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

[Anonymous]

To the above - meant to quote it right, but:

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

[Anonymous]

I think what the OP is getting at is valid, and isn't a full-on attack of the DC area. The high priced homes in DC and the close-in suburbs are pretty nice. But that is the minority of the housing stock in the area. The bulk of the housing isn't too hot for the simple reason of timing: The best times in American house building were the 20's-30's, and then the 60's and early 70's. This area had its housing booms in the 50's, 80's, 2000's. The highest priced neighborhoods around here are populated with bungalows and craftsman styles from pre-1940, or with solid, handsome brick houses from the 60's. The lower priced neighborhoods are plain brick rectangles from the 50's and vinyl-siding split-levels from the 80's onwards. The OP has a point-- you have to have quite a bit of money in the DC area to avoid the brick rectangles and the vinyl siding. Other areas have a higher percentage of houses that are pre-war, or are 60's-70's brick low-lying ranches, because that is when those area experienced their housing booms. This is one of those factors that makes home buying any sort of budget in the DC area so frustrating. You are paying a lot, and not getting much of a house for the money, because there weren't that many great houses built in the area in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Interesting perspective ^

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think what the OP is getting at is valid, and isn't a full-on attack of the DC area. The high priced homes in DC and the close-in suburbs are pretty nice. But that is the minority of the housing stock in the area. The bulk of the housing isn't too hot for the simple reason of timing: The best times in American house building were the 20's-30's, and then the 60's and early 70's. This area had its housing booms in the 50's, 80's, 2000's. The highest priced neighborhoods around here are populated with bungalows and craftsman styles from pre-1940, or with solid, handsome brick houses from the 60's. The lower priced neighborhoods are plain brick rectangles from the 50's and vinyl-siding split-levels from the 80's onwards. The OP has a point-- you have to have quite a bit of money in the DC area to avoid the brick rectangles and the vinyl siding. Other areas have a higher percentage of houses that are pre-war, or are 60's-70's brick low-lying ranches, because that is when those area experienced their housing booms. This is one of those factors that makes home buying any sort of budget in the DC area so frustrating. You are paying a lot, and not getting much of a house for the money, because there weren't that many great houses built in the area in the first place.

Completely agree. Very well said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

Nope. Your ignorance is showing.

Darling. I have lived in this area for 20 years. I know of what I speak. Don't you presume to call me ignorant, for when you pointed that finger at me, three pointed back at you.

OP, mid-century homes are simply not coveted here, so there aren't that many. People buy mid-century homes, tear them down, and build new.

I realize that bizarre fetish for mid-century homes that began in California about 5 years ago eventually found its way to Kansas are whereabouts, but around here, colonial is king. Brick colonial. Craftsman is popular too. The only mid-century homes that exist are the shitshacks that their owners can't afford to tear down.

[Anonymous]

The houses in the DC area are as ugly and distasteful as PP.

[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.

Darling. I have lived in this area for 20 years. I know of what I speak. Don't you presume to call me ignorant, for when you pointed that finger at me, three pointed back at you.

OP, mid-century homes are simply not coveted here, so there aren't that many. People buy mid-century homes, tear them down, and build new.

I realize that bizarre fetish for mid-century homes that began in California about 5 years ago eventually found its way to Kansas are whereabouts, but around here, colonial is king. Brick colonial. Craftsman is popular too. The only mid-century homes that exist are the shitshacks that their owners can't afford to tear down.

Eichlers have been in California for ages, not just 5 years ago. If you haven't looked at Palo Alto real estate lately, you should. A tiny, not particularly attractive Eichler in Palo Alto probably sells for at least three times the selling price of an Ashburn McMansion.

I'm not sure what to make of these "shitshack" threads on DCUM. Is this board full of people who have never seen truly expensive housing? The prices you see for small, old houses here are nothing compared to the prices and the housing stock you would find in Silicon Valley.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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!

We also don't have the large stock of aging homes that have turned large swaths of suburban NYC into slums like Irvington, Union, East Orange and much of the South Shore of LI.

How do aging homes turn suburbs into slums?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Darling. I have lived in this area for 20 years. I know of what I speak. Don't you presume to call me ignorant, for when you pointed that finger at me, three pointed back at you.

OP, mid-century homes are simply not coveted here, so there aren't that many. People buy mid-century homes, tear them down, and build new.

