The Search
Anita Hall took her time searching for her first home, thanks to her friends. She lived with them after moving out of her Sandy Springs rental, giving her months to look at different intown neighborhoods.
“I had really great friends with kids. It worked out that I could help babysit while looking for a place,” said Hall, 47, a speech language pathologist with Fulton County Schools. “I learned what I liked, I learned what I could eliminate, I learned what areas weren’t really feeling good to me.”
Agent Crystal Sloan with Keller Williams Realty Premier Atlanta showed her homes from Atlanta’s Ormewood Park and Grant Park to Vinings to Roswell and Sandy Springs, where she had rented and worked, before finally finding her home in Decatur.
“I just didn’t think I could afford to live in the city,” she said.
No. 1
Expanded and updated
The three-bedroom, two-bath home on Ridgefield Terrace in Decatur’s University Heights neighborhood had a redone master bathroom and a new patio, as well as kitchen updates. A family room with a fireplace also had been added to the home, which was built in 1955 and originally listed for $225,000. But Hall was concerned about water drainage in the sloped yard, which she thought was too small.
No. 2
Adorable bungalow
The three-bedroom, one-bath home on Vistamont Drive in University Heights was just “too darn cute,” Hall said. The brick bungalow, built in 1952 and originally listed for $229,900, had a screened porch and a fenced backyard. Extra details included a gas stove in the kitchen and paneling in the dining room. The home’s age didn’t show, due to a new roof and copper plumbing, and changes in the bathroom, such as a resurfaced tub and new sink, mirror and fixtures. But the home, which had a partially finished basement, had only the one bathroom.
No. 3
Near downtown Decatur
The fenced backyard and screened porch stood out in this three-bedroom, one-bath home on Woodhaven Drive in Decatur’s Springdale Heights neighborhood. But Hall wasn’t thrilled with the floor plan. A bonus room addition made her wonder if she would face high energy costs. She also had to weigh the charming curb appeal of the home, built in 1947, with the higher price and investing in some updates; it was originally listed at $275,000.
The choice
No. 2
The home had been a rental property, and after the renters moved out, the sellers decided to renovate and sell it, Hall said. “We gave them a low offer and they rejected it. We countered back and forth until we got to a price,” she said. “It’s exactly what I wanted.” She moved in during June. “I couldn’t be happier with my choice. I continue to discover things about the neighborhood. I’ve got great neighbors. There’s a community garden. There’s great walking trails around here. It’s accessible to the city,” she said.
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