Atlanta really isnt that nice...move to the midwest!! (native Atlantian speaking)

Do you want a lively discussion about the pros and cons about living in Atlanta? Well, you're not going to get it from reading what REALTORS® selling homes in Atlanta have to say. We all have too much of a vested interest. I got the title for this post from the title of a forum thread at City-Data.com. I stumbled upon this site recently and have really enjoyed the discussions that I find there. They also have just about any statistic about a zip code area that you could possibly imagine.

They have a forum for many areas around the country. People put out a question and many locals chime in with their opinions. It's kind of what I imagine what Zillow had in mind with their question and answer feature. I don't see discussions about particular homes but there are discussions about specific areas and neighborhoods.

As a real estate agent, there are a lot of topics that I have to avoid discussing. People thinking about moving to Atlanta want to know about crime and schools and race and traffic. They want to know the good, the bad and the ugly. As a REALTOR®, I have to be very careful talking openly and honestly about topics such as school districts, crime and race. I can't bad mouth an area or try to promote one area over another. There's a thing called steering and The Fair Housing Act.

Many people ask me whether or not an area is safe. How good are the schools? How many blacks or whites or Jews or gays live in a particualr area? I can't make those judgements for you. I have to stay away from most of that. But it's what people want to know.

The City-Data site is an open forum where you can ask your questions and get honest answers from the people living in the area. They don't have to hold back on their opinions. At first I thought that it would be populated by a bunch of nuts and wackos. After scanning through some of the posts, I really have to say that the opinions that most people put out are right on the money.

Go to http://www.city-data.com/forum/atlanta/

Below are some of the threads I read there. Of course, there is always a difference of opinion. But when you put it all together, you'll come up with a pretty good feel about what the real deal is.

I find it really refreshing and uplifting that people can discuss just about anything about an area and stay pretty civil with one another. Religion, race, gays, lesbians, and crime are talked about without anyone getting nasty. It is what it is. You can't sweep this stuff under the rug and make believe it doesn't matter to people.

As a real estate agent, it gives me a window into the thoughts and concerns of people who are moving to my area.

how do white people treat bi-racial couples in cumming georgia and surrounding areas there

New Yorkers/New Jersians(sp?) are you happy there?

So what's bad about Mableton?

Stone Mountain.. is it Safe? PLEASE someone tell me

Need open, honest opinions about possible move to Atlanta

How dangerous is the Five Points area?