I realize that bizarre fetish for mid-century homes that began in California about 5 years ago eventually found its way to Kansas are whereabouts, but around here, colonial is king. Brick colonial. Craftsman is popular too. The only mid-century homes that exist are the shitshacks that their owners can't afford to tear down.

Eichlers have been in California for ages, not just 5 years ago. If you haven't looked at Palo Alto real estate lately, you should. A tiny, not particularly attractive Eichler in Palo Alto probably sells for at least three times the selling price of an Ashburn McMansion.

I'm not sure what to make of these "shitshack" threads on DCUM. Is this board full of people who have never seen truly expensive housing? The prices you see for small, old houses here are nothing compared to the prices and the housing stock you would find in Silicon Valley.

OK, thanks, Ms. Google.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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!

We also don't have the large stock of aging homes that have turned large swaths of suburban NYC into slums like Irvington, Union, East Orange and much of the South Shore of LI.

How do aging homes turn suburbs into slums?

Suburban NYC has a lot of older homes that aren't very big and aren't high quality, and higher-income residents quickly moved elsewhere with newer, larger homes when the opportunity presented themselves.

Of course, there are many beautiful older homes in the NYC region as well. You get more of the good, and more of the bad at the same time. The default home in the DC region may not appeal to some, but objectively it's not bad.

[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.

Darling. I have lived in this area for 20 years. I know of what I speak. Don't you presume to call me ignorant, for when you pointed that finger at me, three pointed back at you.

OP, mid-century homes are simply not coveted here, so there aren't that many. People buy mid-century homes, tear them down, and build new.

I realize that bizarre fetish for mid-century homes that began in California about 5 years ago eventually found its way to Kansas are whereabouts, but around here, colonial is king. Brick colonial. Craftsman is popular too. The only mid-century homes that exist are the shitshacks that their owners can't afford to tear down.

Very odd post. The ignorance that it reflects about local architecture is only outweighed by the ignorance it betrays about what is valued in other parts of the country.

[Anonymous]

Forest Hills DC and Lake Barcroft in NoVa

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Forest Hills DC and Lake Barcroft in NoVa

I like this house that just got listed in Lake Barcroft:

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/6409-Lakeview-Dr-22041/home/9651780

[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.

Darling. I have lived in this area for 20 years. I know of what I speak. Don't you presume to call me ignorant, for when you pointed that finger at me, three pointed back at you.

OP, mid-century homes are simply not coveted here, so there aren't that many. People buy mid-century homes, tear them down, and build new.

I realize that bizarre fetish for mid-century homes that began in California about 5 years ago eventually found its way to Kansas are whereabouts, but around here, colonial is king. Brick colonial. Craftsman is popular too. The only mid-century homes that exist are the shitshacks that their owners can't afford to tear down.

See, this just isn't true. There are many people in this area who love 1950s and 60s homes. And there are some beautiful neighborhoods full of them - sure there aren't as many as the ubiquitous colonials, but they are out there. I know of one neighborhood of mid-century houses (ramblers) in 20910 where those 2000-3000+sq ft. "shitshacks" are going for upwards of $700,000 and 800,000. To people who are renovating them, not tearing them down. They are lovely, livable houses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Darling. I have lived in this area for 20 years. I know of what I speak. Don't you presume to call me ignorant, for when you pointed that finger at me, three pointed back at you.

OP, mid-century homes are simply not coveted here, so there aren't that many. People buy mid-century homes, tear them down, and build new.

I realize that bizarre fetish for mid-century homes that began in California about 5 years ago eventually found its way to Kansas are whereabouts, but around here, colonial is king. Brick colonial. Craftsman is popular too. The only mid-century homes that exist are the shitshacks that their owners can't afford to tear down.

See, this just isn't true. There are many people in this area who love 1950s and 60s homes. And there are some beautiful neighborhoods full of them - sure there aren't as many as the ubiquitous colonials, but they are out there. I know of one neighborhood of mid-century houses (ramblers) in 20910 where those 2000-3000+sq ft. "shitshacks" are going for upwards of $700,000 and 800,000. To people who are renovating them, not tearing them down. They are lovely, livable houses.

Yes. Sections of Woodside Park in Silver Spring, Harvey and Edgevale and Watson Roads and vicinity.