At a time when the real estate market is soft, developer James Rumbaugh plans to turn about 200 acres in Pine into a development of 118 custom-built homes near the Pine-Richland high school and middle school campus.

Mr. Rumbaugh said he was "cautiously optimistic" about selling homes in the new Pine Crest Manor priced in the low- to mid-$300,000 price range and up.

He is not alone in his optimism.

The countryside of Pine is dotted these days with signs directing potential buyers to residential developments where home prices start at around $250,000.

Pine is one of the elite places to live in Allegheny County, said township Supervisor Frank Spagnolo, who also builds homes in the township. He operates Spagnolo Builders Inc. with his brother Angelo.

"Houses are starting to pop up in the million-dollar range," said real estate agent Kevin Mihm of Coldwell Banker Real Estate, who said he will close this month on two houses in the Lake MacLeod plan off Babcock Boulevard that sold for more than $1 million.

Buyers come from everywhere, said Mr. Mihm, who recently had inquiries from Indianapolis and Florida.

In 1990, Pine was mostly farms, and its residents shopped in Cranberry and other nearby areas, said Mr. Mihm, a Pine resident. When I-279 was completed in 1991, he continued, "it made the North Hills."

Buyers look for five things when searching for a new home: good schools, good transportation, low crime, shopping and a good selection of housing, Mr. Mihm said.

"People want the Pine-Richland School District," Mr. Spagnolo said.

They also want access to I-79, I-279 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, said Mr. Rumbaugh, who has developed 350 to 400 homes in the township over the past 15 years. His developments include Pine Ridge Manor, Avonlea and Fox Meadows.

Adjacent to Mr. Rumbaugh's property is Stonecrest, a 49-lot development of single-family estate homes built by Heartland Homes that are selling from $320,000 to $520,000. The plan has a walking trail to Pine-Richland High School.

Thirty-three lots have been sold there since late 2007, said Heartland sales coordinator Jennifer Lasch. Sales for the 25 lots in the development's second phase began in September, and 12 are sold, she said.

Mr. Rumbaugh said he expected to have models ready for Pine Crest Manor in spring 2011.

The first phase -- a 69-lot subdivision on 146 acres -- was approved in mid-February by township supervisors. The development will be adjacent to St. Andrew the Apostle Byzantine Catholic Church on Logan Road. The church's archeparchy, or diocese, sold the land to the developer, while retaining five acres for the St. Andrew parish.

Access for most of the lots will be from Logan Road. However, one lot will front on Timothy Lane, and three others will be on Clover Lane, which is in the neighboring Stonecrest development.

The two phases will not be connected.

Across Logan Road from Pine Crest is Langdon Farms, where custom-built homes start at $750,000, Mr. Spagnolo said. Sales have been slow because of the economy, he said, adding, "2010 looks much better than '09 did."

Townhomes have been built in Georgetowne, off Wallace Road, and are selling for $500,000 and up, Mr. Spagnolo said.

It is close to the Village at Pine -- a development of homes and a shopping center -- that offers new townhouses starting in the $200,000 range.

The fourth phase of the Village at Pine, a 213-unit residential complex, was approved by the township supervisors in November 2008. Gigliotti Holdings is developing the "town center" north of Route 910 and east of Route 19. The shopping portion of the development includes a 182,000-square-foot Giant Eagle, shops and restaurants. A 134-unit residential development of three-story townhomes and patio homes has been completed.

Other residential developments include English Farms, off English Road, and North Park Manor and the Heights of North Park, both off Route 910.

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