Moving to Atlanta suburb- where to go?! (Sandy Springs, Roswell: condominiums, townhomes)

[Bellatoatl]

Hey everyone!

My family and I will be moving from NJ to GA in the next few months once we close on our house. We are looking for a 4 bedroom house from 2500 sqft and up with a maximum budget of 410,000. We would like to be around 45min from the city. We would also like to be in a neighborhood with good schools- we don’t have children in school yet but the oldest will start in 2years. My husband and I both work from home so commuting to work is not an issue- only taking our oldest to daycare and picking her up.
My question is, what neighborhoods would you suggest? With our limited budget and house prices going up, we know we have to be open minded so, we don’t mind a quiet or busy neighborhood as long as it’s safe and has a few local restaurants and grocery store.
We have been out to look around neighborhoods and we did like Loganville, Buford and Duluth when we visited last year but house prices are going up and don’t think we will find a home there in our budget in the next few months. We also liked some parts of Hampton but I know the schools aren’t so great there but we did see a lot of new developments going on.
We have seen a few homes on Zillow in areas such as Newnan, Gainesville, Stockbridge, Grayson and Lawrenceville that we really like but we are not sure about the schools and crime/safety. Any advice about these neighborhoods and other recommended neighborhoods with 45mins of the city would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance!

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by Bellatoatl

Hey everyone!

My family and I will be moving from NJ to GA in the next few months once we close on our house. We are looking for a 4 bedroom house from 2500 sqft and up with a maximum budget of 410,000. We would like to be around 45min from the city. We would also like to be in a neighborhood with good schools- we don’t have children in school yet but the oldest will start in 2years. My husband and I both work from home so commuting to work is not an issue- only taking our oldest to daycare and picking her up.
My question is, what neighborhoods would you suggest? With our limited budget and house prices going up, we know we have to be open minded so, we don’t mind a quiet or busy neighborhood as long as it’s safe and has a few local restaurants and grocery store.
We have been out to look around neighborhoods and we did like Loganville, Buford and Duluth when we visited last year but house prices are going up and don’t think we will find a home there in our budget in the next few months. We also liked some parts of Hampton but I know the schools aren’t so great there but we did see a lot of new developments going on.
We have seen a few homes on Zillow in areas such as Newnan, Gainesville, Stockbridge, Grayson and Lawrenceville that we really like but we are not sure about the schools and crime/safety. Any advice about these neighborhoods and other recommended neighborhoods with 45mins of the city would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance!

What are some additional neighborhood characteristics you would like besides good schools?

Are you willing to have an older (but not that old) home? Metro Atlanta has a lot of good suburban housing options with good schools - especially if you are willing to have a home built in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, or 00s.



I see your list suburban areas above. Be sure to answer some of the questions I posted, and I also begin looking in (in addition to the areas where you have already looked):

Kennesaw
Acworth
Northern Powder Springs
Woodstock
East Cobb
Roswell
South Lilburn
East Lilburn
North Snellville
South Lawrenceville
Holly Springs
Hickory Flat
Canton
Tyrone
Sharpsburg
East McDonough
Fayetteville
South Douglasville
Hoschton
Sugar Hill

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by aries4118

What are some additional neighborhood characteristics you would like besides good schools?

Are you willing to have an older (but not that old) home? Metro Atlanta has a lot of good suburban housing options with good schools - especially if you are willing to have a home built in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, or 00s.



I see your list suburban areas above. Be sure to answer some of the questions I posted, and I also begin looking in (in addition to the areas where you have already looked):

Kennesaw
Acworth
Northern Powder Springs
Woodstock
East Cobb
Roswell
South Lilburn
East Lilburn
North Snellville
South Lawrenceville
Holly Springs
Hickory Flat
Canton
Tyrone
Sharpsburg
East McDonough
Fayetteville
South Douglasville
Hoschton
Sugar Hill

Examples...

Good homes in good school districts:

https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...?ex=2943116292


https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...?ex=2942286524

https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...?ex=2943048393

https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...?ex=2943116312


https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...?ex=2942555498


https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...?ex=2942527325

https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...?ex=2942996539

[Citykid3785]

Originally Posted by aries4118

What are some additional neighborhood characteristics you would like besides good schools?

Are you willing to have an older (but not that old) home? Metro Atlanta has a lot of good suburban housing options with good schools - especially if you are willing to have a home built in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, or 00s.



