10920 Cripplegate Road - Great Falls Estates - $4,250,000

Listed by Long and Foster

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This is a lovely and well built home. It will be difficult to describe because it is so unique. Built by Sandy Spring Builders in 1996, this home is has all the bells and whistles.

The home looks like a plantation home from the exterior. Two enormous trees stand sentry in the front, protecting the home from the harsh rays of the sun. The old stately trees don't prepare you for the wonderfully modern interior. High ceilings, elaborate mouldings and built-ins abound in this Arts and Crafts styled design.

There is a central open stairway in this house that is stunning. Its wide path and beautiful landing is lovely. Above the soaring ceiling makes you feel like you are in a hotel instead of a single family home in Potomac. The kitchen is what you would expect in a multi-million dollar estate. Beautiful cabinets, granite and all of the high end names you want to see.

There 2 additional stairwells on this first level. There is a back stairwell to the upstairs main house, and a stairway up on the right side of the home that leads to a private office suite. It is used currently as a bedroom and full bath, and would work great as a guest bedroom...or again an in home office.

The library is filled with built in shelving and a lovely partner desk. The extensive patios and covered porches lend to the charm of this large home, and somehow remain in scale without being ostentatious.

The upstairs has a large seating area off the main central stairway. This is beautifully decorated and furnished. The bedrooms are all large and beautifully designed. The master suite is spectacular with a large tray ceiling that provides plenty of drama. A nice sitting room and beautifully outfitted master bath. The cabinets in the master are beautiful.

The basement is fully finished with large bedroom and full bath. Plenty of space for a playroom or home theatre. The back exits to the lower patio and beautiful pool. The pool house has a full bath, kitchen, changing area and storage. The upstairs of this pool house is a separate guest house. Large spacious room, bath and sitting area. All of this with a separate driveway entrance. Very nice.

How do you price a home like this? It is very difficult. I am not shocked with the $4,250,000 asking price, it is probably fair. I am not sure how it will do in this market. The home is a stunner and will please anyone that sees it. I am not sure if this may not finally settle somewhere between the asking price and assessed value when the lucky buyer signs the papers. Don't miss this one....

27 Stanmore Court - Great Falls Estate - $2,345,000

Listed by Long and Foster

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I try to see all of the homes in Great Falls Estates as I love the community. I've said in past posts, this is the community I dream of moving up to when I win the lottery. This street is close to the canal as the bird flies, and the home is located at the end of the court on a pipe stem lot.

I did not want to like this home when I saw it from the street. It was plain on the outside, and the front yard was mostly paved. It was not ugly, but just not what I expect when I hear Great Falls Estates.

An arts and crafts style, this home has simple styling and decor. When I walked in I loved the simple styling and sparse furnishing. The floors are dark hardwood in the foyer with high ceilings that add to a spacious feel. The living room is on the left. It is long and runs along the front of the home. Windows let in plenty of light which makes the space comfortable and attractive. A fireplace along the central wall finishes the space. The view from the foyer leads you through the living room to the dining room. Painted a dark color, the design is unexpectedly attractive and formal.

The master bedroom is on the main level on the right side of the home. This is a lovely bright space with his and hers closets and a tremendous master bath. The shower is complete with a regular nozzle and overhead rain shower head. The tile in the shower stall is high quality and attractive. A consistent theme throughout the home. There is also a lovely balcony off the MBR overlooking the lovely pool in the back.

The addition on the back of this home is dramatic. With soaring ceilings the step down family room has 2 story domed ceilings. It is open to the kitchen which is high end with no expense spared. The breakfast room is also beautifully designed and surrounded by windows.

The basement is accessed by a family room stairway. It is finished, but not to the level of finish of the rest of the home. There is laundry, lots of storage, a full bath and changing area for the pool, a fireplace and exercise area and some space suitable for a large wine cellar in the corner.

The 3 upstairs bedrooms are large. Two of the bedrooms share a Jack and Jill bath, and the larger bedroom has an attached sitting area with bath en-suite. Very nicely done.

The home originally had a one car garage. A new 2 car addition is separate from the home but connected by a covered walkway. The one car garage enters the home into a mud room area with lots of built in storage, beautiful flooring and a nice powder room. The home also has a back wrap around deck done in field stone. This home would be great to entertain.

