Joiet Wesley, 30, took advantage of last year’s tax credit and many foreclosures on the market to find a home that would give her room to grow. She told Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage agent Sheila Maddox she wanted at least four bedrooms, space for entertaining and plenty of parking. Wesley, who works in public health, chatted about her home in Guilford Forest in Atlanta’s Cascade area.
Q: What did you want in a home?
A: I knew that I wanted it to be something that I would be able to grow into … I did want a basement because I do like to entertain. I didn’t want to live on a main street. I wanted to have parking.
Q: Was there a style you were wanting in a home?
A: I am picky to a certain extent, but the style of the home really didn’t matter. I knew that I didn’t want a new home. I wanted the home to be at least five years old. But in looking, this neighborhood has always been a really nice neighborhood to me. There was serenity. The thing that drew me to the house was the back of the house; it has a deck, and it’s so serene. You can sit out there and read and just be one with nature. The deck was what I think sold the house.
Q: What did you know about the neighborhood?
A: The neighborhood has always had a sense of prestige. It’s an older community. It’s been here for at least 20 years. I think that 20 years ago, there was a standard, and it’s still here today. So I think that the level of prestige, as well as the friendliness of the neighbors, the fact that everybody in here is involved in some type of community organization, that really drew me to the neighborhood.
Q: What did you like about the home you purchased?
A: It had a basement. There’s adequate parking for family if I decided to have a dinner. This is a house that I can grow in to. It’s large enough for not only me, but if I wanted to start my family here, then I could do it as well.
Q: What was the process like?
A: I think the whole process was a step out on faith and I think the Lord puts people in your life for various reasons. He helps you to do what you need to do in order to make it. For example, everybody who has helped me with my house has been from my church (Ben Hill United Methodist Church) – from the inspection of the home to the move-in process to interior decorating. So it’s been just a great experience overall.
At a Glance
Joiet Wesley’s home, which was built in 1990, has five bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and about 1,796 square feet. She purchased it in June.
Guilford Forest
Address: 4695 Hamden Forest Drive S.W., Atlanta 30331 (See below for listing information)
County: Fulton
Price range: Low $100,000s to more than $1 million
Homes: About 164, according to tax records
Square feet: About 1,500 to more than 10,000 square feet
Lot sizes: One third to 2 acres
Amenities: Clubhouse, pool, tennis courts
Homeowners fees: $750 a year
Schools: Randolph Elementary, Sandtown Middle, Westlake High
More on schools: schools.ajchomefinder.com
Getting there
Take I-285 west to Exit 7 (Cascade Road). Turn right onto Cascade Road. Turn left onto Danforth Road. Turn left onto New Hope Road. Turn right into Guilford Forest.
For sale
$215,000: 1045 New Britain Drive, Atlanta 30331. A four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath home built in 1990 with a full finished basement and a fireplace in the vaulted family room.
$1.49 million: 4695 Hamden Forest Drive S.W., Atlanta 30331. A nine-bedroom, ten-bath home built in 1995 with a four-plus car garage, a heated pool and Jacuzzi, and three guest suites in the terrace level.
Recent sales
$163,050: 1120 New Britain Drive S.W., Atlanta 30331. A four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath home built in 1992 with a master on the main and hardwood floors.
$499,900: 1041 Willowood Lane S.W., Atlanta 30331. A five-bedroom, five-bath, and two-and-a-half-bath home built in 2004 with three-car garage and owner’s suite.
Community information provided by Sheila Maddox with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage and compiled by Delaney Young.
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