Jeff and Rose Pembroke relocated from Cleveland to metro Atlanta a couple of years ago for Jeff's job with Nordson Corp. They found a home for themselves and their two kids, 9-year-old Alex and 7-year-old Anna, in Cumming's Creekstone Estates. Rose chatted about their five-bedroom, 5 1/2-bath home with a basement.

CHRISTOPHER OQUENDO/Special (ENLARGE)

Jeff and Rose Pembroke hang out with their children Anna (left) and Alex in the living room of their home at Creekstone Estates in Cumming. Although the builder was close to finishing the home when they found it, the couple was still able to pick out a few things.

Getting there From downtown Atlanta, take I-85 north to Ga. 400 north to Exit 13 (Peachtree Parkway), turn right, traveling east on Ga. 141. Creekstone Estates is about 2.5 miles on the right.

Q: Were you familiar with the Atlanta area?

A: No. We had only been here once, and that was for the Olympics.

Q: How did you go about the house search?

A: We kind of wanted to be close to his office because we knew there was a lot of traffic here. Our Realtor showed us a lot in Alpharetta, but we thought that the homes were kind of close together. She was like, "I do know this home in Forsyth." The minute she pulled into Creekstone we were like, "This is where we want to be." The lot sizes are nearly an acre. We're not on top of our neighbors.

Q: What did you like about the style of the home?

A: Everything. The detail the builder put into it — columns, arched windows, built-ins, stacked-stone fireplace. We have fluted columns in the great room. There's just molding everywhere. There are not homes like this up North.

Q: Were you able to select features, and what did you enjoy picking out?

A: The builder was close to having the house finished, and we were able to still pick out some things — travertine backsplash in the kitchen, the stain color for the wood floors. We were able to pick out a stained-glass window in the bathroom.

Q: Has it been easy to meet people?

A: This neighborhood is very social. We live on a double cul-de-sac. We do block parties.

CREEKSTONE ESTATES

Address: 2260 Fossil Creek Drive, Cumming 30041

County: Forsyth

Information: 770-889-5545, Phoenix Corporation of Georgia

Price range: $900,000s to more than $1 million

Number of homes: 344

Square footage: 4,700-6,400

Lot sizes: about an acre

Standard features: three-car garages, granite countertops, stainless-steel appliances, all terrace levels stubbed for bath, professional landscaping, irrigation systems

Amenities: 8,000-square-foot clubhouse, 11 lighted tennis courts, lake, two pools, fitness center

Homeowners fees: $1,200 annually ($2,000 initiation)

Developer: Falling Water

Broker: Phoenix Corp. of Georgia

Schools: Shiloh Point Elementary, Piney Grove Middle, South Forsyth High

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