If one were

to attempt to describe the prototype Fayette County home, it would be

difficult.

Perhaps the

most common type would be the large family home on a large lot or in a

swim-tennis community not extravagantly expensive, but not cheap, either.

Whether that

assessment is correct or not, there are a lot of different home styles

and sizes in Fayette to suit every imaginable lifestyle. And while Fayette

Countians pride themselves on having homes with lasting property values

and high resale potential, anyone assuming that more affordable housing

is not available would be mistaken.

"The county

has a wide variety of home prices," said Donna O'Kelly, a broker

based in Fayette who deals with a lot of first-time homebuyers. "Prices

have gone up, but there's still a large market."

It is becoming

more difficult to find houses near $100,000 in Fayette, she acknowledges,

compared to surrounding areas. But many people, when considering such

factors as schools and other amenities, are willing to purchase a slighter

smaller home than what could be had in an adjoining county for the same

price, she adds.

While first-time

buyers are perhaps the most likely to be looking in the lower price ranges,

the other end of the spectrum the empty-nester is also there more and

more often. Having made maybe three or four home purchases over two or

three decades, couples whose children are grown and have left home often

find themselves looking to downsize and make what might be their final

home purchase. The type of home they are seeking is often very similar

to those purchasing a house for the first time.

Other lifestyle

considerations figure into home purchasing decisions for these older couples.

One couple who recently purchased a home in Peachtree City from O'Kelly

found a relatively small two-bedroom unit with a one-car garage too small

for many, but perfectly suitable in this case since the couple, who bought

here to be near other family members, plans to be in the area only six

months out of the year.

Developers

and builders in Fayette have hurried to capitalize on the empty-nester

market, with a large number of subdivisions now available with smaller

homes on smaller lots with little or no maintenance required by the homeowner.

Of course,

the lack of maintenance is more and more appealing to homebuyers, many

of whom prefer to let others take care of the lawn and exterior repairs.

This is often a relief to the grown children of these residents as well,

because they know the work will not fall to them if their parents become

incapacitated.

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