The Search
A job opportunity directed Brian and Beth Allain to Atlanta's northern suburbs, so that's where they launched their home search.
The empty-nesters moved from the Charleston, S.C., area to Atlanta for Brian's job with State Farm Insurance in Johns Creek. Beth then got a job at Alpharetta First United Methodist Church.
Forsyth County offered the appeal of lower taxes, compared to Gwinnett and Fulton counties, they said. They found three options for new construction, which meant they wouldn't have to worry about investing in major updates or replacing old systems.
No. 1
Too much space?
The homes in Enclave on Johns Creek offered the option for a third car garage, which appealed to Brian, a triathlete seeking space for his bicycles. The Wesley floor plan had four bedrooms and about 3,255 square feet, but the couple wondered if it was too big of a house. One appealing feature was having a guest bedroom with a bathroom on the main floor, in addition to the master on the main. The layout included a formal living room, which they didn't need but could turn into an office or library. The Ashton Woods Homes community has homes in the $400,000s.
No. 2
Agreeable builder
New homes in StoneCrest at Johns Creek offered the master on the main floor plan they desired. Builder KM Homes also was willing to help them expand the garage, Brian said. One concern was the small closets and lack of a coat closet in the entryway. The neighborhood did, however, have yard work included in the homeowner's association fee. StoneCrest has homes from the $330,000s.
No. 3
Basement available
A floor plan in Copper Creek, also in Cumming, met their master bedroom requirements and had an unfinished basement and two-car garage. With an eye on closets, they discovered walk-in closets in all four bedrooms. They would have to buy sight unseen, though, as Ashton Woods Homes had no finished homes with the Columbia floor plan, with about 2,600 square feet. Homes in Copper Creek are in the $300,000s.
The Choice
No. 3. The couple moved into their new home in Copper Creek in November, on Beth's birthday. "I thought that was a really awesome gift," she said. "I kept telling my husband that for Christmas he had to top it." They were assisted by Kent O'Callaghan with Harry Norman, Realtors in the purchase. They've been pleased to see more homes sell in the neighborhood. "We feel like we're in a healthy subdivision that's growing," Beth said.
