10835 Lockland Road - Potomac Glen - $4,500,000

Google Map Here

This community is located between South Glen Road and the back side of Falls Road Golf course. Mostly 2 acre lots, this community is a mix of custom homes of different styles and sizes.

This is a beautiful home. Located at the end of Lockland Road, it directly backs to the Falls Road Golf course. The exterior features of the home: prominent turret, slate roof and stucco are beautifully coordinated.

Inside of this home is stunning. A lovely open foyer has enough space for a cocktail party. The dining room adjacent is also open and lends to the spacious feel of the home.

The master bedroom and 2 additional bedrooms are located on the main floor. All rooms are good size, but none too large or out of scale. All of the main level bedrooms are located on the left side of the home. The family room, kitchen and breakfast area fill the balance of the first level. All of the rooms are beautifully decorated and furnished.

The upstairs is not a large space. It houses two additional bedrooms and baths which are large with plenty of light. It almost has the feel of a loft, as it takes up such a small percentage of the homes footprint.

The turret on the left side of the home is where the wide circular stairs takes you to the lower level. A large family room with home theater and entertainment space is fabulous. An additional bedroom and bath for Nanny or domestic is also located on this level. Plenty of storage rounds out the space.

The surprising feature on this level is the glass wall that allows you to view a full size basketball court below. Yes, I said full size, regulation court. It is housed in a sub-basement level a floor or more deeper then the main basement adjacent. Picture your high school gym complete with lights, scoreboard and sound system. You head down the circular stair to the gym level to find a full locker room, scorer table and trophy case. Very impressive.

One of the things that I found so attractive about this home is its masculine feel. The decorating throughout the home lacked frill. The furnishing, art and colors were all warm and inviting. You felt as though you could sit anywhere and even put your feet up on the furnishings. For me, this is the highest complement I can pay to a home.

This home also comes with some challenges. Although this may be the owners dream home replete with full size basketball court, will this appeal to others? More importantly, will others be willing to pay a premium for this owners dream? This is a tough call.

I think that the price of $4.5mm is not realistic. There are so many beautiful homes in this price range that offer a lot more finished space and features for the same price. I believe the seller will have to lower the price considerably to get this home sold. I see this one selling in the middle $3mm range.

Are you interested in Chevy Chase homes?

9227 Cherbourg Drive - Lake Normandy Estates - $1,099,000

Listed By Long & Foster

Google Map Here

This is a very pretty home in the Lake Normandy Estates community. Well kept and updated, this home has a contemporary feel. Those with a penchant for contemporary homes will love what this home has to offer.

The lot is a beautiful corner lot with a large front lawn. The landscaping is minimal with a few lovely specimen trees. The front door and porch is covered, providing shelter for arriving guests and the FedEx man.

The large double door bring you into a large central foyer. The ceiling is cathedral here, giving volume to the space and adding to its contemporary feel. The tile floor is a bit antiseptic, but works well with the contemporary design. There is a decent size dining room to your left with an open wall to the foyer. If you are looking for formality in a home, this one is not your style.

The kitchen is recently re-done and is quality work. Very modern, there is not a lot of ornamentation. The appliances are high end, and the counters beautifully done. I cannot imagine anyone not liking what the kitchen has to offer.

There is a large laundry room and storage adjacent to the kitchen. The space is bright and clean with an exterior exit. The ceilings are high which add to the spacious and comfortable feel to this room.

There is a large deck on the back of the home off the kitchen. Made with TREX style decking, the owners of this home have quality materials in all improvements. I suspect that this home will not have too many problems on home inspection. Too much care is taken on a day to day basis to keep this home clean and up to date.

The master bedroom is on the first floor and includes a large bedroom, a sitting area and a nice sized master bath with soaking tub. Once again, clean lines and quality materials. Very nicely done. There are 2 additional bedrooms on this level which share an additional full bath.

To get to the lower level you travel back to the foyer. An open stair, wide with a natural wood banister take you down to the basement. The space is large, it looks to be the entire footprint of the home. There is a large family room with fireplace here. There are also 2 additional bedrooms and 2 full baths. There is an exercise area and a room used for music by the kids. The basement is walk-out and allows decent light.

