Townhomes good idea for family with small children? (Alpharetta, Norcross: condos, neighborhood)

[alisaga]

Currently our family is looking to move from our small condo in Norcross to the Alpharetta/Cumming area. I've never lived in a house before and worry about yardwork and maintenance of the exterior. I was thinking maybe moving to a townhome would work for us, but I don't want to be the only family there with a kid (age 4). Feedback please.

[futureATLien]

a lot of families live in townhomes, my aunt does and she has two boys in their teens, but I also see some younger children in the neighborhood.

[atlantagreg30127]

Unless it's a retirement community or something like that, there will be more kids there.

What you need to focus on are things like how thick the walls are in-between each unit, such as if they are concrete or just wood frame with "sound proof" insulation (not nearly as good). This way you won't have to worry so much about your kid making noise that will disturb the neighbors, or, you hearing the neighbors as well. It's also most safer to have a concrete firewall in-between units rather than fire resistant sheet rock as well.

The only reason I live in a house is because I have dogs. I'm not really a "dog walker", and when they have to go out, I can just open the door and let them out into a fenced yard. You can't do that in condos and most townhomes unless they have a small private green space. So imo, it's more inconvenient for pet owners to live in such places than people with kids, as kids can also go play around the neighborhood or local parks, etc.

Go to the community you're interested in and walk around on a Saturday afternoon. See how many kids you see out or at the community pool or play area. If you don't see any, maybe stop and talk to any residents you see walking their pets or on their porches and ask them about kids in the community, etc. Most folks won't mind unless you have 10 kids in which case they'll make up just about anything to make sure you don't move in. lol