Home & Real Estate Less Is More Downsizing to

a more simple life Intown

By Kathy Dean

More and more Atlantans are trading in their large singlefamily suburban homes for Intown living, where residents can enjoy a “less is more” lifestyle. There’s less square footage to clean and heat, less housework and yardwork, and less travel time to work, shopping, restaurants and entertainment. There’s more walkability, more time and more freedom.

Susan and Michael Jackson are retirees in the process of downsizing and selling their 5,000-square-foot home in Sandy Springs. They’re looking forward to a simpler, more flexible Intown lifestyle.

“The more stuff you have, the more you have to take care of,” Susan said. According to her, the purging process is like going down memory lane. It’s difficult to stay unemotional, but it’s energizing, too.

“It’s incredibly cathartic and especially satisfying when you’re completed,” she said. “It’s also much easier to do the earlier in life you tackle it.”

While there are many choices for Atlanta residents looking to simplify their lives— apartments, townhomes, condominiums— condos offer an opportunity to enjoy the convenience of vertical living and the security of home ownership. Those qualities are attractive to a lot of different people in all phases of their lives.

Christa Huffstickler, President & CEO of Engel & Völkers Atlanta said that she has seen downsizers from the suburbs who’ve sold their large homes and want to move closer to work, culture and the city core where there’s an emphasis on wellness.

“Condos appeal to a wide variety of homeowners, from entry-level millennials to baby boomer empty nesters and everyone in between,” she said. “We’ve seen a transition over the last decade where the lifestyle of the millennial/generation x and y matches what the baby boomers want.”

They’re all drawn to life in an urban, energetic city center, according to Huffstickler, where life is spent with friends, walking in the park, focusing on health and fitness, going out to dinner, and not spending two hours a day commuting to and from work. “We’ve seen a trend where both move-up buyers and move-down buyers are looking for the same thing.”

Many people are relocating to Atlanta due to the strong job market, said Kerman Haynes, Senior Vice President of Berkshire Hathaway CITY HAUS Condominium Division, and the city is also retaining a lot of the recent graduates from high quality universities, such as Georgia Tech.

“We’re keeping our graduates in Atlanta instead of having them move to cities like Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Chicago, and that’s largely because of the reasonable cost of living here,” Haynes explained. “With vertical living, they can find affordable housing that offers them luxury and convenience.”

He added that many of the younger people who bought condos about 12 to 15 years ago are now ready to move up. “Those first-generation condominium owners are staying in condos, rather than moving to the large home in the suburbs. They understand the lifestyle, they like it and they’re moving up, not out to homes in the suburbs.”

The appeal of condo living attracts buyers from many different facets of life, from relocation executives to empty nesters and single/divorcee buyers. Anne Schwall, Vice President of Developer Services, Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty, said “While many buyers relocating from larger urban cities such as New York seek out condos for proximity to work and to cut down on commute times, empty nesters and downsizers are attracted to condos for the ability to enjoy lock and leave to travel.”

Although condos appeal to many different age groups and demographics, she stressed that the higher price points for new construction condos is pricing those newer condos out of reach for younger first-time buyers. “Empty nester and downsizing buyers are attracted to condos for the maintenance-free lifestyle and they have the financial means, from selling their existing homes, to afford the newer condos coming to the market,” she said.

There are a lot of reasons why condo life is attractive to so many homeowners, including the ease of the lifestyle.

“Condominiums provide the lock and leave environment where an owner can come and go, whether it’s to and from work every day, traveling for work or pleasure or coming and going for leisure activities,” Huffstickler said.

She added that there’s a sense of simplicity when owners are responsible for what’s inside their walls, but can rely on a staff to manage the common areas, pool, landscaping and the day-to-day things. For example, The Atlantic, on 17th Street near Atlantic Station, provides a porter, doorman and valet who offer security and convenience to residents.

“Condominiums also offer an array of amenities that aren’t available in other homes, like a full-service concierge, which includes an array of services like dry cleaning pick up and drop off, making restaurant reservations, calling uber or car services and signing for packages and package deliveries,” Huffstickler said. In condominiums with hotel components within them, the services become even more elevated with access to hotel amenities like room service, housekeeping, valet and spa services.

“The high level of available services is a strong draw for condo owners,” said Haynes. Most condo developments offer concierge services and conveniences, like pet walking, he said, and there are also restaurants, coffee shops, hair salons and just about everything else the residents want and need right in the buildings.

“Of course, there are also the spectacular views,” Haynes continued. “And the views are being enhanced every day with developments like new high-rises and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Our skyline keeps getting better and better.”

No2 Opus Place in Midtown is a condo project that features 53 floors of floor-to-ceiling glass revealing unparalleled views of the city and area parks.

Location is another driver for condo popularity, said Schwall. Most condo buildings are located in urban cores that allow buyers walkability to restaurant and shopping. Emerson Buckhead boasts a premier location—on Peachtree Road in Buckhead—and offers two- and threebedroom condominium residences that range from 2,200 to 3,700 square feet.

