8600 Fox Run - Fox Hills - $607,600

Fox Hills has always been a popular community in the Potomac area. Built in the 1960's this neighborhood is generally well maintained with a fabulous sense of community. With Churchill Cluster schools, the homes are always in high demand.

This home is one of the smaller models in the neighborhood. With an overgrown yard, there is not much good to say regarding curb appeal. For a few thousand dollars, this place could be cleaned up on the outside and made to look a bit more attractive from the street. In the real estate world, a little mulch goes a long way.

Things don't get much prettier on the inside. The home needs attention. It has been a long time since it has had some TLC. A fresh coat of paint is lost in the dark rooms. The home needs complete update and renovation to become attractive once again.

There are 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths in this home. The bedrooms are not large, but are typical of homes from this era. Someone with vision can make something of this house, but it will take money and time.

This will be a project for the person that buys this home. While it has been priced to reflect its condition, it still does not present well. The last couple I brought through walked in and immediately said, "No, Thanks".

This would be a nice home for someone that has the time and skills to do some of the needed work on their own. Because of the condition and the way it shows, I see this house selling for less then it may actually be worth. This would be a value at $550K and should settle somewhere between $550K and $575K when all is done.

11112 Korman Drive - Bedfordshire - $825,000

Bedfordshire is tucked in behind the Falls Road Golf Course and Kilgour Branch Park. Built in the early 1970's, this community is a mix of contemporary and traditional homes close to shopping, commuter routes and recreation.

This home from the street is the definition of Curb Appeal. Landscaped, painted and groomed, the home looks great. Great care has been taken to make this home look its best.

The front walk has been updated with concrete squares in a random pattern which fits the contemporary style. Flowers and plantings add structure to the space in front, and will be stunning in the spring when the iris bloom.

The front door brings you into a 2 story foyer and view of the Living room and floor to ceiling fireplace. A retro "Conversation Pit" is a step down space adjacent to the fireplace to gather and chat with friends. Although not in vogue now, it is an interesting structural addition and works in this design.

The kitchen is recently renovated with granite and upgraded appliances. The open view to the family room has great light and is a comfortable informal space. There is a sun room that is nicely done attached to the family room with access to the deck.

Upstairs the bedrooms are all decent size with good light. The master bath has been upgraded nicely, and overall, this home is fabulous.

The basement is finished with new carpet and a sliding glass door to the back yard. The suspended ceiling here is the only thing I did not like about the space, but it is clean and bright.

The yard is well maintained with flowering trees and nice landscape. Someone spent time and effort to really make the outside nice. This is truly a turnkey purchase with little needed to be comfortable.

While the price may seem high for a contemporary in this community, it really is not. With the upgrades and maintenance that has already been done, you will not have any deferred maintenance to handle after moving in. New roof, paint, kitchen.....it is worth the price.

I see this home selling quickly for close to asking price. It is the nicest contemporary on the market, and is a value at this price. Look for this to go under contract quickly. I see this settling between $810,000 and $820,000 when the closing date comes.

9034 Bronson Drive - Foreclosure Auction - SOLD! $4.79mm

For almost 2 years Potomac Residents have watched 2 new homes fall into disrepair at the intersection of River Road and Congressional Parkway and Bronson Drive. At the beginning of August contractors started showing up at this property cleaning it up and making it look presentable. FINALLY, someone trying to market the property!

The auction sign went up announcing the property would be auctioned on Thursday, 9/17. Yesterday, with competitive bidding the property sold at auction for $4.79 Million.

This was one of 3 homes that went into foreclosure formally owned by Bollywood entrepreneur Vijay Taneja. Mr. Taneja was convicted of mortgage fraud and all of his assets ordered liquidated. An identical home was auctioned off in Fairfax last year.

There is still lots of work to be completed in this home. I was shocked that it sold for as much as it did. Although large, the lot is a challenge, it is close to a main road, and it still needs over $1mm of work to finish properly.

The city paper blog did a fabulous post regarding the auction and home. You can link to it here.

