new highrise developments. It's also about 10 minutes from Atlanta. It's a good place for what you're looking for.

[spiritlady]

Originally Posted by lilhamp

Hello all...so I've decided that I'm going to be looking in Decatur. I've heard really nice things about it from a close friend. I just don't know exactly what part I should look at, as far as a place to live. I'm moving from Miami, so I want to be in a progressive area with shopping centers, coffee shops, and malls. I'm looking to rent and then look into buying. I need some advice? The truth about Hotlanta. The pros and cons. Again, I'm a young woman, looking for a secure place to live. Diversity is a must and I'm looking to get into a growing area (progressive.) Have yet to find a job, but I am a teacher and looking into the Atlanta Public Schools system. Any info on that would be great as well. Thank you.

I don't know much about Decatur because I've spent all 34 years of my life in Atlanta (which I'm planning to leave). But I have heard that Dekalb county, period, is an area that has money. For example, there's a rich area in Lithonia where singer Kelly Price lives, and she has a beautiful mansion. Anyway, I do want to give you this advice: stay out of Atlanta!!!! I do believe that Decatur is a better choice. Tucker is also a nice area you may want to consider. Dekalb County does try to find solutions to their problems, unlike Atlanta. Atlanta allows its problems to linger on and lie about the truth (example: they lie and say crime is low, and that's far from the truth). I don't know if Decatur is diverse, but I'm sure you'll have a better chance of finding it there than in Atlanta, which still has several segregated neighborhoods. Simply put, I'll tell you like I'll tell anyone interested in moving to the metro area of, look at the suburbs instead of Atlanta. Sure, they've changed, but they're still better than the city. By the way, good luck in your move.

[backfist]

To each his or her own, but I much prefer the north side of Decatur (inside the perimeter and north of 278).

[CityFan]

Originally Posted by spiritlady

Atlanta allows its problems to linger on and lie about the truth (example: they lie and say crime is low, and that's far from the truth). Simply put, I'll tell you like I'll tell anyone interested in moving to the metro area of, look at the suburbs instead of Atlanta. Sure, they've changed, but they're still better than the city. By the way, good luck in your move.

I know Atlanta has bad areas. Where are bad areas and good areas if any? What part of Atlanta do you live? What problems does Atlanta has? Thanks.

[GTGirl]

The thing about Decatur is that it has been experiencing a re-growth for about 10-15 years. So there are areas that are beautifully revitalized down the street from run down areas. It's very near tons of fun things to do in Atlanta and is quite edgy in its own right. Marta (the subway) runs out to it - you can't get that in my area (Smyrna: which is on the opposite side of Atlanta). You can find lots of good apartments to rent in houses. I think it's as safe as most places - as long as you use common sense. I would recommend Decatur over Atlanta proper due to traffic issues, and pricing of real estate. To own a home though, Decatur can be pricey. They've just started adding some department stores too.

Smyrna is an up and coming area. This is west of Atlanta, but still close in. Closer in still is Vinings - nicer, newer, but also more pricey. Lot's of 20- to 30-somethings are moving to Vinings. Give it about 5 years and the traffic problem will be a nightmare though. Vinings is more trendy than edgy. But it's not like Buckhead - Buckhead is very plastic and superficial. In Smyrna you find a mix of edgy, trendy, country, redneck. LoL. Very laid back and down to earth. Also it is near big department store shopping - more stores than Decatur I think. There is the Cobb Transit System - but it's all buses. You really need a car in Atlanta if you want any measure of independence.

I lived around Decatur in my 20's, but now in my later 30's I like Smyrna better. Hope this helps some. :-)

[brownsuga79]

does anyone know the name of the community kelly price live, I would love to see here home

[atlantagreg30127]

The downtown Decatur area is going to be adding some condo developments and any real estate agent can help steer you away from the iffy areas. The downtown area is revamping and as someone else said, there's a MARTA rail station right down there so you can zip around into Atlanta on the train if you want. I'm not sure about working for Atlanta public schools though.

P.S... if you decide to go the condo/townhouse route, make sure and confirm the units were actually BUILT as condos and that they are not apartment "conversions". Building codes aren't the greatest here and apartments are frankly built like crap - units that are built from the ground up as condos are usually better soundproofed and have better fire protection, etc.