Staff

Writer

For most

people, buying a home is the single biggest investment of

their lives.

Now, as

interest rates have dropped and mortgage companies have

popped up, buyers are finding a variety of options

available to them.

While most

buyers are just looking for the best deal in terms of

financing, they have very definite ideas of what they

want in their dream homes.

"Buyers

really want an open floor plan," said Prudential

Georgia Realty Realtor Donna O'Kelly.

Another

area that O'Kelly is finding a huge interest in is

basements. Many potential buyers are adamant about having

a basement to use as a potential gathering area and

playroom for their children.

Fayette

County also is following the national trend of having

large kitchens and bathrooms.

"Families

like having an eat-in kitchen and really want to have a

large master bathroom," O'Kelly said.

In the

bathroom, buyers want separate showers and tubs to create

an almost suite feeling to the surroundings, she added.

One of the

biggest features many buyers are looking for is a home

situated in a swim and tennis community. By offering

recreational amenities, buyers are able to use the

facilities without having to pay directly for the

construction cost of the swimming pool or tennis courts.

O'Kelly

said most buyers also want an acre of land and are

looking for a location that is close to either the

interstate or other major roads.

A new trend

just starting to emerge in the Atlanta region is the

concept of "new urbanism" that focuses on

pedestrian-friendly communities.

Noted

Atlanta architect Stephen Fuller recently addressed the

Home Builders Association of Midwest Georgia and said

some builders in the area are now planning around old

trees and putting garages in the backs of homes to create

pedestrian-friendly streets.

Fuller said

the latest trend is for smaller homes and lots. With the

trend toward smaller homes, Fuller said he sees a

reemergence of classical and elegant architecture.

As for the

interior of homes, Fuller said many customers are asking

for entertainment and computer areas.

"They

also like one-stop shopping with the designs all working

together, even in the interiors," he added.

O'Kelly

also explained that many buyers are still looking for the

typical brick, ranch-stle home that they associate with

the "American Dream."

"They

really just want a place that they can really call

home," she said.

Correction:

In last

month's issue of the Real Estate Review, we mistakenly

said Tricia Mahoney is the only broker in the county that

owns her own real estate company. The article should have

read that Mahoney is the only female broker that owns her

own company.

We

apologize for any inconvenience or misunderstanding the

error may have caused.

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