Looking for acreage outside Athens (Atlanta, Commerce: job market, buy, schools)

[Loretta33]

Hello! Another S. Floridian moving to Georgia and looking for information. My husband and I are really considering near Athens, but are unsure of where to start our search. We are looking for acreage outside of Athens and would like to have at least 5, up to 30 acres on which to build a home. Can anyone tell me the ups and downs of Athens, the job market there, etc. Also, any ideas on where to look at land? We have college aged kids in school in FL now that may come with us and an 8 year old.

[JerseyGirl3624]

Hi,
I'm considering the Athen's area for relocation as well.
However, I don't need a lot of land.
Please keep in touch.

K

[augga706]

dont know much about athens but Augusta job market is healthy. Most urban area outside of Atlanta

[Loretta33]

Can you tell me about Augusta? What is the social, racial and financial makeup like there? My inlaws just bought 6 acres about 30 minutes out of Augusta, but they are retired, so have very different needs than us.

[Milo Bloom]

Athens has a fairly healthy economy, but the major employer is the University, and their wages (in all but faculty positions) are pretty low.

Lots of people on the west side and in Oconee County travel into ATL for work. Some just to Gwinnett, some all the way downtown. If you don't need land, the areas of Athens close-in are very nice, but pricey. East Athens is cheaper, but the schools are seen as inferior to Oconee. Watkinsville is a good choice if you are worried about schools, and there are plenty of stores/shopping out that way.

If you are looking for reasonably priced land, then you really need to look at Madison and Oglethorpe counties. They have the best deals right now, especially Oglethorpe. But you will have to deal with a complete and utter lack of services; there is no city water or sewer outside of the towns, no DSL, no grocery stores either, for the most part. You will be drilling a well if you want water, and you really want to make sure that the area you buy in has good ground water. Maxeys was notorious for having radioactive wells, that's why they have their own city water system now.

I swear I am not kidding: the whole of Oglethorpe has one Bell's Grocery, in between Lexington and Crawford. I don't think that Madison has one at all unless you count the new Bi-Lo on US29. And I think that one is technically in Clarke County.

If you can get a job, Athens is a nice area. Very small-town, and the University adds a level of culture not usually found in such small places. I liked it about 150% more than Augusta.

[Kimber]

You are probably going to have to look in the surrounding counties (you can get the benefit of lower property taxes). Danielsville is pretty good and it's not so inconvienient. It's close to Athens as well as Commerce. I have lived up in Royston before and it's even farther and was never a problem to get to Athens. If you can get past driving around the college drivers (remember they've had their licences for all of three years or so and it shows!) then you'll like Athens.

[ATLian1]

alot of free land for pastures and such near Watkinsville which is south of Athens. Its a nice little town too.

[ATLian1]

by free land didnt mean free but just alot of space!

[Figment 07]

Originally Posted by ATLian1

by free land didnt mean free but just alot of space!

Thanks for clarifying. I could hear the stampede already.

[AthensProf]

Originally Posted by Loretta33

Hello! Another S. Floridian moving to Georgia and looking for information. My husband and I are really considering near Athens, but are unsure of where to start our search. We are looking for acreage outside of Athens and would like to have at least 5, up to 30 acres on which to build a home. Can anyone tell me the ups and downs of Athens, the job market there, etc. Also, any ideas on where to look at land? We have college aged kids in school in FL now that may come with us and an 8 year old.

Loretta, are you still looking?
If so, I have lots of information on land tracts when we searching for a horse farm in Athens.

Let me know and I'll be happy to respond with details.....