Growth potential for Columbus? (Atlanta, St. Simons: mortgage, house, neighborhood)

[JLA]

One of things I like about this city is when we moved here and was looking for a house, we were shown houses in our price range all over the city, there was no steering to a specific neighborhood. The racial breakdown is bout 47% Caucasian, 46% African American about 5% Hispanic and rest would be Asians and mixed races. You can live where ever you wish here. Please come and visit for a few days and check the place out. By the way, most of the African American Fraternities and Sororities are active in the community.

[JLA]

USA_Mom, I understand. There have been several places I haved lived, which I do not want to ever live again.

[trmaoy]

Originally Posted by JLA

One of things I like about this city is when we moved here and was looking for a house, we were shown houses in our price range all over the city, there was no steering to a specific neighborhood. The racial breakdown is bout 47% Caucasian, 46% African American about 5% Hispanic and rest would be Asians and mixed races. You can live where ever you wish here. Please come and visit for a few days and check the place out. By the way, most of the African American Fraternities and Sororities are active in the community.

Wow, you certainly make Columbus sound like a nice city, and it sounds like you have lived plenty of other places so you can compare.

About housing, I read what USA MOM said about a 3000 sq. house. I did some looking myself and it seemed the prices were 250k+ but I don't know if they were considered good neighborhoods. And realtor.com doesn't tell you what year the house was built. We would love to have some land, maybe an acre, and a newer home or even custom build. Our price range would probably be 250 - 350k.

By the way, my husband is a member of a fraternity, and truth be told, I have been concentrating on bigger cities, but he really wants to live in the "country" (his words). He's from South Carolina.

[trmaoy]

Originally Posted by USA_Mom

They were some BBQ places, as well as Japanese and Chinese. I don't remember the names right now, offhand one is at Macon near the Denny's?

I think that was the problem, we were CONSTANTLY told that it was "like Dallas" and it's not at all. We just learned a lesson, realtors and corporations like where my husband was hired are there to GET you to do something for THEM, i.e., telling us what we wanted to hear versus the truth. For example we were told we could "easily" construct a 3000 square foot home on 2 acres in Columbus for in or around $200K; regardless of what I found on realtor.com. Um not quite.

But lesson learned. It is a pretty area and I am sure there are a lot of people (200K at least ) who love it here. I don't love it and life's too short to live where you don't feel welcomed (NOT by you JLA you have always been kind on the board) or feel at home at all. I mean usually when we have moved it takes a few months to feel at home, which I get; but, not so much here.

I can reason by the sheer difference in population size that Columbus, GA would be nothing like the DFW metroplex. Maybe people were talking about the suburbs? I've been to Plano. Is Columbus anything like that?

I hope you are able to go back to where you feel comfortable. I can understand. I am afraid of moving someplace and not being happy. No two places are alike and that is what we have to accept.

[USA_Mom]

I'd say it was comparable to Plano 20 years ago, Plano's changed a LOT. Please don't get me wrong, there are stores here from Publix (LOVE IT!) to Walmart to Dillards, it's just not for me. I'd try to visit first and go downtown, Riverwalk, as well as hit the mall and some breakfast type places--that gives you a feel of the place. Plus I think it depends where you're coming from and what you like/dislike about it.

[JLA]

I have only driven through Plano so I can't answerer that question. You really should come and check the place out first. Have your husband contact some of his frat brothers, there are lot of Alphas, Kappas, Q's and so on. There are a few other professional social organizations here, which he can find out about by contacting some of his frat brothers. If you are looking for some acreage, then Lee, Russel in AL or Talbot in GA is your best bet. My first choice would be Lee county AL if I were looking to maximize my money and get a better return on it if I were to move. If money is not an issue then by far Muscogee county, which is the county Columbus is in, is your best bet. The eastern fringes of the Columbus is still rural and is beautiful. The land values are appreciating much faster, but you will have to pay more up front. There are some areas of the county where your lot will have to be at least 2 - 3 acres. Harris county has enacted some laws to protect land owners, none of those crazy tract Cookie cutter subdivision with houses on the lot the same size as the lot and they're all pretty much look the same. Columbus has done the same for some areas of the city, so you will not see anyone setting up a trailer next to a $250,000.00 house. Nor will you see a $150,000.00 house next to a $350,000 house at least not in the newer subdivisions. If you appreciate the finer clothing, then there are some other stores, which are locally owned that cater to the well to do. But if you are like most of us, then Macy's, Dillard's and store like them are here to cater to the middle class. By the way, this week end would have been a nice time to come, if you can get a hotel room. The Tuskegee - Morehouse Classic is going on. The game is tomorrow at 2:00 PM, it is play every year in Columbus. In November Fort Valley State and Albany State will be playing the Fountain City Classic football game here, it is played here every year here.

