The secret’s out —- East Point is in

There’s a common thread to the stories of how many homeowners came to live in East Point, inside the Perimeter on Atlanta’s southside. Many discover it by accident and report a happy ending that includes affordable homes, friendly neighbors and a convenient location.

Resident Jordan Bennett fits the pattern. He and his wife, Jenny, were living in the northern ‘burbs when they happened upon East Point. They moved in two years ago and have been delighted with the decision. But it wasn’t an easy one to make, Bennett admits.

“Being a suburban kid, I was always scared of East Point,” he said. “For people who grew up outside the Perimeter, it was not a place you wanted to go in the 1980s and ’90s. But it’s really changed.”

The biggest change is that the town of about 42,000 was discovered by folks such as the Bennetts, who wanted to be inside the Perimeter but couldn’t afford an intown ZIP code. East Point’s established neighborhoods, sturdy housing stock and location at the end of the MARTA line made it a mecca for many buyers.

“East Point is where Midtown and [Virginia] Highland were two years ago,” said Bennett. “Even in the two years we’ve been here, there are more restaurants, more middle-income people moving in. We can walk to a bar or restaurant and run into somebody we know. And most weekends are spent on somebody’s front porch.”

The couple bought a one-story Craftsman in the Center Park area of town, where homes date from the 1900s to 1920s. Their house came with three bedrooms, two baths, hardwood floors, two fireplaces and a large front porch. Best of all, it’s within walking distance of MARTA. Bennett takes the train to his analyst’s job in Midtown and his wife works in East Point, so trips to the gas pump are few.

“The train was a huge selling point,” he said. “I run into neighbors all the time on the train. It’s so nice to sit there and chat on the way to work and not be in traffic.”

Low budget? No problem

For Dustin Drabot and his partner, Matt Sweitzer, East Point’s neighborhoods were among the few areas of town they could afford.

“We had a pretty low budget, but we wanted to be intown,” said Drabot, who lived in apartments around Atlanta before finding the city three years ago. “In East Point, we found a three-bedroom, two-bath, 1925 bungalow that just needed cosmetics.”

Drabot’s corner house in the Colonial Hills area of town is surrounded by others that range from the 1920s to 1940s. “We could see the neighborhood was well-maintained,” he said. “The majority of homes were in good condition and within walking distance of MARTA. It wasn’t intown or out-of-town, but a nice mix.”

The pair paid not quite $150,000 for the house that, at first, they didn’t think they could afford.

“We looked at another house on the street because we kept thinking this one was out of our price range,” said Drabot. “But we made our best offer and got it.”

They also got a house painted entirely in beige, with the exception of the green kitchen with white cabinets. “The backyard was overgrown and we’ve put a lot of work into the landscaping,” said Drabot. “But it was worth it to be in an area where everyone looks out for each other.”

Renaissance in progress

The discovery of East Point by new residents is helping reshape the reputation and the direction of town. With more people joining local neighborhood associations and getting involved in local projects, the area is enjoying a renaissance.

“There are about 20 distinctive neighborhoods here that are making East Point a destination,” said Erin Rodgers, who has lived in the town for almost eight years. “People are seeing the same things that brought us here —- the selection of homes, the character, the older neighborhoods.”

Potential buyers are also seeing changes in the heart of town, said Rodgers, chairwoman of the East Point Main Street Association, a group that focuses on enhancing the downtown district.

“We’ve gotten new trash cans and we’re working on more benches,” said Rodgers. “Our next project is making the area more pedestrian-friendly, with new trees and more brick pavers.”

The downtown area has grown in recent years, with more shops and restaurants joining the mix of businesses. “Going downtown has the ‘Cheers’ effect,” said Rodgers with a laugh. “You know everyone there. They’re at Oz Pizza or the Thumbs Up Diner or the Uptown Bar. It’s easy to get to know people very quickly.”

Rodgers and her husband, Steven, bought a 1924 bungalow with three bedrooms and the original fireplaces, mantels and single-pane windows.

“The prices are what makes the area so attractive,” she said. “In the past, the southside of town has gotten a bad rap, but I think with all it has to offer, East Point is the undiscovered gem of Atlanta.”

Plenty of housing stock

Mike Baker of ERA the Baker Group has lived in East Point since 1926. “It wasn’t sexy then,” he said with a laugh. “And it certainly wasn’t a destination.”

Today, Baker works with buyers who want proximity to Atlanta, public transportation and a small-town atmosphere at a price that won’t break their budgets. He has plenty of established housing stock to show off, from the fixer-uppers to more upscale homes.

“There are some foreclosures out there in the $10,000s, $20,000s and $30,000s that the banks are selling to get off their books,” he said. “But you can also find a two-bedroom, one-bath for $100,000 and some infill housing up into the $500,000s.”

Along with infill development, East Point has had several new subdivisions built in the last decade. Communities such as Hagger Hills, Grant Estates, McCoy Place, Egan Park and the townhouses at the Villages of East Point and Sterling Village offer an alternative to the Craftsman bungalows, cottages and brick ranches of the older neighborhoods.

“But some of those older neighborhoods have not started regentrifying yet, so there’s still plenty of room to turn neighborhoods around with good housing stock to renovate,” said Baker.

Recent sales in ZIP code 30344

Address……………………Price ….Date sold

1311 Rosemary Lane …………$149,900..August 8, 2008

2301 Bryant Drive…………..$148,400..July 11, 2008

3148 Prince Williheme Terrace..$160,000..May 30, 2008

2668 North Clark Drive ……..$212,500..May 30, 2008

2888 Kimmeridge Drive……….$200,000..May 22, 2008

1288 Mercer Avenue …………$349,000..March 7, 2008