10405 Garden Way - Williamsburg Gardens - $899,999

Listed By DJ Banjavic

Google Map Here

Williamsburg Gardens is located just off Falls Road within walking distance to Potomac Village. A mix of home styles and builders, this community is constantly in high demand because of its convenience and fabulous schools.

This is a good looking brick colonial on a level 1.29 acre lot. The house is set back from the street leaving a large front yard and long driveway. The landscaping has been recently pruned back to prepare it for sale - and more work will have to be done when the spring arrives. This is a great canvas for a landscape designer to start from scratch and really make this home shine.

The home was built in 1964 and has good bones. A bit smaller then many in the area - this home was typical size for Potomac when it was a sleepy suburb in the early 1960's. The formal foyer has tile with a large living room on the left and a small dining room on the right. Both have hardwood floors that are in pretty decent shape. A fireplace is centered in the living room and is a focal point for the space.

A stairwell and hall share the space walking back to the kitchen. The tile floor is out of style but easily replaced. The kitchen has been updated in the past - but will need some update from the new owners. Resilient flooring is worn and would be best replaced when the kitchen is redone. The kitchen has a nice breakfast area and is open to a large family room with built in bookshelves and fireplace. A slider leads out to a large screened porch and a big back yard.

There is a passage off the kitchen leading to a side load 2 car garage. A room off this passage is listed as a first floor bedroom - but is better listed as a library or den. Once again - this design is a bit out of date - but has potential for someone with vision that wants a great neighborhood.

Upstairs has 4 bedrooms including a nice size master. The connected master bath had been upgraded in the past - but is past due for another upgrade. The hall bath too will need updating. The other 3 bedrooms are very good size and all have nice hardwood floors.

The basement has been newly carpeted and looks like it was recently drywalled. The carpet is nice - but the finish job on the drywall - especially around the windows is poorly done. Someone will have to re-frame and fix this area to make it right.

This is a nice lot in a great neighborhood. It is tempting at this price to buy the house - knock it down - and put up a much larger home. It is also tempting to put some money into it and keep it as it is. The design is a bit dated but the home is priced to take much of that into consideration. The neighboring home sold in August for $965,000 - and was a bit larger and more recently updated. Because of the low inventory and large lot - this one is not unreasonable as priced.

8305 River Falls Drive - River Falls - $1,285,000

Listed by WFP

Google Map Here

River Falls is one of the most tightly knit communities in Potomac. Neighborly, well maintained and always in demand - River Falls is on my Top 10 list for communities in 20854.

This home has lovely curb appeal. With a great brick front and Georgian design - this is a beautiful home. Built in 1980 - this home has been beautifully updated and is a "turnkey" home for someone that does not want to deal with renovation.

The foyer of this home is formal with a slate floor. The rest of the first floor is lovely hardwood. With chair rail and crown moulding - the public areas on the main level are nicely done. Paint and decor will please even the most critical of home buyers. All you have to do is move your furnishings in. The kitchen has been completely redone with 42" cabinets and granite counter tops. An island gives plenty of space for food prep and a great place for guests to chat during a dinner party. The owners did a nice job in making this space warm and inviting. The kitchen looks out on a great fenced yard - perfect for those with pets and a those gardeners that want to keep out the deer.

A formal stairway brings you up to the carpeted second level. With 5 bedrooms upstairs and 3 full baths - this home is plenty large. A spacious master suite and updated master bath provides plenty of room for the owners. The other bedrooms upstairs are large and two of them share a Jack and Jill bath. The remaining bedroom would be a great guest room and has a bath to itself. The basement is nicely finished and has an additional bedroom and full bath. This would be perfect for a Nanny or a teenager that wants their space.

Overall this is a lovely home. With Whitman schools and updates already done -it is an attractive option for someone looking in the Potomac market. At $1,285,000 it is priced reasonably. With the market heating up, and inventory low it should sell within 5% of the list price.

10330 Democracy Lane - East Gate of Potomac - $799,000

Listed by Forum

Google Map Here

This is a community of 90+ garden town homes set on 25 acres just off Democracy Boulevard. The homes have garages and brick courtyards in front, many with well tended gardens. For those that don't want the acreage, but do want the Potomac address, this community is a must see.

