Considering a relocation to the Atlanta area... (Sandy Springs, Roswell: neighborhood, best schools)

[InquiringMom]

My husband and I are considering relocating to the Atlanta area. We have 3 young girls and would like to live in a neighborhood that has a golf course and a lake. We are use to living at the beach so we would need some water around us and would like the community to have alot of activities. My husband will be driving to the Buckhead area for work and my girl's are involved in Gymnastics and All-Star cheerleading. Also we want the best schools for the girl's. From researching on the web it looks like Alpharetta, Roswell and Canton are nice. We do not want more than a 30 minute commute to work for my husband and would prefer to have the best gymnastics gym and best place for them to participate in cheerleading. What neighborhood and community would you recommend???

[BobKovacs]

Well, less than a 30 minute commute from the cities you listed to Buckhead is impossible unless you commute at 2am or own a helicopter- you're likely to have to look more toward the Dunwoody/Sandy Springs area. You didn't mention a price range- do you have one in mind? That will help people make recommendations on where you might want to look.

[georgiaguy08]

I would think you could drive from Roswell to Buckhead in 30 minutes. It's only about 13 miles.

[InquiringMom]

Thanks for the reply, do you think that Roswell has the best schools and fits my search for a neighborhood??? If so which neighborhood??

[martarider]

Dunwoody

[InquiringMom]

We will need a 5 bedroom home, our budget will allow 500,000 to maybe 700,00 depending on the salary that my husband will get there.

[InquiringMom]

I did not think that Dunwoody had the top rated schools from the information on the web. What shcools do you recommend?

[martarider]

No it doesn't have THE top rated schools but it has excellent elementary school (Vanderlyn) and it's a better lifestyle and neighborhood for a family, it is the whole package. I think if you come to visit and drive through you will get an idea of it. The little lakes (and a resovoir lol) are in eastern part of Dunwoody though, and those schools are not as good but improving steadily (Kingsley & Chestnut). Anyway if you are solely concerned about schools then East Cobb may be a good fit but it's a horrible commute (no easy access to interstates from Walton), whereas from Dunwoody/Sandy Springs he can take the train straight in to Buckhead station.

[martarider]

Have you looked at historic brookhaven area, its very close to buckhead and upscale but still you could find within your price range. Ashford park nearby is improving fast, although I don't know about the schools but got the impression people in that area generally go with private.

[kaday]

I would look at Indian Hills in East Cobb. Golf course, Walton high school (one of the best in Atlanta area), not too bad of a commute. You'd pay much less for a house.