In looking for a new home, Rohn Newman thought it would be nice to walk with his family to restaurants in Crabapple. It just happened that the Milton property where he wanted to build became a new home community, Heritage at Crabapple, by Ashton Woods.
The priority
Rohn and his wife, Elisa, previously lived in a Roswell neighborhood near a busy street, which limited their opportunity for outdoor activities, such as family walks and bike rides with their children, Caleb, 3, and Eli, 2.
When the family visited the Crabapple area, Rohn noticed a pasture within walking distance of local restaurants, such as Vintage Pizzeria and Cans Taqueria, as well as top-rated elementary, middle and high schools. They hoped it would someday be developed, said Rohn, 46. At the same time, friends moved into a home built by Ashton Woods elsewhere and the Newmans were impressed by the floor plan and features.
“We decided it would be perfect, if Ashton Woods was building somewhere we wanted to be,” he said.
The search
One day, Rohn said he stopped at the pasture and asked a man what he knew about the property. The man responded, “I owned it until yesterday. I just sold it.”
The builder was Ashton Woods. The Newmans, working with BJ Martin of Harry Norman, Realtors, were one of the first people to choose a lot in the community, which was designed with walking paths, parks, sidewalks and a pool. The neighborhood has homes from the mid $700,000s to low $800,000s.
The home
The four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath home, with 3,800 square feet, offered a master on the main and secondary bedrooms that appeared to be larger than other homes they had seen, Rohn said. The connected living area and kitchen, with an island, can handle family events, such as more than 30 people coming over for Thanksgiving.
The Newmans opted to build on a slab, so the three-car garage is useful for storage.
Ashton Woods sales consultant Julie Gentry worked with their requests regarding the floor plan and the family moved in during February. They built a coffered ceiling over the two-story living area, which has a stone fireplace, to create an upstairs playroom. They adjusted the front porch to add a railing for safety.
Even though their new home is one-third larger than their previous house, the energy-efficient features has helped cut their monthly energy costs by 25 percent to 35 percent, Rohn said.
The tip
If you are choosing a lot, think about the proximity to neighborhood amenities, such as parks and trails. “We consider that our backyard is across the street in the park,” Rohn said. “The way the property is laid out, our porch faces the sunset. We’ve got a great view of the sunset.”
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