These homes are on small lots and attached. The feel of this community is not one of a town home, but more like a zero lot line home. This "L" shaped home has a 2 car garage and very little front yard.

The foyer of this home has a brick herringbone pattern tile floor. It is in good condition, but a bit dated. The foyer looks directly into the formal living room which has very nice mouldings throughout. An office with dated panelling is to your left. The room is an easy fix should someone needing a small office want to update.

There is a recently installed full bath in this home that you won't find in other models. The powder room was enlarged into a laundry closet to install a nice tiled stall shower. Why would you want a shower next to the front door? Who knows...but if you did, this is the home to see!

The old laundry closet is now smaller and not very well finished from the recent shower upgrade. When asking top dollar, you would hope this things would be done right. The family room is adjacent with a fireplace and some painted wood paneling. The kitchen has been updated with new granite and appliances. It looks like the old cabinets were just painted white. It would have been worth it to really get a good painter for this job. The painting throughout the house is less then first rate.

There is a slider to the back yard that is filled with an in ground pool. The patio surrounds the pool, and for some - this may be a nice feature. In many cases though - especially in a home with a small yard - buyers cherish the little bit of green they have to care for or garden. This would be more for someone that does NOT care about a yard.

The hardwood stairs have painted iron rails leading upstairs. The home has 3 surprisingly large bedrooms plus a Master with a sitting area. Very nice! The Bathrooms are a bit dated. The master has a horrible fluorescent fixture which would drive me nuts. You will see what I mean when you tour. The last owner installed some high end fabric wall covering and drapes. Obviously expensive - it may not be to every ones taste.

The basement is finished with carpet and drywall. The relocated laundry room has new high end washer and dryer. There is also a room for storage and utilities in the small unfinished area.

Overall, this is a nice house that may need some cosmetic updates. The pool is either an asset or liability depending upon the buyer. Three homes are under contract here - all at lower prices. Even with the market heating up, this one won't fetch $799,000. A more realistic price may be $750K even in this "brisk" market.

8907 Barrowgate Court - Fox Hills - $319,000

Listed by ReMax

Google Map Here

This community is located just off Bells Mill and Willowbrook Road in a community of larger single family and luxury town homes. I suspect that this home is in a cluster of affordable homes called MPDU's that Montgomery County required developers to build when granting permits for larger more expensive developments.

This town home is a bit over 1500 square feet on three levels. With 2 bedrooms and 1 full bath, these homes do not have the optimal floor plan for a family. Running up to the upper level to use the bath can become onerous and should be a consideration for those looking at this type of home.

The glass though, is half full - not half empty. A 2 bedroom home in the prestigious Potomac zip code is near impossible to find in this price range. The schools, services and location are top shelf and will make many look past the inconvenient floor plan of this property.

Although a foreclosure, this home looks nice on the outside. Brick stoop, brick front and trimmed shrubs present nicely. The moment you enter the home the reality of foreclosure stares you in the face. The kitchen is in disarray with cabinet doors missing and the refrigerator gone. In its place is a giant stain on the attractive (though filthy) hardwood floor. Potential is great here. The light from the front window really keeps the kitchen bright, and the openness makes the space look large. The family room is behind the kitchen and is not very large - but usable. A slider goes out to a brick patio that is filled with old coolers of rotten food. Not pretty!

The stairs up are carpeted with Berber style carpet that will need replacement. 2 small bedrooms share a hall bath - all of which need updating.

The carpeted stairs down to the basement lead to a finished space in the rear of the home and storage towards the front. Please bring a flashlight as the lights are out, and stumbling around can be dangerous.

I have seen a lot worse foreclosures then this. With a little TLC and mostly cosmetic help this can be a nice 2 bedroom home. Although a horribly inefficient floor plan, you get to live in Potomac for just over $300,000. Not a bad start. Call me for a personal showing of this home. Lets see if we can grab this for under $300,000. Act fast though. Homes of this price won't last long.

12413 Bacall Lane - Stoney Creek Estates - $949,000

Listed by ReMax

Google Map Here

Stoney Creek Estates is a community of 2 acre lots near the intersection of Travilah and River Roads. About 5 miles from Potomac Village, this is a lovely community of estate homes built in the late 1980's.

