The Search
After looking at rental houses, Matt Canning decided it was a better financial decision for him to buy and find a roommate who could help him with his monthly mortgage.
But Canning, 35, who works for law firm Alston & Bird as an enterprise remote connectivity engineer, wanted a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home, with space for a roommate and guests, such as Canning’s parents from out of town.
He invited his parents to visit and help him search with his agent, Emily Sanders of Atlanta Intown Real Estate Services. These three homes in Atlanta’s Kirkwood neighborhood were the contenders.
No. 1
Great condition
A three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath home on Hosea Williams Drive in the Kirkwood area had a master on the main and the other two bedrooms upstairs, offering privacy for Canning and a roommate. Features included a fireplace, 9-foot ceilings, Corian kitchen countertops, ample closet space, and a deck and front porch. The home, built in 2002, was listed for $189,900, and although it was at the top of his price range, the home didn’t require repairs.
No. 2
Needs TLC
A four-bedroom, two-bath home on Rockyford Road in Kirkwood had the bonus of a basement. Canning also was impressed with the master bedroom, which opened via French doors to the deck. “The master bedroom was almost the size of a football field,” he said. Built in 1940, the home’s age was showing and repairs were needed to the foundation and pipes. It was listed for $145,000.
No.3
Short sale
A three-bedroom, two-bath ranch on Clay Street in Kirkwood offered unexpected amenities, such as an above-ground pool surrounded by a deck and a glassed-in porch. “You could tell the people who lived there cared about the house and put a lot of extras into it,” he said. The street had more evening foot traffic than other homes, so he had to weigh the location. The home, built in 1947, was listed for $119,000.
The Choice
No. 1. It also was his parents’ favorite, too. “They know that I’m not the kind of person who is going to spend all of my weekends working on the house and to fix it up, and frankly they’re right about it,” he said. “They were telling me, when you buy your first house, it’s a much better idea to buy something that you can move right into. Otherwise, it’s probably going to frustrate you and you’re not going to enjoy the house as much.” He bought the home in April and moved right in. He recommends that buyers consider the time and money needed for repairs. “Decide how much commitment you have toward fixing a house. Are you the type of person that’s going to get up every weekend and put work into your house?”
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