9904 Betteker Lane - Glen Park - 629,900

9904 Betteker Lane - Potomac
Listed By Sotheby's

Glen Park is an enclave of homes located on the north side of Glen at the end of Ambleside Drive.  Built in the mid 1960’s – these homes are a mix of split levels, ramblers and split foyers.  This home is located in the Churchill High School Cluster which is a draw for those moving to Potomac.

This rambler style home sits up on a knoll and has a full walkout in the rear.  The roof is extended to provide a sheltered front entry – and a carport adjacent provides room for a single car.  The main entry opens to a small foyer and entry closet with the kitchen to the immediate right.  The kitchen is small – but typical for a home this size.  It has been recently updated and most folks will find it an attractive feature.

Behind the kitchen is a large living room with windows looking out to the back yard.  A large deck with access through a slider provides outside entertainment space and a view of the yard below.  At some point the yard was hardscaped and was probably planted with annuals and perennials.  Even in February you can see bulbs for tulips and daffodils already peeking up out of the beds.

The left side of the home is the living area and contains three good size bedrooms and two updated baths.  The home has lovely hardwood floor throughout the upper level.  Overall – the home seems to have good bones.

An open stairway at the rear of the home is a vestige of modern design in vogue in the 1960’s.  Open to the lower level – it allows light to pass through between levels and is a positive feature.  The lower level is finished – and surprisingly large.  A family room with windows makes this basement space feel like anything but a basement.  The family room is bright and cozy and a perfect spot for a TV or X-Box for the kids.  A bedroom, full bath and laundry are on this level.  Storage space and a few different doors out to the backyard make the space flexible.

Overall – this is a nice house with good bones.  Simple floor plan – with updated kitchen, baths and windows – this is a great starter home – or a great spot to downsize to in the Potomac market.  The yard needs some dressing up – and the home could use a little color – but overall – it seems to be in good shape.  At $629K this home is priced near the top of the market for a home of this style and size.  More likely – it will settle in the $560K range when all is said and done.

11432 Cedar Ridge Drive - Potomac Crest - $849,900

11432 Cedar Ridge Drive - Potomac
Listed by Long and Foster

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Potomac Crest is conveniently located near the intersection of Tuckerman Land and Seven Locks Road.  A stones throw from the Cabin John shopping center - it is a fabulous location.


Built in 1995 - these town homes were a perfect fit for those in Potomac that wanted to downsize from Single Family homes but stay in Potomac.  These were upper end town homes with high end finishes and plenty of room.

This town home is at the back end of the community where it is nice and quiet.  An alcove at the front door will keep your visitors dry in the rain.  This has always been a nice feature in the rain.

The foyer has a lovely marble floor and tasteful wallpaper.  A step down to the lower level has a full bath, bedroom and decent sized family room.  Some of these homes are not partitioned off - I think this is the better arrangement as it makes for a great guest room, office or AuPair suite.  A sliding door out to a small slate patio below the main deck is a nice space to escape if you need to get outside.

The floors are terraced in this town home.  You go up a half flight of stairs into the living room area.  A large open space and cathedral ceilings make the room spacious.  A window wall and slider to a TREX deck bring in lots of light.  The wooded view from the deck offers great privacy - and the synthetic deck boards promises no maintenance.

You step up to the dining room level which is open to the Living room.  This open space really gives you the perception of a large room.  The kitchen is towards the front of the home and features a nice breakfast area, and island and space for a small table.  The kitchen is modern and looks great. The Corian counters dates the kitchen to the 1990's - but still looks great.

Upstairs there is a large master suite.  The bath has been beautifully updated and no expense was spared using high quality materials.  Large windows let in plenty of light and 2 closets leave plenty of room for clothing.  The other 2 bedrooms are teen size and the hall bath easily serves both rooms.

This is a great town home and would be perfect for those that want to downsize of someone looking for less yard maintenance.  Great schools - good proximity to commuter routes and the Potomac zip code are all winners.  The price is fair - especially with the upgraded master bath.  Look for it to sell within 60 days within 5% of list price.

