Longtime renters find home with country feel in Paulding County

Terri and Garry Whitmore rented an Acworth townhouse for more than 26 years on the assumption that they could not afford to buy a home.

However, once they started working with Ashley Stone, an agent with Keller Williams Realty Partners, the Whitmores discovered they qualified for a National Homebuyers Fund grant (nhfloan.org). The program provided 3.5 percent of their down payment and $2,800 toward closing costs.

After four months of searching, Terri, 56, and Garry, 60, both school bus drivers, bought a three-bedroom home with a basement in Paulding County’s Burnt Hickory Estates. Terri chatted about what they learned, tips for buyers, and a special event she plans to host in her Dallas home.

Q: What do you love most about the house?

Terri: I love my front door. It's a beautiful door, it's an oak door with an oval-shaped stained glass window. I also love the setup of the home. It's a split-level. There's enough room here where you're not bumping into each other like we were in our townhouse. I have a large family and we always like to get together and celebrate. My dad is 92. We always celebrate his birthday and this May will be the first year I've ever had a place that I can host his birthday party. That means a lot to me.

Q: What are your top tips for buyers?

Terri: If you know in your mind what you're looking for, then don't settle for anything less. And yeah, you do give and take. I actually wanted a rocking chair front porch, well, this house doesn't have that. But I have a porch in the back where I can sit out there on a rocking chair. Also, check the neighborhoods out. We checked online to make sure there weren't any sex offenders close by. We looked at four houses in his neighborhood and talked to some of the neighbors. There's lots of kids here so my grandkids have kids they can get out and do things with and have fun out in the yard.

Q: Do you think others in their 50s and 60s should still try to buy for the first time?

Terri: Don't sit back and think you can't do it because that's exactly what we thought all these years. It's very worth it because it's yours and, especially if you have kids or grandkids, you can eventually pass the house down to them.

Q: Has being a homeowner given you a feeling that your hard work has paid off?

Terri: It is a confidence boost. I worked for many years, it was like I had nothing to show for it. Now I do, with a home.

At a Glance