House of the week: An East Mount Airy twin with an in-law suite for $525,000

The house was dark and gloomy and needed considerable renovation, said Lavell Simpkins. It had been on the market for more than six months.

But he and his wife, Vanessa, saw enough promise to move from Center City to East Mount Airy: “We wanted a more family-friendly neighborhood.”

This was in late 2022, and the couple made extensive improvements to the four-bedroom, 3½-bath house, brightening it and taking advantage of the natural light.

But their plans have changed, and they want to spend more time traveling while continuing to work remotely — Vanessa as a registered nurse, Lavell as a human resources consultant.

So they plan to downsize and buy a condo.

“It’s more of a family place, anyway,” Vanessa said, of the East Mount Airy home.

The in-law suite has a separate entrance and could be used as an Airbnb, Lavell said.

On the first floor, the semi-open floor plan connects the kitchen, dining, and living room, and there is a powder room.

There are hardwood floors, and the kitchen has granite countertops and custom cabinetry.

The bedrooms and full bathrooms are on the second floor, including the bedroom for the in-law suite.

There is also an office, where Vanessa makes videos and podcasts for the nursing profession.

Insulated windows save energy, but the couple sometimes likes to save even more by retreating to their reading nook with heaters.

The house has easy access to schools, parks, shopping areas, and public transportation. The Sedgwick Regional Rail station is five minutes away.

It was built sometime between 1925 and 1940, Lavell said, and total square footage is 2,112 on a 5,100-square-foot lot.

The house is listed by Michael Severns of Redfin Corp. for $525,000.