Atlanta Area-Walkable w/ good schools & public transit?

[masonbarge]

Originally Posted by art-teacher

Hello folks,
I posted this in the gernal GA forum, but wanted more local input on the Atlanta area...

I'm considering relocating to another city in GA that is more walkable/public transit friendly.

I am also a school teacher, so I'd like an area that I wouldn't mind working and could live / own a home on a teacher's salary (~40k a year, some cities add to that amount). I am not sure how the city schools are for Atlanta, but I would rather not work in a really rough school.

Ideally, I'd like to live and work in an area that I could walk to shops, grocery store, work, etc. or use public transit... I'd also like an area where public transit is safe, timely, and used by a pretty wide range of people (i.e. not just those that can't drive or can't afford a car).

If I could find an area that is artsy, offers public parks/rec., and is pretty pet-friendly, that would also be great. Safety would be a big plus too, but I am realistic about the amount of crime in a city as large as Atlanta.

Basically, I would like to be able to get by without a car, unless I'm going out of town... Is this possible in the Atlanta area (and in my salary range) or am I looking in the wrong place?

Thanks for your help and time!

I'm sorry to say this, but it doesn't sound like you could even come close to meeting your criteria in Atlanta. Plus, assuming you teach art, you have to find a school with an art program. I don't know much about it, but I have read several articles about funding for art education being cut in Georgia schools.

Mortgage qualifications have recently gotten a lot tougher. You wouldn't be able to go much over $100k, depending on your down payment, of course. I'd advise you to rent.

The more general problem is that good public transportation equals high real estate costs. Second, lower real estate costs equals rough neighborhoods.

Atlanta is a car town. When I came here from school in Connecticut, I wanted to live without a car, and my uncle told me what I just told you. And he was completely right.

Here's are some alternatives to consider:
1) A boarding school that provides housing for teachers.
2) A very small town where you can walk/bicycle to the grocery, etc. I'd look primarily in places like New England and the Pacific Northwest, as even small towns in the south and midwest tends to be car-oriented.

If neither of those appeals,
3) A rust belt or other declining city (like New Orleans) where housing is very inexpensive, but because they were once prosperous, have good public transportation.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by meadgrad

yeah, sounds like the Neatherlands to me...thats a heck of a commute though

There is a condo for sale in Decatur off Northern and Ponce for 150 ish i think. That would be on the upper end of a 40k salery...but close.

not sure if its still for sale though.

It is...a unit in Montgomery Place, listed w/Harry Norman

[masonbarge]

Originally Posted by meadgrad

yeah, sounds like the Neatherlands to me...thats a heck of a commute though

There is a condo for sale in Decatur off Northern and Ponce for 150 ish i think. That would be on the upper end of a 40k salery...but close.

Two years ago you could have, LOL. I don't think any lenders would make a loan like that now even on a detached house, much less a condo. They want maximum 28% front end (mortgage and tax = 28% of gross monthly salary) and 36% back end debt load. With a 20% down payment someone with good credit and no consumer debt could get $120k or even $130k, but Fannie Mae has gotten very strict.

Maybe a condo developer in trouble would do it.

I'm not a banker and there is a lot I don't know, so it would pay to talk to a mortgage broker.