Seattle to Atlanta/Alpharetta (Sandy Springs, Roswell: transplants, real estate, car tax)

[BaconBurgerTaco10]

Single 23 year old professional with ability to move to Alpharetta next year. Please give ms some reasons why or why not to do it.

I'll tell you what I heard so far. Big spiders. Snakes. Dry hot weather. Expensive AC bills. People will see if you don't go to chuch on Sunday (I'm not religous). Heavy accents. Very high car tab fee's.

That's what I've been told so far. I'm open to the idea but with what I have been told so far, I can't see myself doing it! There has to be some positives! But, if you have more negatives, please share!

[BobKovacs]

1. Been here four years so far, and haven't seen a single snake. Spiders have been limited to the occasional one here or there, none of which I'd classify as "big".

2. Not sure where you got the idea that it was "dry"- hot, yes- but dry- not really, either from the "no rain" sense or the "no humidity" sense.

3. Have only been asked twice in four years about church, and in neither case did it last more than a few seconds. Yes, many people here take church very seriously, but your lack of church-going will not result in you being shunned.

4. Yes, there are people here with accents, but most of the heavy southern accents are in areas outside of Atlanta, and a good percentage of the folks here are from somewhere else, so they don't have southern accents at all. I run into more people with NJ/NY accents than I do people with southern accents.

5. Define "very high" with relation to car tag fees. We pay less than $500 total for two cars, one of which is a 2008, and one a 2009.

I'll take all of the above in exchange for the low real estate costs and general low cost of living compared to places like NJ (where we're from), Seattle, DC, or California any day of the week. If the items you mentioned above are deal-breakers for you, you're not thinking big picture....

[testa50]

I'd be hesitant to live in Alpharetta at age 23. For younger people, there's just so much more to do inside the perimeter. And none of the cultural issues would really matter either (I don't know a single person my age who lives in inner Atlanta and goes to church regularly).

[BaconBurgerTaco10]

Originally Posted by BobKovacs

1. Been here four years so far, and haven't seen a single snake. Spiders have been limited to the occasional one here or there, none of which I'd classify as "big".

2. Not sure where you got the idea that it was "dry"- hot, yes- but dry- not really, either from the "no rain" sense or the "no humidity" sense.

3. Have only been asked twice in four years about church, and in neither case did it last more than a few seconds. Yes, many people here take church very seriously, but your lack of church-going will not result in you being shunned.

4. Yes, there are people here with accents, but most of the heavy southern accents are in areas outside of Atlanta, and a good percentage of the folks here are from somewhere else, so they don't have southern accents at all. I run into more people with NJ/NY accents than I do people with southern accents.

5. Define "very high" with relation to car tag fees. We pay less than $500 total for two cars, one of which is a 2008, and one a 2009.

I'll take all of the above in exchange for the low real estate costs and general low cost of living compared to places like NJ (where we're from), Seattle, DC, or California any day of the week. If the items you mentioned above are deal-breakers for you, you're not thinking big picture....

All of the things I stated are things I heard from people. #5. Our car tabs in Seattle are usually around 55 bucks per car. I've never paid more than $60.00 for any of the cars I've had. =)

Thanks for the clarification on the other things!

[BaconBurgerTaco10]

Originally Posted by testa50

I'd be hesitant to live in Alpharetta at age 23. For younger people, there's just so much more to do inside the perimeter. And none of the cultural issues would really matter either (I don't know a single person my age who lives in inner Atlanta and goes to church regularly).

I'm a 23 year old but I act like a 40+ year old. My idea of a good weekend is waking up at 4:30AM, turning on the coffee, and playing guitar while the sun comes up. Then I'll go out for a run or go work out at the gym. After that I'll probably go play sports of some kind or just hang out at home. I'm not your typical 23 year old who goes out on the weekends.. I take it easy. So it might work for me!

