Metropolitan Atlanta neighborhoods: Picked with pride

In Atlanta you live either inside or outside the perimeter (ITP or OTP) and where you live becomes part of your identity. Atlantans love their neighborhoods and, according to Atlanta Magazine, pick them with pride. ATL Mag shares stories of residents of various Atlanta neighborhoods, telling “what led them to their corner of the metro, and why they stay.”

Brookhaven Neighborhood

Bryan and Michelle Pyne live in Brookhaven with their two children Jack and Hudson. When asked if they were surprised by anything once they moved to their neighborhood, Michelle told Atlanta Magazine, “There are so many individual neighborhoods that make up the broader city of Brookhaven. Brookhaven Fields has a very active civic association that organizes so many activities throughout the year, especially around the holidays. Once we had kids, we realized how many parks there are in the neighborhood, which have become a great way to meet our neighbors.

We can easily walk to several restaurants, shops, and the Brookhaven Farmers Market. The restaurants really cater to their regular neighborhood clientele and have welcoming, family-friendly atmospheres. And the number of walkable restaurants has only continued to increase since we moved in over six years ago, with several more slated to open this year.”

The Pyne Family, of Brookhaven PHOTO: BEN ROLLIN

East Atlanta neighborhood

Kristina Beecham lives in East Atlanta with her daughter Paisley. She’s been in East Atlanta for 20 years, and when asked how have things changed, she had this to say: “What’s changed is, obviously, the BeltLine. Now you can walk to things. Before, it was nothing. East Atlanta Village was the only thing. But, really, that’s so specific. I never really walked over there. I mean, you were going over there for the club or for some different type of food. But now, you can walk to everything.

I can walk to the grocery store. I can ride my bike to the BeltLine. I can walk to yoga. I can walk my dog to the groomer. The accessibility of everything has changed. And I love that. I feel like it’s gotten better and better. Glenwood Park wasn’t even here when I moved. Now it’s all those restaurants and boutiques. It’s just everything.”

The Beecham family, of East Atlanta PHOTO: BEN ROLLINS

Roswell neighborhood

The Poer family, Jordan and Lexi and their children Kennedy and Adeline, live in Roswell. When asked about the appeal living in Roswell, Lexi said, “We wanted more home space and yard space, and a really good school district was a top priority. We wanted somewhere with a cute downtown area and good restaurants, and somewhere we would feel comfortable staying within our community and not feel like we needed to go into town because we felt like we were missing something. We’re only about three miles away from downtown Roswell, on the East Cobb side. We love the easy, everyday access to things in East Cobb too, like grocery stores. It has all the appealing things when you start having kids and a family.”

The Poer Family, of Roswell PHOTO: BEN ROLLINS

**Head to Atlanta Magazine and read about why people are picking other neighborhoods like Inman Park, Duluth, West End, and more:**

Learn more

It's easy to maintain your home with a checklist

Spring is the time of year that makes us feel we want to refresh and renew. After the mess and damage winter can cause, March is a good month to think about taking proactive and preventative measures for keeping you home -and your investment- in tip-top shape.

Spring home maintenance checklist

Clean the gutters and, using a water hose, ensure they drain.

Check the exterior siding for damage and repair as needed.
Check shingles, flashing, and vents for damage when the roof is dry and safe to walk on.
Clean and replace window screens.
Trim back trees that may deposit branches on your home. For branches near power lines, call your electric company for pruning
In late spring, install window unit air conditioners.
Reverse ceiling fans so that the vanes rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. This will move air downward, cooling the room.
Thoroughly clean the windows with a squeegee.
Clean the house and donate unwanted items or sell them at a yard sale.
Service the A/C unit in preparation for the summer.

The Spruce offers an ultimate home maintenance checklist monthly and by season.

Check it out here:

Learn more

State of the state: Metro Atlanta real estate facts for February

We love these charts because they give an easily understandable summary of what is going on in the real estate market. This one compares what we just saw in February of this year with the more normal market of 2019 before things got crazy.

Our main take-away? Inventory is low and prices are still trending upward. What that means for you if you're renting? Don't bother waiting for interest rates to come down because increasing prices will totally eliminate those gains and you'll have been paying someone else rent that could be paying down your very own mortgage.

Call us today to discuss your options. It's always good to be ready for the home ownership realization that awaits you.

Experience Amore e Amore

Yummy food and fantastical experience

Christina enjoys her birthday experience at Amore e Amore

It was Christina's birthday, and we decided to celebrate it -along with the formation of our new business venture- by taking some friends to Amore e Amore

Formerly known as Il Lupino, Amore e Amore was re-opened by the original owners in 2021. On our visit in February, the restaurant exuded a festive vibe with colorful lanterns and heart decorations hanging overhead, creating a lively ambiance.

Amore e Amore adopts a new theme seasonally, making each visit a unique experience. In the past, themes like "The Wizard of Oz" have transformed the restaurant into a whimsical wonderland.

While the decor adds to the dining experience, the food is the true star of the show. Among other delightful treats, we indulged in the organically grown farm-to-table arugula salad with burrata, which was exceptional. The Miller’s Rhapsody in B Major (The Miller Family's Favorite Pasta) was another standout dish that left us all eager for a return visit.

Christina and Mary Beth are excited about the possibility of exploring more Atlanta restaurants in the future and sharing our experiences with you. Stay tuned for more culinary adventures!