Jim and Clare Hoke spent most of their adult lives in a 1920s Victorian-style house in Shaler. So friends were understandably surprised when they decided to downsize to a brand-new carriage home in Adams Crossing's new Senate community.

Well, downsize might not be the best word to describe their move a little more than two years ago to Adams Township. They have almost 3,000 square feet of sunny living space in their three-bedroom "quad" -- one of four attached units -- including a paneled first-floor office and solarium with heated floors.

The Hokes, who are both retired from careers in public education, had grown tired of the always-something-to-do headache that comes with an old house.

"We didn't want the maintenance," says Mrs. Hoke. "We wanted to be able to close the door and leave."

The fact that Butler County real estate taxes were half what they paid in Allegheny County wasn't bad either.

Building a new home also allowed them to choose exactly the features they had long desired -- a first-floor master bedroom, skylights, a kitchen with center island for entertaining, and a warm and a dry place to park their cars.

"The biggest thrill, still to this day, is the interior garage," says Mrs. Hoke, laughing. "No more 50-yard treks to the back door with kids, groceries or anything else."

Construction of the $425,000 house took about a year. They rented an apartment in the North Hills but never used it because of problems with the sale of their old home. (The first buyer backed out because of legal issues, the second died before the closing and the third deal fell through because of home inspection issues.) A young couple finally bought the house in March 2008, after almost two years on the market.

Sad as that tale may be, it proved a few nagging suspicions the Hokes held about putting a property up for sale. First, that it often takes longer than you might think. And second, it's bound to come with a few snags.

Having watched older friends wait until the last minute to sell, "we wanted to do it early, before we were too decrepit in the brain department to make decisions," says Mr. Hoke. "Because there are a lot of decisions."

But it was so worth it in the end, they say, even if it meant having to drag your spouse to eight stores to buy all new furnishings because your old stuff doesn't work in a bright and airy contemporary. Or it means selling your beloved 130-year-old grand piano because at 7 feet long, it's too large for your new living room.

"Our church had a great rummage sale that year," Mrs. Hoke quips.

With high ceilings and tons of windows, the Hokes' new abode is an empty-nesters dream. Mr. Hoke's office boasts a coffered ceiling and built-in bookcases and the gourmet kitchen has gold-and-silver Brazilian granite countertops, seating for four at the center island, cherry cabinets, a tumbled marble backsplash and stainless-steel appliances. The granite, which they hand-picked at a factory in Greensburg, came with a "Made in Italy" sticker.

"Shouldn't it be 'Made by God' or something?" Mr. Hoke says, smiling.

To be kind to their middle-aged knees, the Hokes insisted that the dishwasher be raised so they wouldn't have to bend over to load and unload it. They took a similar approach in the luxurious master bath, insisting the counters be higher than average. Walk-in closets instead of free-standing bureaus in the adjoining master bedroom cut down on clutter.

Two bedrooms and two full baths upstairs guarantee their children and grandchildren privacy when they visit. In the comfortable living room, a dry-stacked stone fireplace with rough-cut mantle commands attention. Knickknacks, including a glass wine decanter that Mr. Hoke bought in Germany, decorate built-in bookcases on either side. (For actual drinking, there's a wet bar with a wine refrigerator.)

Other details include decorative columns that Kristen Tankosh of Finishing Touch in Aliquippa hand-painted to look like marble, and a lighted corner cabinet with glass shelves in the kitchen. The tile was laid on a diagonal in the lime-green solarium for visual interest.

Moving from a close-knit community where everyone knew each other for decades has taken getting some used to. But it's easy to make new friends in the 60-unit development, Mrs. Hoke says. At any rate, Shaler -- like Downtown Pittsburgh -- is just a short drive away.

"We didn't have to give anything up and be far away," she says. "We didn't expect to be so connected."

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.