This is a very nice home in a nice community on a nice lot. It will appeal to those that like simple modern design and clean lines. The price is a bit steep for this neighborhood. New to the market, the sellers may be feeling things out or hoping someone falls in love with it. It is attractive and will sell, but at what price. Look for $975k to $1mm when settlement day comes.

SOLD - 7817 Heatherton Lane - Inverness Knolls - $510,000

Listed by Long and Foster

Google Map Here

This is a townhome in the Inverness Knoll community which is adjacent to the Cabin John Shopping Center.This is a nice community of townhomes with reasonable homeowner fees and part of the Churchill High School cluster.

This home is clean, shows well and is priced well. Although it still has the original kitchen and baths, they are in good shape and the home is in move in condition. The flooring throughout the first level is a light colored PERGO which is a nice touch.

There is nothing exciting about this townhome, but it is also priced low enough so a home buyer could make some of their own choices in upgrades. Priced at $510,000, this home is the least expensive currently in Inverness Knolls. Although the competition has been upgraded and shows better, it is also priced $35,000 higher. I suspect $10,000 can re-do the kitchen and buy enough paint to make this a star.

I see this home as the best value currently in Inverness Knolls. A smart buyer can probably pick this one up at $490,000.

SOLD - 12204 Seline Way - Fallsreach - $949,000

Listed By Long and Foster

Google Map Here

SOLD on 2/26 for $925,000 (net subsidy)

This is a nice brick home on a 1/3 acre lot in Fallsreach. On a quiet street, this treed lot provides plenty of shade and backs to Watts Branch Stream Park.

Although traditional colonial on the outside, this home is decorated in a modern style inside. You will get a whole different perspective on how a colonial can look with different decor. You will see lots of mirrors and built in laminate furniture.

The home is clean and bright and shows well. The kitchen is updated and done in white. The breakfast area is adjacent to the windows and provides a beautiful vista to the large backyard and park.

The upstairs bedrooms are all good size. There are laminate built-ins in these rooms, this style may not be to everyone's taste. There is a full bath, a half bath and a laundry room all bunched together in one corner of the house. I have never seen this design, and don't quite understand the reason for bunching the baths in one spot.

The basement is fully finished and open. Plenty of light from the walk-out, this is a great place for a home office, home theatre or playroom for the kids.

This home is priced well at $949,000. It directly competes with the home on Reach Way in Fallsmead, and at least for now is a more compelling value. I see this one going under contract for $925,000

CONTRACT - 12113 Reach Way - Fallsreach - $949,999

Listed by ReMax

Google Map Here

Fallsreach is located on the west side of Falls Road near Montrose. As you travel south along Falls Road from Rockville, the home prices on the West side of Falls escalate as you get closer to Potomac Village.

This Mitchell and Best home was built in 1981. Located on a nice corner lot, the brick front gives it nice curb appeal. The driveway faces on the cul-de-sac which makes for safe entry in and out of the garage.

This home has a "modern" feel. The foyer is open and spacious. The light colored tile floor makes the open space seem larger. The family room has a stone fireplace and wet bar and the kitchen has been redone within the past few years. According to the listing agent, many of the major systems have also been upgraded.

The bedrooms upstairs are all adult sized. The Master bedroom is large with an original step up bathroom and sunken tub.

The home would show better without the furniture. All of the furniture is very large and makes the rooms look cramped. There is also a funky smell in the master bath. It could be bad cologne, or maybe some must.

The price seems fair based upon the space and condition of the home. It seems that most homes are settling at 5% less then list. This one should settle at $915K.

10 Hearthstone Court - Horizon Hill - $720,000

Listed By Coldwell Banker

Google Map Here

Horizon Hill is a family community on the Rockville side of Potomac. This community feeds into the Richard Montgomery HS cluster.

This home is at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac. With a Tudor front elevation, this home has some unusual design features that may not be to everyones taste.

