Having a child can change a buyer’s priorities. Dustin and Trisha Roach considered what was missing from their neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri, when they moved to Georgia with their 3-year-old son, Tyler.
The priority
The couple desired a family-friendly neighborhood where Tyler could meet friends and play outside. Their previous neighborhood didn’t have children Tyler’s age or many kid-friendly amenities. “We wanted our son to grow up where he could make friends with kids in the neighborhood and have activities when he’s home from school,” Trisha said.
The search
The couple looked for a home in metro Atlanta while still living in Kansas City. Dustin, 40, works for Schuff Steel Co., and Trisha, 30, is a national account sales manager at PepsiCo.
“We were coming from out of town, so we didn’t have a normal 9-to-5 time frame to look at the houses,” Trisha said.
Braselton’s Chateau Elan Estates, in Gwinnett County, has homes ranging from the high $300,000s to $4 million and amenities such as four golf courses. The community spans 3,500 acres, with multiple neighborhoods and builders.
“There are many communities inside of Chateau Elan with various styles and price ranges. We were shocked when our real estate agent told us we could have a house here that was in our price range,” Trisha said.
They said they were surprised at how easy it was to purchase the home while being out of state.
“We closed on our house in Kansas City, packed our son’s things and our cat, drove 13 hours and they (the Chateau Elan Estates sales agents) were waiting for us when we got there,” she said.
The home
Their five-bedroom, four-bath home was built in 2014 in the Creekside neighborhood at Chateau Elan Estates. Homes in Creekside, built by O’Dwyer Homes, range from the high $300,000s to high $400,000s.
“We chose the O’Dwyer home because the open floor plan helps me keep an eye on my son at all times. We like to entertain, so we didn’t want anyone to feel blocked off,” Trisha said.
The Craftsman-style home had special touches, such as 10-foot ceilings, crown molding and windowsills that are deep enough for their cat to sit on. There’s a balcony off the master suite, where the parents drink coffee in the morning.
The first time they saw the home, Trisha remembers their son running in, looking back and asking, “Mommy, is this our new home?”
“We all felt emotional right away. We have videos of him looking at his room and bathroom that we still love to watch,” she said.
The lifestyle
Since moving in during 2015, the couple has enjoyed the proximity to Publix, which is across the street from the neighborhood, and outdoor amenities, including the pool area and its cafe.
”It’s nice to come home, get in the golf cart and ride over to the cafe for dinner,” Trisha said.
Other special activities include a parents’ night out with babysitting. In addition, the couple has been impressed with safety features.
“The sense of security you feel when your kid is outside playing is amazing. There are security officers driving around the neighborhood at all times,” Trisha said.
The Gwinnett County schools are Duncan Creek Elementary School, Osborne Middle School and Mill Creek High School. The neighborhood is next to Chateau Elan, a winery and resort modeled after a French chateau. The community is located just over a mile from Interstate 85 in northern Gwinnett County, and about 50 miles from downtown Atlanta.
“They’ve created such a rich community feel that you don’t notice there’s main highways and roads all around you,” Trisha said. “Once you get out of the main complex, it’s easily accessible to anything you need.”
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