12712 Lincolnshire Drive - Potomac Commons - $725,000

Listed by ReMax

I was e-mailed by a reader and asked why I often clump together listings from the same or adjacent neighborhoods. The short answer is because I am looking in these neighborhoods with clients. Believe it or not folks - I don't make a living by doing home reviews. I am an active agent touring folks through Potomac homes every week.

This home is in Potomac Commons - which is behind Hadley's Park - off Falls Road. Lincolnshire is a nice street which connects Falls Chapel Way with North Commons Way. The homes here are nicely maintained - and I have come to meet many people that grew up on this street.

This home has great curb appeal The colonial has stately columns and a nice open front yard. The overhang from the roof keeps visitors dry while waiting to enter the front door. The brick front is in great shape - but once you enter - you realize there is some work to be done to bring this home up to date.

The foyer is a dark slate and original to many of the homes in Potomac Commons. While it is often replaced, it can also work well with a modern decor. The first thing you notice in this home is the grand staircase that curves up to the second level. While the colors and carpet may be dated, it only takes a modern color palate and some new carpet to make this look grand once again. Dramatic entries never go out of style.

The living room and dining room both have hardwood floors and crown moulding. The size is typical for the style and age of the home, and although not large - they are adequate for today. The family room also has hardwood with a large masonry fireplace on the back wall. The paneling and cosmetic beams on the ceiling give away the age of this home, but are easily removed and replaced with drywall. This would dramatically update the look and make the room seem bigger.

The kitchen is dated and will need updating. The old dark cabinets and florescent lighting should be replaced and will make the kitchen look larger and brighter.

Going upstairs there are 2 teen size bedrooms and a good size master. These rooms all have hardwood floors and adequate closets. The decor and baths need updating, but the results should be worth it.

The basement is a blast from the past. Paneling and decor from the 70's bring me back to my childhood.

This home has great bones and is in a great neighborhood. Good schools, convenient access to shopping, work and play - what is not to like? This home is priced right - and should sell quickly. This should sell within a few percent of the asking price - and will be a good investment for the buyers. $25,000 of cosmetic updates should get them $50,000 in equity.

8728 Falls Chapel Way - Potomac Commons - $749,000

Listed by Weichert Realtors

While legally this area is called Potomac Commons - most refer to this neighborhood as "Fox Hills West". These homes were built in 1970 for the move up market. They were considered large for the day at just over 3000 square feet on the living levels. The neighborhood and designs have stood the test of time. Fox Hills West is still one of the nicer communities along the Falls Road corridor.

This home is across from Hadley's Park and has nice curb appeal. The wrought iron rail on the second floor elevation may not be to everyone's taste, but the home is well maintained and inviting.

With bright tile in the foyer - this home has been nicely updated. The tile carries back through the kitchen, which has been renovated with light color cabinets and lovely granite. Although not a large kitchen, the design allows a breakfast table and L-shaped design makes the most of the space. A large picture window brings in plenty of natural light to the breakfast area and kitchen.

The living room and dining room are tastefully furnished and show off the hardwood floors. The family room has a brick wall with fireplace and decorative beams across the ceilings. The flow through the rooms is good - and this home would be great for entertaining.

Laundry is located in a mud room behind the garage. There is plenty of room for the updated washer and dryer. It is accessed through the kitchen - and is typical for this design. There is a powder room located here as well. It has been updated with a nice pedestal sink.

There is an upgraded sliding door going out to a large deck in the Family Room. The deck is in good condition and looks out over a flat, fenced back yard. This is great space for entertaining or for a play set. A gas grill is all you need to enjoy summer weekends cooking out.

The upstairs has 3 teenager sized bedrooms in addition to the master. There is hardwood throughout the upstairs area. The hall bath serving the bedrooms has been updated with granite counters and tile floor. The master suite has also been upgraded and is ready for you to move right in.

The basement is unfinished - but in very good condition. This could be easily finished to provide plenty of additional room to families that may need it.

This home is fairly priced at $749,000. A similar home sold at this level late last year. I am surprised this has been on the market for 60 days. This home really needs nothing more than some cosmetic updated to make it your own. This should settle somewhere around $720-735K.

12720 Huntsman Way - Potomac Commons - $1,150,000

Google Map Here

Every once in a while I go to see a home that makes me say "WOW!".

When you know the neighborhoods as well as I do, you make assumptions of what a home is going to look like before you get there. Renovated and Expanded are descriptors in listings that you really must take with a grain of salt. Some agents use these terms loosely - so you really have to see a home to determine how renovated and how expanded.

Potomac Commons is a lovely neighborhood back behind Hadley's Park. I was curious to see what $1,150,000 would buy me here, as the price tag seemed high for this neighborhood.

The house is on a corner lot and has great curb appeal. The yard is beautifully maintained with a green lawn and nicely trimmed landscape. The home is also neatly kept - with a lovely side entry garage that makes the home profile look large.

