Top 5 Pros and Cons to Living in Buford, Georgia
Hello! This is Tim Trevethan with Tim Trevethan Homes and Keller Williams Realty. In this video, I am going to share with you 5 pros and cons of living in Buford, Georgia. Located at the northern edge of Gwinnett County, Buford provides a hometown feel in the midst of the metro Atlanta sprawl.
Pro 1: Buford City Schools. We must start our Buford pro and con list with the schools. It is hard to beat Buford City Schools. Schooldigger.com has ranked Buford City Schools one of the top 3 districts in the entire state of Georgia for the past 5 consecutive years. A public school system with a private school feel, the school system is a huge draw for families. With around 1700 students, Buford High School is about half the size of most other high schools in the area and has facilities that rival private schools and even many universities.
Top notch facilities, high test scores, championship winning athletic programs, an involved community, whatever it is that comes to mind when you think of great schools: the Buford City School system has it.
It is important to note that Buford City School system only serves families located inside the city limits. If you find yourself considering a home with a Buford address but outside the city limits, know that the Gwinnett County public school system is still a huge pro for living in the Buford area. A tiny sliver of Buford is in Hall County, and that is also a great school system.
Most of the Gwinnett County schools serving Buford addresses are highly regarded. Don’t just take my word for it: after this video, head over to schooldigger.com and check out the schools that serve any homes that have captured your interest.
Con 1: Availability. Even before the current inventory crunch, it has never been exactly easy to find a home inside the Buford, Georgia city limits. Because of the great schools, many families stay in Buford for years. While this is great for creating a thriving community, it makes it a bit harder to find a home in Buford than it is in other nearby Metro Atlanta suburbs.
If you need a home quickly, you may want to look both in Buford and in nearby communities.
Pro 2: Easy Shopping. Whether you need groceries, home goods, furniture, clothing, or sports equipment, chances are very good that you will be able to buy it in Buford, Georgia, home to the largest mall in the state, the Mall of Georgia. Unlike many indoor malls, the Mall of Georgia is buzzing with activity and is home to over 200 stores, several restaurants, and even an iMax theater.
Surrounding the mall, there are even more retail options: most notably Costco, Sam’s Club, Target, and a very popular trampoline park. No matter what you are looking for, chances are it is either inside the mall or near the mall.
Con 2: Home Prices. This con to Buford, Georgia living goes hand in hand with the low availability in the area. When the supply is low and the demand is high, the result is higher home prices. If you want to be inside the Buford City limits, you will pay a premium for your home.
While a little bit less expensive, the surrounding greater Buford area still isn’t cheap. In January of 2022, the median home price in Buford was $450,000 per realtor.com. But, don’t be discouraged if you have a smaller budget. More affordable homes are out there, it just takes a good dose of patience to find them.
Pro 3: Lake Lanier. Living so close to the lake is a huge perk of living in Buford, Georgia. Fed by the Appalachian Mountains, Lake Lanier is the largest lake in Georgia. There are 45 parks and 10 campgrounds on the lake, including Lanier Park Beach and Shoal Creek Campground, both of which are in Buford.
There are public boat ramps where you can put your own boat into the water, or you can rent a boat from the Holiday Marina.
If boating, jet skis, or fishing aren’t your idea of a good time, then check out Margaritaville at Lanier Islands. During the winter, this family attraction turns into a winter wonderland including a dazzling light display, ice skating and snow tubing. In the summer, cool off at the water park. Hungry? Head over to the lakefront restaurant.
For a luxurious weekend getaway, drive no further than the Lake Lanier Island Resort. Stay in a suite in the Legacy Lodge or rent your own private cottage; bring the kids or take a parent vacation…the resort offers something for everyone! When you live in Buford, vacation is only moments away.
Con 3: Traffic. One downside to living in Buford, Georgia is traffic. It is, after all, part of Metro Atlanta. Traffic around the Mall of Georgia area in particular can be heavy, very heavy, at times. If you live in Buford and work in downtown Atlanta, you may want to arrange your schedule so that you are heading into work either early or late in order to avoid the worst of the rush hour traffic. Don’t forget that in the Atlanta area, the prime rush hour can last a good 2-3 hours.
Local traffic can still be heavy. But the good news is that once you are off the interstate and away from the mall area, traffic dies down considerably.
Pro 4: Buford Strong. People who live in Buford generally LOVE Buford. If you want to live somewhere where the people are all in and love where they live, then Buford is where you belong. Buford residents take immense pride in their school district and in the successes of Buford High School’s athletic teams. Buford residents with young children sing the praises of the recreation department’s youth sports program. Business owners enjoy the support of a very active Buford Business Alliance. In short, Buford residents don’t just live in Buford. Many of them genuinely love Buford and are very proud to call it home.
Con 4. Small yards. While there are some exceptions, in general, if having very large yard is important to you, Buford, Georgia may not be the right fit for you. There are many luxury townhomes in Buford and plenty of quaint homes on very small lots. There are also a lot of larger homes on smallish lots. The one thing that Buford does not have a lot of is homes on large, 2+ acre lots. If you are looking for 2 or more acres and want to live in the Buford area, you will need to be very patient and also be prepared to pay a lot of money for your new home; homes on lots of this size often sell for more than $600,000.
Con 5: Crime. No city or town is exempt from Crime. While Buford does have a very low violent crime rate, it has a property crime rate of 19.4 per 1000 people, which ranks higher than most surrounding communities. Most property crime in Buford is theft, and most thefts occur in downtown Buford and the areas just south and southeast. When looking at overall crime rates, Buford scores an A- and is ranked in the 81st percentile, meaning it is safer than over 80% of American cities.
Pro 5: Hometown Feel. A huge pro of living in Buford, Georgia is the hometown feel. Downtown Buford evokes feelings of a small town and makes it easy to forget that you live in a large metro area. From date nights to family dinners, you will find that perfect restaurant that makes you want to return over and over. You will also find boutiques, salons, and a variety of other businesses in downtown Buford. If you are an entrepreneur or independent contractor and need a coworking space, check out the Toast and Jam Community. Located downtown, this is an amazing perk of living in Buford for those who need a place to work outside of their home while not traveling far from home to get there.
Summary: If you are looking for fantastic schools, easy access to shopping, love hanging out on the lake, and want a hometown feel then Buford, Georgia may be the perfect fit for you. Yes, homes can be pricey and hard to find, but Buford has long been an attractive area for a reason. Those who move here love it and don’t want to leave.
Call me if you need help with your Atlanta real estate buying/selling! Let’s setup a game plan to fulfill your real estate goals! Tim Trevathan: 770-906-0748 | [email protected]
