Finally gonna move to Georgia!!

[ClarabelleCowFan]

It really is and there are alot of landscaping companies here in town.

I actually live in Alabama (own my grandparents house), but do all my shopping here in Columbus, I also work in Columbus. It is less expensive to live in Alabama, our taxes (property, auto) are alot less compared to Georgia. And with it being in such a central location, you can get to the major cities; Atlanta in 1 hr 15 mins and Birmingham is 2.5 hours. In fact DH and I are taking a couple of his students to the airport in Atlanta on Saturday and we will probably just make a day of it.

A nice house in our neighborhood, which is older and in the better part of town run $100,000 and up. The monthly payment on our 3 bedroom house, including our taxes and insurance, is less than most 1 bedroom apartments rent for each month.

Suzanne

Suzanne

We just moved to the Columbus area (thanks to the US Army). Since we couldn't sell our home in MD we are renting here in GA. For LESS than what we are charging to rent out our townhouse in MD we are renting a huge 2 story 4 bedroom/3 bath brick home with a 2 car garage on a huge lot that backs up to woods and a creek. The community has a swimming pool with a staff lifeguard, tennis courts and lakes stocked with bass for fishing. Our HOA fees are included in our rent. We rented our home basically sight unseen on Craigslist through a local realtor and are thrilled with what we got.

We could have gotten a bigger house in Alabama for the same money but we wanted our kids to go to GA schools so our high schooler could take advantage of the HOPE scholarship. Since you have a child I would highly recommend checking out the school systems of anywhere you plan to move at www.greatschools.net . GA and AL have some good schools with great teachers but you have to do your research to find those. Columbus has several magnet and charter schools that tend to have higher test scores so be sure to look into those.


Suzanne - Hi Neighbor! I'm picking up someone at the ATL airport tomorrow. We should have scheduled that better and carpooled.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

What area are you in? How are you liking it? DH was talking about going back into the reserves and I thought about you, wondered if you had made the move. I also thought about being able to go back to the commissary...tehehe

The magnet and charter schools, in my understanding, is where the gifted students go. My cousin has a 12 year old in a gifted program in Phenix City, she was bussed to the program once a week from her other school, because it was small and didn't have a specifically gifted class. She is in a specifically gifted class now.

I don't know, I have never heard good things about the Hope Programs, but I am not really sure about them either. I just went to the local tech school and worked my way up, which has been better for me. But that was almost 20 years ago.

You can really rent a nice house around here for pennies, but I have heard some of the apartments rent for much more.

We should have scheduled better, actually I am only tagging along so I can stop and shop. I love the Ikea store in Downtown Atlanta, we were just there last month and I wanted to go back and pick up a few other things. This was a good excuse since someone else is paying for the gas

Suzanne

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

What area are you in? How are you liking it? DH was talking about going back into the reserves and I thought about you, wondered if you had made the move. I also thought about being able to go back to the commissary...tehehe

The magnet and charter schools, in my understanding, is where the gifted students go. My cousin has a 12 year old in a gifted program in Phenix City, she was bussed to the program once a week from her other school, because it was small and didn't have a specifically gifted class. She is in a specifically gifted class now.

I don't know, I have never heard good things about the Hope Programs, but I am not really sure about them either. I just went to the local tech school and worked my way up, which has been better for me. But that was almost 20 years ago.

You can really rent a nice house around here for pennies, but I have heard some of the apartments rent for much more.

We should have scheduled better, actually I am only tagging along so I can stop and shop. I love the Ikea store in Downtown Atlanta, we were just there last month and I wanted to go back and pick up a few other things. This was a good excuse since someone else is paying for the gas

Suzanne

Don't tell DH there's an IKEA in Atlanta! I'll never get him out of there!

Sending you a PM.

 

[si-am]

In your price range, it's going to be hard to find a "McMansion" swim/tennis community in a good school district. You're going to need to look OUT of East Cobb and probably farther north (into Canton, Acworth, even Cumming). That could make a long commute if one of you works in the city.

I live in West Cobb. Beautiful, growing area but we are zoned into the worst schools in the county. Doesn't matter for us since we don't have kids, but just do your research! (Which it sounds like you're doing).

 

[MomofKatie]

I don't know, I have never heard good things about the Hope Programs, but I am not really sure about them either. I just went to the local tech school and worked my way up, which has been better for me. But that was almost 20 years ago.

The HOPE scholarship is a wonderful resource for GA resident students to be able to pay for college tuition.

