West of Atlanta (Marietta, Mableton, Douglasville: real estate, renting, chapel)

[robivi3]

Does anyone have any info on desirable areas West of Atlanta but within driving distance. I will be working at MARTA. I am looking in the 175k range, right now i drive 27 miles one way from broward to Miami Dade in SoFla. Similar distances are not an issue

[Tdiddy0027]

try douglasville of south Fulton. Both are close-in, affordable, and growing areas.

[robivi3]

Thank you, fellow escapees are also buying in Douglassville so that is where we will lokk first.

[atlantagreg30127]

Just research what area of Douglasville you will go to.

You won't be able to avoid the fact you'll have to take I-20 East to Atlanta which can get pretty hairy in the mornings, but Douglasville itself has a couple of areas that have HUGE traffic problems during rush hour.

Avoid buying or renting a place that causes you to have to travel along Highway 5, Highway 92, and Chapel Hill. These are the most popular and common roads where a lot of the housing connects to, but they're also by FAR the most congested. Ask your real estate agent to find more out of the way neighborhoods that will allow you to maybe take some side roads to the interstate.

[DoveDiva]

^and those side roads are the first to get iced up in the winter, lol

Fellow South Floridian....I have to differ in opinion from Greg. Try to stay close to a major road. I had a similar commute in South Florida--Pembroke Pines to Little Havana--just make sure you leave early enough and learn the back roads

Welcome to the "Metro A"...there are a lot of us former South Floridians here!

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by DoveDiva

^and those side roads are the first to get iced up in the winter, lol

Try to stay close to a major road. - just make sure you leave early enough and learn the back roads

----------------------------

Now how often do roads get that iced up in the winter here? It's not Vermont! LOL The biggest problem you have here is the variety of drivers from all over the world on the roads, all of whom have completely different levels of experience (or lack thereof) driving on roads in ice or snow. It's a free-for-all bumper car experience on the interstates when the first snow flake falls.

Lesson: Learn and USE the back roads until you DO have one of the rare "ice days" here... THEN use the major roads (and keep TONS of distance between you and the other insane drivers that day), or just like most people stay at home. Many businesses close on bad ice days anyway and only require "essential" workers to come in, anyway.

[bbuch]

you could also consider Mableton. That area is really transitioning into something nice and you can still find good property close to Atlanta for under $175K.

B

[Native Georgian]

Not sure where you will be commuting to in order to work for MARTA. There is a big MARTA facility on either Marietta Blvd or Hollywood (I get the two mixed up). If that is where you are driving to, Douglasville is an excellent choice and your commute will be peachy, and you can go all back raods if needed!