Senior Living
After 16 years, Sandra Elkins came home to Georgia to live near her children and grandchildren, buying a one-story townhome in Sandy Springs near major hospitals on “Pill Hill” and shopping at Perimeter Mall.
By purchasing in a community that wasn’t age-restricted, Elkins, 73, surrounded herself with neighbors of all ages. Elkins, who moved from Florida, chatted about her brick home in the Autumn Chace neighborhood:
Q: Had you been considering a move for a long time?
A: I've been thinking about it for about a year. I lived in St. Petersburg. I have some wonderful friends, but they weren't my family. I'm an old Georgia girl. I'm from Savannah.
Q: What features were you seeking?
A: I wanted something that I didn't have to worry about the lawn outside. And I felt when (Debbie Sonenshine with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage) brought me here, I felt very secure. So she showed me several units in Autumn Chace and I chose this one.
Q: What made you feel secure about buying in this neighborhood?
A: Maybe it was the fact that I was about only 10 minutes away from one of my children. The people that I met that lived here loved it. Everybody who owned their own property, they just seemed so satisfied with it. I thought, "Not one complaint, that's pretty good."
Q: What did you like about the floor plan?
A: It was open and airy. Other units were not. When I walked into it, I looked at Debbie and I said, "I think we found it." She said, "Well, I'm not through with you. We're looking more." She still showed me other properties and still gave me a choice. I kept coming back to this one. She said, "Well, now I know this is yours."
Q: Your home has a walled-in courtyard, accessible from the breakfast area and master bedroom. Was that appealing to you?
A: That sold me, too. I have two small dogs. It's just a pleasure to open the door and let them go. Before, I lived in a townhouse and I had my own elevator.
Q: What’s it like to be living near your family again?
A: Wonderful. My oldest daughter's birthday was (in March) and they were my first guests at dinner. It was just so much fun to cook for them and to have them and their family sit around my table.
Q: Did you receive help decorating your home?
A: I brought everything from Florida. The only thing I needed was to take my things and place them in the right place. My oldest daughter recommended a wonderful decorator (Balance Design Atlanta). They were very understanding because most decorators want you to throw away this and get rid of that. And all of my things are precious to me. They worked with my things, and it's just great.
At a Glance
Sandra Elkins home, built in 1979 in Sandy Springs’ Autumn Chace community, has two bedrooms, two baths and about 1,900 square feet. She purchased it in February. Homes in Autumn Chace are priced in the high $100,000s to mid $300,000s.
