Georgia Tech graduate Meredith Herr was renting in Buckhead when she decided to invest in the area, home to some of Atlanta’s most popular shops, restaurants and bars, by buying a condo.
“I ended up staying in the same apartment for four years,” said Herr, 26, an information technology consultant. “I love this area. It’s just kind of home to me now.”
She had a conversation with her dad and decided that 2012 was a good time for her to buy. Buckhead had a condo boom before the housing market plummeted, so the choices were plentiful. Working with Jay Bailey of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty, Herr narrowed it to these three Buckhead condos.
No. 1
Heart of Buckhead
The Ovation condos boasted a prime spot next to the luxurious St. Regis Atlanta, at the intersection of Peachtree and West Paces Ferry roads and across the street from Whole Foods Market. The two-bedroom units appealed to Herr, who considered that they may be easier to sell in the future than a one-bedroom condo. Two-bedroom units in Ovation, which was built in 2006, are in the $200,000s.
No. 2
Unbeatable location?
Herr was surprised to find she could afford a condo in 10 Terminus Place, a high-rise at Peachtree Street and Piedmont Road within walking distance of stores, restaurants, coffee shops and gyms. A one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit in the mid-$200,000s on the 20th floor wowed her with high-end features such as marble countertops, a Sub-Zero refrigerator, a Wolf gas range and Toto fixtures. She had to weigh whether she wanted to invest in a condo with just one bedroom but luxury upgrades.
No. 3
Enough space?
Another one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit in Terminus boasted the same floor plan and similar features as No. 2. The amenities were abundant, such as a concierge, saltwater pool and spa, fitness center, furnished guest suites, and a clubroom with a catering kitchen. But the view from the 15th floor condo overlooked the roof, and combined with it only having one bedroom, Herr said she was unsure about resale potential. Terminus, built in 2008, has one-bedroom units in the $200,000s.
The Choice
No. 2. The one-bedroom condo is about 200 square feet larger than her apartment, which was only a half mile down Piedmont Road, but the layout makes it feel more spacious, Herr said. Extra space even came in the form of a double vanity in the bathroom. To negotiate the price, there was some back and forth. “I was all nervous, and my dad said you can’t get emotional about it,” Herr said. Finally, she had to decide whether continuing to negotiate for a lower price was worth it, since it would only increase her monthly mortgage by $20. “It was not worth it to lose it,” she said. She moved in during August.
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