As long as they have GA residency (at least 6 months living in GA), students attending a public university in the state can get FREE tuition, as long as they keep a 3.0 GPA. They also get a book allowance of $150/semester.

If going to an approved private college, they can get $2000/semester.

My nephew, between the HOPE and his Army ROTC scholarship, has a completely free ride to GA Southern University.

The official site for the HOPE: http://www.gacollege411.org/Financi...rgia_s_HOPE_Scholarship_Program_Overview.aspx

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

The HOPE scholarship is a wonderful resource for GA resident students to be able to pay for college tuition.

As long as they have GA residency (at least 6 months living in GA), students attending a public university in the state can get FREE tuition, as long as they keep a 3.0 GPA. They also get a book allowance of $150/semester.

If going to an approved private college, they can get $2000/semester.

My nephew, between the HOPE and his Army ROTC scholarship, has a completely free ride to GA Southern University.

The official site for the HOPE: http://www.gacollege411.org/Financi...rgia_s_HOPE_Scholarship_Program_Overview.aspx

That is our main reason for living on the GA side of the border. DD16 will graduate high school while we are living here and is leaning towards a science based major. The tuition help will be a huge benefit to her!

 

[mickeysgal]

In your price range, it's going to be hard to find a "McMansion" swim/tennis community in a good school district. You're going to need to look OUT of East Cobb and probably farther north (into Canton, Acworth, even Cumming). That could make a long commute if one of you works in the city.

I live in West Cobb. Beautiful, growing area but we are zoned into the worst schools in the county. Doesn't matter for us since we don't have kids, but just do your research! (Which it sounds like you're doing).

Not sure what school you're referring to but there is no doubt in my mind that you can get a high quality school in West Cobb.

It's a cakewalk to find a swim/tennis/large home in a very good school district. East Cobb will be pricier than West Cobb. West Cobb you can easily find a beautiful, large home (if that's what you're looking for) for reasonable prices (no, make that crazy prices due to the real estate market) in a great school district. Harrison and Kennesaw Mountain are probably your best bets in West Cobb. The homes/subdivisions feeding these two schools will command the best prices in homes - however they're reasonable. Even better, you can reside in subdivisions like Browns Farm (Powder Springs) or Brookstone (Acworth) and still get Harrision as your high school and not pay Kennesaw housing prices.

 

[si-am]

Not sure what school you're referring to but there is no doubt in my mind that you can get a high quality school in West Cobb.

It's a cakewalk to find a swim/tennis/large home in a very good school district. East Cobb will be pricier than West Cobb. West Cobb you can easily find a beautiful, large home (if that's what you're looking for) for reasonable prices (no, make that crazy prices due to the real estate market) in a great school district. Harrison and Kennesaw Mountain are probably your best bets in West Cobb. The homes/subdivisions feeding these two schools will command the best prices in homes - however they're reasonable. Even better, you can reside in subdivisions like Browns Farm (Powder Springs) or Brookstone (Acworth) and still get Harrision as your high school and not pay Kennesaw housing prices.

For 175k? I guess maybe now when housing prices have fallen, but not when we were looking a few years back.

 

[minkydog]

For 175k? I guess maybe now when housing prices have fallen, but not when we were looking a few years back.

Yeah,that's what i was thinking. Our house, our 33 year old cedar siding 1500 sq ft on 3/4 acre in a neighborhood, not a subdivision, house would probably go for about $175K. Definitely a starter home--no granite counter-tops or cherry cabinets here. It's a nice quiet neighborhood, but there are no "amenities" (and no HOA, either )

 

[si-am]

Yeah,that's what i was thinking. Our house, our 33 year old cedar siding 1500 sq ft on 3/4 acre in a neighborhood, not a subdivision, house would probably go for about $175K. Definitely a starter home--no granite counter-tops or cherry cabinets here. It's a nice quiet neighborhood, but there are no "amenities" (and no HOA, either )

Are we neighbors? I live in a 26 year old cedar siding house like you are describing.

