Retiree Tony Giacalone and wife Diane moved from Florida to the Atlanta area last year, finding a three-bedroom, two-bath home in Jefferson's Millstone Crossing neighborhood. Tony, who is in his late 60s, chatted about the move.

Q: What prompted the move to Georgia?

A: I was fed up with the high insurance rates and taxes, and finally the heat got to me.

Q: Why was metro Atlanta your focus?

A: We're originally from Ohio and Michigan. When we started thinking of moving, we started looking in this part of the state. We went as far as Dahlonega, then worked our way back down this way. Through the Internet, we saw houses that we liked and had a realtor in Gainesville take us to 10 or 12 of them. We made three trips to Georgia. The third trip, we saw this builder and saw this subdivision. This was one of the houses I had liked from the Internet.

Q: What appealed to you about the community?

A: The houses were Hardiplank and brick. I like that, over vinyl. This particular house that we bought is a ranch. It has a nice deck out the back of the first story. I'm on a hill so my basement is a walk out into the yard. They didn't just level it [the yard]. I have some huge trees in the backyard.

Q: What do you like about living in Georgia?

A: We love the four seasons. They call us "halfbacks." We started off in Ohio, went to Florida and came halfway back. We didn't have a friend or relatives in the area. We just decided, "Let's just do it." Since we've been here, we've met other couples.

Millstone Crossing in Jefferson

Address: 502 Rachel View Court, Jefferson 30549

County: Jackson

Information: 706-367-4580, www.meridian.com

Price range: $160,000s-low $200,000s

Homes: 93

Square footage: 1,800-2,940

Lot sizes: third to half acre

Standard features: hardwood floors, carriage-style garage doors, concrete siding

Amenities: sidewalks, streetlights

Homeowners fees: $210 annually ($50 initiation fee)

Builder: Meridian Homes

Schools: West Jackson Primary, West Jackson Intermediate, West Jackson Middle, Jackson County Comprehensive

More on schools: www.ajchomefinder.com/schoolguide

Getting there

Take I-85 north to Exit 137 (Ga. 129) and turn right. Turn right on Ga. 11 toward Winder. At the four-way stop, turn right onto Ga. 124. Millstone Crossing will be on the right.

Find more developments online at ajchomefinder.com