These soon-to-be newlyweds found their dream home in Irondale—here’s how

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Young couples starting their lives together are often faced with a choice: do they continue renting an apartment or commit to buying a home? However, there is a third option. Just ask soon-to-be-wed couple Amy Jameson and Blake Raziano, who are leasing a standalone home at The Heights—a new nontraditional rental community in Irondale.

Meet Amy and Blake

Originally from Melbourne, Florida, Amy Jameson attended the University of Mississippi while studying accounting. It was there that she met Blake Raziano, a fellow accounting student and her future husband.

“We met during our senior year at Ole Miss in our accounting class and have been together for four years now. We actually met in an accounting class, dated all through senior year and both of our Master’s programs and then got engaged!”

Amy Jameson

After finishing up their studies at Ole Miss, the couple moved to Birmingham in mid-2020. While Amy planned the details of their wedding, Blake was tasked with finding a home they could share.

“After years of living in apartments on campus, we were both done with having to hear other people above and below us. We definitely wanted space and something that was built recently, so our goal was to find a house we could lease.”

Blake Raziano

Finding The Heights

Initially, Blake had trouble finding a home for lease that checked all the boxes.

“We weren’t ready to buy a home just yet. We’re both young and just starting our careers, and the real estate market is wild right now. Owning a home comes with its own set of responsibilities that we weren’t ready for just yet, so we wanted to lease. But with lease a home, you don’t always know if your landlord is going to be great or not so great.”

Blake Raziano

By chance, Blake stumbled upon an ad for The Heights—a non-traditional leasing community concept that combines the best parts about owning a home with the convenience of renting an apartment.

“I’ll never forget the day we found The Heights. Blake decided to drive us by the development to see for ourselves. We were really excited about the possibility of living there, but we both assumed the homes were already leased

. We decided to apply anyway and were thrilled when we were accepted!”

Amy Jameson

Amy and Blake were able to pick out the floor plan they loved and were assigned to a little dirt lot in the community. The couple signed and three months later there was a completed house on the lot!

Falling in love with The Heights

Blake and Amy moved into their home at The Heights two months ago, and they’ve loved every second of it. Since both Amy and Blake work primarily from home, having the extra space has helped them maintain a work/life balance.

“When Blake lived in an apartment, he had trouble relaxing in his living room because that’s where his home office was. There wasn’t a clear separation of work and home life. Now, we both have offices upstairs so at the end of the workday we can shut down our computers and relax on the main floor.”

Amy Jameson

The home itself has been perfect for Amy and Blake, who love to cook and have friends over for get-togethers.

“My favorite part is definitely the kitchen. It’s so spacious and gives me enough room for everything I need. We’ve enjoyed having friends to sit around the fire pit and bake pizzas using our outdoor pizza oven. We love our backyard—we don’t have a dog yet, but if we ever end up adopting one the backyard will be ideal!”

Amy Jameson

At The Heights, Amy and Blake have the benefit of elevated privacy with the reliability of neighbors they can trust. In fact, one of their neighbors helped bring in the dozens of wedding registry packages the couple received while out of town for Thanksgiving.

Recently, The Heights opened its brand-new Clubhouse—home to a state-of-the-art fitness center, a resort-style pool, a doggy day spa, outdoor greenspace and much more.

“The Clubhouse has been such a great addition to The Heights. If we’re looking for a change of scenery while working from home, it’s a quick walk to the Clubhouse to work there. Plus, they have a fancy coffee machine and a ton of snacks. You can tell that they put a lot of effort into making the Clubhouse a valuable resource to the people who live here.”

Amy Jameson

What’s next for Amy and Blake?

On December 10, Amy and Blake will tie the knot and begin their lives as a married couple.

“There is something special about pulling into your own driveway, seeing your own yard and having a sense of belonging at your home. We’re not sharing a parking lot or a hallway, and we get to decorate our front porch for the holidays. It’s been so lovely living here, and we can’t wait to see what’s next!”

Blake Raziano

Want to learn more about finding your own dream home at The Heights? Visit the website to discover available home designs, amenities and other perks of living at The Heights.

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