 

[NLK]

Welcome to Georgia. We moved here 4 years ago from NJ. We love it. It will take some getting use to, things are much slower here but you will love it. We live 45mins east of Atl. Snellville, Grayson area. You can get a lot of house for your money here in this area and the schools are good. Renting for awhile is a great idea because there are so much to choose from in ATL. You need to take your time and look around there are so many houses that it's easy to find one so don't worry that you will miss out on one. Enjoy your move down south

 

[arubio0801]

I've lived in Ga for the past few years I lived in fayette county at first and now I live in cobb county in Smyrna. I would look in cobb county area there's great schools and nice houses they have town homes in your budget. You just honesty need to do your homework and shop around. HTH

 

[chellewashere]

Thanks again to everyone. Havent been able to actually get on a type a response for awhile. We have talked to our realtor who is coming out next month to tell us what to fix up in the house, now that rates are so low the housing market has finally started to pick back up here.
We have planned a week vacation to go and check out the areas that we have decided that we LOVE so we can judge traffic during rush hour and what the neighborhoods look like at night and on weekends.
DH saw Lake Alltoona on-line and has decided that we need to live near there now cause he is in love with the lake I have been trying to read up on the new high school there, but since its new its hard to find good info. I do like Creekview high school and the surrounding areas around there.
We talked alot and have decided with all our animals we cant rent a place so we might leave them with family if things happen and we decide we do need to rent a place.
Im really looking forward to having my DD start a great life and to make some friends. That is high on my list of priorities really want a kid friendly neighborhood. Since ours isnt with her not going back to daycare this year poor child has no friends to play with and she is getting sad.
Im ready to go right now!! But I feel its gonna be about 9 months or so before we get everything set up here and we are finally able to leave.
Oh yeah my DH was very happy to know that it does snow 2 times a year and that he wont be in the humidity so much!!
Thanks again for everyone who responded. It is so great to hear from folks who live there.

 

[mickeysgal]

Thanks again to everyone. Havent been able to actually get on a type a response for awhile. We have talked to our realtor who is coming out next month to tell us what to fix up in the house, now that rates are so low the housing market has finally started to pick back up here.
We have planned a week vacation to go and check out the areas that we have decided that we LOVE so we can judge traffic during rush hour and what the neighborhoods look like at night and on weekends.
DH saw Lake Alltoona on-line and has decided that we need to live near there now cause he is in love with the lake I have been trying to read up on the new high school there, but since its new its hard to find good info. I do like Creekview high school and the surrounding areas around there.
We talked alot and have decided with all our animals we cant rent a place so we might leave them with family if things happen and we decide we do need to rent a place.
Im really looking forward to having my DD start a great life and to make some friends. That is high on my list of priorities really want a kid friendly neighborhood. Since ours isnt with her not going back to daycare this year poor child has no friends to play with and she is getting sad.
Im ready to go right now!! But I feel its gonna be about 9 months or so before we get everything set up here and we are finally able to leave.
Oh yeah my DH was very happy to know that it does snow 2 times a year and that he wont be in the humidity so much!!
Thanks again for everyone who responded. It is so great to hear from folks who live there.

Allatoona high school is part of the Cobb County school system and is their newest high school. cobbk12.org will get you off to a good start. You'll find lots of nice affordable housing (Acworth) that feeds this school. Good Luck!

 

[mickeysaver]

Yeah,that's what i was thinking. Our house, our 33 year old cedar siding 1500 sq ft on 3/4 acre in a neighborhood, not a subdivision, house would probably go for about $175K. Definitely a starter home--no granite counter-tops or cherry cabinets here. It's a nice quiet neighborhood, but there are no "amenities" (and no HOA, either )

Are we neighbors? I live in a 26 year old cedar siding house like you are describing.

1974 Brick ranch, with a little vinyl siding, with 4 bedrooms 2-1/2 baths and a partial basement that has been finished out. We have about 3/4 of an acre of land and the house is roughly 1900 sq ft. There is no HOA. All of the kids in our neighborhood are well behaved. We have at least one of just about any part of the planet represented in out little neighborhood, which suits us just fine. Our house may not be fancy, but it was built solid back when people knew how to build a house that was square. I love our little house and our little neighborhood. We have some pretty great schools over here too. We snagged this house for a steal back in 2006. While I like the look of some of the bigger/newer homes in our area, there is no beating the price we paid for the house and our lower utility bills and lower insurance rates because we live in a really safe area.

Where is it that you may ask, well look on over in Gwinnett County. While Gwinnett certainly has a mixed bag of options on good and bad areas, it does have some really great places to call home too. Lawrenceville, Snellville, Lilburn & Duluth are the areas that tend to be better choices, however there are parts of Norcross than can be really nice too.

Good luck to the OP in your quest for a new place to call home.

 

[minkydog]

Allatoona high school is part of the Cobb County school system and is their newest high school. cobbk12.org will get you off to a good start. You'll find lots of nice affordable housing (Acworth) that feeds this school. Good Luck!

Another vote for Allatoona HS. I love everything about Lake Allatoona. We take our camper up there every chance we get.