5356 Zachary Dr., Stone Mountain, GA 30083

With cottage quaintness to spare, 5356 Zachary Drive hits a lot of nails square on the head. Split-level 3-bed/2-bath construction lends modularity that doesn’t sacrifice the “enough room to spread out” factor of its 1,500-plus square feet (not including the house-length one-car garage).  Inside, a fireplace-equipped living room anchors the entry to the home before flowing into a cozily hued open-plan kitchen and dining area (bonus points for the earthy way the tilework plays off the stainless appliances, stone countertops, and kickin’ backsplash). Going down a few steps leads to the family area, which is ready for a couch-and-flatscreen combo that doesn’t crowd out a south-facing, naturally lit reading nook. Upstairs, meanwhile, the primary suite is paired with a fully capable ensuite bath; one of the two other bedrooms is all set to be outfitted as the de facto home office.  Outside, the elevated, apple-red back porch is hefty enough for a table, grill, and buddies to mill about, before stepping into the open-but-utterly-green back yard. If a dog is in the mix, a privacy fence is all it will take to secure pooch friendliness.  We’ve gotta mention the location, too — the rapidly “trendifying” village of Stone Mountain is barely a half-mile to the north (it’s not too much farther to Stone Mountain itself, so a convenient extra for outdoorsy types). Otherwise, for commutes, two closeby state highways lend a couple of Decatur-centric access points to the I-285 perimeter and beyond.  In short, especially with its rare sub-$250K price point, 5356 Zachary has “ultimate starter home” written all over it. Perfectly lovely for years to come, for sure. But if the next 5 years have an upgrade in order? This region of OTP Atlanta is getting nothing but more popular with each passing year, so it certainly ain’t a bad investment for the long-haul, either.