If you're a potential home buyer with a half-million-dollar budget, your money will go far in some of Atlanta's most popular neighborhoods.
Whether you're looking for a condo in the heart of the city, a traditional home near a charming downtown or a smaller bungalow in an area described as "Mayberry meets Berkeley," you'll find it in the metro Atlanta area. In many other major cities, you may not get as much for your money, but homes in Atlanta can often be a relative bargain in comparison.
The following are some examples of what a $500,000 home looks like in your Atlanta neighborhood:
Roswell
The median home value in Roswell is $363,900, according to Zillow, so $500,000 is above average for the area. One of the city's popular draws is its unique downtown setting, with charming historic structures that house restaurants, live music, galleries and shops.
For $499,000, you can buy a traditional home in Roswell that's 3,692 square feet in size with four bedrooms and five bathrooms. The home has a large eat-in kitchen, a sun room and a large family room with vaulted ceilings. Extras include a finished basement with a pool table, bar and screened-in porch, a backyard with a firepit and a side yard with a putting green.
Midtown
For less than $500,000, you can enjoy high-rise condo living in the heart of Atlanta. An Aqua condo listed at $441,900 has great views of the city from a large balcony as well as from several rooms. The condo has extra storage and closets, hardwood floors and granite countertops.
You'll have two parking spaces and be a block away from MARTA but also within walking distance from Piedmont Park, a Publix that's just a half-block away or many restaurants.
Smyrna
The estimated median home value in Smyrna is $227,900, according to Zillow, so if you're spending $500,000, you're at nearly twice the median. You'll have the Braves' new home, SunTrust Park, nearby, as well as the shops and restaurants in The Battery. In addition, Smyrna was named the fourth-best suburb in the state for millennials by Niche.
If you're house-hunting, $495,547 can buy a new Craftsman-style home that has three bedrooms and three bathrooms. It's 3,146 square feet in size and is located in a subdivision with plenty of amenities, including a pond, fitness center, walking trails and a Jr. Olympic salt water pool.
Decatur
With a $500,000 budget, you'll be just a little over the neighborhood's median home price of $448,500, according to Zillow. One Decatur home is listed for $499,900, which buys a new Craftsman-style bungalow that's 2,300 square feet in size. It has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half bathrooms, a mudroom entry with seating and two covered porches.
Decatur has been referred to as "Mayberry meets Berkeley" by the New York Times and was ranked No. 36 in Livability's list of Best Small Towns.
Duluth
You can get a lot for your money in Duluth, with a stately 5,191 square foot Georgian home for sale for $499,900. It has four bedrooms and four bathrooms as well as a finished basement, landscaped yard, screened-in porch and a koi pond. The home is located adjacent to woods, and at a price of $96 per square foot, you'll get a lot of home for the money.
The neighborhood is close to I-85 as well as Lake Lanier.
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