Newcomer Living is a new feature that appears regularly in Homefinder. If you moved to Atlanta in 2012 or 2013, bought a residence and are willing to share your story, contact Lori Johnston at lori@fastcopy.biz.
Matt and Kelly Fowler viewed their move from Tennessee as an opportunity to experience city life. They first rented in Midtown, then looked to buy their first home in a walkable intown neighborhood.
Why Atlanta?
Matt’s job, with Deloitte Consulting, brought them to Atlanta. Kelly first visited when they came to look for apartments. They enjoyed living in Midtown, but with a budget of up to $250,000, their options in Midtown were limited, they found. The couple branched out to other intown neighborhoods, seeking to live close to restaurants, bars, shops and coffee houses. “We wanted a place where we could easily walk and not have to drive and get stuck in traffic,” said Kelly, 28, a schoolteacher.
Putting Down Roots
The couple had different preferences for the style of their home. Kelly desired cozy and comfortable; Matt wanted modern and industrial. Their agent, Meredith Miller of Atlanta Intown Real Estate Services, helped them purchase a property that appealed to both of them.
Copenhill Lofts in the Poncey-Highland neighborhood was a complex Matt had seen early on in Atlanta, before they officially began looking to buy a home. “When we started to look seriously with Meredith, I looked it up again and some new units were on the market,” said Matt, 29.
The units - built in 2001 - had features such as concrete walls and floors, but a charming, vintage feel, Kelly said. The 20-foot windows in their two-bedroom, two-bath loft are a surprising and favorite feature. “It kind of slaps you right in the face, in a good way. It did kind of take my breath away,” she said.
Copenhill Lofts’ location close to the Atlanta Beltline helped meet their desire to live in a walkable area. They also had to realize that living in options such as a high-rise tower may not be practical for potty-training a puppy (their boxer, Henry, is a year old).
The Fowlers, who moved in during November, have enjoyed hanging out with their neighbors, from grilling out and having cocktail hour to walking their dogs together.
Relocation Tip
If you have time, start looking long before you’re ready to buy to get a sense of the market and prices in different communities, Matt said. Also, if you are honest with your real estate agent about what you are seeking in a home, Kelly recommends being willing to look at places - and architectural styles - you might not have originally considered.
