Low interest rates spur search for house

The low interest rates and looming adjustable rate mortgage deadline prompted Keith and Nicole Bartig’s hunt for a single-family home. Keith, 32, chatted about their new home in WestBrook Park, an O’Dwyer Homes community.

Q: Where were you living?

A: A condo in Atlantic Station. With interest rates the way that they are, I thought what we ought to do is get the house now and take advantage of the buyer's market and the interest rate.

Q: What was a priority for you?

A: I wanted to avoid a really long commute (he works downtown and Nicole works in Buckhead). We really wanted to get away from some of the crime. As we lived in Atlantic Station, those got a lot more frequent. It was a balance of safety and avoiding the long commute. We kept pushing farther and farther out, but still trying to maintain that reasonable commute.

Q: Did you want an existing or new home?

A: We wanted new construction. That limited our search quite a bit. We just happened to come across WestBrook Park. We knew it was the upper end of our price range, but when we toured the model, the model looked so fantastic, we were like, could we ever afford this type of place?

Q: What made you pursue it?

A: The thing that lured us in was a sign that said, "You buy our home; we buy yours." We were already having a difficult time selling the condo. It turned out that we weren't able to do that (they didn't meet the incentive's requirements). We still went ahead with the deal and signed a contract contingent on the sale of our condo. That was in January 2009. It took until late October to sell our condo. O'Dwyer was willing to wait on us. As soon as we had a firm contract, O'Dwyer started building.

Q: What did you like about the homes and the neighborhood?

A: The quality of the homes was better in comparison to other builders. Being one of the first people in the subdivision, we were able to get a cul-de-sac lot.

Q: What interior feature stood out?

A: The third-story retreat. That's something I haven't seen in other homes. It's like finishing a part of the attic. It looks like a regular room. We did that for the media room.

Q: How did you learn about your potential commute?

A: So when we were leaving WestBrook Park the first time, we knew we were kind of in an area where my good friend lives. He had been doing the commute for the past five years, and he said Smyrna is a great neighborhood because it's outside the Perimeter but you've got multiple options to take back roads into town and stay off the expressways.

Q: Did you get to negotiate the price?

A: It was already discounted, and then they were able to come down quite a bit more for us. A lot of places, if you did a contingency, they wouldn't bargain on price at all. While we took a hit on the condo, we were able to make up for it and then some with the deal we got on the house.

WestBrook Park

Address: 478 Parkside Terrace, Smyrna 30082

County: Cobb

Information: 770-801-0376, www.odwyerhomes.com

Price range: Mid $300,000s-high $400,000s

Homes: 30

Square footage: 2,700, on average

Lot sizes: A third an acre, on average

Standard features: Granite countertops, hardwood floors, double ovens, Energy Star-rated, crown molding, tile baths

Amenities: Community park

Homeowners fees: $500 a year ($500 initiation fee)

Developer: Development Partners

Builder: O’Dwyer Homes

Broker: Emerald Properties

Schools: King Springs Elementary, Griffin Middle, Campbell High

More on schools: schools.ajchomefinder.com

Getting there

Take I-75 north to I-285 west to Exit 15 (South Cobb Drive). Travel north on South Cobb Drive and turn left onto King Springs Road. Turn right onto Reed Road, which dead ends at North Cooper Lake Road. Turn left onto North Cooper Lake Road. The neighborhood is a half-mile on the right.

For sale

$414,300: 4253 Parkside Court, Smyrna 30082. A five-bedroom, four-bath home on a cul-de-sac with a wraparound porch, a fireplace in the master bedroom and a basement.