West Paces Ferry / Northside

For anyone that wants to have the amenities of leaving near Atlanta, but doesn't want to be overly close to the city, West Paces Ferry is an exceptional option. This location as some of the highest property value in the area, not to mention it is possible to travel to downtown Atlanta with regular ease. You just take Interstate 75/ Georgia 41 south until you arrive to Atlanta.

The value of a house in West Paces Ferry is just under $840,000, which is compared to downtown Atlanta properties which is just over $350,000. Despite the cost this area is one of the most highly sought after neighborhoods.

There is a large amount of options available to you in terms of parks and recreation in the area, as not only are most properties located on larger lots, but several parks allow for exceptional outdoor access for the residents. It also has some of the best schools in the Atlanta area (generally, many of the best Atlanta based schools are found to the north of the city).

The shopping is not overwhelming, and although there are a few options, it is best to head towards the city, as this is more focused on housing than actual shopping and entertainment. Thankfully, this is all available within a short drive.

You know the expression “born with a silver spoon in her mouth?” Well, in West Paces Ferry, these kids are sucking on the whole antique Tiffany service - right down to the monogrammed cake saw.

In fact, this review – while admittedly fun to write – is probably going to be pretty useless. I guarantee you, dear reader, if you are shopping for a new neighborhood on Street Advisor, you will not be living in West Paces. That would be like walking into IKEA and seeing yachts for sale. You might stare open-mouthed at the yachts, pondering how these gilded anomalies could exist within 10 leagues of an IKEA; you might compose “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” voice-over clips (or “The Fabulous Life of…” for you whippersnappers) of what your life would be like if you indeed owned a yacht; you might even convince yourself that you have what it takes to captain “Liquid Assets,” “Monument II XS,” or whatever other ego-stroking moniker is plastered across her stern. But the simple truth is – you don’t walk into IKEA with two million dollars burning a hole in your Levi’s.

Trade “yacht” for “house” and you have West Paces Ferry. Okay, so the median home price for the whole West Paces/Northside area is more like $620,000, but still, you get the idea. Five blocks from your comparatively measly half-a-mil pad will be a seven-bedroom behemoth lined with Egyptian marble, with an in-home theater modeled after the Fabulous Fox (look it up if you’re not from Atlanta), and its own hair salon, clocking in at $10,000,000 neat. No kidding – that thing actually exists.

For most of us, the closest we will ever come to living in West Paces Ferry involves driving through it in our ’90-something Hondas, drooling out the windows like overheated Labradors and then heading back to our 600-square-foot apartments to stuff ourselves with microwave popcorn and watch reruns of Seinfeld. But, for all you big dreamers, sleeper millionaires, hedge-fund hunters, and live-in nannies out there, here are even more Paces perks to whet your arriviste appetite and render this review almost entirely irrelevant: Platinum-level dining, shopping and partying is only a limo ride away; The Buckhead Village can satisfy all your designer-label and haute cuisine desires; or you can pay someone else to satisfy them for you using any of a number of local personal shopping and concierge services - including an actual business called “The Silver Spoon & Co.” in nearby Vinings. Bunny and Rex, Jr. can matriculate at one of a half-dozen heavily lauded private schools, where you can rest assured they won’t encounter any riff-raff on their way to Princeton/trophy wifedom. And finally, you’ll have the privilege of sharing a mailman with whichever Republican is currently running Georgia (the Governor’s Mansion is located at 391 West Paces Ferry). Champagne wishes and caviar dreams, y'all. And cheers!