This is a good sized home. With 4 bedrooms upstairs and a possible 5th BR or office on the first level, this home can house a large family. The basement is finished with a full bath and has plenty of room for kids

The kitchen is updated in the last 10 years and is in decent shape. The powder room on the main level is mirrored with black fixtures....groovy 1980 style.

The back of the home is bumped out with a bar and breakfast area. This unexpected space has great potential. A former owner must have been a brick mason, or tile installer. From stone floors, to updated tile and granite in baths to a stucco finish on all interior walls...this decor will not be to attractive to the majority of buyers. These finishes will be very expensive to change, so you have to love it. I feel this finishing job will prevent the home selling near the list price.

The home is clean, large with lots of potential. Any offer will probably reflect the cost to redesign the walls and stucco finishes. I see this one finally selling around $640,000.

2507 Chilham Place - Montgomery Square - $619,000

Listed by Long and Foster

Google Map Here

This is a nice Kettler built colonial with great curb appeal in Montgomery Square.

Montgomery Square is a neighborhood under renovation. A new generation is moving in and updating the homes. The schools and affordable homes are a big draw to those who want the 20854 zip code on budget.

This home has been brought up to date with nice upgrades to the baths and kitchen. The bath tile and creative colors are going to be attractive to those with kids. Based upon the traffic at open houses these past few weekends, it seems like ALL the buyers were families with kids.

The basement has been finished and has a full bath. The newer carpet makes the area look bright, but the storage room is narrow and scary and should be decluttered.

The location of this home is only about 100 yards from Falls Road. The backyard is fenced to keep the kiddies in, and safe. Although these is some noise associated with Falls Road, I did not hear any while inside the home.

This home seems to be priced a bit high. It is new to the market, so sometimes the initial price may be a bit high while testing the waters. The home immediately across the street is a bit smaller and not as nice. It was sold about 3 weeks ago and just settled for a net price of $525,000.

This last sale may make it tough to get above $600K for this home. Although this house is a bit nicer and maybe a bit larger, it is not $94,000 better. Either the buyer of the recent sale stole the home, or these folks will have to settle for $560K.

1215 Fallsmead Way - Fallsmead - $739,000

Listed By Weichert

Google Map Here

This is one of two homes on Fallsmead Way for sale. I reviewed the home at 1219 Fallsmead on December 12th. I will provide a link at the end of this review.

This is a pretty home. With great curb appeal, the seller has properly prepared this home for sale.

This 4 bedroom 2.5 Bath colonial shows nicely and has an updated kitchen with small breakfast area. The kitchen has a nice delft tile back splash and windows let in plenty of light.

These colonials were built with a large family room and fireplace just beyond the breakfast area. The room only has one entrance which isolates is from the rest of the home. I do not like this feature, but some do like the privacy.

The bedrooms upstairs are all good sized. The hall bath is original, but the master bath has been updated.

All of the homes on this side of the street have the 2 car garage under the home. You drive behind the home to get your car in. This can be awkward, but is consistent in this part of Fallsmead. The basements in these models are small as half of the basement area are allocated to this garage.

The lots on these homes pose a challenge to homeowners. Because of the slope and rear garage retaining walls are a necessity. This home has very nice stone retaining walls in the backyard that work beautifully. This is a nice (and expensive) touch that separates this home from others.

This home entered the market last week priced at $739,000. Immediately the competition 2 doors down matched the price. This home shows better and should sell first. It should sell at $725,000.

See the review on the competition by clicking on the following link: 1219 Fallsmead Way Review.

2416 Stratton Drive - Montgomery Square - $585,000

Listed by Long and Foster / Google Map

Montgomery Woods was built out in the late 1960s.

This 4 bedroom 2.5 bath home is the Cherry Grove model and does not have a garage.

This home shows well and is in good condition. It is owned by an artist or art lover, and the walls are filled with interesting art.

The kitchen has been recently redone. Maple cabinets in a country design with Corian counters. The kitchen is cozy and clean.

The bedrooms upstairs are decent size. The master has an adjoining sitting room that houses a couch and a tv. The baths seem to be original, but in good condition. Eventually refinishing the baths will greatly enhance the livability of the home.

The basement is unfinished. It is clean and dry and houses the laundry and shelved storage.

