Dallas Georgia (Atlanta, Kennesaw, Acworth: transplants, for sale, real estate)

[Yankeelooker]

A few weeks ago I had the most fortunate chance to visit family in the Dallas Ga, Hiram area. I was wondering what some people who live there think of it? I saw that there is a lot of homes for sale, is this common? My wife and I are considering moving there from upstate New York. What kind of jobs are available?

[atlantagreg30127]

I live in Powder Springs, just East of Dallas. Dallas has revamped their tiny downtown area and it's what many I guess would call "Quaint" (if people still use that word). Mixture of transplants and a few rednecks too, but overall not bad. Like a lot of burbs here, it's growing due to people in Atlanta wanting to move further out and new transplants to the area as well.

I had submitted some pics of Dallas to the city-data stats pages some time ago to show the downtown area, but so far they've not appeared yet (ahem ).

Lots of younger families out there who are always coming and going, and new subdivisions popping up all over, so you'll see lots of for sale signs - usually not a problem. Now if you're looking for a funky, hip, off-the-wall type area Paulding County is NOT for you. Paulding leans more toward the Blue collar, rural, husband/wife/2-3 kids set with the double baby stroller and home scrapbooking party stuff. Think of Martha Stewart, only with Vince Gill music in the background and pickup trucks. If that's your thing, you'll be in heaven - if it makes you hurl, move closer to Atlanta. Everyone's different.

As far as jobs - more Blue collar typically. You'll find few if any IT jobs or computer industry type of things, but more construction-oriented or retail type jobs than anything out there.

[gt6974a]

as PC as this message board is, I don't think you should be referring to people as 'rednecks'.

Hiram is a nice area, gives you a country feel. There are some nice neighborhoods out this way. My brother in law is the superintendent for golf course out in Hiram. Golf Digest has rated their greens better than most expensive courses around Atlanta.

Anyway, I grew up in Acworth, Hiram is about where Acworth was 10-15 years ago as far as growth and feel. You can still get the Country feel in Hiram, unlike Acworth.

If you have to work downtown though, traffic would be completely horrible from there.

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by gt6974a

as PC as this message board is, I don't think you should be referring to people as 'rednecks'.

Hiram is a nice area, gives you a country feel. There are some nice neighborhoods out this way.

gt.... it is the responsibility of those who live in these areas to be very to the point and honest to people who are about to make a life changing decision in their lives (relocation) as to what to expect in a given area. When someone is about to uproot themselves and move (usually with a family) to a new area, there is no such thing as "political correctness" so long as you are telling the truth.

I work for a company that is located right in-between Powder Springs and Hiram, along Hwy 278. Most of our employees are from Paulding County. Why yes, there ARE people there/here who eat in fine restaurants and have a wine collection at home. There are however, also some people who work for us that you would definately NOT want to have as a neighbor (Pit Bull, cars on blocks in front of a run-down trailer - the whole Jeff Foxworthy stereotype and more). I have been to areas of Paulding that reminded me of a scene from Deliverance, hidden away, Rebel Flags on poles in the front yards, with the grumpy old men who talk about all the "damn yankees" (and other names I can't say here) who are "invading" their area. They DO still exist and the further out you go the more you see of it. No, not in quantity anymore, but it's still something to look out for before spending $$$ on a home. You can also visit the Paulding.com board online sometime and see a fair share of it, as well as the "sophisticated" crowd as well. The true fact is however, that if you move into the wrong area of Paulding, you may find yourself in a neighborhood you will be begging to move out of shortly thereafter (and there are plenty of good ones, too). So no, it is not "unPC" to use the term redneck if it really applies, and in parts of Paulding where massive development hasn't hit yet, yes, it still does apply in some areas.

Leaving that - to Yankeelooker - another thing to keep in mind is that Georgia in general doesn't have nearly as strict codes and requirements of the builders here as some other states do. Getting a home inspector to inspect a possible new home should be a priority. Even some new homes are not built to high standards, and tons of new subdivisions are popping up all over very quickly (and sometimes quick means shotty). While some of the newer homes may LOOK nice, make sure you take the proper precautions to make sure they ARE nice under the hood.

