Billie Jo and Brent Parker have embraced small-town living in Arlington.
"I'm from a small town," Billie Jo said, "so this feels like home."
Married nearly three years, Billie Jo, 28, and Brent, 25, have settled into the newly established community of The Villages at White Oak.
They started house hunting in the spring. The search started in East Memphis, which was closer to work -- Brent works at Regents Bank and Billie Jo is associate managing director at Metropolitan Bank.
"The homes were nice, but the rooms were small and needed renovating," Billie Jo said. "We also thought about the resale value."
Arlington was close to church for the Parkers. Brent is a youth leader at Living Oaks Church in Arlington and Billie Jo leads praise and worship.
Real estate agent Peter Ritten of Remax on Track showed the Parkers the new neighborhood in Arlington, which is the community that will be featured this fall in the 2009 VESTA Home Show. The neighborhood is in the first of seven phases. The Parkers chose a lot located in the only cove in the neighborhood. They were drawn to being a part of a new neighborhood with a future.
"They are really creating a community out here and will be adding a dry cleaners, coffee shop, grocery," Brent said. "Like what was done in Harbor Town."
Future plans for The Villages of White Oak include retail shopping center, soccer and tee-ball parks, multipurpose park and clubhouse.
"We get more house for our money out here," Brent said. "Comparing this to the older homes in East Memphis that needed work -- there is no comparison."
The two-story house was purchased for $218,000. The floor plan has 2,800 square feet. It has three bedrooms with an option for a fourth, and two bathrooms with an option for a third. There is a bonus room upstairs, which is one of Brent's favorite rooms.
"This is a great room for the youth group," Brent said. "We just need the floor space and our Bibles."
Wood flooring covers the main living areas on the first floor, and the bedrooms and upstairs rooms are carpeted. The bathrooms have tiled floors.
The kitchen is spacious and open. The Parkers chose the granite countertops and cupboard finish. The kitchen has stainless steel appliances. They opted for the breakfast nook instead of a formal dining room. A large modern table sits in this room.
Billie Jo's favorite color is pink, which is reflected in accents throughout the house. Brent gave Billie Jo a hot pink Kitchen Aid mixer, which sits on the countertop in the kitchen. Various distinctively shaped vases in hot pink and clear also adorn the kitchen counter. The breakfast bar opens up to the living room.
One of Billie Jo's favorite rooms is the master bathroom. The bathroom has a whirlpool tub, a separate shower and ample closet space.
Brent's favorite room is the outdoor space -- the patio and fireplace where he has plans to add a flat-screen television for outdoor entertaining.
The Parkers are adjusting to the commute to work while they enjoy their community and proximity to their church family.
"It has been a tradeoff living out here," Billie Jo said. But worth it because, "It's nice out here."
