11514 Gainsborough Road - Regency Estates - $569,000

11514 Gainsborough Road - Potomac
Listed by Long and Foster

Regency Estates is one of the few remaining neighborhoods in Potomac that you can find a single family home for under $600,000. Located between Seven Locks and Falls Road - It is well located for commuters and feeds into the Churchill High cluster - one of the best schools in the Tri-state area.


This community was built in the early 1960's - and most of the homes in the neighborhood have been updated over the years.  This home is a tidy brick rambler that sits on a third of an acre.  It looks like the driveway was just replaced - and the slate walk has recently been re-pointed.  This is always a good sign when walking into a home.

The foyer is shallow - with the door to the kitchen on the immediate right.  The kitchen has been updated with nice tile floor - stainless steel appliances and hardwood cabinets.  There is plenty of room for a kitchen table in front - and the bay window lets in great light.

The foyer continues in to a living room and dining room combo in the back of the home.  Nice hardwood floors - typical of the era - are well maintained and look great.  Neutral paint colors make it easy to picture how your furniture will fit in the open space.

Three large bedrooms and an updated bath round off the upper level.  The master bath has been updated over the years - and look great.  A large stall shower - and newer toilet and sink are contemporary and need not be updated.  Once again - neutral colors - neat and clean make this very attractive.

The lower level is larger than you think.  A large family room leaves plenty of space for TV or toy room.  A bedroom and full bath are perfect for an Au-pair or rebellious teen.  An exit via area way gives easy ingress and egress to this space.  A laundry room and storage finish off the space - and overall - a nice package.

The price? - Anything under $600K for a mostly renovated house is a good price.  This one is priced reasonably and should sell very quickly.  It should probably sell within 5% of list price.  The inventory in this market is low - which bodes well for the seller. 

11824 Seven Locks Road - Regency Estates - $525,000

Listed by Forum Properties

Google Map Here

This rambler is located on busy Seven Locks Road and part of Regency Estates. Built in 1962 this home is in the coveted Churchill school cluster and very close to shopping, worship and transportation.

This home has an interesting look from the street. The former carport has been closed in and has french doors facing the street for access. The porch is supported by painted iron posts and give the home a "French Quarter" feel. The brick and frame structure seems to be in good shape on the exterior and the landscape has been nicely maintained.

As soon as you walk in the home you notice the fresh paint and hardwood floors. Unfortunately, you also notice an odor that may be from the carpet. Although not overwhelming, the odor certainly lingers, and may be from old pet stains.

The foyer leads into a carpeted living room area that adjoins a decent size dining room. Although I am not normally a fan of mirrored walls, the one in the dining room makes the room look lots bigger. The large individually paned bay window opens to the back yard and brings in good light. Although the old window is probably an energy drain - the light it allows in the house is worth it.

The kitchen has been updated at some point in the past by sanding down the original cabinets and replacing the old formica. The kitchen is good size and could stand to be upgraded again. Someone with vision can make this a lovely space. The side exterior door leads into the carport which has been enclosed and floored with Pergo. There is a washer dryer out here, and I am still scratching my head trying to figure out what this room was used for. It is possible it was used for a home business with an exterior door to allow clients in.

There is a decent deck on the back of the home with access from the back of the old carport and steps from the fenced yard.

The listing calls this a 4 bedroom home, but realistically it is only 3 bedrooms. It looks like one of the original bedrooms was split into two rooms. The original door is blocked off from the hall and the old entry space has become a closet. It would be best to convert this back to the original design. The bedrooms are typical for a home of this era. Small but functional. The original blue and mint green bath fixtures and sinks are glaringly 1960's. The baths are in rough shape and should be top priority for renovation.

The downstairs area has a family room and fireplace replete with burnt orange carpet. An exterior door walks out to a decent fenced yard. There is a half bath and shower down here and it looks like the basement was used as an accessory apartment at some point.

This home needs a lot of TLC. Paint can make a place look a bit better, but won't solve glaring problems. This home would be great for a contractor that is looking for a place to live and can improve this home over time. It will take $50k to make this home attractive again. I see this one settling in the $475,000 range when all is said and done.

2010 - The Year to BUY in Potomac

Happy New Year!

2010 should be a winner ~ and maybe your last opportunity to find a bargain in the Potomac market.

December was my busiest month all year. I found great homes for three buyers in the past month. Finding these gems is hard work. Inventory is low, and if priced reasonably homes less then One Million dollars are selling very quickly. Are you still waiting for the market to "turn around"?

Reviews of homes start again in earnest this week. I will be seeing homes in Regency Estates, Potomac Woods, Lake Potomac and Winterset. Let me know if there are any neighborhoods or homes you would like to see reviewed.