The yard is well kept and gives the house good curb appeal. The home is built on a knoll and drops off steeply about 15 feet from the back of the home. There are plenty of trees and I am sure the shade is a welcome respite in the D.C. area summers.

This home has been priced well. Although small, it is very reasonably priced for a single family home in Potomac. A slighly smaller home just settled on Chilham Place in the same community for $525,000 after subsidy. The location is much better on this home and should warrant a premium. I see this selling in the $555K range.

8524 Fox Run - Fox Hills - $749,900

Listed By Long and Foster / Google Map

Fox Run is a lovely street in the Fox Hills development.

This corner lot has great curb appeal. Nicely maintained, this home does not look 40 years old. The inviting full length porch seems like a lovely place for a glass of wine in better weather.

This center foyer colonial will make you feel immediately at home. A generous foyer leads you to a large family room and brick hearth fireplace. The kitchen is adjacent, and has been redone a few years back with new maple cabinets and granite counter tops. No need for updates here.

The upstairs is nicely appointed with adult sized bedrooms and updated baths. The master bedroom is nice size with good storage space.

The basement is finished with a full bath. Although the painted panelling is not to my taste, it is clean and dry and can be redesigned at the whim of the new owners.

The back yard is very nice. Set into a hill, the yard is bulkheaded with nice brick retaining walls. This bulkheading provides privacy and a nice flat yard.

I think this one is priced fairly. Unfortunately that does not mean much in this buyers market. I see this one going to settlement at $730K.

SOLD - 7859 Heatherton Lane - Inverness Knolls - $545,000

Listed By Llewellyn / Google Map

Inverness Knolls is a community of town homes adjacent to the Cabin John Shopping Center off Seven Locks Road.

In this market it is nice to see a home that has been thoroughly prepared for the market before listing.

This is a nice 3 bedroom 2 full bath town home in good condition. The home shows beautifully. Hardwood floors look great, the kitchen has been nicely upgraded and there are some nice built-in cabinets in the Dining room that look great. The basement is finished with new carpet and features a half bath and fireplace. There is also a walkout to the yard which keeps the room bright.

This home is the most expensive currently in the neighborhood. It is also in the best condition, ready to move in. This will probably sell at $525K when all said and done. Kudos to the listing agent and sellers for preparing this home properly before sale.

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.

12849 Huntsman Way - Fox Hills West - $916,000

Listed by Weichert

Google Map Here

This has to be one of the nicest lots I have seen in Fox Hills West.

Located at the end of a cul-de-sac with parkland behind it, this is a great spot to raise a family. Just ask the original owners. They have been there over 39 years.

This model was extended when originally built in the front and back of the home. The rooms are more spacious, the traffic flow fabulous and the square footage tremendous. With 5 bedrooms and 3 full baths, this has plenty of room for a large family. The home seems to go on forever.

Although this is one of the larger homes in Fox Hills West on one of the nicest lots....the home is ALL original. This place has been well maintained, but I do not believe ever renovated. The carpet, wallpaper, kitchen, baths, basement...all need to be updated.

The buyer of this home would be taking on a long term project or spending $100K to get this home up to speed. The major expense will be the kitchen and baths. Wallpaper removal and painting will be costly too. The hardwood seems to be in pretty good shape, it should probably be sanded and refinished.

It may seem like I am picking on this home but I am not. It is a great home. It unfortunately does not show very well.

I have few helpful suggestions that may assist in gaining an offer. The home is filled with "stuff". Much of the personal and decorative item in the home should be packed away. This will help the home to look less cluttered. Secondly, get a estimate for complete wallpaper removal. The paper is old and design is dated. Wallpaper scares the heck out of buyers. If it was not properly installed it can be difficult and costly to remove. Lastly, reduce the price a bit. Although $916K may seem like a magic number, $899K is much more attractive to buyers. Most will be searching at 900K and below.

How much will this home sell for? Hard to tell. This home has potential to be great. It will take money and time to bring it into the 21st century. Any offers made will take into consideration the cost to bring up to date. I see this one going to settlement in the $825K to $850K range.

