Best Curb Appeal Neighborhoods in Potomac/Rockville/Bethesda

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Edgemoor - especially Mooreland Lane and Fairfax Road - some lovely homes, some of which were estates built in the late 1800s and have 3 acres (there aren't many, but they do exist).

Bradley Hills -

Kensington - nothing else going for it, but those large, original farmhouses are stunning.

Much of Kensington is in the shadow of the beltway, and/or very close to major roads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What neighborhoods do you consider "pretty" in Potomac/Rockville/Bethesda? Like when you drive in, you think, "wow, this neighborhood is so pretty"?

Where I live in Bethesda near NIH, there are beautiful, old trees and green areas. But almost none of the houses have garages, and there are tons of cars parked EVERYWHERE. There's been a car parked at my neighbor's with a flat tire for MONTHS (yes, I filed a city ordinance complaint). There is no HOA in my hood, so people don't care for their lawns very well, and things often look overgrown. There are also old electricity/telephone wires everywhere, and there are no sidewalks for me to walk my small kids or dog. (No offense to anyone. The trade off is walkability, being close to the metro and downtown, not having to care for a large yard, being around highly intelligent neighbors, I could go on and on).

I'd love to find a neighborhood that has a garage (ahhhh, the extra space to store things!!), where people tend to their yards and the neighborhood looks "groomed", maybe some nice sidewalks, buried wires (does this exist in this area?!?). I grew up near Dallas and miss the groomed looking neighborhoods. As our kids are getting older, I want to find a home that more like a neighborhood than a transient area great for commuting, that also has curb appeal.

I don't know the answer, sorry, but I was curious about the bolded. How is the neighborhood walkable if there are no sidewalks?

Walkability meaning to downtown areas, to the metro, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kenwood

Probably close to the truth. Kenwood isn't as manicured as a southern neighborhood, but it leans that way. It's kind of not to many locals tastes, which is why Kenwood properties sell at a discount to nearby Somerset.

That's totally not true. The larger homes in kenwood are 3-4 million and they go pretty quickly. Somerset is nice, but the prices are about half of kenwood and if you like the kenwood aesthetic you will find somerset to be scruffy (or kenwood too manicured, if you prefer somerset).

+1. Prior PP doesn't know what she is talking about.

I'm afraid you two are the ones who don't know what you are talking about!

I'm a multi-decade resident of the area: I've been around and know lots of folks and I'll share the truth. Kenwood is known as the neighborhood you went ga-ga over if you made a small pile of cash between the 20s and the 70s and wanted to tattoo "RICH" on your forehead: that makes it a touch cheesy. And before you harp on me, I've know some of Kenwood's 'best': a construction firm's owner, a founder of a top law firm, a jet-setting surgeon, and, gasp, the guy who told national TV his special underwear saved him from a fire.

If showed a rando American photos of Kenwood and Somerset houses and asked which costs more, they'd all say Kenwood. But the truth is Kenwood is cheaper per square foot, Dorset goes through both 'hoods, trust me when I say the comparable Kenwood homes sell at a discount to Somerset. Part of this is that Kenwood is remote, whereas a lot of Somerset is walkable to either FH or Bethesda. And part of this is that a lot of folks don't want to look like a mid-20th century parvenu. Houses in Somerset have sold for $4M+, which AFAIK, has never happened in Kenwood. Kenwood CC is notoriously a cheese fest, too.

To OP: I'm not saying don't live there. I'm saying don't make the mistake that so many Kenwood residents make and think that others in the area are jealous of you. I have never heard anyone outside envy Kenwood, but almost every Kenwood resident boasts about it. I like the Yoshinos myself, but seeing those pissy little yellow signs every five feet ruins so much of the appeal. And you better be damn sure, for their sakes, that your kids don't go to school and brag about living in a parvenu paradise: the kids that did that got beat up and mocked!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Edgemoor - especially Mooreland Lane and Fairfax Road - some lovely homes, some of which were estates built in the late 1800s and have 3 acres (there aren't many, but they do exist).

Bradley Hills -

Kensington - nothing else going for it, but those large, original farmhouses are stunning.

Much of Kensington is in the shadow of the beltway, and/or very close to major roads.

Interesting points about Kensington. I have been considering a move there. We do not use metro, want something walkable with good schools that is more affordable than our WOTP NW DC neighborhood. I wonder why it is so inexpensive. We are looking at places with walkability ratings of 60+. What are the negatives of the area?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Edgemoor - especially Mooreland Lane and Fairfax Road - some lovely homes, some of which were estates built in the late 1800s and have 3 acres (there aren't many, but they do exist).

Bradley Hills -

Kensington - nothing else going for it, but those large, original farmhouses are stunning.

Much of Kensington is in the shadow of the beltway, and/or very close to major roads.

Interesting points about Kensington. I have been considering a move there. We do not use metro, want something walkable with good schools that is more affordable than our WOTP NW DC neighborhood. I wonder why it is so inexpensive. We are looking at places with walkability ratings of 60+. What are the negatives of the area?

Negatives-very close proximity to 495 (hearing distance) and mediocre schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chevy Chase Village, Edgemoor.

+1. Edgemoor is especially walkable and really pretty.

[Anonymous]

Avenel in Potomac

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Avenel in Potomac

Tacky and dated

[Anonymous]

Tower Oaks, Rockville

[Anonymous]

It's not walkable/metro accessible enough for me, but for curb appeal I like Chevy Chase Section 5.

[Anonymous]

Drumaldry off Fernwood. Sidewalks, an HOA that keeps shared spaces nice and architecturally appealing homes. But not walkable to shops. Somewhat fewer sidewalks but also lots of charm and dog walking and kids playing on quiet streets in Hillmeade on the other side of Greentree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Drumaldry off Fernwood. Sidewalks, an HOA that keeps shared spaces nice and architecturally appealing homes. But not walkable to shops. Somewhat fewer sidewalks but also lots of charm and dog walking and kids playing on quiet streets in Hillmeade on the other side of Greentree.

Oy, the Drumaldry houses are HIDEOUS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drumaldry off Fernwood. Sidewalks, an HOA that keeps shared spaces nice and architecturally appealing homes. But not walkable to shops. Somewhat fewer sidewalks but also lots of charm and dog walking and kids playing on quiet streets in Hillmeade on the other side of Greentree.

Oy, the Drumaldry houses are HIDEOUS.

From the decade taste forgot!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And you better be damn sure, for their sakes, that your kids don't go to school and brag about living in a parvenu paradise: the kids that did that got beat up and mocked!

Ugh. It's posts like this that make me worry about BCC high school vs. somewhere like Wotton. Get a grip.

[Anonymous]

Try Lux Manor. Beautiful homes on large lots. Friendly neighbors. Good schools.