Relocating to Georgia looking for some good advice, where are the moms? (Atlanta: fit in, hair salon)

[jil]

Simpson is good in the Norcross area. Centennial high school is really good where I am also.

Dunwoody is also a good option - it's basically the first suburb outside the loop, a bit pricier though if that's where you're going - but has some great areas.

You should really like it here. A lot more neighborly I've found. And actually being a sun-worshipper in Florida forever, I think the weather here is actually better than Florida. A few mild months in the winter, but I don't think I ever wore a heavy coat more than a few times. And the nights are wonderful - not so hot and sticky like Florida ones.

Good luck!

[nibseysgirl]

Originally Posted by LeavinFlorida

We're leaving South Florida - have 2 kids Elem & Middle school. We looked in Buford, Dacula, Hamilton Mill, In the end We really liked Flowery branch - Sterling on the Lake is a beautiful new community with tons of kids which was important to us. We wanted somewhat of country living but need all the stores close by. Publix is right down the road & Mall of GA about 9 miles away. Its not overpopulated there yet and the schools are good and not overcrowded. (Friendship elem, CW Davis Middle, Flowery Branch High) South Florida is getting out of control with its prices, FCAT's and we're over these hurricanes. We're Looking forward to the move - should be there in March. By the way My sister who has 3 young kids in Elem School has lived near that area of GA for 6 years and would never move back to Florida and my brother in law is a realtor. Good Luck. I've researched alot, let me know if i can help.

Good Evening
I saw your post from last year and I was looking at what information you could give me about moving to the GA area...I have a 11 yr old daughter(entering middle school) and also am living in SWFL(moved here after my mom moved here and talked me into moving here...lol...sadly Mom passed away at 66 last year and now I dont know if I want to stay. I love the Georgia area and my husband is a OTR truck driver and living there would be so much easier for him as it is not the end of the country and such. I love FL but the cost is just to much here..Any help you could give me would be so appreciated...Thanks
Lisa

[jil]

I just relocated a year and a half ago from Florida - and it took forever to figure out some simple info ... so here's what i think. You're right on with Alpharetta, Roswell and Norcross. I'm in the east part of Roswell, almost Alpharetta and I must say the park system is great from classes to recreation areas along the river, etc. Love it - utilize them 3 to 4 times a week it seems. A big key for house hunting of course is how far from the city - but also how far your home is from the highway (400, 85, 75, 285). The exit roads can add 20 to 30 to your commute. Yes, the highways will be crowded but after you exit you don't want to be waiting in even more traffic.

Regarding schools - one of the top elementary schools is Simpson which you might see in your

[goodbyenyc]

We moved from NY to Grayson and we love it. For the most part people are nice, although I have come across a few southerners born and raised here who want nothing to do with northerners...But that's ok. It is such a huge deal to them when someone is from the north. Sometimes it is insulting to me how much of a big deal they make of it and what is said.

But the majority of people we come in contact with are transplants also.... This is the melting pot of the U.S. that's for sure. I meet people from soo many different states! I commute on 78 everyday to Atlanta. And It takes me an hour it is fine... Just like anywhere else when there is an accident you are stuck..... The only negative part for me are the southern bugs!! Otherwise, we are happy...
and have had pleasent experiences.....Don't go soley by what you read on these message boards....Use it as a guideline, and go see for yourself..

Remember crime is everywhere you go... and with the mailman in Snellville please, this was a horrible thing, but it could happen to anyone anywhere..
Someone can just snap and go crazy... Maybe coming from NY we are use to hearing about crimes committed... Although there is alot of crime in Atlanta that is true, just know where and where not to go, just like in any state or town.... I feel very safe where I live. and my family is much happier down here.

[outofmiami]

Our family is also considering a move from Miami to the Atlanta area. My husband will be transferring. Because he will be commuting to the airport, we have heard that Peachtree City, south of Atlanta is where we should look. We have 1 child at UF, 1 which is in high school, and another in 8th grade. I am also interested in finding the best schools first, and then find the house. Any suggestions or input from anyone?