10820 Gainsborough Road - Fox Hills - $675,000

Listed By Weichert

Google Map Here

This was one of the original homes built by Pulte in the Fox Hills community of Potomac.

In the 70's this community was one of the more sought after on the Rockville side of Potomac. With 4 Bedrooms and 2.5 baths this was a perfect home for raising a family with kids. The neighborhood is very cohesive with good schools and a great location. The neighborhood has aged gracefully and is still attractive for all of the same reasons.

This home is mostly original. The kitchen has had an update and is certainly functional. The parquet floor in the kitchen has been well maintained but is out of style. The bathrooms are mostly original as is the slate in the foyer.

This home is old with good bones. Although perfectly functional, a buyer could put some money into it and have a very nice home in a great community. Those on a budget can slowly make improvements and get almost all of their money back when the market picks up.

This home is pretty and has nice curb appeal. Although Gainsborough Road has become much busier over the years, this section of Gainsborough is not as heavily travelled as other parts.

This one is priced a bit high at $675K. It will probably need to be below $650K to get a serious look and more realistically will sell in the $635K range.

8914 Bells Mill Road - Kentsdale Estates - $2,045,000

Beacon Crest Homes

Google Map Here

Kentsdale Estates is an infill development of NEW CONSTRUCTION located on Bells Mill Road between Falls Road and Seven Locks Road in Potomac.

I have been previewing many homes in the $1.5 to $2.2mm this past week for a client that may be relocating from the NYC area. Surprisingly, this range is one of the more competitive in Potomac. Only the best of the best will sell at list price, and those homes that have sold lately are priced right.

This community is located on Bells Mill Road. What was once a sleepy cut through road 20 years ago has become much more heavily used. Widened a few years back, this road carries significant traffic, especially during rush hour in the morning and evening. Weekend traffic is mostly in the morning with families bringing their kids to soccer and football practices at one of the many schools and parks along this road.

Although this home has a Bells Mill Road address, it is actually not directly fronting the road. These homes are on a private cul-de-sac and the lots are far enough off the road that they will not contend with traffic noise.

This home has been a model home for the past year or so. It is beautifully decorated and maintained, and will really impress buyers walking through. With 4 finished levels, elevator, upgrades galore...this home is dressed to impress. With 5 bedrooms and 5 full baths there is plenty of room for family and a Nanny. Two half baths on the main floor are in addition to the other baths....wow!

This is a pretty house with very nice lines. This is one of the few homes I have seen that is built to Energy Star standards. Supposedly this type of construction will save the homeowner up to 30% on energy costs. This is significant when you think of the expense of heating and cooling a 7,300 square foot home.

This home is lovely and will certainly appraise for the asking price. The builder seems motivated to sell and may have to take a bit of a cut on this home. I see this settling at $1,975,000.

9540 Purcell Drive - McAuley Park - $2,469,000

Listed By Craftstar Homes

Google Map Here

This area of McAuley park has seen an influx of new construction. The location is fantastic, and it is hard not to like the up to date design and polish of new construction.

This home is built by Craftmark. With 5 large bedrooms and 6.5 baths, there is plenty of room for the family and domestic help. The design is open, bright and beautifully finished. It is hard not to like what you see.

The home is built into a hill which gives it great curb appeal. It looks HUGE, towering over the cul-de-sac. There are 2 fights of stairs going up to the stately entry in addition to a non-staired entry next to the garage. For those that have difficulty with stairs, there is an elevator that serves the 4 levels.

The foyer is bright, nicely appointed with shiny light oak floors throughout. The main foyer looks through the house to the backyard, a nice architectural feature. There are 2 gas fireplaces on the first floor with a VIKING appointed kitchen. This is a very nice floor plan.

In order to bring in the light, there are windows everywhere. There are 2 rooms that have full windows on 3 sides of the room. I call this the fishbowl effect. It looks great when the house is empty, and can sometimes cause problems when looking to place furniture. How are you supposed to feel comfortable lounging around in your pajamas at night when everyone can see in?

The upstairs has Five bedrooms. Four are on the second level and one is on the third level. The master is well appointed with an especially nice shower. The other bedrooms are large and will fit even the bulkiest of bedroom sets.

