Moving to Savannah, Georgia? What You Should Know Before You Relocate

Savannah, Georgia metro · Photo for Luis Bruno, Realtor

If you are thinking about moving to Savannah, Georgia, you have probably seen a lot of good things online.

Savannah has beautiful historic areas, great food, warm weather, nearby beaches, and many places to live outside of the city.

But relocating somewhere is very different from visiting for a weekend.

Before you decide to move to the Savannah, Georgia area, there are a few things you should know about home prices, new construction, flood zones, schools, crime, land, diversity, and the cost of living.

I am Luis Bruno, a Realtor in the Savannah area. I work with people who are relocating here, including many buyers moving from other states.

Here are some things I believe every buyer should understand before moving to Savannah.

Is Savannah, Georgia cheap?

One of the biggest reasons people consider relocating to Savannah, GA is because they believe homes are much cheaper here.

Savannah can be cheaper than many large cities in the United States, but that does not always mean Savannah feels cheap to the people who live here.

Home prices have gone up over the years, and local income is also important when comparing affordability.

At the time these numbers were researched for my video:

• The median household income in the Savannah area was around $70,000 per year.
• The median home price was around $356,000.

That means Savannah may look affordable compared with expensive cities, but buying a home can still take a large part of the average local household’s income.

This can be very different for someone moving from another state who works remotely and keeps a higher salary.

If you are moving from a more expensive market and keeping your current income, Savannah may feel much more affordable.

Finding a Savannah home under $250,000 can be difficult

Another common mistake is assuming there are many nice homes in Savannah for less than $250,000.

At the time I researched the market for my video, only about 3.5% of the available homes were priced below $250,000.

Homes at this price can exist, but buyers should have realistic expectations.

Many may:

• Need repairs
• Need new paint
• Have older systems
• Need exterior work
• Be smaller
• Be located farther from the buyer’s preferred area

That does not mean you cannot buy a good home under $250,000.

It simply means your choices may be much smaller than you expect.

If you are planning on buying a home in Savannah, Georgia, your budget will make a major difference in what areas and homes are available.

How much does new construction cost around Savannah?

New construction is very popular with people relocating to the Savannah area.

A typical three-bedroom new construction home around the area can often start around the low $300,000s, although prices depend heavily on the community, builder, location, size, and current incentives.

There can sometimes be homes below that price when builders offer discounts or special incentives.

When searching for new construction homes near Savannah, GA, buyers normally look across several counties, including:

• Chatham County
• Bryan County
• Effingham County
• Liberty County

These areas include places such as Savannah, Pooler, Richmond Hill, Guyton, Rincon, and areas closer to Fort Stewart.

Most new construction communities have HOAs

If you want a brand-new home but do not want an HOA, your search may become much harder.

Most large new construction communities near Savannah have a homeowners association.

This is especially true when buying inside a subdivision being developed by a large home builder.

You may find an individual new home built on private land without an HOA.

However, if you want a home inside a large new community with multiple new homes, you should expect an HOA in most cases.

Always ask about:

• HOA fees
• HOA rules
• Community amenities
• Rental restrictions
• Parking rules
• Fence rules

Do this before signing a contract.

Buying land near Savannah requires extra research

Some people moving to Georgia dream about buying one, two, or even five acres and building a custom home.

You can find land around the Savannah metro area.

But cheap land can sometimes have a major problem: wetlands.

For example, you may see five acres listed at a very attractive price.

That does not always mean all five acres can be used for a house.

Part of the property could contain wetlands or other areas that are difficult or impossible to build on.

If you are buying land near Savannah, Georgia, you may need to research things such as:

• Wetlands
• Flood zones
• Surveys
• Soil conditions
• Septic requirements
• Public sewer availability
• Buildable area
• Road access
• Local building rules

Land purchases can require much more research than buying an existing home.

Do not assume that the number of acres on the listing equals the amount of land you can actually build on.

Savannah vs. Atlanta: which is better?

People relocating to Georgia sometimes compare Savannah vs. Atlanta.

These are two very different places.

Atlanta is a much larger metro area with more jobs, more traffic, more businesses, and more of a big-city lifestyle.

Savannah is much smaller.

Savannah may work better if you want:

• A smaller metro area
• Less of a big-city feel
• Access to the coast
• Historic areas
• Beaches nearby
• Smaller suburbs and communities

Atlanta may work better if you want:

• A major city
• A larger job market
• More entertainment options
• More large companies
• A larger airport and metro area

Neither one is automatically better.

It depends on the lifestyle you want.

Do hurricanes hit Savannah, Georgia?

Hurricanes are one of the most common questions I get from people moving to Savannah from another state.

A direct hurricane hit on Savannah is not common.

However, Savannah can still experience tropical storms and the outer parts of hurricanes.

These storms can cause:

• Heavy rain
• Fallen trees
• Roof damage
• Power outages
• Flooding

Savannah has also experienced major rain events that caused flooding without a direct hurricane strike.