10332 Democracy Lane - Worland - $759,000

Listed by Long and Foster

Google Map Here

This is a community of 90+ garden town homes set on 25 acres just off Democracy Boulevard. The homes have garages and brick courtyards in front, many with well tended gardens. For those that don't want the acreage, but do want the Potomac address, this community is a must see.

These homes are on small lots and attached. The feel of this community is not one of a town home, but more like a zero lot line home. The home has a front brick courtyard that would be a wonderful spot for roses. There is good sun, and I envy having a manageable spot to grow annuals and showy flowers.

The front door brings you into a colonial feel home. The living room is on the left which flows into the dining room then kitchen. This home is larger on the inside then it appears on the outside.

The family room and dining room are good size and nicely decorated. Bold red paint in the dining room works well. The kitchen is tiled, with light colored cabinets and is in good condition. Adjacent, the family room has nice built in shelving and a stone fireplace. The powder room has been updated and nicely decorated.

From the family room you can walk out to a small yard that is beautifully tended. It is surrounded by a brick wall, and has the feel of an English Garden. This is the perfect size yard for a busy Potomac homeowner.

The upstairs has 5 bedrooms and 2 full baths. The rooms are not too large, but sufficient size for adults. The baths are in decent condition and overall show well.

The basement is unfinished with plenty of space for additional living space.

This home shows well. It may need a little updating, but not much. Someone could move right in. It is priced properly, and I feel it should settle within 5% of the list price. If the basement space was finished, it would easily fetch what is being asked.

10421 Heathside Way - Piney Glen Village - $549,000

Listed by Weichert

Google Map Here

Piney Glen Village is a large residential community that borders North Potomac and Rockville. It is a mix of single family homes and town homes with a strong sense of community. One of the big draws to this community is the schools. This home is in the Churchill High School Cluster.

This brick town home is a nice end unit adjacent to green space. It is a walk up to the main level which brings you into a small tile foyer. You step up to a living room in the front of the home. Hardwood flooring gleams. The floor is in fabulous shape for a 13 year old home.

The kitchen is in the center of the home. It is in very nice shape with oak cabinets and an island. The brown speckled granite is a good match for the cabinets and the white appliances. There is hardwood through the entire kitchen and breakfast area.

In the rear of this level is a family room that looks out on a sliding glass door to a deck. The deck is lovely and faces woods. This would be a nice spot for a cook out or a glass of wine after dinner.

Upstairs has 3 bedrooms. The master is large with a nice master bath. There is a separate tub and shower with typical white tiled floors. There is a walk-in closet that supplies sufficient space for a wardrobe. The other 2 bedrooms are small. One is kid sized, and the other is a good baby room. This is typical in town homes of this size and for the price asked, is a good deal.

The basement is finished. There is a garage that takes up a good part of the front of the home and a nicely finished rec room with slider to the yard. There is also a half bath, fireplace and laundry facilities.

This town home is in good condition and shows well. The price is in line with the market and this should sell quickly. Look for this to settle in the $535-545K range. If there are competing contracts? (It is happening in this price range) The sky is the limit. Add 20K to the asking price.

Speed Cameras Replaced in Chevy Chase - Fox 5 DC

Chevy Chase has replaced its existing speed cameras with expensive, latest generation, "Laser" cameras. This will allow them to catch more then one driver at a time if speeding in Chevy Chase village.

The funds raised by these fines are supposed to be used to increase public safety in Chevy Chase village. Fox 5 DC news reports that the funds are actually being used to fund capital improvement projects and buy new lockers for the police department locker room.

The best advice this post can offer is to drive the speed limit in Chevy Chase. Big Brother is alive and well and looking to ticket you if you choose to speed!

How do you feel about Speed Cameras? Are they a necessary part of public safety, or an invasion of privacy? Please comment!

Taste of Bethesda - Official Line-up!

The "Taste of Bethesda" is one of my favorite annual festivals. This year it will be held on October 3rd from 11am to 4pm. Thousands of people will crowd the Woodmont Triangle to eat, drink and meet their neighbors. Local restaurants have the opportunity to really show their stuff and hopefully win over some new customers.

