Feedback on these two McLean houses

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess these houses are a bit further west but I'd encourage anyone thinking of buying in McLean on the north side of Dolley Madison to experience just how terrible traffic is now near the Georgetown Pike/Balls Hill/495 intersection. It's a huge construction project and the traffic slows to a halt. If you had to pick your kid up at Cooper MS you may need to tack on an extra 20-30 minutes just to navigate the final mile closest to the school. The areas on the other side of Dolley Madison are much easier to navigate (and closer to DC and Metro as well).

That should not be the only reason to not buy in western McLean. Majority of the higher end neighborhoods are closer to 495, larger lots, and Langley zoning give a premium.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess these houses are a bit further west but I'd encourage anyone thinking of buying in McLean on the north side of Dolley Madison to experience just how terrible traffic is now near the Georgetown Pike/Balls Hill/495 intersection. It's a huge construction project and the traffic slows to a halt. If you had to pick your kid up at Cooper MS you may need to tack on an extra 20-30 minutes just to navigate the final mile closest to the school. The areas on the other side of Dolley Madison are much easier to navigate (and closer to DC and Metro as well).

I live in Langley Forest and it is crazy. I have stopped going on the Beltway because it can take so long. I go out to Georgetown Pike and play chicken and try to get across that way. Then get on 495 in Tysons.

[Anonymous]

Both of these homes remind me of the famous “luxury” river front house that sat for years in McLean. 7022 Green Oak Drive was listed for $7 million in 2021.

It sold in March of this year for just over $3M.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess these houses are a bit further west but I'd encourage anyone thinking of buying in McLean on the north side of Dolley Madison to experience just how terrible traffic is now near the Georgetown Pike/Balls Hill/495 intersection. It's a huge construction project and the traffic slows to a halt. If you had to pick your kid up at Cooper MS you may need to tack on an extra 20-30 minutes just to navigate the final mile closest to the school. The areas on the other side of Dolley Madison are much easier to navigate (and closer to DC and Metro as well).

That should not be the only reason to not buy in western McLean. Majority of the higher end neighborhoods are closer to 495, larger lots, and Langley zoning give a premium.

I think PP was saying the opposite..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both of these homes remind me of the famous “luxury” river front house that sat for years in McLean. 7022 Green Oak Drive was listed for $7 million in 2021.

It sold in March of this year for just over $3M.

How did this go so cheap??

[Anonymous]

#1 is a non-starter for me. I would not pay even $1.5M to live behind a house, accessed via a shared driveway. That is 0-2, before you step foot inside. As for inside, not my style. I would be concerned about mine or any kids that came over with that pond out back.

#2. Very not my style. Esp. the round staircase. Big windows showcase other big houses right outside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both of these homes remind me of the famous “luxury” river front house that sat for years in McLean. 7022 Green Oak Drive was listed for $7 million in 2021.

It sold in March of this year for just over $3M.

How did this go so cheap??

The owners were very motivated to sell. And $3M was the top of what they could get.

The value for this house is in the lot and the current house will likely be torn down. The problem is that the house was exceptionally cheaply built in 2003. The kitchen has what I’m pretty sure are IKEA cabinets and the countertops are very thin.

I don’t know why banks are willing to give 30 year mortgages on a low-quality home that will need to be torn down in less than 25 years. I guess they figure the land will keep appreciating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both of these homes remind me of the famous “luxury” river front house that sat for years in McLean. 7022 Green Oak Drive was listed for $7 million in 2021.

It sold in March of this year for just over $3M.

How did this go so cheap??

The owners were very motivated to sell. And $3M was the top of what they could get.

The value for this house is in the lot and the current house will likely be torn down. The problem is that the house was exceptionally cheaply built in 2003. The kitchen has what I’m pretty sure are IKEA cabinets and the countertops are very thin.

I don’t know why banks are willing to give 30 year mortgages on a low-quality home that will need to be torn down in less than 25 years. I guess they figure the land will keep appreciating.

IMHO they may have overpaid at $3M. Given the topography, it will be expensive to tear it down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both of these homes remind me of the famous “luxury” river front house that sat for years in McLean. 7022 Green Oak Drive was listed for $7 million in 2021.

