A job opportunity brought Dr. Charnetta Colton back to the Atlanta area.
The pediatrician rejoined family members here but was undecided about where to live. She looked at homes in Fairburn, Smyrna and Mableton. But, in the end, she bought just around the corner from her sister and her best friend.
Colton knew she had high standards and wanted luxury features, but had to keep a budget in mind. She’s still trying to sell her previous home.
“What I was looking for was a very updated home,” she said.
Working with Shirley Y. Simmons, a real estate agent with Prudential Georgia Realty, Colton viewed these properties priced in the $200,000s.
No. 1 -- Luxury updates
A renovated four-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath single-family home in Fairburn’s Hampton Oaks neighborhood boasted a Viking separate refrigerator and freezer, Dacor appliances and a butler’s pantry. The bathroom was outfitted with dual shower heads and body sprayers and a Jacuzzi tub. The home also had a full unfinished basement. The home, built in 2007, was listed for $259,900.
No. 2 -- Townhouse with extras
A three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath townhome in Smyrna’s Carriage Hill neighborhood was an end unit with coffered ceilings, built-in bookcases, hardwood floors and granite countertops. The stone and frame townhome also had a one-car garage and was accessible to Interstate 285. The townhome, built in 2005, was listed for $209,900.
No. 3 -- New construction
A four-bedroom, three-bath townhome in Mableton’s Providence neighborhood, built by John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, offered a floor plan with a finished bonus or media room upstairs. The master bathroom had a tile floor and two walk-in closets, and the kitchen stood out with granite countertops, tile backsplash and an island with seating. The townhome, built in 2013 and two miles from I-285, was listed for $259,900.
The Choice -- No. 1.
Colton originally only considered townhomes because she wanted more compact space and thought she could get luxury features at a more affordable price than a single-family home. But after realizing some townhomes didn’t have space for her existing furniture, including her dining room table and chairs, Simmons suggested she looked at houses. Another issue was the idea of living in a unit connected to another unit, since Colton had already enjoyed the privacy of a single-family home. The Fairburn kitchen, with its “humongous island,” hardwood floors, granite countertops and commercial-grade, high-end appliances, sealed the deal. “I saw the home (online) on Wednesday, came to town that weekend, saw it physically, put a bid in the same day and got it the next day,” she said. She moved in during June. “I really just love how they’ve upgraded this home,” she said.
