With commutes in opposite directions — Gwinnett County and downtown Atlanta — Douglas Heend and Emily Treuman focused on finding a townhouse or condo located between their jobs and close to a MARTA station.
Since they weren’t ready to take care of a lawn, they focused on townhouses and condos, said Heend, 29, a project manager.
Within a month and a half, Heend and Treuman, 28, a teacher, found strong contenders, including these three Atlanta properties. They bought their first place a month before their July 2012 wedding.
No. 1
Luxurious living
A two-bedroom, two-bath condo on Lenox Road in Buckhead boasted top-of-the-line kitchen appliances and other luxury touches throughout. “It was a beautiful unit. The people who lived there obviously had spent a lot of money upgrading the unit,” Heend said. But they were concerned about the homeowners association fees, which were $576 a month, he said. Their research showed that the oven cost $12,000, for example, so if they ever needed to replace the appliances, it could be expensive. The condo in The Wiltshire, built in 1999 and with amenities including a pool, fitness center, clubroom and gated covered parking, was listed for $275,000.
No. 2
Strong school district
Another two-bedroom, two-bath condo, also in Buckhead’s The Wiltshire complex, was on another floor and cheaper because it didn’t have details as extravagant as those in No. 1. The condos, within walking distance of MARTA’s Lenox Square station, were in the desirable Sarah R. Smith Elementary School district. But the homeowner’s association fees were still higher than they wanted to pay. The condo, built in 1999, was listed for $225,000.
No. 3
Like new
A three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath townhome in Atlanta’s Ashford Creek community was an end unit with a two-car garage. The unit was outfitted with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, a walk-in pantry and marble backsplash in the kitchen. “Everything was still in great shape. It was a lot of space, too,” Heend said. Plus, the community was located within 10 minutes of two MARTA stations, in Dunwoody and Brookhaven. The homeowner’s association fees were lower, at $225 a month, for the gated community, which had a pool, clubhouse and fitness center. The unit, built in 2005, was listed at $299,000.
The Choice
No. 3. When their agent, Mandy Thompson with Harry Norman, Realtors, called to tell them that another buyer was putting in a bid on the Ashford Creek townhome, they decided to submit an offer. To show they were serious buyers and to stand out among the other offers, the couple were willing to close within a month (they were on a month-to-month lease). Their offer was accepted, without the sellers countering. They closed on the home in June. Heend said it was important to look at the total price, factoring in the taxes, mortgage and homeowners association fees.