Here is a list of the participating Restaurants and what they will serve. Hope to see you there!

Angeethi Authentic Indian Cuisine - Samosa, kabob, tandoori & butter chicken
Austin Grill - Carnitas & red snapper tacos, wings
Baja Fresh - Burritos, tacos, salad
Bangkok Garden - Egg rolls, pad Thai, red curry chicken
Bangkok One Thai - Pad Thai, nam ya, fried rice, Thai iced tea
Ben & Jerry's - Ice cream
BlackFinn Restaurant & Saloon - Beef & roast beef sliders, wings
Brasserie Monte Carlo - Onion tarte with cured ham & sausage
Bundles of Cookies - Almond cookies, gourmet lemon cookies
The Burger Joint - Sliders
Caddies on Cordell - Deviled eggs, wings, chicken satay
California Tortilla - Ceasar tacos
Chicken Out Rotisserie - Burgers, cabo spice wings, salad
Cookies by Design - Cookie kabobs, gourmet & sugar cookies
Crossfire Fresh Burgers - Mini burgers, sweet potato fries, lemonade
Delhi Dhaba - Butter chicken, chole punjabi, naan bread
Divino Lounge & Restaurant - Argentine sausage, steak, paellas
Drink More Water - Water, iced coffee
Fancy Cakes by Leslie - Mini cupcakes, cookies, fudge
Flaxella - Flax muffins, biscotti, crackers, flax beverages
Gifford's Ice cream & Candy Co. - Ice cream
Haagen-Dazs - Ice cream
Haandi Indian Cuisine - Murg makhni, palak paneer, rice samosa
Hanaro Restaurant & Lounge - sushi roll, pad Thai, fried rice
Hard Times Café - Chili, fries
Flanagan's Harp & Fiddle - Shepherd's pie, beef brisket, Bailey's ice cream
Honest Tea - Tea, lemonade, kid's drinks
Jaleo - Paellas, gazpacho, endibias
Just Cakes - Cupcakes
Lebanese Taverna - Chicken & beef shawarma sandwich, hommos
Mamma Lucia - Pizza
Matuba Japanese Restaurant - Sushi rolls, chicken teriyaki, tempura
Mia's Pizzas - Brick oven pizza
Morton's, The Steakhouse - Steak sandwiches
Nest Café - Muscles, tomato caprese, Italian donuts
Olazzo - Meatball & chicken parmesan sandwiches
The Original Pancake House - Nutella crepes, lemon crepes
Passage to India - Samosa, chicken makhani, vegetable korma
Penang Malaysian Cuisine - Chicken satay, charkoay teow, curry ayam
Philadelphia Mike's - Philly & chicken cheese steaks, fries
Positano - Pizza, sausages, meatball pastas
Quartermaine Coffee Roasters - Coffee
Ri-Ra Irish Pub - Shepherds pie, Guinness BBQ wings, chocolate cake
Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery - TBD
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse -Tenderloin, mashed potatoes, creamed spinach
Sasso - Lamb wraps, fried okra, blue berry lemonade
Saveur India - Samosa, chana masaala, chicken makhani, palak paneer
Shangri-La - Butter chicken, soag poneer, chano mosala
Smoothie King - Fruit smoothies
South Street Steaks - Cheese steaks, fries
Spring Mill Bread - Breads, cookies, brownies
Tommy Joe's Restaurant - Mini burgers, mini crab balls
Trader Joe's - Chicken gyoza, Asian slaw with peanut dressing
Union Jack's - Strongpow wings, drunken chicken, bread pudding
Visions Restaurant - Crab cakes, lemonade, crab mac & cheese

For further information, visit the official site for "Taste of Bethesda".

11928 Gainsborough Road - Willerburn Acres - $884,500

Listed by Long and Foster

Google Map Here

Homes usually don't last too long in Willeburn Acres. Located close to schools, Temple and shopping, when homes here are are priced fairly they sell quickly. Although built in the mid-1960's most of these homes have been upgraded over the years. The higher sales prices are usually directly correlated to recent renovations.

