‘White House’ won’t be sold

The famed little White House in DeKalb County won’t be sold on the courthouse steps this week after all.

The 16,500-square-foot dwelling, a scaled-down version of the president’s home, was scheduled to be sold today outside DeKalb County Superior Court in Decatur because of a delinquent $1.75 million loan.

But owner Fred Milani, a builder of luxury homes, and IndyMac Federal Bank are working to restructure the loan, so the foreclosure sale has been called off, Milani’s attorney Gary Freed said.

Milani, whose business is struggling in the housing downturn, is still trying to sell the Briarcliff Road landmark. The asking price is $9.88 million, one of the most expensive listings in metro Atlanta.

Lately, Milani’s luck has improved. Five of his company’s 10 completed houses sold last month after the Bank of North Georgia discounted loans, allowing the builder to lower his prices, ReMax agent Shawn Ghiai said.

The Milani family moved into their White House in 2001, about the same time George and Laura Bush took up residence in D.C.

An architect suggested they build a copy of the White House when Yvonne Milani said she wanted a house with a flat facade and columns, and her husband asked for large but cost-efficient rooms.