There is a hardscape path in the front of the home leading you to the front door. The foyer is large and well lit with marble tile set on a diagonal. The mouldings are upgraded with crown and picture frame moulding that carries through the stairwell going up. There is a renovated powder room in this front hall with upgraded cabinetry and stone counter tops.

An office with extensive built in shelving is to your right and a large dining room to your left. Both rooms are beautifully decorated with tasteful paint and wall treatments.

As you walk through the hall towards the back of the home you will be stunned. A large addition with cathedral ceilings acts as a family room. Lots of windows and a slider to a stone patio let in lots of light. A large formal "bar" room with a extensive bar and back bar fills the room. This room is nicer than many bar areas in some of the top restaurants in D.C. Three lovely hanging light fixtures and a tin tray ceiling make this room a stunner.

The kitchen and large breakfast room is adjacent to this space and has been completely redone. With glazed cabinets and granite counters this kitchen will be the envy of all of the cooks in the neighborhood. With top end appliances and hardwood floors this kitchen shows like a model. This space is very well done.

There is also a large laundry room and exterior exit adjacent to the garage. The access door here leads out to a fenced area covered with AstroTurf for the dog. What a nice touch and will be attractive to any pet owner.

A large stone patio in the back is a beautiful private oasis. With a large water feature and plenty of room for outdoor furniture - this is a great hideaway or a wonderful place to entertain. A path around the side of the house has a hidden putting green to allow the golfer in the family time to sharpen their skills. What a nicely thought out exterior.

Upstairs has 3 teen size bedrooms and a large master. Both the hall bath upstairs and the master bath are completely redone. The carpet is in great shape and the paint is fresh and neutral.

The half basement is nicely finished and has a full bath. There is a room currently used for storage that is finished and could certainly house a nanny. Although not a full basement - the large addition upstairs minimizes the need for a large finished basement.

This home shows beautifully. A lot of thought was given to the renovation and the decorating and paint are superb. The furnishings fit the space and are informal enough where you feel at home instead of like being in a model home.

This is currently the most expensive home in Potomac Commons. It is also the nicest I have seen. I think the list price is a bit high for the neighborhood but it is NOT a crazy number. Someone looking for a beautiful neighborhood and a "turnkey" home where all the renovations are complete this may be perfect. The price may not be an issue. My concern is getting an appraiser to agree with the value to allow a normal mortgage loan on the property.

I think that the home is worth up to $1.1mm and I would not be surprised to see a contract come in at this number. I will also not be surprised to see it settle at a lower number that may be caused by a low appraisal. The listing agent will have to put some time in to find comps that will make sense to an appraiser and support the value.

Time will tell on this one. It is definitely worth seeing. I have added a link for the Virtual Tour. Be sure to take a peek!

See the Virtual Tour HERE!

12825 Huntsman Way - Fox Hills West - $879,000

Listed By Weichert

Google Map Here

While legally this area is called Potomac Commons - most refer to this neighborhood as "Fox Hills West". These homes were built in 1970 for the move up market. They were considered large for the day at just over 3000 square feet on the living levels. The neighborhood and designs have stood the test of time. Fox Hills West is still one of the nicer communities along the Falls Road corridor.

This home has very nice curb appeal. Made of brick and frame with a covered front entry - the lawn and landscape are well cared for. What usually looks this good on the outside - carried through to the inside. I was not disappointed.

The large foyer is impressive with square polished tile. The formal entry is typical with a large living room on the right with a centered fireplace. A large dining room is to the left with plenty of space for a large table. The family room is behind the stairwell along the back of the home. A slider brings you out to a nice deck overlooking a fenced back yard. Although this lot is only 1/4 acre - it seems much larger as it backs to the Watts Branch Park.

The kitchen has been recently updated with granite and white appliances. A breakfast area has room for a real table and real family. A large window allows the light to really brighten this area. A laundry and mud room is adjacent to the kitchen and allows access to the garage. Muddy kids shoes can be changed here to keep the rest of the home tidy.

The upstairs has a large master bedroom with sitting room and recessed lighting. Lots of closet space and an updated master bath complete the room. The other bedrooms are teen size and share a hall bath that has been somewhat updated. Overall - a nice floor plan upstairs.

The basement is HUGE. This space is open and 63 feet long. With a sliding glass walkout to the back - this space has huge potential. If this basement had a full bath it would be close to perfect.

This is a nice home that has been very well maintained. Many of the upgrades have been done - it is ready for someone to bring their ideas and design to make it their own. The location is fabulous as are the schools. The neighborhood has stood the test of time and is still one of the "go to" neighborhoods in Potomac.

This one has a lot of updates and has been kept in very good condition. The $879K price tag may seem rich for the neighborhood - but it is not far off the mark. I see this selling around $845K when this finally gets to settlement.

12745 Lincolnshire Drive - Potomac Commons - $899,000

Listed by Prudential

Google Map Here

Potomac Commons is a great community of single family homes just west of Falls Road Park. These homes were build in the early 1970's and are a mix of colonials and split levels. This is part of the Wootton High School Cluster - and these homes sell quickly if priced right.

