What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

Atlanta

Name three things that you wish you had brought and three you wish you had left at home.

The only thing you can miss in Atlanta (except family and friends) is French food.

You don't need to bring your formal wardrobe; You don't need your bad manners; People here are so nice! You don't need your umbrella neither!

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What advice would you give someone preparing to move to your area about the actual move, choosing a neighborhood and finding a home?

Do not try to find the same thing in Atlanta that you had in France. They don't share the french taste for the old things, and you must pick an house that will be easy to resell if you have to move back.

Rely on a professional to help you to find a house.

I am one of them, I have been living in Atlanta for 6 years, I have a perfect knowledge of the city. You can contact me at sophieguyard@mac.com it will be my pleasure to help you, with housing, and advice about daycare system, school system. Good luck!

What type of housing do you live in? Is this typical for most expats in your area?

I live in an house. Yes, it is typical.

You first live in a condo, which is a furnished rental place, very nice most of the time, while you wait for you stuff to cross the ocean.

Then, you can, if you have a good credit history, borrow money to buy an house. It happens most of the time after 6 month.

What is less usual is to rent an house, because they are few houses for rent on the market, and because real estate agent drive you to buy a house. But more houses are available, with the subprime crisis, owner cannot let their house empty until it sells.

How did you choose your neighborhood and find your home or apartment?

I moved 5 times in 5 years because I could not understand how it works here.

You have everything to learn if you are coming from an europeen country; It is a completely different life style.

That is why I established myself as a real estate agent, to be helpful to the others, and avoid them to spend hours in traffic jam.

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Are your housing costs higher or lower than they were in your home country? What is the average cost of housing there?

I would say lower. It is very interesting now with the current rate between euro and dollars.