Blending personal and professional life is even easier these days for those who want to blur the lines. Live-work townhomes and lofts are being sold in communities throughout the metro area, and some real estate agents say they're a hot commodity.

"Overall in this market, we cannot get enough live-work space," said Sean Casey, Realtor/owner of Kenny Cook Realty Metro Atlanta. "They're the first stuff to go." At Kirkwood Station, only one of five live-work units, priced at $404,900, is available. The development has a total of 23 residences. "They are something that's in demand, and certainly with more people wanting to work from home and save the commute," said sales agent Linda Jackson with Atlanta Intown Real Estate Services. She added that Kirkwood Station and One Riverside, another development by the Plinth Group that will have 13 live-work townhomes in the northwest area of Atlanta, are appealing to small-business owners who don't want to pay rent on a separate space.

Photos by CHRISTOPHER OQUENDO/Special (ENLARGE)

The builder worked with Emily Wimbush to add a separate door for her jewelry business at Kirkwood Station. She's open on weekends but mostly sells to other stores.

(ENLARGE)

At her 'out-of-the-box' Studioplex unit, Delaine Ross trains clients in the ways of the kettlebell, which she describes as 'a cast-iron weight that looks like a cannonball with a handle.'

KIRKWOOD 2008 SPRING FLING TOUR OF HOMES When: Noon-6 p.m., May 17-18 Cost: $15 Info: Kirkwood Spring Fling

A jewel of a place

Who: Emily Wimbush

Her business: Augusta Designs, a jewelry store.

The majority of her business comes from other stores, which buy her pieces wholesale; she specializes in pearls, silver and 18-karat gold.

Location: Kirkwood Station

Moved in: December 2007

Moved from: Wimbush fled New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina hit and flooded her neighborhood but not her home, which she had put on the market a week before the storm. Family members lived in the home, and sold it in April 2006. But Wimbush decided to stay in Atlanta, where she was living in a Buckhead apartment with a former Loyola University roommate.

Why Kirkwood Station: Wimbush was looking for an artsy area that was growing and had a diverse population. Then she realized it was her opportunity to buy a home and a place for a business. In her price range, the options were few, but Kirkwood Station near the thriving intown neighborhoods of East Atlanta, Inman Park and Candler Park fit her needs.

The factors: Although she doesn't rely on foot traffic, the young families in the neighborhood are the type of clientele Wimbush wanted to be near. She also was attracted to the multicultural atmosphere in the intown neighborhood, which is undergoing revitalization. She said it's like uptown New Orleans. She also saw kinship in the other shops and restaurants in Kirkwood Station, like Vinocity, Gitche Ya Ya and Le Petit Marche.

The layout: She worked with the builder to add a separate door for her business entrance. Cases display pieces for sale, and behind them, there's a space for her to work, with a vent system installed by the builder as well. Her residence is on the two upper levels of the three-story unit. Her space totals about 2,900 square feet, with two bedrooms, two full and two half baths. In the two-car garage, the builder added features like a utility sink.

Open for business: The store is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. During the week, she's there, working on pieces for stores and individuals.

Open plan a good match

Who: Delaine Ross

Her business: Condition Kettlebell Gym

Location: Studioplex, in Old Fourth Ward

Moved in: October

Moved from: San Diego. The Georgia Tech graduate decided to move back to Atlanta after her boyfriend, who is in the Navy, was deployed to the Middle East.

Why Studioplex: She bought it sight unseen, after researching the community online. Ross figured that since the business is an "out-of-the-box kind of place," she wanted to be in an area that was progressive and artsy. The Old Fourth Ward appealed to her for that reason. "In my opinion, it seems like the first place that tries new things," she said.

The factors: Plenty of space for working out with the kettlebell, which Ross describes as a cast-iron weight that looks like a cannonball with a handle . Her unit is more than 1,730 square feet. The style of the unit, with exposed brick and pipes and concrete walls, fits with what Ross describes as the grassroots feel of the "old school Russian training method."

The layout: She lives in a back room, which holds a queen bed and a few other personal items. "It's really nice right now getting started because I do have to spend a lot of time here. I love what I do. It's just melded into my life. This is my life." In the area that clients see, she's added a padded floor for training and shelves for customers to store items.

Open for business: Ross suggests making sure you like the area and the people and businesses in the building. "When you're living in a place that you work, it's got to be something you enjoy doing and a place you enjoy being all the [time]."

LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP

Developments that offer live-work units, or townhomes, condos and single-family residents in the same setting as commercial space, aren't just an intown option. They're popping up in areas including Perimeter, Norcross, Johns Creek, Woodstock and Alpharetta.

But knowing if the housing/working option is going to work for you takes careful consideration of your business and residential needs. Agents suggested eight questions to ask on a search for a live-work space.

1. What type of traffic do I need to succeed?

Live-work townhome and loft units vary greatly in the type of businesses they will support, Casey said. At Kirkwood Ironworks, a property he's selling that will have 17 live-work units starting in the high $300,000s, he's expecting buyers to be professionals such as accountants, Web designers, artists and massage therapists, none of whom are on their locale.

If your business needs foot traffic — like a jewelry store or a hot dog stand — the location is top priority. A key factor is finding a spot where other retailers are located, he and other agents say.

At Axis, real estate agent Chuck McClain says potential buyers can see the large amount of vehicle traffic using DeKalb Avenue. The seven live-work units at Axis, which range from $196,500-$225,900, face the road, and the community is near the busy intersection of DeKalb and Moreland avenues. Pedestrian traffic is mostly local residents jogging or riding bikes.

2. Is the property zoned correctly for my business?

Buyers need to make sure the type of business they want to open will be allowed under local zoning regulations, Jackson said. Also check with city and county governments about what is required as far as business licenses and other permitting.

3. What's the chance of competitors?

Some properties, such as Kirkwood Station, allow only one business of each type in the development. So if you have a hair salon, no one else can open one. Jackson said not all developments have a non-compete clause, and it's something buyers should ask about.

4. Can I get away from work?

Some live-work spaces are completely open. Others have walls and separate entrances. The variety of choices means it's important to think about whether you want to go up a flight of stairs, out a separate door or just push away from your desk to take a break from your work.

The most common example that Casey sees is a townhome with a garage on the bottom floor and about 500 square feet of work space. The living space is on the upper levels.

If owners decide they want a separation, they need a space where they can close the door and not be drawn back to work at all hours. The space has to give you "the ability to walk away," he said.

5. Is the location attractive to my clientele?

Take a good look at the surrounding area to see what other businesses are open and what customers they cater to, Jackson said. Having an idea of an area's current clientele will give you an idea if it fits your customer base.

Agents also recommend looking at the history of the area – is it already at its prime, in the midst of revitalization or a bit out of the way?

6. Is there parking and easy access in and out?

If clients can't find a place to park, you've lost their business. Find out where the guest parking is located. Ask how many spaces are available for clients, Casey said. Along the same lines, determine if the units have one- or two-car garages, and if they can be adapted for your business.

7. Can I adapt the unit to fit my needs?

This depends on how early you get in the building process. The one-story Axis units, which range from 917-984 square feet, have open floor plans, but McClain said walls can be installed.

Jackson said it is important for buyers to find a developer willing to work with them to make the space meet their needs.

8. Are amenities useful for business and pleasure?

Consider your technology needs and make sure the space offers Internet connectivity and other must-haves. Casey also recommends looking for access to meeting space, such as a clubroom or business center, if you might need to host an event for a large group of clients.