Steve and Debby Souleyrette began looking for a house more than a year ago. The first stop on what usually is a long and harrowing journey was at Oaks at Waters Edge, a new community of 267 townhomes in Howard County.
“It’s the first place we looked,” said Steve Souleyrette, who’s retired from the U.S. Air Force. “We really like it, but we weren’t in a position to buy.”
Work, as it’s often apt to do, got in the way, taking Steve overseas for a year. When he returned, the couple knew where they wanted to settle.
“[Oaks at Waters Edge] was the first place we came back to,” he said. “It has everything we were looking for.”
The 2,100-square-foot townhomes boast three stories and an open floor plan, which was really attractive to the Souleyrettes. They come with two-car garages, and options such as a finished basement, cathedral ceilings, and large garden bathtub are available.
“We always say that we spent all this money on a bathtub, because we love the garden tub,” Souleyrette said.
The community features a pool and a clubhouse. Half the homes sit across the street from those structures, while the rest are in cul-de-sacs. The neighborhood is surrounded by plenty of forest conservation areas, and the remaining unsold homes all back up to the wooded land.
Located directly off Route 1, Elkridge is ideally located for those who want easy access to Baltimore and Washington.
“People want to move into Howard County because of the school system, but they can’t afford Columbia,” said Katye Gorman, sales counselor for Ryland Homes. “This is a great opportunity for someone to get into Howard County at such a premium price. Many people will live in a townhome for six or six and a half years to get the school system, then relocate to a single-family home.”
It’s a safe bet the Souleyrettes won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.
“It’s right in the middle of everything,” Steve said of his new neighborhood. “There isn’t anything you can’t drive to within 10 minutes. We already know everybody in our building. It’s just a great place to be.”
At-A-Glance
- Development: Oaks at Waters Edge
- Builder: Ryland Homes, Calabasas, Calif.
- Description: 267 three-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom townhomes in Elkridge, Md.
- Price: Starting from $309,990
- Contact: Katye Gorman, sales counselor, 410-379-2046
