I Wanna Move to Atlanta!

[Sweet Atlanta Peach]

Originally Posted by MssyDee

Hey City-Data! I have been reading this forum for about two years, and believe I am ready to try to start to take a leap down to Hotlanta. I'm from New York and I am just tired of this rat race. I have visited Atlanta quite a few times to see friends. I've been to Stone Mountain, which I found to be a really nice looking, Fulton County near the airport, Jonesboro and Lovejoy (nice). From what I see Atlanta as a whole is a place where I want to be. I hear 'bout ya'll crime, but we got crime too! Any city that becomes an epi-center has crime. Check LA, DC, NY, PA, Miami, etc. My problem is that my contacts there work in a different industry than I do. I am an executive assistant with over 20 years exp. and a degree. So I don't have any real employement contacts with anyone in ATL. And, I don't expect to make the same kind of money there that I do here. I do read the AJC and often peruse Monster, Hotjobs, etc. I've heard about using an Atlantan address, but has that really worked for anyone? I also know that the payscale is lower than New York, but I have to adjust because of the cost of living. Nowhere could it be higher than in NYC, and, I live in Staten Island. The Verrazano Bridge is $10.00, just to get on the island. I would love to hear thoughts and perhaps contact info. All of my skills are polished and current.

My advice as a native Atlantan and seeing the economy plummet over the past couple of years, secure a job first. Then, once you secure that job, come back and let us know where your job is and we can direct you to cost, commute, etc. Just saying you want to move to Atlanta really isn't saying a whole lot. I am sure there are a lot of people wanting to move here, but, just as sure as they are moving here, many of them are moving right back out once they see how Atlanta is "not all that."

Unfortunately, a lot of times it is who you know that makes finding a job move a little faster. Verizon Wireless is opening a call center in Alpharetta, Georgia (a nice area) that's supposed to provide 600 jobs so you could look into that.

[Missingatlanta]

The unemployment rate is high here so it may take some time for you to find something. We just hired a secretary at my office and we got applications from people with law and business degrees.

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by KevK

It is not like the north where houses are built by union craftsmen that take any pride in the work they do.

Have you ever seen a show called "Holmes on Homes?" If not, you should watch a few episodes. It's a Canadian show that shows how a guy named Mike Holmes goes around fixing huge problems caused by shoddy workmanship on new homes in Canada, where all homes are built by union "craftsman." It's an eye opener.

Make It Rightâ„¢

[brook2ga]

In NJ, when selling, you must get a C of O. Here.......not so much. If a seller has open permits, they won't be able to sell. I can't believe the condition of some of the houses on the market here. That said, there are plenty of nice houses here with few issues.

[ss20ts]

Originally Posted by KevK

The only things that the place still has is cheap housing and decent winter weather with the exception of this winter. And the housing is cheap for reason- you better have it well inspected before you buy anything. Building codes here are a joke and you end up with cracked foundations, improperly vented roofs, cheap ass plastic plumbing that leaks constantly, electrical problems that take all day for an electrician to figure out and God knows what else. It is not like the north where houses are built by union craftsmen that take any pride in the work they do. The ones here are mostly built by illegal aliens that work for fly-by-night contractors that change business names as often as I change underwear. Be very careful what you buy!

Who told you all workers up north were union? You're sadly mistaken. And there's a crapload of crappy contractors up here! They're on the news very week for screwing people over. There are plenty of problem houses up here as well. This problem isn't an Atlanta problem. This is a national problem.

There are several developments in my area built by the same developer and they ALL have major problems. There have been numerous lawsuits. Nothing stopped these jerkoffs from creating new dumpy overpriced developments. They build in the hottest zip codes so of course their houses were selling really well. I looked at a few of their houses and I've seen cardboard boxes constructed better.

Just because you're part of an union means absolutely nothing. You can still be the crappiest contractor on the planet.

And not all work is don't by licensed contractors. For certain things you need the dude with the license to sign off.....that's it. He does it have to do a single thing or even show up on the site.

Oh and thanks for your cheerfulness and being a part of the Atlanta Welcome Wagon.