Moving to Atlanta in three months..help finding the best neighborhood (Sandy Springs: apartments, renting)

[ggabi2012]

Hi all,
We are a family of three. Our little girl will be 4 in September.
We will be relocating to Atlanta at the end of July and I have no idea where to look for apartments in the Atlanta area.
Budget around 2.5K, near to other families with kids, urban lifestyle, no suburbs, good public or private schools, near stores and restaurants, very very safe possibly !!!
What are your suggestions?

Thank you very much!!!!
Gabi

[wasel]

Originally Posted by ggabi2012

Hi all,
We are a family of three. Our little girl will be 4 in September.
We will be relocating to Atlanta at the end of July and I have no idea where to look for apartments in the Atlanta area.
Budget around 2.5K, near to other families with kids, urban lifestyle, no suburbs, good public or private schools, near stores and restaurants, very very safe possibly !!!
What are your suggestions?

Thank you very much!!!!
Gabi

It might be difficult to meet all of this criteria. For example, Midtown would probably offer the most "urban" option but getting a 2BR apartment for $2,500 there is a stretch and I'm not sure how many families with kids would be living nearby.

[ElleKaye]

Well, I think you'd be fine renting a 2 bdrm apartment for $2.5K/mo of the in town metro. You could even consider Buckhead, but the apartments aren't as family oriented. For that you'd need a house.

While technically OTP, you could consider Sandy Springs, Smyrna, Vinings, Dunwoody, or Brookhaven (for its urban feel).

I have to ask the question though - if or where you need to commute?

[Born 2 Roll]

Originally Posted by ggabi2012

Hi all,
We are a family of three. Our little girl will be 4 in September.
We will be relocating to Atlanta at the end of July and I have no idea where to look for apartments in the Atlanta area.
Budget around 2.5K, near to other families with kids, urban lifestyle, no suburbs, good public or private schools, near stores and restaurants, very very safe possibly !!!
What are your suggestions?

Thank you very much!!!!
Gabi

Just out of curiosity, where in the Atlanta metro area (what town or zip code) will you be commuting to and from for work each day?

Knowing the approximate location of where you work will most likely play a major role in determining where you will look for housing.

[RNGAnderson]

Atlanta area has lots suburbans it going to be hard for you.

[jsvh]

Midtown is a good bet. Downtown is the most urban and surpisingly affordable.

"ATL Urbanist" has some good articles about living downtown with his family: The big-city life, family style

[ggabi2012]

Thank you all for your help and replies!!!
One more piece of information is that "daddy" will commute everyday to/from Stockbridge. I will probably be working at Emory.
Thank you again it's very helpful for us !!
Gabi

[ggabi2012]

Originally Posted by Born 2 Roll

Just out of curiosity, where in the Atlanta metro area (what town or zip code) will you be commuting to and from for work each day?

Knowing the approximate location of where you work will most likely play a major role in determining where you will look for housing.

You right! commute will be to/from Stockbridge.

[DaBurgh]

Decatur

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by ggabi2012

Thank you all for your help and replies!!!
One more piece of information is that "daddy" will commute everyday to/from Stockbridge. I will probably be working at Emory.
Thank you again it's very helpful for us !!
Gabi

Definitely give Decatur a look. Your price range should work for a 2 Br there. It's not 'downtown' urban, but it's dense and well trafficked. It's pretty walkable with everything you'll need within a walk, bikeride, or short drive.

As far as I know, the schools there are pretty good, and the area has a decent mix of family and young people living there.

It's close to Emory (important since traffic is terrible in that area), and has decent reverse-commute access to Stockbridge.

There's also a MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) rail station in downtown Decatur that'll open up plenty of access to the other urban parts of the city without requiring you to drive if you want. Depending on how you feel about buses, and where inside Emory you're working, there're a few options to not drive. The #19 MARTA bus goes from dowtown Decatur to the western edge of campus and the VA Center. The #36 MARTA bus goes from Avondale MARTA Station (one train stop west of Decatur MARTA Station) to the southern edge of campus, a bit closer to the action, but also a longer ride

There isn't really any transit to get your husband to Stockbridge, no matter where you start from. There are the GRTA (Georgia Regional Transit Authority) Xpress Commuter Buses which have peak-time service in and out of the city, with two routes ( the 431 and 432) sort of going to that area. Unless he works the night shift, these aren't really options... at all.


Welcome to the metro! Hope you find a place you love!