The Search
Christine Mest took her time to buy a new place after selling her Grant Park townhome in 2007.
Mest, who wanted to live near Buckhead, rented an apartment for two years while she decided whether to search for a single-family home or townhome. Townhomes won out when she found three choices in Brookhaven in the mid- to high-$200,000s with her sought-after features such as hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances and fireplaces.
No. 1: Park and a pool
The two-bedroom, 2-1/2-bath unit in the Ashford Creek development boasted a prime location across the street from Blackburn Park and key amenities such as a pool. A bonus room on the lower level of the brick end unit provided extra space for a guest room, office or media room. Like others she considered, the townhome had a two-car garage, but the community wasn't close enough to walk to Brookhaven restaurants. The unit, built in 2006, was originally listed for $279,500.
No. 2: Close to restaurants
The three-bedroom, 3-1/2-bath townhome in Cobblestone at Brookhaven stood out with its oversized tub and double vanity in the master bathroom and lots of closet space. The brick townhome also appeared easy for entertaining, with a formal dining room and a family room that opened to a deck. It was within walking distance to restaurants such as Verde Taqueria and Hudson Grille, but Mest was concerned that the area was still going through a transition. The townhome, built in 2006, was originally listed for $266,000.
No. 3: Foreclosure find
Features such as an island in the kitchen and a fireplace in the family room of the three-bedroom, 3-1/2-bath townhome in Views at Lenox Crossing appealed to Mest. The townhome was being sold as-is, meaning Mest would have to handle any repairs. Compared to other homes she considered, the master bathroom was tiny, Mest said. The townhome, built in 2006, was originally listed for $284,000.
The Choice
No. 1. Mest faced competition when she put in an offer on the townhome, so she only asked $4,500 off the asking price. "It helped that we stayed around what they were asking. We were very aggressive with [the timing]. I could close in 21 days. I had a lot of the financing [paperwork] already done," said Mest, 37, who works in marketing and business development for Ernst & Young. While she isn't able to walk to Starbucks or Brookhaven eateries, the access to a pool and park were worth making that compromise. "Even though I've owned a place before," she said, "I feel like this is a real home"
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