This house is located at the end of Bacall Lane on a "pipestem" lot. It is not visible from the street. You drive about 100 yards down the driveway before the home comes into view. This is a lovely light brick structure with nice lines and a circular driveway. The side load garage will hold 3 cars handily and would be great for a family with more then two cars.

The landscape was at one point nicely done. There are specimen plants that need some attention but it would not take much to whip this back into shape. The woodwork on the exterior of the home will need scraping and painting. The last owner did not spend much time or money on maintenance.

The double front door leads you into a cathedral foyer with pinkish marble tile. The center foyer has living room to the right and dining room to the left - both with pickled hardwood floors in good condition. Bay windows in these rooms bring in lots of light and the high ceilings add a feel of spaciousness to the rooms.

The kitchen has been updated with granite counter tops and is in great condition.Tile floor in the kitchen is in good condition and shows well. The refrigerator is gone, so you would need to put that on your to-buy list. There is a connection for the auto ice maker ready to hook in. The family room is spacious - also with hardwood. A large laundry room is just before the garage and doubles as a mud room. Great place for messy kids and dogs!

The upstairs has 4 large bedrooms. Two of the rooms share a jack and jill bath, and the other bedroom is en-suite. The master is large with good closet space. The bath is large with glass block walls for the shower stall. Very "Miami Vice"! After all, this home was built in the late 80's. A jacuzzi tub and skylight finish the master bath. Overall - a nice upstairs!

The basement is large and unfinished. There is plenty of space down here for anything you can dream of. All you need is a good plan and a decent contractor and you can have game room, home theatre and Nanny suite. There is also an exterior exit that comes out at the base of the deck in the rear.

The back yard is large, reasonably flat and fenced. Any dogs paradise. A multi-level deck with Jacuzzi is a nice way to finish off this review. I'd love to be sipping a glass of wine with the grill smoking and a glass of wine in hand.

This is one of the few properties in this price range that is actually UNDERPRICED. This needs about $10,000 of cosmetic work and a good paint job. I see this going for up to $100K above the $949,000 asking price. If more then one contract is submitted, don't be surprised if this goes higher still. Stay tuned. I'd bet the farm I am correct on this one!

1112 Halesworth Drive - Orchard Ridge - $650,000

Listed by Long and Foster

Google Map Here

Orchard Ridge is a lovely single family community tucked in on the southwest side of Wootton Parkway and Seven Locks Road. Part of the Richard Montgomery school cluster, this is an attractive move up community close to all Potomac amenities.

This is a nice home on the Halesworth Loop. With white siding and a front sited garage, this home has nice curb appeal. The foyer is open and looks straight into the kitchen at the back of the home. Double doors allow you to cut off the kitchen from view, but with doors open the space looks much larger and less formal. The hardwood extends into the living room and dining room and is good condition. The kitchen is spacious with a large table area to eat. Although dated, this kitchen would be smashing if re-done.

The Family room has cathedral ceilings and a fireplace centered on the long wall. Skylights and windows make this space bright although there is staining around one of the skylights that hints of a leak. A laundry room doubles as a mud room with a door going into the front offset 2 car garage. Nice touch!

Upstairs has 3 decent size bedrooms and a very nice master with volume ceilings. The baths are original but with a little paint will look nice. Nice floor plan!

The basement is unfinished, but looks to have a full rough-in bath. This has huge potential for a family room or home theatre.

The downside to this home is the back yard. It is sloped up to Seven Locks Road with a view of the County Detention Center. A large deck and some creative landscaping can alleviate some of this issue, but you cannot change the location. It is priced well at $650,000 which does take some of these issues into consideration.

This one has been on the market too long. Although it is now priced well, it is stale. This one will end up selling at between $605K and $620k when all is said and done.

7960 Inverness Ridge Road - Inverness Forest Townhomes - $469,500

Listed by Long and Foster

Google Map Here

Inverness Ridge Townhomes are located just off Seven Locks Road between Bells Mill and Democracy Boulevard. These 3 bedroom Townhomes are deceptively large, and are a great entry point for those wanting a Potomac Zip Code.

