Meet the Fall Parade of HomesSM Cover Family
Category: Newsroom » Parade of HomesSM » Parade Featured Stories - August 26, 2010
Becoming a single mom meant several life changes for Jamie, a business analyst for one of the region’s major banks. Moving with two adorable and very active youngsters was one of the bigger challenges. She wanted a home that would be comfortable, offer plenty of conveniences and be fun for the kids.
Jamie, with six-year-old Emily and four-year-old Alex, were looking for a home that offered the same high-calibre schools and plenty of services as they had in their previous home in Eagan. Woodbury fit the bill perfectly. Even better, it was familiar, “I grew up in Woodbury, so was very happy to come back,” she explained.
She began by looking at older homes in the area, but when, with the help of her ”awesome agents” at Edina Realty, she found this almost completed townhome by Centex, Jamie was hooked. With sparkling new appliances, fixtures and finishes, Jamie loved what she saw, “I didn’t have to paint or replace the carpet, it was already perfect.”
The kids were hooked, too. Like a lot of new home communities these days, the outdoor amenities were pretty impressive. There were two outdoor pools, gorgeous gardens, including one designed specifically to attract butterflies, and lots of trails. “There’s just so much for them to do without having to go out of the neighborhood,” says Jamie. “And the kids love to ride bikes, so the trails are huge for us.”
Because this townhome was nearly finished, Jamie was able to move in quickly, and got a good value. She’ll also see a nice benefit next April. “I’ll be using the tax credit this year,” she noted, referring to the Federal stimulus bill’s homeowner tax credit of up to $6,500 for homes purchased by April 30, 2010.
When we visited in the middle of July for photographs, Jamie, Emily and Alex had been in their new home for almost three months. They’ve really made it their own in that time. Both Emily and Alex were excited to show off their own rooms. Emily’s was neat-as-a-pin with a pink color scheme and beautifully made-up bunk bed (the upper bunk was her own private fort). And Alex made sure it was OK to show us his room, even if he hadn’t picked up all the toys yet.
Emily and Alex also made sure we visited the pool and gardens with them, and invited us to return for a swim later. “They’ve discovered the pools this summer, and go about three times a week,” shared Jamie who promised the kids they could go back after lunch.
As you might expect, Alex told us his favorite part of their new home is the pool. Emily’s answer to the same question was a little more thoughtful. She looked around at the gardens and park for a minute, smiled and said “it just makes me feel calm.”
Jamie really has found a great dream home that has everything a single mom needs. “It was the best possible situation for us...a great deal in a beautiful neighborhood.”