Moving from Kansas to Atlanta (Dunwoody, Decatur: for sale, lease, HOA fees)

[sgumbe1]

We are moving to Emory and will work near CDC. Planning to buy a single family home (3br/2bath) about 15-20 minutes commute to CDC. Only concerned about good elementary/middle schools for my 5 year old daughter. Which neighborhood will be a great place to have good schools?


Any help is highly appreciated!!

Bob

[lastminutemom]

price point?

[sgumbe1]

300-400k

[lastminutemom]

Without a doubt, City of Decatur has the strongest schools and school system with the nicest commute.

Make sure you look in City of Decatur and not unincorporated DeKalb that happens to have a Decatur mailing address.

My next choice would be the Grady/Inman Middle Cluster, Springdale Park and Mary Lin probably have some houses in your price range.

DeKalb County Schools are a mess, so I would avoid DeKalb if you can help it. Right now things are looking pretty grim, huge class sizes, some schools with only part time librarians, etc.

[willie.acree]

Hi Bob,

Sara Smith is by far one of the best public elementary schools close to the CDC. It's no more than a 20 minute ride. It's in the Buckhead community. I have friends whose kids go to Vanderlyn. Another friend had a home for lease (1960 Lytham Court) in the Vanderlyn district and there was a very high demand for homes in the area. Vanderlyn is located in the Dunwoody community. It's in Dekalb County (same as the CDC) and is in close proximity to it.

Willie Acree

[red92s]

Given your constraints, Decatur and Candler Park would be my top two targets.

[sgumbe1]

Thanks, red92s!!

[researchnerd]

Originally Posted by red92s

Given your constraints, Decatur and Candler Park would be my top two targets.

I agree. You might also try Lake Claire, Druid Hills, Virginia-Highland and Oakhurst.

[sgumbe1]

I found Ansley parkside townhomes 1687 Monroe Drive • Atlanta GA 30324 with good schools (morning side and Inman). Do you have any suggestions or comments for this area.

Thanks in advance..

[red92s]

Looks like it's a newer development, since Street View shows that it was just starting construction in 2007.

The intersection of Monroe and Piedmont is a pretty busy area. It might be difficult to turn left in our out of that complex depending on the time of day. The shopping center(s) nearby have a pretty good selection of shopping and dining, although they contribute to congestion in the area. While you do have Piedmont Park close by, which is great, a townhome development on a major road like that is going to be pretty isolated and not much of a "neighborhood feel" you were seeking. On the upside it's got a pool.

Commute to Emory will be short in distance but high in traffic lights. Maybe a better commute than Decatur or Candler Park, but not significantly.

The two or three units I saw listed for sale were well into the $400k range ($439-$469) for a 3/3.5. That's before adding in the HOA fees, which in a "luxury" development with a pool will be substantial. Seems pretty steep for a townhome on a busy road, in my opinion. But, newer construction, minimal yard maintenence, and a supermarket across the street might be checking all the right boxes for you. The same money will get you similar space (maybe one less bathroom) in a single family home, with comparable schools, and roughly equivilent commutes in some of the areas mentioned previously. It won't be as new or have the same high-end finishes, but the resale potential is probably stronger. As always, it's a matter of weighing your priorities and seeing if it is well aligned with them.