So where are all the nicer mid-century homes at?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don't do mid-century housing here. That's a flyover country phenomenon.

Unless the OP likes some of the mid-century modern homes in places like Hollin Hills and Lake Barcroft, she may need to acquire a new appreciation for the 1960s split-foyer or split-level, because that's really the local equivalent of the type of house she mentioned from the Chicago suburbs.

No kidding

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op google "carderock springs" and "mid century homes". You'll be in heaven there. It's in the Bethesda area, near the Potomac

that area is so fugly but if you want that in N va Lake Barcroft is the place to be and with the lake a hidden gem.

That schools district is horrible and the housing prices are taking hits from it.

In Lake Barcroft? The schools have always sucked and the prices are not taking a hit. You clearly have no idea what you are talking about and you have never been there.

yes it is, with the advent of greatschools and google maps on every real estate listing the public is now much better informed about places to avoid. In the past a smooth talking realtor could dance around the terrible schools and horrible surrounding areas, but not anymore.

values are trending down
http://www.redfin.com/city/24003/VA/Lake-Barcroft

The values were "trending down" over a relatively short period this year. It's not like there was a lot of new information out regarding the schools.

For people who like a community with mid-century homes and lake access, Lake Barcroft will remain desirable. Don't worry, the people who want to tear down shacks and build McMansions will still have Pimmit Hills.

People tear down shacks everywhere, it's not unique to that pimmit hills place.

Some crazy anti PH people on here WTF.

[Anonymous]

OP I would think that if you want split levels, then the VA suburbs are right up your alley. It seems to be the only thing in Fairfax county under 900k. Apparently no one else wants them though because there's a big price discrepancy between mid century homes and Victorias/colonials/or modern(80-today) homes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The DC area has many things going for it, but charming mid-century homes ... not so much. We moved here from NY/NJ area and couldn't believe how poor the housing stock is here in most places, especially at these prices!

Exactly.

No pre-WWI homes to speak of, either, unless you have millions to spend.

The housing stock in this area is terrible.

[Anonymous]

I think it's that most DC suburbs were built cheap and fast after WWII. Also that prices are so high that people are stretched into houses they can't really afford and barely have the money to maintain them, let alone do extras like great landscaping and patios, porches, walkways, architectural roofs, etc.

[Anonymous]

Stuart High School tries to attract the upper-middle class from the area to the school by offering the IB program....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's that most DC suburbs were built cheap and fast after WWII. Also that prices are so high that people are stretched into houses they can't really afford and barely have the money to maintain them, let alone do extras like great landscaping and patios, porches, walkways, architectural roofs, etc.

Both sides of route 50 near Annandale Road have sprawling neighborhoods of cape cods built around 1950. Most have been expanded beyond their original 900 sq. ft. This is where we bought our first home for $189K in 1995. In 2006 it sold for $500. That's CRAZY for quality it was. We moved because of the low performing neighborhood school...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don't do mid-century housing here. That's a flyover country phenomenon.

Nope. Your ignorance is showing.

OP, this are did not have money until very recently. Certainly not like the north, where there are many large, old houses that have been cared for and well maintained.

If you drive around certain close in suburbs, you will notice the 50's and 60's original homes were all brick boxes, as that was a cheap material in those times. The houses were built for government workers and military people. Once in a while, you will see an abandoned one, overgrown and fermenting while the will gets worked out.

Now you will notice ramshackle additions, or mostly, knockdowns, which the original owners are up in arms about. In fact, you can barely mention knockdowns without someone getting offended and pretending they "don't want one". When in fact, there is such a huge price discrepancy (you will have noticed if you have been looking), and the choice does not exist for many.

OP here. So my suspicion is correct! Driving around NoVa it is as if there are two different worlds here; the old one with residual older, ordinary poor/country folk, and all the new construction often occupied by the transplants. I still don't understand why so many places are so messy. Sure it costs money to renovate a kitchen, but not to clean up your g*ddamn yard!

Hollin Hills and the like have a very different stock of MCM than what is in Chicago, but they are interesting and appealing to me. I don't necessarily need my kids going to a 9 or 10 school either, so we might have some options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.redfin.com/VA/Alexandria/2401-Daphne-Ln-22306/home/9816355

I love that.

Signed,

renovated "shitbox" Cape Cod owner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don't do mid-century housing here. That's a flyover country phenomenon.

Nope. Your ignorance is showing.

OP, this are did not have money until very recently. Certainly not like the north, where there are many large, old houses that have been cared for and well maintained.

If you drive around certain close in suburbs, you will notice the 50's and 60's original homes were all brick boxes, as that was a cheap material in those times. The houses were built for government workers and military people. Once in a while, you will see an abandoned one, overgrown and fermenting while the will gets worked out.

