Neighborhoods

Try the commute before you choose the house

Two addresses can look equally close to work on a map. A weekday test drive can tell a different story.

Start at the driveway

If you’re weighing a home in Roswell against one in Alpharetta, try leaving each street at your usual departure time. Notice the first mile. A difficult left turn or a long wait to join the main road can matter more than the distance between exits.

Come home the long way

On the return trip, add one stop you make most weeks. Pick up groceries or drive past your evening class. Which route would you rather repeat on a rainy Tuesday?