You can save $12,560 a year by leaving Atlanta for the suburbs (Mableton: for sale, crime)

[Forhall]

You can save money downgrading from a BMW 400 series to a Honda Civic, but is it worth it?

People pay the premium to live in Atlanta because they want to. Some want to be near the culture and restaurants. Some like the vibrancy. Some want to be close to work and not have to get up at 6am to get to work by 9am. Some want to live in a very progressive, left leaning area with like minded people.

There are literally tons of reasons to pay extra to live in the City of Atlanta. It's a great city, and many people are willing to pay extra to live inside the city limits.

[samiwas1]

Originally Posted by Forhall

You can save money downgrading from a BMW 400 series to a Honda Civic, but is it worth it?

I would probably choose the Honda Civic....

Remember...there are people who think this is luxurious (it's in a $15 million dollar house in Atlanta), and something to strive for...

...while that just makes me uncomfortable to even look at.

Part of me wants to live in the city directly in the heart of the action, but part of me also would rather live on a house with a lake view, a yard, and a bunch of neighborhood amenities like a pool, playground, tennis courts, etc.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by samiwas1

...

Part of me wants to live in the city directly in the heart of the action, but part of me also would rather live on a house with a lake view, a yard, and a bunch of neighborhood amenities like a pool, playground, tennis courts, etc.

I think I know the perfect neighborhood for you!

[Forhall]

Originally Posted by samiwas1

I would probably choose the Honda Civic....

Remember...there are people who think this is luxurious (it's in a $15 million dollar house in Atlanta), and something to strive for...

...while that just makes me uncomfortable to even look at.

Part of me wants to live in the city directly in the heart of the action, but part of me also would rather live on a house with a lake view, a yard, and a bunch of neighborhood amenities like a pool, playground, tennis courts, etc.

Yes, it's the "poor persons" idea of luxury. Just like poor people think Donald Trump is how a rich person acts.

Poster above me is right though. Lake Claire kind of fits the bill, as does many other more secluded, wooded neighborhoods in northeastern Atlanta.

[jeoff]

Originally Posted by Forhall

Yes, it's the "poor persons" idea of luxury. Just like poor people think Donald Trump is how a rich person acts.

Poster above me is right though. Lake Claire kind of fits the bill, as does many other more secluded, wooded neighborhoods in northeastern Atlanta.

It's got everything but the lake!

[JPD]

It's worth more than $12,560 a year for me to be able to walk out my door and go to work, dinner, a wide variety of stores, parks, festivals, etc. on foot.

I've lived inside the city and outside the city. You'd have to quadruple that saving before I'd even begin to consider making the trade.

[jeoff]

Originally Posted by JPD

It's worth more than $12,560 a year for me to be able to walk out my door and go to work, dinner, a wide variety of stores, parks, festivals, etc. on foot.

I've lived inside the city and outside the city. You'd have to quadruple that saving before I'd even begin to consider making the trade.

With kids, it's probably more like 3 times that to own a home in one of the higher performing school neighborhoods compared to a similar home in a competitive suburban neighborhood. Just compare Lake Claire to the suburban completion in Lilburn --300K or more for a similar home with similar schools (probably on a smaller lot without a garage)--plus higher taxes--child care costs, kid activities costs, etc. --still, if you have the $$, it is probably worth it--bedsides, if you do have the $$ and choose the suburbs you will probably just pee away the money on more home and car than you really need that will not have the return on investment of an intown home.

[Forhall]

I don't understand why people argue about living somewhere cheaper. Cost is entirely due to demand and desirability. It costs more to live on the beaches of Australia than a rural village in Cambodia. It costs more to live in NYC metro than in Nowhere, Kansas. We all know there are cheaper options, but like with everything in life people pay for what they want. No one argues that McDonalds exist when someone says how much they enjoyed dinner at Aria or Eugene the night before. Why do people always try to push the suburbs as some kind of great deal, when there are clearly downsides, hence the lower price.

[primaltech]

Originally Posted by Forhall

I don't understand why people argue about living somewhere cheaper. Cost is entirely due to demand and desirability. It costs more to live on the beaches of Australia than a rural village in Cambodia. It costs more to live in NYC metro than in Nowhere, Kansas. We all know there are cheaper options, but like with everything in life people pay for what they want. No one argues that McDonalds exist when someone says how much they enjoyed dinner at Aria or Eugene the night before. Why do people always try to push the suburbs as some kind of great deal, when there are clearly downsides, hence the lower price.

All depends on if those downsides affect you, or how much they would impact you in your particular life.

If you rarely go out, prefer to drive everywhere, and urban style living is not your thing, then why not get a twice as big or twice as nice place in Smyrna?

For that reason, the suburbs are in fact a great deal for many people. Just not all people. Everyone weighs all the different factors differently.

[AnsleyPark]

I saved about $19k in taxes alone.