9229 Bentridge Avenue - Fallsreach - $1,149,000

9229 Bentridge Avenue - Potomac
Listed by Long and Foster

Fallsreach is a fabulous neighborhood on the west side of Falls Road.  Built in the late 1970's through early 1980's - this was a "move-up" community for many in the Potomac area in the 60's and 70's.  The homes are solidly constructed and well appointed.  Most have been updated to some extent and as with most neighborhoods in Potomac ~ the schools are fabulous.


This home is tucked in on a pipe stem just off Bentridge Avenue.  The location is off the main street and offers a nice private enclave shared with another home.  There is an enormous amount of open space next to the home that will never be built upon. Although some will be concerned about the high tension wires - others will see it as a guarantee of privacy for the future.

This home was built by Mitchell and Best in 1980.  The owners have recently updated the home with a huge side addition.  You enter into a tile foyer with nicely painted walls and trim.  An extended dining room is to the right and a large family room and fireplace to the left.  Lovely hardwood is laid throughout the first level - including the addition.

The kitchen is HUGE.  Granite and high end appliances with a very large island highlight the kitchen.  Plenty of space for bar stools - and a great spot for a party.  The kitchen extends to a breakfast area that is large enough to fit half of the neighborhood.  Filled with windows - it has great light and pleasant views.

There is a large room behind the garage that is a fabulous office.  This large space would be perfect for a home based business.  It is unexpected space - discretely tucked in behind the garage.  This home is full of surprises.  The addition on the right side of the home is quite large.  Two rooms can be used for purpose you like.  Living room, dining room - larger family room.  Make your choice and furnish appropriately.

Upstairs has 3 large bedrooms and a fabulous extended master suite.  A large master bath with Green marble - extra large shower stall and lots of light will please the most critical of buyers.  Other bedrooms are large enough for teens to stretch out and never complain about space.

The basement is finished - so if you ever need more space - here it is.  The basement has not been updated in a while - but who cares?  More space than you will ever need are on the main levels.

Wow - this home is big!  On a square foot basis it is a steal at the price.  My only concern is will the neighborhood support the value?  It would be the most expensive home sold in Fallsreach ever.  With the power lines and private pipe stem - it may not appeal to all buyers.  I see this one selling for over a million - but where over a million?  Depends upon the market.  Look for this one to settle between $1,025,00 and $1,050,000 when all is said and done.  It may take a while - as many of the million plus buyers are looking for a location closer to Potomac Village.

11514 Gainsborough Road - Regency Estates - $569,000

11514 Gainsborough Road - Potomac
Listed by Long and Foster

Regency Estates is one of the few remaining neighborhoods in Potomac that you can find a single family home for under $600,000. Located between Seven Locks and Falls Road - It is well located for commuters and feeds into the Churchill High cluster - one of the best schools in the Tri-state area.


This community was built in the early 1960's - and most of the homes in the neighborhood have been updated over the years.  This home is a tidy brick rambler that sits on a third of an acre.  It looks like the driveway was just replaced - and the slate walk has recently been re-pointed.  This is always a good sign when walking into a home.

The foyer is shallow - with the door to the kitchen on the immediate right.  The kitchen has been updated with nice tile floor - stainless steel appliances and hardwood cabinets.  There is plenty of room for a kitchen table in front - and the bay window lets in great light.

The foyer continues in to a living room and dining room combo in the back of the home.  Nice hardwood floors - typical of the era - are well maintained and look great.  Neutral paint colors make it easy to picture how your furniture will fit in the open space.

Three large bedrooms and an updated bath round off the upper level.  The master bath has been updated over the years - and look great.  A large stall shower - and newer toilet and sink are contemporary and need not be updated.  Once again - neutral colors - neat and clean make this very attractive.

The lower level is larger than you think.  A large family room leaves plenty of space for TV or toy room.  A bedroom and full bath are perfect for an Au-pair or rebellious teen.  An exit via area way gives easy ingress and egress to this space.  A laundry room and storage finish off the space - and overall - a nice package.

