Strange house near Wheaton Plaza

[Anonymous]

Sink dishwasher situation is terrible and hate the outside look with that odd window.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bad area. University Blvd is all MS13.

Kensington Heights - pool, playground, families - is a wonderful neighborhood.

+1

[Anonymous]

The schools are terrible and the house has weird design choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not a new build---the listing says it was built in the 1950s. The interior isn't so bad. It just needs a decor make-under, starting with the lighting fixtures.

This is an important distinction. Until recently only one wall needed to stay standing for a home to be considered a remodel. If at any point that wall fell it would be considered a new build. The old wall is under there somewhere.

The distinction matters for the builder because a new build requires the builder to register as a developer and pay certain fees and follow other regulations. It also requires a new home warranty to convey.

These types of builders never say it’s a new build and the date should always be the original year even though it’s almost 99% new construction.

So in builds like this, buyer beware a little extra.

(Also, I’m remembering this from permits department comments and I may have some details incorrect.)

This house clearly has kept a lot of the original structure given the size of the kitchen and closets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The schools are terrible and the house has weird design choices.

The schools are not terrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't hate it but I do think a few more/bigger windows would have made a big difference. While I agree its more Kensington than Wheaton, it's still not a great location with backing up to the mall parking lot. Seems overpriced to me but it's been awhile since I have been in the market to buy a house. That area is definitly increasing fast.

It backs up to a private pool club

Btw backing up to the mall is really not the end of the world. And it's convenient.

I agree except is that Costco really never getting a gas station?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't hate it but I do think a few more/bigger windows would have made a big difference. While I agree its more Kensington than Wheaton, it's still not a great location with backing up to the mall parking lot. Seems overpriced to me but it's been awhile since I have been in the market to buy a house. That area is definitly increasing fast.

It backs up to a private pool club

Btw backing up to the mall is really not the end of the world. And it's convenient.

I agree except is that Costco really never getting a gas station?

A court blocked it in 2018: https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2018/04/md-court-rules-costco-cant-build-wheaton-gas-station/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't hate it but I do think a few more/bigger windows would have made a big difference. While I agree its more Kensington than Wheaton, it's still not a great location with backing up to the mall parking lot. Seems overpriced to me but it's been awhile since I have been in the market to buy a house. That area is definitly increasing fast.

It backs up to a private pool club

Btw backing up to the mall is really not the end of the world. And it's convenient.

I agree except is that Costco really never getting a gas station?

A court blocked it in 2018: https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2018/04/md-court-rules-costco-cant-build-wheaton-gas-station/

Also, the county passed a law to prevent large gas stations from being built near homes:

https://www.kensingtonheightsmd.org/khca-blog/2018/7/08/costco-update-we-won

[Anonymous]

It isn't horrible... not great, either.

1.1 for that location seems crazy to me. Elsewhere in Kensington, certainly but not there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sink dishwasher situation is terrible and hate the outside look with that odd window.

That kitchen would make me claustrophobic - I don't mind small - it's a decent size - but no windows. And you are all crammed in there....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
It isn't horrible... not great, either.

1.1 for that location seems crazy to me. Elsewhere in Kensington, certainly but not there.

Maybe crazy to you. For those of us that recently bought here, it is not remotely surprising.

Curious why so many people post about being surprised at prices in areas they know nothing about. How do these posts serve you?

[Anonymous]

I live nearby and love it, but I agree 1.1 seems a bit high. We are approaching a million for the larger, newer houses, but this one has odd layout and little curb appeal.

Great neighborhood though!

[Anonymous]

It's a great neighborhood with good schools. 1.1M seems right for the square footage, honestly. That said, this house design (particularly outside) isn't my taste.

[Anonymous]

1.1 seems a little much for this specific part of Kensington. If you moved the house, warts and all, a couple streets away to McComas I could see 1.1 easily, but I just don’t think if you have 1.1 to spend that particular location, backing up to a large pool and that close to the Wheaton mall (this was where the crazy carjacker from the mall ran to and attempted to smash his way into a house with a gun), is where you are looking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live nearby and love it, but I agree 1.1 seems a bit high. We are approaching a million for the larger, newer houses, but this one has odd layout and little curb appeal.

Great neighborhood though!

Where specifically do you live? In the neighborhood where this house is located, 5 houses have sold for over $1 million during the last 2 years and they are not new construction/remodels ( for example, https://www.redfin.com/MD/Kensington/3211-McComas-Ave-20895/home/11143585 ). If you expand the search to south of McComas, the actual new construction houses are selling for $1.5+ million.