Bliss on the banks of the Susquehanna

“I figured I would live in a small, one-floor condo somewhere where I’d have to park miles away,” the 22-year-old first-time homeowner said.

“I love my kitchen and the open floor plan here. The best part of the whole experience is knowing I can afford it.”

Starting at $209,990, the three-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom town houses are priced to sell. They are all three levels and come with one-car garages.

Icing on the cake? Many have views of the Susquehanna River.

“They’re about as close as you can get to the water without being waterfront,” said Patrick Inman, director of sales for Gemcraft Homes.

“You can walk down to the Riverwalk asphalt path that runs parallel with the river, and the Perryville community boat ramp is right there.”

Szarka has lived in the Cecil County community since May, and routinely takes advantage of the ramp. He and his family and friends often launch pontoon boats from the site. When they’re not on the water, his house is ground zero for the party.

Ranging from 1,385 to 1,780 square feet, the houses feature a washer and dryer on the bottom floor, which can be finished as an option. The main living level contains the kitchen, living room with a gas fireplace and dining room. The bedrooms are all upstairs. Szarka chose to expand his kitchen and eliminate the formal dining room.

“I have to have one of the biggest kitchens in the neighborhood,” he said. “It’s perfect for when people come over.”

Located a few minutes from Interstate 95, the community is about a 40-minute drive from Baltimore and Wilmington, Del. There’s a MARC train station close by and plenty of nearby shopping.

It all added up to be the perfect first stop of Szarka’s home-owning journey.

“When I saw it and compared it to other places, there was no comparison,” said Szarka, who clearly enjoyed the building and buying process. “It was like putting together a very expensive Lego set.”