Wait! Hold it right there! You must be thinking about making that all-important move to Georgia right now, but you might want to be aware of a few things before you take the plunge. I’m sure you’ve already done all the research and looked into what schools are in the area, what kind of parks are close by, and how much property taxes might be, but let’s slow down for a moment and just breathe. Whew, okay, now that we’re calm and collected — thinking clearly — let’s begin. It turns out there’s more than what the rumors say about what it’s like to live in Georgia, and especially in and around Atlanta. Whether you’ve already bought your next home or you’re just considering your next move, I hope this video can help you along in the process. This is your favorite Atlanta realtor Tim Trevathan here to give you an idea of what to expect when you actually do move to the metro Atlanta area.
Geography and Weather
First, I think we need to get one thing straight. Atlanta is not the same as the rest of Georgia. The capital of our state is very different from the rest of it in so many ways, whether we’re talking demographics, political leanings, average income, and so much more. Atlanta is a true modern day metropolitan area whereas the rest of Georgia might give you more of that small town or even countryside vibe, so pay very close attention to whether the area you’re moving to is somewhere like Old Fourth Ward in the heart of the city, the suburban paradise of Johns Creek, or a coastal tourist spot like Savannah. In this video, I’ll be talking more about the metro area and how it might not be what you expected when you first thought about moving down South.
So let’s say you’re already planning on moving to the city. Unlike most other major American cities, Atlanta feels entirely landlocked without a single lake, river, or sea in sight. The reason why that is is because Atlanta was originally a railroad town, its modern name actually coming from the “Western and Atlantic” railroad that traveled through to the coast of Georgia. Back in the day it was just a small town called Marthasville, but if you’re interested in seeing some water, Lake Lanier is an hour north of the city and the Chattahoochee River is accessible from a variety of nearby parks and recreation areas.
One final thing I’d like to note about the geography you might not be aware of is that there is no such thing as a true historical “Chinatown”-like designated area for minority culture in Atlanta. You can find local hubs of immigrants here and there such as along Buford Highway, in Norcross, or in Duluth and Suwanee, but unlike most other major cities, it’s all seemingly mixed together. If you’re looking for good food and a cultural nexus, you’ll have to take a close look and consider watching some of my other videos on these subjects to learn the nuances of where you might best find your community of choice.
Last note I’d like to make is that the weather in Georgia is hot and humid, and it feels like it’s becoming more and more like Florida every year. It turns out that the average temperature has only risen by about 1 degree fahrenheit since a century ago, so it’s not a matter of global warming in this case. If anything, Georgia is celebrated for its temperate and predictable climate, free of extreme weather activity and typically safe from hurricanes unlike our coastal neighbors. Still, come spring time, allergies are nothing to celebrate here. If you suffer from any sort of seasonal allergies, you may suffer greatly starting from around April to May.
Culture
Secondly, I’d like to emphasize some expectations of culture. Some people believe that Atlanta has a bad reputation for high crime, but that depends strongly on where you live or work. There are certain areas of the city, particularly on the west and southern side of the perimeter that can have high rates of violent crime, but nearly everywhere else inside the perimeter and outside the perimeter is as safe as anywhere else in the US, if not much safer. Here’s the good news: it’s becoming safer and safer every year since 2017.
Speaking of shifting statistics, the political leanings of Atlantans are shifting leftward every year. Georgia was and perhaps still is famous as a deep red state, but that’s actually changed quite a bit in recent years with changing cultural demographics, a younger and younger population, and the ever-shifting tides of public opinion. One family I worked with was worried that they might find themselves living in an area that conflicted with their political leanings, but they were pleasantly surprised to learn that Atlanta isn’t quite as conservative as the rest of the state. The state government remains very Republican with a few Democratic representatives coming from districts in and around Atlanta, but it has become surprisingly competitive more and more on the federal level. As always, however, it’s most important to vote in your local elections as that will impact your life most directly and is an excellent way to perform both your civic duties as a citizen of the country and see how your vote can make a difference in your life.
