15 Georgia Cities You Should Never Buy Property In

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A beautiful state with southern charm, rich history and gorgeous landscapes, Georgia is certainly a great place to be in, but this doesn’t mean all of the cities are on par with the rest. In some cities it’s a place to grow, others are a risk that makes you wonder if you signed up for a money pit. Making real estate decisions takes a lot of thought, and when you are dealing with potentially depreciating property values, unreliable infrastructure or lackluster community amenities, it really is a toss up.

If you’re keeping an eye on the Peach State, you’ll want to know which areas to avoid if you don’t want to get caught up in high crime rates, poor economies, or schools that are falling apart. Buying property is like planting roots, after all, and you don’t want to plant them in rocky soil. So let’s take a look at 15 Georgia cities that might be a little more expensive than you can afford.

Forest Park

Forest Park has long been an area plagued by crime and economic stagnation, just south of Atlanta. A place often ranked low in safety surveys, it’s quite difficult to live peacefully here. The problem is that these places are riddled with limited local job opportunities and underperforming schools, so buying property here might seem like betting on a losing horse.

Albany

Facing a number of persistent economic hurdles, Albany, in southwest Georgia, is a city in need of a miracle. The city has a rich history and lovely rivers right nearby, but it has high unemployment rates and problems maintaining its public infrastructure. That’s not exactly a selling point for future buyers, as residents often cite frustration over inadequate city services.

East Point

Although it is close to Atlanta, East Point has been plagued by crime and slow property appreciation. Despite the presence of some charm, the city’s lack of safety and patchy efforts at redevelopment make it a risky real estate market. It’s a fixer upper… that might never get fixed.

Macon

The city’s name – ‘The Heart of Georgia’ – sounds nice, but Macon has economic disparity and a crime rate that’s increasing. In fact, a report by Neighborhood Scout listed it among the most dangerous haunts in the state, which is not very family or long term investment friendly.

College Park

College Park, with proximity to Atlanta’s Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, suffers from high crime and falling property values. Sure, it’s convenient, but without any major economic development in recent years, the city is spinning its wheels.

Griffin

Griffin has small town charm, but it also has stagnant growth and inconsistent infrastructure investment. It’s the kind of place where properties sit with little (and in some cases no) appreciation over the years.

Brunswick

Although coastal views are a Brunswick selling point, the economy is as rocky as the shoreline. For those lucky enough to own property here, it can be a persistent struggle to keep the boat from sinking, with persistent job creation and public safety challenges.

Hinesville

Hinesville’s property market is unstable despite it being near Fort Stewart. With troop levels changing, home values go up and down with them so real estate investment is a risky proposition.

Warner Robins

Robins Air Force Base has influenced Warner Robins’ growth, but economic dependence on the base makes the city vulnerable. Locals here don’t control the federal spending patterns, and housing markets here tend to rise and fall like a yo yo.

Tifton

Tifton, which has been nicknamed ‘the Friendly City,’ is struggling with poorly funded schools and high rates of poverty. The people may earn the nickname, but real estate opportunities fall short of expectations for growth or stability.

LaGrange

Southern Cities on the Verge of Becoming Unaffordable by 2025 — Image Credit: Daniel Mayer/Wikimedia Commons

Unfortunately, LaGrange has failed to draw in new industries, leaving few jobs and a disappointing housing market. A city with potential but burdened by challenges making property investments a gamble.

Americus

Small town Americus tends to get stuck in time. Unemployment is high and development efforts are slow; property values here never match inflation. Their investment dreams often fall short.

Douglasville

While close proximity to Atlanta might make Douglasville sound appealing, the city has battled a rising crime rate and unreliable housing demand. The market is like a seesaw – up one year, down the next – and it’s hard to bank on long term returns if you are looking to buy a home here.

Waycross

Situated close to the Okefenokee Swamp, Waycross is not a property investor’s model destination. The city has trouble doing anything to attract new residents or businesses, and the home values don’t rise either because of declining industries or limited amenities.

Valdosta

Valdosta is referred to as the “Azalea City” and has crime problems and a limited business base. The population growth here lags behind other regions, a key factor holding back property values, found a study by Data USA.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.