4054 Emerald Lake Dr., Decatur, GA 30035

This home sits just a hair outside the Perimeter, where I-20 meets 285, a quiet enclave still exists. One that’s close enough to the city that the commute, whichever direction, is as breezy as you’d like. Wesley Chapel Road is about a minute’s drive away, where you’ll find a Kroger, a Home Depot, and a pretty banging sports grille where the locals unwind. Try the catfish nuggets: they’re sorta famous. It’s a close-knit neighborhood here in Decatur that’s called Emerald Lake — so named after a body of water that’s actually right out back. Don’t let the proximity fool you — this is a quiet, easy-going, family-centered place. Which leads us to 4054 Emerald Lake Drive, right in the heart of it. A home where the modularity of late-century split-level architecture is reinforced (literally) by solid brick construction. Four bedrooms anchor 4054; the rest is up to the ideal family dynamic. 2,000-square-feet is a good chunk of space — and ever-more difficult to find for under $250K — so if yours is a home that is big and growing? Enjoy the dual family rooms to spread out (one upstairs, and one down). Work-from-home setup? An office room at the ready. Master chef? The stainless kitchen, ample cabinetry, and granite tops leave plenty of room to be messy during culinary creation. Plus, the cool tones. Sleek lines. Modular, but with a great hardwood flow that just ties everything together. It’s a vibe that leads into the over-long one-car garage. The driveway is great, and even longer. Outside, it’s all rounded off by a quaint, private terrace that’s just begging for a trellis and a grill, under the shadow of the trees, not too far at all from the namesake lake.