This home was a great surprise. A lot bigger then I expected, and beautifully finished. I give the homeowner an A+ in selecting the design and finish.

Is it worth $2,345,000? It should be worth every penny. In this market, it is hard to tell. The neighborhood warrants a premium for it convenience, cache and location. The Churchill schools are also a plus. This should sell within 7% of ask price. I would not be surprised if it sold at full price. Put this one on the short list to see.

8853 Belmart Road - Great Falls Estates - $1,845,000

Listed by WC & AN Miller

Google Map Here

I think every Real Estate Broker has fantasies about winning the lottery. You could then buy your dream home for cash, and live in the home and neighborhood you just love. This thought was going through my mind when I saw this home in Great Falls Estates.

This home is on a 2 acre lot and has great curb appeal. The lawn is beautiful, the landscape has been taken care of and the classic good looks of a brick colonial shine. A circular drive takes you right up to the door - a classy entry.

The center foyer is slate and quite formal. The living room is on the left with a great fireplace and wet bar. The dining room is bright with a large picture window to the front of the home. There is a nice size office/library that is beautifully panelled and private.

The kitchen is in the center of the home. With cherry cabinets and older appliances, this room will be on the short list for renovation. The breakfast area is bright and an exit to a brick patio bring you out to a fabulous back yard.

The back yard may be the nicest part of this property. It is terraced and manicured. Someone has taken time to properly design and execute a beautiful landscape plan. There is obviously a gardener, or owner with deep pockets to keep this area in tip top condition.

The upstairs of this property has a modest size master bedroom and full bath. The bathroom is in need of updating, but it is good size with great potential. There is one additional bedroom with an en-suite bath and two other bedrooms that are teen size.

The basement is fully finished. The room has gorgeous and high quality cream colored panelled walls. Although the rest of the basement with bar is dated, a new owner would be smart to preserve the panelled walls which would cost an arm and leg to replace.

This is a great house with good bones. The home needs updating, but is perfectly livable as it is. The home could be transformed at your leisure while living in the home.

Is it worth the price?

I think this home is priced where it should be. That does not mean it will sell at this price. The lot and location will warrant a premium. Great Falls Estates is a premiere community and is in high demand. Someone seeing this home will fall in love with its scale, the grounds and the neighborhood. If I win the lottery tomorrow....I am making a beeline to the listing agents with a bag of cash.

8701 Belmart Road - Great Falls Estates - $1,499,000

Listed by WFP

Google Map Here

They say that value in real estate is often defined by Location, Location and Location. This home is located at the end of a beautiful street in one of the more desirable close in communities in the D.C. area.

Located on 2.35 acres, this colonial in Great Falls Estates is currently the least expensive home on the market in this beautiful community.

This home is not very large compared to others in Great Falls Estates. It has 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. The home has nice scale. The rooms are all good size but not overdone. The decor and finish in this home is also lovely. In the school of "less is more", this home is uncluttered and shows nicely.

There is hardwood in the foyer and throughout the home. The public rooms are good sized with good natural light. The kitchen is nicely remodeled with rich cream colored cabinets and granite counters. The kitchen and breakfast area look out onto a brick patio and pool with lots of woods as a backdrop. I am sure this is favorite hang out for the deer and fox that I often see in the community.

Upstairs the rooms are adult sized. The baths have been redone (Except for the tubs) and show well. The master bedroom are also nicely sized. Not too big, not too small, just right.

The basement in this home has been partially excavated and finished. The tile looks new, and the room would make a great recreation room or playroom for the kids.

This is a small home for Great Falls Estates. The lot though, is gorgeous. Although priced too high for a knock down, I am sure that many folks have eyed this lot for a much larger home. The amount of upgrading and construction in this community is astounding. It is because people love the community and want to live here.

This home has been on and off the market for the past year. I believe it started at $1.799mm in June of 2008. This modest colonial will get more interest at the new price, but will have to come down a bit more. This should end up selling around $1.35 to $1.4mm. The lot alone may be worth that for someone with a dream home on the horizon.