Affordable, Safe Westside Options? (And how can everywhere fun be so expensive???) (Smyrna: apartments, rental)

[ITPHopeful]

Still being new to the ATL area, we are trying to find neighborhoods in our price range... here is what we're looking for:

1. West side probably. My husband works either around Fulton Industrial Blvd. or Chattahoochee Ave. while I commute up to Oglethorpe. Neither of us want to drive a whole lot (like, 1/2 hour in traffic is the ABSOLUTE most) and we definitely want to be ITP (currently in Smyrna/Vinings and hate it).

2. Rental budget of probably $1000 max. We need a house/duplex/anything with a fenced yard, as we have dogs.

3. In a perfect world, we would want to be in Virginia-Highlands, Inman Park, or something along those lines.... old houses, walkable, shady, safe, etc etc.... all the reasons those houses run half a million or more.

4. As far as safety, I want to be able to go running without fear of being mugged/raped, and we want to be able to leave our dogs in the backyard without worrying about them.


So where are the areas we could find something like this? We don't need a huge house, and probably prefer an old one. I found one house in Grove Park that looks lovely, what is that area like? Where are your favorites on this side of town?



As a side question, why does it seem like everyone in the Va-Hi, L5P, Candler Park, etc areas are so young and fun, just starting out like us, and yet these houses are so expensive?? Is this an illusion or are we just really poor compared to everyone else in their early 20's??

[rzzz]

It's just an illusion, most of the big homes in those neighborhoods are owned by old people. The younger people are renting with roommates or live in apartments. Or, you might think the people you see are 20 something but they are really pushing 40.

[DaBurgh]

I'll throw this out there, but it'll probably be shot down pretty quickly due to my lack of knowing exactly where the husband works-- East Point.

[Atlanta_BD]

Originally Posted by ITPHopeful

As a side question, why does it seem like everyone in the Va-Hi, L5P, Candler Park, etc areas are so young and fun, just starting out like us, and yet these houses are so expensive?? Is this an illusion or are we just really poor compared to everyone else in their early 20's??

As pointed out, a lot of these people are renters. Also you have to keep in mind that most of the people you see hanging out in L5P, Va-Hi and Candler Park don't live there. A lot of people come from the 'burbs or other parts of town to hang out there.

I used to live in Va-Hi and would talk to the people who live in those big, expensive houses and they weren't young, 20 somethings--usually 40's to 50's plus professionals (doctors, dentists, lawyers, Emory professors, etc.), business owners or C-level execs. Also a lot of those people are from old money whose families owned those homes for year.

[ITPHopeful]

Originally Posted by DaBurgh

I'll throw this out there, but it'll probably be shot down pretty quickly due to my lack of knowing exactly where the husband works-- East Point.

Parts of East Point, the northernmost parts, might work, but I'm worried about the crime there? Maybe it's not as bad as it might seem, but the parts I've been to are...rough around the edges. Is that a misperception? Like I said, we are new to the area so I am still unfamiliar.

[Atlanta_BD]

Originally Posted by ITPHopeful

Parts of East Point, the northernmost parts, might work, but I'm worried about the crime there? Maybe it's not as bad as it might seem, but the parts I've been to are...rough around the edges. Is that a misperception? Like I said, we are new to the area so I am still unfamiliar.

Why don't you just rent an apartment in L5P, Candler Park or Va-Hi? There are plenty of places to walk your dog. You may not be able to just let the dog out and will actually have to walk it but the neighborhood is walkable, it seems like it's the place you want to be, and there's Freedom Park and other parks in the area to take the dog.

There has to be a trade-off somewhere.

[DaBurgh]

Originally Posted by ITPHopeful

Parts of East Point, the northernmost parts, might work, but I'm worried about the crime there? Maybe it's not as bad as it might seem, but the parts I've been to are...rough around the edges. Is that a misperception? Like I said, we are new to the area so I am still unfamiliar.

Everyone has different tolerance levels - I've actually never set foot in East Point. I did read on here though that gays are moving there, and they would not be unless they felt safe. Perhaps search the forum and ask around.

[featherblue]

Try Underwood Hills! We rent a 3/2 for $1475, but I've seen smaller duplexes in your price range. Extremely convenient, feels very safe.

[dichloromethane]

Originally Posted by rzzz

It's just an illusion, most of the big homes in those neighborhoods are owned by old people. The younger people are renting with roommates or live in apartments. Or, you might think the people you see are 20 something but they are really pushing 40.

Many students, both undergrad and grad, live in Innman park, Virginia highlands. For the most part, they keep to themselves. It's not the young and reckless you should be concerned about OP.

I would not want to live in east point.

[ITPHopeful]

Originally Posted by dichloromethane

It's not the young and reckless you should be concerned about OP.

I'm not concerned about them at all, I'd like to think I'm one of them! I just don't see how Va-Hi could fit our budget. Even an apartment seems out of our range unless it's 600 sq ft which will not work for us and two dogs.