Avenel- Is there something wrong?

[Anonymous]

The HOA documents I looked at (May be updated) states that basically you couldn’t do anything to the house/ yard that could be seen by a neighbor. Pool, shed, playground, swing set, etc etc. Or from the golf course. So only the largest most expensive homes had lots big enough that no neighbors could see their back yard. So basically you were very restricted. Add that the streets curve and jam together in cul de sacs, most homes were “nothing in the yard ever”. That brought values down not up.

[Anonymous]

I like Avenel a lot and almost bought there. One turn off was the fact you had to use approved contractors and certain materials that were expensive. The HOA includes, lawn cutting, snow removal, pool club and those nice bike and walk paths.

I ended up buying in Blenheim which is Potomac Village and I am walking distance to village and no HOA. Lots of kids moving in. The bus stops have lots of kids in morning. Homes built around 75-77 so nearly all original owners have moved on

I think key is walk Village and close in for Potomac

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The issue is not just Avenel but frankly the entire area. When you have a region that is rooted in gov't, the houses are going reflect that. So any SFH before 1970 is (by today's standards) a small-ish 1800-2400 sq ft house, often brick with 8ft ceilings, relatively small lot size - the result of both being affordable on a gov't salary from 40-50 years ago. The needs/priorities were different then. No one swore by mudrooms with cubbies, farmhouse sinks and higher ceilings - nor any Instagram envy.

Simply put, the housing stock is very dated, decent build but not 100-year-old houses like some parts of Europe, but lacks features today's buyers want - higher ceilings, more light, mudrooms with cubbies, spa bathrooms and a different look than brick (hence McCraftsmans). Clearly, with people spending 2 million or more for new homes like this, those with the means are setting direction for the market. And it already is working its way down as you now see similar houses at 1 million but with fewer amenities. They are choosing to tear down and build closer in at the detriment to neighborhoods like Avenel.

To the OP, there is technically nothing wrong with Avenel. If you brought someone to Avenel who was making 30k a year in some other place, they would think they were in a special place. The homes are nice, common areas and pool/tennis/golf are all right there.

The issue is really does it fit your lifestyle, budget, location, and yes, some plane noise (this is everywhere in DC folks).

Not all over Potomac--but Avenel is close to the river, where plane noise is concentrated.

[Anonymous]

Wow! This thread does not make avenel sound good at all. They need to move into the present day. No way would I buy with those crazy HOA rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow! This thread does not make avenel sound good at all. They need to move into the present day. No way would I buy with those crazy HOA rules.

Those rules are sort of the point of the place though. It always looks...groomed. For many people that's their bag.

[Anonymous]

Actually HOA rules are not that crazy. Most of the rules just keep the place from looking junky. Pools and playsets are definitely allowed. Just need to plant screening. I consider that a good thing -- who wants to overlook their neighbors pool. Commute to DC is amazing. I can get downtown in 25 minutes. Downside is that many of the owners failed to update kitchens & bathrooms. As far as kids -- lots of kids but downside is that so many go to private school that you they don't always get to know each other. Real variety in lot size and house size -- don't generalize that all are big mansions on hug lots. They just made to community pool open to the entire neighborhood so it has a sense of community for the kids. For the price, I actually think it a good value as long as you have a reasonable budget for updates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like there's only a problem at Avenel if you compare appreciation there to very hot areas. It's not a hot area but its hardly in crisis. Plus, big showy houses like that, but all houses really, have a period where they look bad old and not yet good old, and those houses are in it. In another few decades maybe they will start to seem retro chic. Peak Avenel moms wanted to wear big gold earrings and take their friends to the wine cellar when they came over for cheese overlooking the golf course. Peak 2019 moms want to pretend a 1000 sq ft kitchen is "farm house" because it has black hardware. They want to make artisanal crackers for when their friends come over for cheese and to run down to the pretend-street-mall-thing for dinner. In either case, a bunch of the value was the "lifestyle" and lifestyles go in and out of fashion.

Where's the love button? Please quit your job, abandon your spouse and children, neglect your friends and give up your hobbies. Do DCUM 24-7. Please -- this is what God is calling you to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like there's only a problem at Avenel if you compare appreciation there to very hot areas. It's not a hot area but its hardly in crisis. Plus, big showy houses like that, but all houses really, have a period where they look bad old and not yet good old, and those houses are in it. In another few decades maybe they will start to seem retro chic. Peak Avenel moms wanted to wear big gold earrings and take their friends to the wine cellar when they came over for cheese overlooking the golf course. Peak 2019 moms want to pretend a 1000 sq ft kitchen is "farm house" because it has black hardware. They want to make artisanal crackers for when their friends come over for cheese and to run down to the pretend-street-mall-thing for dinner. In either case, a bunch of the value was the "lifestyle" and lifestyles go in and out of fashion.

