OT: Where to live in Atlanta

[gottimd]

My Fiance and I are planning on moving down to Atlanta hopefully in late December, and I noticed that there were a ton of people on this board who are from that area. I wanted to know, in Midtown, where are the best apartments to live in and which ones should we avoid? We would like to live close to the night life, near people our age (mid to late 20's). Only looking for a one bedroom apartment. I've looked online on apartments.com, rent.net, apartmentguide.com, but those don't give me any information besides what the building is like. She has some family down there that said the Post buildings are nice, but I wanted to see if I could get some ideas or feedback from others who live there as well.

[VPI97]

Midtown? I'd rather get a place out near Vinings and be able to afford a new car than pay the prices in Midtown...but that's just me, of course...

[gottimd]

Well Midtown is actually less expensive than what we are paying now outside of DC, but we have considered vinings as well. We were told to stay within I-85 for traffic reasons.

[VPI97]

Originally Posted by gottimd

Well Midtown is actually less expensive than what we are paying now outside of DC, but we have considered vinings as well. We were told to stay within I-85 for traffic reasons.

I assume you meant I-285

Vinings is right off of 285, but regardless, I wouldn't think that being inside the perimeter is much of a difference traffic-wise than being just outside of the perimeter. Maybe it's just me, but while 285 can get rough sometimes, I've always found 400/85 through downtown/midtown to be the worst traffic in the city.

As for specific places to live, I'll be of no help, though...I've lived in the suburbs since '98. I don't go inside the perimeter if I can help it.

[GrantDawg]

Skydog might recomend a few places in Tucker. He was just telling me that the areas demographic has trended toward your age group recently.

[gottimd]

Where is Tucker?

I was just down there this past weekend, the place is great. Sorry I am not too familiar with the highways, just hope to live there one day. I did get to see the Braves shilack the Mets on Saturday.

[ISiddiqui]

Tucker is to the East of Atlanta, right on the Perimeter. I live not to far from there in Decatur (North Druid Hills / Emory area).

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by gottimd

My Fiance and I are planning on moving down to Atlanta hopefully in late December, and I noticed that there were a ton of people on this board who are from that area. I wanted to know, in Midtown, where are the best apartments to live in and which ones should we avoid? We would like to live close to the night life, near people our age (mid to late 20's). Only looking for a one bedroom apartment. I've looked online on apartments.com, rent.net, apartmentguide.com, but those don't give me any information besides what the building is like. She has some family down there that said the Post buildings are nice, but I wanted to see if I could get some ideas or feedback from others who live there as well.

My wife, who is far more real estate attuned & aware than I am, offers the following advice:

1) Any Post property is likely to be a best-bet. Pick where you want to live & then start working your way out from that center until you find the right deal.

2) Check the AJC for condos for rent/lease. That's a perpetually moving market in Atlanta & quite often a better deal than apartments both in quality & price. One particular suggestion is "Cross Creek" -- condos seem to always be for rent there & it's pretty much equally convienient to Midtown & Buckhead (see below).

3) Are you sure you mean "Midtown"? Depends upon your tastes/wants, but it almost sounds to me like you're looking more for "Buckhead" than "Midtown".

[digamma]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

I live not to far from there in Decatur (North Druid Hills / Emory area).

I would definitely look in this area. Or in Virginia Highlands.

[digamma]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

3) Are you sure you mean "Midtown"? Depends upon your tastes/wants, but it almost sounds to me like you're looking more for "Buckhead" than "Midtown".

Nah. Buckhead is so 1999. Midtown and/or the Highlands are much "hipper" today, or so I'm told. And, if you want to be really cutting edge, you can try old East Atlanta near Grant Park.

[hhiipp]

Try Over the Rhine in Cincinnati, I hear that place is hopping.

[ISiddiqui]

Are you sure you mean "Midtown"? Depends upon your tastes/wants, but it almost sounds to me like you're looking more for "Buckhead" than "Midtown".

Like digamma said, Midtown is supposed to be the 'in' area these days. The Highlands are as well. I'm not the sort to go clubbing or anything so saying at my Post Walk up in Decatur, close to Emory, is fine with me . Oh, and I do indeed like my neck of the woods.

[gottimd]

Not looking for the Club scene but something with a nightlife consisting of more than one bar (so to speak) or happy hour locations, restaurants, etc. in walking distance.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I'll agree with the suggestion about the "Highlands" area, I probably bar-hopped there more on one trip than in Buckhead my entire life combined. But I'm not sure what the quality of apartments in the area are at this point -- used to be pretty bad, could easily have improved a lot since I was there frequently.