Besides a down payment, options are just what a first-time home buyer needs.

That's exactly what the Victorian-era house at 613 Chestnut St. in Coraopolis (MLS No. 79066) offers. With four bedrooms and two bathrooms, it could be turned into a single-family home or a duplex because it has two kitchens, furnaces, water heaters and entrances.

"It is metered separately. A first-time home buyer can live in one unit, take the kitchen out upstairs and make it a small bedroom," said Barbara Marchette, who bought the house in August 2006.

Earlier this month, Congress extended and expanded the federal tax credit to first-time home buyers that was slated to expire at the end of this month. First-time buyers still get a credit of up to $8,000 and people who have lived in a home at least five years qualify for up to $6,500. Buyers must sign a sales agreement by the end of April and close by the end of June.

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Coraopolis
At a glance

• Web site: www.coraopolis.com
• Size: 1.36 square miles
• Population: 6,131 as of the 2000 U.S. Census
• School district: Cornell School District; www.cornell.k12.pa.us
• Average SAT scores: Verbal, 440; Math, 444; Writing, 425 (Cornell High School)
• District enrollment: 700
• Taxes for a house assessed at $100,000:
  
  School: $2,293 (22.93 mills)
  Borough: $1,050 (10.5 mills)
  County: $469 (4.69 mills)
  
• Wage tax: 1 percent, split between the borough and the school district
• Fun facts: Coraopolis is the world headquarters of American Bridge, a company that builds bridges all over the world.

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Built around 1905, the three-story brick and wood-sided house is priced at $115,000, just above its total assessed value of $114,000 (www2.county.allegheny.pa.us). Located on a tree-lined street, the property is also about a five-minute walk from buses, the public library and the Coraopolis business district. Coldwell Banker Real Estate agent John De Mille (412-215-4412 or www.pittsburghmoves.com) will host an open house today from 1 to 3 p.m.

Mrs. Marchette, who lives in Monroe County, paid $124,900 for the house because her son, Christopher, wanted to live off campus at Robert Morris University. He and three roommates will graduate in December or May.

Christopher Marchette, 22, loved living in a residential neighborhood with "a nice bunch of families right next to us." He had a nine-minute car ride to campus and the Giant Eagle on University Boulevard. Or, he could shop at a smaller store in Coraopolis.

The house has 2,200 square feet of living space and ceilings that are at least 9 feet high. Beyond the front porch, there's a large open foyer, original woodwork, an arched window and a staircase that leads to the second floor. On the right are pocket doors that lead to the living room. The foyer has a door to the downstairs unit and stairs leading upstairs, where another set of pocket doors separate the hall and second living room.

The first floor hallway leads to a 14-by-10-foot kitchen, which has room for a table and four chairs. An 11- by 10-foot room off the kitchen could serve as a den or bedroom. There's a Jack and Jill bathroom and, on the other side, another bedroom that's 12 by 11 feet.

The most distinctive fireplace is in the first-floor dining room, which measures 16 by 14 feet. The dark-stained wood mantel frames a ceramic tile surround and hearth made from glossy green and gold tile.

On the second floor, the two bedrooms measure 16 by 14 feet and 13 by 9 feet. There's also an office, kitchen and full bathroom with white ceramic-tile floor.

The third floor is unfinished and lacks heat. The two rooms, which have hardwood floors, could be turned into finished bedrooms. The unfinished basement holds a washer and dryer.

"It's a good solid house," Mrs. Marchette said. "The windows probably could be replaced. It does need updating. It does have older kitchens. College students don't care about fancy kitchens because they barely know how to cook."

During the past three years, three properties have sold on Chestnut Street and this house had the highest price, $124,900. The other two sold for $68,000 in May 2006 and $40,300 in June 2007 (www.realstats.net).

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.