Never did lifelong Marylanders Daniel and Elaine Moffett imagine they’d become Pennsylvanians.
But in September, the couple decided to take the northward plunge, buying a home in New Freedom’s Koller Pointe development to be closer to their grandchildren.
» Development: Koller Pointe
» Builder: Keystone Custom Homes
» Description: 135 single-family houses in New Freedom, Pa.
» Price: Starting at $269,990
» Contact: Dawn Linke, new home adviser, 717-235-0549
After spending the past seven years in Owings Mills in Baltimore County, they’ve discovered what an increasing number of Marylanders have come to learn: Life is good in the Keystone State.
“When my daughter and son-in-law moved up there, I remember saying ‘We’re not going with you,’ ” Elaine Moffett said. “But Koller Pointe is a great option. I like the fact that there’s plenty of room for the grandchildren. I have a little reading room where I can get away.”
The 135-home development features three- and four-bedroom single-family houses with 2.5 bathrooms and two-car garages standard. With nine models and thousands of options available, buyers can customize their houses, which range from 2,187 to 3,211 square feet.
“You don’t have a cookie cutter approach here,” said Larry Wisdom, president of Keystone Custom Homes. “You can have a traditional colonial exterior or something a little bit more modern. Interiorwise, our homes have an understated elegance. They’re not pretentious.”
Formal foyers, first-floor master suites in some models, and open kitchens/family rooms are among the features at Koller Pointe, where the houses start at $269,990. Buyers also can add additional bedrooms and bathrooms.
The neighborhood’s character and location attracts many people. Nestled off the beaten path in the small town of New Freedom, it’s the perfect spot for young families with children or those, like the Moffetts, whose children have grown. The York County Rail Trail is within walking distance and is a great venue for biking, jogging or taking a leisurely stroll.
Just seven miles from the Maryland border and 37 miles from Baltimore, 73 percent of Koller Pointe’s buyers have come from Maryland. They’re enticed by, among other things, Pennsylvania’s low cost of living.
“Housing is 29 percent less in York County than Baltimore,” Wisdom said. “Utilities are 9 percent less, health care is 4 percent less, taxes are less. It’s an easy commute down to Baltimore, so buyers are asking themselves, ‘Where can I go to have a comfortable style of living?’ ”
For the Moffetts, the answer to that question is just a few miles to the north of the state they called home.
Until now.
