Five Metro Atlanta Neighborhoods Poised for Growth

Everyone wishes that they could have found that gem of a buy in a good neighborhood... before it became a great neighborhood. Are there any left in the Metro Atlanta area? They are slimmer these days after massive post-Covid annual appreciation, but there are still some out there. Here are my top five!

Wakefield Forest in City of Atlanta on the east side of the Metro - inside 285, but JUST outside of the Brookhaven city limits. A stone's throw from one of Atlanta's most popular and fastest appreciating neighborhoods, Ashford Park, Wakefield Forest (and the few surrounding neighborhoods) could be the next frontier to growth. There is new build activity, renovation activity, and standard resale activity with get-in prices in the low 400's for a 3/2. With builders paying 550-600k for dirt less than a mile away, favorable DeKalb taxes, and zoned for a new elementary school built less than 5 years ago, this area feels safely poised for growth and appreciation. You'd have a quick trip to both Dresden Village and Buford Highway Farmer's Market.

Forest Hills in Smyrna. Similarly to Wakefield, Forest Hills has 3/2 get-in pricing in the $450-500k range, but also has new build activity exceeding $1.25M. Well insulated neighborhood that's very close to dining and entertainment at Smyrna Market Village and as an added bonus they bring out the food trucks on Tuesday evenings for neighbors to socialize. Whether you're looking to build, renovate, or an affordable starter home commutable to Buckhead or Midtown (via Atlanta Road), you could do a lot worse than Forest Hills. Oh, and you're only 10 minutes from the Battery to catch a Braves game.

Windflower in Roswell. Walkable to Downtown Roswell and Canton Street for under $550k? Do I need to continue? Smaller & older home inventory in this neighborhood lets you get the proximity you want to Canton St. while spending hundreds of thousands less than every other neighborhood around you. Only downside is that there aren't too many homes in the neighborhood and very little turnover with the last one selling back in Summer 2022.

Chattahoochee Station in Peachtree Corners. Need 4BR on a budget? Still commutable to Buckhead (20-25min)? You can get a traditional 4-sided brick with a little more room and a large lot, with excellent schools - zoned for highly rated Simpson Elementary as well as one of the most highly rated high schools in the entire state (Paul Duke STEM). Pricing here is going to be $600-650k, but you get a lot of house for your money and you're juuust outside the Perimeter. Most importantly, Peachtree Corners is going through with large scale redevelopment of their city center, so you may want to act quick to enjoy the appreciation. Even as it stands, the Town Green is pretty great already.

Briarcliff Heights in City of Atlanta on the east side. This neighborhood is the perfect marriage between Brookhaven and Decatur; Buckhead and Virginia-Highlands. You get excellent schools in Sagamore Hills and Lakeside HS, and you can either "get into the neighborhood" for $550-600k, or if you win the Powerball you can buy a new build for $1.3M. This one is a gem being set up for market appreciation and in a fantastic location. Also, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta just built a massive state of the art new complex a mile away.