Need help deciding on a place to live (Atlanta, Savannah: transplants, real estate market)

[lifeeverlasting24]

My husband and I are relocating to GA from KY. We are from a very small town and are ready to move from our current dead end town.

I am a school teacher, so jobs aren't an issue, we're just ready to not live in KY. My husband wants to return to school to complete his degree in education and works from home. We have 3 children ages 10, 4, & 2. We, of course, want to live where their are great schools for them and since my boys are into sports pee-wee and little league programs are a must. My oldest son is an enormous football fan and as sad as this may sound, a strong high school football team would be nice. He has lofty aspirations of playing pro, so we'd at least like to see if he could play at a good high school

I'm obviously concerned with crime rate, cost of living, and standard of living. I really want to settle where my kids have lots more opportunity than our town has to offer. We're not big city people. We're more 'near' big city people We really want a family-friendly community.

I have a real estate license in NY that I'll be using in GA, so a booming or at least active real estate area would be great. I have applied for positions in Gainesville/Hall County and Savannah-Chatham County. I hear the crime rate is horrific in Savannah, but am not sure about the county. I hear nearby Effingham County is nicer, but beyond that I don't know.

I need more places to apply for jobs and have so many criteria I can't seem to narrow it down. Local websites make the towns sound like there's no place better to live, so I need some honest input. It's really difficult to 'shop' for a place to settle.

Any information given will be most appreciated!

[Ladybook]

Cumming, Georgia, is a great place. It's in Forsyth County and is just north of Atlanta. It's new and growing. The people are friendly, and I hear the schools are pretty good, as well. (I'm an empty nester).

despite the gloomy national real estate outlook, the Atlanta area is holding it's own. You shouldn't have a problem.

[jxu66]

North Gwinnett/South Forsyth are very popular with many transplants.

They also have some best high school footballs in Georgia. PeachTree Ridge won a share of AAAAA championship last year. North Gwinnett was ranked No. 1 for a while.

I am sure South Forsyth has a lot of sports supports as well.

Also, Brookwood (of snellville, ga) is also traditionally sports powerhouse.

[lifeeverlasting24]

Thank you so much for this useful information! I've already used it to apply for positons in local schools.

[bgnzsavnh]

I hear the crime rate is horrific in Savannah, but am not sure about the county. I hear nearby Effingham County is nicer, but beyond that I don't know.

There are good and bad areas, wisdom is the key. the Real estate market is doing well, As my Grandfather said you have to live elsewhere until you can afford to live in Savannah

County tax digest continues to grow http://savannahnow.com/node/243541
"Starting in about 2002, we started to see parcels increase," said Chief Tax Appraiser Sheryl Snider. "But tax year 2006 was the most dramatic."

While national headlines in the beginning of 2007 have warned of a slow-down in the housing market, Snider said her office isn't seeing any relief. Instead, she expects her office to stay on track for hitting 7,000 new parcels this year.
http://www.savannahriverlanding.com/index.html

http://www.georgiasouthern.edu/
Statesboro a small town with a University
http://www.georgiasoutherneagles.com/home.aspx (broken link)

[dncngrl1964]

Also try the Paulding and Cobb counties areas alot of new subdivisions going in and at least 3 new schools being built at this moment slated to open for next school year 1 elem and 2 high schools
new housing cant keep up with the agents and new schools cant keep up with the kids lol