Thank all of you that have supported my site this past year. I am looking forward to remaining the top site on the web for reviews of Potomac homes.

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.

11723 Devilwood Drive - Regency Estates - $625,000

Listed By Long and Foster

This is a nice home on a quiet street off Postoak Road in Regency Estates. From the road it is pretty with a nice lawn and well maintained exterior. A nice lead walk brings you directly to the door from the driveway. Lovely landscaping will be beautiful while in flower.

You enter the home and walk into a nice foyer floored with ceramic tile. The kitchen is on the right with a tile floor, granite counters and nice cherry cabinets. I think the oven is much older. This is an easy fix for new homeowners. A door from the kitchen leads off to a side deck. This home does not have a garage. Not too large, but plenty of sun and a great place to destress after a long day at the office.

You walk through the foyer into the living room which is good size. It is adjacent to the dining room with a table that will have room for at least 6 and maybe 8 with ease. The floors throughout the upper level are hardwood and in good shape.

There are 3 bedrooms and a master on the first level. The bedrooms are kid size except for the master which is adequate. The master bath has been nicely remodeled with blue tile it looks great. The hall bath has been upgraded but the original muted yellow tub is still in place.

Downstairs is finished with carpet. The fireplace is nice and has plenty of room for a TV or rec room. There is plenty of storage in an unfinished section, and a slider takes you out to a lovely backyard and slate patio. The laundry area is under the kitchen as is another bedroom. A modern glass block wall without a formal door encases a full bath and shower. Very modern, very nice, albeit a bit out of place. Someone could work with this and make it a winner.

Overall, this is a nice home on a nice street at a nice price. The agent priced it right and it should draw traffic. I see an offer quickly on this home. Somewhere around $610K once settled.

11812 Seven Locks Road - Regency Estates - $519,000

Listed by Long and Foster

Google Map Here

Regency Estates is one of the few "affordable" communities left in the Churchill school cluster. Built in the early 1960's, this community is a mix of small split foyers and traditional split levels.

This home is located on Seven Locks Road which is a busy thoroughfare on this side of Potomac. This partial brick split has a one car garage and sits on a 1/4 acre lot. The home has a brick wall along the front of the home which is attractive, but will soon need maintenance. The grounds have potential, but also need some TLC.

The home is a typical split foyer. You enter into a tile foyer between floors. The main living area is upstairs and hardwood rules the day. It has been refinished in the last few years and seems to be in good shape. The kitchen too has been updated. It could use a bit of sprucing up, but it is serviceable. A door goes out to a nice size deck overlooking a fenced back yard.

The bedrooms are typical for a home of this size and era. The 2 full baths are original and small, but once again, this is typical in this type of home.

The downstairs is carpeted with a family room large enough for decent size TV. There is also a bedroom on this level and a half bath. There is a rough-in for a shower in the powder room, which should be on the short list of things to do for the new owner.

This home is priced to reflect the busy road and dated condition. It seems to have good bones and could be a bargain for someone handy that wants the Churchill district on a budget. This may be a winner for a professional with a home business. The busy road would be good exposure for a CPA or Insurance agent with a home office.

There is a foreclosure next door that is under contract. We won't know the final sales price until settlement. This is priced well at $519K although it will probably settle right around $500,000.

7 Enid Court - Regency Estates - $724,990

Listed by Long and Foster

Google Map Here

I was curious to see what I would find when I saw this home come on the market in Regency Estates. Not much sells in this community above $625K, and to see a price $100K above this level intrigued me.

This home is a large split level on a small private cul-de-sac. It has great curb appeal and has been well maintained. The landscaping is impeccable, and in a few days the yard will be in full color with blooming azaleas.

The entry has a nice tile foyer. You progress straight ahead to a step down dining room with some elaborate mouldings. The kitchen is in the front of the home and has been completely remodeled. Granite, nice appliances and plenty of light. There is a large addition on the back of the home that is stunning. Lots of windows, a big fireplace, access to the back yard and a full bath. Beautifully constructed, it was no surprise the owner is a parent to one of the larger remodelers in the county.

The back yard is lovely. A big pool, great landscaping and well tended grounds make this a showplace. The full bath in the addition can double as a cabana for a quick change into a suit and a swim in the pool.

It is obvious I think this property is fabulous. Let's talk about some of the challanges. First, the property backs to high tension power lines. Although the data proves there are no ill effects from this lines, it is problem. This will be a major turn off for some people. Secondly, it is going to have a hard time appraising at full price. I am not saying the home is not WORTH full price, but finding comps will be tough.

This one is certainly worth seeing if you are in this price range. I hope to see this one fetch $699K when all is said and done. A good appraiser should be able to support the value.

