We thought these had been gobbled up yeeeears ago. It wasn’t too long ago that many of the homes in the Candler Park / Lake Claire part of town were just like this one: lovingly maintained, not necessarily modern, but available on the cheap to renovate to your heart’s desire and hold onto for the long run, confident that you got in on the ground floor with a parcel of land in a part of town that, today, is one of the most sought-after neighborhoods east of Midtown
Trying to buy just the right home in Intown is a challenge. Downright frustrating in many cases. Those reports of over a "thousand people a month" moving Intown are true, and housing inventory is at an all-time low. Many buyers are left with the feeling they will have to snap up almost anything that pops up or be left behind. If you've had the discipline to wait for the ideal home to appear, your patience may be rewarded here.
Welcome Home.
Of course, a listing price of $625,000 isn’t what one may consider an absolute, bargain basement, fire sale, everything-must-go, deal of the century. And definitely not, as we mentioned above, cheap. Those days in this neighborhood are long gone (especially for a corner lot an actual stone’s throw away from Lake Claire Park and short driving distance to everywhere in Atlanta). But what you’re getting here is worth looking into if you’ve ever felt the slightest pang of regret that you missed the east-of-Atlanta craze while the iron was hot.
First, we’ll rephrase. When someone thinks of a fixer-upper, some pretty dire imagery can spring to mind. Not so here: the house is up to par with all the fixtures that count, from foundation to rafters, and is for all accounts, adorable, with its gabled windows and solid-brick construction. It’s just a little outdated, especially when you hold it up to today’s standards in kitchens and baths — these spaces especially would sing with a renovation. It’s up to the prospective buyer on what exactly needs to be done, but we estimate that a well invested $75,000 would really bring it up to speed, and maximize what is already one of the most desirable footprints in the metro area.
Kitchen
Finally, it’s large enough for an active family, with plenty of room to stay flexible. We’ll talk more about the basement apartment in a moment, but the three bedrooms on the main floor, not to mention the oversized common areas, are more than enough space for a home that occasionally descends into chaos.
As we said, lovingly maintained. The hardwood floors that flow from room to room are in excellent shape; fixtures like crown molding, French doors, and a natural stone fireplace present a timeless elegance that doesn’t overstep its boundaries; an immense back deck was (literally) built to hold a party, and pulls double duty as a cover for the home’s two carports; an enclosed sunroom provides a cozy spot to curl up with a book on a cloudy day. Are there changes you’re going to want to make? Sure. Personalizing a home is one of the most rewarding processes a person can experience (and, those grey walls are very 2005). Otherwise? It’s a property you can take your time with upgrading, one project at a time. A home that grows along with you, if you want to get romantic about it.
Outside, an ancient oak punctuates a rolling lawn. It’s from the street especially that the architecture of this home really stands out; 1930s construction of Georgia clay bricks in a classic Tudor style evokes an elegance that doesn’t tarnish with time.
Inlaw Suite / Basement Aparment
Having some guest space that’s separate from your home’s main space is a big bonus. Some families choose to reserve this space for times of transition, keeping it for inlaws, traveling friends, or older children home from college. Others may want to make a few bucks and rent it out on Airbnb — a couple of trips to IKEA, and that could be your mortgage right there.
In this case, we're talking about the basement apartment that’s located under the house, half-way under the ground (so you’re still getting some natural light). It’s a one-bedroom affair, with a private bath and a kitchen, but there’s some spare space as well — three additional medium-sized rooms comprise the downstairs, lending more than enough square footage to dedicate space to any passions or hobbies that require room to move your elbows. Home cinema? Sewing room? Photography studio? Go for it. This space, too, could benefit from a facelift. It all just depends on your needs. Bottom line, it’s never a bad thing to have an extra home under your feet.
Great Curb Appeal
A pre-war Lake Claire home is kind of like a really good vintage of wine. It came out years ago, everyone bought it up, and there aren’t any bottles left. Except for an occasional one that surfaces, seemingly at random. This house is kind of like that.
Aside from its applications as a pure investment property, as well as a family home with character to spare, the primo location of 469 Claire Drive practically ensures that this property isn’t going to be on the market for very long before someone snags it. If you’re intrigued, give us a call and we’ll arrange a time to pay this house a visit.
The seller is represented by The Keen Brothers, Ben & Joshua Keen.
Call today for a private showing: 404-538-5356
Please, serious inquiries only.