Unsure about a move to ATL from the East Bay CA (Atlanta: apartment, rent)

[lashell30]

Hello all, I am really stumped and need honest advise......

I currently reside in California where it is very expensive. I live in a really nice apt complex in a really nice upper class suburban (predominitly white) neighborhood. As some may have guessed, I have experienced racism here as well as those "sideway looks" . Another con is that it is government housing.

The only indication that this is government housing is the obvious....very upper class white neighborhood (city) with the addition of working class African American's....all in one place. It is begining to have the same feel of regular public housing (projects) in the suburbs. It seems like this is the only way to live nicely in CA on a working/middle class budget.

My rent is a little under $1000 per month for a 1 bdrm (under market rate for the area). The type of apt that I live in now is what I can live in ATL for probably $100-$200 less per month.

So this is where I am now..... I am an African American woman, single, no children and 31 yrs old. Due to various draw backs in life I am just now finishing off my Bachelor's degree......... I have been thinking about moving to Atlanta on and off for over...6 years . I even visited the Sandy Springs area viewing apts about 3 yrs ago. You may ask...why are you stumped? I just don't know if I should go ahead and make that move . I know that the grass is not always greener on the other side and I don't want to find myself wishing that I had not moved into the South.

So, I guess that I need to hear opinions, advice and suggestions. Although I am open to stories, suggestions from everyone it would be really nice to hear stories from those who have moved specifically from the East Bay to GA. I am open to stories from everyone.

[johnnyboy2008]

Make the move. It sounds like you want to. You can always move back. Maybe there is a great reason your move ended up getting delayed and you just don't know about it yet. Life is strange in that way sometimes.

I vacationed most of my life in florida and hated leaving it. For 20 years I debated moving to Fla. I finally moved and love it. I spent the first 6 months saying to myself "i should of moved here 20 years ago." So don't be like me.

good luck with whatever you decide

[Cobb]

If you want to move to the ATL area then set your sights on it and just go for it. I came from CA also and I dont regret the move nor do I miss CA. You can rent here for far less than CA depending on where you live. The pay may not be the same as CA though, and you will, sad to say, experience racism overt and subtle. Overall, I enjoy it here as it's very green and beautiful and we've had LOTS of rain this year.

Start planning and go for it, step out and make it work for you. Also you you PLEASE, on your way here to GA, bring me a IN and Out burger, PLEASE !!! El Pollo Loco is already here.

[neil0311]

To the OP...just please keep in mind that the Atlanta area is not without economic challenges right now and is not some kind of "promised land" for black Americans (or anyone else). Unemployment is hovering at 10% and jobs are tough to find for skilled and experienced people, and from what I hear impossible to find for those less skilled or experienced.

Please plan accordingly with cash to tide you over for a year and the expectation that you may not find a job for that period of time.

[YahooLori]

I would not recommend south Georgia. It is still very racial here. I was very surprised coming from Florida two years ago, how stuck in the past they are, here. Sandy Springs would be good. South of the airport, forget it.

[ck26]

Originally Posted by YahooLori

I would not recommend south Georgia. It is still very racial here. I was very surprised coming from Florida two years ago, how stuck in the past they are, here. Sandy Springs would be good. South of the airport, forget it.

She didn't say south Georgia! She said Atlanta, which is completely different than the rest of Georgia. Atlanta should be its own state as it has nothing in common with the rest of Georgia!

[electricmayhem]

I think it is hard to uproot yourself from your friends and family. Do you know people in Atlanta? If not, I'm not sure a change to a new city will automatically make a big difference in your lifestyle.

[Highriser987]

Originally Posted by johnnyboy2008

Make the move. It sounds like you want to. You can always move back. Maybe there is a great reason your move ended up getting delayed and you just don't know about it yet. Life is strange in that way sometimes.

I vacationed most of my life in florida and hated leaving it. For 20 years I debated moving to Fla. I finally moved and love it. I spent the first 6 months saying to myself "i should of moved here 20 years ago." So don't be like me.

good luck with whatever you decide

Wow Johnny, you sound just like me! Except I havent moved down there yet lol. Although I do have family there, sometimes you wonder if there is some reason for thoughts of wanting to move somewhere like possibly meeting that special someone or just a change in scenery too. My question to lashell30 is are you just wanting to move here because its "the south"? Or were there other motives? I would think you would probably run into similar situations here as far as apartment living is concerned depending on the neighborhood of course. Have you visited here before?

[antiquesmountainapache]

One poster has already mentioned the job situation. I am seconding his recommendation and you will probably hear it again. Every day I either read or hear of someone who has moved from out of state with no job, never found one and moved again. Moving from one coast to another is a huge undertaking, even in good times. You mentioned that you visited Sandy Springs in the past. If you don't mind me asking, why? Do you have family or friends in our area? A lack of connections coupled with the current economic client will make things that much harder.

[hokiehigh]

Good post. I think you should do it since you don't have kids and are only changing your life. You can always move back! Finish your degree first b/c sometimes it is a pain to transfer credits and you don't want to repeat classes. Good luck! If you have family on the West Coast, maybe think about Phoenix or Dallas too. I hear it is cheaper than most western cities.