Savannah, GA - anyone?

[heitzke]

Current situation: I live in Nashville, have been here since '13 and work full-time remotely for a bay-area tech company in the design field.

I own (or the bank does, really) my home and it's gained about 30% (a few hundred-thousand) in potential equity over the last couple years and the house is legit just too big for me. I live with my partner in a 4ba/3br that I bought with my ex-wife a few years back when we had two kids too.

Thinking about downsizing, using some of the potential equity to buy a smaller home and make a move - maybe to Savannah. I was curious if anyone else had spent more time there than I had and could make some recommends?

Looking for a smaller, slower city, closer to the water, has diversity and a reasonable/lower cost of living. I live quite quite comfortably here in Nashville but I could live *better* in a smaller area.

[BMWGUYinCO]

Oh man....I would avoid Savannah to live there.

My parents, as well as my sister and her husband lived there for many years. Both moved away years ago because of growing crime and daily murders - some in broad daylight and right downtown.

Savannah is an odd city. On one side of the street, you see beautiful stately homes...on the other - a ghetto. It has a lot of rich history so it's great for visiting, but that's where my family drew the line. Despite loving the city as they remembered it from years and years ago, it was not worth it to remain today.

[Tommy-G]

I loved it for a weekend but I could see what BMWGUYinCO is saying

[Oldgixxer]

We're about 15mins away from Savannah just over the SC border...we frequent River St at least 2x a month which is on the waterfront. Very nice area,but I still carry my Sig w me whenever we go. Other than that,all I see on the local news is a lot of criminal activity,daily shootings and at least 1 murder per week. I guess it depends on what area you're looking at.

FWIW,we've only lived in the SC/GA border region for 14mos so I'm just commenting on what I've heard/seen from the locals so far. I may not be giving the City a fair shake so take it w a grain of salt.

[heitzke]

That's all really good to know and appreciate the thoughts. I haven't spent much time there and it seemed cool, kinda quirky but can also see what you're saying. I'm in a pretty similar neighborhood here in Nashville, where we're probably not *daily* murders that you hear about but I'm at a 2-3x a month gun shots in the middle of the night kind of area.

I dig my current house and would hate to make a rash move and end up somewhere that's not sustainable. I'll have to go spend some more time down that way.

[e90335e36m3]

I have a 4BR 3BA home in Charlotte and no kids. Only purchased it with one thing in mind, resale. Whenever it does happen, I have a home in a nice suburban community in an excellent school district, and at the time of purchase it was the smallest/cheapest plan in the development (still 2700 sq ft). I just don't use the extra rooms. Guaranteed that this house will not only appreciate more, but will be attractive to more buyers than a smaller home, since most people have families...didn't really answer your question.

[DETRoadster]

Since you are working remote, why not grab an Air BnB in Savannah and just "live" down there for a month? Try before you buy, so to speak.

[BMWGUYinCO]

Just to get you started:

https://www.wjcl.com/article/numbers...anta/37827987#

https://crimegrade.org/safest-places-in-savannah-ga/

https://thecurrentga.org/2021/07/08/...-savannahians/

https://www.wtoc.com/2021/05/20/sava...ture-violence/

But this aligns to the realities and experiences of my family....perhaps a current resident can chime in to alter another view...?

[Topcarbon]

I had a couple of homes in savannah-one in ardsley park and the other on victory drive.
Had a great experience living there for a short time.
I loved the charm of the city and in eccentricity.
Its not for everyone and they tend to look at outsiders as just that.

[vreihen16]

I spent two nights in Savannah back before COVID. Didn't seem like there was a lot to do...and I live in the woods at home.

Never been there, but would suggest looking a few miles north at Charleston, SC as a possible alternative.

Interesting Savannah fact - There's two marked graves in the middle of a runway at the Savannah airport.....

[JP10]

I have a blast every time I go to Savannah. While I get the crime concern, you guys must be a little sheltered if you think it is as bad as other places. Philly makes it look like a children's playground. Agree with recommendation to try an AirBNB for a period of time.

Prefer where I live in Charleston as Savannah gets small quick.

[Oldgixxer]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

I spent two nights in Savannah back before COVID. Didn't seem like there was a lot to do...and I live in the woods at home.

Never been there, but would suggest looking a few miles north at Charleston, SC as a possible alternative.

Interesting Savannah fact - There's two marked graves in the middle of a runway at the Savannah airport.....

I never knew that and I've flown in/out from there a half dozen times so far...will be on the lookout next time!

[Oldgixxer]

Originally Posted by JP10

I have a blast every time I go to Savannah. While I get the crime concern, you guys must be a little sheltered if you think it is as bad as other places. Philly makes it look like a children's playground. Agree with recommendation to try an AirBNB for a period of time.

Prefer where I live in Charleston as Savannah gets small quick.

Lol,I grew up and raised a family right outside of NYC...also spent the last 3 decades working in the Bronx,Brooklyn and downtown Jersey City as well some very other shady areas of Jersey(Newark,Paterson) as a Union Plumber..I've seen all sorts of shit so I'm pretty jaded when it comes to criminal activity,I definitely agree Savannah isn't that badcompared to what I'm used to.
I still feel safer w my CCW since I'm recently handicapped and can't really defend myself or my family if needed and there are a lot of shady/mentally unstable homeless locals walking around were we frequent.

