patrick.net

You can get a screaming deal in ATL or the suburbs. Co-worker and I found nice 2,000 sq. ft. homes in great shape for like $80k.

But, it's hot and humid as crap out that way.

I'm not that familiar with Atlanta but they just had a huge teaching scandal in their public schools. I'm all for public schools but if you plan on having kids and living there I'd highly recommend either private or to live in the suburbs. Ten years worth of cover up is enough to invalidate the system.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303678704576441752866036530.html

joshuatrio says

But, it's hot and humid as crap out that way.

I stayed there for a week but humidity seemed less than NJ humidity.

Yes, the RE there might be reasonably priced now. Unemployment is real bad there. Lots of factories shut down over the last couple of years, etc.

Plus I have no idea how the rise of other nearby big cities may have negtively impacted Atlanta. Decades ago Atlanta was a major "regional capital", but then Charlotte and (to an extent) Birmingham, and other cities nearby finally "grew up" so that could not have helped. I'm sure that someone who actually lives there know can give better reasons as well.

zzyzzx says

Plus I have no idea how the rise of other nearby big cities may have negtively impacted Atlanta. Decades ago Atlanta was a major "regional capital", but then Charlotte and (to an extent) Birmingham, and other cities nearby finally "grew up" so that could not have helped.

It definitely did impact Atlanta. Charlotte is king of banks, for example (and is a Case-Shiller city that has held up relatively okay despite being a bank capital). Atlanta definitely started the trend, but the rise of other southern cities did cause companies to take a second look when locating their national or regional headquarters. They looked to places like Nashville, Charlotte, and other growing cities with low costs of living. Atlanta is still the largest of them, of course, but it's not the only option any more. If you're a technology company, you'll take Research Triangle over Atlanta, and maybe even Huntsville over Atlanta with its cottage industry led by NASA.

Based on what I have seen on HGTV's House Hunters, Atlanta is knee deep in urban pioneers wanting to live downtown in hip lofts.

Atlanta has always been one of those higher priced WTF areas with many micro hoods all priced special for one reason or another.
I firmly believe that Atlanta is behind (always is) at least a year maybe two on my areas housing trends. I get alot of "it's different here" tude from Hotlantians. so much so,.. I started to believe it too.
are things really changing from a year ago?

"I wouldn't live there if you paid me....I couldn't live like that, no siree!" ~ Talking Heads "The Big Country"

I couldn't believe when I saw houses that need to be bulldozed are still being occupied, and this was right behind a 4 star hotel in midtown. Never seen anything like this even in LA downtown area. Never saw a cop car, I guess they come only when called.

I grew up 3 hours from Atlanta. The biggest problem is its freeway system. Getting around is very difficult. I haven't been there in over 10 years which is probably significant since it has doubled in size since then. From what I hear people tell me is that its basically LA's evil twin with none of the nice weather.

That said, the prices are pretty affordable for a major big city.

edvard2 says

prices are pretty affordable for a major big city.

Proly good place to retire. How much does it snow in winter?

mdovell says

I'd highly recommend either private or to live in the suburbs.

I lived 20 years in downtown areas and miss it. You couldn't PAY me to live in the burbs. My sister lives in Alpharetta and everytime I visit her it's depressing. Yeah here's your McMansion which you retreat to because nobody hangs out together, and here's your 3-car garage for all your vehicles you use to DRIVE DRIVE everywhere. Because taking the kids to play at the park means DRIVING 20 MINUTES to get to a newly built play-park which has no shade and it's hotter than crap. No thanks.

I don't think the teacher scandal neccessarily shows the schools are any worse now than 10 years ago. I went to Georgia public schools and still made it through Georgia Tech somehow. What it shows is if you tie money and jobs to scores, then people WILL attempt to game that. No surprise there and I don't really think it means it's impossible to get a decent education. Bubble sheets do not show you doodly-squat IMO and are worse than useless. How did we manage before "standardized testing"? Well we did, and I think that's worth examining.

bubblesitter says

edvard2 says

prices are pretty affordable for a major big city.

Proly good place to retire. How much does it snow in winter?

None. On the rare freak uccurance when it happens (ice is more likely) the whole city shuts down anyway so it's not like you have to leave home even if the amount of snow is tiny. In Atlanta only stupid people even try to drive in it so you are really taking your chances if you even try. Roads are not plowed.