Townhome was built to his taste

A builder’s special effort to provide Jason Whitehurst the floor plan and exterior look that he desired sealed his first home purchase.

Whitehurst, 26, an IT consultant, chatted about his townhome in Smyrna’s Westbury at Vinings (phase two of the Pulte Homes community, currently under way, is called Overlook at Westbury).

Q: Where did you move from?

A: I had been living in Midtown in an apartment.

Q: Did you see the benefits of buying in 2009?

A: I did. Obviously the interest rates were great. I even went with Pulte Homes, and they were giving good deals if you went with their mortgage company.

Q: How long did you look?

A: I was officially looking for probably three months. I did get a Realtor (Hannah Parker with Keller Williams Atlanta Real Estate). I knew I didn’t want a condo, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted as far as a single-family home or townhome.

Q: What requirements did you have?

A: I had one rule I told my agent: I had to be able to see the TV from the kitchen. Otherwise, there was no way I was going to cook dinner.

Q: Why did the townhome win out?

A: At that price point in that area, the difference is a 1960s ranch compared to a new townhome. The townhome is plenty big. I have 2,200 square feet, which is way more than I need as a single guy. Obviously, you’re giving up the yard.

Q: What was the house hunt process like?

A: They knew I was interested in a certain home there. It had a certain style I liked on the exterior. But I really wanted an end unit. So I just wasn’t willing to make the jump and say, “Yeah, I’ll take it.” They specifically built the end unit to my taste knowing it would make me more willing to jump on it, and it did.

Q: What about the exterior appealed to you?

A: It’s a three-story brick with a garage in the front and balcony doors on the front (off the second floor).

Q: What interior features did you like?

A: The granite countertops, the stainless steel, the crown molding. They were standard, included in the price.

Q: What’s your commute like?

A: I can get from my house in Vinings to Buckhead in 15 minutes and to Midtown in 15 minutes.

At a Glance

Jason Whitehurst’s townhome has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,221 square feet of livable space. He purchased it in April 2009.

Westbury at Vinings

Address: 4960 N. Church Lane, Smyrna 30080

County: Cobb

Information: 404-799-7616, www.Pulte.com/OverlookAtWestbury

Price: Mid-200,000s

Homes: 89

Square footage: 2,221

Amenities: Pool with cabana

Homeowners association fees: $131 a month ($600 initiation fee)

Standard features: Two-car garage, deck, kitchen island

Developer/builder: Pulte Homes

Schools: Nickajack Elementary, Campbell Middle, Campbell High

More on schools: schools.ajchomefinder.com

Getting there

Take I-285 to exit 15 (South Cobb Drive) and travel outside the perimeter. Turn right onto Church Road. Travel about half a mile and turn left at the light onto North Church Lane. Overlook at Westbury will be on the left.

For sale

$267,315: 1086 N. Church Lane, Smyrna 30080. A new two-bedroom, 31/2-bath townhome with a bonus room and a brick exterior.

$265,185: 1087 N.Church Lane, Smyrna 30080. A new two-bedroom, 31/2-bath townhome with a bonus room and features such as a fireplace.

Recent sales

$271,400: 2537 Friar Tuck Lane, Smyrna 30080. A new three-bedroom, two full- and two half-bath townhome with a bonus room.

$281,780: 2520 Friar Tuck Lane, Smyrna 30080. A new two bedroom, 31/2-bath townhome with a bonus room.