Renting an apartments while the economy settles is a good way to get your capital, credit and job security in order. By renting, you are essentially buying time. The real estate market is changing. But apartments remain the same. Tenants are finding affordable prices, high quality living, with more amenities than ever. It is the perfect time to rent if you are moving to a new city. It will give you the time to plan and learn your new surroundings.

Metrowide, home prices fell 13 percent, although new homes held their value better. The average price of a new home last year was $231,320, down less than 2 percent from the previous year.

And the trend of falling home prices seems to have continued into this year. The median price for a home in metro Atlanta in the first quarter was $115,600, down from $154,000 in the same period in 2008, the National Association of Realtors reported recently. Home sales in the first quarter also were off 6 percent, the group noted.

Last year, Clayton County had the region's largest price drop with homes falling 43 percent in value, according to the AJC home report. Homes in Rockdale were a distant second. They saw a 20 percent drop.

And sales were off even compared with a slow 2007. Home and condo sales across the region were down 27 percent overall. Sales of new homes were off by half.

Experts say the fluctuations in values have implications for homeowners when it comes time to sell. In most communities, homeowners trying to sell today have to contend with depressed prices and may not receive the former value of their homes. Of course, factors such as the home's condition and location play a role as well.

Drill down into the report and another pattern emerges: ZIP codes inside the Perimeter but north of I-20 and east of I-75 held steady or even saw increases in home prices. The largest declines were inside the Perimeter, but west of I-75.

In Buckhead's 30305 ZIP code, a $3.5 million home built on Tuxedo Road, along with some new luxury high-rise condos, Terminus and The Gallery, helped push overall home values with that tony address up 20 percent.

About 20 miles south of Buckhead is 30354, a Fulton County community where home prices fell 60 percent. Near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, it is a jumble of fixer-uppers mixed in with body shops and storefront churches. The area, which includes Hapeville and East Point, enjoyed tremendous gains in 2007, thanks to strategic economic development. Homes back then sold for nearly $134,000. Last year, existing homes were the only thing moving in the area, and they sold for about $53,000. Foreclosures have wiped out any gains the area saw during the housing boom a few years ago.

So there you have it, renting an apartment in Marietta is the best choice for future home owners. If you plan to move in the future, use a rental service company. It's the only way to move.

About the Author:

Michael Russell writes about a variety of subjects. This article discusses Marietta apartments. For more information, visit Promove.