What $500K Will Buy You in Springfield

632 Hill Farm Ln., Springfield, Pa. 19072 | TREND image via RE/MAX Main Line

Springfield! Even before “The Simpsons,” this place name had a sort of Everyplace quality to it. After all, you’ll find at least one of these in 33 of the 50 states. One of them is a state capital, and two others are the core cities of sizable metropolitan areas in their own right.

Here in the Greater Philadelphia area, we have two of them. One goes by that name; it’s located in Delaware County. Most people refer to the other by the names of the communities located in it, like Flourtown, Wyndmoor, Erdenheim and Oreland; it’s in Montgomery County. The one in Delaware County has a sort of Everysuburb quality to it; the communities in the Montgomery County one have more distinct character.

What this means, however, is that a search on Zillow for homes selling around $500,000 in “Springfield, PA” will likely miss some homes labeled as being somewhere else. Add to that the current raging seller’s market, which has caused supply to dry up in the middle of the market in lots of places, and you get slim pickings indeed. We managed to find one home each in our target price range in Springfield, Delaware County, and Springfield, Montgomery County. Both are of relatively recent vintage.

632 Hill Farm Ln., Springfield, Delaware County (above) | 4 beds, 3 full, 1 half baths, $488,000

The listing classes this recently built home as a 4-bedroom, but there’s a spare room in the basement that can easily become a fifth bedroom if you need it. As might befit a home in Everysuburb, this attractive home has many of the hallmarks of typical new mid-market homes: a main floor that combines elements of the open plan with some separation of uses, a spacious master bedroom, a kitchen with granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances, a large rec room and lots of room to play in the backyard. This home, however, is distinguished by a higher-than-usual level of traditional detailing: wainscoting, crown and wall moldings all around on the main floor, a vaulted ceiling in the master bedroom, classic-style ceiling fans in the bedrooms, tasteful light pastel paint schemes. In short, it should satisfy Everybuyer.

This home has had three price reductions: $20,000 on July 21, $1,000 on Sept. 5 and $11,000 on Sept. 8.

632 Hill Farm Ln., Springfield, Pa. 19064 [Arleen Pecone | RE/MAX Main Line]

1122 Summit Ln., Oreland, Pa. 19075 | TREND image via Coldwell Banker Preferred

1132 Summit Ln., Oreland (Springfield, Montgomery County) | 4 beds, 3 baths, 2,660 square feet, $475,000

Usually, the phrase “Home being sold in As-Is condition” in a listing serves as a yellow flag to the would-be buyer, but judging from the pictures, the would-be buyer has very little to worry about with this move-in-ready home. Its owner has kept up with maintenance over the years, replacing the doors and windows, improving the drainage system, putting granite countertops in the kitchen, outfitting bathrooms with marble tile, stuff like that. The hardwood floors sparkle, and the walls are painted in tasteful pastels. This home is more traditional in form and style than the Delaware County one: it’s a classic center-hall Colonial with classic center-hall Colonial style and detailing. There’s a rear patio, a spacious backyard, and quiet guaranteed by its location on a cul-de-sac. And your kids will be able to walk to school.

1132 Summit Ln., Oreland, Pa. 19075 [Charles Baley | Coldwell Banker Preferred]