This home is lovely. With a steep roof and four gabled windows this home has good curb appeal. The landscaping is well maintained, the exterior tidy and the street reasonably quiet. A purple door leads you into an open hardwood foyer. You immediately notice the lack of clutter and nice paint. The hardwood runs through the entire first level and is in pristine condition. The living room and dining rooms are large and nicely furnished. The galley kitchen is beautifully renovated with cherry cabinets, brushed nickel pulls and granite counters. It was hard to believe that the renovation was 8 years old. Very nicely done.

There is also a full bath and bedroom on the first level. This would be great as an in-law suite or guest bedroom. The family room is bright with great views of the level backyard. I could not wait to see what they had done with the upstairs.

The master bedroom suite is very nice. Walk in closets, ceiling fan and bath all in great shape. The other bedrooms are nice size and share a hall bath that was recently updated. You could move right in to this home without having to worry about renovation or updating the decor.

The basement is finished with a large recreation room and laundry facilities. The carpet looks new and fits the space well. There is plenty of space for a large TV and surround sound.

This home shows beautifully. The colors of paint, the kitchen and the lack of clutter make you feel you could move your stuff in tomorrow. Although the price may be a bit aggressive, I don't think this home will last long. Willeburn is sought after and in this home all the work is already done. This deserves some premium. I see this one selling between $850-860K when the dust settles.

8748 Sleepy Hollow Lane - Normandy Hills - $1,100,000

Listed by Long and Foster

Google Map Here Normandy Hills is a Mitchell and Best community built in the early 1990's. On the north side of Bells Mill Road, this enclave of homes is conveniently located to everything. Good schools, good location and cohesive community keep these homes in high demand.

This is a beautiful colonial with columns and cedar shake roof. The landscaping is well groomed and gives the home great curb appeal. The home looks to have been completely redone. The foyer is 2 story with gleaming hardwood floors. The hardwood goes throughout the first floor and looks great. The living room and library are on the left of the home. Both rooms are large and provide good traffic flow to the kitchen. This is a great home to entertain.

The kitchen is nicely appointed and has plenty of space. A butler pantry leads you through to a dining room that could easily hold a table for 10. A back stairwell is a convenient feature that leads you to the second living level from the kitchen area.

The back of the home leads you to a small pool. This pool is covered by a glass structure that looks a lot like a greenhouse. The roof retracts in the summer, and a heater keeps the area cozy for winter swims. This is a cool feature for anyone that LOVES to swim every day. It could be a flaw in an otherwise lovely home for others.

There are four large bedrooms upstairs that have been freshly painted. The Master is large and well designed with a nice master bath suite. The other bedrooms share 2 additional full baths.

The basement is fully finished and has lots of space. A nanny suite with full bath, room for a media wall and even space for a wine cellar. How you allocate the space is up to you.

This is a big home. The list price of $1.1mm for all of this space is not out of line. I am going to be curious to see what happens with this one. Someone may snap it up at near full price. If the pool is seen as a detriment instead of an asset, it may linger a while. I am going to venture a guess that this settles at between $1,060,000 and $1,075,000 once they find a buyer.

10840 Spring Knoll Drive - Fox Meadow - $1,212,000

Listed by Coldwell Banker

Google Map Here

Fox Meadow is a lovely community about a mile north of Potomac Village off River Road. This community is a mix of old homes and new. The location is fabulous and some of the older homes are being razed for larger more practical designs.

This is an attractive brick split level home with side entry 2 car garage. Nicely maintained, it is a bit hidden from the street by mature trees and landscape. The lot is BEAUTIFUL. Two acres of level ground with the home set back deeply.

A nice slate path brings you past azaleas and flowering shrubs to the front door. The foyer looks into the living room which has a very large bay window looking out onto the pristine backyard. What a lovely view!

The foyer leads into the kitchen to the right and beyond to the dining and family room. The home is in very good condition with nice paint and lovely moulding throughout. A library on the left side of the foyer has paneling which was in vogue when this home was built. It is perfect size for a home office. There is also a first floor bedroom with bath. This is an attractive feature that is sometimes tough to find.

