Buying a home in Atlanta was a key part of Steve and Lyz DeMarco’s 10-year plan to retire.
Lowering their living expenses by moving from Florida to Georgia would help them save for retirement, the couple figured. Selling their home in Florida for asking price, in two-and-a-half weeks, gave them the boost to make the move and put the plan into action.
Why Atlanta?
The opportunity to buy a cheaper home, compared to costs of a mortgage and insurance in Florida.
“Housing prices here were fantastic. You could get so much more for your dollar here,” Lyz said.
For example, when searching, they found a four-bedroom home in Douglasville priced for $178,000 that the couple figured would cost in the mid $400,000s where they were living in south Florida. Also, they were paying $4,200 annually for hurricane and wind insurance.
Being able to move to Atlanta also made it possible for Steve, 55, a flight attendant for Delta, to become an instructor at the Delta Training Center.
The couple sold their home in Hollywood, Fla., for asking price, which enabled them to put a considerable amount down on a house in Mableton, Lyz said. As a result, they expect to pay off their mortgage in about seven years.
“This was just a better opportunity for us to save for our retirement,” she said.
Putting down roots
The couple first started looking at homes in the Atlanta area June 2012. Steve’s work schedule and flight benefits paid off, as he frequently flew into and out of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Their real estate agent, MaryAnn McReynolds of The Realty Group, would pick him up at the airport on his time off, then they would view several homes. He would fly home to Florida that day and show Lyz the photos and videos.
A bank-owned in Douglasville looked promising, but after waiting for six weeks, the bank didn’t respond and the contract expired.
“Ultimately we lost the deal. I was heartbroken. I thought that was the perfect place for us,” Lyz said.
At that point, they expanded their search to Mableton, Smyrna and Vinings. A HUD house had been stripped down, with no light fixtures and electrical switches and rusty appliances, Steve said. The end unit townhome on the Mableton/Smyrna line however, had three bedrooms that were big enough to hold their existing furniture.
“The bones of the house, neighborhood and location of the house were really good,” Lyz said.
They put in a bid, but didn’t get the home. Then after a week, they learned the other deal fell through and the townhome was theirs. The savings have been tremendous. Their mortgage and homeowner’s insurance has been slashed from $1,900 a month to $800 a month.
The couple moved to Atlanta in December 2012 and stayed in temporary housing before moving in during January 2013. The couple worked with a contractor to knock down half of a wall to create a pass-through from the kitchen to the living room and breakfast bar. They also replaced the electrical switches, light fixtures, granite countertops and appliances.
Relocation tip
Visit the communities during day and night, on weekdays and weekends, to be aware of what you’re buying into, said Steve. You also can check traffic patterns that way. “Definitely you want convenience because of the Atlanta traffic,” Lyz said. “Make sure that you’re geographically desirable to where you work.”
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