[trmaoy]

Originally Posted by JLA

I have only driven through Plano so I can't answerer that question. You really should come and check the place out first. Have your husband contact some of his frat brothers, there are lot of Alphas, Kappas, Q's and so on. There are a few other professional social organizations here, which he can find out about by contacting some of his frat brothers. If you are looking for some acreage, then Lee, Russel in AL or Talbot in GA is your best bet. My first choice would be Lee county AL if I were looking to maximize my money and get a better return on it if I were to move. If money is not an issue then by far Muscogee county, which is the county Columbus is in, is your best bet. The eastern fringes of the Columbus is still rural and is beautiful. The land values are appreciating much faster, but you will have to pay more up front. There are some areas of the county where your lot will have to be at least 2 - 3 acres. Harris county has enacted some laws to protect land owners, none of those crazy tract Cookie cutter subdivision with houses on the lot the same size as the lot and they're all pretty much look the same. Columbus has done the same for some areas of the city, so you will not see anyone setting up a trailer next to a $250,000.00 house. Nor will you see a $150,000.00 house next to a $350,000 house at least not in the newer subdivisions. If you appreciate the finer clothing, then there are some other stores, which are locally owned that cater to the well to do. But if you are like most of us, then Macy's, Dillard's and store like them are here to cater to the middle class. By the way, this week end would have been a nice time to come, if you can get a hotel room. The Tuskegee - Morehouse Classic is going on. The game is tomorrow at 2:00 PM, it is play every year in Columbus. In November Fort Valley State and Albany State will be playing the Fountain City Classic football game here, it is played here every year here.

Sorry we couldn't have made it down for the game this weekend, that sounds like a great game. And Macy's and Dillard's kind of shopping is what I prefer.

The city sounds nice for it's size, and seems to have good diversity. Did I read that you commute to Atlanta for work? Maybe that was someone else. But, a person must really like Columbus to do that kind of commute on a daily.

We would love to get away from the cookie cutter subdivisions and have something custom on land. We might not be able to start off doing that but I know that would be a future goal. How far is Lee county, Alabama? I looked at a map and it didn't seem like Columbus was near the Alabama state line but maybe I need to look again. Thanks.

[USA_Mom]

Alabama is about 10-15 minutes (or closer LOL) from Columbus. Columbus borders the state. It's kind of neat (well novelty?) when you cross the river you're in Central Time.

I don't think JLA drives to ATL neither do we, but we have a few neighbors that do. My husband has to about 1-2 times a month, but he's on this side of ATL when he has to work up there and it takes about 90 minutes. He doesn't drive during traffic times although compared to DFW there is not really bad traffic here in Columbus.

[DisgustaTruth]

I think Hunstville is a good comparison for Columbus.....
Columbus has waaaaaay more going for it than Augusta.
Columbus is home to several corporate headquarters as someone else mentioned. It is definately growing and the city has managed to diversify itself beyond being just a military town.

[trmaoy]

Originally Posted by DisgustaSucks

I think Hunstville is a good comparison for Columbus.....
Columbus has waaaaaay more going for it than Augusta.
Columbus is home to several corporate headquarters as someone else mentioned. It is definately growing and the city has managed to diversify itself beyond being just a military town.

Thanks for the additional perspective. Just curious, why do you believe Columbus has way more going for it than Augusta?