8223 Tuckerman Lane - Highland Stone - $600,000

Highland Stone is a mix of split levels, colonials and ramblers built in the mid to late 1960's. Tucked in between Tuckerman and Falls Road the convenient location and Chrurchill schools keep this community in high demand.

This home is right on busy Tuckerman Road. For some this will be convenient - for others it will just mean road noise and potentially dangerous traffic. This brick and frame split does not look bad from the exterior. When I saw this was a "short sale" I was curious what I would find inside.

The foyer is tile with a dated powder room on your right side as you walk in. The kitchen has pinkish 12x12 tile on the floor with pink counters and white appliances. A half wall separates the kitchen breakfast area from the family room

You step down into the family room which has parquet flooring. A fireplace is the focal point in the room which also has a door to the basement. The basement is finished, but cut up in a disorganized way. It looks like there was an apartment down here as there is a small kitchen and very small bedroom. There has been water leakage in the past as there are areas that are very musty. There is also a full bath - but all of the basement is a renovation.

The upstairs has 3 small bedrooms and a master suite. The baths are in rough shape and will need to be re-done. A door leads you up to a finished attic space that was built as an office. A wall air conditioning unit leads me to believe it gets very hot in the summer. Nice potential bedroom or spot for expansion with a renovation.

The price tag of this home is going to get a lot of attention. Once again though - you are getting what you pay for. With all of the work this will need even $600K is too expensive. It is probably worth $525K as-is. This is also a short sale. Any offer will have to be approved by the bank before it can proceed to settlement. In my experience this is a home for a professional to renovate and buy with cash. The bank is going to be difficult to negotiate with. Caveat Emptor on this home. Know what you are getting into!

8808 Stonehaven Court - Highland Stone - $699,000

Listed by Realty Connection

Google Map Here

Located just off Coldstream Lane in the community of Highland Stone, this home is a nice find. With lovely curb appeal, this brick colonial draws you in. Nice landscaping leads you to a porched entry with highly carved wood door.

The foyer is tiled and open and makes you feel welcome. The living room is hardwood and painted vivid red. The painted white crown and base moulding pops in contrast to this bold decor and looks great. The dining room is a mix of red paint and wallpaper. The kitchen is updated with tile floor and white cabinets. A laundry area is off the kitchen as well as the single door garage entry. The family room is cozy with a fireplace and windows to the back yard. A deck in the back overlooks a nicely landscaped yard.

Upstairs has four bedrooms that are all good size. The bold decor continues with brightly painted bedrooms - Pink, Orange, Lavender - it will certainly appeal to kids or the younger crowd. The master is updated with a nice master bath and shower.

The basement is large and nicely finished. A door to the outside brings light in and makes it truly livable space. A full bath and recently carpeted and updated TV room finished off the space.

This is a nice home with lots of updated and upgraded space. They are not out of line asking $699K, but will have to settle for a bit less to settle. I see this one going to settlement between $650K and $670K.

8511 Victory Lane - Highland Stone - $735,000

Listed by Homes of Washington

Google Map Here

Highland Stone is a lovely community adjacent to the Churchill High School. Built in the mid-1960's, this community continues to thrive as kids that grew up there, move back to raise their families.

This is a nice center foyer colonial. It sits uphill on the lot and has nice curb appeal. There is a covered concrete porch as you walk to the front door. There is patterned Parquet wood in the foyer. Sixties design, but good quality. The Living room and Dining rooms are formal and nicely painted. The kitchen is updated with maple cabinets and Corian countertops. The kitchen is nice for a home of this era, but would benefit from some nice granite countertops.

The family room is paneled with a fireplace and entry to the exterior. A screened porch is nice, and roomy enough for a group dinner outside. The screens will protect the group from the voracious summer mosquitos and allow all to enjoy the cool summer breezes.

The upstairs has 5 bedrooms. The master and 2 additional bedrooms are teen size, and there are 2 smaller that are kid size. The bathrooms have been updated in the past, but need some updating.

The basement is finished in painted paneling and has potential. It looks a bit dated as it is, but the space is there for a nice TV room or home theatre.

Based on the other sales in the area for similar properties, this is listed a bit high. When all is said and done, this one should settle around $660K to $675K. There is not a chance that this will appraise over $700K even if someone is willing to pay the price.

CONTRACT - 8710 Yarmouth Court - Highland Stone - $649,000

Listed By Weichert

Google Map Here

This is a lovely split level on a large corner lot in the "Highland Stone" community. This home is in very good condition and shows extremely well. It is almost identical to the home I previewed at 11904 Coldstream Drive last month.

Much of this home is original but in excellent condition. The kitchen has probably been redone once, but could use some updating. The baths too are original. The yellow/brown color scheme of the tile is dated but clean as a whistle. This would be an excellent opportunity for someone to get into a home and renovate it at their leisure.

I am not sure what the similar home on Coldstream sold for, but I suspect it was near full price. These homes are SO similar, I had to ask the listing agent if I had already seen this one. The only difference is the yard. This one has a much smaller back yard because of the corner lot. The side and front yard are larger then the similar home on Coldstream.

If you are looking in Potomac for a single family that is in great shape, this home should be on your short list. It is in move in condition, and a renovation can occur at your leisure. Why wait in this market when rates are so low? Call me to see this home and I will make an appointment at your convenience. You will be SO happy you did!

I see this home selling within 30 days at close to full price.

CONTRACT - 11904 Coldstream Drive - Highland Stone - $649,000

Listed by Weichert

Google Map Here

This home is located in the Highland Stone community. This affordable community is east of Falls Road between Victory and Liberty Lanes.

Potomac below $700K? That is a hard price point to find, especially in a single family home. This 1966 split level is a fabulous opportunity for someone looking for a home in the Winston Churchill H.S. cluster.

This home has great curb appeal. The yard is nicely tended and the front door is freshly painted a colonial red color. The foyer is bright with nice paint and you may step up to the living room from this spot. The living room is large with great natural light from the large bay window to the front. The dining room is decent size and has a door into the kitchen. The kitchen, although older, is in good shape. There is a great island in the middle of the kitchen which will accommodate stools to eat a quick meal, or allow your guest to watch the host cook. A table spaced breakfast area is on the other side, looking out as a very pretty, tidy backyard. There is also a laundry room with an exterior door adjacent to the kitchen. This is a nice feature unusual in splits of this style. The basement is unfinished with plenty of room for storage.

This home is in great condition and shows well. It has been properly priced, and I think it should sell within 30 days. It is one of the better homes I have seen at this price point in the Churchill cluster. Don't wait, this will be under contract before you know it.

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8810 Stonehaven Court - Highland Stone - $699,900

Listed by Weichert / Google Map

This is a 4 bedroom 2.5 bath Dutch Colonial in convenient "Highland Stone."

This home was purchased by the current owners at the height of the market in 2006. They paid $670K for this property, and unfortunately it is now worth quite a bit less.

The home does not show well. The yard is a mess, the home was never cleaned after the family moved, and there was never any real updating done to the property. This one will languish on the market for a long time.

I would suggest having a landscaping contractor come in and really clean the yard. Rake, tend the beds and trim bushes and trees. This will make the home look a bit more inviting. Once inside, the home needs to be scrubbed top to bottom. The floors and bathrooms need to be swept and washed to at least make it look presentable.

The price on this one is really not even close to market. I am wondering if the sellers are holding fast to the price because they may now be underwater. This is almost 100K overpriced.

Unless some work is done to have this home looking its best, it would not surprise me to see this sell at $590. Only time will tell.