House of the Week: A three-bedroom house in the Belmont Hills section of Bala Cynwyd for $600,000

A seemingly casual suggestion from Christine Doroba’s grandmother led to 17 years that Doroba and her husband, John Sedia, lived in the three-bedroom stone house on a large lot in Bala Cynwyd.

Doroba’s grandmother knew the previous owner of the house in the Belmont Hills section and thought they might be interested in selling. She connected the owner to her granddaughter, and within weeks, Doroba and Sedia moved in.

Now, with Doroba and Sedia’s children grown and retirement looming, the couple is moving to Jim Thorpe, Pa.

Doroba, a dermatology practice manager, and Sedia, a draftsman for patent applications, made numerous improvements to the 1,830-square-foot house, built in 1950, including a three-season sunroom addition with a cathedral ceiling and windows overlooking the private yard. Doroba said it had been rare to find a lot that large in the neighborhood.

The first floor has a large living room with a wood-burning fireplace, a powder room, and an updated kitchen.

The three bedrooms and the full bath are on the second floor.

The semifinished basement could serve as an additional bedroom or office with an outside entrance leading to the back patio.

The home also includes a mudroom, detached two-car garage, and shed.

Upgrades include 200-amp electrical service and propane heat with a new HVAC. A new hot water heater was installed in 2019, the sewer line was replaced with PVC in 2012, and whole-house insulation was added in 2014.

The house is in the Lower Merion School District, and it is an easy walk to Belmont Hills Elementary School.

The local library and Lewis J. Smith Park and Swimming Pool are also walkable, and there is easy access to I-76.

The house is listed by Paula Seaner of Coldwell Banker Realty for $600,000.