- In 2023, Kristi Campbell moved into South Park Cottages, a micro-housing community in Atlanta.
- Campbell owns a 628-square-foot, one-bedroom, one-bathroom home, purchased for $235,000.
- Despite the small size of the house, she finds it comfortable and enjoys being part of the close-knit village community.
This essay as told is based on a conversation with Kristi Campbell, a 28-year-old business consultant, who moved into a micro-housing community. Chalets in Parc Sud in 2023. The essay has been edited for length and clarity.
In 2020, I left New York after living there for seven years, pursuing my master’s and bachelor’s degrees, and working as a consultant. The city is full of hustle and bustle, and I realized that it wasn’t necessarily for me.
When the pandemic hit, I thought it was the perfect time to move back to East Atlanta and my parents’ house where I grew up. The plan was to move out and buy my first house by November 2023. I even had $10,000 saved.
In 2022, my boyfriend sent me a link to the website of South Park Cottages, a small black-owned village. I absolutely fell in love.
The houses in the village are newly built with a modern aesthetic. It’s also close to the airport and Main Street in downtown Atlanta, where there are a strip of black-owned restaurants and stores.
I put in an offer on a tiny house in November 2022 and officially closed in June 2023. I own a 628 square foot house that I purchased for $235,000 and have a fixed mortgage over 30 years with a monthly payment of $2,150.
South Park Cottages gave me the opportunity to buy my first home sooner than I expected – it was the official mark of adulthood.
It’s nice to have my own space
When I applied, the community was still developing (I saw the frame of my house and trusted the developer). This gave me the opportunity to save more money.
Before I was even considered for a home at South Park Cottages, I had to be pre-approved for the full loan amount of the home.
I chose South Park Cottages’ preferred lender, as well as a preferred closing attorney.
The tiny house loan process worked like a traditional mortgage, requiring the same paperwork: The lender wanted to see my income and bank statements for the past two years to make sure I had consistent employment.
When I was approved, I put down a deposit of $17,500. It covered builder fees and an upgraded technology package for my home, which included a smart door lock, doorbell camera, smart refrigerator, and Bluetooth speakers.
Campbell proudly holds the keys to his new little house. Courtesy of Kristi Campbell
When I received the keys to my house, I was shocked – in a good way. I was thrilled to have something I could create and it was mine.
I have a T2 and a bathroom, a patio, a balcony, as well as a versatile loft that I transformed into an office.
I consider myself a maximalist, but when you move into a small house, you end up realizing that you actually don’t need a lot of things.
I have a storage unit for equipment and other supplies, but I got rid of a lot of clothes, shoes, bags and furniture.
Despite downsizing, I still think the house is quite spacious. On my mother’s birthday in January, my whole family came to my house and we hosted around 20 people here.
The community feels safe and welcoming
South Park Cottages is predominantly black and millennial, but it’s still very diverse.
For some homeowners here, their tiny house is an investment property, while for others it’s a second vacation home.
Many of us share similar stories and backgrounds: we are first-time home buyers and are mostly born and raised in Atlanta, although I think there are a couple from California. It’s exciting to know that I can learn from people around me who are going through similar phases of life.
One of my favorite things about the village is that it’s really community-oriented; we are all very united. Neighbors look out for neighbors.
We usually eat on our terraces or in front of our houses and greet each other. There are also common areas in the village such as a garden and a fire pit, where residents regularly organize meals. And locals also celebrate many housewarming parties.
When you look at the community, it’s like something you’ve never seen before in Atlanta and I love it.
I plan to buy another house in the future
South Park Cottages changed my life in more ways than one.
When I came back to Georgia, getting an apartment was never part of my plan; I was determined that my next step would be homeownership.
But housing prices in Atlanta have increased significantly in recent years. When I first looked for homes in the area, there was virtually no affordable new construction. The houses that were there were not modern and required a lot of work.
I believe South Park Cottages has made homeownership more accessible for people like me and given me the opportunity to create my own space.
Campbell holding a cup. Courtesy of Kristi Campbell
Right now I think my little house is great for me, but I definitely view it as a stepping stone. I want to live here for another year and a half and then buy another house, especially because I plan to get married and have children one day.
I’m going to keep this little house and pass it on to them. It feels amazing to know that I have invested in something that will benefit me and future generations.
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