Want out of Miami!! GA any good? (Atlanta, Macon: real estate, rental)

[Netic]

I am a young professional with extensive experience in banking and corporate finance (treasury-related). My wife currently works in the wire room for a bank in Miami, but has more experience with administrative and assistant duties.

We live in Miami (close to downtown) and this place BLOWS! Too congested, noone speaks english, rude inconsiderate drivers, etc. We are desperate to leave within the next two years- and made a visit to Helen, GA. Along the way, we fell in love with GA's mountainous, quiet and country environment- but we are not too sure about a good spot to live. My highest concern is jobs. Where can a treasury analyst and an administrative professional find work in GA? Is Atlanta our only choice? (cause that place looks just as crazy as Miami in terms of driving manners)

We don't mind commuting to a big city, but I don't want to drive 1.5 hours from commerce to Atlanta. Are there any quiet towns with affordable housing within proximity (10-30 mins) of Atlanta or another area with lots of jobs? Also, what are the salaries like? More/less/the same as Miami?

Any input is much appreciated!!

[forresthills]

check out dallas.9th fastest growing county in the country but without big city issues and 30 minutes to downtown atlanta

[Hiawassee Heaven]

There are alot of nice mountainous areas and affordable housing, the problem probably will be finding jobs but with your expierence who knows.

[sweettea1]

You should also check out Charlotte, NC.

[yerocal]

You should check out Macon

[resolute]

US younger professionals are beginning to crop up in small towns all over the N. GA mountains. With high-speed internet service freely available, many now telecommute and work from up here, while maintaining a great lifestyle.. I can sit on my deck with my laptop, look at the beautiful mountains and talk to my clients all over the country and world without them knowing that I am in a town of 511 people! Airport in either Atlanta or Chattanooga is about 90 minutes away and anything else I need in the city. Not a bad spot to be!

[Netic]

Resolute:

Wow! You are living my dream: working from my home office in a quiet small town with gorgeous scenery! What do you do, and how do I get in on it?!

[richmond county]

metro augusta the fastest growing city in ga. Without all the traffic of atlanta since everybody is eithe being push there, or are running to the city

[resolute]

Originally Posted by Netic

Resolute:

Wow! You are living my dream: working from my home office in a quiet small town with gorgeous scenery! What do you do, and how do I get in on it?!

I work in professional services and have my own small consulting practice - specifically working with real estate projects for corporations and REITS. I also do some brokerage as well in the local areas, own several rental properties, and I am a partner on a small historic hotel redevelopment project in my small town that we are going to renovate over the next 1-2 years. I split my time between Atlanta (where I still have a home) and the N GA mountains - but find it easier to work from the mountain place now as the telecommunications infrastructure has drastically improved over the past 5 years or so (my DSL works faster and better in the mountains than it does in my midtown Atlanta office).

Of course, many days, when the provencial small town attitudes start getting under my skin, I find myself wishing I were down in Miami eating some maduros and black beans and rice or hangin out on South Beach "peoplewatching" - guess the "grass is always greener...", huh? But I can still run back to Atlanta - for now, I guess I have the best of both worlds somewhat...

[deannabee]

Hey that's funny! I moved from Miami more than 10 yrs. ago...I think Hurricane Andrew did it for us mostly! I now live in Suwanee, GA and it was ranked by CNN as one of the top cities in the US to live it. Check it out...I love it here now!