Eduardo and Viviana Garcia, and their daughters Crystal, 13, and Natalie, 7, have just moved into River Heights Apartments in Marietta. Eduardo, 30, works in IT. He says they did a lot of research to find just the right home. "Actually, we found these apartments online at ajc.com. We were looking for something on the north side of Atlanta with good schools for our daughters," says Eduardo. "We were moving here from Rome, and we have family on this side of town so we wanted to be close to them and close to my work as well." We talked with him about his new apartment home.

What they're renting: "We have a two-bedroom, three-bath apartment with an open loft. There's a full bath up there, so we use it as a bedroom for one of the girls. We have designated parking spaces on the lower level with our own private stairs up to the apartment. When you come in, there's a small foyer and a large living room, a dining room and kitchen. There's a small porch off to the side with a storage area, too."

CHRISTOPHER OQUENDO / Special

River Heights has two pools and a host of other amenities suitable for families. "There are always children around," Eduardo Garcia says.

Getting there Take I-85 north to I-285 West. Take Exit 24 (Riverside Drive) and turn right. Turn left on Johnson Ferry Road. Turn left onto Columns Drive. Turn right onto the cobblestone entryway at Riverside Heights. Take a right onto River Heights Crossing. Leasing office on the right. RIVER HEIGHTS Address: 3702 River Heights Crossing, Marietta County: Cobb Information: 770-988-9319; River Heights Managed by: Lane Company Rent (subject to change): one-bedroom $809-$959; two-bedroom $875-$1,345; three-bedroom $1,139-$1,824 Fees: $50 application fee; $87.50 security fee plus additional $250 or $500 depending on credit; $400 pet deposit/$10 rent per month per pet Number of units: 384 Units for disabled: yes Public transportation: no Amenities: Two pools, children's playground, tennis courts, fitness center, grilling area; appliance and interior upgrades, fireplaces in each unit, door-to-door trash pickup; walk to Chattahoochee Nature Center, nature walk on-site, river and wooded views. Public schools: Sope Creek Elementary, Dickerson Middle, Walton High

What they were looking for: "We wanted to be in a good area where we wouldn't have to worry about security. But ultimately, it was about finding a place with good schools."

Why they chose River Heights: "The apartments are spacious and that was a big plus, and this is a very family-friendly community. We're surrounded by woods, and you feel safe having the kids play outside. There are always children around. There are walking trails all around the apartments, and we've enjoyed walking those. And the location is very convenient, with stores close by. Even traffic is not bad around here, so it's all good."

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