Proposal follows Cumming home purchase

Lifestyle Community

Major’s Mill Crossing

Mike Santowski, 26, wanted to have a home before he proposed to his girlfriend of six years, Mattie Leahy, 23. Real estate agent Maryanne Winchester of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty helped the couple take advantage of lower home prices and interest rates to buy a home they could grow into in Cumming’s Major’s Mill Crossing. Santowski, who works for Wells Fargo, chatted about buying a pre-foreclosure and how he proposed right after closing.

Q: Why focus on Cumming?

A: We really didn't at first. I grew up in Alpharetta/Johns Creek, so we looked in that area for a long time. We really didn't find anything we fell in love with, so we started expanding our search. My fiancee found this house with Maryanne. Obviously, she fell in love with it first and then showed it to me. Everything worked out real well. It's actually about 40 percent [lower than] what the guy paid a year or two years ago. I believe it was pre-foreclosure.

Q: What did you want in a home?

A: At first, we started looking at newer homes and kind of got priced out of our range on some of the upgrades we wanted in a new home, with granite countertops and nice cabinetry and hardwood floors. Then we started looking at older homes that were renovated, and we found out with just the upkeep with the older home, we were going to have to put additional money into just the maintenance. That's when we changed where we were looking so we could buy a newer home.

Q: Did this house have those kinds of interior features?

A: It had granite countertops and a double oven, hardwoods throughout the main. It has a bonus room upstairs and an office. It had all the features that we wanted. It was the model home, so it has a lot of upgrades -- surround sound and speakers in the ceiling.

Q: How much negotiating did you do with the seller?

A: He was having to negotiate with us, and the bank was involved, so we were having to negotiate with the bank and [the seller]. We would submit an offer, and he would have to go to the bank and get them to approve it. It was definitely an extended time.

Q: How did you propose?

A: The way it played out was we did the closing. Then we went back to the house. I proposed in the kitchen when we walked in. Leading up to that, I told her the whole time we've got to get a house and then we'll talk about getting engaged. I had convinced her it wasn't anywhere in the near future. But when we were at the closing, Maryanne let my mom in the back door, and my mom set up flowers and champagne.

At a glance

Mike Santowski’s home in Major’s Mill Crossing has four bedrooms, 21/2 baths and about 2,800 square feet of livable space. He bought it in August.

Major’s Mill Crossing

County: Forsyth

Information: 678-965-5774, www.majorsmillcrossing.com

Price range: $200,000s-$250,000s

Homes: 130

Square footage: About 2,000-2,800

Standard features: Covered front porches, crown molding, walk-in closets, hardwood floors and granite countertops

Amenities: Clubhouse, playground and pool

Homeowners fees: $114 a month ($350 initiation)

Builder: Homes by Brumby, Lowe Properties

Schools: Shiloh Point Elementary, Piney Grove Middle, South Forsyth High

More on schools: schools.ajchomefinder.com

Getting there

Take Ga. 400 north to Exit 13 (Ga. 141) and turn right on Ga. 141. Take a right onto Ronald Reagan Boulevard. Travel to the second light, Majors Road, and turn left. The community is immediately on the right.

For sale

$224,900: 8330 Village School Drive, Cumming 30041. A four-bedroom, 21/2-bath home built in 2009 with hardwood floors and the master on the main.

$239,900: 8210 Scuffle Bridge Lane, Cumming 30041. A new three-bedroom, 21/2-bath home with a second-floor loft and granite countertops in the kitchen.