Please recommend an area to live? (Atlanta, Sandy Springs: rentals, condos, crime)

[WannaBeinBoston]

Waiting for a job offer. Office will be near 75/285 intersection. Spouse will work eventually in midtown. We have school age kids so want to find a soccer mom community. So, dull and safe with good schools is even better.

Have thought about Smyrna because of proximity to my office but MARTA is no where close to hop to midtown eventually for the other breadwinner too. Should we target Vinings/Dunwoody? Alpharetta seems to fit our needs but my concern is commute from there to 75/285 and the other person would have to drive to the MARTA station.

Also, does most of suburban Atlanta have sidewalks? We walk our dog alot and that's a requirement. Thanks.

[IntownHomes247]

You'll have a much easier time finding a place if you don't factor in public transportation for the commute. There are plenty of good suburban areas, but MARTA coverage is extremely limited.

[K-SawDude]

Check out the Powers Ferry/Akers Mill area. Lots of different kinds of housing there (condos, townhouses, homes, rentals). And extremely easy access to 285/75. Smyrna and Vinings are good, too. I recommend living somewhere where you don't have to deal with 285 in rush hour every day.

There's no MARTA, but the drive to midtown from this area is nothing usually. Takes me about 10-12 minutes from Powers Ferry.

[bikefrontier]

Check out Sandy Springs. Its the last stop on the Red MARTA line.

Also, what is your monthly housing budget (this matters alot)? Are you looking to buy or rent? What type of property are you looking for? Single Family Home (SFH), Townhouse, or Condo? These will drive where you can/should look.

[WannaBeinBoston]

MARTA is not a must have especially if we can target an area where the commute for either of us will be less than 1/2 hour. We'll likely buy. I just hate renting. Budget is $400k or less.

[IntownHomes247]

You won't have any trouble finding a nice place in the 'burbs for $400k (or less). Smyrna, Vinings, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, and East Cobb should all be real possibilities. If you need an agent, feel free to DM me. (I don't work that part of town myself, but would be happy to refer you to a good agent who does.)

Welcome to Atlanta!

[bikefrontier]

I would take a look at Vinings. Commute from there to Midtown shouldn't be too bad at all.

[WannaBeinBoston]

Thank you to all that responded. No one touched the question of sidewalks? Where I live currently sidewalks in the burbs are a rarity. We happen to make our housing decision on this factor.

[bikefrontier]

Im not too familiar with that area of town (I do more of the in-town neighborhoods), so Im not too sure. I would say that the major streets will have sidewalks, but the smaller streets would probably not.

[plessthanpointohfive]

Would you be opposed to living in the city? Because there are some nice family neighborhoods right in the city. Lost of sidewalks and good schools. Personal safety is usually fine. Most problems with crime have to do with car break ins and some burglary (though in my neighborhood it seems to be going down - less reported in the past few monthly neighborhood newsletters).

Anyway, if you're interested several of us live in these city neighborhood and could tell you more. However, 300-400K won't buy you a really big home. But it should buy you a home that would fit a family of 4 or 5. Cozy, true, but you do get used to it.