Looking to Relocate to Savannah area? (Atlanta: housing, rent, lease)

[love45]

I am a wife and mother to 4 small children. My husband is in Accounting/finance and is wanting to relocate to or around the Savannah or Atlanta area. We currenty live in a very small town and I love that feel. I am looking for a great area to raise kids, good schools, low crime rate, close to shopping. I am a nurse and would love to work close to home (posibliy for a private practice, family doctor or pediatrician). Can anyone please give me some ideas on where to start?

[TakeAhike]

There are parts of Atlanta that would have 'some' of what you seek but it would be a more suburban environment. Would that sort of change be of interest to you?

There would be employment opportunities for the fields you mentioned but sometimes it is a feat to find a place to live that doesn't entail a long commute for one parent.

What sort of price range for housing do you have in mind?

One of my favorite parts of the city is Peachtree Corners, located near the borders of DeKalb/Gwinnett counties.

United Peachtree Corners Civic Association

If you would like more FYI post in the Atlanta forum and include as many specific preferences as possible.

hth

[love45]

Thank you, I will post in the Atlanta forum as well! A suburban enviro would be great. The move itself would be a huge change, however, I would like to try to keep my kids feeling safe! House ranges would be 200,000-275,000. My husband does understand that he will have to commute due to the fact I will NOT live in the city, and he is ok with that.

[Padgett2]

The first things that you need to do is to find employment for your husband in either city. He will have a tougher time of finding something than you are. Hospitals are always looking for nurses, especially those that can work shifts and part time. If you get in a bind, you can always do private duty nursing. He, on the other hand, does not such flexible choices.

Once he gets a job, rent until you find exactly the house you want, where you want it. He'll have to then make the commute, but at least, he will be employed.

[love45]

Thank you for your help!

[boilrmkr]

Savannah has high crime and really bad schools. Not a great place to raise a family.

[TakeAhike]

Originally Posted by boilrmkr

Savannah has high crime and really bad schools. Not a great place to raise a family.

Parts of Savannah do have more crime than other areas. It didn't seem to make any lists Safest/Most Dangerous.

I don't know what goes on in St. Louis, MO/Most Dangerous City but I know that St. Louis is very different from Savannah.

City Crime Rankings by Population Group

[WanderingImport]

Originally Posted by boilrmkr

Savannah has high crime and really bad schools. Not a great place to raise a family.

I can't stand people like this who have these claims and don't back them up with facts/numbers, etc.

Savannah is just like any other city with a population of 128,000. The crime isn't bad at all. Not that it doesn't exist, but as long as you know where not to go, you'll be fine! The Historic District of downtown is filled with tourists from everywhere day and night. In the suburban areas of Chatham county (pop: 248,000) crime is nearly non-existent.

Schools in Chatham county aren't the best, thats true, but they aren't the worst. The extremes are: worst: Savannah & Beach High best: Savannah Arts Academy.
If you want good schools with less diversity, go to neighboring Bryan or Effingham counties.

[Thunderbolt_Guy]

I consider Savannah a MUCH superior place to live than Atlanta... and I've lived in both. The only downside is crime in some areas and a poor supply of quality public schools. A much slower pace than Atlanta, and enough shopping/dining/culture for most people. Traffic is 1,000 times better than in Atlanta... and that is no exaggeration.

Check out the Savannah GA forums. If you do move there, rent a nice place and don't be in a rush to buy until you learn more about good vs bad neighborhoods... and ask about past or possible flooding if you are living in a ground-floor dwelling, as most of Savannah is 9 to 43 feet above sea level, and some areas and roads drain a little slowly. Even the Savannah mall parking lot has flooded... up to top of car tires. Fortunately, this is relatively rare.

Oh, for fun, check out the Savannah weiner dog annual race:
Savannah Dachshund Club » Races

[bgnzsavnh]

Originally Posted by WanderingImport

I can't stand people like this who have these claims and don't back them up with facts/numbers, etc.

Savannah is just like any other city with a population of 128,000. The crime isn't bad at all. Not that it doesn't exist, but as long as you know where not to go, you'll be fine! The Historic District of downtown is filled with tourists from everywhere day and night. In the suburban areas of Chatham county (pop: 248,000) crime is nearly non-existent.

Schools in Chatham county aren't the best, thats true, but they aren't the worst. The extremes are: worst: Savannah & Beach High best: Savannah Arts Academy.
If you want good schools with less diversity, go to neighboring Bryan or Effingham counties.

Bryan or Effingham schools are average, without the much better choices of SAA or Honors Academy for Academic Excellence at Jenkins High School!
If your kids are academicly challenged then Bryan or Effingham are a choice and hope for $1.50 gas and an extra long commute. I chose to spend the time with my children, not my car........