This neighborhood has grocery stores and restaurants and a nice feel to it.  Home prices start at roughly $69,000 for small, 3 bedroom, 2 bath cottages built in the 1940s.   $124,000 will fetch a brick, 2 bedroom, 2 bath home with a great room and a deck, and $189,000 will buy a brick ranch with lovely landscaping, 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, wood floors and a carport.    These are in generally good shape, but some may need fresh paint or interior updating.

We also found several town homes in Five Points.  Those with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and 1,250 square feet were selling for $89,000, and some one bedroom units were priced at $77,000.

Other neighborhoods to consider are East Athens, West Athens and Hampton Park where older, cozy 2 and 3 bedroom homes with 1/2 acre lots sell for $125,000 and up.   There are also newer, more expensive homes in these neighborhoods and throughout town.  $259,000 will fetch a beautiful, new home with 9 foot ceilings, 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a great room, a 2 car garage and an acre of land.   Lovely, stately, brick homes with 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths and every up-to-the-moment design feature imaginable are for sale starting in the $385,000 range.   Many newer homes are also popping up on what used to be open land outside of town.  Harrowford Estates, Laurel Shores and Great Oaks are just a few of these newer communities.

Sterling Mills, a new, age-restricted retirement community that has homes for sale with 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms, is located just outside of town, and Lanier Gardens is an assisted-living facility that offers small apartments (706-369-7100).

We also found several manufactured homes for sale, ranging in price from $79,000 for a 4 bedroom, 3 bath home on 3.5 acres to a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with very little land for $199,000.  Mobile homes nestled in the woods start at $23,000 for 1 bedroom and 1 bath.

Athens has more than its share of rental properties, including houses, town homes and apartments, but most cater to the college crowd.  The further from campus one travels, though, the more likely complexes will have tenants other than students.  On average, 3 bedroom, 2 bath apartments and homes rent for $900-$1,100 a month, although a downtown luxury loft with 1 bedroom and 1 bath can lease for $1,200 a month.

In short, Athens has a wide range of housing in all price ranges, including some very affordable properties.   Taxes on real estate are $32 per $1,000 of assessed value, and property is assessed at 40% of market value.  There is a homestead exemption of $10,000 for all full-time residents.  Social Security benefits are not taxed, and for those 62 and older who have retirement income, up to $14,000 is exempt from state income tax.

Historic Athens, Georgia, Continued....