Now you will notice ramshackle additions, or mostly, knockdowns, which the original owners are up in arms about. In fact, you can barely mention knockdowns without someone getting offended and pretending they "don't want one". When in fact, there is such a huge price discrepancy (you will have noticed if you have been looking), and the choice does not exist for many.

OP here. So my suspicion is correct! Driving around NoVa it is as if there are two different worlds here; the old one with residual older, ordinary poor/country folk, and all the new construction often occupied by the transplants. I still don't understand why so many places are so messy. Sure it costs money to renovate a kitchen, but not to clean up your g*ddamn yard!

Hollin Hills and the like have a very different stock of MCM than what is in Chicago, but they are interesting and appealing to me. I don't necessarily need my kids going to a 9 or 10 school either, so we might have some options.

I don't think you're correct. It's not two different worlds, just one area that has mostly grown since the 1960s. The people in older homes may not be poor/country, but instead people who were used to smaller homes or want to live closer-in. The people in newer homes may not be transplants, but could be long-time residents who were eventually able to afford newer, larger homes.

Most neighborhoods in NoVa are well-tended. The ones that aren't tend to have a lot of renters, transients or illegal immigrants. You aren't going to find a big middle class living in small homes in the same neighborhoods where they grew up, like in Skokie or Glencoe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don't do mid-century housing here. That's a flyover country phenomenon.

Nope. Your ignorance is showing.

OP, this are did not have money until very recently. Certainly not like the north, where there are many large, old houses that have been cared for and well maintained.

If you drive around certain close in suburbs, you will notice the 50's and 60's original homes were all brick boxes, as that was a cheap material in those times. The houses were built for government workers and military people. Once in a while, you will see an abandoned one, overgrown and fermenting while the will gets worked out.

Now you will notice ramshackle additions, or mostly, knockdowns, which the original owners are up in arms about. In fact, you can barely mention knockdowns without someone getting offended and pretending they "don't want one". When in fact, there is such a huge price discrepancy (you will have noticed if you have been looking), and the choice does not exist for many.

No, you definitely won't find any cheap crap in "the north." No tiny brick boxes, ramshackle additions, brick facade with siding. Oh wait...

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/15-Sherwood-Dr-Larchmont-NY-10538/33046172_zpid/

mmm, gorgeous.

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/23-Addison-St-Larchmont-NY-10538/33046048_zpid/

fabulous!

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/35-Cypress-St-Brookline-MA-02445/56567509_zpid/

New England charm

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/639-Chestnut-Hill-Ave-UNIT-3-Brookline-MA-02445/63440629_zpid/

(that whole block looks like a real winner!)

Let's not forget OP's request for Skokie homes, long known for their midwestern beauty....

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5344-Monroe-St-Skokie-IL-60077/3535141_zpid/

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/9222-Kildare-Ave-Skokie-IL-60076/3522784_zpid/

Oh, if only DC-area homes could compete.

[Anonymous]

don't end your sentences in a preposition...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://www.redfin.com/VA/Alexandria/2401-Daphne-Ln-22306/home/9816355

I love that.

Signed,

renovated "shitbox" Cape Cod owner.

Awful schools!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don't do mid-century housing here. That's a flyover country phenomenon.

Nope. Your ignorance is showing.

OP, this are did not have money until very recently. Certainly not like the north, where there are many large, old houses that have been cared for and well maintained.

If you drive around certain close in suburbs, you will notice the 50's and 60's original homes were all brick boxes, as that was a cheap material in those times. The houses were built for government workers and military people. Once in a while, you will see an abandoned one, overgrown and fermenting while the will gets worked out.

Now you will notice ramshackle additions, or mostly, knockdowns, which the original owners are up in arms about. In fact, you can barely mention knockdowns without someone getting offended and pretending they "don't want one". When in fact, there is such a huge price discrepancy (you will have noticed if you have been looking), and the choice does not exist for many.

No, you definitely won't find any cheap crap in "the north." No tiny brick boxes, ramshackle additions, brick facade with siding. Oh wait...

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/15-Sherwood-Dr-Larchmont-NY-10538/33046172_zpid/

The difference is, the ones in Skokie have basements, are in general good repair, and don't cost 600,000.

mmm, gorgeous.

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/23-Addison-St-Larchmont-NY-10538/33046048_zpid/

fabulous!

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/35-Cypress-St-Brookline-MA-02445/56567509_zpid/

New England charm

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/639-Chestnut-Hill-Ave-UNIT-3-Brookline-MA-02445/63440629_zpid/

(that whole block looks like a real winner!)

Let's not forget OP's request for Skokie homes, long known for their midwestern beauty....

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5344-Monroe-St-Skokie-IL-60077/3535141_zpid/

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/9222-Kildare-Ave-Skokie-IL-60076/3522784_zpid/

Oh, if only DC-area homes could compete.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:don't end your sentences in a preposition...