This home is contemporary in design and in great condition. The hardwood floors in the foyer take you past the kitchen into a combined Living Room Dining Room area. The rooms are bright with all windows on the back of the home. A slider brings you out to a nice size deck with a view of a tiered and fenced back yard.

The kitchen is large with a nice breakfast area along the front windows looking out over the front of the home. The kitchen is dated, but in good condition. You could certainly live with this until you had time or money to update. A large pantry and plenty of cabinets have plenty of space for expansion.

The upstairs has three large bedrooms with hardwood floors. The master has a small bathroom that has been nicely redone. The hall bath is in good condition and will nicely service the remaining two bedrooms.

The basement is fully carpeted with a fireplace and door to the back yard. This would be a great spot for a TV and entertainment center - or - could be used as an additional bedroom if you needed the space. A half bath, laundry and lots of unfinished storage space completes the basement level.

The price on this home is right in the ballpark of where it should be. The last few sold had more upgrades, but this price range is hot. If it is priced right - or close - it should sell for close to the ask price. I see this one selling reasonably quickly for around $460,000.

Happy Thanksgiving! - Drive Safely !

It is this time each year that I reflect on the wonderful friends, family and relationships I have in my life! Thank you all for being so supportive this past 12 months.

I have had many e-mails, phone calls and Tweets (You can follow me on Twitter @potomacsecret), encouraging me to post speed camera signs this week before the Thanksgiving Holiday. As it is the busiest travel day of the year, I have decided to post signs starting this afternoon.

Whether you are a proponent of speed cameras, or not, it is most important to know that these signs slow people down and promote safety. I hope everyone in Potomac understands this to be the ultimate goal.

I am cooking up a storm today after sign posting. I wish everyone in Potomac and beyond a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Please drive safely, and enjoy your time spent with family and friends.

I will be staying in Potomac over the holiday and plan on posting 3-4 reviews through the week. Please continue to check back and tell your friends!

7900 Declaration Lane - Regency Estates - $799,000

Listed by Long and Foster

Google Map Here

Regency Estates is a sought after community just off Seven Locks Road. This home is lovely brick colonial at the intersection of Declaration and Democracy. A former model home, this home has recently been completely updated.

This home is a center foyer colonial on a corner lot. The foyer has tile which runs straight back through the kitchen and laundry area. The rest of the home has lovely hardwood floors.

The center foyer steps down into a nice living room and dining room. Nice mouldings and new paint look great. The staging done for this home is fabulous. Kudos to the listing agent.

The family room on the right side of the foyer is nice with a fireplace against the side wall. The kitchen is completely redone with granite and all the latest stainless appliances.

The upstairs too has been completely redone. The Master has two walk in closets and a separate linen closet. The bathroom is small for a master, but it too has been upgraded. The other bedrooms are all hardwood and decent size. Certainly fine for a teen, child or guest.

The basement stairs are done with indoor outdoor carpet. There is a "short step" at the bottom of the stairwell that may be dangerous. Focus and watch your step going downstairs. The basement is finished in light colored Pergo and has a Nanny suite with full bath. The rest of the basement has plenty of space for a TV, couches and home theatre.

This is a nicely upgraded home with good location, schools and neighborhood. The home is sited so there is not much of a back yard. There is quite a bit of noise from busy Seven Locks Road which may turn some people off. This is by far the most expensive home in Regency Estates. A similar colonial settled in September at $675,000. Although not upgraded, it provides a basis for price.

The current owners probably spent $100K in upgrading this home. They should expect to get about 60% of that money spent back. I see this home going to settlement at close to its county assessed value of $643,000 when all is said and done.

7718 Whiterim Terrace - Fawsett Farms Manor - $779,000

Now Listed by WFP

Google Map Here

Fawsett Farms is a community of single family , Villa Homes and Townhomes near the intersection of Belfast and MacArthur. This is on the Bethesda side of Potomac and is located in the Walt Whitman school cluster.

This is a nice attached town home with contemporary flair. These homes have 3 levels and the community spaces feature cathedral ceilings and good flow.

This home has a nice courtyard entry done in paver stone. It gives a Georgetown feel to the outside which is all brick. The hardwood foyer abuts the kitchen on the right side which is done in elaborate faux finish. You feel as though you are in a Mediterranean home with stone walls and rich colors. The kitchen is nicely equipped with high end appliances and custom tile back splash.

