Angela Kornfield is thankful that her dad encouraged her to buy her own place. He suggested that she shouldn’t throw away her money on rent, and Kornfield, 28, a retail services manager at AmericasMart Atlanta, discovered that a mortgage payment could equal the rent she could pay for an apartment.
She saved her bonuses for two years and received some financial help from her dad, putting 20 percent down on a condo in Viewpoint, a complex in Midtown. Kornfield, who worked with Blair Branch Huckeba of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, chatted about her first place.
Q: How long did you search for a condo?
A: About two to three months. I work downtown, so I was looking at condos downtown in the beginning. My Realtor pretty much forced me to look at this one. I wanted two bedrooms. It's a one-bedroom, but it had a separate den. That's what she used to convince me to go see it. The separate den and closet were enough for a guest space. I am so close to restaurants (favorites include Cypress Street Pint & Plate, Bocado, The Spence and the Lawrence) and Piedmont Park and really everything Atlanta has to offer.
Q: What is the view like?
A: This one is on the 29th floor, so it has an amazing view of upper Midtown and Buckhead. Right when you walk in, it's gorgeous. You can see Piedmont Park and Stone Mountain.
Q: Were you competing with other buyers?
A: We knew there had been other offers. I think my offer was less than at least one of the other offers. I had a conventional loan because I was able to put 20 percent down. I think that gave me a little bit of advantage.
Q: What was the condition of the unit?
A: The owner bought it when it was brand-new. He had been renting it out. I was surprised at how well the renters had taken care of it. It was completely empty when I went to look at it. It was just a blank space. The wood floors, the cabinets, the granite countertops were just really modern and sleek.
Q: What’s something you learned about the home-buying process?
A: All of it. I didn't know anything about loans and interest rates. I didn't know anything about the homeowner's association fees (her one-bedroom unit is around $250 a month). The amenities are really nice there. It has a theater room, a terrace and a nice pool.
Q: What did your dad think about your condo?
A: I bought it without telling him. He was out of the country for almost a month. I had to quickly put an offer down. I flew out there to meet him and was like, "I bought a place." He likes the view, the city life.
Q: What’s a tip for buyers?
A: I definitely shopped around for the loan and the best interest rate, and it paid off (Jessica Jakulski with LoanSouth Mortgage helped her secure a 3.27 percent interest rate). I had my Realtor and any friends who bought before send me their contacts.
At a glance
Angela Kornfield’s condo, built in 2008 in Atlanta’s Viewpoint complex, has one bedroom, one bath and about 803 square feet. She bought it in February. Condos in Viewpoint range from the high $100,000s to mid-$600,000s.