It sold in March of this year for just over $3M.

How did this go so cheap??

The owners were very motivated to sell. And $3M was the top of what they could get.

The value for this house is in the lot and the current house will likely be torn down. The problem is that the house was exceptionally cheaply built in 2003. The kitchen has what I’m pretty sure are IKEA cabinets and the countertops are very thin.

I don’t know why banks are willing to give 30 year mortgages on a low-quality home that will need to be torn down in less than 25 years. I guess they figure the land will keep appreciating.

The few pictures that I could find honestly don't look that bad: https://patch.com/virginia/mclean/look-inside-599m-custom-built-waterfront-estate-mclean-0
5 acres along the river seems like a steal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both of these homes remind me of the famous “luxury” river front house that sat for years in McLean. 7022 Green Oak Drive was listed for $7 million in 2021.

It sold in March of this year for just over $3M.

How did this go so cheap??

The owners were very motivated to sell. And $3M was the top of what they could get.

The value for this house is in the lot and the current house will likely be torn down. The problem is that the house was exceptionally cheaply built in 2003. The kitchen has what I’m pretty sure are IKEA cabinets and the countertops are very thin.

I don’t know why banks are willing to give 30 year mortgages on a low-quality home that will need to be torn down in less than 25 years. I guess they figure the land will keep appreciating.

The few pictures that I could find honestly don't look that bad: https://patch.com/virginia/mclean/look-inside-599m-custom-built-waterfront-estate-mclean-0
5 acres along the river seems like a steal

See if you can find photos of the kitchen online somewhere. That’s what most of the house looks like.

Much of the 5 acres is not usable with the current zoning and logistically with the topography. There are significant restrictions on what can and cannot be built on the land since it’s part of a park easement. The prior owners got into significant legal trouble by cutting down a few trees without permission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have close family moving from out of state to McLean with a budget of ~4 million. Wanted to get feedback and criticism on these two properties that they recently toured:

1. https://www.redfin.com/VA/Mc-Lean/8310-Weller-Ave-22102/home/9265755

2. https://www.redfin.com/VA/Mc-Lean/893-Georgetown-Ridge-Ct-22102/home/109702428

House 1 is in a preferable location but has a shared driveway. Looks like a nice new ski location house. House 2 is only accessible offf Georgeown Pike. Looks like many upscale newish shops and malls. Neither is large lot.

Realtor is driving the relocating family to weird properties. Need to move so how about this place? It's new!
Note some one bought a house in the reserve for less $ - https://www.redfin.com/VA/McLean/7797-Solitude-Ct-22102/home/9830358

This house is 20 years old! And showing its age. The kitchen and the master bath are dated.

Buyers at this price point want turnkey.

The grounds are gorgeous and the bones are great, the flow is nice for open concept if that’s your thing. Even the beigyness of it/aging is graceful. It’s not a nasty looking shade. Doesn’t smack you in the face with grey and white modernity but I could live with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both of these homes remind me of the famous “luxury” river front house that sat for years in McLean. 7022 Green Oak Drive was listed for $7 million in 2021.

It sold in March of this year for just over $3M.

How did this go so cheap??

The owners were very motivated to sell. And $3M was the top of what they could get.

The value for this house is in the lot and the current house will likely be torn down. The problem is that the house was exceptionally cheaply built in 2003. The kitchen has what I’m pretty sure are IKEA cabinets and the countertops are very thin.

I don’t know why banks are willing to give 30 year mortgages on a low-quality home that will need to be torn down in less than 25 years. I guess they figure the land will keep appreciating.

The few pictures that I could find honestly don't look that bad: https://patch.com/virginia/mclean/look-inside-599m-custom-built-waterfront-estate-mclean-0
5 acres along the river seems like a steal

See if you can find photos of the kitchen online somewhere. That’s what most of the house looks like.

Much of the 5 acres is not usable with the current zoning and logistically with the topography. There are significant restrictions on what can and cannot be built on the land since it’s part of a park easement. The prior owners got into significant legal trouble by cutting down a few trees without permission.

