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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

I love this!

[Anonymous]

Hollin Hills and also some in the Crestwood neighborhood of Washington, DC.

[Anonymous]

Most of the old houses smell terrible, it seems. They have not been maintained well, and you are lucky if they have no ramshackle add-ons.

They just are not built with today's living in mind; few or no closets, for example. There are not many options with regard to old houses. ITA with PP that splits or brick boxes are about it. Not a lot to choose from.

If you drop a certain amount of money, the old houses are cleared off the lots to make way for homes with bigger living and storage spaces. How many times do people post here looking for everything from closet additions to a basement (!!!!) addition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Most of the old houses smell terrible, it seems. They have not been maintained well, and you are lucky if they have no ramshackle add-ons.

They just are not built with today's living in mind; few or no closets, for example. There are not many options with regard to old houses. ITA with PP that splits or brick boxes are about it. Not a lot to choose from.

If you drop a certain amount of money, the old houses are cleared off the lots to make way for homes with bigger living and storage spaces. How many times do people post here looking for everything from closet additions to a basement (!!!!) addition.

Yawn. Every time I see a reference to "ramshackle" additions, I know it's the same idiot with her weird phobia of older houses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Most of the old houses smell terrible, it seems. They have not been maintained well, and you are lucky if they have no ramshackle add-ons.

They just are not built with today's living in mind; few or no closets, for example. There are not many options with regard to old houses. ITA with PP that splits or brick boxes are about it. Not a lot to choose from.

If you drop a certain amount of money, the old houses are cleared off the lots to make way for homes with bigger living and storage spaces. How many times do people post here looking for everything from closet additions to a basement (!!!!) addition.

You are so strangely naive about houses. Respect those who do not want what you prefer

[Anonymous]

WaPo had a piece on mid century modern neighborhoods
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/where-we-live/post/washingtons-mid-century-modern-neighborhoods/2012/02/13/gIQADQvUBR_blog.html

[Anonymous]

There are pockets of nice ones in Forest Hills. Along Fessenden, for example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WaPo had a piece on mid century modern neighborhoods
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/where-we-live/post/washingtons-mid-century-modern-neighborhoods/2012/02/13/gIQADQvUBR_blog.html

OP here, thank you for the link! Those are gorgeous and give me hope.

[Anonymous]

OP, Carderock Springs in Bethesda, which was mentioned upthread and is also covered in that article, has very good public schools. I wanted to mention that in case schools are a priority for you.

[Anonymous]

The houses in Holmes Run Acres in Falls Church are charming, but they're small and not all maintained to the same level. We live in a neighborhood nearby and there are some mid century modern houses sprinkled in our neighborhood as well. You just have to look for them, they're there.

[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.

I think you are confusing people settling for what they can afford with people deliberately seeking out this housing stock. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Most of the old houses smell terrible, it seems. They have not been maintained well, and you are lucky if they have no ramshackle add-ons.

They just are not built with today's living in mind; few or no closets, for example. There are not many options with regard to old houses. ITA with PP that splits or brick boxes are about it. Not a lot to choose from.

If you drop a certain amount of money, the old houses are cleared off the lots to make way for homes with bigger living and storage spaces. How many times do people post here looking for everything from closet additions to a basement (!!!!) addition.

Yawn. Every time I see a reference to "ramshackle" additions, I know it's the same idiot with her weird phobia of older houses.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The houses in Holmes Run Acres in Falls Church are charming, but they're small and not all maintained to the same level. We live in a neighborhood nearby and there are some mid century modern houses sprinkled in our neighborhood as well. You just have to look for them, they're there.

Here's an article on the neighborhood.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/realestate/2012/10/19/57f23cd8-0d9b-11e2-a310-2363842b7057_story.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

This is the second reference I've seen on a DCUM thread this week about houses around here not having basements. Just curious where all these are? Not trying to be snarky, but truly curious because we did extensive house hunting in 2002 before we bought our DC row house and again last year before we bought a SFH (we looked in CH CH, Arlington and NW), and when I say extensive I mean LOTS and LOTS of open houses over the course of a year each time... and I honestly can't recall a single house without a basement. Is it an outside the beltway phenomenon? In any case, my comment to the above would be the reason homes in the midwest have basements (not the only reason, but a good one) is because they have tornados there. Also, as many folks who do have basements here will tell you, be careful what you wish for, because the soil around here makes them very prone to flooding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

This is the second reference I've seen on a DCUM thread this week about houses around here not having basements. Just curious where all these are? Not trying to be snarky, but truly curious because we did extensive house hunting in 2002 before we bought our DC row house and again last year before we bought a SFH (we looked in CH CH, Arlington and NW), and when I say extensive I mean LOTS and LOTS of open houses over the course of a year each time... and I honestly can't recall a single house without a basement. Is it an outside the beltway phenomenon? In any case, my comment to the above would be the reason homes in the midwest have basements (not the only reason, but a good one) is because they have tornados there. Also, as many folks who do have basements here will tell you, be careful what you wish for, because the soil around here makes them very prone to flooding.

The reason people's basements flood is due to improper foundation water proofing, lack of grading and weeping systems. I also bet the old home owners don't want to invest the money in maintaining or bringing their basements up to code.