Kyle Johnson had wanted to buy a home for several years, but distance hindered his house hunt. Johnson, a specialist for the U.S. Army, was stationed in Afghanistan.
It took switching real estate agents and making multiple offers, but Johnson put a contract on a new home while still in the military. He worked with Keyla Berry of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. Johnson, 25, chatted about his home in Coldwater Creek, a Wilson Parker Homes community in Atlanta’s Camp Creek area.
Q: Why did you want to buy a home at this time?
A: I wanted a house to come home to (after leaving the military). I’ve been trying to do it for a while. That’s probably the hardest thing I’ve ever tried to do, to get the house.
Q: What problems arose since you weren’t in the country?
A: You’re not there to stay on top of people and call them in person. The time difference is so much.
Q: How were you viewing homes?
A: I was just looking at them online.
Q: Did you put offers on any others than the one you purchased?
A: I was under contract at least 10 times. They all fell through.
Q: Why did they fall through?
A: For different reasons. Some were short sales and the bank didn’t want to sell (when he placed an offer). I told them, “I’m about to pay you right now. What are you waiting for?” Three or four houses were like that. None of the agents could get me closed on a house. I went through probably six or seven Realtors.
Q: Was it hard to keep searching?
A: I had doubts when I stared talking to Keyla. I had been with a ton of different agents that all promised the same thing. She was fast. The second I asked her a question, she responded right then. She got it done.
Q: What did you want in a home?
A: I wanted a modern design, hardwood floors, granite counter-tops. I wanted it close to the airport (Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport). I was looking for at least five bedrooms.
Q: How did your price range change?
A: My price range originally was a lot lower. But the thing with the houses was bidding wars were going on. I’d bid 10 grand over some houses before and didn’t get some bids. Keyla said if it’s a brand new house being built, you won’t have to bid on it. We did that.
Q: How did you find the house you bought?
A: Originally, the house I was going to buy wasn’t the one I got now. I was going to build another one. It was taking too long. I was like, “I come home in two months. There is no way you can build a house in 60 days.” Keyla said there’s a house across the street that’s already been built. We switched the contract and went from there.
Q: Did you have put your faith in your agent?
A: I wanted a lot of pictures. I guess technically you could send people pictures of anything. She definitely kept her end of the bargain. She was good.
Q: How difficult was it to be in Afghanistan when your home was being built?
A: It was a little bit nerve-wracking. I had closed and never even seen this house. I talked to a few people and they were like, “Man, you’re crazy.” I pulled up and saw it and was like, “Thankfully, it’s not a crack house.”
At a Glance
Kyle Johnson’s new home in Coldwater Creek has five bedrooms, three baths and about 3,000 square feet. He purchased the home in June. Wilson Parker Homes has homes from the $180,000s.
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