The landing to the lower level has tile that matches the foyer. The basement is partially finished with a large space for a pool table and a sitting area for a TV. There is also a workshop and room for storage.

The upstairs has two levels each with 2 bedrooms. All the bedrooms on these levels share a Jack and Jill style bath and are average size.

This is a fabulous piece of property. This lot and location are prime. The home is in good condition, but the design is obsolete. It is a tough home to price. It may find a buyer at this level, but more likely in the $1,050,000 range.

12229 Seline Way - Fallsreach - $934,800

Listed By Long and Foster

Google Map Here

Seline Way is a lovely street in the Fallsreach Community that backs to Watts Branch Stream Valley Park. With well maintained homes and mature trees, this is always a popular community for the move up buyer. This brick colonial has great curb appeal with nice landscaping and a premium cul-de-sac lot.

This center foyer has marble tile which extends into the living room. The library is decent size and would make a fine home office. The kitchen is nicely fitted with ceramic tile floor and a table space kitchen. A good size dining room has access to a long sun room on the back of the home overlooking the tiered deck.

The upstairs has 4 nice size bedrooms. The master is nicely done with a recently renovated bath which looks great. The other bedrooms share an additional full bath which has been updated. An unusual feature in this home is a half bath directly adjacent to the full bath. Anyone with a house full of school age kids that jockey for bathroom time will appreciate this feature.

The basement is finished with a wet bar and potential nanny suite. There is an exit to the backyard which leads to the lower level of the two level deck. There is a nice spa on this level which would be a fabulous place to sit and enjoy the wooded vista in the back yard.

This house is larger then it appears on the outside. The upper two levels have over 3000 square feet of finished space. The basement adds an additional 1500 square feet.

Although the decor in this home is a bit dated (Very 1980's), the structure is good. With a little paint, creativity and time this can be brought up to date without major expense. The listing agent has priced the house to reflect these issues. This is fairly priced at $934,800, and should settle between $915-925K.

11906 Reynolds Avenue - Willerburn Acres - $840,000

Listed by Long and Foster

Google Map Here

It is difficult not to like the Willerburn Acres community. The homes are well kept on tidy quarter acre and larger lots. There are wonderful schools and a great sense of community.

This home is very pretty on the exterior with very nice curb appeal. The salt box style and brick exterior are a handsome combination. The foyer is formal with a nice resilient tile floor. The living room and dining room are good size. You have to try to look beyond the carpet that is currently in place. The colors went out of fashion years ago, but I am sure it has well protected the hardwood underneath.

The kitchen has been upgraded in the past. Someone did a nice job painting the cabinets. They have the look of a contemporary glazed cabinet and fit in well with the Formica counters. The appliances are good quality but could be upgraded with the kitchen by the new owners.

The upstairs has a decent sized master with attached sitting room. The other bedrooms are all good size. This was considered a big house when it was built in 1968. It holds up well even in 2009. The bathrooms have had the cabinets painted and have nice Toto toilets. Although there have been some cosmetic improvements in the baths and kitchen it is almost time to re-do.

The basement is unfinished with lots of space for expansion. If someone needed more room for a home theatre or wine cellar, there is plenty of space to build.

The yard is lovely and well maintained. The exterior landscape is trim and tidy, and there are some lovely gutter guards on the roof. It is obvious that the current owners care for this home.

In a go-go market this home would have a chance to get over 800K. Although this home has good bones, it needs some help. The dated carpet does not show well, and painting cabinets does not count as a renovation. I think the home will need to be reduced to under 800K to get some attention and showing and will settle in the neighborhood of $750K when all is said and done.

23620 Three Sisters Road - Darnstown Outside - $2,495,000

Listed by Long and Foster

This community is located off Glen Road not too far from the upscale Palatine Subdivision. The community is mostly 2 acre lots with the majority of homes being large, upscale and custom built. What I like about the community is you always find interesting architecture and some really stunning homes. This home is fabulous.

