The Search
Sisters Shokira and Robin Colvin decided to buy a home together, but their challenge was finding one with large enough bedrooms for both of them and features walk-in closets.
“We would find a house and she would really, really like it and I would be OK about it, and just vice versa,” said Shokira, 26, a technical support representative for a wireless company. “We had to find something that both of us liked.”
They also needed to make sure they both could afford their share of the mortgage payment, so they aimed for homes priced less than $100,000 in the DeKalb County communities of Lithonia and Ellenwood.
No. 1
Renovated split-level
The four-bedroom, three-bath home on Raiders Ridge Drive in Lithonia had been updated with new carpet and stainless steel appliances. The floor plan also had what they wanted, such as walk-in closets, and it also offered privacy in the backyard. The home, built in 1989 in the Raiders Ridge neighborhood, was listed for $106,900.
No. 2
Update on cul-de-sac
The three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath home on Salem Meadows Drive in Lithonia had a cosmetic transformation. The home stood out with its stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and tile floors. But there was a concern that they would need to do expensive repairs to the roof, and heating and air system. The home, built in 1998 in the Salem Hills neighborhood, was listed for $75,000.
No. 3
Foreclosure find?
The four-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath home on Cameron Close in Ellenwood had new paint and carpet. Extra touches included a bonus room and walk-in closet in the master. Both sisters agreed that the kitchen needed to be updated, however, but not immediately. The home, built in 1990 in the Cameron Hills neighborhood, was listed for $65,900.
The Choice
No. 3. A key step was working with their agent, Ro Presinger with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, to get estimates of potential repairs for their choices. “That helped us see if the money was worth it for the house,” Shokira said. They purchased the home in November. “You just really have to be patient, and in the long run, it seems to work itself out,” Shokira said. “It pays off.”
