Nick Mozea was willing to take on a renovation challenge when he looked for an older home in Atlanta, and he found plenty of homes that needed makeovers.
Mozea, 33, moved from Charlotte, N.C., to Atlanta for his job in the trade marketing department for Anheuser-Busch. He had previously lived in Atlanta and was familiar with neighborhoods close to town. When he returned, prices for homes inside the Perimeter, such as Brookhaven, had risen above his budget, which began at $250,000.
“I knew I would have to get outside the city a little bit in order to get a larger home,” he said.
Working with Joanna Singleton of Keller Williams Realty Signature Partners, he considered these homes during his three-day search and raised the top of his budget to $350,000.
No. 1
Alpine aesthetic
The stucco and stone exterior and design of the four-bedroom, three-bath home on Longleaf Drive made it look like it belonged in Germany, or at least in north Georgia’s Bavarian Alpine village of Helen, not in Roswell. The basement home was on a wooded lot and offered a screened porch. He saw missing amenities, however, such as a kitchen pantry. “I am a bona fide food hoarder. Even being single, I still find myself at Costco. I need a solid pantry and a really good kitchen,” he said. He had to determine if he could afford to buy the home and make renovations. The home, built in 1972 in the Pine Needles subdivision, was listed for $325,000.
No. 2
Curious house on a hill
A two-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath home on North Mill Court in Sandy Springs had a wet-and-wild amenity: an indoor pool and hot tub. The pool’s enclosure looked like a greenhouse, and the roof and sliding glass doors could be opened up. Mozea was intrigued by the home, which was on 1 acre and offered river views. Features such as the spiral staircase and small bedrooms were not functional and would need to be altered. The home, built in 1972 in Rainbow Acres, was listed for $349,900.
No. 3
Contemporary rain forest?
Trees were growing inside a five-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath home on Tahoma Drive in Sandy Springs. The home was the most spacious of the three, with features such as an atrium and two-story ceilings, but needed the most work. A pool was a plus, but it was infested with tadpoles, requiring more repairs. But the location near Ga. 400 was fantastic, with access to Buckhead and Midtown and a reverse commute north for his job. The home, built in 1981 in the Overton Hills neighborhood, was listed for $329,000.
The Choice
No. 3. He closed on the Sandy Springs home in March and spent a couple of months on the renovations. “I like a challenge. Maybe it’s from watching all the DIY and HGTV rehabs,” he said. He removed the trees and installed slate floors in the atrium. The kitchen was gutted and made over with granite countertops, new back splash, new appliances and redone cabinets. New floors, vanities and fixtures updated the bathrooms. The basement was remodeled, with an improved layout and new floors, ceilings and recessed lighting. Spending money to fix the pool caused him to postpone renovations on the master bathroom. “Make a priority as to what you want most. Then see what all you would be able to do,” he said.
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