By Carolyn Crist
Fast Copy News Service
Nicholas Karno and Sarah Rainwater were worried about paying their $1,000 monthly rent when Sarah didn’t have a job at the beginning of 2015. When they realized a mortgage would be cheaper than rent, Nick’s grandparents offered to help them with a down payment.
Working with Summer Brady of Keller Williams Realty Partners, they found a house by April, and Sarah landed a new job. Nick, 26, an accountant, and Sarah, 26, a fitness instructor and data entry clerk, chatted about their two-bedroom townhome in Kennesaw.
Q: Why did you decide to buy?
Sarah: Renting was getting expensive, and I didn't have my current job at the time. We were floundering and nearly ended up homeless before Nick's grandparents offered to help us. Mortgage was cheaper than paying $1,000 per month for a tiny 800-square-foot box.
Q: What were your priorities?
Sarah: We wanted a large living room. I like having room to practice my workouts. We also wanted two bedrooms so we could have people stay in a guest room instead of sleeping on the sofa.
Q: How did you find this home?
Nick: One of the first homes we looked at that we fell in love with was in this same community but got snatched up the day after we viewed it. We looked elsewhere and nothing stuck out, but this popped up and hit all of our check marks.
Sarah: If something doesn't go with my gut, then I say "no," which may make me seem picky. When we got our first apartment, I knew it was the one. I had the same feeling when we came here.
Q: What do you love?
Sarah: We got it painted before we moved in, and I love our paint colors — bright green for downstairs and peacock blue in the bedroom.
Nick: In the guest bedroom, I use the big walk-in closet with a window for a stay-at-home office. Having a garage to keep the car out of the hot or cold is also nice.
Q: How did you celebrate?
Nick: We already had a vacation planned that was scheduled after our closing, so we decided to enjoy that vacation. We went to California to visit family and saw my grandparents who helped us to purchase the house. We also got engaged while there. It all happened to coincide well.
Q: What’s a tip for first-time buyers?
Sarah: Don't give in to pressure, but don't be unreasonable also. Make sure you're making the right decision for you.
At a Glance
Nicholas Karno and Sarah Rainwater’s townhome, built in 2005, has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms and 1,600 square feet. Townhomes in the Heritage Park neighborhood in Kennesaw range from the low- to mid-$100,000s.
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