The pickled oak hardwood flows throughout the first level and leads back to a dining and family room in the back of the home. A door leads out to a deck which has nice views of a communal yard and lots of woods. This would be a nice place to sip coffee in the morning and watch the omnipresent deer nibble the landscape.

The stairwells are elaborately faux painted to bring the Mediterranean design. The upstairs has 2 kid size bedrooms that have been re-carpeted and painted a neutral color. The master bedroom has his and her baths. This feature is a trademark of these villa homes and is quite popular.

The basement has a walkout to the yard, a nice family room and an room that can be used as an office.

This home is a bit difficult to see as it is by appointment only. The agent is doing a great job drumming up business, but will need more cooperation from the seller to get it sold. When you have a home that is far away from neutral design, you need to give it great exposure. The more people that see it, the more likely you will find someone that appreciates the decor.

I see this one staying on the market for a while at this price. The last unit sold of similar design settled on 4/17 for $612,000. Even if the home is sold at full price, it will have a very difficult time appraising. In order to get this sold it needs to be repriced around $699K.

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.

CNN Money - Potomac 6th Highest Income in US

For any of us that live and work in Potomac, this headline comes as no surprise. Potomac has always been the place to live for the rich and famous in the DC area. To be ranked 6th Nationally is a surprise, and goes to show how the D.C. Metropolitan area has grown over the past few decades.

Potomac is not the only tony suburb in our area. McLean(Va) was listed as #8, Bethesda(Md) was listed as #11 and Dranesville(Va), between Great Falls, Tysons Corner and Reston ranked #22 Nationally.

You can link to the CNN MONEY article here.

I'm Back!

September is one of the most beautiful months in the Potomac area. Summer is on the wane, and we get a hint of the beautiful fall weather that is just around the corner.

My kids both looked forward to starting in new schools. My oldest daughter has entered Churchill and my youngest daughter has entered Hoover. Both were up at the break of dawn yesterday excited to greet the day.

I drove past the Bells Mill Elementary today. After being closed for a year and one half, it opened to students yesterday. I have never seen so many bright shiny faces so excited to break in a new building.

The real estate market over the past few months has been through a metamorphosis. The market is vibrant and inventory is down. What this translates to is a healthier market with a good balance between buyers and sellers. I took July and August off to recharge and take a break. The time off was well spent with buyers and sellers. I had my best Summer in Real Estate since the mid-1980's.

I saw four homes today in Potomac. Check back for regular reviews starting tomorrow. I look forward to writing and hope that these candid reviews are a help in your search for a new home.

If you need an agent to protect your interests and assist you in finding a home that best suits you and your family, contact me today. I specialize in Potomac, Bethesda and Chevy Chase homes and would be honored to assist you, your friends and family.

Summertime in Potomac

It has been such a wonderful summer so far.

The weather has been cooler then normal allowing us to stay outside much more often then usual. My air conditioning bills are lower then normal, and sitting out on the back porch with a glass of wine is a treat during cool summer evenings.

Also unusual is the dynamic nature of the local real estate market. Instead of shutting down for the summer, the market has been hotter then the August weather. Inventory in the Potomac area is the lowest it has been in almost 2 years.

What does this mean? I believe we have hit the real estate "bottom" that everyone is looking for. Sellers are becoming more realistic as to the value of their property and those that price right are rewarded with a quick contract. This allows them to go out and find a deal on a new home to replace the one that sold. For a change, the market seems healthy.

Most houses priced at $1mm and below are moving quickly. It is much easier to finance these homes with attractive rates and lower down payments. The market at $1mm and above is still suffering a bit. To sell in this range, a home has to VERY aggressively priced to stand out in a large inventory. The financing in this range is a bit more difficult as required down payments are much higher then they were in the past, and rates are not nearly as attractive. The available pool of buyers for these homes are fewer in numbers then they were in years past. It is still a buyers market in this range.

Anyone that is considering selling a home should be speaking to me NOW. We have 3 weeks to get your home prepared for sale with a plan to aggressively market it after Labor Day. The buyers will be out in the Fall, and those that are ready for them will sell their homes quickly and for the highest price.

