Townhome was built to his taste

A builder’s special effort to provide Jason Whitehurst the floor plan and exterior look that he desired sealed his first home purchase.

Whitehurst, 26, an IT consultant, chatted about his townhome in Smyrna’s Westbury at Vinings (phase two of the Pulte Homes community, currently under way, is called Overlook at Westbury).

Q: Where did you move from?

A: I had been living in Midtown in an apartment.

Q: Did you see the benefits of buying in 2009?

A: I did. Obviously the interest rates were great. I even went with Pulte Homes, and they were giving good deals if you went with their mortgage company.

Q: How long did you look?

A: I was officially looking for probably three months. I did get a Realtor (Hannah Parker with Keller Williams Atlanta Real Estate). I knew I didn't want a condo, but I wasn't sure what I wanted as far as a single-family home or townhome.

Q: What requirements did you have?

A: I had one rule I told my agent: I had to be able to see the TV from the kitchen. Otherwise, there was no way I was going to cook dinner.

Q: Why did the townhome win out?

A: At that price point in that area, the difference is a 1960s ranch compared to a new townhome. The townhome is plenty big. I have 2,200 square feet, which is way more than I need as a single guy. Obviously, you're giving up the yard.

Q: What was the house hunt process like?

A: They knew I was interested in a certain home there. It had a certain style I liked on the exterior. But I really wanted an end unit. So I just wasn't willing to make the jump and say, "Yeah, I'll take it." They specifically built the end unit to my taste knowing it would make me more willing to jump on it, and it did.

Q: What about the exterior appealed to you?

A: It's a three-story brick with a garage in the front and balcony doors on the front (off the second floor).

Q: What interior features did you like?