Lifestyle Community
English Oaks
Living in a one-bedroom condo since their 2008 wedding, Justin and Laura Rutland needed more space to start their family. It was perfect timing: Two weeks after moving, they discovered Laura was pregnant. Laura, 30, who works in Cobb County Magistrate Court, chatted about their home in Kennesaw’s English Oaks neighborhood.
Q: How long did you look?
A: We had looked on and off for probably a year or so. And nothing really ever worked out, so we just had to wait for the right moment.
Q: What were you looking for in a home?
A: We have a large dog (Paisley, a lab-hound mix), so the first thing on our list was a fenced-in backyard. We wanted a well-maintained neighborhood. We wanted more bedrooms than we had (in the condo), but we were surprised at what we got. We have four bedrooms and three baths.
Q: Why did you focus on Kennesaw?
A: I knew a couple of people that had lived out here and had recommended this area. So when I started looking, I found the neighborhood that we live in now and it met all of my needs.
Q: What did you like about English Oaks?
A: The houses look pretty. The yards are well-maintained. It has a homeowners association, which we wanted. A big thing is it backs up to Swift-Cantrell Park, which is nice to be able to go for a walk over there. The park was a big deal for me.
Q: Did you decide on this home immediately?
A: The day we came and found this one, I didn’t want to admit it to myself, but I knew it was the house we were going to buy. But we didn’t want to just make a quick decision. So we weighed our options and looked at other houses.
Q: What did you like about the interior?
A: It’s very open. I like a lot of windows. They had repainted and put new carpet in, so everything was nice and crisp looking. It was just bright. The previous owners had taken really good care of everything and we noticed it right off the bat. You could tell they had loved the house and had taken care of it.
Q: How difficult was the financing process?
A: Getting everything together was crazy. We were having to jump through hoops because my husband was in the Marines, so we got a VA loan. It was to a point where I was about to wheel my file cabinet into my loan guy’s office and say, “You just find what you need.” It took a while, but it worked out.
Q: What do you love about the home?
A: We have so much room. My husband has an office, which he calls his man room. He’s got a workshop. I still have the condo mentality, where I stay in one little area and forget there’s more to the house.
At a Glance
Justin and Laura Rutland’s home in English Oaks, which was built in 1999, has four bedrooms, three baths and about 1,800 square feet of livable space. They purchased it in October.
English Oaks
County: Cobb
Information: englishoakshoa.com
Price range: $120,000s-$200,000s
Number of homes: 356
Square footage: 1,400-2,200 (for homes on the market)
Lot sizes: Less than one-third to one-half acre
Amenities: Pool, tennis courts, playground
Homeowners fees: $320 a year
Schools: Kennesaw Elementary, Awtrey Middle, North Cobb High
More on schools: schools.ajchomefinder.com
Getting there
Take I-75 north to Exit 273 (Wade Green Road). Turn left. Turn right onto Jiles Road. Turn right into English Oaks.
For sale
$149,900: 3425 English Oaks Drive N.W., Kennesaw 30144. A four-bedroom, three-bath split-level home built in 2000, with new flooring and paint throughout.
$200,000: 2641 English Oaks Lane, Kennesaw 30144. A four-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath home built in 1999, with fresh paint and a renovated master bathroom.
Recent sales
$122,000: 3554 Daventry Lane N.W., Kennesaw 30144. A three-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath home built in 1999, with separate dining room and a patio area with fenced yard.
$172,500: 3517 Daventry Lane, Kennesaw 30144. A four-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath home built in 1999, with granite countertops in the kitchen and hardwood floors on the main level.
Community information provided by Emmet Howe with Harry Norman, Realtors, and compiled by Delaney Young.
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