Good place for seniors on fixed income in 2021? (Atlanta, Columbus: for sale, condo)

[greensousth]

Hi, I've read the older posts on this topic and now looking for up-to-date info and upside/down for move to Columbus area after 45 years in Atlanta area.

I just read AJC article listing Columbus as best GA city for under $50,000 income. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ajc...outputType=amp
We're retirees in our 70's and house hunting, most recently in Newnan area, and prices have increased incredibly in the past year. Maybe Columbus is our next home?
I've read about uptown growth etc. We're looking for a modest home ready-to-move-in under $200,000 in nice safe subdivision, shopping relatively close by, ideally also walking trails/park, and hospital within 25 minutes.
Other than a brief visit to the riverfront area when under construction I know nothing about Columbus but it's the right size for us.

Can you tell me, is that price realistic? What areas should we look, what to avoid? Are there places for live music? Outdoor community events when no longer a pandemic? Is there a good senior center? Anything else?
Thanks in advance

[columbusboy8]

Originally Posted by greensousth

Hi, I've read the older posts on this topic and now looking for up-to-date info and upside/down for move to Columbus area after 45 years in Atlanta area.

I just read AJC article listing Columbus as best GA city for under $50,000 income. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ajc...outputType=amp
We're retirees in our 70's and house hunting, most recently in Newnan area, and prices have increased incredibly in the past year. Maybe Columbus is our next home?
I've read about uptown growth etc. We're looking for a modest home ready-to-move-in under $200,000 in nice safe subdivision, shopping relatively close by, ideally also walking trails/park, and hospital within 25 minutes.
Other than a brief visit to the riverfront area when under construction I know nothing about Columbus but it's the right size for us.

Can you tell me, is that price realistic? What areas should we look, what to avoid? Are there places for live music? Outdoor community events when no longer a pandemic? Is there a good senior center? Anything else?
Thanks in advance

Columbus has everything you're looking for, and then some! It's also been a well kept "secret!" As a city of some 195,000, it punches above its weight and offers amenities of much larger cities. I offer the following and encourage you to visit for a long weekend to look around our fair city. Drilling down to the many links will provide you with much information.

www.visitcolumbusga.com

36 Hours: Columbus, Ga. – Find your tourist interests in Columbus, Ga.

www.alwaysuptown.com

The Chattahoochee River for tubing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, ziplining www.whitewaterexpress.com

The National Infantry Museum www.nationalinfantrymuseum.org

National Civil War Naval Museum www.portcolumbus.org

Coca-Cola Science Center www.ccssc.org

Springer Opera House www.springeroperahouse.org The State Theater of Georgia

RiverCenter www.rivercenter.org Conveniently located across from the Marriott downtown, and walking distance to the Historic District.

Historic Westville www.westville.org

www.rapids-riverfrontplace.com

www.columbusbotanicalgarden.org

https://oxbow.columbusstate.edu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5tpvM89bjE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn7g_N-O9ek&t=208s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFo7czNfOlY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZk9tyRoWUU (This video features destinations close to Columbus

[Columbus1984]

Originally Posted by greensousth

Hi, I've read the older posts on this topic and now looking for up-to-date info and upside/down for move to Columbus area after 45 years in Atlanta area.

I just read AJC article listing Columbus as best GA city for under $50,000 income. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ajc...outputType=amp
We're retirees in our 70's and house hunting, most recently in Newnan area, and prices have increased incredibly in the past year. Maybe Columbus is our next home?
I've read about uptown growth etc. We're looking for a modest home ready-to-move-in under $200,000 in nice safe subdivision, shopping relatively close by, ideally also walking trails/park, and hospital within 25 minutes.
Other than a brief visit to the riverfront area when under construction I know nothing about Columbus but it's the right size for us.

