Tessa Carla Blog's: Picture-Perfect Victorian in Pennsylvania Is This Week’s Most Popular Home

We love a huge home improvement story—and this week’s most popular home on Realtor.com® is an epic tale, as in a fixer-upper that spanned four decades.

Built in 1912, the fully restored and picture-perfect Victorian charmed real estate watchers from coast to coast with its abundant curb appeal.

This week’s runner-up is classy, but not in the way you might think. An entire elementary school in Ohio is headed for auction, and it comes complete with locker rooms, a gym, cafeteria kitchen, and even a teachers lounge. The property also includes playing fields and a playground. With an opening bid of $10,000, it’s an easy A in our book.

You also clicked on a quirky lakefront cabin known as the Stair Home in Idaho, an 1860-era house that sits directly on the Gettysburg National Battlefield, and a place nestled on a private island in Rhode Island.

All of this week’s most popular homes are worth a gander. Scroll down and see for yourself.

10. 2075 Gates Rd, Kountze, TX

Price: $599,900
Why it’s here: You’ll find this dreamy four-bedroom farmhouse set on 2.58 acres behind a blueberry farm.

The sweet setup includes an upstairs apartment with a kitchenette for guests or an au pair. Plus, the custom home features a kitchen with stainless-steel appliances, granite counters, farm sink, pot filler, and wine cooler. The master bedroom has a private entrance, and the bath features a free-standing tub and dual vanities. An outdoor kitchen with patio and fireplace is ideal for outdoor events. The property also comes with a two-car garage, fenced dog area, and a private pond.

———

9. 615 N 5th St, Beaumont, TX

Price: $349,000
Why it’s here: Built in 1911, this historic cultural landmark is the only example of Prairie-style architecture in this section of South Texas.

Designed by a Frank Lloyd Wright protege, the storied home was built for Harry and Olga Keith Wiess. Harry Wiess was a founding partner of Humble Oil, later known as Exxon. For a lover of vintage dwellings, the home could be quite the real estate gusher.

Although it’s been updated over the years, the home’s design and original character are intact. The kitchen and bathrooms have been sensitively updated to preserve the original architecture. The listing suggests the five-bedroom home is perfect for a large family or could even be used as a bed-and-breakfast.

———

8. 135 River St, Forty Fort, PA

Price: $695,000
Why it’s here: All aboard this 1912 three-story Colonial abode. This place is a train lover’s treasure, with tracks for a toy train circling the grounds.

There’s also a huge model train set up in the basement. The six-bedroom home is highlighted by a breakfast room and solarium off the kitchen. The spacious grounds also include a large rear porch, patio, landscaped yard, summer cabana, and pool.

———

7. 108 N Main St, Glenford, OH

Price: $275,000
Why it’s here: Here’s a smart investment. Built in 1919, this octagonal brick building was originally the People’s Bank of Glenford and served as a bank until 1932.

The current owners spent seven years transforming it into a unique and functional living space. Original pieces from the bank were incorporated into the restoration of the 3,802-square-foot wonder. Large windows provide natural light throughout the space. The listing suggests the property could also be used as a storefront or tourist attraction, or listed for short-term rent on Airbnb.

———

6. 4 W Confederate Ave, Gettysburg, PA

Price: $859,900
Why it’s here: Built during the Civl War, this 1860s abode has seen some action. Known as the Shultz house for the owners who lived there during the battle for Gettysburg, the Victorian borders the Gettysburg National Battlefield.

The six-bedroom home now melds original elements and modern upgrades, including an updated chef’s kitchen. Visually appealing, the exterior has been newly painted and features rebuilt porches and balconies.

———

5. Stair House, Coeur d’Alene, ID

Price: $695,000
Why it’s here: With just 936 square feet, the lakefront retreat known as “The Stair Home” has an intriguing appearance, a welcoming dock, lots and lots of stairs, and not much else—as in, no indoor plumbing and no legal bedrooms.

That lack of amenities didn’t stop folks from taking a peek at the place, which is a series of stacked outdoor staircases with rooms underneath. According to our report, the home’s owner and designer created the space after fighting with local officials for a decade.

A motivated buyer could keep it as a perfect spot for a daytrip by boat, or finish it to create a truly comfortable vacation retreat. The locale can’t be beat, and the property offers 100 feet of lake frontage, 900 square feet of dock, two boat slips, four watercraft floats, and bragging rights to a local landmark.

———

4. 2142 E Old Highway 53, Celina, TN

Price: $50,000 (opening bid)
Why it’s here: While the price may have caught the attention of bargain hunters, this custom log home is headed for auction and will likely soar well above the starting price.

Known as “Heavenly Haven,” the six-bedroom cabin features 10,500 square feet of living space on three floors, with views of the lake and natural surroundings from the multilevel decks. Perks include four fireplaces, four hot tubs, two kitchens, and a lower level that could be used as an in-law suite or playroom.

———

3. Patience Way, Portsmouth, RI

Price: $399,900
Why it’s here: It’s a private island all to yourself! A rustic cabin on this secluded speck in Narragansett Bay offers two beds, a half-bath, and privacy aplenty.

The off-the-grid residence is the only home on Patience Island and isn’t currently configured for year-round living. Built in 1972, the vacation getaway offers approximately 600 square feet of living space, a kitchenette, and a front porch. There’s no traditional electric service, but the home does comes with a solar panel. If you’d like to call this place home, bring your wallet—this is a cash-only purchase.

———

2. 16200 Burrows Rd, Thompson, OH

Price: $10,000 (auction deposit)
Why it’s here: Ledgemont Elementary School is headed to the auction block. The Berkshire Board of Education decided to sell the school, which was built in 1981, because Ledgemont students will be heading to a brand-new school once it’s finished.

Proceeds from the auction will go to complete an athletic facility. The buyer will come away with a 48,000-square-foot, two-story building with six restrooms, two locker rooms, one gymnasium, a maker space, cafeteria kitchen, elevator, teachers lounge, and we’re assuming a principal’s office. Along with a 106-space parking lot, the property comes with an athletic track and field, viewing risers, ball fields, and a playground. Put in a bid—and if you win, the possibilities are endless.

———

1. 63-65 W Main St, Adamstown, PA

Price: $829,900
Why it’s here: Built in 1912, this Victorian was initially a duplex. In the 1970s, Carol and Ed Stoudt purchased the place and got to work on a decades-long renovation. First, they converted the property into a single-family home.

Each decade, the Stoudt family chose a different area of the house to improve. They refinished the wood, stripping off years of paint. Then they updated the kitchen. In the 1980s, the bathrooms got a refresh; a spa tub was added, but an original pink bathtub remained. The slow and gradual renovation highlighted some of the original elements, including the mahogany moldings, stained-glass windows, and hardwood flooring. The massive 8,000 square-foot home features nine beds and nine baths, and sits on a half-acre lot.

The eye-catching Victorian includes a spacious covered porch, living room with fireplace, formal dining room, and family room. The cook’s kitchen comes with a giant island and adjoins a breakfast room. French doors open to a patio, pool, and grounds, which include a koi pond. Many of the rooms feature vivid wallpaper, and the home, located on Main Street, stands out with its teal and green exterior.

After four-plus decades, the Stoudts’ work is done, and the family is handing off the home to the next caretaker of this property that could work as a beautiful bed-and-breakfast or a private home filled with character.