Taking a homebuyers education workshop from the Urban League of Greater Atlanta gave Brenda Narcisse the practical know-how to buy a home.
“I had been wanting to be a homeowner for many years,” she said. “I just kept researching and educating myself.”
Narcisse, who lived in Douglasville, took the information and notes from the workshop and put them in a binder. If she came across terms she didn’t understand, she referred to her binder and online research, in addition to working with her agent, Dana Render of Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners.
Narcisse, a training administrator for a manufacturing company, considered these homes in Cobb County.
No. 1
Traditional in amenity-heavy neighborhood
A four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath home in Powder Springs’ Taylor Farm neighborhood was still furnished when visited. “It looked beautiful,” she said. The home also had new appliances and hardwood floors, but she was looking for bigger bedrooms. The yard was large and the neighborhood offered tennis courts, a playground, baseball and soccer fields, and other amenities. The home, built in 1998, was listed for $205,000.
No. 2
Brick with other buyers
A four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath home in the Rosewood Park neighborhood in Powder Springs was near the East-West Connector and I-75. “I wanted to live in the Powder Springs area. I wanted something in the radius of my job,” she said. The lawns in the neighborhood were manicured and neat, she said. Updates included interior paint and a stainless steel dishwasher. As she left, she learned that other buyers were interested in the house. The home, built in 2002, was listed for $180,000.
No. 3
Cottage-style exterior
A three-bedroom, three-bath home in the Concord Mill neighborhood in Austell boasted pretty features such as granite countertops, built-in shelving and a fireplace. She wanted at least three bedrooms, so it fit that criteria. She was concerned that it was located too close to stores on Austell Road, though. The home, built in 2010, was listed for $195,000.
The Choice
No. 2. “We didn’t have to look long,” said Narcisse. “When we drove up, I said, ‘Oh my goodness, this is nice from the outside.’ Then when I came inside, I said, ‘I like this house. This is my house.” Another buyer’s offer on the four-bedroom Powder Springs home originally won out. “I just kept praying, I said, ‘Lord, that’s my house,’” she said. A couple of weeks later, she called her agent to ask about the home. On the same day, the seller’s agent called to see if Narcisse was still interested. The other contract had fallen through. She closed on April 24, also working with Billie Cox of Element Funding in Covington. “I’m very grateful,” she said. “That’s always been my dream, to have a red brick house.”
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