‘I think the house found me’

Tiffany Terry’s home search was under way when her grandmother died last year, causing her to seek out a type of residence her grandmother would have enjoyed. Terry, 35, an instructor for the Department of Homeland Security, chatted about her first place.

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hotos by Christopher Oquendo / Special

After years of renting in the city of Atlanta, federal instructor Tiffany Terry bought this house in Dallas. It’s fairly near her metro Atlanta relatives, and she’s sure her late grandmother would have loved it.

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Tiffany Terry’s home in Dallas, GA.

Getting there

Take I-20 west to Exit 44 toward Austell. Turn left onto Ga. 92. Turn right onto Ga. 120 connector. Turn right onto Davis Mill Road. Turn left onto Emerald Pines Drive.

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Q. How did you decide it was time to buy your first home?

A. Honestly, I was approaching my 35th birthday. That was my eye-opener. I did not want to bring in 35 still renting. I was living in a townhouse in the city of Atlanta, and I was there for seven years. I was throwing my money away.

How did you decide where you wanted to live?

I think the house found me. I don’t have a regular 9-to-5 job, so I wasn’t concerned about commuting to work. I have family in Stone Mountain, Dallas, Lithonia, Decatur, Mableton. I wanted to be centrally located somewhere in between my family.

What style of home were you looking for?

I was raised by my grandmother, so I’m real old-fashioned. My grandmother died in July, and I was looking for something old-fashioned. So the house that I have now, it has a huge wraparound front porch. I have a swing on my front porch, I have a hammock in my yard, just all of the things that remind me of my grandmother.

What’s one of your favorite spots in the house?

My bedroom. It’s on the main level of the house, but I have a door in my bedroom that leads outside to that front porch. So if I’m sitting in here and I get in the mood, I can walk outside on the front porch and can get in the swing.

What preparation did you do to buy a home?

I attended a home buying class offered through Wachovia. I actually followed some of the steps they had listed. I pulled a credit report. I paid off some of my credit card balances. I curbed some of my spending.

What did you cut back on?

With me traveling a lot [for work], I would eat out a lot and get my hair and nails done. So I stopped eating out and partying so much. I had to cut back on my shopping a bit.

Was it worth it?

Absolutely.

At a glance

Tiffany Terry’s home has 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, a basement, a two-car garage, more than 1,500 square feet of living space and a pool. She purchased it in October.

Emerald Pines

Address: Emerald Pines Drive, Dallas 30157

County: Paulding

Price range: $87,000-$138,000s

Lot sizes: Half an acre to 1 acre

Standard features: Two-car garages, 9-foot ceilings, garden tub and separate shower in master bath

Homeowners fees: None

Schools: Allgood Elementary, Herschel Jones Middle, Paulding High

More on schools: school guide on ajchomefinder

Recent sales

$106,201: 391 White Pines Drive, Dallas 30157. A 3-bedroom, 2½-bath home built in 1991 with a wraparound porch and stone fireplace in the great room.

$107,570: 88 Emerald Pines Court, Dallas 30157. A 3-bedroom, 2-bath home built in 2000 with his-and-her closets and a garden tub in the master bathroom.

For sale

$135,000: 471 Emerald Pines Drive, Dallas 30157. A 3-bedroom, 2-bath home built in 1995 with a wraparound porch, master on the main and a new roof.

$104,900: 205 Emerald Pines Drive, Dallas 30157. A 3-bedroom, 2-bath home built in 2000 with a fireplace, unfinished basement and new carpet.