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 .

SOLD - Tanager Court - Glen Mill Knolls - $845,900

SOLD on 3/3 at $827,000

This home is a foreclosed property and needs a lot of work. Close to $200,000 below other properties in the area, it is generating a lot of interest. When you get to see the property close up, you understand why the price is so low.

The original home was built in 1976. It was at one time a beautiful home with 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths sitting high upon a two acre lot. Over the years some improvements have been made. Some of them made sense, others seemed cheaply done and has taken away from the value of the property.

The problem with foreclosed property is they remain vacant for long periods of time. This property has been vandalized during this time. A professional stove has been taken from the kitchen, many shrubs have been dug out and taken away and some valuable specimen trees have disappeared.

As you go through the home you realize that even with a price $200K below market, his home is not necessarily a value. It really needs to be completely gutted and redone.

With that said, there is opportunity here. A good neighborhood, a Potomac address and 2 acre lot are attractive. A contractor that can afford to live here while performing the work could ultimately do well. Sweat equity would allow this home to be completed for a reasonable amount of money over time.

Currently, this home will need $100K in work to make it somewhat livable. I see this home selling for $100K below its list price. At that price point it will be worthwhile for someone to do the work and take on this large project. I think the lender that currently owns the home should be tickled to death to get the offer. I will revisit this home over the next few months.

SOLD - Wetherfield Lane - Lake Potomac - $1,195,000

Settled for $1,070,000 on 2-19

Listed By Long and Foster

The picture I took for this posting really does not do this home justice. It is much larger then it looks and sits on a beautiful two acre lot.

This home is perfectly sited and looks the way an "estate home" is supposed to look. The lot is flat with broad lawn with pretty neighboring homes. What is not to like?

The dramatic 2 story foyer sets the stage in this home. With plenty of light and neutral colors, this home is inviting and comfortable.

The kitchen adjoins the family room along the back of the home. Windows along the back wall allow you to see the expansive back yard while having breakfast. The kitchen has 42" cabinetry, and is in good condition. At some point in time a killer kitchen can replace this adequate one. For now, the space works just fine.

The master bedroom is in the wing adjacent to the family room. It is large and bright and features a large loft area open to the bedroom below. This can be a office, sitting area or can be walled off to attain more privacy. The other bedrooms in the home are good size too. A buddy bath adjoins two of the bedrooms, and an additional full bath serves the third.

The basement is fully finished and has a bedroom area that would be perfect for an nanny or au-pair. With older kids, be prepared for a fight to see who gets the room downstairs.

There is pre-wiring in a large theatre area for stereo and TV. Speakers are already in the wall, and you only have to connect your equipment to be up and running.

This is a nice home and is priced right. The only concern I have is a neighboring home is listed as a short sale at around one million dollars. While not on a lot nearly as nice, this may affect values in the neighborhood for a short time. If you could get this home for 1.1mm it would be a value.

6 Travilah Terrace - Darnstown Outside - $1,099,999

Listed by ReMax

This is a large contemporary home in Potomac near the intersection of River and Travilah Roads.

When you drive into this small community you can see the home sitting up on a knoll on the left side of the street. The 2 acre lot is pretty and the home looks huge. It is a long house with some great modern windows and architectural features.

When you enter the foyer of the home you immediately realize that the first impression of size was decieving. The home is long and very narrow. In some spots only one room deep.

There are some dramatic elements to this home. Anyone with a love of contemporary design will find it interesting. They will ultimately have to weigh its practicality when determining its value.

It is certainly worth seeing if you are a fan of modern design. Lots of step ups and step downs define the spaces without the need for formal walls. The master bedroom is a whole wing of the home and features a loft and fireplace. The other 4 bedrooms are all decent size and are strung across the front of the home.

The finish level in this home is not what I would expect from a Million plus listing. Some of the materials and craftmanship seem to be "builder grade" and you don't get a feeling that this is built to custom home specifications.

Currently this home is bank owned. Suntrust is requiring the potential purchaser get "pre-approved" with them before negotiating. This does not mean that it is mandatory to use them, just qualify with them. This step assures the bank that the potential purchaser is qualifed and has the ability to buy.

While this home will not be to everyones taste, it will be super attractive to some. I think the list price has lots of room for negotiation. I wouldn't be surprised to see this one go at just above a million.