People ask me all the time why I chose to build my real estate career here in Montgomery County instead of somewhere new. The honest answer is that I never really considered anywhere else. This is where I am from. Not in some vague general sense, but in the most literal way possible. I can point to the exact houses.
I grew up at 3006 Marna Court off Sunset Avenue in East Norriton, and later at 1760 Hollow Road near Zacharias Creek in Worcester. Both of those homes were built by my dad, Phil Mascio. My siblings and I grew up watching him build, and I personally have hands on experience in retail construction as well as residential. Now my brother Will and I are actually working together with my dad on new construction projects of our own. There is a project starting next week in Lower Providence, and there is something really special about that full circle moment for our family. More on that soon, I cannot wait to share as it comes together.
East Norriton Was Where It All Started
Marna Court was home. I went to grade school at Visitation BVM, and some of my best childhood memories involve dinners at Talluto's. I loved that place until I was diagnosed with Celiac's, which changed a lot about how I eat but never changed how much I loved growing up in that neighborhood. And if you know, you know — Pudge's cheesesteaks are still some of the best around.
East Norriton Park near the township building is where I actually learned to play field hockey, which ended up shaping a huge part of my life. I played all the way through my senior year of college. Every time I drive past that park I think about how something that started on those fields stayed with me for over a decade.
Worcester Felt Like a Dream
If East Norriton was where I became who I am, Worcester is where I fell in love with space and quiet. Hollow Road near Zacharias Creek is genuinely one of the most beautiful settings in Montgomery County. Rolling farmland, open trails, that kind of peaceful stillness that is hard to find this close to everything else.
And Worcester has this incredible thing where you get all of that natural beauty without giving up convenience. Merry Mead is right up the street, and you are still minutes from everywhere you actually need to be. It is the kind of place that feels like a dream and somehow still functions like real life.
Why This Matters For You
I am not telling you all of this just for nostalgia. I am telling you because this is exactly why I do what I do. When families come to me looking for a home in Montgomery County, I am not pulling information from a listing sheet. I am drawing on an entire lifetime of knowing these streets, these schools, these communities, and what it actually feels like to grow up here.
My dad taught me what good construction looks like before I ever had a real estate license, and I have real hands on experience in retail construction alongside residential work. My brother Will and I are still building alongside him today. That background shapes the way I look at every single home I show, because I am not just seeing square footage. I am seeing the bones, the craftsmanship, and the kind of home that is built to actually last.
Montgomery County raised me. East Norriton gave me roots. Worcester gave me space to dream. And now I get to spend my career helping other families find their own version of that here.
If you are thinking about putting down roots in this community, I would love to be part of that story with you.
Shannon Hall is a REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker Realty specializing in Blue Bell and the surrounding Montgomery County communities. A lifelong resident of Montgomery County, Shannon brings a background in construction and project management, along with a genuine personal connection to this area, to every client she works with. Reach out at homewithhall.com.