This home is a nice split at the corner of Lincolnshire Drive and North Commons Way. Across from the park - this home has been completely gutted and updated. Much larger than it looks from the outside - this one is worth a look on the inside.

This home needs some TLC on the outside to make it attractive from the street. Amazing what some mulch and pruning to do to update and brighten the landscape.

The home looks great on the interior. Freshly painted and staged - this home shows beautifully. The front rooms are light and airy. The kitchen is completely redone with lovely flooring and beautiful cabinets, granite and appliances. The dining room is large an bright with a bay window further brightening the room.

The lower level is carpeted with a large family room with brick wall fireplace. There is an addition on this home which expands the space on this level. A half bath and large windowed room can be used as a bedroom, guest room or office. An additional small room on this level can be used in any way the buyer likes.

upstairs there are 4 additional bedrooms. The master is very large with tray ceiling and lots of light. The master bath is a beauty - completely new. The other bedrooms are large and bright and the full hall bath is brand new.

The yard on this lot is nicely hardscaped. A patio off the kitchen makes this an inviting space with minimum maintenance. The addition had taken up a good part of the yard so the space here is not large but efficiently utilized.

This home is a beautiful "Gut Renovation". At $899,000 this is one of the higher priced homes in the community - but the work is all done. The corner lot is attractive and the location is fabulous. Is it worth $899K? To someone it is. This may wait around awhile as the price may put some folks off. If they see it - they will understand why it is worth a premium. I see this one going to settlement at $849,000.

9229 Paddock Lane - Potomac Commons - $795,000

Listed by Weichert

Google Map Here

Potomac Commons is built along Watts Branch Stream Park off of Falls Road. This community has a mix of house styles, and was built in the late 1960's through the early 1970's. You may sometimes see this advertised as "Fox Hills West" as many of the colonial style homes were also built on the "East" side of Falls Road in the Fox Hills community.

This is a lovely lot. Located on a corner with a nicely tended yard, the home has nice curb appeal. With red brick and a two car garage, this style is ever popular in the Potomac area. The slate path brings you to the front past mature landscape. While lovely, the shrubs could use a trim as they are a bit overgrown.

The formal foyer is white tile and typical for this style home. Living room has pink carpet that is reminiscent of the Miami Vice era. This color scheme prevails in the home and will need updating. The family room has a nice brick fireplace and hardwood. The kitchen is blue Formica with decent white cabinets. While serviceable, the kitchen will need updating soon. The tile floor that goes throughout the kitchen and mud/laundry room is out of style and will be a bear to replace. The breakfast area opens to a lovely deck. This would be a great spot to bring breakfast or dinner outside to enjoy the elements.

The upstairs has 3 teen size bedrooms with an original tiled hall bath. The Master bedroom bath has been updated but the time is near to do it again. The 1984 era sea foam green Corian tops clash a bit with the sponge painted walls.

The basement is large with a walkout slider. The floor is nicely painted and it looks good for a basement. This has great potential to be finished when the time comes.

You know, it may sound like I am being critical, but I like this house and the lot it sits on. It has good "bones" and is a fabulous candidate for a face lift. With all this said, this home will be an ongoing project. Nothing needs to be done immediately, but all will ultimately need to be updated. It is no bargain at the asking price of $795K. I think this will end up in the $750K range when all is said and done.

8729 Wandering Trail Drive - Fox Hills West - $789,000

Listed by Weichert

Google Map Here

Fox Hills West is a very sought after community near Falls Road Park. Built in the early 1970's this is a stable move up community for those that need larger homes and still want the Potomac cache.

This home has nice curb appeal, with pretty lawn and lovely brick veneer. You enter the foyer which has grey slate floors which were common in the original homes and have held up well over the past 35 years. There is a large living room on the right side of the foyer with hardwood floors, and a cozy family room on the left. The family room has a large bricked wall with fireplace. The wood paneling is dated but makes the room feel rather cozy.

There is a step down into a mud room from the dining area. The room holds the washer and dryer and is floored in some type of Pergo style wood. There is also a small sun room on the back of the home. It looks to be prefab and is not heated or cooled. It is a nice touch but a bit small for my taste.

The kitchen is older but is decent condition. White wood cabinets with older appliances. The floor is some type of laminate with stenciled country design.

The upstairs has a master suite and 3 other bedrooms. The hall bath is brown and a bit dated. The master bath has the original shower stall and tile.

The in ground basement has a Nanny bedroom with a nice newer bath, recreation room with a wet bar and plenty of room for exercise equipment.

The backyard is flat and lovely. Nicely landscaped with plenty of shade. A buyer with a green thumb will be thrilled with a yard they can work with.

This is a nice home in a great neighborhood. Although this home is in good shape, there is a lot of upgrading to do for a new owner. Baths and kitchens are expensive and paneling in the family room would be on the short list to do. I think that this will sell and settle in the neighborhood of $735K when all is said and done.