DEL.ICIO.USThe Search
A place that’s ‘close to everything’
For the AJC
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Our house hunter:
Courtesy: Brandon Peek
Home seeker Brandon Peek and girlfriend Mary Catherine Watson
Brandon Peek loves living in Atlanta and taking advantage of all the city has to offer, from big-league sports to the lively bar scene. The Atlanta native and his girlfriend, Mary Catherine Watson, enjoy hanging out at Piedmont Park’s dog park with his American Staffordshire terrier, Keely, and relaxing on the weekends while enjoying the skyscraper view. Brandon sells Agile project management software for VersionOne, and when he decided it was time to find his own place, he knew he wanted to be “close to everything while avoiding the headache of Atlanta’s rush hour,” preferably “ITP” (inside the Perimeter).
The process:
Brandon turned to Karen Smyth, who was not only the landlord of the house Brandon was renting, but also a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty Peachtree Road. “Karen was great,” Brandon says. “I’d just started a new job and couldn’t take a lot of time off, so Karen went and looked at places for me.” With Smyth as his scout, Brandon was able to narrow his search. In fact, the house he bought was one Smyth had checked out for him.
Choice #1: Sweet single-family home
Built in 1980, this three-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath home in the gated swim-and-tennis community of Wyngate at Spalding was originally listed at $275,000. It was a cluster home, so there would be very little yardwork, a good thing for someone as busy as Brandon. “It was close enough to work and the city,” Brandon says. The house featured a master on the main level and new stainless appliances in the kitchen. It was also close to the city, and its location made it easy to get to events.
Choice #2: Two-car garage
This three-bedroom, 2§-bath townhouse in the Cloisters complex was built in 1975 and listed for $209,900. “I was excited about having a garage,” Brandon says, and he also liked the large porch off the master bedroom. French doors in the living room opened onto the patio and a sizable private, fenced backyard.
Choice #3: Friendly community
Brandon looked at more than one unit in The Ivys and found that all the residents he met were friendly and welcoming. This three-bedroom, 2§-bath tri-level townhome was built in 1972 and listed for $224,500. Located in Buckhead, it had lots of updates, including a new kitchen with quartz countertops and pull-out cabinets. Large windows in the family room overlooked the patio and backyard.
Which did he choose?
No. 3. As the old saying goes, real estate is about “location, location, location.” The condo is near Piedmont and Roswell roads, and Brandon loved that Buckhead location. Keely has her very own fenced backyard and deck, and the condo association means Brandon doesn’t have to worry about the maintenance of the community green space that he, Keely and their dog-walking neighbors enjoy. “I didn’t have to worry about buying a mower,” laughs Brandon. “And with only a bedroom suite before, there is a big need for furniture.” The updates also sold the first-time buyer, and he appreciated the quality of the renovations. In the meantime, he’s right down the street from the Buckhead scene, but distanced enough to have a peaceful retreat. “I couldn’t have done this without Karen,” he says. “I love it here.”
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