Dusty and Mary Cummins were in an unusual situation. They had bought a new home from Traton Homes in 2009, then had to sell what had become their beloved west Cobb County home and move to Alabama for work. A year later, they had the opportunity to return to metro Atlanta, fondly remembering their old neighborhood and house.
The priority
With two boys — Carter, 7, and Blake, 4 — the family needed a floor plan with a playroom and an extra bedroom for guests such as their parents. Easy access to Interstate 575 and Ga. 400 were important, as well as a community with kid-friendly amenities such as a pool. The family visited neighborhoods all hours of the day, to gauge whether families were playing outside and using the amenities after school or on weekends.
The search
When the Cummins returned to Atlanta in 2012, they desired to buy another home from Traton Homes, whether it was an existing home or new construction. Marietta’s Paces Farm, where they lived previously, didn’t have homes or lots available, but they reconnected with Annette Davis, a real estate agent with Prudential Georgia Realty who had sold their home.
“When we came back, we knew exactly what we wanted. It was just a matter of finding it again,” said Dusty, 37, who works for Bancorp Bank in the fleet management division.
When they visited the Estates of Fernwood Creek, another Traton Homes neighborhood, to view a specific floor plan (the Glenwood), the couple realized the Woodstock community was a good fit. Estates of Fernwood Creek offered what they were seeking in terms of the location, schools (Arnold Mill Elementary, Mill Creek Middle and River Ridge High School), and amenities such as a pool. The community has homes from the low $400,000s.
The couple credits Davis and Traton Homes sales associate Ed Olwine for including the boys in the homebuying process, by talking to the kids on the family’s visits to the neighborhood and even showing Carter the floor plans.
“Obviously, having left Atlanta and moved to Alabama, and then coming back in a year was a lot of change for two little boys at once,” Dusty said. “Both Ed and Annette went out of their way to make sure the kids were included.”
The home
The five-bedroom, four-bath home offered the ability to turn the extra bedroom into a playroom and the living room could be turned into a home office for Dusty. The couple visited Traton’s design center in Marietta to select the brick colors, flooring, paint colors, fixtures and other items.
The lifestyle
The neighborhood is located in Woodstock, just across the Cherokee County line from Fulton County. The cheaper Cherokee County taxes are a plus, Dusty said, yet the location is still close to shops and restaurants in Alpharetta and the Crabapple area. The Cummins and their kids also have enjoyed visiting Roswell city parks and Canton Street, a popular Roswell dining and shopping district where families often stroll.
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