Senior Living
Betty Hart’s home search focused on accommodating the needs of four generations of family members living together.
Hart, 62, director of New Beginnings Christian Academy in Kennesaw, needed to find a home for her 81-year-old mother, Mary Culver, her daughter, Amanda Dureng-Hart, and 2-year-old granddaughter, McKenzie.
At the same time, she didn’t want to move too far from work and set a price limit of $250,000. She chatted about her purchase in Acworth.
Q: What specific space needs did you have in mind?
A: I needed a place for my mother to be on the first floor with not having to do stairs. I also needed to consider a place that had a basement because my daughter helps me take care of my mother. I needed a place large enough to accommodate her and she wanted a place large enough to have her own space.
I needed something that I could have a little privacy, too, where I could go and get away from the stress and have some time alone, but still be able to care for my mother.
Q: How soon did you make an offer on the home?
A: My daughter and I saw the houses together. That particular house, we did not see together because of a work conflict. I went and saw it and then I took her over because she had to approve the basement. After she saw it, then we put the offer in.
Q: What was the basement’s condition?
A: It needed to be finished. We got some estimates on what it would cost me to finish the basement (ranging from $36,000-$60,000).
Q: How did the floor plan work for you?
A: The main thing is the bedroom on the first floor has a bathroom in it. In my current home, the bathroom is outside the bedroom. It made this perfect. There are three bedrooms upstairs. I have five grandchildren. I often keep them, so it's really nice because I have room for them to come and spend time with me.
Q: How did you think about future costs when buying?
A: No. 1, I did not want to go with a huge home that would eat up my retirement. What I could afford now versus what I could afford down the road had to be a major consideration. My plan is to retire in the next three to four years. I looked at what I project my income is going to be at the point at what I retire. I projected that my mortgage payment could only be $700. That meant I had to go for a really good interest rate. Fortunately, I was able to pull the money out to put down 50 percent on the home.
Q: What tips would you give buyers?
A: You definitely have to look at the physical layout of the house. Navigating stairs is only one part of it. Are the doorways wide enough? I saw a number of homes where you couldn't put a wheelchair in the door. I needed a set-in shower where I could put a seat in as opposed to having a spa tub.
At a Glance
Betty Hart’s home, built in 2000 in Acworth’s Mountain Brook neighborhood, has four bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths and about 3,000 square feet. She purchased it in October 2011, assisted by Amy Stevens with Keller Williams First Atlanta Realty. Home prices in the neighborhood range from the $200,000s to $230,000s.