The home is at the end of the street and a bit hidden by the landscape. Not in an overgrown sense, more by design. The gravel driveway brings you into a private courtyard reminiscent of a French chateau. There is plenty of room for parking, and more importantly a wonderful place to admire the beautiful garden and lovely brick home.

This home is huge. It consists of a main house and two attached wings. You could certainly fit a large extended family in this home and maintain privacy for all. The main home has a large open foyer with the main stairwell leading upstairs. There are a slew of large rooms off the foyer. They are all decorated in a Country French theme that works well in the space. The kitchen is large and spacious - more then one would ever need. I was surprised that it had not been upgraded, but as it is it fits the character of the home. At some point you could add granite and no one would know the better.

The wings each have independent living quarters including common areas that would please the most discerning guests. They were both large enough to house home businesses, without the least bit of a crowded feel. The basement space is mostly finished in both the main home and both wings. The rooms went on forever as I explored the basement. You could literally get lost here.

This home is actually too large to adequately describe in a review post. I think there is a LOT of space here for the asking price of $2.495mm. Although the decor may not be to every ones taste, the setting is fabulous. The grounds are fabulous as is the vision of the owners. Be sure to put this home on your short list to see should you be looking in this range. Believe it or not, I think the mere size of this home may be its only Achilles Heel. There is a lot here to take care of and maintain. It will be a labor of love for the next owner, but with great rewards.

I see this as a value at the asking price of $2.495mm. It will take the right person to see it and fall in love with it, but what a home. I see this settling in the $2.35mm range when negotiations are complete.

12513 Noble Court - Palatine - $1,950,000

Listed By Long and Foster

Palatine is one of the premiere upscale communities in Potomac. Now approaching 15 years old, it is shedding the "just built" look that some of Potomac's upscale communities can't shake. It is always a treat to visit homes in this community. The custom features in many of these homes can really WOW you.

This home is on one of the older streets in the Palatine community. Built in 1996, it sits on a lovely 2 acre lot perched on a hill. The landscaping is professionally done and frames the home beautifully. Some of the shrubs in the front left are due for a trim which would give the home a more manicured look.

The flagstone walk leads you to a formal entry. The sign on the door says new custom doors are on order which is good news. The existing doors are in poor shape. The foyer is beautiful. A large two story foyer with lovely curved stair and chandelier is lovely. The wallpaper is timeless and expensive. Although it may not be to every one's taste, it is a classic design and works well.

The living room and library are on the left side of the home with built ins galore and lovely mouldings throughout. The windows let in some great light which should please most that hate dark rooms. The dining room on the right is large and nicely proportioned. It leads through a butlers pantry into a lovely kitchen with upscale appliances and granite. The breakfast area is along the back wall and gives a great view of the yard. The yard is landscaped well with a flagstone patio which would be a lovely place to enjoy your coffee and watch the resident deer nibble on the high end shrubbery. A four car garage and laundry/mud room finish out the first floor.

The upstairs has 5 large bedrooms. The master is large and nicely designed. A tray ceiling is a nice touch and the custom drapes match the bed linen. Lots of money was spent on decor - it would be worth asking for the linen when putting this home under contract. The large master bath has high end cabinets and green marble/granite/tile flooring. Two of the other rooms have private baths and the other two bedrooms share a Jack and Jill bath. Nicely designed upper floor!

The basement is completely finished with plenty of room. Wet bar, rec room, Nanny Quarters - and walkout to a second flagstone patio. Everything you would expect in the basement of a home in this price range.

This home has good bones and great design. Although the decor may be a bit outdated, anyone that can see beyond the floral prints will see a gem. For someone wanting the cache of Palatine this may be a great opportunity. This should settle around its assessed value of $1.825mm when all is said and done.

1107 Cedrus Way - Fallsmead - $739,000

Fallsmead is a very popular community in the Potomac area. Close to everything with a great sense of community, this neighborhood is usually on the top of the list of move up buyers looking for Potomac.

