Von Grubbs and his partner Timothy Swenson decided to move from Midtown and buy a larger property for themselves and their dogs, Brodie and Branson.
“Midtown was getting crowded,” said Grubbs, a psychologist who works from home. “We were looking for more space and a reasonable yard.”
The couple honed in on the east side of Atlanta, which appeared to be less crowded yet still offered diversity and convenience. Outdoor space was important, but they were moving from a condo and desired a yard that was easy to maintain.
Working with Jim Pixley of RE/MAX Around Atlanta, they looked for a move-in ready, updated home in East Lake, Poncey-Highlands, Kirkwood and Decatur. They hoped to find a single-family home or townhome with at least three bedrooms and two baths for under $500,000.
No. 1
Move-in ready traditional
A four-bedroom, two-bath home on Royal Bluff in Atlanta featured high ceilings and updated features such as a granite kitchen countertops. Grubbs liked the size of the yard, but was concerned that it would require a significant amount of maintenance. The Ashwood Glen subdivision also didn’t have sidewalks, if they wanted to walk their dogs. The DeKalb County home, built in 1993, was listed for $289,000.
No. 2
Modern end unit
A three-bedroom, four-bath townhome on Colgan Court in Atlanta boasted dual master suites and a multi-level layout. The couple was impressed with the finishes, which included a kitchen island and built-in bookshelves, but the living space of the three-level townhome was small. They had lived in a Midtown condo and were open to a townhome, but also were excited about the prospect of owning a freestanding home. The yard maintenance was covered in the Enclave at East Lake homeowner’s association fees of $250 a month. The DeKalb County townhome, built in 2003, was listed for $290,000.
No. 3
Charming Craftsman
A three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath home located in Atlanta’s Olmsted at East Lake neighborhood boasted an open layout, attractive paint colors, walk-in closets with custom shelves, granite and marble countertops. It was on a corner lot across from the historic East Lake Golf Club. The yard has a fenced-in patio with a pergola but the green space was smaller than they desired. The neighborhood did offer sidewalks for walking the dogs, though. The DeKalb County home was near the top of the couple’s budget. The home, built in 2002, was listed for $424,000.
The Choice
No. 3. "When we walked into the house, we loved it immediately," Grubbs said. They closed on the two-story home in April. All they had to do was move in their furniture and hang pictures on the wall. "Our furniture and our decorations really lent themselves well to the space," Grubbs said. The yard ended up being small enough to be low-maintenance, and they've enjoyed the diversity and friendliness of neighbors in the Olmsted community. "For our price range, the home in Olmsted really stood out," he said
