Seeking a bigger home, couple found the right place in Arlington
Thomas and Karey Baxter knew they were ready for a bigger home. But before they found the right one, they had already put their house in East Memphis on the market. It sold very quickly.
“We sold our house in East Memphis in February 2023,” said Thomas. “Subsequently, we moved in with Karey’s parents in Lakeland. We were there for nine months while we were searching for the right home for us. All the while Karey was pregnant and we were expecting our first child in June 2023.”
To help with their house hunt, the couple contacted Melody Bourell, an agent with Marx-Bensdorf Realtors. “We connected with Melody back in 2018 when we bought our first house, the one we just sold in East Memphis,” explained Karey. “Melody was very enthusiastic and patient about helping us find the right house. She gave great advice and we really viewed her as an expert in the local real estate market.”
Karey continued, “We knew that we were looking for a home with four bedrooms, a garage and a walkable neighborhood that was close to good schools. We really didn’t want a house that came with projects. We needed something move-in ready. Plus, we not only wanted a larger home, we wanted to live closer to our family.”
Melody took Thomas and Karey to see 12 properties. The property locations ranged from East Memphis and Germantown to the Lakeland/Arlington area.
The house that fit the bill for the couple was one in the Village of White Oak in Arlington that had been built in 2019 and had their requisite four bedrooms, plus three bathrooms. They paid $529,900 for 2,950 square feet of living space.
Their new home was an exceptional painted-brick, two-story beauty with amazing curb appeal. The yard featured manicured landscaping, including two large, raised beds. There was a generously-sized covered front porch with additional planters.
The front door opened onto dark-stained hardwood floors. The floor plan offered incredible flow featuring a dream kitchen adorned with stunning light fixtures that opened to the soaring ceilings of the great room. The island in the kitchen also served as a breakfast bar and there was a separate breakfast room for casual meals. The main level also included a luxurious primary retreat, a dining room, a second bedroom, another full bath, and a dedicated laundry room. Upstairs there were two more bedrooms, another bathroom, a second bonus area and a walk-in attic. Other amenities included walk-in closets, a gas fireplace in the great room surrounded by built-in bookshelves, a mud room with built-in storage cubbies, and a two-car garage.
“We really like the open living room/kitchen floor plan, and the large, covered patio outside in the back,” said Karey. “The laundry room is so convenient and helps cuts the clutter, and there’s a spacious pantry in the kitchen that provides great storage options. And after seeing so many monochromatic color schemes centered on white and shades of gray, we love that this home had a different look. For example, a shade of navy was used on an accent wall in the dining room and was used as the dominant color in the primary bathroom.”
“We bought this home in November 2023 and had time to get settled for our first holiday season with our daughter, Heidi,” said Thomas. “The home felt cozy and we love the neighborhood. There are lots of families with children and the kids play outside like we used to do when we were growing up. There’s a quietness out here at night that we really like — overall the town of Arlington is very friendly and charming.”
Emily Adams Keplinger is a freelance reporter who produced this feature for the Advertising Department.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: The Baxters found their new home In The Village of White Oak.
