Sorry for my error. I guess I was thinking more about the North Druid Hils ROAD area up into Clairmont toward Northlake Mall. I am not a real estate expert so I defer to those who know more about it than I do. My apologies.

It's amazing how fast property values in that area of N Druid Hills/ Clairmont/ into Northlake has risen in just the last few months. Two years ago a friend's small ranch appraised in the mid 200's and the now houses across the street are selling for mid-300's. Last year, there was a tear-down on the corner of Clairmont and the subdivision entrance and the construction of the new home is priced in the 400's. Another friend just bought one of the McMansions on zero lot clearance in the 400's.

While Druid Hills "proper" remains expensive, other real estate is catching up. $600K is not unusual in Decatur.

Starrsville, you're right about that. I knew it was going up but I didn't realize just how much! My fault for not paying more attention. That's why we're renting for a year when we move back next month to do plenty of looking around. We may have to buy a condo instead of a house just to get something decent on the edge of the Perimeter.

Starsville..are you the moderator?

fyi...vmcenroe did not totally rule out areas outside of 285. Besides (while I did not go into details, what I have meet some of vmcenroe needs.

Thank you for your concern.....

Nope, but the editors must agree because they've already pulled your previous post advertising your house for sale.

So be it..for the editors...

Druid Hills neighborhood is, indeed, outside of the original poster's price range, but the adjacent neighborhood of Fernbank is not. Fernbank's an established neighborhood of houses built in the 1940's through 1960's (with some recent in-fill) with lots of families precisely because of its proximity to a particularly well-known school, Fernbank Elementary (as well as the adjacent Fernbank Science Center, a resource for students all through Dekalb County as well the public), Fernbank Forest (an old growth preserve), and Fernbank Natural History Museum (on the other side of Fernbank Forest, so technically in Druid Hills).

Easy access to downtown and midtown via Ponce de Leon or Freedom Parkway.

An aside re the original poster's request for "some trees for privacy": in the context of established neighborhoods here it Atlanta is on the funny side, as there are so many trees that if anything you're likely to feel a bit claustrophobic. We literally live in the middle of an enormous, hilly forest.

My husband and I are considering relocating from Honolulu to Atlanta in the next few months. We are planning to rent for the first year and then hopefully buy. We are hoping to find a home in the 200's- to low 300's price range in a safe neighborhood outside of the city. We don't have children so schools are not an issue. Any suggestions. I'm very curious about Marietta and Douglasville.

You'll have no problem finding a home in that price range in those areas.

I almost hesitate to weigh in on these discussions. We've lived in PTC for 10 years now and wished everyone wouldn't tell others about it so the growth would slow down! We chose PTC because we were tired of living in the city with traffic, taxes, crime, etc. and wanted a quieter place with more green space, high quality schools, and friendly neighbors. We didn't care that there was little retail, few restaurants, not many cultural activities. The area has been "discovered" and our traffic is getting worse, more petty crime, more retail, higher prices, but schools remain top notch, neighbors are great, and I just got in from my daily 3-5 mile walk through the woods and along the golf course directly from my home.

Commuting to downtown Atlanta takes around 45 minutes. To avoid rush hour one must leave before 7am or after 8:30am. Afternoon is not as big a problem to the South. There is a crunch in downtown surface streets starting around 3pm (government employees?), then building between 4-6pm, but the traffic is usually moving south of downtown until the PTC exit backup. (Accidents and heavy rain change everything of course) An alternative is to drive to the College Park MARTA station and ride the train from there to downtown. The time at which the free parking there is full seems to vary--anywhere from 7:00 to 8:30am. The combination of driving and riding only reduces commute time at the peak hours or when accidents block the route. There is alot of development in progress in South Fulton County at I-85 that is pouring traffic into the interchange at rush hour, but the local politicians are lobbying for a new entrance to the Interstate for the development, though that could take a while.

Your price range would buy a house in the second most expensive neighborhoods in town. Many houses are in the $200-300 range with large lots compared to intown.

As others have said, the Atlanta metropolitan area is huge and there are a wide variety of neighborhoods that can provide a family neighborhood with good schools with 2500 sf houses with a yard with trees. They are scattered and not all in one sector of the metro area.

Thank you all for the feedback! It's encouraging to hear that we will be able to find something in our price range and in a safe, nice neighborhood. Here in Honolulu median home prices are around $600K and the homes are not impressive. I am originally from Louisiana and I miss the south. I am fond of Atlanta and hope to be there soon!

Aloha!

Cathyann, you should have no problem finding a home in that price range if you want to live OTP (outside the Perimieter, 1-285).

Kay2 has give you a lot of good information. I grew up in Fayetteville, next to Peachtree City, and all she says is true. It's getting busier over there but it is still a very nice place. The only thing that I'd add is that it is very family oriented. Since you don't have children, that may or may not be a good thing for you.

Marietta is in North Cobb and has a lot to offer, especially the town square. East Cobb is especially nice.
Douglasville, on the west side, is growing by leaps and bounds. There's a lot of building going on in that area.

My husband and I are house shopping ourselves (living in apartment now) and hope to move just outside of Decatur ourselves in DeKalb County. You might want to look into that area as well. It has a nice little downtown with shops and plenty of good restaurants. Good access to midtown Atlanta, too.