12513 Noble Court - Palatine - $1,950,000

Listed By Long and Foster

Palatine is one of the premiere upscale communities in Potomac. Now approaching 15 years old, it is shedding the "just built" look that some of Potomac's upscale communities can't shake. It is always a treat to visit homes in this community. The custom features in many of these homes can really WOW you.

This home is on one of the older streets in the Palatine community. Built in 1996, it sits on a lovely 2 acre lot perched on a hill. The landscaping is professionally done and frames the home beautifully. Some of the shrubs in the front left are due for a trim which would give the home a more manicured look.

The flagstone walk leads you to a formal entry. The sign on the door says new custom doors are on order which is good news. The existing doors are in poor shape. The foyer is beautiful. A large two story foyer with lovely curved stair and chandelier is lovely. The wallpaper is timeless and expensive. Although it may not be to every one's taste, it is a classic design and works well.

The living room and library are on the left side of the home with built ins galore and lovely mouldings throughout. The windows let in some great light which should please most that hate dark rooms. The dining room on the right is large and nicely proportioned. It leads through a butlers pantry into a lovely kitchen with upscale appliances and granite. The breakfast area is along the back wall and gives a great view of the yard. The yard is landscaped well with a flagstone patio which would be a lovely place to enjoy your coffee and watch the resident deer nibble on the high end shrubbery. A four car garage and laundry/mud room finish out the first floor.

The upstairs has 5 large bedrooms. The master is large and nicely designed. A tray ceiling is a nice touch and the custom drapes match the bed linen. Lots of money was spent on decor - it would be worth asking for the linen when putting this home under contract. The large master bath has high end cabinets and green marble/granite/tile flooring. Two of the other rooms have private baths and the other two bedrooms share a Jack and Jill bath. Nicely designed upper floor!

The basement is completely finished with plenty of room. Wet bar, rec room, Nanny Quarters - and walkout to a second flagstone patio. Everything you would expect in the basement of a home in this price range.

This home has good bones and great design. Although the decor may be a bit outdated, anyone that can see beyond the floral prints will see a gem. For someone wanting the cache of Palatine this may be a great opportunity. This should settle around its assessed value of $1.825mm when all is said and done.

1107 Cedrus Way - Fallsmead - $739,000

Fallsmead is a very popular community in the Potomac area. Close to everything with a great sense of community, this neighborhood is usually on the top of the list of move up buyers looking for Potomac.

Cedrus Way is a cul-de-sac located just off Fallsmead Way. It is a mix of house styles that were built in the late 1960's. This home is a well maintained brick colonial at the end of the court. Nicely landscaped, this home has great curb appeal. It is much larger then it appears from the street. A two car garage is located underneath the home. The driveway runs along the side of the home to the rear of the home to allow access to the garage.

The center foyer is typical colonial with nicely maintained hardwood floors. A large piano sized living room is on the right with Family room left. The family room has a nice brick fireplace and entry to the kitchen and breakfast area. The kitchen was redone in recent years with white cabinets and granite counter tops. It is nicely done and fits in with the rest of the home. An eating area adjacent to the kitchen has a sliding glass door to a lovely deck overlooking a large and nicely landscaped yard. This lot is larger then many in the community at 1/3 acre. This will be a great selling feature.

The upstairs has 5 bedrooms and 3 full baths. All of the bathrooms have been updated at some point, but none recently. They are in good condition and can be upgraded at the leisure of the new owner. The bedrooms are all good size and also have hardwood.

This is a nice home. It is a little bit cluttered, and would show better if some of the "stuff" that we all accumulate was boxed up for the move. The en-suite bath in the smaller bedroom upstairs should be painted. While stars on the wall may have been in fashion, or to someones taste in the family...fresh paint will show better.

This home is listed at $739,000. If enough folks see it the home could generate multiple offers and get full price. If not, it should settle in the $715K to $725K range within 45-60 days.

9313 Bells Mill Road - Pine Knolls - $1,895,000

It is not often I see a home that has been on the market over 1000 days. That's right, not 100 days, 1000 days. 1036 days to be exact. That is almost three years.

This home is near the intersection of Bells Mill Road and Falls Road. The corner lot is owned by the developer as well, and at some point in time may be developed. The lot is ungraded, filled with weeds and brush and has remnants of construction debris from previous building. It looks horrible and may be a reason why the home next door has been languishing almost 3 years.

This is an attractive home from the outside. It is approximately 5000 square feet above grade, with an additional 2500 in the finished basement. With 4 bedrooms and four full baths upstairs and an additional bedroom and bath in the basement, this home is typical of many new construction in the area. It is finished nicely, but not properly. It is important to tend to the details in this price range.

Offered at $1.895 million, the seller is looking for top dollar on this home. In order to get close to that, they will have to send someone in to be sure the home is in top condition. They need to groom the landscaping, integrate the lot next door into this design (We know it is a separate lot, but no one wants to live next to a junkyard), and stage this home with some furniture and accessories. What would it take to install some nice brass numbers above the door to identify the home. Currently they have the house number painted (poorly) above the front door.

If this home was on a quiet cul-de-sac instead of a main road, the price would not be too far out of line. On Bells Mill Road this home will have to be reduced quite a bit to get noticed. There are too many competing properties for this to sell near that pricepoint. Look for this to finally settle in the $1.45 range if the sellers get serious.

PLEASE invest in some nice brass numbers for above the door. It will make a big difference in the perception of a potential buyer.

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.