By Carolyn Crist
For the AJC
When Crystal and Troy Francois lost property value and money on a short sale in south Fulton County two years ago, they rented near their daughter’s school while deciding their next move. As they took the steps to become homeowners again, they were pleased to find an affordable house in an East Point neighborhood near 7-year-old Alanah’s Montessori school.
The priority
The Francois family didn’t want to change Alanah’s school and wanted to keep their commutes short. “We really wanted Alanah to be able to stay there because Montessori school is so specialized,” said Crystal, 32, a special education teacher with Drew Charter School in Atlanta. “And once we found this one with the big yard, it almost felt like we were living in the country rather than the city.”
The search
They looked in College Park but didn’t find many homes available in the small historic area. To free up dollars for their daughter’s education, the couple sought affordable options in East Point. They found a traditional two-story home with a large yard for under $150,000, which they thought would only be available farther south in communities such as Peachtree City or Fayetteville.
The couple knew the home was the one, but it took three attempts to land it. When they first made an offer in August 2013, the seller became ill and was hospitalized, then took the home off the market. During the second offer, the seller was unwilling to negotiate the price. Crystal was ready to give up, but Troy, 32, art director for advertising agency Brandmovers, liked the sunroom and yard, which is nearly three-quarters of an acre, and convinced her the deal would fall into place. After visiting family in Pennsylvania and Washington D.C., during Christmas, they made a third offer, which was finally accepted. “We were friends with our Realtor Sandra Smith (with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage) because her son went to school with Alanah, and she was very patient with us, knowing what we went through with our previous home,” Crystal said.
The home
The home, built in 1962, has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, and about 2,695 square feet. Troy and Crystal said they never expected to find a spacious home with a yard in the city, and they’re looking forward to hosting out-of-town family and Alanah’s friends. They closed on the home in February and worked throughout March to prepare the home — by opening a wall, painting and carpeting — before moving in during the last weekend of the month. “I’ve always wanted Alanah to be in a house where everyone comes over to play as she grows up, and now we even have space for a pool, trampoline or swing set,” Crystal said. “Most of all, I have that feeling when I walk in the door that it feels like home.”
The lifestyle
The couple has been pleased with the 20-minute commute to Alanah’s school and their workplaces. They’ve also taken to spending as much time as possible in the sunroom and the yard. “We joke with our friends when they come over that we’re going to hook up a fridge in the sunroom and practically live outside,” Crystal said.
When searching and prioritizing your child’s education, be patient, she added. “It took us a long time. Start looking early so you can get to know the market. Trust your instincts and know when it’s the right house for you and your family.”
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