13524 Maidstone Lane - Rivers Edge - $1,095,000

Listed by Weichert

Google Map Here

Rivers Edge is a lovely community of custom homes about 5 miles out River Road from the Village. On mostly 2 acre lots, the homes are mostly upscale and built in the mid-1980's.

This home is one level rambler with a long driveway. The front walk leads you to the formal entry. You step into a large tiled foyer that is large enough to host a cocktail party. The white tile looks great and makes the room seem more expansive. An adjacent Living room is separate and formal and an office to the right side is plenty large for your home business.

The kitchen has been completely redone - with granite counters and nice appliances. It is large with plenty of counter space and a freestanding stainless ventilation hood over the cook top. The counter here overhangs to provide a nice space to eat - or watch the chef prepare dinner while having a pre-dinner cocktail. The granite and cabinets wrap around this area to form a nice butlers pantry. This would be ideal for the home chef with lots of large pots - a cookbook collection - or multiple appliance that need storage.

The breakfast area looks out on the yard - which is ample on this 2 acre lot. This is a nice piece of property with plenty of room for recreation or gardening.

A large Family room with beamed ceilings is great space next to the breakfast area. Hardwood floors are lovely - and the large stone fireplace beautifully anchors the room. What a great spot for the family to get together and watch TV or home theatre.

The living quarters are on the left wing of the home. The master is large and bright with windows all along the back of the home. The bath is nice size and nicely updated. All of the other bedrooms are large and spacious. Hardwood is in fabulous shape and adds a sense of class to all the living space.

The basement is small and not finished to the same level as the upstairs. This is great space for the kids - and is currently set up as a practice space for a band.

This is the same floor plan as a home that sold at 13509 Maidstone earlier this year at $925,000. That home was not updated in the kitchen or baths but had a large full finished basement that was 4 times the size of this property. The lot on that home was not quite as nice as this one - but the other home had a pool and greenhouse. The market is much better now than it was when the other home went under contract. This home at $1,095,000 is a bit aggressive but not unrealistic. I see it going to settlement for just over $1mm when all is said and done.

13509 Maidstone Lane - Rivers Edge - $1,050,000

Listed by Long and Foster

Google Map Here

Rivers Edge is a lovely community of custom homes about 5 miles out River Road from the Village. On mostly 2 acre lots, the homes are mostly upscale and built in the mid-1980's.

This home is one level rambler with a circular driveway. The landscaping is elaborate - though could use some TLC. At one point in time this was a showplace. It won an award for landscape design in 1996. There is a small greenhouse built behind the garage ready for someone with a green thumb to reclaim.

The slate walk brings you up to a slate porch and the front door. You enter into a large grand foyer that is large enough to host a cocktail party. Though the tile there is a bit dated, this is still great space. A huge living room on the right side of the foyer is more space for the party to flow. With embassy sized rooms, this home immediately appealed to my entertainment genes.

The dining room is on the right side, and is large, but modest compared to the foyer and living room. The kitchen is very nicely designed, but needs an upgrade. With original appliances and old counters it is a perfect candidate for a redo. The family room is lovely with a full stone wall fireplace and wet bar. Great spot for cognac and conversation after dinner.

The living quarters is in the right wing of the home. The master is large and bright with windows all along the back of the home. The bath is nice with a sunken tub and separate shower. Although dated, this room held up well. There is a small bedroom currently used as an office, and another large bedroom with nice sized hall bath.

The basement is accessed from an open stairwell in the foyer. You open the door to a enormous room that is fully carpeted with daylight access to the back yard. There is an office here, a bedroom with full bath and plenty of storage. Loads of potential for the next owners.

The back yard is beautiful. There is a pool and small pool house in the backyard. It is fenced and nicely landscaped. The lot continues beyond the pool fence to the full two acres. This is a nice piece of property. A large deck, and hardscaping surround the pool area with multiple access points to the home. A screened porch with vintage astro turf carpeted floors is the only glaring design faux pas. Otherwise the home is decorated with class, and easily updated. There is some wallpaper in a few rooms that will need to be removed, but what potential!

This home is listed for $1,050,000 which is the cheapest in the neighborhood. Part of an estate, this home may be a bargain for someone with vision and a few extra dollars after settlement. The landscape was once glorious. Someone with a green thumb can easily bring this landscape back to its past glory. This will easily add $100k in instant equity. This home was listed earlier in the year at $1,195,000. This price was no bargain. The new price of $1,050,000 is fair, and a deal for the right buyer. I see this one settling at around $1mm within 60 days.

Canal Vista Court - Rivers Edge - $1,799,000

Listed by Maryland Home Realty

The name Canal Vista says it all. This 20 year old custom home has a birds eye view of the canal and Potomac River.

A few months ago I reviewed another home on Canal Vista Court. I like the community, and this court within the River Edge community has great charm. The homes here are in the $1.5mm to $2.5mm range and all sit on lots of at least one acre.

This home is at the end of a private driveway just before the end of Canal Vista Court. The 6 homes on this private drive are all custom homes and very well maintained. The homes are all perched at the most advantageous point on the lot to get the most out of the river and canal views. The lot for this property is anything but flat. In any other review I would list this as a disadvantage. In this case the home was engineered to get the most out of the lot providing spectacular views and innovative design.

The home is all brick and seems somewhat traditional from the exterior. The garage is two stories and is connected by an exterior "breezeway". A three car garage fills the lower half of the structure and the upper floor has a guest suite providing complete privacy for those that visit. The connection between the two structures is covered to allow you to go back and forth out of the weather and was a very nice touch from a design standpoint.

The main house is more modern then traditional. The expansive open space in the foyer and main level provide drama and will thrill those that like contemporary design. While the home shows beautifully, the potential for someone with design skills is tremendous. I can envision this space in a House Beautiful layout with the proper paint and furnishing.

Windows and light are the real story in this home. Everywhere you turn is a vista to the outside. The dramatic staircase in the main foyer to the upper level is a focal point on entry. You turn right to see a step down living room and fireplace with soaring ceilings. A large dining area is in the center of the home with the kitchen and family room in the rear to take advantage of the views from the back of the home. The kitchen is not huge, but more then adequate. For a 20 year old home the space has aged well and would not need any work.

The upper level has 2 modest bedrooms and a stunning master suite. The bedrooms are small compared with other homes in this price range, but space was cut in these 2 bedrooms to allocate more space where it counted; the master suite. The master bedroom is more like an eagle perch providing fabulous views of the trees and canal. The master bath has large windows and a "step up" platform to an open shower stall which would have to feel like you are showering "au-natural". What a nice touch!

The basement has very high ceilings providing drama to the space. Lots of light on the back end of the basement make you feel like you are above ground. A nanny or housekeeper suite in the corner of the basement has views that would make other Nannies jealous. Additional rooms in the back of the basement space provide a home for exercise equipment and another for a wine cellar if the new owner has a need. There is no lack of space in this home.

This home started on the market six months ago at $1.95mm. At the current price of $1.79 it is still priced a bit high. Someone with the right personality that sees this home may be happy to snap it up at this price. With the market in a funk and Jumbo mortgages still expensive (7.125%), it is going to limit the borrowers able to purchase in this range. I would advise a power wash and a good interior cleaning to make this gem shine. Anyone looking for views should be sure to put this home on their short list.

There is a great virtual tour of this property that can be reached via the following link: http://www.mouseonhouse.com/property/196/6250 .