Newcomer Living is a new feature that will appear regularly in Homefinder. If you moved to Atlanta in 2012 or 2013, bought a residence and are willing to share your story, contact Lori Johnston at lori@fastcopy.biz.
Dr. Charles W. Campbell Jr., , a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, embraced a new experience as a home buyer when he moved to Atlanta. For the first time in his life, Campbell purchased a home that was under construction.
Campbell found ways to keep track of progress on the Powder Springs home, first while he was out of town for job training and then when he officially moved to Georgia.
Why Atlanta?
Campbell, 58, relocated from Colorado Springs, Colo., to Atlanta for his job as a regional managing physician with Lockheed Martin in Marietta. He worked with Keyla Berry, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Atlanta, who he met through the Cartus Relocation Network, which provides relocation services for companies.
Campbell hoped to find a new two-story house with a basement. He first looked online to narrow down his choices. The wealth of homes in new neighborhoods in metro Atlanta enabled him to find a new home in just one visit, during a family reunion in July 2012.
“There’s so much you can do over the Internet,” Campbell said. “I actually got here on a Thursday, then we looked on Friday and I pretty much made a decision that day.”
Campbell adds that newcomers should do as much online research as possible and communicate with your agent about what you desire in a home, to maximize your time touring homes.
Putting down roots
Campbell was used to having a short period of time to make a decision, and in the past he’s looked at these key factors - the quality, the price, the commute and the schools. Since his children did not move to Georgia, he did not focus as much on the schools. But he desired a commute of 30 minutes or less.
Campbell discovered a five-bedroom, four-bath home under construction in Hawthorne at Lost Mountain, a Cobb County neighborhood with new homes starting in the $280,000s. The home was at the stage where the builder, EAH Homes, still could make changes, and Campbell chose to add options such as a third-car garage. “I have a lot of friends and relatives in the area, so when they come in, it’s a place to have a car so it doesn’t have to stay outside,” he said.
The home, with about 3,350 square feet, also has features including hardwood floors, a frameless shower in the master bathroom, coffered ceilings and granite countertops, an island and a double oven in the kitchen.
Campbell closed on the home in November, moving items from Colorado as well as Louisiana, where he was previously stationed with the Air Force. Since then, he’s enjoyed the Atlanta location, which has enabled him to visit family, including a 95-year-old aunt and uncle in Alabama, and see a Falcons playoff game in the Georgia Dome.
Relocation tip
Make it a point to get a home inspector. Since Campbell was out of town for part of the building process, he used an inspector twice, in the pre-drywall stage and then when the home was complete. The inspector, builder and Campbell were able to communicate about any changes needed during construction to avoid surprises later. As Campbell’s agent, Berry also kept him informed about the construction status by meeting with the builder once they reached the drywall stage and sending him photos that showed the progress of the home.
About the Author