Yeah that’s the whole point

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess these houses are a bit further west but I'd encourage anyone thinking of buying in McLean on the north side of Dolley Madison to experience just how terrible traffic is now near the Georgetown Pike/Balls Hill/495 intersection. It's a huge construction project and the traffic slows to a halt. If you had to pick your kid up at Cooper MS you may need to tack on an extra 20-30 minutes just to navigate the final mile closest to the school. The areas on the other side of Dolley Madison are much easier to navigate (and closer to DC and Metro as well).

That should not be the only reason to not buy in western McLean. Majority of the higher end neighborhoods are closer to 495, larger lots, and Langley zoning give a premium.

It's the proximity to 495 near Georgetown Pike that has turned that area into a traffic nightmare at all hours of the day right now. At some point it will be better but it's been and will continue to be a mess for quite a while. When your traffic "cheat" is to head back into Tysons to get onto 495, you know it's an area to avoid if you can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both of these homes remind me of the famous “luxury” river front house that sat for years in McLean. 7022 Green Oak Drive was listed for $7 million in 2021.

It sold in March of this year for just over $3M.

How did this go so cheap??

The owners were very motivated to sell. And $3M was the top of what they could get.

The value for this house is in the lot and the current house will likely be torn down. The problem is that the house was exceptionally cheaply built in 2003. The kitchen has what I’m pretty sure are IKEA cabinets and the countertops are very thin.

I don’t know why banks are willing to give 30 year mortgages on a low-quality home that will need to be torn down in less than 25 years. I guess they figure the land will keep appreciating.

The few pictures that I could find honestly don't look that bad: https://patch.com/virginia/mclean/look-inside-599m-custom-built-waterfront-estate-mclean-0
5 acres along the river seems like a steal

See if you can find photos of the kitchen online somewhere. That’s what most of the house looks like.

Much of the 5 acres is not usable with the current zoning and logistically with the topography. There are significant restrictions on what can and cannot be built on the land since it’s part of a park easement. The prior owners got into significant legal trouble by cutting down a few trees without permission.

Yeah that’s the whole point

Who cares, how much house do you need? The views make up for it, the scenery is what's worth millions itself. I am sure there would be no challenge to build a 10K sq.ft house there, they build them on similar steep downward sloping much smaller lots in hillier parts of NOVA. I personally like this house the best at least whatever part of interior they show, it has character and takes advantage of the views.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both of these homes remind me of the famous “luxury” river front house that sat for years in McLean. 7022 Green Oak Drive was listed for $7 million in 2021.

It sold in March of this year for just over $3M.

How did this go so cheap??

The owners were very motivated to sell. And $3M was the top of what they could get.

The value for this house is in the lot and the current house will likely be torn down. The problem is that the house was exceptionally cheaply built in 2003. The kitchen has what I’m pretty sure are IKEA cabinets and the countertops are very thin.

I don’t know why banks are willing to give 30 year mortgages on a low-quality home that will need to be torn down in less than 25 years. I guess they figure the land will keep appreciating.

The few pictures that I could find honestly don't look that bad: https://patch.com/virginia/mclean/look-inside-599m-custom-built-waterfront-estate-mclean-0
5 acres along the river seems like a steal

See if you can find photos of the kitchen online somewhere. That’s what most of the house looks like.

Much of the 5 acres is not usable with the current zoning and logistically with the topography. There are significant restrictions on what can and cannot be built on the land since it’s part of a park easement. The prior owners got into significant legal trouble by cutting down a few trees without permission.

Yeah that’s the whole point

Who cares, how much house do you need? The views make up for it, the scenery is what's worth millions itself. I am sure there would be no challenge to build a 10K sq.ft house there, they build them on similar steep downward sloping much smaller lots in hillier parts of NOVA. I personally like this house the best at least whatever part of interior they show, it has character and takes advantage of the views.

So, in your opinion, why did the house not sell for years? There were several hearty price drops. Why did it sit for months even after the price was dropped to $3.5M?

Looks like it was heavily marketed and it was featured in the Washington Post and other publications. The agent is known to be easy to work with.