[Yankeelooker]

thank you for the information and frank discussion about the area. I know that my wife's family likes it down there and they may have a good view of it but I need as much objectivity if I am going to move my family down there.

Thank you, I welcome any further comments anyone may have.

[gt6974a]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

gt.... it is the responsibility of those who live in these areas to be very to the point and honest to people who are about to make a life changing decision in their lives (relocation) as to what to expect in a given area. When someone is about to uproot themselves and move (usually with a family) to a new area, there is no such thing as "political correctness" so long as you are telling the truth.

That's why I gave my point of view, I didn't say it was perfect but you paint every area outside of the perimeter as a 'redneck' safe heaven.

Your welcome to read my other post, and I'm usually brutally honest.

Pickup trucks and Country music doesn't make you a 'redneck'. I have a truck(rebel flag plate on the front), a Mustang GT, listen to country music, fish, hunt, chew tobacco, etc., born and raised in Acworth, 3rd generation, but I also play golf, listen to other music, got a degree in CS from GT, and write software for a living. I probably work with more races than anyone on here. Blacks, Hispanics, Indians, Asian, etc.... but with your description I'm a 'redneck'.

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by gt6974a

you paint every area outside of the perimeter as a 'redneck' safe heaven.
Pickup trucks and Country music doesn't make you a 'redneck'. I have a truck(rebel flag plate on the front),

I probably work with more races than anyone on here. Blacks, Hispanics, Indians, Asian, etc.... but with your description I'm a 'redneck'.

No.. in my description I didn't mention you or anyone else by name - group description - although with the Rebel flag tag yeah, you lost it on that one. Sorry.

And "working with more races than anyone" doesn't mean you are or are not redneck. Who do you associate with? Go out to dinner with? Invite to your home? Your reaction if your daugther (if you have one) came home on a date with one of these "coworkers"? Go on - be honest. College degrees? Well geez, the unibomber and Eric Rudolph have degrees, too. College degrees and who you work with doesn't make you a tolerant person - you may well be, but don't expect someone to NOT assume otherwise if they see a pickup truck driving toward them with a Rebel Flag on the truck and someone chewing snuff behind the wheel. There are tons of educated country folks in the burbs, but you'll see more rednecks out that way than you would in Buckhead or Virginia Highlands. You may have other problems living intown that you won't find in the burbs, however.

Yankeelooker: Yes, in Dallas you will see a fair share of these. Some really are rednecks, and others may have college degrees. Regardless, look closely at any neighborhood before making a decision on buying a home. As said before, if you see homes with cars up on blocks, dirt bike tracks in the yard, or empty beer kegs on the porch next to an old washing machine - you probably do not want those folks as neighbors. Drive through the area at night on a Friday or Saturday... do you see 30 naked people falling out of windows? The police answer noise disturbance calls? Hey, one real estate agent I know even tells people to be in the area when the school bus lets out to see how many teens are in the area that could be a problem.

Your call as to how much effort you want to put into it, but unless you're buying a secluded 50 acres somewhere, a little time and observation before buying a home in the smaller towns (or even in the city regarding other potential problems) is well worth the effort.

[scjr]

Originally Posted by gt6974a

Hiram is a nice area, gives you a country feel. There are some nice neighborhoods out this way. My brother in law is the superintendent for golf course out in Hiram. Golf Digest has rated their greens better than most expensive courses around Atlanta.

Very cool! What's the name of the course?

I live in Dallas and love it!

scjr

[tcbrooks06]

I moved to Dallas Dec of 2006, It is cool and is growing on me. I work in Atlanta so I have a 40-45 min commute which can be the norm in Metro atlanta. There is a ton of developement in my area, which is part of why we moved here (NE paulding) . Your money goes farther when it comes to buying a house out here too. The house I have now would probably be 2X as much where I used to live in DeKalb county. Me and my wife went hiking last weekend at Red Top Mountain..Had a blast. The location has a good mix of the quiet country, parks, lakes, and still close enough to the city.

[dncngrl1964]

hhhmmm seeing as I am from upstate NY let me try to give you references you can use

Hiram-- Yorkville
Dallas--Westmoreland
Kennesaw-- New Hartford
Acworth-- Oneida

Hope this helps