City house in the suburbs: Detached townhomes offer 'tall skinny' style

Donavan and Abby DeGrie love their new house, which they think resembles the “tall skinny” homes being built in many of Nashville’s most popular urban neighborhoods.



But the DeGries don’t live in and older neighborhood in the heart of the city. Their house is in Carellton, a growing subdivision in Gallatin.

More: Carellton subdivision in Gallatin offers new, improved townhomes

“It’s very much a kind of Nashville house,” said Donavan DeGrie.

They are the first people to buy one of Goodall Homes’ new detached townhomes, which the home builder put on the market this month.

Inside and out, they resemble traditional townhouses. They are narrow and have more than one level, so they don’t take up a lot of expensive land. The exterior architecture looks like a typical townhouse, too.

But there’s a difference. Instead of being connected, they are freestanding with no shared walls. Each one has its own small yard.

The DeGries, who are in their 20s, believe their house is perfect for first-time buyers like them. They were happy to find a house that combines the privacy of a single-family house with the affordability of a townhome. Goodall’s prices start around $275,000.

“It goes back to affordability. People go where they can afford. The biggest need of people in their 20s and 30s is a nice home in a nice subdivision,” said Donavan DeGrie.

More: Townhomes popular with downsizers, first-time buyers

Goodall expects its new home design to appeal to those buyers and anyone else with their eye on price, said Todd Reynolds, the company’s vice president.

“They are set up for people who think they may not be able to afford a house yet,” he said.

Many of those buyers are tired of renting but are worried that that the only homes in their price range are older fixer-uppers. For some, traditional attached townhomes are an option since they often cost thousands less than a single-family home with a big yard.

Others like the price of townhomes but want the privacy of a freestanding house. Still others want a single-family house but don’t want a yard to care for. Goodall’s new detached design should appeal to everyone, said Reynolds.

“To have single-family homes people can afford, you have to think outside the box,” he said.

Reynolds sees demand growing for traditional townhomes, as well. Goodall is launching construction of 60 townhomes in Hendersonville’s Durham Farms master-planned neighborhood.

More: Neighborhoods reel in residents with full schedule of social events

There are a lot of first-time buyers looking for homes right now, said Vivian Armstrong, a Realtor with Re/Max Elite.

Homes like the DeGries’ tall skinny townhome are what many of them are looking for, she said.

“They want something new but will forgo the nice big yard,” said Armstrong.

They often can’t afford new construction in the city, but prices are more affordable in the suburbs.

“Gallatin is an area people should be looking at right now for the price point,” said Armstrong.

Carellton’s detached townhomes have about 1,730 to 1,975 square feet of space, alley-loaded one-car garages and porches.

The DeGries purchased one of the smaller floor plans and know that in a few years they may want more space. But they believe their “tall skinny” is a good investment.

Donavan DeGrie also believes more young home buyers will be looking for “tall skinnies” in the suburbs.

“I think this is a direction first-time buyers my age are going to turn to,” he said.