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COVER STORY Here's what your money will buyFrom McDonough to Alpharetta, expect 3 bedrooms, 2-car garage in wide price range For the Journal-Constitution Published on: 03/09/08 Comparison shopping is a key strategy in every home search. Buyers study the Internet, magazines and the classifieds and walk through homes in several suburbs to figure out what a house in one area will cost compared with a similar house in another area. From affordable to extravagant homes, builders and sales agents are recognizing what home buyers are expecting to find.
Homes in the $500,000s often have features and amenities with a wow factor, and floor plans often are created with guests in mind. Alan Richardson, an agent at Hickory Hills in McDonough, said the kitchen in one of his homes in the low $500,000s has "the largest hunk of granite you've ever seen. It's stunning. The kitchen is really, really impressive. It's a great floor plan for entertaining." But in certain areas of metro Atlanta, families on smaller budgets are finding it tough to locate single-family homes, especially new construction, to fit their needs. It's difficult to find four or five bedrooms in the low $200s with new construction, said Rebekah Soebel, operations manager for Sansea Properties, which is building the homes at Browns Farm Crossing in Marietta. "It is hard in west Cobb to find anything like that," she said. Intown, buyers at Habershal at West Highlands, which include young professionals, think their choices in the $300,000s are "going to be basically condos and townhomes, which is not true," said Dahlia Aitova with Brock Built Properties. "The features and finishes are going to be exactly the same as anywhere in Atlanta." To respond to demand from buyers in the Pinnacle Pointe neighborhood, which has homes in the $200,000s, Apple Realty's Stephanie Smith said they're in the process of installing granite countertops in their new homes, an upgrade from the Corian-like countertops they previously used. "We try to give them the most for the money, but we don't try to overdo it," she said. Our challenge: Take three price ranges, and find new single-family homes in four metro area cities to see what you get for the money. Here's what we found in the $200,000s, $350,000s and $500,000s. ALPHARETTA Price: high $240,000s (starting price for homes in mixed-use community expected to begin construction next month) Address: 4615 Woodbine Way, Alpharetta 30004 Subdivision: Waterbrooke Features: 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths (at a minimum) Kitchen countertops: Granite Floors on the main level: Hardwood Garage: Yes, two-car Builder: Northstar Residential Price: $359,130 Address: 5375 Fairmont Glen, Alpharetta 30004 Subdivision: Olde Union Preserve Features: 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, full daylight basement Kitchen countertops: Granite Floors on the main level: Hardwood Garage: Yes, two-car Builder: McCar Homes Price: $509,900 Address: 6790 Sentara Place, Alpharetta 30005 Subdivision: Jamestown Features: 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, full daylight basement Kitchen countertops: Granite Floors on the main level: Site-finished hardwood throughout, except for carpet in master bedroom Garage: Yes, two-car Builder: The Providence Group MARIETTA Price: $214,900 Address: 165 Hollinger Way, Marietta 30060 Subdivision: Browns Farm Crossing Features: 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, finished bonus room Kitchen countertops: Laminate Floors on the main level: Vinyl and carpet Garage: Yes, two-car Builder: Sansea Properties Price: $359,900 Address: 2045 Heritage Green Drive, Marietta 30064 Subdivision: Heritage Green Features: 5 bedrooms, 41/2 baths, partial finished basement Kitchen countertops: Granite Floors on the main level: Ceramic tile in entry foyer and kitchen; wide-plank hardwood floors in hallways, dining room, formal living room, family room; Berber carpet in bedrooms Garage: Yes, two-car Builder: Rock Solid Builders Price: $500,000 Address: 3081 Moss Stone Lane, Marietta 30064 Subdivision: Stonebridge at Mud Creek Features: 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, finished terrace level Kitchen countertops: Granite Floors on the main level: Hardwood in the entryway, kitchen, dining room, great room, keeping room; carpet in master and guest bedroom Garage: Yes, three-car Builder: Homes by Williamscraft ATLANTA Price: $200,000 Address: 5977 Westchase St., Atlanta 30336 Subdivision: Westchase Glen Features: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths Kitchen countertops: Corian Floors on the main level: Hardwood in the foyer, carpet throughout Garage: Yes, two-car Builder: Greenwood Homes Price: $350,900 Address: 1631 Habershal Drive, Atlanta 30318 Subdivision: Habershal at West Highlands Features: 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, partial basement Kitchen countertops: Granite Floors on the main level: Hardwood Garage: Yes, two-car Builder: Brock Built Properties Price: $519,900 Address: 405 Claridge Trace, Atlanta 30331 Subdivision: The Highlands at Guilford Forest Features: 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, full daylight basement Kitchen countertops: Granite Floors on the main level: Hardwood Garage: Yes, three-car Builder: John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods McDONOUGH Price: $203,655 Address: 265 Prominent Loop, McDonough 30253 Subdivision: Pinnacle Pointe Features: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, unfinished bonus room Kitchen countertops: Solid surface, similar to Corian Floors on the main level: Tile in the entryway and bathrooms; vinyl in the kitchen; carpet in living areas Garage: Yes, two-car Builder: Peachtree Homes Price: $354,900 Address: 300 Hitt Trace, McDonough 30253 Subdivision: East Lake Estates Features: 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths Kitchen countertops: Granite Floors on the main level: Hardwood throughout except laundry room, which has ceramic tile Garage: Yes, two-car Builder: Richlynn Homes Price: $529,000 Address: 148 Shellbark Drive, McDonough 30252 Subdivision: Hickory Hills Features: 3 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, finished bonus room Kitchen countertops: Granite Floors on the main level: Hardwood, except for carpet in master bedroom Garage: Yes, two-car Builder: Lifetime Homes More on ajc.com
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