11704 Greenlane Drive - Regency Estates - $672,000

Listed by Long and Foster

Google Map Here

This is a 1965 era split level in the Regency Estates community. Located in the Churchill school cluster, this community is ever popular because of schools, location and price.

Although you can find homes below $700K in Potomac, it is not often you can find them renovated at this price. With a new two car garage and double width driveway there are a lot of value added improvements in this property.

The home has been completely renovated from top to bottom. A leaded glass front door leads you into a newly laid marble foyer. The kitchen is to your right, recently updated with high end appliances and Pergo flooring. The adjacent breakfast area is large enough for a good sized table with great light from a large bay window. The flooring throughout the main level is refinished hardwood in great condition.

The upstairs has 4 bedrooms. All are decent size, typical of homes of this era. The master bedroom was updated in 2007 with marble in the bath and shower area. There are ceiling fans in all of the other bedrooms. The hall bath has also been upgraded with marble tile.

The lower level is finished with a bedroom and full bath. There is a large recreation room with fireplace with newer wall to wall carpet. There is access from this level to the back yard through a sliding glass door.

The roof, air conditioning, furnace and water heater have all been recently replaced. With a third of an acre, this home has a lot of added value. Why am I not jumping up and down singing the praises of this home? The upgrades in the foyer and baths are done in a brown onyx and marble tile. If this style and color was only done as an accent, it would have worked beautifully. It is in the foyer, on the stairs to the lower level, in the baths....a bit overdone. If you happen to like this style, this home is a winner. If it is not to your taste, you will be underwhelmed.

The last split sold in this neighborhood was on Greenlane Court in August. It did not have the upgrades that this one has, and sold for $625,000. This leads me to believe that this home is fairly priced. Look for this one going fairly quickly at $650,000

Are you interested in Chevy Chase homes?

11810 Tifton Drive - Regency Estates - $625,000

Listed by Long and Foster

Google Map Here

Regency Estates is a community built in the mid 1960's. It is located south of Montrose Road between Seven Locks and Falls Road.

This is a nicely maintained split level on a flat lot. The home has good curb appeal. Partial brick with open carport, this home also has a nice porch on the front that is large enough to use. Nice touch in this neighborhood.

The foyer is tiled and leads you directly into a hardwood living room and dining room. These rooms are decent sized, very typical for homes of this era. The kitchen is bright with a large bay window in front that allows lots of natural light. It looks like the kitchen was upgraded in the 1980's. It has a tile floor and does not look bad for a home of this era.

Upstairs are 4 bedrooms. The master has a bath with upgraded cabinets and skylight, but both baths on the second floor have original blue and pink tile. The basement (Lower Level) is finished with a walkout to the back yard. The floor is tile with a nice fireplace. There is also a small office and laundry facilities on this level.

This home shows well and will get a lot of traffic because of its price point. This should sell in 30-45 days, and should settle around $600K.

11705 Charen Lane - Regency Estates - $620,000

This is a pretty split foyer with great curb appeal in Regency Estates.

This has three decent sized bedrooms on the upper level with 2 full baths. The home is in good condition and shows well.

The kitchen has been updated over the past few years and it looks as though the windows throughout have been replaced. The lower level has a nice sized family room and a half bath. There is a small bedroom on this level as well.

The lot is about a quarter acre, and is nicely tended. A deck and hot tub are off the kitchen, and all seem to be in good condition.

This is listed as having over 2100 square feet, but it does not seem that large. The split foyer style that was popular in the early 1960's is out of favor today. At $620,000 this home is priced too high. There are nicer homes with garages available at this price point.

I think this will take a long time to sell at this price. Unless the market changes, this home will sell in the $550K range.

11808 Seven Locks Road - Regency Estates - $550,000

This is a small rambler on a VERY busy road.

With 3 small bedrooms and 2 full baths, this home is straight out of 1963. The home is functional, but will need a lot of TLC to bring it up to speed. The kitchen and baths are in need of renovation, and the basement too needs work.

The lot is about a quarter acre. The home sits up on a knoll, and gently slopes off in the back. The yard is fenced, and will need work to make it look decent.

This home may have potential for someone with a home business. The traffic on Seven Locks would be attractive for an accountant or insurance agent that may be able to pick up some business.

This is also a short sale. The bank that holds the mortgage will have to approve any contract written. The owner purchased this home in 2005 at the height of the market. They paid $635,000. I cannot imagine this home was ever worth that much.

This home is worth about $475,000. It may take the bank a while to understand that they are going to lose their shirt. The sooner they make a deal, the better it will be for them. The home is currently vacant, and still has boxes and personal possessions on the lower level. The sooner a deal is made, the better for all parties involved.