The Search: North Buckhead and Sandy Springs

By Lori Johnston

For the AJC

Atlanta native Hal Homer knew he wanted a home in the north Buckhead or Sandy Springs areas when he set out to purchase his first place.

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Christopher Oquendo/Special New homeowner Hal Homer stands proudly in front of his house.

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Christopher Oquendo/Special No. 1: Close to Buckhead

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Christopher Oquendo/Special No. 2: Outstanding condition

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Christopher Oquendo/Special No. 3: Sandy Springs short sale

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Identifying a narrow location helped Homer during his search, which was boosted by the low interest rates, homebuyer’s credit and the down housing market.

“I was born here. I knew what I was looking for. Location was my biggest criteria,” said Homer, 25, an associate with PricewaterhouseCoopers who works in Midtown. “Since I knew the area so well, I knew that Sandy Springs and north Buckhead were both really good areas and that would be kind of what I could afford. Also, the commute to work isn’t that bad.”

He started his search in September 2009, assisted by Stacey Miller Morris with Keller Williams Premier Atlanta, and continued for several months looking for a home in good shape in the area he wanted.

“The homes in my price range were in bad condition. So that was a challenge,” he said.

No. 1: Close to Buckhead

The four-bedroom, three-bath brick home with a basement on Elden Drive in Atlanta had a half-acre wooded lot with a private backyard. One of the bathrooms had been remodeled, Homer said. The ranch home, built in 1953, was originally listed at $324,900. The size and the location were appealing, as Homer saw that it was an up-and-coming area with teardowns. The home had been vacant, so some work was required.

No. 2: Outstanding condition

The three-bedroom, two-bath home on Bridgewood Valley Road N.W. in Sandy Springs had substantial updates, so little work was needed. The home in the Mountaire Springs neighborhood was built in 1959 and originally listed at $275,000. “It was in a great neighborhood and didn’t need a whole lot of work,” he said. Features included hardwood floors and a fireplace in the family room. It had a partial basement and a two-car garage.

No. 3: Sandy Springs short sale

The three-bedroom, three-bath home on Amberidge Trail N.W. was on nearly 1 acre and bigger than other houses he considered. The home, built in 1964, needed some renovations and repairs, such as in the kitchen and with the roof and gutters. But it had the connection of being in the Amberglades neighborhood, where Homer’s dad grew up in Sandy Springs. The home was originally listed at $330,000, but the price had been dropped to $255,000 when Homer looked at it. It also had a partial basement.

The choice

No. 3

Homer purchased the Amberidge Trail home in April, but only after making offers on the other two homes. “Dealing with short sales and foreclosures is a major challenge within itself. The bank would take a really long time to get back to [me].” He tried to negotiate with the owners but they seemed reluctant to agree to a lower price or negotiate repairs or changes. “My feeling throughout the whole process was that I want to get the best deal that I can get in the best area that I can find,” he said. He had to wait more than a month to hear that the bank had accepted his offer. Since purchasing it, he has refinished the hardwood floors, renovated the kitchen and added a new roof and gutters.