1435 Longhill Drive - Horizon Hill - $599,000

Listed by Weichert

Horizon Hill is a lovely community bordered by Falls Road and Wootton Parkway. Physically located in the City of Rockville - this is one of the communities that is served by the Potomac zip code.

This home is just off Wootton Parkway. It is a brick colonial that seems well maintained and has good curb appeal.

The foyer has been recently updated with laminate tile floor. The living room and dining room both have hardwood. The powder room too has been updated with the same laminate tile It is painted baby blue which somehow fits the vintage.

The kitchen is original - including the "Harvest Gold" appliances. The furnishing and decor throughout bring you back to the 70's when this home was built. The family room has a nice stone fireplace and hardwood floors. A slider goes out to a small patio.

The upstairs has two teen size bedrooms, one kid size and a decent master. The bathrooms are all freshly redone in tile laminate (Must have gotten a good deal on this tile) - and will both need updating in the near future.

The basement is unfinished. It has laundry facilities and a fireplace that would look great when the basement is finished.

This home is older but has "good bones". It will certainly be an ongoing project for someone that wants is willing to make the improvements - but this neighborhood is one of the few to get a home this size for under $600,000. The neighboring home at 1435 Longhill Drive settled for $550K in January. This one should settle in the neighborhood of $560-$575K when the ink dries.

12323 Overpond Way - Copenhaver - $949,000

Listed by Long and Foster

Copenhaver is a fabulous move up community with great location just off Falls Road. Close to all commuter routes, it is a breeze to get to shopping, schools recreation and work. Homes that are priced right in this community sell quickly and often with competing offers.

Overpond Way is a short street that ends in a circle. This home is on the right side of the street just before the circle on a manicured lot. There is very little traffic coming into the circle - and the setting is lovely.

The foyer has hardwood flooring and is quite welcoming. A large living room on the left side is bright - with overhead lighting which is a recent upgrade. The dining room and living room are boldly painted red - which works with the current decor - but may detract some. It makes the rooms warmer - but seem smaller then they are. The powder room is nicely updated and shows well.

The kitchen has been completely renovated. The cabinets are dark cherry and appliances are cream colored. A pass through to the Family room has been added - which is a nice touch. The kitchen has been expanded into the back yard to make room for a breakfast area. Surrounded by windows, this area is a great place to enjoy your coffee.

The family room is somewhat isolated. It sits down a few steps in the back corner of the home. A slider will take you out to the yard, and a full brick fireplace makes the room cozy and intimate.

The upstairs has 4 bedrooms PLUS the master. Modern "Light Tubes" (Skylights) - do a great job of bringing natural light into the bathrooms and hall. It is amazing how bright these are for a passive system. All the bedrooms are teen size. The master is large with an updated bath and room for a king size bed. The 2 additional baths are also nicely updated. Overall - this is a lot of space.

The basement is fully finished - but dated. A half bath is convenient and could use some cosmetic updating. The bones here are good. It will take some creativity and personal touches to make it your own.

Overall, this is a nice home. With 2 offers that did not work out - it leads me to believe that there is not much flexibility in negotiations. In this market - that can be the kiss of death. This should sell in the next 60-90 days if there is some flexibility in price. Based on other similar homes that have sold and settled - this one should sell in the $900K range.

POTOMAC PREDICTIONS ~ A good year coming!

Thank you to everyone for your e-mails and phone calls. It is nice to know that I was missed during the last quarter of 2010.

I admit that I could have found time to squeeze in few reviews on Potomac properties during the last quarter. Honestly though - I was so busy with clients during the last few months I needed a little down time to recharge.

You will be happy to know that just because I did not report in writing - I still viewed homes in our marketplace daily. I am happy to report that the market hit bottom almost a year ago - and is getting healthier every day.

I can tell you with all candor that homes that are priced correctly are not only selling quickly ~ but often with multiple contracts. This of course, drives prices upward. The market in general was up in the Potomac area. The most recent Case-Schiller report was no surprise to me. Overall the Washington D.C. area was one of the few in the country with price gains for the year. With a low percentage of foreclosures and short sales - Potomac fared even better.

2010 may have seemed like a dire time in the Real Estate industry - but for me - was my best year in a long time. I have all of you to thank for my success - and I hope you will continue to follow my reviews of Potomac Real Estate.

You can expect to see 2 reviews a week from me on average. When I have the time, of course, I will share more. Feel free to e-mail me the addresses of homes you would like to see reviewed and I will be happy to get them published.

The most important think I can ask is for your business and referrals. I can provide a list of clients that would be happy to discuss their experience in finding their dream home in the Potomac market. Are you thinking of buying or selling in this market? Any market? E-mail me today and lets discuss your options!

11005 Hunt Club Drive - Fox Hills - $869,900

Listed by Forum Properties

Google Map Here

Fox Hills is a very large community on the South side of Tuckerman Lane east of Gainsborough. Built in the late 1960's - the community has been updated over the years and is one of the best choices for those looking for a home below $1mm in Potomac.

This home is on a quiet street with a nicely landscaped yard. The foyer is bright with black and white tile. The family room is to the right with a nice fireplace centered on the wall. The living room is on the left with lovely hardwood leading back to the dining room. The dining room is typical for a home of this era - with a french door leading out to a narrow screened porch.

The kitchen has been updated with cream cabinets and solid surfaced counters. The island is topped with ceramic tile - that may or not be to your taste. The flooring is terra cotta tile - which seems to be in great shape for its age. The appliances, while not new - are in good condition. there is a table space breakfast area which gets great light from the sliding glass door leading outside.

There is a large 2 story addition behind the garage along the back of the house. With cathedral ceilings and an open loft - this is lovely space. A circular stair brings you to the second level which has been outfitted as a large home office. A stand alone wood stove provides extra heat on those cold winter days.

The upstairs has 3 large bedrooms that share an original hall bath. The master bedroom has a connecting door to the home office addition and the master bath room has been completely renovated with granite tops and new shower. Although not large - it is nice space and the access to the office loft makes for convenient access.

The basement is fully excavated - which is unusual for a Fox Hills home. Most are only half excavated. Half of the space is finished here - but the work is dated and could use an update. There is a walkout slider to the backyard. Although this lot is nice size - it is completely wooded. There is not a usable back yard which will take this home out of contention for many. On the flip side - your yard work will be minimal.

This is priced at the upper end of the range for Fox Hills - but it is also a bit larger with the 2 story addition. The market is hot in this price range - so I cannot blame the owner and agent for trying for a premium. I think this home should sell within 5% of its list price within 30 days.

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.

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.