Hooray for Hollywood! Quirky Pennsylvania Bungalow Gives California Vibes

An offbeat house in Jenkintown, PA, looks like it belongs somewhere else.

Part of an enclave of bungalows from the 1920s, this odd house looks like it would be more at home in the land of palm trees and convertibles.

And there’s a reason for that.

“There’s this little pocket called Hollywood, and it’s all unique Hollywood bungalow-style homes,” says listing agent Frank Blumenthal, with Keller Williams Real Estate Tri-County. “Every home is a bit different.”

Each street in the neighborhood of about 200 homes is named after a California town. This house on Berkley Avenue is listed for $345,000.

The price has dropped a few times since the home’s initial $374,900 listing in October 2022. It reached $349,000 in December 2022 and its current price in the new year.

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East meets West

The home’s history dates to 1926, when architect Gustav Weber brought his distinct style to the East Coast.

“This is very unique architecture for Pennsylvania,” Blumenthal says. “We have Craftsman-style homes, but we don’t have these cute little Hollywood bungalow-style homes. These are non-cookie-cutter homes. This is the only pocket in this area that has this opportunity for people.”

Weber dubbed the three-bedroom, one-bath home “Airplane House” in his architectural renderings.

Others call it “Gingerbread House.” No matter what you call it, it’s definitely unusual.

“There are a lot of rare character traits in these homes; and mostly with these bungalows, you don’t see a lot of 90-degree angles,” Blumenthal explains. “They’re all rounded corners, which builders hate to do because it’s a lot more work. Inside, the archways, walls, and ceilings are mostly without 90-degree angles.”

Blumenthal is handling the sale of this home for a second time, having sold it to the current owner in 2007 for $215,000, according to Realtor.com®.

A highlight of the 1,050-square-foot home is a fireplace crafted from handmade tile typical of the area.

Blumenthal notes that the home’s kitchen and bathroom probably could use an update. Plus, the large basement is unfinished.

Blumenthal thinks the home’s modest square footage is perfect for someone who knows the area and wants a smaller space.

“It’s really like an empty-nester kind of home or for someone who’s downsizing,” he says. The buyer “is someone who currently lives in the area in a big home and wants something with character.”

This home was love at first sight for the seller.

“When we opened the front door, she said, ‘This is it,'” Blumenthal recalls. “She knew right away she could connect with the house. … She felt that good energy inside the house and knew right away that this was for her.”

He says the house still has the same vibe and is just waiting for a potential buyer to feel the same way the seller felt.

“I love going over to that house,” Blumenthal says. “It’s got a lot of unique, cool architectural features.”

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