The basement is perfectly set up for a home theatre. 12+ foot ceilings allow plenty of room for a large wall screen. Space for in-wall speakers give great potential for those Videophiles. A full wet bar will tend the largest parties, and leaves plenty of room for the popcorn machine.

Although a beautiful home, this is a very competitive price range. There are better values to be had in the neighborhood in this challenging market. This will appeal to the person that wants new construction, but they will pay a premium to realize their dream. This competes with homes in the $2mm range. I see this selling at a 15% discount to list price once sold.

11804 Centurion Way - Palatine - $4,900,000

Listed by WFP

Google Map Here

Palatine is a community of estate homes approximately 4 miles from Potomac Village.

To give you the scale of this home, I had to venture half way up the neighbors driveway to get the entire home in frame while taking this photo.

This is a mansion in the truest sense of the word. With 5 large bedrooms upstairs plus an entire wing dedicated to the Master Suite this is LARGE. In addition, a servant apartment with separate entrance on the 2nd floor would be the envy of many condo owners. An additional large bedroom suite with full bath is in the basement for the au-pair. Total of eight bedrooms and 8 full baths. WOW!.

This is a builders personal residence. There has been no expense spared with mouldings and interior finish. The beautiful 2 story foyer has picture framed mouldings to the 3 story ceiling. The floors are exquisite and varied. Marble tile, hardwood, slate....a material for every taste. The transition between rooms is seamless. He used the flooring material as an accent to lend a flavor and feel to each room.

I could go on about this home at length. It is very well built. The only critique I have is the large open space in the basement should be furnished. Even if it is a staged, it will give a better feel on how the large space may be used. A wine cellar should also be an option in this type of home. There is plenty of room, and anyone spending this amount of money see this as a standard feature. The kitchen should be detailed. Counters cleared, floors cleaned and buffed and a shine put on any stainless. A home of this size needs to be spotless. There is only one opportunity to make a first impression.

This is a beautiful home that is reasonably priced on a square foot basis. The question is, do people want this much space? I think it is priced a bit high and will settle in the mid 4 million range.

11516 Morning Ride Drive - Merry Go Round Farms - $1,895,000

Listed By Long and Foster

Google Map Here

It is hard to believe that Merry Go Round Farm is almost 10 years old. This is a lovely community of custom homes located off River Road in Potomac. This community seems like is way out in the country...yet just 7.5 miles from the beltway.

This home is located on a nice corner lot off the main road into the community. Purposely understated, this farmhouse design is pretty with nice lines. The gravel drive and flagstone path set the scene to the space inside.

The wide open porch provides plenty of space for chairs and shelter from the elements. The stone and wood lend an organic look to this home which is warm and a bit rustic.

The entry is dramatic. The front door opens to a view of a 2 story family room and fireplace. Lots of windows and light show off the family room and breakfast area. The kitchen is nicely done and is perfectly sized for the space. Granite and high end appliances are at home in the space as will the home chef that loves to cook.

The Master Bedroom is on the first floor which will be attractive to empty nesters. Although not large, it has nice space and a decent sized office or sitting area off the main room. A full bath completes the space and is modest in size and finish.

Up an open stairway you land on along open balcony that stretches all along the family room below. The railing in this space is open and covered with wire mesh. This feature really opens up the balcony space and adds greatly to the spacious feel. The bedrooms are adequate sized. One bedroom has a full bath en-suite and the other shares a "buddy bath".

The basement is mostly finished with high ceilings. There is a fireplace with an unusual unfinished cinder block wall. This seems out of place in this otherwise comfortable space. There is a bedroom and full bath in the basement which is usual in homes in this price range. There is an additional unfinished room in the basement that is being used as an exercise area and additional storage space at the garage end of the basement.

This is a nice home with a rustic farmhouse feel. It is not a small home, but one of the smallest in this community. It is not unusual to see homes here up to $3.5mm, especially those with river views. For someone that likes the neighborhood and is looking to downsize, this may be just the ticket. The home has the feel of a country home, and would also be a great second home for some of the Washington, DC elite. The home is priced right, but may take a while to sell.

