What is going on with Lakelands and Kentlands?

[Anonymous]

You could not buy a house there like ever and now there are so many listings.
What is going on?

[Anonymous]

No clue, but I won’t buy there. I dislike the area. I bet there are a lot of people who feel the same way.

[Anonymous]

I don't know that the number of listings has changed. We sold a condo in Lakelands in 2 weeks and bought another home in Kentlands that has appreciated in value.

Kentlands Market Square is undergoing a major renovation over the next few years that will bring in a lot of new retail and restaurants. Should be exciting.

PP, why do you dislike it and think others do too?

[Anonymous]

I just looked on Redfin and found 14 homes for sale between the two neighborhoods. Keep in mind there are a few homes on the edges for sale, so you have to know the boundaries to get an accurate number.

That's out of hundreds and hundreds of homes. Why does that seem high to you?

[Anonymous]

NP. A healthy turnover rate--aka the percent of homes in a neighborhood for sale--is 7-8%. Between Kentlands and Lakelands there are roughly 3,000 residential units. That would translate to about 200 homes for sale.

So in fact, the neighborhood real estate market is the opposite of what you proposed; it's quite tight. No one is selling. Of course it's the winter, so you'd have to check back in the spring and summer to get a sense of the peak turnover rate for a full real estate cycle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. A healthy turnover rate--aka the percent of homes in a neighborhood for sale--is 7-8%. Between Kentlands and Lakelands there are roughly 3,000 residential units. That would translate to about 200 homes for sale.

So in fact, the neighborhood real estate market is the opposite of what you proposed; it's quite tight. No one is selling. Of course it's the winter, so you'd have to check back in the spring and summer to get a sense of the peak turnover rate for a full real estate cycle.

That makes no sense. If you want to say 7% is healthy turnover then fine but that's PER YEAR. If you're saying 7% should be for sale right now then that's 84% turnover a year.

[Anonymous]

NP here. I would never buy a house in Kentlands or Lakelands either. We looked several times but each time came away with no way. Its fun ti visit, but live there no way.

1. It has a strange vibe. Its not urban but its too crowded and busy. Its not low end but its not high end either. Lots of restaurants but none of them are good. It reminded me of an outlet mall or one of those shopping plazas out in VA. Its great to go to one or have one close by but I wouldn't want to live in one.

2. The houses always seemed over priced compared to the area. This is generally a risky investment.

3. Everyone has complaints and compliments about where they live but complaints that I had heard from Kentlands residents made us really pause. HOA is a nightmare. Its like living in a PTA meeting or event. No escape from everyone. Too gossipy. Too loud and crowded.

4. The house layouts are all off. Either the rooms are all designed to be just a few ft too small for normal furniture or there is some HOA requirement to purchase super large furniture for every room. Every house we saw had very little flow space around the furniture. Detached garages with the climate here doesn't make sense. Who wants to live in a pink or purple house?

5. The best is the faux lake and premium for lakefront. Mosquitos and nat breeding grounds.

6. Too public. There are lots of fun events at the Kentlands but there is also tons of parking. I really enjoy block parties but block parties with the entire Gaithersburg, North Potomac, and Rockville area coming to my neighborhood is different.

[Anonymous]

Way too far out, mediocre schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Way too far out, mediocre schools.

Far from what, my commute from there is 20 minutes and 10 minutes for my H?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. I would never buy a house in Kentlands or Lakelands either. We looked several times but each time came away with no way. Its fun ti visit, but live there no way.

1. It has a strange vibe. Its not urban but its too crowded and busy. Its not low end but its not high end either. Lots of restaurants but none of them are good. It reminded me of an outlet mall or one of those shopping plazas out in VA. Its great to go to one or have one close by but I wouldn't want to live in one.

2. The houses always seemed over priced compared to the area. This is generally a risky investment.

3. Everyone has complaints and compliments about where they live but complaints that I had heard from Kentlands residents made us really pause. HOA is a nightmare. Its like living in a PTA meeting or event. No escape from everyone. Too gossipy. Too loud and crowded.

4. The house layouts are all off. Either the rooms are all designed to be just a few ft too small for normal furniture or there is some HOA requirement to purchase super large furniture for every room. Every house we saw had very little flow space around the furniture. Detached garages with the climate here doesn't make sense. Who wants to live in a pink or purple house?

5. The best is the faux lake and premium for lakefront. Mosquitos and nat breeding grounds.

6. Too public. There are lots of fun events at the Kentlands but there is also tons of parking. I really enjoy block parties but block parties with the entire Gaithersburg, North Potomac, and Rockville area coming to my neighborhood is different.

bolded is why we passed on Kentlands. But the pink/purples doesn't bother me, but then again, I'm from the SF area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Way too far out, mediocre schools.

Far from what, my commute from there is 20 minutes and 10 minutes for my H?

From...I don't know...the city closest to it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. I would never buy a house in Kentlands or Lakelands either. We looked several times but each time came away with no way. Its fun ti visit, but live there no way.

1. It has a strange vibe. Its not urban but its too crowded and busy. Its not low end but its not high end either. Lots of restaurants but none of them are good. It reminded me of an outlet mall or one of those shopping plazas out in VA. Its great to go to one or have one close by but I wouldn't want to live in one.

2. The houses always seemed over priced compared to the area. This is generally a risky investment.

3. Everyone has complaints and compliments about where they live but complaints that I had heard from Kentlands residents made us really pause. HOA is a nightmare. Its like living in a PTA meeting or event. No escape from everyone. Too gossipy. Too loud and crowded.

4. The house layouts are all off. Either the rooms are all designed to be just a few ft too small for normal furniture or there is some HOA requirement to purchase super large furniture for every room. Every house we saw had very little flow space around the furniture. Detached garages with the climate here doesn't make sense. Who wants to live in a pink or purple house?

5. The best is the faux lake and premium for lakefront. Mosquitos and nat breeding grounds.

6. Too public. There are lots of fun events at the Kentlands but there is also tons of parking. I really enjoy block parties but block parties with the entire Gaithersburg, North Potomac, and Rockville area coming to my neighborhood is different.

LOL bolded part, I hope you aren't talking about the neighborhood. My neighborhood on the other side of Gaithersburg has SFHs going in the 300s and 400s(your average colonial). I see houses in kentlands usually around 800,000-900,000. Definitely high end market...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Way too far out, mediocre schools.

Far from what, my commute from there is 20 minutes and 10 minutes for my H?

From...I don't know...the city closest to it?

So nothing really.

[Anonymous]

I love Kentlands and Lakelands. I remember when it was built and have always wanted to live there but my husband didn't.

I think the new Home Goods store taking Kmart's place will do well. It's supposed to be a Home Goods on steroids

[Anonymous]

I think the new Home Goods store taking Kmart's place will do well. It's supposed to be a Home Goods on steroids

LOL. While a discount TJMAX Home Goods store is a step up from KMart, it isn't exactly painting the picture of an appealing area to live. The area is very frumpy -Michaels, Ross Dress for Less, now TJMAX Home Goods -where is the Payless Shoes or As Seen On TV store? I guess those are coming in the next upgrade.