As SCAD students, Michael and Ana Stanley lived in apartments on Peachtree Street in Midtown. Their artistic focus factored in their search for a home, as they envisioned buying a townhome with a modern look inside the Perimeter.
Meanwhile, they told their agent, Patricia Berholtz with Re/Max Metro Atlanta Cityside, that they also needed a fenced space for their pet, a pig named Pepper.
They were surprised to find that former Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox was the seller of the townhome they chose. When the closing took longer than expected, the couple chatted a few hours with Cox and his wife, Pam.
“It was awesome meeting him since I grew up listening to Braves baseball and going to many games with my father,” said Michael, 25, who works for Dragon Army, a mobile game company.
No. 1
Renovated kitchen
A four-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath home on Tilton Lane in Peachtree Corners boasted new granite countertops and stainless steel appliances in the kitchen. The hardwood floors also had been refinished with dark walnut stain on the main level, and the bedrooms had new carpet. The backyard also was fenced, but they were unsure about buying an older townhome that may need possible repairs down the road. The townhome, built in 1972 in Gwinnett County’s Lockridge Forest neighborhood, was listed for $300,000.
No. 2
Big townhome
A four-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath townhome on DeKalb Avenue in Atlanta’s Lake Claire area came with extra space, including a two-car garage. The townhome also had granite kitchen countertops, plus the master bathroom was big enough for a double vanity, Jacuzzi tub and walk-in closet. The DeKalb County townhome was walking distance to Kirkwood Village, Candler Park and a MARTA station. It was built in 2007 and listed for $310,000.
No. 3
End unit
A three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath townhome on Whitehead Bluff in Atlanta also offered a private fenced backyard. Inside, extra features included surround sound and duel showerheads in the master bathroom. The walls, however, were dark beige and would need to be repainted to get the look they desired. The neighborhood, Dupont Commons, included a pool, fitness center and clubhouse. The Fulton County townhome, built in 2006, was listed for $320,000.
The Choice
No. 3. The layout and location were a plus, for a number of reasons. The Atlanta townhome is only 2 minutes from their rental, so they knew the neighborhood, and Michael doesn’t have to take an interstate to get to work. “The neighborhood is amazing. It’s so pretty,” said Ana, 27, a freelance photographer. “You can see families with kids playing all the time.”
They closed in May and repainted the walls, ceiling and molding “bleach white,” Michael said. Original art, such as a 72-by-48-inch canvas they created for the living room, joins contemporary hanging wall shelves from IKEA and dark cabinets with high-gloss white doors.
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