Atlantic Station’s townhomes provide the privacy and amenities of a single-family residence.

When looking for a new home, both novice and seasoned buyers can find something special in a townhome. Atlanta has seen a burst of energy in the townhome market in recent years. With offerings from super-affordable to splendid luxury, townhomes are available in all parts of the metro area, and they come with big benefits, too.

The Big Boon

When townhome communities exploded across Atlanta, the boon could have been partly due to the lack of developable land for single-family houses in some of the most sought-after parts of the city. And, as homeowners became more environmentally conscious, they realized that townhomes are more compact and would, therefore, require less energy to maintain. Builders began expanding the Atlanta townhome options, and today these homes, which occupy a place between a condo and a single-family residence.

Less Maintenance

The first, and often most important, benefit to townhome living is the reduced maintenance. “It’s pretty much a trouble-free lifestyle,” says Matt Lockhart of Lockhart and Associates, which represents John Willis Homes’ townhome communities such as Brookhaven Manor on Peachtree Road. Rather than spending weekends doing yard work, townhome residents can spend their leisure time walking to nearby shopping or dining with friends because lawn maintenance is generally included in the homeowner’s association dues.

More Space

Although a townhome requires less maintenance, that doesn’t mean they skimp in other areas. Townhomes offer a spacious alternative to a condo, and come without the upstairs and downstairs neighbors. With a townhome, “you still have your privacy,” says Lisa Davis, Sales Manager Atlanta Division of Beazer Homes. “You still have that space. You feel like you’re in a single-family home.” For example, The Oaks, a Beazer Homes property in Marietta at the intersection of Powers Ferry and Delk Road, offers townhomes up to 2,700 sq. ft., and Brookhaven Manor has units with a whopping 3,000 to 3,500 sq. ft. of space.

	Brookhaven Manor’s residents don’t have to worry about sacrificing space—many units boast more than 3,000 square feet.

Value

Though more space and less maintenance add up to big value, when it comes to price, the true value of townhomes is easy to note—townhomes can be much more affordable than single-family homes of similar size and with similar amenities. “In today’s market, there are some incredible values available to the prospective buyer of a townhome,” says Leigh Ehrlich Schiff, agent with Keller Williams Realty First Atlanta.

Overlook at Clairmont, a Pulte community within walking distance of Emory University, offers luxurious three-story townhomes with large kitchens with center islands and two-car garages. A homeowner buying a townhome here likely could not afford the same package in a single-family home. “Purchasing a townhome typically enables the homebuyer to purchase in a highly desirable area at a considerably lower price than purchasing a single-family home in the same area,” says Claire Brimmer, Marketing Manager for Pulte Homes/Del Webb.

Many townhome communities also have the added value of exterior amenities such as security, swimming pools, gyms and clubhouses. For example, Beazer Homes’ Dresden Creek is a gated townhome community with a pool and cabana, while townhomes at the Views at Lenox Crossing, a Pulte property located in the heart of Brookhaven, offer owners a dog park where they can exercise their furry family members.

Granite countertops and stainless steel appliances are just some of the amenities offered at Atlantic Station townhomes.PHOTO: Beazer Homes

Luxury Upgrades

Townhomes might be affordable, but that does not mean they lack luxury and design.

The Oaks in Marietta features huge flex spaces, oversized closets and spacious kitchens with large semi-circle bar top islands. These features are part of Beazer’s SmartDesign, which allows homeowners to maximize the livable square footage and orient the features of the home in ways that make sense for the way people live today.

Likewise, Brookhaven Manor townhomes include four levels of finish with added storage. Homes have courtyards, and each home is stubbed for an elevator. In many cases, homeowners are more than willing to give up a larger single-family home in favor of a luxurious townhome. “There has been a trend toward smaller square footage with finer appointments,” Lockhart says.

Right For You?

Atlanta has seen a diverse range of buyers choose townhomes. Some mature townhome buyers are downsizing from a large single-family home, while some buyers are first-time homeowners who want privacy without the shock of too much maintenance. Other buyers are parents who want to buy in a great neighborhood for the school district and even parents who buy townhomes for their children to live in while in college. People who are frequent travelers often find the ease of townhome living an excellent choice, as well.

Location

Most townhome buyers make their selection based on location, and it’s often a location they could not have bought into in a singlefamily home. Consider Beazer’s Atlantic Station townhomes, which are quickly selling out. While these are luxury units, what really makes these townhomes attractive is the location. Atlantic Station is one of Atlanta’s most desirable live/work/play areas where a swarm of shops and restaurants are all within walking distance.

The desire for nearby entertainment is “huge on buyer profiles,” Davis says. Beazer also has two additional properties that are nearly sold out, too—Dresden Creek in Brookhaven and The Oaks in Marietta—and the company is planning on announcing new townhome projects before the end of 2009.

Other properties have had similar experiences. “Location is critical to the townhome buyer, and they will often choose an attached home due to its more urban location,” Brimmer says. “We build for the townhome buyer who wants to live close to the places they work, shop and play.”

Just north of Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza, Brookhaven Manor is located in proximity to a plethora of intown shopping and dining options. “People want to walk,” says Lockhart. Buyers might also want to ride public transportation. Since Brookhaven Manor is close to both entertainment and MARTA, residents could literally live there without a car, which is not easy to do in Atlanta.

Since many townhome buyers are looking for a community that has it all, including access to a wide variety of shopping and nightlife alternatives, communities that don’t have those options nearby can create that atmosphere with a live/work or mixed-use development such as Village Place off Dresden Drive.

Things to Consider

“When purchasing a townhome, homeowners are buying a lifestyle and should be prepared to stay in the property for a good five years,” Schiff says. “A buyer also needs to pay special attention to the monthly homeowner’s association fees and the covenants and restrictions for each community. A purchaser should also look to see if the community’s ownership is condominium or fee simple.”

With a fee simple home, the owner actually owns the land on which the home sits, which gives the owner more maintenance and responsibilities, but generally a lower monthly association fee. Some townhome communities, however, are structured like condominiums in which the land is jointly owned. In condo townhomes, the association takes care of maintenance, but monthly fees are usually higher.

New Atlantans looking for a home that won’t overwhelm with responsibilities, but will also have them stepping out their doors and into a world of leisure options, need only find the townhome community that is right for them—and there are plenty of fabulous options from which to choose.

---