The Search
Susie Minton hadn’t visited Atlanta since the 1996 Olympics, other than changing planes at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, before she decided to move to Georgia.
“I certainly had known people who had lived here and people had enjoyed it,” she said.
When Minton got a job offer, she relocated from Allentown, Pa., to the city. She decided to purchase a home near I-20, searching from Midtown to Avondale Estates in DeKalb County, so she would have quick access to her job in Conyers.
“Interest rates being so favorable and the fact that I was able to find homes I was interested in, I looked at buying,” said Minton, 40.
She wanted a garage so she would have room for her mountain bike, kayak and other recreational equipment. Minton looked for homes during a four-day search with Annette Upton, a real estate agent with Harry Norman, Realtors.
No. 1
Fairly new in Kirkwood
The three-bedroom, 2 1/2- bath home on Elvan Avenue in the Hawthorn Park neighborhood replicated the Craftsman look, but with modern features. The home in DeKalb County’s Kirkwood community was outfitted with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops in the kitchen, as well as plantation shutters. The previous owner used accent colors such as blues, oranges and lime greens that Minton had in her former residence, so she wouldn’t have to paint right away. The home had a detached two-car garage, but no laundry room. It was built in 2004 and listed for $385,000.
No. 2
Older, with updates needed
The three-bedroom, two-bath home on 4th Avenue in Decatur’s Oakhurst neighborhood was built in 1935, which Minton appreciated, and came with a plus – space to store her outdoor equipment. “It had a big garage. There aren’t a lot of homes in this part of Atlanta that have garages. Because of my toys, it was a requirement for me,” she said. The home was priced at $349,000, but Minton expected she would have had to redo the bathrooms and spend at least $30,000 to level the lot.
No. 3
Downtown Decatur setting
The three-bedroom, 3 1/2-bath townhome in Decatur’s Knob Hill on Church community was similar to Minton’s residence in Pennsylvania, which also was a townhome. The brick townhome had a two-car garage and features such as walk-in closets, 9-foot ceilings and all appliances. The townhome, built in 2006, was listed for $344,900 and Minton wondered if she could find a single-family home elsewhere in the same price range.
The Choice
No. 1
Minton and the seller agreed on a price for lower than asking, but a potential roadblock appeared when the appraisal came in lower than the accepted price. The seller decided to accept what had been Minton’s initial offer. But Minton paid closing costs and didn’t ask the seller to make any changes. “They approached this sale very similarly to how I approached [my] sale in Allentown: You’re getting a great deal, you either take it or don’t take it,” she said. “I knew I was getting the house for less than they paid for it in 2004.” She’s enjoyed living close to intown restaurants and reaching work in about 30 minutes. “I haven’t experienced the awful traffic that everyone talks about in Atlanta,” she said. As for the missing laundry room, Minton purchased a stacked European washer and dryer and put it in a hall closet.
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