Moving to VA-Highlands/ Druid Hills with 8-Year-Old (Atlanta, Decatur: for sale, real estate)

[Alexis17]

Hello!

My husband, daughter and I currently live in Tallahassee, where we have our home up for sale (showings are occurring about 1x/week and it's been for sale for about 8 weeks). We really like the VA-Highlands area and are seriously contemplating purchasing a condo we looked at last weekend in Highland Hall (off Briarcliff Rd. near Virginia) to be our stepping stone into the area since we still have the mortgage on our home here in Tally. I believe the school zones are Springdale Park, Inman and Grady for that location. We did go by there last weekend and I thought the complex was quite charming, obviously the area is great and Fellini's pizza was yummy.

Is there any thought to this not being a good decision? The only things I think we would be giving up are the size of the condo being smaller than our current home (which we are fine with) and I don't know if any other kids live in that complex, however, I think my daughter can get plenty of socializing from other kids her age through school, after-school and church.

Does anyone have any feedback about this specific complex or the area or if we should be looking elsewhere?

Also, my husband and I are in our early-mid 30's, if that helps.

Thank you SO much for any guidance you can provide.

Alexis17

[IntownHomes247]

Be sure you visit during rush hour. Briarcliff is always busy, but the intersection of Briarcliff and Ponce is one of the ones that I try to avoid at all cost during rush hour, so you should make sure you're going to be willing to deal with it on a day-in and day-out basis and that you'll be comfortable living on such a busy street with a younger child.

You might do better to rent until your home sells and take the time to get a better feel for the neighborhood and decide where you really want to live, rather than choosing a condo as a "stepping stone." Because of its location, I don't consider Highland Hall one of the easier places to turn over, so once you buy there, you will probably need to stay there for quite a while unless you will be prepared to sell at a loss.

Also, FYI, Springdale Park is having an open house on Friday. Here are the details:

Join us for Springdale Park Elementary's first Community Open House! ALL are invited.
THIS IS NOW VIRGINIA HIGHLAND'S PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

Friday, November 6, 2009
8:30 am - 10:00 am
SPARK Campus: 1246 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30306

Tours will run consistently from the Rutland House building from 8:30 am to 9:10 am. Principal Brown's presentation begins at 9:15 am in the cafeteria.

Explore the facilities, observe our students and teachers in action, feel the energy and meet the Principal. Feel free to bring a neighbor or business associate with you.

Note: Please park on side streets St. Augustine Place, St. Charles Avenue and St. Louis Place or park on streets south of Ponce de Leon Avenue. There is no parking on Springdale Road or at Druid Hills United Methodist Church. Thank you.

[Alexis17]

Thank you so much for the information. I don't think renting is an option for us because we own two very sweet female rottweilers, which most rental units won't allow. I am going to try to get up there again for that Open House on Friday at the school and to watch the traffic you're talking about. Thanks again for your help and your time.

[IntownHomes247]

Be sure to check the condo docs carefully to make sure they will allow you to have 2 large dogs. Most condo developments have a limit on number and size of pets. Also, you should check to see what their rules are regarding renting your unit. You may decide you want to move up sooner than the property would be able to sell without a loss, in which case you might want to rent it, but not all condos allow rentals and most that do have some kind of limit on the percentage of units that can be rented at any given time. Given the current market, the majority of condo owners who want to rent now are coming up against these regulations and are not able to do it.

[Alexis17]

Will do. Thanks again for all of your help.

[kaabye]

Also since you have an 8 year old it is important to note that VA and Morningside just split as far as public schools. Many people refer to Morningside as part of VA highlands but they are not one in the same. VA highlands is at a new school I assume the school will be a good school but Morningside is a proven top school in Atlanta. Some families in VA have moved a block or two to be back in the Morningside school district (until this year va and morningside were in the Morningside school district). I would try to get off Briarcliff if your budget allows at that is a busy street. I would shoot for a neighborhood cross street off North Highland (north highland runs through morningside and va highlands). Also, you may be able to rent a house for a year or two while you sell your house and get familiar with the area.

Happy to help with questions about va highlands/morningside good luck with your move

[Alexis17]

Kaabye - Thank you very much for the information. Based on these responses, we are going to look elsewhere in the same vicinity and expand our search into the Decatur area (Oakhurst / Clairemont / Winnona school zones) as well.

Do you think it will be possible to find a rental given that we have 2 female rottweilers? Maybe a FRBO? (I called a rental company about a month ago and they said their insurance company would not allow us to rent the property they listed because our dogs are considered an aggressive breed.)

Again, you have been very helpful. Thanks!!

[kaabye]

Originally Posted by Alexis17

Kaabye - Thank you very much for the information. Based on these responses, we are going to look elsewhere in the same vicinity and expand our search into the Decatur area (Oakhurst / Clairemont / Winnona school zones) as well.

Do you think it will be possible to find a rental given that we have 2 female rottweilers? Maybe a FRBO? (I called a rental company about a month ago and they said their insurance company would not allow us to rent the property they listed because our dogs are considered an aggressive breed.)

Again, you have been very helpful. Thanks!!

Not sure on the dogs...even when you buy a home I understand some home owners policies won't cover you if you have an agressive dog type (we were asked about our dog when we got our insurance but they said a golden retriever was ok).

Decatur is very nice and has a good school but it is some what more difficult to get around atlanta from that area. I would also drive around and call numbers off signs. may not be high tech but you might find something that will work for you.

Go check out morningside elementry one morning around 7:45 am and see all the kids and parents walking to school and you will be hooked. Also, make sure you speak with a real estate person who really knows each area (they all say they can service any area but you need some one who really has insight). I deal with a lot of real estate professionals so if you need more assistance I can send you to one of them.

last thought on real estate person if you get in with one who really knows morningside/va higlands they may be able to also get you a rental house if a seller is having trouble selling they may be able to put you in contact and help that way as well.

Biggest change for you may be going from seminole,gator land to the home of the dogs....we need more FL folks

[Alexis17]

Kaaybye - I am a die hard Gator fan (attended UF) stuck in Seminole country for the last 10 years! Yesterday, I researched the properties listed for the Morningside Elementary school zone and I think I have fallen in love with those Midtown condo views of the city and Piedmont Park...

Yes, I need a realtor, but I think I need to put all of my effort towards selling my Tally house first (I don't want to waste anyone's time until we're ready to move forward). State Farm will underwrite our dogs, but it's a one-chance deal - if we have any claim related to them, we will be dropped. I also need to start looking into head hunters in the area to find a paralegal or property manager position up there.

KW- I'll try to send you another message with my hotmail email address.

Again, you have all provided such wonderful information that I am simply not privy to since I don't live there. This is great!! Thank you thank you thank you!!

[kaabye]

I grew up in Jax so I remember those FL/GA games well. You'll have fun in Atlanta at that time of year there are a tun of gators here. I did not get any emails but then again I'm kind of new with this forum and how it works.

Morningside is a great place I would recommend renting and then buying once you have a chance to see the area and streets. The school is like something out of the 50's

tim tebow for prez.......


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