SO confused what to do, don't want to be hasty (Atlanta: real estate, apartments)

[AJ1972]

Well, you guys know my husband found a position and accepted it in the Lawrenceville area...to much of our excitement.
Here's my dilemma.....
We have only been to the area ONCE (in December) for a week). Barely enough time to KNOW the area. I must say though, I have learned A LOT just by being on this board, and all of my research
We are still selling our place here, so we are undecided if we will follow Hubby immediately with him.
His job starts in July.
We have thought about renting for one year (1st) there.
I know some areas sound great to me, but we are not planning another trip up there before he starts the job, so I really need to make a decision.
The reason for renting is simply because I DON'T know the area, though something may SOUND great to me, seeing it and driving around it for days on end may give me a better feel. If I rent I will have months to really look for "the" area we like. If I buy a place there now, what if I end up liking another area better? Then it's too late.
The thing that scares me about renting now is ... what if in a year home prices and interest rates jump??? Ugh! They are SO good right now.

Anyone have input? Feel free!

[johnatl]

I can only imagine all the thoughts running through your mind right now.

There are quite a few apartments that will do a 6 month lease - maybe you should consider that option?

[AJ1972]

Exactly
Did I mention though that I am very excited to be moving there!!!

[rackensack]

So if in a year interest rates and real estate prices have both jumped significantly -- but you're able to feel comfortable with your decision about where to live. If you're paying a bit more for your monthly mortgage payment, is that terrible enough that you think you'd be better off buying a house you don't like in a place you find you don't want to live, and having to either turn around and re-sell it and buy another place (with all the costs attendant on doing so) in a couple of years?

I wouldn't let the prospect of potentially higher prices and rates drive me into a decision that I would regret and have to live with (and in) every day. In the Atlanta area particularly, you need to get a sense of what various areas are like and find what's workable for your lifestyle and where you'll be working.

[Lilycharm]

I know you said you are not planning another trip here, but if you can schedule it or afford it I think it would be a good investment in your future to come back down here.

My husband's job is relocating us away from Atlanta , but one piece of advice I got from a realtor was to spend a bit of time in the local grocery stores. He said you can get a sense of people living there. I plan on doing a bit of that when I head up to NJ for my first visit in a week.

Good luck in your relocation. I have loved living in GA for the past 16 years, and hopefully you will, too.

[OhioNative]

I would not recommend making a hasty purchase decision in metro Atlanta. Neighborhoods in the same geographic area can vary widely in quality, and what looks convenient on a map can be on a congested two-lane road that is a traffic nightmare (this is especially true in parts of Dacula where you have been looking). Even if you just stay in a furnished apartment for a few weeks during the summer and then make a decision, that would probably lead to a better situation. No one knows about interest rates, but I don't think that there is really going to be a dramatic (if any) increase in prices over the next few months.

[RainyRainyDay]

I heartily agree with the posters who've said it's better to get to know the area and avoiding purchasing in haste then repenting in leisure. When we moved to metro Atlanta from Canada, we rented first.

However, I think the OP has school age children. That being the case, I recommend making a good effort to find a rental in a school zone in which you think (as best you can tell, so far) that you'd be happy to settle. It's hard on children to have to change schools twice, so you'd want to avoid that, if possible. On the other hand, if you discover that a different area would be greatly preferable for your family, after all, then renting first will give you the option of making that move.

[AJ1972]

Originally Posted by RainyRainyDay

I heartily agree with the posters who've said it's better to get to know the area and avoiding purchasing in haste then repenting in leisure. When we moved to metro Atlanta from Canada, we rented first.

However, I think the OP has school age children. That being the case, I recommend making a good effort to find a rental in a school zone in which you think (as best you can tell, so far) that you'd be happy to settle. It's hard on children to have to change schools twice, so you'd want to avoid that, if possible. On the other hand, if you discover that a different area would be greatly preferable for your family, after all, then renting first will give you the option of making that move.

Don't worry about schools. I'm a teacher turned home schooling mom
I'm a stay at home mom now who home schools my son.
I home school him through a Distance Learning school, where they send me all of his books and curriculum, and I teach him, return the assignments to them once a month, and they send us progress reports every 2 months.
However, I would like to be in a good school zone just for the purpose of investment/resale down, down the road.

[TakeAhike]

IIRC, you were comparing Dacula and Suwanee and perhaps a few other locations?

Your DH will work in Lawrenceville.
You will need time to determine the routes to and from work, for shopping and other routines. I think you have to become familiar with an area before you can make such a major decision.

I believe someone said most school systems begin on Aug. 9--this will affect traffic patterns, too.

[AJ1972]

So it looks like, so far, all in favor of renting first
You guys have been so helpful! I can't begin to explain how excited we are to be moving up there.