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by Oldgixxer

I never knew that and I've flown in/out from there a half dozen times so far...will be on the lookout next time!

Here's the graves story, straight from the airport's own web site.....

https://savannahairport.com/business/about/graves/

[ryan stewart]

It's more of a tourist city but you could definitely live in one of the towns near Savannah affordably and still get the coastal lifestyle. Inland like Pooler you can get a damn mansion. Or maybe something more affordable in Brunswick or St Simons.

If you do want to stay in the city though there is a lot of change happening right now. The slashed couple years even though it was a little slow cuz of covid I'm seeing a lot of development around the college, scad.

[Tommy-G]

Originally Posted by Oldgixxer

Lol,I grew up and raised a family right outside of NYC...also spent the last 3 decades working in the Bronx,Brooklyn and downtown Jersey City as well some very other shady areas of Jersey(Newark,Paterson) as a Union Plumber..I've seen all sorts of shit so I'm pretty jaded when it comes to criminal activity,I definitely agree Savannah isn't that badcompared to what I'm used to.
I still feel safer w my CCW since I'm recently handicapped and can't really defend myself or my family if needed and there are a lot of shady/mentally unstable homeless locals walking around were we frequent.

I went to a wedding passing through Patterson. We all worked at a BMW dealer at the time and all you could see were whites of eyes in windows and not one of us stopping at traffic lights. We were fairly young but it looked like the presidents motorcade with cars following close and never breaking formation.
Then we got to wedding hall and it was FABULOUS!

[Oldgixxer]

Originally Posted by Tommy-G

I went to a wedding passing through Patterson. We all worked at a BMW dealer at the time and all you could see were whites of eyes in windows and not one of us stopping at traffic lights. We were fairly young but it looked like the presidents motorcade with cars following close and never breaking formation.
Then we got to wedding hall and it was FABULOUS!

Only time my truck got robbed,it was on a jobsite in downtown Paterson on MLK Blvd.
Long story short,the crackhead who stole my tools asked if I wanted to buy them back when I went outside to the coffee truck at break,I said yeah sure hold on let me go grab my money inside the building. Called the cops when I went to go "get my money inside the building" and got my tools back for free 4 minutes later courtesy of the Paterson PD

[Tommy-G]

Originally Posted by Oldgixxer

Only time my truck got robbed,it was on a jobsite in downtown Paterson on MLK Blvd.
Long story short,the crackhead who stole my tools asked if I wanted to buy them back when I went outside to the coffee truck at break,I said yeah sure hold on let me go grab my money inside the building. Called the cops when I went to go "get my money inside the building" and got my tools back for free 4 minutes later courtesy of the Paterson PD

Genius!!!!

[No one]

Originally Posted by Tommy-G

Genius!!!!

Exactly! I thought he was going inside just for another tool of his, a heavy one. Interesting though, how the tools "of the matter" were identified as belonging to the legit owner once they had changed hands.

[Oldgixxer]

Originally Posted by No one

Exactly! I thought he was going inside just for another tool of his, a heavy one. Interesting though, how the tools "of the matter" were identified as belonging to the legit owner once they had changed hands.

Yeah,there was no way Mr Crack was fooling anyone into thinking he was a pipe welder,even though he was strutting around w my $400 auto-tint mask and my leather welding jacket&gloves holding my Smith burning torch..wearing mismatched sneakers and ripped up tattered shorts at the time the cops rolled up lmfao. Was before cell phones had cameras but damn,that would of been a hell of a picture

heitzke sorry for derailing your thread. Back on topic!!

[tcphoto]

Considering that you live in Nashville, the crime in Savannah would probably be much less than your current neighborhood. I have spent a little time in Savannah and enjoyed it but like any place, it's where you live, hangout and precautions taken.

I've lived in downtown Chicago, Atlanta and Nashville so I've seen both good and bad, if you like Savannah then do your best to protect yourself. After living in Nashville in the early 80's then in the early 90's and then during the pandemic, it can be quite dangerous unless you live in Brentwood or other nice suburb. If the trend continues, I will leave for the last time.

[heitzke]

Originally Posted by tcphoto

Considering that you live in Nashville, the crime in Savannah would probably be much less than your current neighborhood. I have spent a little time in Savannah and enjoyed it but like any place, it's where you live, hangout and precautions taken.

I've lived in downtown Chicago, Atlanta and Nashville so I've seen both good and bad, if you like Savannah then do your best to protect yourself. After living in Nashville in the early 80's then in the early 90's and then during the pandemic, it can be quite dangerous unless you live in Brentwood or other nice suburb. If the trend continues, I will leave for the last time.

Yeah i'm in East Nashville too, been over here since '14 so it's pretty common around my area. I'm definitely in a 'gun shots at night' 3-4x a month kind of spot, and it's just business as usual. I personally haven't had any problems but know people that have for sure.

Originally Posted by Oldgixxer

Yeah,there was no way Mr Crack was fooling anyone into thinking he was a pipe welder,even though he was strutting around w my $400 auto-tint mask and my leather welding jacket&gloves holding my Smith burning torch..wearing mismatched sneakers and ripped up tattered shorts at the time the cops rolled up lmfao. Was before cell phones had cameras but damn,that would of been a hell of a picture

heitzke sorry for derailing your thread. Back on topic!!

Haha no worries at all, love a good story.