My last 2 listings sold within 3 weeks. Both were priced right and we planned a marketing campaign in The Washington Post, Craigslist, Direct mail, Open Houses and telephone marketing. The amount of traffic generated by the neighbors and friends that came to the open houses contributed to multiple contracts on both properties. My sellers were very pleasantly surprised that my claims to generate this traffic came to fruition. 25+ years of experience has its advantages!

If you are looking to list or sell your property in Potomac, Chevy Chase or Bethesda - Call me today. You will be pleased at my philosophy of under promising and over delivering. Most important, your smile at settlement. This is when you truly realize you made the right choice and got the best person for the job.

.REVIEWS START AGAIN SHORTLY. MY SUMMER HIATUS IS ALMOST OVER. CHECK BACK OFTEN FOR THE RETURN OF THE POTOMAC SECRET AGENT!

Happy Summer!

11007 Brent Road - Fawcett Farms - $899,000

Listed by WFP

Google Map Here

Fawcett Farms for less then $1mm? I was really curious. This home is located on Brent Road which is between Brickyard and Rock Run Drive just off Falls Road on the Bethesda side of Potomac.

This is a lovely home that needs some TLC. The home has horrid curb appeal as the yard is overgrown and looks terrible. The ground cover has taken half the front walk out, and it would be tough to navigate in the dark.

The front door leads you into a nice foyer with high ceilings. There is beautiful wide plank cherry flooring throughout the main level. It would be stunning with a bit of polish and buffing. The finishes are good through out the main level. The kitchen is nice with granite and quality cabinets. The appliances look older then 1995 when the home was built. Some new stainless appliances would make a big difference in how this kitchen shows.

The family room has a fireplace and cathedral ceilings. Although not large by Potomac standards, this is a great layout.

Upstairs has 3 bedrooms that are empty except for artwork on the walls. I am guessing the homeowner is an artist as there is a studio in the basement. Although the art is nice, the empty bedrooms do not show well. The master is good size and finished well. The bathroom needs a bit of spit and polish, but has aged well.

The basement stairs has carpeting that is trashed and filthy dirty. It leads to an unfinished basement with lots of potential.

This home needs $10,000 of cosmetic work to make it look nice. I am sure the investment now would yield the homeowner $50,000 in sales price. With low interest rates I cannot imagine a better investment. It will give you a 400% return is a very short period of time.

The home is priced to sell. I am sure you can negotiate a bit more, but someone is going to get a bargain here.

Why don't you let me take you over to see this one. You will end up with a great home, in a great location with great schools at a great price. Need I say more?

12301 Old Canal Road - Montgomery Square - $599,000

Listed by WC and AN Miller

Google Map Here

This house was a very nice surprise. This brick colonial with a one car garage sits pretty on a 1/4 acre lot in Montgomery Square. This lovely home is in the Richard Montgomery school cluster and is a good value for a Potomac address.

A slate walk leads you to the front porch of this colonial. The entry takes you to a hardwood entry. You look to the left and notice a enormous dining room with custom paint. You realize afterwards that they are using the living room as a dining room - but it works well. The actual dining room is adjacent, and it is used as a play area for the kids. The kitchen is updated and looks out on a lovely back yard.

Upstairs there are 3 kid sized bedrooms and a updated hall bath. The master suite has been blown out over the garage which added some closet space and a sitting area. Although not super large, it is welcome space and very nicely built out. The master bath is small, but completely redone. The finish is modern, with a nice large shower stall - sink and commode.

The basement is finished and newly carpeted. There is a room being used as a weight room, some storage and a small recreation or TV area. There is a funky smell here, it could be from the weight room, new carpet or moisture. This will have to be further investigated by a prospective buyer.

This is a nice house for the price. Some will complain that this is REALLY Rockville....but it has a Potomac mailing address. I say for the price, it is a good value. This may not sell at list price (Does anything these days?), but should sell within 5%. Great job on staging. Go see it!

New York Times Agrees! - May 3rd - Real Estate Section

I was sent an e-mail this morning from a long time reader with a link to an on-line article in The New York Times.

The article is called "Snark Attack".

It speaks about the increase of inventory in the New York market, and the rise of sites that critique the existing inventory of homes and apartments for sale.

