Looking to buy a house in Atlanta

[Robb235]

So I got married back in September, and recently took a job with a company in Atlanta. For now this company has me working on an out-of-town project in Albany, GA. I'm currently living in a company provided apartment, and saving money. I'm scheduled to leave Albany and go to Atlanta in June/July of 2014.

So I'd like to buy a house before my company transfers me to Atlanta. This will be our first home purchase, and would like something in the $100k - $150k range. My wife and I are both from Chattanooga, and we go there frequently to visit friends and family, so we'd like a house on the north side of Atlanta.

My wife and I are both in our mid-twenties, and we don't party like we did in college. We'd like to live in a quieter suburban area with little or no "riff raff". Preferably no home-owners association.

Where should I start looking? Any thoughts on Kennesaw? Apparently they have some ordinance where you're required to own a gun if you live there? I like the thought of that.. My wife's aunt recommended Vinings because she said that it's "trendy". Not sure that trendy is what I'm looking for.

Suggestions?

 

[CdaleR4000si]

Yeah, if you live in Kennesaw, you are required to own a firearm (not sure if they actually enforce it though). I personally think Kennesaw is a pretty nice area, though like most towns, there are some less desirable parts, but for the most part, it's a nice place.

Vinings is very nice as well. Your Aunt is correct, it is kind of trendy, but it's not over the top trendy. Lots of younger families are buying there. You might have to hunt around quite a bit to find something in the 100-150k range, it is a pricey area. Last time I looked, there were still lots of foreclosures, so you may well find a great deal (same thing in Kennesaw too).

I'd recommend looking up 400, Cumming is a nice place, tons of reasonably priced homes. You will get quite a bit more house for your money. Horrible traffic, but you are going to have that anywhere you look in the Atlanta area.

What part of Atlanta will you be working?

 

[RunninInGA]

With traffic like it is, you don't want to live too far away from the office. If all you need is airport access, interstate access would be important too.

The differences in housing prices between Kennesaw and Vinings are stark and housing type can vary drastically as well. $150k will buy MUCH more real estate in Kennesaw versus Vinings and would likely look like a single family house on an acre of land in Kennesaw or a 20-30 year old town house in Vinings as examples.

What part of town will the office be located?

 

[Robb235]

Office is right off Northside Drive, off I-75. So pretty much right smack in the middle of the city.

 

[Robb235]

Any opinions on Woodstock?

 

[RunninInGA]

Woodstock isn't bad - depending on where you pick. I'd stay away from Cherokee County and would stick closer to Cobb County - that's where I live.

With your office at Northside Drive, a commute from Woodstock could take more than an hour each way - depending on where in Woodstock you buy. Acworth / Kennesaw could cut that down by as much as half - again depending on where exactly you locate.

 

[bofa]

Is the position in Atlanta long term? Is there a chance you could end up working on-site in other areas or at a different location? Are you sure you want to buy this early into your relationship with this company?

I ask because I somewhat regret the first house we built. It was when we both were pretty young and had we waited a few years, we would have realized that we weren't where we wanted to be long term, which created a lot of work before we could eventually move out to CO.

I like Georgia, was born there, and have a lot of family there, Go Dawgs! and all that, but would never live there. (no offense [MENTION=77530]RunninInGA[/MENTION] ).

 

[Robb235]

Is the position in Atlanta long term? Is there a chance you could end up working on-site in other areas or at a different location? Are you sure you want to buy this early into your relationship with this company?

I ask because I somewhat regret the first house we built. It was when we both were pretty young and had we waited a few years, we would have realized that we weren't where we wanted to be long term, which created a lot of work before we could eventually move out to CO.

I like Georgia, was born there, and have a lot of family there, Go Dawgs! and all that, but would never live there. (no offense [MENTION=77530]RunninInGA[/MENTION] ).

The position in Atlanta is long term. The vast majority of this company's projects are in the Atlanta area. Not all of them, but most. I think the only other out-of-town project we have is Savanah, GA. Being that I'm the new guy, I get to pay my dues by working this out-of-town project here in Albany. I really like this company I'm with, and see myself staying with them for the long term. They treat their employees well, which is why I left my last company. The north side of Atlanta is close enough to Chattanooga that we can head back to visit in only an hour and a half.

The other guy who's here with me on this project is telling me that I need to look at the Alpharetta / Rosswell / Johns Creek area. I may check into that as well. I've been using Zillow to take a look at houses in different parts of the city.

 

[RunninInGA]

(no offense [MENTION=77530]RunninInGA[/MENTION] ).

