John and Betsy Rothermel knew 100 percent that they wanted to continue to live intown, either in Atlanta’s Morningside neighborhood or Virginia-Highland, where they had owned a condo. The couple, who have a dog, Ari, had outgrown the 800-square-foot condo.
Homes they saw on the market generally were older and needed work. John, 31, an entrepreneur, and Betsy, 27, director of centre admissions for the Atlanta Ballet’s Centre for Dance Education, knew they needed to act fast with an offer if they found a renovated property. Those homes often got multiple offers quickly.
“We wanted turnkey, move-in ready, which I didn’t think was a possibility in the area, especially at the price point we were at,” John said. “Luckily, we did find that. We found an incredible home.”
No. 1
Redone from top to bottom
The three-bedroom, two-bath home on McLynn Avenue in Morningside had been transformed from a duplex into a single-family home. In gutting the property, the seller added white Italian Carrara marble countertops and a Viking gas range in the kitchen, and a frameless glass shower with a rainfall shower head and floating vanity in the master bathroom. But the couple found out about the new listing at midnight before leaving on a trip to St. Thomas the next day, so they were concerned it would have another offer by the time they returned. The home, built in 1930, was listed for $487,900.
No. 2
Unbeatable location
The three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath bungalow was on Lanier Boulevard, a phenomenal, tree-lined street with sidewalks in the heart of Morningside, John said. The kitchen and master bedroom had been renovated, but the couple had to weigh the incredible location with what John described as a nonfunctional garage and overgrown backyard. Other areas of the home also needed work. The home, built in 1925, was originally listed for $510,000.
No. 3
Nearly new
The three-bedroom, three-bath home on St. Louis Place in Virginia-Highland was previously owned by a player for the Atlanta Thrashers, who had it custom built, they were told. The layout stood out, with a master suite taking up most of the second floor. The front porch was a charming feature, and the home had a dining room and fireplace, which were features they desired. But the home had no garage or backyard, and street parking was limited, John said. The home, built in 2005, was listed for $499,900.
The Choice
No. 1. The couple viewed the home at 8:30 a.m., before catching their flight, and within 30 minutes, they placed the offer for nearly $5,000 over the asking price, assisted by Ariane McClure, an agent with Harry Norman, Realtors. “When you know it’s right, you don’t have hesitation,” John said. He added that he was willing to go over the asking price because financing, when obtainable, is more affordable now because of lower interest rates. When the couple landed in St. Thomas, McClure called them to say their offer was accepted. They purchased the home in April 2012, and their favorite features include the huge walls and halogen lights for displaying art, John said. They hired In the Mow Landscape Management to update the front yard and are adding a wine cellar in the basement.
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