10709 Great Arbor Drive - Red Coat Woods - $799,000

Listed by Long and Foster

Google Map Here

Red Coat Woods is located adjacent to East Gate and is the home to many of Potomac's contemporary style homes. With lots of woods and third acre lots - it is a great spot for these 1970 era contemporary homes.

This is a three level contemporary without a garage. You enter between the 1st and 2nd level and walk up to the bright and open main living level. Hardwood floors and natural light allow this open floor plan to shine. A nice dining room and completely redone kitchen are all re-done beautifully. The kitchen gleams with hardwood and granite. Counters wrap around through to the entry of the dining room providing lots of counter space to coffee pots and kitchen toys. Two decks on this level allow you to enjoy the outside air while sipping coffee or enjoying a glass of wine.

The upstairs has 3 nice size bedrooms with volume ceilings. Lots of windows and light in all of these rooms are true to the homes contemporary roots. The hall bath has been nicely updated and is shared by the 3 bedrooms. The master suite is bright and airy with an attached sitting area. A partial update to the Master bath is nice and won't take much to upgrade should the new homeowner decide to.

The downstairs level has a nice family room and office. Both of these rooms have full walls of windows that look out into the woods. Berber carpet is new and looks great in the space.

This home is nicely updated and is priced reasonably. The last similar home settled at $790K and went under contract in a much slower market. For someone that likes contemporary - this is a must see neighborhood and a must see home. This should sell and settle quickly somewhere between $785k and $795K when all is said and done.

10317 Holbrook Drive Potomac - Williamsburg Gardens - $800,000

Listed by Long and Foster

Google Map Here

Williamsburg Gardens is a wonderful community located about a mile southwest of Potomac Village. Built in the early 1960's, this is one of the few communities in Potomac where you can find contemporary homes.

Situated on about 1/2 acre, this lot is filled with mature azaleas and flowering shrubs. Although a bit overgrown, this lot has great potential for a homeowner with a green thumb that knows how to resurrect the landscape. This yard must be a showplace in the spring - filled with color.

This contemporary is typical of those built in the 1960's. A basic rectangle, this split foyer was updated and expanded in 2003. An open foyer between floors is bright and filled with interesting art. The upstairs has a huge room for living area open to the updated kitchen. Done in light color cabinets the kitchen space looks into the expanded living area in the front of the house. The dining room is adjacent, with a sliding glass door that goes out to a deck overlooking the back yard. The deck is nice, but needs some maintenance. The railing is a bit rickety - and will need to be repaired. Overall though, a nice spot to eat dinner on cool autumn evenings.

On the other side of the home upstairs are three bedrooms and two full baths. The master bedroom is on the small side, and has one of the baths to itself. The current owners have moved their Master suite to the basement.

Downstairs has a large family room with masonry fireplace. There is a door to the carport off this room, with a storage closet behind. The right side of the lower level has a laundry area, storage and currently a master bedroom with full bath. The lot slopes upward from the front of the home to the rear, so you do get light and have windows in this downstairs bedroom. Once the new homeowner does some necessary pruning of the shrubbery in the front of the home, this room will be much brighter.

Overall, for someone that likes contemporary design, this is a nicely updated home. With the added space from the renovation and addition, this home gained extra space where it was most important - in the living area. This neighborhood certainly warrants the $800K price tag. Most homes on this side of Potomac are well above this price.

The last contemporary home that sold in the neighborhood settled for considerably less money. ($700,000) Although that home did not have a basement, it did have a 2 car garage and was located on a quiet court. It appraised for $675K, and the purchasers were willing to pay $25,000 above the appraised value to complete the sale. Another home on the same court is also under contract at less then $700K. Even though these homes are not in the Williamsburg Gardens community, they are the closest sales activity in the area. This is going to cause problems with the appraisal on Holbrook.

In order to get this home sold the price will have to come down below the current $800K. Even should someone come in with a full price offer, there is going to be great difficulty in getting this home to appraise. Because of its location, great schools and recent expansion, this home may appraise at $740K. When all is said and done, when and if this home sells, it will be in that price range.

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.