Our house hunter: Marietta native Ashley Brooks, vice president of business development with Capital Partners Certified Development Co. in Vinings, approached her first house-hunt with an open mind. First and foremost, she wanted a property that was a good investment. "Even if you don't know exactly what you want, it pays to go out and look," she says. "Now's the time to buy, so keep your options open."

MARC TAKACS / Special (ENLARGE)

Choice #1: Castleberry Hill loft

MARC TAKACS / Special (ENLARGE)

Choice #2: Big porches

MARC TAKACS / Special (ENLARGE)

Choice #3: Lots of character

Special (ENLARGE)

House hunter and Marietta native Ashley Brooks.

The process: Brooks turned to Marc Takacs of MD Team, Keller Williams Realty Atlanta, who she had met at Powercore, a networking group. Brooks found his knowledge of Atlanta invaluable. "He has a genuine interest in the city of Atlanta and is very tapped in to the intown market," Brooks says. "He knows the whole history of the area. But most importantly, he sees the Atlanta of today and what it will be in the future."

Choice #1: After living in Paris, Brooks loved the idea of walking to restaurants and shops in a vibrant city. She loved the one-bedroom, one-bath top-floor unit. "It was beautiful and had a lot of light," she says. Listed at $204,900, it was in a building that was originally a warehouse built in 1905.

Choice #2: Listed at $196,900, this four-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath two-story house was in Smyrna, an area Brooks liked. "I loved the porches and all the bedrooms," Brooks says. "And it was a really good value." Built in 2005, this traditional home also had a separate dining room.

Choice #3: In the Riverside neighborhood on the west side, this bungalow listed at $184,900. Built in 1932, the two-bedroom, one-bath house was completely renovated. Brooks loved the character of the house, including its heart-pine floors, four fireplaces and much of the original hardware.

Which home did she choose? Brooks bought No. 3. "You know how people tell you that when it's right, you just know? It was absolutely like that with me," Brooks says. "I was bowled over." Close to her office, the neighborhood is also a plus. She got a head start meeting her neighbors with Takacs' housewarming present: a keg party for Brooks and her new neighbors. "Everyone came!" Brooks recalls. "This is a very close-knit community. I have wonderful neighbors and friends."