Maybe Relocating to the Atlanta Area, need help (Roswell, Acworth: renting, house)

[TonyC99]

Originally Posted by socaldiver

I'm looking to a better livestyle then the one I have here in the OC.

I wouldn't trade SoCal for Atl unless the financial incentive was really, really high. And I think you'd have to go all the way to the coast to do the scuba thing...I've never heard of anyone doing that in lakes around here.

Well if you enjoy the outdoors, there are some good groups like Atlanta Outdoor Club, Atlanta Single Hikers, etc...nothing like what you have in the OC, but still probably better than Kansas or some place like that.

[netdragon]

Smyrna/Vinings is also an ok drive to Northside, but you'll probably hit bumper-to-bumper traffic as you get closer to 400 and cutting through on side-streets (Riverside Dr, etc) takes some practice and is easy to get lost.

Originally Posted by socaldiver

How do you read the millage rate?

Great Atlanta Homes-Calculate Metro Atlanta Property Taxes (broken link)

[socaldiver]

That link gives me a really good idea of what the taxes might be thanks again.

[victor2008]

Hi Socaldiver,
I would recommend looking in the Acworth area for a home. My daughter and her family live there. They chose to do so because the schools are apparently the best in the area.
You should have no trouble finding the type of house you are looking for. I live south of Atlanta in Clayton County and I do not recommend it because the schools accreditation has been pulled do to members of the school board pushing their own self interest and not that of the students, teachers, or parents.
I am sure you have heard about the tornado ripping through downtown Atlanta, so you might want to carefully google that news. Nobody in Atlanta was killed. There were three people killed in two of the other 12 tornados in outlying counties.

Sincerely,
victor2008

[socaldiver]

It's just a little too far north. I know some one who lives in Canton which is just noth of there and it takes her 1 hour to commute to work. My goal would be to have a 30 min commute, and everyonce in a while 45 min. I have 2 very young childern at home and I want to not take forever to see them at night.

[netdragon]

I completely agree. Marietta is far enough, and it's much closer than Acworth. I wouldn't go any farther than Mableton to the West, rte 120 to the North, and Norcross to the East if you want a reasonable commute. Your best bets will be Vinings, Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Doraville, Brookhaven, and the northern parts of Buckhead. East Cobb, Marietta, Mableton, Roswell, and Norcross will be a slightly longer commute.

[Jonas1950]

socaldiver....I live in Peachtree City...which is pretty far from your future work location. It's about 30 minutes south of Atlanta airport....BUT only about 6 hours north of great diving in north Florida whether or not it's the Panama City area or Pennsacola where they sank the Oriskany aircraft carrier last year...haven't done that dive but it's supposed to be awesome...deep though...about 85' to top tower...Spiegal Grove is a great dive down near Key Largo...but that's about a 12 hour car ride to the Keys from south side of Atlanta. Lots of spring diving in north FL...4-5 hr drive.

Peachtree City also offers great suburban lifestyle..great home values

my blog is Jonas other info about Peachtree City

Dive shop I use is Peachtree Dive Center Peachtree Dive Center

They ran my rescue diver certification class...we checked out at a quarry in White Ga...north of Atlanta...not a great dive. Some other quarry dives over in Alabama...1.5 hours to west.

[mg83]

My advice to someone who is partial to water, of any sort, is honestly to not move to Atlanta.

If you're used to seeing water, being by water, feeling water, smelling water, doing things that involve water... this is not the place for you - sincerely. Think long and hard about it.

I'm sure there will be multiple posts after mine screaming about the cost of living, how much house you can buy here, etc... and to that I say, that's really not everything in life.

[socaldiver]

I understand were you are coming from. I have grown up on the south shore of Long Island and spend 23 years by the water. Then I moved out to sunny California for the last 8 years.

I have to tell you that I work so much trying to stay ahead I don't go to the beach, and if I do it's like less then a dozen times a year. I used to go diving every other week. But with the cost of living and my work I haven't been diving in a year. I love the water, but if I don't have the time to go because I'm always working, what good is it to pay to live so close and not us it.

If I relocate to Atlanta I feel I will have a much better lifestyle. I can even afford to go on a vacation by the water. The coast is only about 6 hours away.

I appreciate your recommendation, but life goes on and you have to adjust to change. I'm up for the change.

[socaldiver]

MG83,

For what I just sold my condo for, I can buy a house in Atlanta and have a mortgage payment under 1200 dollars and still have money left over.