625 Elm Ave SE, Roanoke, VA 24013

This Belmont home has real character -- starting with the refinished dark hardwoods that run through the house and look as good as they feel underfoot. The stair rail matches that same warm, finished look. Five bedrooms, two full baths, and 2,228 square feet give you room to live, and the layout works: two full eat-in kitchens, one upstairs and one down, so the second floor can be an in-law suite, guest space, or extra living area.

A front porch and two Trex decks make it easy to sit outside. Parking is available in front and behind the house, and there is a garage. Basement, attic, and garage storage give you room for tools, seasonal items, or a workshop. The mechanicals and finishes have already been taken care of -- updated electrical, recoated roof, new furnace, water heater, and A/C, plus new appliances, cabinets, sinks, flooring, drywall, soffit, and vinyl.

New sewer lines run to the city's clean-out, and the porch, Trex steps, and decks are new. You get the charm without buying a punch list. You are minutes from downtown Roanoke, Carilion, and I-581, with Highland Park, James Madison, and Patrick Henry schools nearby.