Houses
This 1838 Folk Victorian in Benton, PA Sits on an Acre With a Barn Across the Road — Listed at $245,000
A yellow Folk Victorian has sat along Old Tioga Turnpike in Benton, Pennsylvania, since 1838 — “since the road was dirt and the cars were horse drawn,” the listing says. It is offered at $245,000. Zillow’s headline shows 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 1,960 square feet (baths: one full and one three-quarter). The lot is shown as 1 acre (dimensions 0.972). The marketing copy splits that into a half-acre homesite and a half-acre across the road with the original barn. Confirm both parcels on a survey.
The listing was For sale, with 1,398 views and 143 saves after 13 days on Zillow — interest, not a verdict. The Zestimate is $243,000 (range $231,000–$255,000). A Rent Zestimate of $1,971 a month is Zillow’s model, not a lease. A notice says an open house for November 14 was canceled and will be rescheduled.
Quick Look: The Listing Details
| Address | 599 Old Tioga Tpke, Benton, PA 17814 |
| List price | $245,000 |
| Status | For sale (a Nov. 14 open house was canceled, per the listing) |
| Year built / style | 1838 Folk Victorian, per Zillow |
| Bedrooms | 5 |
| Bathrooms | 2 (1 full, 1 three-quarter) |
| Interior | 1,960 sq ft |
| Lot | 1 acre (0.972 in dimensions); listing says two half-acres, one with a barn |
| Water / sewer | Private well and septic, per the listing |
| Heat / cool | Oil heat; furnace said to be 2023; no cooling listed |
| Zestimate | $243,000 (range $231,000–$255,000) |
| Taxes shown | Assessed $118,100; annual amount $2,572 — see tax section for a large gap |
An 1838 House, a Barn and a Road in Between
The listing calls this a “classic Victorian” and an “1800′ farmers Folk Victorian” on the old turnpike, zoned Agriculture, and “just minutes from Ricketts Glen State Park.” Those are the listing’s phrases; we are not inventing a drive time. The opening gallery shows the house, the barn, the road and the grounds. The 91-photo set continues beyond this article; ask the agent for a full walkthrough.
Because the barn is described as sitting on a separate half-acre across the street, ask how the two pieces are deeded, accessed and taxed, and whether outbuildings in the aerial are included. Reconcile the 0.972-acre figure and the “1 acre” headline on a survey.
What the Listing Says Is Inside
The marketing copy lists five “decent sized” bedrooms, two bathrooms — one downstairs — and a first-floor laundry hookup. Downstairs it also counts “1-2-3! living rooms,” a dining room, a three-quarter bath and a kitchen. It highlights original hardwood floors, a furnace installed in 2023, and “newer appliances.” Facts & Features add a stone basement, oil heat, and no cooling on the listing. Verify those claims in person. Photos here, from the start of the gallery, show the house, barn and land rather than interiors.
Price History and a Recent Sale
The current ask is $245,000, shown as listed on Oct. 31, 2026 under CSVBOR #C-2936. Zillow’s details also give a date on market of Oct. 30, 2026 — a one-day difference we are noting, not resolving. Price history shows a $249,900 listing on Oct. 15, removed on Oct. 27 (Luzerne County AOR #26-5358). Earlier in 2026, Zillow shows it pending on June 7 at $194,500 and sold on July 7 at $175,000. We are reporting those figures as displayed.
Estimated Monthly Mortgage Payment (Illustration Only)
This is an illustration, not a quote. We used a purchase price of $245,000; a conventional 20% down payment of $49,000; a loan of $196,000; a 30-year fixed term; and an example rate of 7.11% — the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey average for the week of Nov. 12, 2026, for conventional conforming loans with 20% down and excellent credit. Do not treat 7.11% as an offer.
What that example comes to
Under those assumptions, principal and interest would be about $1,320 a month. Adding the annual tax amount shown on Zillow — $2,572, or about $214 a month — would bring a rough principal-interest-and-tax sketch to about $1,534 a month, still before insurance, oil, and well or septic reserves. Do not budget on either tax figure until the county confirms it.
Financing Options: Conventional, FHA, USDA and VA
A $196,000 loan is well under the 2026 FHFA baseline conforming limit of $832,750 for a one-unit home. Conventional financing is the usual starting point if the house and appraisal support it, though a well-and-septic house from 1838 can be a harder underwrite.
FHA loans
FHA-insured loans allow a down payment as low as 3.5% for eligible borrowers, plus mortgage insurance and FHA property standards. Older systems, a stone basement, and a well and septic will all be looked at. We are not saying this address qualifies.