I see your list suburban areas above. Be sure to answer some of the questions I posted, and I also begin looking in (in addition to the areas where you have already looked):

Kennesaw
Acworth
Northern Powder Springs
Woodstock
East Cobb
Roswell
South Lilburn
East Lilburn
North Snellville
South Lawrenceville
Holly Springs
Hickory Flat
Canton
Tyrone
Sharpsburg
East McDonough
Fayetteville
South Douglasville
Hoschton
Sugar Hill

Frankly, I can't really improve upon the above post.

Perhaps I'd add places like Cartersville, Douglasville, Hiram, Dallas, Rockmart, Carrollton, Ball Ground, Jasper

Best of luck in your search!

[Bellatoatl]

Thanks for the input everyone! I will look into these locations. Any extra info on each would be great!

[Bellatoatl]

Not really. Just as long as it’s safe and has good schools. I know we are limited so I don’t want to add further “filters” into the equation. I would prefer modern/updated features within the home. I don’t want to move into an area with older homes that need renovation

[Tarzanman]

Congratulations on leaving new jersey. Almost everywhere in Georgia will be a vast improvement over what I call the armpit of the nation (jersey).

Keep in mind that you can make right turns after stopping at a red light and you can also pump your own gas.

Here's to hoping that one day new jersey will break off from the continent and sink into the atlantic

[vtecluder617]

Originally Posted by Tarzanman

Congratulations on leaving new jersey. Almost everywhere in Georgia will be a vast improvement over what I call the armpit of the nation (jersey).

Keep in mind that you can make right turns after stopping at a red light and you can also pump your own gas.

Here's to hoping that one day new jersey will break off from the continent and sink into the atlantic

wow tell us how you really feel!

[Citykid3785]

I'm not going to be able to do many of these justice, and frankly some I have never been to. Just trying to give you a place to start:

Kennesaw - great choice. Affordable, classic suburban, great highway access. But a "mall suburb" that sprang out of the 80's with every chain restaurant you can imagine. Good schools, Kennesaw mountain, etc.
Acworth - Similar to Kennesaw, has a giant lake. Has mansions, but also pockets of meth lab trailer parks, so you just need to do your own searching
Northern Powder Springs
Woodstock - probably above your budget, but you'll have to look. Nice place, good schools and highway access. Cute downtown
East Cobb - great place, great schools. 95% will be above your budget. Can probably find houses off busy roads with ugly layouts still
Roswell - above your budget. West of 400 is the side you want, but will be too expensive. Cute downtown
South Lilburn
East Lilburn
North Snellville
South Lawrenceville
Holly Springs - quiet, getting built up, highway access. Not a full grown suburb yet, will be there in 10 years for sure.
Hickory Flat - See "Holly Springs", but without the highway access. Will probably utilize Alpharetta for amenities
Canton - some mountain views. Busy parts and some parts still getting built up. Good highway access. Some mediocre parts too. The main drag has traffic constantly.
Tyrone
Sharpsburg
East McDonough
Fayetteville
South Douglasville
Hoschton
Sugar Hill
Cartersville - good highway access, a nice downtown core. Starting to be in foothills of mountains. All in all a nice place. 2 smithsonian museums
Douglasville
Hiram
Dallas
Rockmart
Carrollton
Ball Ground - start of the mountains. Beautiful views, near the end of your commuting range. Enough amenities, not too many. May deal with weekender traffic to see the mountains
Jasper - see "ball ground" above

If I didn't comment, it's because I don't have enough details to add. hope this helps some

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by aries4118

What are some additional neighborhood characteristics you would like besides good schools?

Are you willing to have an older (but not that old) home? Metro Atlanta has a lot of good suburban housing options with good schools - especially if you are willing to have a home built in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, or 00s.



I see your list of suburban areas above. Be sure to answer some of the questions I posted, and also begin looking in the areas below (in addition to the areas where you have already looked):

Kennesaw
Acworth
Northern Powder Springs
Woodstock
East Cobb
Roswell
South Lilburn
East Lilburn
North Snellville
South Lawrenceville
Holly Springs
Hickory Flat
Canton
Tyrone
Sharpsburg
East McDonough
Fayetteville
South Douglasville
Hoschton
Sugar Hill

Sorry for the typos here.

#multitaskingneverworks