Can you tell me, is that price realistic? What areas should we look, what to avoid? Are there places for live music? Outdoor community events when no longer a pandemic? Is there a good senior center? Anything else?
Thanks in advance

I would stick with North Columbus. You should be able to find something for $200K but it might be an older home. If you jumped up between $200-$250K your options would open up significantly. The Midland area of the city is booming. Close to major shopping areas and easy access to other areas of the city. Uptown has grown tremendously. Lots of things going on down there each weekend. The Lakebottom/Weracoba Park is a good area close to downtown and lots of walking opportunities. Hope this helps!

[columbusboy8]

Originally Posted by Columbus1984

I would stick with North Columbus. You should be able to find something for $200K but it might be an older home. If you jumped up between $200-$250K your options would open up significantly. The Midland area of the city is booming. Close to major shopping areas and easy access to other areas of the city. Uptown has grown tremendously. Lots of things going on down there each weekend. The Lakebottom/Weracoba Park is a good area close to downtown and lots of walking opportunities. Hope this helps!

Great suggestions for the original poster! I agree with everything you say! I went into Realtor.com for Columbus just now and see that expanding up to $250K dramatically increases the possibilities of finding a nice home. Midland and Uptown are definitely booming! Atlantans are noticing, and there is a lot of Atlanta investment interest in Columbus, particularly lately. I also noticed a small one bedroom condo right downtown by the river for $199K, within walking distance to everything in the Historic Uptown District.

[columbusboy8]

Originally Posted by greensousth

Hi, I've read the older posts on this topic and now looking for up-to-date info and upside/down for move to Columbus area after 45 years in Atlanta area.

I just read AJC article listing Columbus as best GA city for under $50,000 income. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ajc...outputType=amp
We're retirees in our 70's and house hunting, most recently in Newnan area, and prices have increased incredibly in the past year. Maybe Columbus is our next home?
I've read about uptown growth etc. We're looking for a modest home ready-to-move-in under $200,000 in nice safe subdivision, shopping relatively close by, ideally also walking trails/park, and hospital within 25 minutes.
Other than a brief visit to the riverfront area when under construction I know nothing about Columbus but it's the right size for us.

Can you tell me, is that price realistic? What areas should we look, what to avoid? Are there places for live music? Outdoor community events when no longer a pandemic? Is there a good senior center? Anything else?
Thanks in advance

Lots of helpful posts here! I'm not a realtor, but you should check out 7105 Affirm Lane in North Columbus, GA 31909 Good luck in your search. You'll like Columbus!

[JayHey]

I don't think there's any need to tell greensouth to up his budget to 250k. He said the Newnan area was proving to be priced out of their budget of 200k, and that budget is easily accommodating here.

Greensouth, take a look south of JR Allen and north of Manchester Expy, there are lots of homes in your budget and those neighborhoods are pretty good and that's an area where there's easy access to the Dragonfly trail system. It's centrally located for shopping as well. Right off Weems road there's a house for sale right now that's in your budget and a short walk away from Heath Park, which has a a nice trail loop.

[columbusboy8]

Originally Posted by JayHey

I don't think there's any need to tell greensouth to up his budget to 250k. He said the Newnan area was proving to be priced out of their budget of 200k, and that budget is easily accommodating here.

Greensouth, take a look south of JR Allen and north of Manchester Expy, there are lots of homes in your budget and those neighborhoods are pretty good and that's an area where there's easy access to the Dragonfly trail system. It's centrally located for shopping as well. Right off Weems road there's a house for sale right now that's in your budget and a short walk away from Heath Park, which has a a nice trail loop.

Good point, JayHey! One of Columbus's best kept "secrets" is on Weems Rd. The Columbus Botanical Garden!

[greensousth]

Delayed in getting back to the forum in- thank you for the info, exactly what I'm looking for. And nice to see Columbus boosters. By Midland, do you mean NE of Columbus, up Manchester Expy? I don't know the area at all.

[Columbus1984]

Originally Posted by greensousth

Delayed in getting back to the forum in- thank you for the info, exactly what I'm looking for. And nice to see Columbus boosters. By Midland, do you mean NE of Columbus, up Manchester Expy? I don't know the area at all.

Yes that’s the Midland area of the city.