“Condos provide a maintenance free lifestyle that appeals to both younger and older buyers who want to spend free time enjoying friends and families and not be tied to the upkeep of a typical single-family home,” Schwall said. “Many single/divorcee buyers seek out condos for the sense of community and comradery the condo lifestyle provides.”

In fact, the sociability of condo life is another important factor in their popularity.

“A lot of folks who are retiring want to come back into town and have the active lifestyle like they did before they had kids,” Haynes reported. “And many of them tell us that what’s attracting them is the social component, the possibility of building a friend base here. They want to be in a building and be part of a community.”

That desire is driving some boutique communities and buildings to emphasize the social component. No2 Opus Place employs a Wellness Director and Lifestyle Curator to help residents take full advantage of their lifestyle benefits.

Haynes said that the Wellness Director brings in fitness experts and personal trainers, like yoga and Pilates instructors, and coordinates services such as nutritionists to craft healthy eating plans for residents. The Lifestyle Curator helps activate the amenities for residents with programs. As an example, High Museum docents are invited to visit and speak about the latest exhibits and also share information on how to become a museum docent.

Intown condos seem to have just what Atlantans require to keep their lives simple – the space and services they need and the community and luxury they want, all in convenient, walkable locations.

Tiny Houses

2nd annual Decatur Tiny House Festival returns Sept. 29 – Oct. 1

Anyone with an interest in micro-living, sustainability or simply downsizing will receive motivation and education at the 2nd annual Decatur Tiny House Festival taking place Sept. 29 to Oct. 1. Organized by Tiny House Atlanta and City of Decatur, the festival will offer three days of speakers and 20-plus tiny houses to tour.

The weekend kick offs with a VIP preview event, Tiny House Soiree, with keynote speaker Steven Nygren, founder of the Serenbe planned community in South Fulton, who will discuss innovations in housing and what they mean to Atlanta.

Throughout the festival weekend, visitors will be able to attend various sessions, such as a presentation from City of Atlanta’s Commissioner of City Planning Tim Keane, who will consider the relationship between the micro movement and metropolitan cities. Attendees can also hear from organization and downsizing experts Claudia Morris Barclay and Catherine Lee who will present “How to Downsize and Organize Your Way to Happiness.”

Additional talks will include minimalism, urban planning, tiny house zoning and codes, utilization of space and the social impact of micro-living. The full speaker schedule will be available at tinyhouseatlanta.com.

In addition to the house tour and speaker symposium, local and national vendors will be onsite promoting sustainable practices and showcasing products made for tiny houses. There will also be a DJ, food court with food trucks and bicycle parking. The festival will be centered around Downtown Decatur and at 105 Electric Ave.

Tickets are $75 for the VIP event, $20 for a Saturday or Sunday pass, or $35 for a weekend pass. Children 10 and younger get in for $10 per day. Tickets are available at tinyhouseatlanta.com.

The 34th Annual Fall Atlanta Home Show and Outdoor Living Expo will open its doors Friday-Sunday, Sept. 8-10, at the Cobb Galleria Centre. Over 300 exhibitors will showcase new and innovative interior and exterior home improvement products and services, along with garden design ideas, tools, hardscapes, outdoor furniture, spas, water features and more for home landscapes. Special guests will include HGTV’s “Cousins,” Anthony Carrino and John Colaneri, and Egypt Sherrod, host of HGTV’s “Flipping Virgins,” “Property Virgins” and “Urban Oasis. For a complete lineup of events, visit AtlantaHomeShow.com.

Development company

OliverMcMillan has announced it will build a 17-story office tower next door to The Shops

Buckhead Atlanta. The building, which will be located on the former HiFi Buys property, will have 30,000 square feet on the groundfloor. The name of the project: The Office Buckhead Atlanta

Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) has unveiled new plans for a 14-story residence hall for students on 18th Street near its Midtown campus. The building will include 592 student beds, lounge and event space, laundry services, a coffee bar, and other amenities for students. The development will not include any new parking, but will incorporate a drop-off area for cars and a loading area for service vehicles and deliveries. All student parking will be located in the existing SCAD parking deck at 1600 Peachtree.

Ken Covers, Engel & Volkers Intown Atlanta, recently attended the annual Engel & Volkers Global Event & Polo Match in Mallorca, Spain. Covers was invited with a handful of other top agents from around the world to attend two days of meetings, ending with a polo match and sit down dinner for 700 guests at the home of the Engel & Volkers founder & CEO, Christian Volkers. Covers stated, “What an amazing experience, networking with other advisors from around the globe in such a beautiful place.”

Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty proudly welcomes Kevin White.

Kevin offers over 18 years of real estate experience including buyer and seller representation, on-site developer sales and sales management. Kevin’s vast array of experience benefits his individual buyers and sellers by providing expert level knowledge, visionary insights, trend-forecasting and time-saving advice. Kevin’s goal is to leave each client amazed as opposed to simply satisfied.

Whether buying or selling a condominium home, townhome, luxury home or an elite estate, Kevin offers a full spectrum of personalized, expert-level real estate services. Contact Kevin today to get started on your personalized plan to achieve and exceed your real estate goals.