Earlier this year I had so much fun helping newlyweds Claire & Seth buy their first home together! They had been renting a home near the new Publix on Moores Mill, but it was just a little further out than they wanted to be and not as convenient to all their favorite dining and entertainment venues in West Midtown. Plus, they wanted to be part of a real neighborhood. The only catch was, it was going to be challenging in the current, competitive market and at the price point they were seeking.

We met this time last year at an open house I was hosting. They told me they wanted to settle down and build their lives on the Westside, which was music to my ears—I live on the Westside and love it! They were in the early stages of considering buying a home and had lots of questions about neighborhoods, areas, and where might be the best fit for them. Claire says I made an impression because I’ve lived on the Westside for many years and she liked that we could talk about it from a resident’s perspective, not just as a Realtor to a buyer.

Some time passed while they prepared and saved. When the time was right for them to buy, we jumped into a crazy market with, you guessed it, lots of buyers and not enough homes at their price point.

As we feared, it seemed each house we looked at was under contract either just before we arrived for a showing or before we could get an offer in.  The process was a little disheartening for Claire and Seth as first-time homebuyers. The third house we toured was in Loring Heights and the house they fell in love with. “We loved the house and the neighborhood,” says Claire, “it wasn’t even a neighborhood we thought we’d be able to get into at our price point.” I hardly had the heart to read them the text I received while we were touring the home that it was now under contract with two back-up offers as well. Another opportunity lost…or so we thought!

Since they liked that neighborhood, we decided to look at another home close by, but it was not great and didn’t hold a candle to the home they really loved. I even was able to show them a couple homes that hadn’t even hit the market yet, but I knew would be listed soon. We kept striking out!

Then, while I was in the Chick-fil-A drive-thru for dinner—glamorous, I know—I got an email that the contract and backup offers had fallen through on the home they were in love with, and it was back on the market! I immediately called Claire and Seth, met them at the home and signed an offer that very evening. “It all happened so fast,” says Claire!

Fast-forward and the newlyweds have now settled in and have been their new home for five months. Claire told me they even had some trick-or-treaters on Halloween! They are loving Loring Heights and their new location. They love that they’re close to their favorite restaurants and can also easily hop on I-75 for the commute to work.

Don’t you just love happy endings?! If your happy ending includes living on the Westside, reach out. I’d love to help you find your next home too!

Cheers,

Michelle