Where's the love button? Please quit your job, abandon your spouse and children, neglect your friends and give up your hobbies. Do DCUM 24-7. Please -- this is what God is calling you to do.

I laughed out loud when I read this and my kid thought I was crazy. Yes, please do DCUM full time!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow! This thread does not make avenel sound good at all. They need to move into the present day. No way would I buy with those crazy HOA rules.

Those rules are sort of the point of the place though. It always looks...groomed. For many people that's their bag.

Barf. You say groomed I say ‘antiseptic and oppressive’.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Restrictive zoning is protecting these areas form condos and the people getting pushed out of proximity but it isn't sure for how long with modern justice trends and the news cycle showing the east county voters just how many times out of sight and out of mind decisions that protect areas like that turn out to hurt areas like silver spring.

This is ridiculous. Nothing in Potomac is hurting Silver Spring. In fact, the western areas funds all the programs in Silver Spring.

Well there are policy reasons most of the affordable and low income housing was built over there and it wasn’t because Silver Spring asked for it. Yes the west county pays for much of silver spring but it is a Faustian bargain that for years meant getting the short end of the stick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Restrictive zoning is protecting these areas form condos and the people getting pushed out of proximity but it isn't sure for how long with modern justice trends and the news cycle showing the east county voters just how many times out of sight and out of mind decisions that protect areas like that turn out to hurt areas like silver spring.

This is ridiculous. Nothing in Potomac is hurting Silver Spring. In fact, the western areas funds all the programs in Silver Spring.

Well there are policy reasons most of the affordable and low income housing was built over there and it wasn’t because Silver Spring asked for it. Yes the west county pays for much of silver spring but it is a Faustian bargain that for years meant getting the short end of the stick.

Silver Spring DID ask for it. It’s your Silver Spring, Takoma Park and Wheaton county council members (who made up a majority with the at-large seats these past years) passed the new accessory apartment laws do that you can now house a whole family or two above your garage now. It’s exactly what they wanted.

[Anonymous]

I just think tastes have changed. Many of the folks I know who would have wanted Potomac in the early 2000s want NWDC now. I even lived in Chevy Chase back then. Now I live in NEDC. There really was something about the allure of it. I dine out a lot more these days as my kids have gotten older. Back then I was at Biglaw with small kids. Now, the thought of the suburbs makes me crazy.

I get it though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just think tastes have changed. Many of the folks I know who would have wanted Potomac in the early 2000s want NWDC now. I even lived in Chevy Chase back then. Now I live in NEDC. There really was something about the allure of it. I dine out a lot more these days as my kids have gotten older. Back then I was at Biglaw with small kids. Now, the thought of the suburbs makes me crazy.

I get it though.

You get that enough of the poor people in NE got pushed out that you can comfortably live there now?

Unlike Avenel, UMC tone-deafness never goes out of style.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just think tastes have changed. Many of the folks I know who would have wanted Potomac in the early 2000s want NWDC now. I even lived in Chevy Chase back then. Now I live in NEDC. There really was something about the allure of it. I dine out a lot more these days as my kids have gotten older. Back then I was at Biglaw with small kids. Now, the thought of the suburbs makes me crazy.

I get it though.

You get that enough of the poor people in NE got pushed out that you can comfortably live there now?

Unlike Avenel, UMC tone-deafness never goes out of style.

hi there were a lot of UMC people in NE before also

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just think tastes have changed. Many of the folks I know who would have wanted Potomac in the early 2000s want NWDC now. I even lived in Chevy Chase back then. Now I live in NEDC. There really was something about the allure of it. I dine out a lot more these days as my kids have gotten older. Back then I was at Biglaw with small kids. Now, the thought of the suburbs makes me crazy.

I get it though.

You get that enough of the poor people in NE got pushed out that you can comfortably live there now?

Unlike Avenel, UMC tone-deafness never goes out of style.

hi there were a lot of UMC people in NE before also

Hi. No, there were not. There were a few pockets of -middle- class people near Catholic / associated with the ancillary institutions, in upper Brookland There were middle class pockets tight near the arboretum. That’s it. Don’t reinvent history. NE DC has never been and upper middle class place for BigLaw partners and associates