Cedrus Way is a cul-de-sac located just off Fallsmead Way. It is a mix of house styles that were built in the late 1960's. This home is a well maintained brick colonial at the end of the court. Nicely landscaped, this home has great curb appeal. It is much larger then it appears from the street. A two car garage is located underneath the home. The driveway runs along the side of the home to the rear of the home to allow access to the garage.

The center foyer is typical colonial with nicely maintained hardwood floors. A large piano sized living room is on the right with Family room left. The family room has a nice brick fireplace and entry to the kitchen and breakfast area. The kitchen was redone in recent years with white cabinets and granite counter tops. It is nicely done and fits in with the rest of the home. An eating area adjacent to the kitchen has a sliding glass door to a lovely deck overlooking a large and nicely landscaped yard. This lot is larger then many in the community at 1/3 acre. This will be a great selling feature.

The upstairs has 5 bedrooms and 3 full baths. All of the bathrooms have been updated at some point, but none recently. They are in good condition and can be upgraded at the leisure of the new owner. The bedrooms are all good size and also have hardwood.

This is a nice home. It is a little bit cluttered, and would show better if some of the "stuff" that we all accumulate was boxed up for the move. The en-suite bath in the smaller bedroom upstairs should be painted. While stars on the wall may have been in fashion, or to someones taste in the family...fresh paint will show better.

This home is listed at $739,000. If enough folks see it the home could generate multiple offers and get full price. If not, it should settle in the $715K to $725K range within 45-60 days.

9313 Bells Mill Road - Pine Knolls - $1,895,000

It is not often I see a home that has been on the market over 1000 days. That's right, not 100 days, 1000 days. 1036 days to be exact. That is almost three years.

This home is near the intersection of Bells Mill Road and Falls Road. The corner lot is owned by the developer as well, and at some point in time may be developed. The lot is ungraded, filled with weeds and brush and has remnants of construction debris from previous building. It looks horrible and may be a reason why the home next door has been languishing almost 3 years.

This is an attractive home from the outside. It is approximately 5000 square feet above grade, with an additional 2500 in the finished basement. With 4 bedrooms and four full baths upstairs and an additional bedroom and bath in the basement, this home is typical of many new construction in the area. It is finished nicely, but not properly. It is important to tend to the details in this price range.

Offered at $1.895 million, the seller is looking for top dollar on this home. In order to get close to that, they will have to send someone in to be sure the home is in top condition. They need to groom the landscaping, integrate the lot next door into this design (We know it is a separate lot, but no one wants to live next to a junkyard), and stage this home with some furniture and accessories. What would it take to install some nice brass numbers above the door to identify the home. Currently they have the house number painted (poorly) above the front door.

If this home was on a quiet cul-de-sac instead of a main road, the price would not be too far out of line. On Bells Mill Road this home will have to be reduced quite a bit to get noticed. There are too many competing properties for this to sell near that pricepoint. Look for this to finally settle in the $1.45 range if the sellers get serious.

PLEASE invest in some nice brass numbers for above the door. It will make a big difference in the perception of a potential buyer.

I'm Back!

September is one of the most beautiful months in the Potomac area. Summer is on the wane, and we get a hint of the beautiful fall weather that is just around the corner.

My kids both looked forward to starting in new schools. My oldest daughter has entered Churchill and my youngest daughter has entered Hoover. Both were up at the break of dawn yesterday excited to greet the day.

I drove past the Bells Mill Elementary today. After being closed for a year and one half, it opened to students yesterday. I have never seen so many bright shiny faces so excited to break in a new building.

The real estate market over the past few months has been through a metamorphosis. The market is vibrant and inventory is down. What this translates to is a healthier market with a good balance between buyers and sellers. I took July and August off to recharge and take a break. The time off was well spent with buyers and sellers. I had my best Summer in Real Estate since the mid-1980's.

I saw four homes today in Potomac. Check back for regular reviews starting tomorrow. I look forward to writing and hope that these candid reviews are a help in your search for a new home.

If you need an agent to protect your interests and assist you in finding a home that best suits you and your family, contact me today. I specialize in Potomac, Bethesda and Chevy Chase homes and would be honored to assist you, your friends and family.