As Dave and Lisa Renko's daughter Emily approached graduation from high school and enrolling at the University of Georgia, the family prepared by putting their Milton home on the market and looking for a smaller home that would fit their new lifestyle.
Builders have dropped prices since the housing market crash, so the Renkos had the opportunity to buy a new home, while staying in the Milton High School district for Emily and 14-year-old daughter Anna.
The priority
"Economically, we just felt like we had an opportunity to sell our house at decent price and buy a house that was very nice and in a great location. We were able to reduce our mortgage by half," said Dave, 49, who works for Merrill Lynch.
The couple had a five-bedroom, 4 1/2-bath within Milton, with about 4,500 square feet and on about 1 1/2 acres.
"Probably the biggest factor, really truly for us, was the price point," said Lisa, 47, director of marketing for North American On-Site.
The home
Their new home in Crabapple Station has the same number of bedrooms and baths, but about 3,400 square feet. "We went from a house that was really big, with a big footprint and unfinished basement, to a slab home," Dave said.
Their yard size dropped to less than a half-acre and is maintained by the homeowners association. The main feature they had to give up was a three-car garage. The new home is outfitted with features and finishes they had grown accustomed to, such as granite countertops, moldings and hardwood floors, Lisa said. The floor plan, with a guest bedroom on the main level, was a plus when their parents come to visit.
The Crabapple area has new homes, restaurants and shops. The Craftsman-style homes in Crabapple Station, by Acadia Homes and Neighborhoods, are priced from the $370,000s to the $440,000s.
The lifestyle
The walkable setting provides opportunities for them to strike up conversations with neighbors and spend time together. Dave said they have met people while out to eat in Crabapple and when those folks learn restaurants are within walking distance, they say, "That is so cool. We would love to be able to move here." The convenience of having restaurants near home, work and school has allowed them to meet for lunch as a family.
The tip
If downsizing from a traditional neighborhood with large lots, consider what type of lot size and amenities you want. The family likes the close-knit feel of Crabapple Station. "On a Saturday afternoon and sitting out on the patio, we'll talk to four or five neighbors in the span of an hour. We love that," Lisa said.