[bdawk]

Originally Posted by Seattlephil

All of the things I stated are things I heard from people. #5. Our car tabs in Seattle are usually around 55 bucks per car. I've never paid more than $60.00 for any of the cars I've had. =)

Sure but what does the rest of your tax picture look like compared to GA? How about gas, what do you pay for a gallon now? We are at about $3.17/gal - I live in Alpharetta.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Seattlephil

Single 23 year old professional with ability to move to Alpharetta next year. Please give ms some reasons why or why not to do it.

I'll tell you what I heard so far. Big spiders. Snakes. Dry hot weather. Expensive AC bills. People will see if you don't go to chuch on Sunday (I'm not religous). Heavy accents. Very high car tab fee's.

That's what I've been told so far. I'm open to the idea but with what I have been told so far, I can't see myself doing it! There has to be some positives! But, if you have more negatives, please share!

The spiders aren't that big, but the cockroaches... Palmetto bugs are fun kitty toys, but some people don't seem to appreciate them.

Snakes are hard to find (I look all the time). Atlanta gets 50 inches of rain a year, which is twice as much as the Minneapolis area I came from. Seattle only gets 38 inches on average. A/C bills can add up, but it all depends on where you live and how low you set your thermostat. Most of the folks I know here couldn't care less if/where you go to church, I know more transplants than southerners and most of the latter have a mild accent at best, and "ad valorem" fees (car tax) are based on value and can add up but are roughly the same as we had in MN. I'm paying a $20 tag fee and $22.14 Ad Valorem on my car this year, tho (94 Accord). w00t!

Positives: four seasons (but winter is really pickets of mild winter surrounded by fall), beautiful hills and trees (tho maybe flat from your perspective ), housing is MUCH cheaper than in the Seattle area.

Why are you considering the move? A job opening up here? I wouldn't move here without some sort of job lined up in any case.

[BaconBurgerTaco10]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

The spiders aren't that big, but the cockroaches... Palmetto bugs are fun kitty toys, but some people don't seem to appreciate them.

Snakes are hard to find (I look all the time). Atlanta gets 50 inches of rain a year, which is twice as much as the Minneapolis area I came from. Seattle only gets 38 inches on average. A/C bills can add up, but it all depends on where you live and how low you set your thermostat. Most of the folks I know here couldn't care less if/where you go to church, I know more transplants than southerners and most of the latter have a mild accent at best, and "ad valorem" fees (car tax) are based on value and can add up but are roughly the same as we had in MN. I'm paying a $20 tag fee and $22.14 Ad Valorem on my car this year, tho (94 Accord). w00t!

Positives: four seasons (but winter is really pickets of mild winter surrounded by fall), beautiful hills and trees (tho maybe flat from your perspective ), housing is MUCH cheaper than in the Seattle area.

Why are you considering the move? A job opening up here? I wouldn't move here without some sort of job lined up in any case.

Thanks for the info! I work for a telecommunications company that is offering me my same position in Alpharetta. I moved to Sweden three years ago so I definitely enjoy change. They would pay for everything for me to get down there so all I really have to do is find a place and do it. I have between now and Dec 2012.


Four seasons would be nice.. In Seattle it's pretty much clouds all year around!

[SW30303]

I would live in Roswell or Sandy Springs if I were in your shoes. (young and single). I agree with the others, Alpharetta is definitely for the married with kids crowd. Sure, there are older people and young professionals, but it is definitely geared towards the families with minor children group.

Have you been in Atlanta and the suburbs to see how it is in person? That might help you more in your decision. Good luck!

[Cameron H]

Originally Posted by Seattlephil

I'm a 23 year old but I act like a 40+ year old. My idea of a good weekend is waking up at 4:30AM, turning on the coffee, and playing guitar while the sun comes up. Then I'll go out for a run or go work out at the gym. After that I'll probably go play sports of some kind or just hang out at home.

I think you have a really skewed idea of the typical 40+ year old's lifestyle. Except for the coffee.

The cost of living is substantially lower in Atlanta than in Seattle, regardless of the price of tabs. Unless you plan to live in your car.