USDA rural loans
USDA Section 502 loans can offer 100% financing in eligible rural areas, with income limits. Eligibility is set by the USDA map and the borrower’s income, not by a town name in an article. Check the current map; do not assume this parcel qualifies, especially with land across a road and a barn.
VA loans
Eligible veterans, service members and some surviving spouses may use a VA loan, often with no down payment, subject to occupancy and property rules. An 1838 house with well, septic and oil heat may need extra review. That is general guidance, not a determination.
Property Taxes in Pennsylvania — and a Large Gap on This Listing
Pennsylvania collects local property taxes through counties, municipalities and, usually as the largest share, school districts. There is no single statewide rate. A homestead or farmstead exclusion may apply to a primary residence; we are not assuming this house qualifies.
Zillow shows an assessed value of $118,100 and an annual tax amount of $2,572. The public tax history lists $570 for 2023 and $531 for 2022 and 2021 — far below the annual figure. We are not inventing an explanation, and we are not treating either number as next year’s bill. Confirm the parcels and a current estimate with the county assessment office.
Homeowners Insurance for an Older Rural House
Insurers look hard at mid-19th-century houses. Expect questions about the roof, wiring, the 2023 furnace claim, the oil tank, the stone basement, and the well and septic. Some carriers will not bind a house of this age without updates; others will, with inspections or higher deductibles. The barn and land across the road may need to be scheduled separately. We are not publishing a premium.
Cost of Living in Benton and Rural Northeastern Pennsylvania
Published cost-of-living indexes for small Pennsylvania towns do not all agree, and none of them is a budget for this house. Owning it means oil heat, well and septic upkeep, two pieces of land, and a barn to keep standing. Use current local figures, not a single national index. Confirm the drive to Ricketts Glen yourself.
Schools Shown on the Listing
Zillow, citing GreatSchools, shows Northwest Area Primary School (PK–2, 5.5 miles, N/A), Northwest Area High School (7–12, 7.7 miles, 4/10) and Northwest Area Intermediate School (3–6, 10.1 miles, 4/10). Ratings and zones change. Confirm with the district.
Things to Verify
- A survey of the 1-acre / 0.972-acre figures, and that the barn parcel across the road is included
- Deeds, access, zoning (the listing says Agriculture), and how the two areas are taxed
- The well, septic, oil heat, 2023 furnace claim, and the stone basement
- Interior layout: five bedrooms, two baths, three living rooms, and first-floor laundry
- The gap between the $2,572 tax amount and the $531–$570 tax-history figures
- Insurance quotes, loan eligibility, and whether any HOA exists (Zillow shows no fee)
The Bottom Line
At $245,000, 599 Old Tioga Tpke is listed as an 1838 Folk Victorian with five bedrooms, 1,960 square feet, a well and septic, and about an acre that the listing splits between a homesite and a barn across the road. It is for sale, a mid-November open house was canceled, and the house sold earlier in 2026 at $175,000. The tax figures on the page do not agree. Inspect the house and both parcels carefully, and confirm the survey, systems, taxes and insurance in writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the asking price?
$245,000, according to the current listing. The address was listed at $249,900 in mid-October 2026 and sold earlier that year at $175,000. Confirm with the agent.
How much land is included, and does that include the barn?
Zillow shows about 1 acre (0.972 in dimensions). The listing describes a half-acre homesite and a half-acre across the road with the original barn. Ask for the survey.
What would the monthly payment be?
A labeled illustration using 20% down, a $196,000 30-year loan and a 7.11% Freddie Mac average from the week of Nov. 12, 2026, comes to about $1,320 a month in principal and interest, before taxes and insurance.
How much are the property taxes?
Zillow shows $2,572 a year on an assessed value of $118,100, but the tax history lists $570 for 2023 and $531 earlier. Confirm with the county.
Can I use FHA, USDA or VA financing?
Possibly, if you and the property meet the rules. A rural 1838 house with a well, septic and a barn across the road needs a case-by-case review. Check with a lender and, for USDA, the current map. We are not saying this address qualifies.
Is the open house still on?
The listing says the November 14 open house was canceled and would be rescheduled. Status still showed For sale. Ask the agent.
See the full listing, all photos and the latest status on Zillow: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/599-Old-Tioga-Tpke-Benton-PA-17814/53514849_zpid/
Listing courtesy of Jessica Sophie Brooks, Iron Valley Real Estate North Central PA, as shown on Zillow. Source: CSVBOR, MLS #C-2936. Photos via the listing on Zillow; all rights belong to their owners.
Disclaimer: All property details, prices, measurements and photos in this article come from the public listing on Zillow at the time of writing and may change at any time. This article is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the seller or listing agent. Verify all information with the listing agent and through your own inspection, survey and research before making any decision.
