For years, Don and Natashia Paul considered trading the beaches of south Florida for the hustle and bustle of Atlanta. But when Natashia got a job in Georgia, the talk became reality.
Why Atlanta?
While the Pauls enjoyed being only moments from the Miami beaches, they didn’t like south Florida’s prices. “We had always looked to stay in Hallandale (a Miami suburb), but the cost of living down there was way too much,” Don said.
Natashia applied for a job in Atlanta in April 2015, interviewed in May and started in June. Natashia’s parents live in Atlanta, so she and Don’s two daughters, Christina, 4, and Natalie, 1, moved in with them while Don remained in Florida at his job as a correctional officer. Natashia is a histologist at WellStar Cobb Hospital in Austell, and Don recently became a probation officer for Douglas County.
Putting down roots
The Pauls spent hours scouring the Internet for potential homes without finding anything they really liked. A family friend recommended Engel & Völkers Buckhead Atlanta agent Leah Christian.
“We probably annoyed Leah because we were so picky,” Don said. “But she was very helpful in finding us a home that was in our price range with the features we wanted.”
At one point, Don and Natashia were sure they had found their dream home, only to learn that another buyer had already put in an offer.
“Leah told us to just be patient; the right one would come along,” Natashia said. “Soon after, an identical home in the same neighborhood with more land at the same price came up. It all worked out.”
Built in 2000, their five-bedroom, three-bathroom Douglasville home had space for a playroom and front and back yards for the girls to play outside. They bought the 3,006-square-foot home in January 2016, and it’s minutes from Don’s workplace and about 20 to 30 minutes from Natashia’s job in Austell. Schools are Holly Springs Elementary, Chapel Hill Middle School and Chapel Hill High School. Similar homes in their neighborhood range from $125,000 to the $200,000s. Nearby restaurants include Taco Mac, and the family enjoys being close to Arbor Place Mall, which has a children’s play area. Boundary Waters Aquatic Center and Six Flags Over Georgia are also nearby.
Relocation tip
Natashia recommends researching the distances between work and homes you are considering. “It can have such an impact on your commute if you’re not used to the traffic patterns,” she says.
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