Questions To Ask When Buying An Atlanta Home

It’s spring 2023 and judging from the heavy traffic at open houses, Intown Atlanta home buyers are out in force.

If you are one of them or know someone who is looking to buy, this list of the best questions to ask when buying an Atlanta home is a great place to start.

Asking yourself these questions will save you a ton of time and help you find the best place to call home.

1. How much can I comfortably afford?

It sounds so basic but this really is the best first question to carefully consider. Especially before investing your time going to look at homes that may be well above or below your ideal price point.

By the way, I don’t advocate using your maximum approved loan amount as your budget. That’s a recipe for stress!

“It’s about what you can comfortably afford now and in the years to come, not about maxing out the loan amount.”

For a look at how much you can afford, first start with our super easy mortgage calculator.

Then, get pre-approved by your mortgage professional. Don’t have one yet? Just ask.

Next, balance what you can afford with your answers regarding neighborhood, space and amenities. This can be challenging but a knowledgeable local agent can really help. Ask where you can find the best value for the home price you can afford.

Explain your space needs, any school requirements, amenity needs and desired lifestyle. Location is of course critical. A good local agent can often find a balanced solution that’s not immediately apparent.

That said, this isn’t an easy task. Often it involves making carefully considered trade-offs.

2. What’s the best Atlanta neighborhood for me?

People often think this is the first question to ask when buying an Atlanta home. I suggest answering this one after you know your budget.

“Begin by considering where you work, how you feel about commuting and, for families with school age kids, school quality.”

The answers here will quickly inform your decision regarding neighborhoods.

Maybe you want to live in a renovated vintage 1920’s bungalow with boutique shops and excellent restaurants a short stroll from your front porch. Walkability is one of the key benefits of Intown Atlanta living. To learn more, read about the best walkable Atlanta neighborhoods.

Some of my favorite centrally located walkable neighborhoods with great schools are Virginia-Highland, Morningside, Midtown and O4W.

Rest assured, there is an Intown Atlanta neighborhood that meets all your requirements. Need help to narrow it down? Contact us.

Resource: Search all the latest listings by Intown Atlanta neighborhood

3. What are my space, school, amenity and shopping requirements?

In addition to price and location, Atlanta home buyers need to consider a number of other factors.

In this third area we actually have a bunch of important questions to ask when buying an Atlanta home.

Perhaps you’re concerned primarily about enough space and good schools for your family. Or neighborhood/ building amenities and assessments. Or proximity and ease of shopping and nightlife. Below we briefly address each subject.

Space

What are your space requirements? Of course, nobody can predict the future when buying a home or condo.

Therefore, it’s a good idea to buy just a little extra space to grow into so you don’t feel forced to sell and move after a few short years. That may mean bypassing the shiny new place for one that’s not as new but a tad larger and more practical.

On the flip side, just because you may be able to afford a 6 bed / 5 bath new home doesn’t mean you really need or want it. Take time to consider your lifestyle. Ask yourself how you really like to live. Are you interested in furnishing and maintaining such a huge home? Plus, the carrying costs including taxes and utilities should be examined.

Schools

Intown Atlanta offers a wide array of school choice. From charter schools to private schools like Woodward Academy to traditional public schools, you can find an option that fits your family needs. If your a family with school age children, use the Atlanta school locator map to see what schools serve the exact homes you’re considering.

Amenities

Home buyers, think about the amenities you want in your neighborhood. How close are they? Can you walk or do will you always have to drive to dinner and shopping?

Condo buyers, buildings with a lot of amenities like door staff a nice gym and pool also have high monthly assessments that need to be in the budget. If you don’t need a gym or concierge then why pay for them? Go for a low amenity low monthly assessment condo. If you get a lot of packages delivered or feel you want better security then door staff / concierge are valuable for you.

Shopping

Speaking of shopping, with the ever increasing Atlanta traffic, proximity of shopping for daily needs is more important than ever. Most Intown Atlanta neighborhoods have numerous convenient shopping areas with grocery stores like Publix, Kroger, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s all nearby.

“Intown Atlanta neighborhoods offer the advantage of excellent walkability and proximity to everything that makes Atlanta wonderful.”

One main reason why moving to Atlanta is more popular than ever, especially Intown Atlanta is found time!

As to what to do with your new found time read the top 10 reasons to love intown Atlanta living.

Ready to shop for a home or condo? Start your search with our Atlanta home search.

When you look at each listing, you’ll find useful things like a walk score for each property plus information about the school district.

These tools make it easier to determine which neighborhood and property has what you seek. Plus, with our social search feature you can invite your friends and family to join in your search.