Alpharetta vs. East Cobb (Atlanta, Marietta: relocation, apartments, zoned)

[AMLJ2004]

We are moving to Georgia in June/July and are trying to settle on a an area to buy a home. We have narrowed the focus to a home in Alpharetta in a community like the Falls of Autry Mill or The Ridge be zoned to either Dolvin or Barnwell elementary schools - any thoughts on which is better? I have two girls starting Kindergarten in the fall and a son who is almost 2. We are looking for a welcoming community and a great school, as well as something close to retail and GA400 since we will be working in Buckhead. Also considering East Cobb - Mt. Bethel and Eastside elementaries, but there seem to be fewer choices for housing "communities" in these areas. Any suggestions on where to look to what to avoid?

Many thanks!

[atlantagreg30127]

You may wish to post in the Atlanta forum since the areas in question are part of metro Atlanta.

Regarding school questions, see this thread first once there: School Ratings Thread - Start One & Keep On Top?

[mominAlpharetta]

I live around the corner from The Falls of Autry Mill and The Ridge!

My kids go to Dolvin Elementary (kindergarten and 4th grade) and I absolutely love their school. There is a lot of parent involvement...I could go on and on about this topic.

If you'd like to call me I'd be happy to help you...cell: 404-642-1091.

The Falls of Autry Mill had excellent amenities. I play tennis and have played against their team on many occasions and they are very nice people.

I'm also very familiar with The Ridge. If I were to pick which n'hood I'd choose The Falls simply based on the middle and high schools that The Ridge goes to.

The Falls goes to Autry Mill middle school (you can't really get much better than this school) and Chattahoochee high school (also a top notch school). There is a new high school being built that will probably be finished in 2010 (plenty of time for your children) and The Falls (as well as my n'hood) may be redistricted to that one. I'm not concerned at all since the new schools they build in this area tend to receive the latest technology, etc.).

Where are you moving from? I'm a transplant from California, but originally from NY. I really love it here and have no plans on moving back. Between the cost of living, clean and plentiful parks, great shopping, etc. there is no reason to go anywhere. It's perfect for young families.

As for Marietta v. Alpharetta...I'd go with Alpharetta, there are more subdivisions to choose from and it's newer/cleaner.

Hope to hear from you. Good luck!

[staywarm2]

Traffic in East Cobb is awful--much worse than Alpharetta. Alpharetta is close to the North Pt. Mall and has much better shopping than East Cobb.

[faithmc]

We are also considering moving to Alpharetta. We are looking for good schools for our 2 children, low crime, safe town, with good communities. I am so new to this blogging thing, and I wondered what you have heard so far. It seems we are interested in similar things. Any insight you have would be appreciated.

[antiquesmountainapache]

Post in the Atlanta forum. I like both areas. To me, the main differences are the taxes.

[staywarm2]

Originally Posted by faithmc

We are also considering moving to Alpharetta. We are looking for good schools for our 2 children, low crime, safe town, with good communities. I am so new to this blogging thing, and I wondered what you have heard so far. It seems we are interested in similar things. Any insight you have would be appreciated.

Go to the Atlanta school website. Atlanta Public Schools: Our Focus... Student Success!. This will give you the ratings for the area schools. Both Barnwell and Dolvin have very good reputations.

Lots of kids in Alpharetta. Lots of chain restaurants that are kid friendly. There is a great park--Wills Park--with a cool fort that was built by volunteers. The "Greenway" is a 10' wide walking, biking, rollerblading, running path that winds for 6+ miles through the woods by a creek in Alpharetta . Lots of people use it, especially families. Alpharetta is very family oriented. It's clean and new with GREAT shopping. Very low crime. You'll love it. Just be sure to get involved right away to make friends. It is upscale with plenty of money here and some snobbery, or maybe it's just that there are a lot of northerners here who are standoffish.

Check out Atlanta News, Sports, Atlanta Weather, Business News | ajc.com the Atlanta-Journal Constitution website. They have a section for the northside on Thursdays, I think.

[scgraham]

Originally Posted by AMLJ2004

We are moving to Georgia in June/July and are trying to settle on a an area to buy a home. We have narrowed the focus to a home in Alpharetta in a community like the Falls of Autry Mill or The Ridge be zoned to either Dolvin or Barnwell elementary schools - any thoughts on which is better? I have two girls starting Kindergarten in the fall and a son who is almost 2. We are looking for a welcoming community and a great school, as well as something close to retail and GA400 since we will be working in Buckhead. Also considering East Cobb - Mt. Bethel and Eastside elementaries, but there seem to be fewer choices for housing "communities" in these areas. Any suggestions on where to look to what to avoid?

Many thanks!

You are looking in a very nice area; albeit, beware of 3 inferior construction materials & their respective installations during the 90’s: Polybutylene plumbing, LP siding & synthetic stucco -- many of which have been involved in class action lawsuits.

[Jude1948]

Fulton county has much higher taxes and Cobb. 400 can be a nightmare. I don't know about the schools. Think about the commute first. Driving here is a mess. But I love it.
Jude

[EachOneReachOne]

We moved from NJ four years ago, and also wanted to live in Alpharetta or Duluth. God must have been with us, because some of the homes the realtor took us to are in neighborhoods that are not to appealing now. Lucky for us we ended up in Cambridge.

My subdivision Cambridge is in Alpharetta (now known as Johns Creek) is very good. It is in Fulton county, so you will pay higher taxes, but coming from NJ, I cut my taxes by 50%, so it is worth it. The school district is one of the best. My wife is a realtor with Harry Norman Realtors, and she has helped a few families that could not afford to buy find rental apartments or homes in the surrounding neighborhoods just to be part of the school district. We had neighbors that moved to PA, and disliked it so much they came back to Cambridge, and paid substantially more then the home was worth to be back in Cambridge.

As of today, there are 10 home on the market in Cambridge. That is the most ever in a single year. Homes that are priced right do not stay on the market for long in Cambridge.

As the other posters stated, DO NOT buy a home with stucco or any type. Even if it is not synthetic or passes inspection. If you are relocating with a relocation company, they will NOT allow you to even consider a stucco home.

The commute is hell period! My neighbor works downtown for a radio station, and his commute is 1.5 to 2 hours depending what time he leaves his house. You ask, why does he not move closer to downtown, he and his wife love the neighborhood so much they will not move.

[Moderator cut: soliciting]