Why you should buy their house, and tree house, in Coram
Laura and Mark Trachtenberg stand on the porch of a tree house that is for sale with their home on Winfield Davis Drive in Coram. (Jan. 5, 2011) Credit: Kevin P Coughlin
Sellers Mark and Laura Trachtenberg
Address 19 Winfield Davis Dr., Coram
Asking price $349,999
The competition Similar size homes in the Longwood school district are listed between $219,999 and $449,000.
Recent sale in the area A five-bedroom Colonial on Howard Drive sold in August for $325,000.
Taxes $8,360
Time on the market Since late September
Listing agent Rebecca Leuck, Re/Max Alliance, Miller Place, 631-209-1873
Why it's for sale Mark and Laura, who have four children -- Richie, 16; Lexi, 12; Dana, 11; and Hunter, 4 -- are upsizing. Mark, 43, and Laura, 34, both work in logistics.
Get two houses for the price of one. Well, one is actually a tree house built by Mark and his children. It features a front porch, three windows, carpeting and a skylight. In the summer, it's outfitted with an electric fireplace, a small desk, a TV and a futon. While it's a great place for the kids to hang out, Mark says the tree house also doubles as a second home office.
Mark did a "ton" of work to the main residence as well. He grew up in this nine-room Colonial, which has four bedrooms and 21/2 bathrooms. Since purchasing it from his parents in 1997, he and Laura went to town making improvements. For instance, the couple updated the kitchen and the bathrooms as well as created a 600-square-foot great room by removing the wall between the living and family rooms.
Mark chats about the .43-acre property and the neighborhood:
"We have a large private yard backing a wooded buffer zone, accented by an in-ground 41-by-21-foot swimming pool. We have a nice size strawberry patch, where you get big fat juicy strawberries every spring.
"The Coram elementary school with sports fields and playground is three houses away, so the children can walk to school and enjoy the amenities after school as well. The sounds of recess and Little League games fill the neighborhood. The home is also close enough to walk on sidewalks to the center of town, yet far enough away to be a tranquil, safe and secluded neighborhood."
