House-hunting a breeze for family

Our house hunters:

Former Navy officers Jorge and Susan Leguizamo are old hands at relocation, and they had a system down when Jorge, an oncologist, took a job with Georgia Cancer Specialists. The family decided to move south from Massachusetts to be closer to Jorge’s family in Mobile. Atlanta was the closest big city and had the added advantage of being a destination city for many of their friends and former colleagues. Susan and Jorge were attracted to Suwanee and Forsyth County because of its solid school system for their three daughters —- Isabelle, 5, Sofia, 3, and Madeline, 1 —- its ranking as one of the top 100 places to live in the United States and its proximity to Jorge’s offices.

The process:

The couple used Re/Max to sell their Massachusetts house and were so pleased that they asked for an Atlanta referral. But they were specific: They wanted an agent with experience, who had lived in the area long enough to see how it had prospered and someone with young children who was knowledgeable —- from actual experience —- about schools. The Page Plager Team Re/Max Center and Realtor Blaise Bugajski fit the bill. With Bugajski, Susan says, long-distance house-hunting was a snap. He took their criteria —- a gated community that was safe and filled with amenities and a home designed for entertaining with a minimum of six bedrooms, plus an open and sizable great room —- and e-mailed appropriate listings to them. Through online virtual tours, the Leguizamos were able to narrow their choices to about a dozen homes in Suwanee’s Laurel Springs development, which they liked for its golf, tennis and swim facilities. They came down one weekend to tour the homes in person.

Choice #1: Beautifully Landscaped

This six-bedroom, 5 1/2-bath traditional was built in 1998 and was originally listed at $795,000. Its meticulously landscaped lot included mature trees and shrubs and even a koi pond. Its interior was also impressive and included a gourmet kitchen, beautiful architectural details, a two-story main floor library and a basement ideal for a “man cave.”

Choice #2: Beautiful Kitchen

Originally listed at $799,900, this six-bedroom, five-bath traditional had the kitchen of Susan’s dreams. “It had a stunning kitchen,” she said, that opened onto a large keeping room. They also liked the floor plan and the home’s fenced yard on a spacious corner lot. The 2001 home sported a basement with its own great room, a library, a full bath, media room, bar and lots of light.

Choice #3: Your Own Pub

A “gorgeous” terrace level pub made this six-bedroom, five-bath home memorable, Susan says. With exquisite woodwork and a slate floor, the pub in the spacious basement was a standout, as was the “beautiful” great room with its bank of windows. Originally listed at $719,900, this traditional on a quiet cul-de-sac was built in 2000 and also had a view of Laurel Springs’ seventh fairway.

Which house did they choose?

House No. 1, and they couldn’t be happier. As Susan, the girls and their two lively Yorkshire terriers settled in while Jorge finished his Massachusetts commitments, Susan marveled over the relief of finding the right home. “Everything inside was just beautiful,” she said, “the great room, the crown molding that is everywhere, the stunning two-story library” complete with a striking stairway. She loves the gourmet kitchen, its top-of-the-line appliances and its hidden pantry. “You open a wall and there’s a whole other room,” she said, laughing. The home’s setting is one of their greatest joys, thoughtfully designed and maintained. “You can enjoy the outside from every room in the house,” Susan said. “Every room has a view of serenity.” And something’s always in bloom. “Every morning I have a beautiful view of nature,” she said, smiling.