Home Love Stories: Renovating Our First Home in Commerce, Georgia
- Brooke Dyer
- Feb 7
- 4 min read
Welcome to my February Home "Love" Stories series, where we celebrate heartfelt tales of finding and creating the perfect place to call home. We're kicking things off with a story close to our hearts—our own home journey in Commerce, Georgia.
In October 2024, Michael and I began an exciting new adventure by purchasing a 1960s brick ranch house on two acres in beautiful Madison County, Georgia. While it wasn’t love at first sight, after a few visits, mapping out ideas, and imagining the possibilities, we realized this was the perfect place to call home. Michael, with his visionary eye, immediately saw the potential to transform the house. What really sealed the deal, though, was the property itself—its space, the peaceful community, and the surrounding area. The two acres also gave our dogs, Kirby and Sadie, room to roam freely, which added to our excitement. The view from the front windows overlooking a beautiful farm across the street offered the perfect backdrop for creating a home filled with love. In the end, the quiet, rural setting provided the ideal escape from the hustle and bustle, while still keeping us conveniently close to everything we need.
Situated just 15 minutes from Tanger Outlets, 25 minutes from the heart of Athens, and 90 minutes from Atlanta, we truly have the best of both worlds. It’s a place where the stars shine bright at night, and the morning air is crisp and quiet—yet we’re never far from the excitement and amenities of nearby towns.
A Labor of Love
We had the amazing and special opportunity to close at the house with one of the daughters of the previous owners making it even more special and exciting. The previous owners lived in the home since it was built in 1965 and raised all three of their children there. Hearing her heartfelt stories made us feel that we made the best decision, as this home carried decades of love and memories.
Shortly after closing, we got started turning our vision into a reality. This home has been a true labor of love, with family and friends pitching in every step of the way. From demolition days filled with laughter (and a little dust) to evenings spent working on tile and choosing fixtures, it’s been a journey defined by creativity, hard work, and countless meaningful moments.
That said, the renovation process hasn’t been all smiles and laughter. There have been challenges, long nights, and unexpected hiccups along the way. But through it all, we’ve kept our eyes on the end result—a home we will cherish and love sharing with our family and friends.
Sweat equity goes a long way in a starter home, and we’re living proof of that. Even though this property wasn’t necessarily at the top of our list when we first embarked on our home search journey, it turned out to offer the most ability to grow and create something truly special. It’s become a canvas for our dreams, allowing us to shape a space that perfectly reflects our vision and lifestyle.
A Smart Investment with Room to Grow
One of the things we loved most about this starter home was that it came in well under our budget, giving us the flexibility to invest in renovations, immediately build equity, and truly make it our own. Even better, our mortgage payment is lower than what we were paying for rent in Statham—a huge financial relief and an empowering step forward.
Building Our Corner of the World
Since I was 18, I’ve moved between 3 states, 6 cities/towns, and a total of 9 times (safe to say I’ve become a PRO at moving). Finding a place to truly settle has been extra special. Moving to Commerce has brought us closer to family and friends, though we’ll always cherish the amazing memories and family we built in Statham. Commerce and Madison County are filled with incredible people who are always willing to lend a hand, and we’re beyond grateful to call this community HOME!
As we continue to renovate and shape this home, it’s become a testament to the power of collaboration and imagination. We envision adding more over time, but right now, we’re focused on cherishing the process and celebrating each milestone along the way.
And a special shoutout to my incredible husband for his vision, patience, hard work, and determination to make our dream a reality. I’m endlessly grateful to have you by my side on this journey.
And a special shoutout to my incredible husband: I’m endlessly grateful to have you by my side on this journey.
We can’t wait to keep sharing updates from our little corner of the world ❤️
Stay tuned for more Home Love Stories this month as we share inspiring journeys from our wonderful clients and friends. If you have your own story to share, we’d love to hear from you!
Brooke Dyer
Corcoran Classic Living
REALTOR® & ABR®
Source: Federal Reserve, Survey of Consumer Finances (latest available data) — "The average homeowner has a net worth nearly 40 times greater than the average renter."
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