DEL.ICIO.USThe Search
Long journey leads to the perfect place
For the AJC
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Our house hunter:
University of Georgia international business major Stewart Stevens lived in Mexico for several years after graduation before heading back north. The Gainesville native was ready to be closer to family and friends, so he came to Atlanta and soon found a job with Diaz Foods. He and Spencer — his Chinese pug — roomed with some of his friends in East Atlanta for a couple of years. But the slow housing market fueled Stevens’ desire to find a place of his own.
The process:
“I was in a stable job, and with the market coming down, there were foreclosures and other good deals,” Stevens said. Through a friend, he met Vickie Bracewell of the Chuck and Marshall Group, Re/Max Metro Atlanta, and they began Stevens’ year-long house search. He enjoys getting together with friends and enjoys cycling through downtown Atlanta, but his primary criteria were square footage, price and a yard for Spencer. “Vickie was very patient and helpful” throughout the long search, Stevens said. “She’s a genuine person, and she guided me through and facilitated everything. It took me a year, but Vickie was there the whole time.”
Choice #1: Eye-catching
A foreclosure, this four-bedroom, two-bath home in the East Lake neighborhood was built in 2005 and originally listed for $150,000. “It caught my eye right away,” Stevens said. “It was huge and near the East Lake Golf Course.” Stevens liked everything about the house, especially its proximity to the annual Federal Express Cup. Its front porches, open floor plan and hardwood floors were also attractive.
Choice #2: Location, location, location
Just 10 minutes from Stevens’ office, this two-bedroom, 1½-bath townhouse in the Palms was also just a walk away from Smyrna Market Village. Built in 2005 and priced at $159,900, it was close to the Sliver Comet Trail. “There were lots of young people in the area, including some friends from work, and it was really affordable,” Stevens said. It also had a nice area out back for Spencer.
Choice #3: Brand-new
North Village is a new complex of townhomes along Memorial Drive in DeKalb County. This three-bedroom, 2½-bath unit was built in 2008 and listed for $165,985. “I liked that it was brand-new,” Stevens said. The Craftsman-style townhome was inside the Perimeter and featured a large kitchen, a family room with a fireplace and a spacious master suite.
Which house did he choose?
No. 3. Once Stevens saw the development, he knew “this was where I wanted to be.” He was willing to wait for a new phase so he could have an end unit. Bracewell knew the developer and was able to assure Stevens of the townhome’s quality. She also helped him negotiate a side yard for Spencer and a back deck. Inside, “I had so many options,” Stevens said, “so I was able to design the place with my mom, which was nice.” He likes the open floor plan, the architectural details, hardwood floors, the granite in the kitchen and the gas fireplace. And he likes his neighbors. “I feel like I’m living in a community,” he said. He credits Bracewell for finding the perfect home. “I was a first-time home buyer, and I’d advise anyone to get a real estate agent … and I recommend Vickie,” Stevens said. “These people have connections and expertise, and can find things you can’t. They know what they’re doing.”
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