The article tells of the importance of homes being priced right and put on the market in the best possible condition.

This has always been an ongoing theme in Potomac Secret Agent reviews and would seem to be consistent in all tough real estate markets.

You can read the full article at this link.

Please take the time to read it and let me know how you feel about it. Does the Potomac Secret Agent mirror these sites? Do we avoid the "Snarkiness"?

Please comment and let me know.

CONTRACT - 415 Watts Branch Parkway - Fallswood - $686,900

Listed by Long and Foster

Google Map Here

This is a completely renovated 4 bedroom colonial in Fallswood. Priced to sell, this one shows beautifully, and won't last long at this price.

I am tired of hearing the real estate market is slow. The homes that are priced correctly and prepared properly before listing are selling quickly. The sellers of this home did a great job of renovating this home and making it look its best for the spring market.

Although this home was built in 1977, it looks almost new. With 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, this home has plenty of room for a young family. With finished space of about 2000 square feet, great schools and good proximity to 270, this is a great entry home in the Potomac zip code.

The only down side to this home is it fronts on Watts Branch Parkway, which can be busy. There is also significant road noise from I-270 which is a few hundred yards away. With this said, the list price takes all of this into consideration. This is a great value and I feel will sell quickly. I see this one settling for $675K when all is said and done.

Are you interested in Chevy Chase homes?

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?

11004 Piney Meetinghouse Road - Saddle Ridge - $1,594,000

Listed By Long and Foster

Google Map Here

Saddle Ridge is one of the more prestigious Potomac Communities. These homes sit along a ridge (or saddle) along Piney Meetinghouse Road. It is a lovely property with fabulous views from the rear of the home.

Piney Meetinghouse can be very busy during commuting hours. When I saw the address of this property, I assumed I was dealing with a road front lot with lots of traffic noise. What a pleasant surprise when I found this group of homes located on a "service road" separate from Piney Meetinghouse. The service road puts some distance between the main road and this property taking road noise out of the equation.

This home is well sited. It sits on a knoll that gently slopes in the back to the rear of the 2 acre lot. There is a beautiful vista from the back of the home to green rolling fields in the distance. This view is Potomac hunt country at its finest.

The home has a contemporary look from the exterior. From the white brick and circular drive, you know there is something modern inside. The front door is very cool. It is a commercial steel door with etched glass. Very artsy, certainly custom and I am sure expensive.

When you walk through the door you notice the home is all white. White walls, white wool carpet and white tile. Modern and clean, the home shows beautifully. This is a custom design with a modern feel that will even appeal to those that may usually like traditional. What is not to like about high ceilings, lots of light and perfect maintenance?

For a home this expensive, it is not super large. With 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths, the sleeping space throughout this home is modest in size. The bedrooms and baths are exquisitely done and nicely proportioned. Most of the square footage of this home is in the public space. The family room is bright and spacious. The kitchen is sleek and modern. All of the public spaces are beautifully designed and finished.

The 2 car garage is side loaded and over sized. The floor is finished with a synthetic flooring system (think expensive) with an area way in the rear of the garage leading to a full basement. The basement is huge with high ceilings. It is the entire footprint of the home above. Lots of space for wine cellar, family room, home theatre and darkroom. All of this and still plenty of room for storage. It is that big. The current owners are currently finishing the family room portion of the basement. The rest will be left up to the new owners.

With all that this home has going for it, there are also some problems. Currently, it is impossible to access the basement without going through the garage. This is a very unattractive reality with this home. A solution would be to find a spot in the public space that a stairway of some kind can be put through the floor. It would be smart to find a potential solution to this problem to present to potential buyers before they allow this issue to erase this property from their short list. Chapter One in every salesperson's book of tricks is to be able to overcome objections. This is one of the few problems with this home, but it is a significant one. A solution in advance could procure a sale.

The beauty of a custom built home is you can design it to fit your individual lifestyle. The potential pitfall is that your lifestyle and design may not be suited to the public in general. This home and design, although lovely, is flawed. Unless a solution is found to make the basement accessible from the inside, the home will not find a buyer at asking price. For now, I see a 10% discount to attract a buyer and get this home to settlement.

Are you interested in Chevy Chase homes?