Moving right along, as I mentioned earlier, more and more immigrants are coming to Georgia, which can be surprising for anyone from outside of the state. For instance, Korean is the third most common language spoken in the entire state aside from English and Spanish. In fact, Atlanta serves kind of as a funnel for diversity from many of the states that surround Georgia, with people from diverse ethnic backgrounds coming here in search of more opportunities, higher-paying corporate jobs, and especially stronger connections to cultural communities. If any of these fit the bill for you, you can rest assured knowing you’re not alone.
Traffic
How can we talk about Atlanta without mentioning our traffic problem? As a major metro area, of course we have traffic, and you might think that a huge 10-lane highway running through the city might be a reason to have less of it, but that just doesn’t seem to be the case. During rush hour, you can expect to add an extra 30 minutes to an hour to your journey, and it especially depends on the direction. In the mornings, traffic is worst going into the city, and in the afternoon, it is worst going out of the city, so plan your daily commute accordingly, definitely if you’re going on the I-285, the perimeter highway surrounding Atlanta. Traffic on the ramps on and off can back up for miles.
But it can’t be that bad if we use public transportation, right? Unfortunately, public transport is also somewhat lacking as of yet, with our light rail system MARTA having too few stops and too little reach to be fully relied upon the way that New York City’s subway can be taken basically anywhere. If you don’t have a car, you might find it very difficult to get around town. Luckily, Atlanta is attempting to improve on this by expanding MARTA’s offerings and jockeying to get more stations open. There was even a recent upgrade to the station at Hartsfield-Jackson airport.
Cost of Living and Moving
Lastly, I’d like to touch on a point that might be very interesting to those now considering their move. It may seem like yet another additional cost on top of so many other costs in moving, but you will have wished you had hired a good moving company for your move instead of trying to do it yourself or skimping out and hiring a cheap, unlicensed team. If you’ve got valuables and nice furniture that can’t survive the beating that you can expect from a budget moving company, definitely consider investing just a little bit more to hire professional movers who will take care of all of the hassle and headache for you. Good options to consider from another state may be companies like Two Men and a Truck, Armstrong Relocation, or even rent a container from PODS and just hire local haulers. If you’re moving within Atlanta, consider local businesses like Mark the Mover, 24/7 Movers, Atlanta Flat Rate Movers, or Magic Movers ATL. My personal favorite is Falcon Moving Atlanta. If at all possible, try to get a quote in person instead of online or over the phone. Every extra bit of effort will be worth it for something like this. Generally, the same goes for whether you’re hiring a home inspector or an electrician. Pay the extra cost for quality service when it comes to furnishing, repairing, or inspecting your new home. You get exactly what you pay for, and you will not regret it.
The cost of living in Georgia is generally taken to be low, but the cost of living in Atlanta can surprisingly be a bit higher than you’d expect, which can be overwhelming if you consider the cost of, well, everything it takes to move and settle in. Let’s start first by saying the cost of living can vary dramatically based on where you are. For example, even somewhere as remote as Dahlonega has the same cost of living as Atlanta, which is only 1% lower than the national average. However, if you find yourself somewhere like Macon or Dalton, Georgia then it can be about 13% lower. Cities like Albany and Statesboro bottom out the list at 23% lower than the national average, which can explain why statistics about Georgia rank it so low, but it may not feel that way if you’re in the Atlanta metro area. Bills can also vary widely based on utility providers, but the main energy provider is the Southern Company’s Georgia Power Company, which averaged around $80 for 500 kwh of usage, which places it firmly in the middle of the road for cost. More local providers may differ in either direction depending on what is available. Phone carriers may even be an issue depending on whether you live in a suburb or in a more rural area, so be sure to double check your coverage before you move somewhere too remote.
So should you rent or buy? Typically when considering this, it’s important to look at the difference in the average monthly bill between renters and homeowners, and Atlanta falls in the middle again when it comes to that calculation, at around an $1400 difference between the two, so the circumstances will change depending on your situation. In other words, if you’re planning on staying for as little as two or three years, it might actually make more financial sense to consider purchasing a home rather than renting an apartment for that time as you’re able to build up equity while enjoying life in the South. If it’s a choice that requires some professional counsel, you can always reach out and ask me any questions that are on your mind. Give me a call, shoot me an email, or even DM me if you want advice from a local. Once again, this is Tim Trevathan with Tim Trevathan Realty, and I hope you find your next home in Atlanta is only filled with pleasant surprises.
