By Peyton Jenkins
Real estate agent Gena Knox of Ansley Real Estate describes the market trends in Athens, and the microculture found here that has inspired the flight of many Atlanta families east to Athens.
Gena Knox poses in her office in Five Points in Athens on November 29. She started her own business Ansley Real Estate in February 2022. (Photo/Peyton Jenkins)
Q: How long have you been practicing real estate in Athens?
Gena Knox: So we actually just opened the Athens branch of Ansley in February, but I’ve had my license for four years, I’ve just kind of got in at a good time. I’ve lived in Athens for almost 20 years. So I know a lot of people just from living here. I was immediately successful in the job because I know people who have lived here for so long that it was easy for me to find buyers and sellers.
Q: What are some trends you have seen sparking up in Athens?
GK: The younger couples, or the millennials that are buying their first home, I think nice lines like clean lawns are really trending, and you can see a lot of that in new construction. They like very simple kitchens and baths, you know, white marble, dark fixtures, the clean lines, and then a lot of scrollwork pattern in detail, and that shows really well.
Q: What age groups are moving to Athens?
GK: Millennials are moving here. They’re choosing Athens over Atlanta, because it has a lot of appeal as a slower paced lifestyle, but we still offer great restaurants and things like that. But we also see a lot of empty nesters retiring here. Those two different demographic picks are very popular.
Q: What is the average price point for homes in Athens?
GK: $370k is the average home sale for Clarke County. We definitely have seen our highest sales since COVID with many located on Milledge Circle. One home was listed for $3.2 million, and we sold it for $3.8.
Q:Has there been an influx of people moving to Athens in recent years?
GK: We have seen a flight of people from Atlanta, but also New York, Texas, and Colorado. I think people just wanted a slower pace. We’ve had people come from California, and just buy a house sight unseen here and never been to Athens just heard it was a cool thing. You can get so much more bang for your buck here. So it has been fun to see Athens grow, and I don’t really see it changing anytime soon, especially with our football team doing so well.
Q: How has the recession changed the way people have purchased real estate in Athens?
GK: I’m crazy busy with buyers, which is great. I feel like Athens is a little bit protected because we’re so close to the university, and the university provides so many jobs and opportunities for people. It’s not going anywhere. We’re kind of in a little bubble, where we’re not as affected as the rest of the country about the recession. I think there’s just microclimates like that all over the country anyway, but we’re unique in that respect.
Comments trimmed for length and clarity.
Peyton Jenkins 