Considering the ivy-shagged estate homes of the Main Line and the sprawling manses near the hillsides of Bucks County, the Philadelphia suburbs have long had their share of desirable neighborhoods. In recent years, another swath of the Greater Philadelphia Area has flourished as a source of sought-after properties that prospective buyers are clamoring to call home—namely, the areas surrounding Collegeville, Limerick and Upper and Lower Providence townships.
Anyone either selling or looking for a luxury home in this part of the world will want to keep the name Terese Brittingham firmly in mind.
“We think of ourselves as the luxury-home connection in this area,” says Brittingham, broker/owner of the Brittingham-McCouch Sales Team of Keller Williams Realty Group, based in Limerick. “For many years this area didn’t have a lot of higher-end properties, but we’ve seen a shift and now there are a lot of wonderful things happening here.
“It’s a common occurrence to see a home on the Main Line sell for $1.9 million or more,” she continues, “and now we’re seeing that happen more often around here.”
As proof, Brittingham has three current listings that exemplify some of the finest and most distinctive properties her marketing area has to offer.
The estate has an abundance of highlights worth mentioning, beginning with the immaculately restored, renovated and expanded Greek Revival-style mansion. The mansion measures more than 11,000 square feet, with seven bedroom suites, four full baths (and four half-baths) and fully finished basement that includes a pub with a bar that was flown in from Scotland. It also has a rooftop deck that overlooks the grounds of Valley Forge National Historical Park. From the intricate detail of the grand gated entrance, to the elegant pool, to the tennis court and horse pastures, Brittingham says this property simply must be seen in order to be believed.
“This is a one-of-a-kind property,” she adds. “We call it ‘the mini-White House.’ It’s such a breathtaking property, with so many exquisite details. It would be perfect for a local athlete, an actor or someone else who prizes their privacy.”
The asking price is $3.5 million.
“It’s a special house on a very unique property,” Brittingham says. “It’s also wonderfully private. The stone base of the house is believed to have once belonged to the quarters of a member of Gen. George Washington’s army. Considering the history, it’s amazing to see how it has been transformed into this contemporary architectural style.”
The listing price is approximately $1.19 million.
“People fall in love with this place as soon as they drive down the meandering driveway to arrive at this secluded location,” Brittingham says. “It’s like a retreat, very tranquil, but it’s still close to every convenience you can imagine.”
The asking price is $929,900.
“Every single one of these homeowners has shown a lot of love to their properties,” Brittingham adds. “The properties are very well thought out, which you can see and feel in the attention to detail. These homes are not for your everyday buyer; they’re for someone who’s looking for a retreat type of setting. They’re also proof of the fact that you don’t have to travel to have peace and tranquility.”
“I fell in love with real estate, and I still love it,” she says. “I love the challenge of connecting the right person with the right property.”
She and her business partner, Thomas McCouch, have been in business since 1993. The team has since grown into a “best of the best,” to include a crew of experienced Realtors, a devoted administrative staff and other resources to improve the client experience. This includes a video-production team to create digital content for the brokerage’s own YouTube channel called KW Live TV. To create the content, the production team travels to clients’ homes and essentially takes prospective buyers on a digital walk-through of each home to generate buyer interest.
“We pride ourselves on our commitment to customer service, and we work hard to make the experience special,” she adds. “We enjoy getting to know our customers on a deeper level so we can go above and beyond to help them achieve their goals.”
Having been rooted here for so long has proven to be an invaluable asset. As the real estate market has blossomed around the Brittingham-McCouch Sales Team, the firm has become a premier resource for buyers and sellers alike.
“We know the area because it’s home to us,” says Brittingham, who lives in Collegeville. “We grew up here and have been doing business here for a long time, and that gives us a unique perspective. It also helps us project where the local real estate market is going, so we understand the factors that might affect home values.
“This is our business, but it’s also our passion.”
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life Magazine, June 2018.
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