[dominican40]

hi there I am also going to move to georgia as soon as the end of july. I am overwhelmed and anxious. Went there a couple of weeks ago for a job interview, it went well but later they told me they need to fill the position and they couldnt wait until july. Im sending my resumes everywhere and i need to move to my new place the 1st of August. also looking for roomate, job etc. By the way Buford is lovely , nice homes and quiet neighborhood. can anyone give me some pointer ..advice anything:

[GinnaLyn]

I moved to Lawrenceville about 3 years ago and absolutely loved it. Yes the people are a little snooty but nobody is mean. When I first moved here I was alone with my daughter. I made friends easily, love the neighborhoods, the schools are great, and I have now decided to buy a house and settle here.
The only thing I agree is bad traffic does bite. If you don't live close to work you will probably take an hour trip both ways. The average age range is 38 so there are lots of families with children. Put simply I am married now with two kids. We are 25 and 22 and buying a house. So I would think it can't be to upscale if we can afford to live here with two very young children and I no longer working. My husband makes around 35k a year and we are moving to very nice neighborhood in Gwinnett. The neighborhoods here have an upscale feel without an upscale price. Although a few neighborhoods are outrageously priced. The biggest complaint I have here is there are WAY to many latinos that don't speak english.
It's mainly white people, with latinos coming in a close second, and not to many blacks unless you go to Atlanta or Norcross. Norcross is a disgusting horrible place that reminds me of Macon, Ga.

Thats all I know to say about this area right now.

[GinnaLyn]

Buford is great and expensive! Make sure your close to work or the drive can be really bad. Other than that it's a wonderful place to live. Good people, great shopping, and good schools.

[donac]

since you mentioned that the high school is most important, there is a good website for schools called GreatSchools.net
THe high school that seems most reqested in Gwinnett county is Collins Hill. In Alpharetta, there is Centennial and in Norcross there is an elementary school that is good (simpson) but i'm not sure about the high school. In reading some of the other posts, grayson is in fact a great area. it has a small town feel and there is a lot of new good construction going on. Peachtree city is good if you work close to the airport but other than than it's a drive to other places in atanta. and here there really is no need to drive the extra miles and spend time in traffic if you are careful with your move. the way atlanta is built out, you can find suitable living close to where you work. They are rejuvenating a lot of the downtown areas and also building a lot of PUD's and live/work/play areas. so there really is something for everyone here. (a PUD is a planned urban develpment where everything eventually is right there from doctors to shopping and churches.
Moderator cut: Removed

[donac]

I have lived in different areas of town over the last 16 years and have chosen dunwoody to live. I'm sorry some of the posts have felt a snootyness here. That is not nice or polite and we are supposed to be in the South. I did find the post about Lawrenceville being somewhat snooty and in the same email she said she doesn't like that there are certain races more so than others. Ironic comment to me. You never know the story behind that person until you get to now them. meeting people from other cultures is a truely enlighting experience.
That being said, for culture reasons, there are certain areas of town that area inhabited primarily by one or another culture and perhaps those areas are not kept as nice as some other areas and that unfortunately does matter because it hurts resale. I believe you will find some "snooty" people no matter where you are. It's hard to pinpoint a particular area and say snooty or not snooty. I think it's just the individual person. I live in an older neighborhood where people are going in a renovating the homes. This gives me a good size home in a close in area with a large yard. New homes in the same area would go for much more. One trend i'm seeing as i've mentioned in earlier posts is to build either these huge PUD's where everything you need is there or neighborhoods funneling off from revitalized small downtown cities like Alpharetta , Marietta or Grayson to name just two. I honestly don't mean to be forwardly pushing myself (I'm a Realtor) but i see these posts and think I could really help this person. I have kind of grown with my clientele and find that now that i have 2 small children (2 under 2.5yrs) I can understand family needs better now. I've sold literally all over the metro area because i work a lot by referral. so i have a good knowlege of areas all over based on who you are as an individual family and what you might like personally. My husband likes to mountain bike so he likes to be close to possible riding areas. I like to walk and hike and I wanted an area that was central to the metro area but i wanted a family oriented neighborhood with swim and tennis. and schools were important since we haven't decided if we can afford private. The publc schools as a rule in Ga aren't great but the key is to find one where the parents care and participate. That's why i have liked the greatschools.net site since it allows for parent comment. just by looking at scores, it's hard to really know the school. as one student himself told me, it's the student that makes the school not the other way around. I was responding to an email request for information earlier today and literally i can give neighborhoods in each direction of the metro atlanta area that offers a community feel whether you want a small neighborhood or a large one with it's own small town feel inside. Hope this info helps.
and again i apologize for the rude people of the world. Hopefully where you guys end up you will find more niceness than snootiness!