The price? - Anything under $600K for a mostly renovated house is a good price.  This one is priced reasonably and should sell very quickly.  It should probably sell within 5% of list price.  The inventory in this market is low - which bodes well for the seller. 

9737 Pleasant Gate Lane - Avenel - $429,000

Listed by ReMax 2000

Avanel is an upscale planned community between Falls Road and Persimmon Tree Road in Potomac. Developed by Natelli Communities, it was built out by five or six builders through the 1990’s. It is a lovely, well maintained community, with all the amenities one would expect in a high end neighborhood.

There is a mix of housing here. Town homes, patio homes, single family homes and mansions are all part of the mix. The grounds and laws are all professionally maintained by an outside company – so the community always looks manicured. A strict association assures that homes are properly maintained which adds to the value of the community.

Montgomery County – when approving these large communities – forced builders to set aside a portion of the community for “affordable housing”. They called these units MPDU’s (Moderately Priced Dwelling Units). These homes were generally smaller then the surrounding homes with far fewer amenities than most homes in the community. This home is a former MPDU.

Pleasant Gate is located just off Oaklyn Drive in the middle of the Avenel community. The restriction on selling these former MPDU units long ago expired, so these homes can be sold without restriction – at whatever the market will dictate. These brick homes are similar to Cape Cod style homes without the dormers. There are generally one bedroom and a full bath on the main level with 2 additional bedrooms and a full bath upstairs. There are basements – and many have been finished over the past 20 years by homeowners.

The front door has a storm door which needs repair. The interior of the home has PERGO style laminate floors throughout the first floor. The bathrooms are original – but are in decent shape. The kitchen is original with laminate counter tops and builder grade appliances. There is a door in the kitchen to the exterior – a nice alternate egress to the yard or grill outside.

The laminate flooring in some rooms has been replaced with similar grade laminate – but not matching laminate. The walls could use a coat of paint and the home needs to be aired out. The AIRWICK solid air fresheners in various locations throughout the home are not quite the same as getting a little fresh air.

The basement is unfinished and looks as though there may have been some flooding in the past. The carpet on the stairs has been removed, and there is a noticeable scent of mildew or mold. A humidifier has been placed in the basement running full time to try and dry it out. There seems to be a rough-in for a full bath here. This is a big plus for someone looking for a bit more living space in these homes.

Overall - this home has great potential for someone wanting to get into Potomac schools at a Gaithersburg price. There is outdoor parking for 2 cars, and the community fee is a reasonable $273 per month. This property is bank owned - and in a great location. I think this is a great opportunity for an investor as there is a real shortage of rental properties in Potomac. This would rent for $2600 a month. If you could get this for $400K - that would be close to a 6-7% return on investment. Look for this one to settle between $400 and $410K.

Churchill High School - AP Accolades

Confirmation of why I moved to Potomac to educate my children !

When I was in high school - taking an AP (Advanced Placement Exam) was reserved for those kids that took advanced classes and excelled in accelerated academic programs. Although I do not remember the exact numbers - I believe that less than 25 students sat for the AP tests my senior year - and approximately 70 percent received scores of 3 or higher.

I was stunned to read that 1060 students took one OR MORE advanced placement courses at Churchill. The amazing fact is over 90% of these students received scores of 3 or higher. This score potentially qualifies them for college credit. AMAZING!

It is not just upper grades that are taking these classes. Completing AP coursework for some students starts in Sophomore year. Many Sophomores will be taking as many as 3 AP exams this spring. A grade of 3 or higher on the exam may make get the student University credit while in high school.

There are some students leaving Churchill High School with the equivalent of 30 college credits. With the average cost of college rising each year - there is a significant potential savings for these kids as they may place out of a full year of university.

Yes, I am one of the parents that was drawn to Potomac because of the schools. It was worth paying a significant premium to move here in order to enroll my children in some of the best schools in the country. This data regarding the success of Churchill High School - and Montgomery County schools in general is just a confirmation that my family and all other families with children here made the right decision.

You can read the full article regarding the AP results in this article in the PotomacPatch. Click through for all the details.

8412 Tuckerman Lane - Fox Hills - $699,000