Los Angeles, New Hampshire.....Atlanta? (Sandy Springs, Roswell: homes, neighborhoods, purchase)

[ScreenwriterInLA]

My husband and I moved from L.A. to New Hampshire over a year ago and we're sure we made the wrong move. Now we're looking at Atlanta as a possibility and are planning to visit to check out some neighborhoods. We would love to narrow it down to 4 or 5 areas to check out. Here's some info...


- We are in our early 30s, just had a baby, both work from home, need the airport occasionally but not enough to live close to it.

- Looking for a home to purchase up to $400k. This home must have character (contemporary, bungalow, etc). No gated communities. We wouldn't mind a fixer-upper on a good sized lot (at least 1/3 acre).

- Neighborhood should have plenty of mature trees - sidewalks would be a plus but not mandatory.

-Within a 10-15 minute drive to a Whole Foods or a similar-type health food store. Farmers markets a plus.

- Very open to living either OTP or ITP

- Would prefer to live in a more open-minded (is liberal the word?) area. Our motto is live and let live. Any demographic between 25-55 is fine, families with or without children.

- Parks for kids nearby

- WE DON'T CARE ABOUT GOOD SCHOOLS! Yay! (we Montessori/homeschool)

- We don't need nightclubs but would love to be near a good mix of restaurants.

- Public transit not necessary.


What 4 or 5 areas would you choose based on the above? Thanks so much!

[Born 2 Roll]

Inside the I-285 Perimeter, you could try taking a look at areas like Brookhaven, Decatur, North Druid Hills, North Decatur, Druid Hills, the Briarcliff Heights/Oak Grove area of North Central DeKalb, the ITP portion of Sandy Springs, Buckhead and Vinings.

Outside the I-285 Perimeter, you could try taking a look at areas like the OTP portion of Sandy Springs, Smyrna, the historic area in the City of Marietta, East Cobb, Dunwoody, Roswell, Alpharetta, Norcross, Peachtree Corners and Berkeley Lake.

[go falcons]

I'm just going to second what Born 2 Roll said . The Decatur / Briarcliff area would be an excellent place to start your search .

[AtlJan]

I would think you would like areas such as Decatur, Oakhurst, Candler Park, Inman Park, North Druid Hills, Briarcliff/Oak Grove, and some areas inside the perimeter. I don't see you in Vinings, Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Smyrna, Marietta, East Cobb as you would not find as much of the liberal bent that you are after. . .you would like the areas somewhat but wouldn't jazz you up like the Decatur and intown areas would, IMHO...

[lastminutemom]

I actually think Briarcliff/Oak Grove isn't nearly as liberal as it use to be. I agree with AtlJan on the rest of the suggestions.

[roxyrn]

I would check out Roswell, close to the historic area of Canton Street. Or maybe Legacy off of Woodstock. Lots of non-chain restaurants, a fabulous park and rec department with a variety of classes for all ages. There is the Chattahottchee Nature Center, the spraypark on the river (on Saturdays there are now food trucks down there). Other nice parks such as the Roswell Area Park that has a nice playground as well as the usual trails, pool, tennis courts, soccer and playing fields.

Whole Foods and Trader Joes are within 15 minutes as well as Target, Home Depot, Staples, etc. There are farmers' markets Roswell and Alpharetta on Saturday and Sweetapple on Thursdays.

Not far from the North Springs MARTA for easy airport trips. Also, there are quite a few homeschool families in the area. Downside for you- not exactly liberal.