Eddie Martin decided to use the constant traveling for his job in sports and entertainment marketing to save money for a first home.
He moved out of his rental, put his furniture in storage and stayed with family members or in a hotel on the days when he was in Atlanta. Over a couple of years, he put away about $25,000 so he could buy a home and build equity. He also received $15,000 in down payment assistance from the Neighborhood Lift Program, a partnership between Wells Fargo and NeighborWorks America, after completing requirements such as taking a homebuyer’s education class.
Martin, 34, who works for InterSport, chatted about his home in Historic West End.
Q: When did you start looking for a home?
A: I initially started looking for homes two years ago. I went through the process blindly. I had a contract on a one-bedroom condo two years ago. I just wasn't ready, and I'm glad it fell through. Now I have a three-bedroom, three-bath house.
Q: How did you get ready to buy a home?
A: I took a first-time homebuyer's class (Michele Lewis with Invest Atlanta, told him about classes offered by Resources for Residents and Communities). It was an eight-hour class on a Saturday. There's so many better things you think you can do on a Saturday, but it was very helpful. I was more educated about what I needed in order to make the process simpler.
Q: Were you looking in West End the entire time?
A: I'm an Atlanta native. I stayed on the West End until I was maybe 12. I haven't been over here in years. It dawned on me that these neighborhoods have so much potential.
I spent the entire day driving through Castleberry Hill, West End, Sylvan Hills. From that moment, I knew I wanted to stay over here. I was looking for a community that was on the upswing. I want to be a part of what’s happening in the West End. You can see people are working together to actually improve this community.
Q: What sold you on the home?
A: There's an upstairs loft area where I can set up my DJ equipment and overlook the living area. That was a huge sell for me.
Q: What’s a tip for buyers?
A: We have these neighborhoods that are kind of hidden. A lot of people just do searches online. The thing that helped me learn about these neighborhoods and the city is getting out there and getting lost. Just taking a turn down the street. You turn and the entire neighborhood opens up. People don't even know these things exist. You have to go look.
At a Glance
Eddie Martin’s home, built in 1991, has three bedrooms, three baths and about 5,080 square feet. He purchased it in February 2015, working with Gregory McAfee of Atlanta Communities Real Estate and Candis Conley with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties. Three-bedroom homes in Historic West End range from $115,000-$215,000.