9115 Fox Meadow Lane - Bradley Farms - $3,950,000

Listed By WC & AN Miller

Google Map Here

This home can be a case study on the value of "LOCATION" in real estate. This home is located on one of the most beautiful streets in Potomac.

When I moved to Potomac 25 years ago, I worked for a local Real Estate Broker that lived about a mile from this Bradley Farms enclave. He drove me through the community and described it as his favorite group of homes in Potomac. He made a believer out of me that day. It is still a favorite for me.

Over the years the community has evolved with the rest of Potomac. New homes have been built and old ones remodeled. What has remained consistent is the cache and reputation of the neighborhood. One home is nicer then the next.

This home on Fox Meadow is lovely. It is of understated design and quality build. Some would say it is "Old Money" design. While so many homes in Potomac are built to show off their money, this one is comfortable in its own skin. The designer had nothing to prove. After all, the lot IS in Bradley Farms.

This home has the feel of a farmhouse. Although every detail is exquisite, each room is comfortable and almost cozy. All of the public rooms are beautifully decorated and perfectly sized. The kitchen is recently re-done and will satisfy the most critical of cooks.

The upstairs has 4bedrooms and 3 full baths. The rooms all are good sized and have great closet space. The windows provide plenty of light and the hardwood floors gleam.

The master suite is not too large, although it is plenty big. This may not make sense until you see the space. It is perfectly proportioned. There is also a large family room upstairs for the kids. Very comfortable and spacious, I am envious of the space and wish I had half of this room in my home.

The basement is fully finished with space for an au-pair or domestic. The only downside to the space is low ceilings which make the basemet feel a bit smaller then it actually is.

The Lot is 3.83 acres and the home is beautifully sited at the high point on the lot. The pool is fenced with a concrete surround with plenty of space to lounge or entertain.

The home has a 2 car garage, but also has a separate garage building with 3 car bays. Upstairs is an additional 3 bedroom and 2 bath apartment with plenty of additional living space.

Is this home worth 3.95mm? Maybe the home is not, but on this lot and in this neighborhood it is. The fascinating fact is that this home is probably one of the smaller and more understated homes in this community. If you or anyone you know is looking in this price range, this is a "must see".

9504 Hemswell Place - McAuley Park - $1,789,000

Listed by Long and Foster

Google Map Here

McAuley Park is a large neighborhood of upscale homes that borders Bethesda.

It's close in location, and well kept homes make this a very popular destination for those looking for homes in the $1.5 to $2.5mm price range.

Someone once described the McAuley Park community as "Neat as a Pin". In retrospect it was a very apt description. The neighborhood is nicely kept with beautiful homes and manicured lawns. This community has remained ever-popular because of the highly rated schools and its close proximity to D.C., Virginia and transportation.

This home is lovely. About 12 years old and just hitting its stride, this .82 acre lot sits at the end of a culdesac. There are mature trees and the landscaping has had time to mature and develop some character of its own. The brick front on the home has coined details which add interest to the look of the home. None of this comes cheap, and the home certainly looks like quality work.

The foyer of this home is probably its best design feature. Wide open and spacious, the cathedral space makes the home seem huge. A dramatic stair leads you up to a large upstairs open hall. The decor and paint is beautiful. The owners spent some time and money to apply a faux finish in the foyer and dining area. While often these finishes can be overdone, in this case the work was of good quality and the design sedate....it works wonderfully.

The 5 bedrooms upstairs are all of good size. The master suite would satisfy even the most critical of home buyers and the 4 additional bedrooms are all large enough for even the most spoiled of children. While the paint in a few of the rooms is a bit bright, it will certainly appeal to the kids. Having 2 tween girls, I know.

The basement has a bedroom for an au-pair, a large TV and recreation area and a walk out to the yard. Plenty of light, this space is large enough for any family.

This is a beautiful home that should be on the list of anyone in the sub $2mm market. It shows beautifully, and would satisfy Mom, Dad and kids (A rare feat). Although the home is certainly worth the asking price, in this difficult market it may settle at 5% less.