pregnant couple moving to atlanta - best neighborhoods? (East Point, College Park: short sales, rent)

[joeschmoe2]

We are trying to identify which would be the best places to live. We have a kid on the way, we will be working at a combination of Emory, GA Tech, and some hospitals. We are concerned about crime, but we can't afford any places more than about 150k or so.

Any suggestions on good places to look at?

We were considering some townhouses in SE Decatur, but then we noticed that there were two jails right next door and a fairly high crime rate (Belvedere Park area). The townhouses/houses in SW Fulton (Union City, College Park, East Point, etc.) are affordable, but look to be quite far away.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks,

-Joe

[IntownHomes247]

There are actually several condo communities in the Emory area where you can get a nice 2 bedroom, 2 bath unit for under $150k. The area gives you easy access not only to Emory, Tech, and most of the intown hospitals, but also Downtown Decatur, Virginia-Highland, Midtown and Lenox.

If you're willing to look at 2 BR - 1 BA condos you'll have even more options available. I'd be happy to send you active listings if you'd like. Just DM me.

[joeschmoe2]

We are still trying to get 3 bedrooms. The issue is that I don't see how we could make it work with two bedrooms. We will have the baby, a parent visiting to help take care, and us. We could maybe squeeze into 2 bedrooms, but if we have another baby in a couple years, I don't think it would work.

[lastminutemom]

Rent instead of buy.

Check Craigslist.

[DeaconJ]

We could maybe squeeze into 2 bedrooms, but if we have another baby in a couple years, I don't think it would work.

That would be a good time to consider not having another baby...

Union City is a short drive - 15 to 20 minutes from Georgia Tech...College Park is a shorter drive - 10 to 15 minutes from Georgia Tech...and East Point is shortest...10 minutes from Georgia Tech.

There isn't a really good, direct route to Emory from anywhere in-town...N. Decatur Rd, Briarcliff Rd, Lavista Rd...so it isn't all that close to any of the above mentioned areas.

[IntownHomes247]

Originally Posted by joeschmoe2

We are still trying to get 3 bedrooms. The issue is that I don't see how we could make it work with two bedrooms. We will have the baby, a parent visiting to help take care, and us. We could maybe squeeze into 2 bedrooms, but if we have another baby in a couple years, I don't think it would work.

Just did another search and found several 3 BR/2 BA condos and townhomes a bit further away but still in the "Greater Emory Area" -- some in the Northlake area, some in Avondale Estates. There's even a potential short sale right next to the Emory campus (short sales are kind of a nightmare and can take forever but you can get a great deal if you have the intestinal fortitude to go through the process).

I'd be happy to set up a custom web site for you that will show you all listings meeting your specific search criteria but you'll need to DM me so I can get more specifics.

Personally, I think this is an excellent time to buy just about anything other than a Midtown condo. Between the enormous inventory, the significantly lower prices, the historically low interest rates, and the tax incentives I'd be buying a new house myself if I could afford it (and could qualify for the loan as a self-employed person).