Some houses are pretty as a picture. You drive up to them and instantly get the homey feeling. That's the case with 211 Pennsylvania Ave., Emsworth (MLS No. 774616).

The three-bedroom, two-bath, red-brick Colonial is on the market for $164,900. Built in 1931, it still has its original slate roof and a corner lot shaded by mature trees and azalea bushes in red and pink.

Inside, lots of large windows let in natural light and they are all newer and energy-efficient. The 21-by-11-foot living room has a large stone fireplace with a working gas insert.

In the dining room, sunlight from the many windows sets off the honey-colored wood floor. The 14-by-12-foot room currently houses a table that seats six, but there is room for more.

---

Emsworth
At a glance

• Website: www.emsworthborough.com/
• Size: .7 square miles
• Population: 2,600
• School district: Avonworth (www.avonworth.k12.pa.us/)
• Enrollment: 1,403
• SAT scores: Verbal 494, math 522, writing 493 (Avonworth High School)
• Taxes for a house assessed at $100,000: $2,899
  
  Municipal: 5.00 mills ($500)
  School: 19.30 mills ($1,930)
  County: 4.69 mills ($469)
  
• Earned income tax: 1 percent
• Service tax: $52
• History: Emsworth Borough is located on land that was originally purchased by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from the heirs of William Penn. The purchase was ratified by a local Indian tribe before the French and Indian War. Young men were promised tracts of land in addition to any pay if they would remain there and defend the country during the Revolutionary War. The first settler, John Cheney, took up residence in 1802.

---

The kitchen measures 15 by 8 feet and features stainless-steel sinks, natural wood cabinetry, gas range, dishwasher and garbage disposal. It's not an eat-in but has plenty of counter space and ceramic tile floors.

The biggest of the three bedrooms upstairs is the master at 21 by 11 feet. It has separate his and her closets and natural wood floors. The soft blue shade is the perfect accent to frame the natural views outside and very few window treatments are needed. The doors are original to the house and in their natural state. The other two bedrooms are equal in size (11 by 9 feet) and also have hardwood floors.

The upstairs bathroom is small but lovely, with a full shower, porcelain pedestal sink and wainscoting. Lighted sconces flank the mirrors.

The basement has a 17-by-14-foot game room with a dropped ceiling, cedar closet, laundry area and unfinished but dry storage space. The second full bathroom can also be found down there; it has a full tub/shower combination.

A newer boiler feeds the radiators and there are handsome register covers in many rooms.

Agent Rachel Wisniewski of Stonebridge Realty (412-496-0426 and www.stonebridgere.com) will hold an open house from 1 to 3 p.m. today.

A full covered porch on the side of the house offers views of part of the 0.17-acre property, which includes more shade trees and a garden.

The house is a 10-minute walk from Emsworth Community Park and just minutes by car from Route 65, Ohio River Boulevard and Camp Horne Road.

The property has an assessed market value of $85,800 and total taxes of $2,871 (www2.county.allegheny.pa.us/).

Seven houses have sold on Pennsylvania Avenue in the past three years ranging in price from $38,500 in January 2007 to $300,000 in December 2006. Two properties sold twice.

Doug Oster writes a blog, "Growing With Doug," exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.