So even if hurricanes do not directly hit Savannah often, storm and flood risk should still be part of your home search.

Flood zones are important when buying a home in Savannah

If you are relocating to Savannah, make sure you understand the property’s flood zone before buying.

Some homes require flood insurance.

Others do not.

If a lender does not require flood insurance because the home is outside of a required flood zone, a homeowner may still choose to purchase coverage.

One important thing many buyers do not realize is that flood maps can change.

A property that is outside of a required flood zone when you buy it could potentially be placed into a different flood zone later.

If that happens and you have a mortgage, your lender may require flood insurance.

This is why flood-zone research should be part of your home-buying process in coastal Georgia.

What is crime like in Savannah?

Crime is another common concern for people researching what it is like to live in Savannah, Georgia.

According to the 2025 crime numbers researched for my video, theft from vehicles was one of the most commonly reported crimes in Savannah.

There were 898 reported theft-from-vehicle cases, which was 204 fewer than the year before.

Shoplifting was another common crime, with 847 reported cases, which was 37 more than the previous year.

Crime can be very different from one part of a city to another.

Do not judge the entire Savannah metro area based on one crime number.

Before buying a home, research the specific area you are considering.

One website buyers can use is NeighborhoodScout.com. It offers free information, along with more detailed paid reports.

You can also review local police information and other public crime data.

Is Savannah, Georgia diverse?

Savannah and the surrounding metro area have many different communities.

Some parts of the area are much more diverse than others.

You can find neighborhoods where one racial or ethnic group makes up a large percentage of the population, while other parts of the Savannah metro are much more mixed.

Areas that are known for having a mix of different backgrounds include places such as:

• Pooler
• Georgetown
• Parts of Southside Savannah
• Windsor Forest
• Richmond Hill

Savannah also has a Hispanic community, including people from many different Spanish-speaking countries and territories.

I am originally from Puerto Rico, and I also speak Spanish.

If you are relocating to Savannah and prefer to communicate in Spanish, that is something I can help with as well.

What are the schools like in Savannah?

Schools are one of the biggest questions families ask when relocating to Savannah, Georgia with children.

School quality can vary greatly depending on where you live.

Chatham County has some highly rated public schools, but it also has many schools with lower online ratings.

Do not assume that every school in Savannah will have the same rating or performance.

Research the individual school your child would attend.

If schools are one of your biggest priorities, many relocating families also research communities outside Chatham County.

Richmond Hill, Georgia schools

Richmond Hill, GA, is about 25 to 30 minutes south of Savannah depending on where you are going.

Richmond Hill is located in Bryan County.

Bryan County schools are one reason many families consider moving to Richmond Hill instead of living directly in Savannah.

If your top priority is researching highly rated public schools near Savannah, Richmond Hill should be one of the areas you look into.

Effingham County schools

Another area worth researching is Effingham County, Georgia.

This includes places such as:

• Guyton
• Rincon
• South Effingham

Many families who work in or around Savannah choose Effingham County because they want to live outside the city while remaining within driving distance.

Depending on your exact location, the drive into the Savannah area may be around 25 to 40 minutes.

Private schools in Savannah

Savannah also has many private schools.

However, there is something parents should know.

A large percentage of private schools in the Savannah area have a religious connection.

At the time I researched this topic, 22 of 28 private schools I reviewed were connected with a religion, including Christian and Catholic schools.

If you specifically want a non-religious private school, you still have options, but your choices may be smaller.

Georgia vehicle title tax

Here is another cost people relocating to Georgia sometimes forget about.

Georgia has a Title Ad Valorem Tax, often called TAVT, when a vehicle is titled in Georgia.

The amount depends on Georgia’s current rules and how your vehicle is being titled.

For example, a tax around 7% on a $30,000 vehicle would equal roughly $2,100.

If you are bringing vehicles with you when moving to Georgia, research the current Georgia title and registration rules before your move.

This can prevent an unexpected expense.

Do home buyers pay their Realtor in Savannah?

Another question buyers ask is how a buyer’s Realtor gets paid.

Real estate commissions are negotiable.

There is no required commission percentage.

In many Savannah-area transactions, a seller or home builder may offer compensation toward the buyer’s agent.

However, buyers should never automatically assume that the seller will pay their agent.

Your Realtor should explain the compensation agreement before you begin working together.

This is especially important after the changes that have taken place in the real estate industry over the past several years.

Is moving to Savannah, Georgia right for you?

Savannah can be a great place to live, but it is not perfect for everyone.

Before relocating, think about what matters most to you.

Do you want to live close to downtown Savannah?

Would you rather live in Pooler?

Are schools your biggest priority?

Would Richmond Hill or Effingham County fit your family better?

Do you want new construction?

Do you want a large yard?

Are you trying to avoid a flood zone?

How far are you willing to drive to work?

Those questions matter much more than simply asking whether Savannah is a good place to live.

The goal should be to find the part of the Savannah, Georgia metropolitan area that fits your lifestyle, budget, work location, and family.