No offense taken at all. I would likely be gone myself if my family and the inlaws weren't so entrenched here.

 

[philsey]

The part of your equation that I question is living on the N side due to its proximity to C.

Trading a twice DAILY drive in murderous traffic for the occasional trip to C. seems bass-ackward to me.

Safe to assume you're familiar with ATL traffic?

 

[Robb235]

The part of your equation that I question is living on the N side due to its proximity to C.

Trading a twice DAILY drive in murderous traffic for the occasional trip to C. seems bass-ackward to me.

Safe to assume you're familiar with ATL traffic?

Ok, so in you're opinion, where should I where I'm not fighting traffic on my way to downtown Atlanta?

 

[bofa]

You may want to avoid many of the areas in this video.

NSFW lyrics

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/_kH_EZF0XqM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[RunninInGA]

^^ try this one instead:

Outkast - Atliens - YouTube

 

[Robb235]

The part of your equation that I question is living on the N side due to its proximity to C.

Trading a twice DAILY drive in murderous traffic for the occasional trip to C. seems bass-ackward to me.

Safe to assume you're familiar with ATL traffic?

I guess I should also state that I would rather live in an area that I'm happy with, and have to drive a few extra minutes, as opposed to living somewhere I'm not quite as happy but save a few minutes on the drive to work.

 

[WODWorldWide]

I've lived all over Atlanta for 27 years before eventually moving out to Colorado. If you want safe and affordable with semi easy access to downtown, then I love Roswell area. I second the Vinings area as well but can be on the pricey side yet a Townhouse may be more available.

Pretty much anywhere up 400 is very affluent and nice with quick access to the GA mountains and easy enough to trek over to 75 to head up to Tenn.

Best of luck, Atlanta is a great place with plenty to do and great food.

 

[RunninInGA]

I've lived all over Atlanta for 27 years before eventually moving out to Colorado. If you want safe and affordable with semi easy access to downtown, then I love Roswell area. I second the Vinings area as well but can be on the pricey side yet a Townhouse may be more available.

Pretty much anywhere up 400 is very affluent and nice with quick access to the GA mountains and easy enough to trek over to 75 to head up to Tenn.

Best of luck, Atlanta is a great place with plenty to do and great food.

Don't know how long you've been gone, but Roswell to downtown Atlanta isn't a quick trip - especially during working hours. There's hundreds of other places I'd rather live.
[MENTION=70922]Robb235[/MENTION] - I'm happy to answer any questions you've got - even after you get up here for a visit. I was born and raised in Atlanta. I've had an office on Northside Drive myself, and send my kid to public school in Cobb County (begrudgingly in public school, but this county is amongst the best in the area) - something you and the Mrs. will likely discuss in the future if not already.

 

[TNRunner99]

Never lived in GA but I have always liked the Cumming area. Had a friend in college that was from there so we visited there a couple of times.

I was born and raised In Chatt. still live there now. Haven't come across many members that hang around SE Tenn.

 

[Nrgpill]

Not sure if you are buying with school district in mind (if so then I am probably of no help) but I can speak to traffic along 400N - I would not live north of exit 5 (Abernathy). You may lose the will to live by the time you reach the Holcomb Bridge area. Also, avoid the unincorporated areas of Vinings, but with that said your budget will be really tough for that area in general (even if unincorporated Vinings). The thought of working off Northside and having to commute to Kennesaw or Cumming sounds like a complete nightmare to me. I would much rather entertain the East Atlanta area and deal with some choking points along the connector during traffic hours. At your age I would think you want more than chain restaurants and bad malls.

 

[mstaples23]

Buying in Atlanta

Hi,

Not sure about meeting your budget, but Smyrna is an area close to Vinings, but less expensive. Another area that seems to be up-and-coming is Mableton.

Smyrna and Vinings are close in, near the I-75 and I-285 intersection. Mableton is a bit further south and west, but could be the best choice for your commute, and still put you on the west side of town for closer access to Chattanooga.

I've noticed no one else has suggested Mableton yet, so I think you should at least research it.

If you decide to live up 75 in Woodstock/Kennesaw, plan for at least a 1 hour commute. If you decide to live up 400 in Roswell/Alpharetta/Johns Creek, expect 75-90 minutes.

Best of Luck!

 

[LandCruiser]

I lived in Atlanta for over 6 years.

Unless you work in the ghetto, get a house less than 10 minutes from where you work.

Being stuck in traffic for 2-3 hours a day will drive you insane.