Wanting to relocate to Atlanta, GA (Sandy Springs, Lawrenceville: real estate, condo, crime rate)

[jennb_devon]

Hello everyone,

I'm trying to relocate to atlanta, GA this summer. I would like some suggestions on best place to live/work. Please be honest. I have two teenage boys 15 and 13, so schools and crime rate are important. I want a neighborhood/place with a mixture of blacks and whites. I also want things for me and my boys to do. They are interested in sports and water parks, and things like that. I want good night life. And would prefer a short commute to work. I'm a registered nurse. Can anybody help?

[TakeAhike]

Some additional FYI is needed.

-What is your price range?
-What type of housing do you prefer?
-Any idea of where you will be working?

[jennb_devon]

200,000 or less. 3-4 bedroom, grass, nice back yard. Don't know where I'll be working. I know in a hospital. Do you have any suggestions?

[bizchick86]

Since you want a mixed neighborhood near night life, an intown neighborhood would be best. However, homes in that price range would either be much smaller or would require more renovations that similar homes that are not intown. Homes in the suburbs for that price range, however, may not give you the best schools, are generally more segregated, and they certainly would be further from nightlife. With that, there are homes in Grant Park (30315), Edgewood (30307), and other east Atlanta neighborhoods that would probably be best, but you'd have to hunt for them.

GP and Edgewood are growing more mixed due to gentrification and are still more affordable than most intown neighborhoods. If you check out realtor.com with the 30315 zipcode and 30307 look out for homes in Grant Park and Edgewood you can find something. A few homes with what you're looking for pop up at the very top end (200k) with apparently pretty good schools:

-This is near the zoo and is right across from Grant Park 909 Cherokee Ave Se, Atlanta, GA, 30315 - MLS ID#3957605 - Single Family Home real estate - REALTOR.com® You may even lobby to get your kids into Grady (one of the best public schools in the state) since you're living not too far away in Atlanta. Also, Grady Memorial Hospital is a short drive away.

- This is in Edgewood, and is larger than the previous listing with schools with even better ratings: http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...307_1109832607

You may want to consider a town home or condo, as well. Your options for intown living would be much larger if you do.

- This is a condo in Sandy Springs, a town in the Atlanta metro that was technically once considered Atlanta. A bit further than other neighborhoods, but it's a nice area:
http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...350_1109911658


There are other OTP neighborhoods that would offer the living arrangements you want and more space, but it's your call if you want to be further from activity, rely more on a car and be in possibly a more segregated area.

[ck26]

Originally Posted by jennb_devon

Hello everyone,

I'm trying to relocate to atlanta, GA this summer. I would like some suggestions on best place to live/work. Please be honest. I have two teenage boys 15 and 13, so schools and crime rate are important. I want a neighborhood/place with a mixture of blacks and whites. I also want things for me and my boys to do. They are interested in sports and water parks, and things like that. I want good night life. And would prefer a short commute to work. I'm a registered nurse. Can anybody help?

I would also check out Gwinnett County. Gwinnett Medical is in Gwinnett (obviously) and you can check out the cities of Duluth or Lawrenceville.

[Midtownatl]

I'd consider Duluth in Gwinnett County. Check out the high school's stats: VERY diverse and VERY good test scores for all racial demographic groups. The ACT scores, which are already above the national average, appear to be on the rise. If I weren't addicted to cities, and if I had kids, I'd look to Duluth.

[Midtownatl]

Gwinnett also has minor leaguge baseball and hocket teams: Braves and Gladiators. Those teams' arenas there host a number of shows. In addition, Duluth is about 20 miles from Midtown Atlanta.

[brookdaleresident]

Duluth is a nice family town, but no nightlife to speak of. You may have to sacrifice one of your needs/wants. You might also consider where you'll be working first, then housing. Good luck!

[jennb_devon]

My boys play basketball and football on the high school and junior high team, they also like to go to those type of sporting events. I don't necessarily have to live in a town that has night life, but just plenty of stuff to do and places to meet people.

[jennb_devon]

I've read several post that said that stone mountain and areas close by were hood and ghetto. Are Duluth and Lawrenceville close to here, If so I don't want my boys is this area.