seeking advice about rental housing (Atlanta, Sandy Springs: buying a house, safe area, buying)

[ecmom]

Hi, all. I am new to this forum and would be grateful for some advice. I am moving to the Atlanta area in a couple of months with my husband and two small children (oldest is 3). I will be working in the Emory University area. We are planning on renting initially since time is short and we don't know Atlanta at all. Does anyone know of any nice, newer rental communities in safe areas within 30-40 minutes or so of Emory? Ideally we'd have 3 bedrooms and access to some green space. We're hoping to pay $1500 or less per month in rent, and have a short term lease (6 months). I've seen a couple of Windsor communities in the Dunwoody/Sandy Springs area that look ok online.

Once we're ready to buy, does anyone have any input about the commute from Fayetteville or Peachtree City to the Emory U. area? From other posts I've read here, these sound like nice, fairly affordable family-oriented communities, but are pretty far from the city.

Thanks!

[JPD]

If you're going to be working near Emory I think it would be a big mistake to live anywhere other than the north-east side of town. If you live in P'tree City or Fayettville, downtown Atlanta will be standing between your home and your work. That's a BIG obstacle that you'll have to deal with twice each workday. That will be very unpleasant for you.

I know this board is practically a Fayetteville/Peachtree City fan-club website, but believe it or not there are other places to live. I don't know what your price range is, but you could consider Candler Park, Druid Hills, Decatur, Inman Park, Virginia-Highland, Toco Hill, Brookhaven or a bit farther out (but still close to Emory), Tucker/Northlake.

[ecmom]

Thanks for the input...I'm pretty sure our budget won't permit buying a house "ITP," since $350K is our max and we want to stick to post-1980 construction. My other concern is the quality of most of the public schools in those areas. What about Roswell and Alpharetta?

[Homedoc181]

You are wise to rent before buying. Regardless of what anyone tells you, you need to get familiar with the Emory area and communities around Atlanta. There are many "safe" & "fairly affordable family-oriented communities" closer to Emory. The GA Public Schools districts near Emory are rated very high. As far as traffic and distance between Emory and where you live, any community outside of I-285 will present a traffic nightmare.
There are several areas, intown, nearer to Emory than Sandy Springs, Peachtree City, Fayetteville, Alpharetta (horrific drive)I would suggest that you look in Candler Park, Druid Hills, Decatur, Inman Park, Virginia-Highland, Toco Hill, Brookhaven and lower you standards a little on your home construction post-1980.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by Homedoc181

any community outside of I-285 will present a traffic nightmare.
.

Not true.

Tucker is the first town outside of the perimeter on the NE side. Tucker to Emory is a 10-15 minute drive (from the Brockett part of Tucker), and the only part that gets heavy traffic is the short stretch of highway 78 between the Brockett Road on-ramp and the I-285 exit ramp. It takes me about one minute to get passed that stretch (I enter 78 at Brockett and rarely have trouble merging through the folks trying to get on 285). Three minutes in the worst case scenario.

There are post-1980 houses in Tucker (as well as older houses) under $350K, and the schools are good.

[ecmom]

Thanks, JPD and Homedoc181. I'll check out those areas you've suggested. My husband and I love older homes--but we had a previous lead poisoning scare with one of our kids, which is the rationale for limiting ourselves to houses built more recently.

Does anyone have any advice on renting in the Atlanta metro area--specifically, corporate-type, short-term renting? I don't know if actual community names can be posted on this forum, but any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.