Anonymous
Post 03/31/2012 14:50     Subject: Great house in Bethesda
Wasn't this the house that sold at $820,000 at peak?
if so just apply the normal Bethesda discount to peak prices to get a fair value. unless they truly did massive improvements since then.
Anonymous
Post 03/30/2012 14:59     Subject: Re:Great house in Bethesda
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have a similar house (layout, size) in the same general vicinity as the one posted by the OP, and I agree this one is overpriced - you can get 3/4BR and Bethesda schools in the $750k range. To the PP who thought the kichen was lovely, sorry - someone spent a lot of money on structural work to open up the back of this house and then really cheaped out on the kitchen - cheezy cabinets, terrible layout with no area to work, and low range appliances. It could be improved, but I wouldn't consider this an updated kitchen at this budget. On the other hand, the SS house isn't really a comparison - it's tiny, old, and doesn't a precious foyer either, plus very problematic schools despite the one shining student who ended up at Harvard.


And you know this ... how?

Have you ever looked at the schools, talked to the families whose children go there?

No, I didn't think so.


This is what people in Bethesda think of when they think about Silver Spring:



So true!! I live in Silver Spring in a really nice house in a friendly, nice, tree-filled neighborhood with lots of professionals around and even a few BMWs on our block ... my kids' friends who live in Bethesda etc. give me the weirdest looks when I say where we live, like it's Fort Apache the Bronx or something.
Anonymous
Post 03/30/2012 13:46     Subject: Re:Great house in Bethesda
For me, a huge foyer is conceptually wasted space, but a normal foyer is a must because I don't like solicitors or other door traffic seeing inside our lovely home unless invited in.
Anonymous
Post 03/30/2012 13:07     Subject: Great house in Bethesda
Seems like there's no master bath, which would be a problem for me. I also like a foyer, especially when the weather is bad. It gives a bit of buffer from the cold or wind. Also, as a PP said, it provides a landing place for keys, mail, etc.
Anonymous
Post 03/30/2012 07:23     Subject: Great house in Bethesda
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:House is overpriced. Hate the location.


Maybe you think it is overpriced because you hate the location, but lots of people would be happy with a 4 BR house in walking distance to downtown Bethesda.


I think it is overpriced because I checked the comps in the area and it is overpriced. Houses that are nicer in a better neighborhood off Huntington parkway are selling for less. The kitchen is poorly designed as someone mentioned, as an example, the refrigerator is too close to the back door. Living so close to to old Georgetown road means traffic noise. Living within walking distance to Bethesda is great but that has to be balanced by a house that is priced for what it really is.
Anonymous
Post 03/29/2012 21:07     Subject: Re:Great house in Bethesda
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have a similar house (layout, size) in the same general vicinity as the one posted by the OP, and I agree this one is overpriced - you can get 3/4BR and Bethesda schools in the $750k range. To the PP who thought the kichen was lovely, sorry - someone spent a lot of money on structural work to open up the back of this house and then really cheaped out on the kitchen - cheezy cabinets, terrible layout with no area to work, and low range appliances. It could be improved, but I wouldn't consider this an updated kitchen at this budget. On the other hand, the SS house isn't really a comparison - it's tiny, old, and doesn't a precious foyer either, plus very problematic schools despite the one shining student who ended up at Harvard.


And you know this ... how?

Have you ever looked at the schools, talked to the families whose children go there?

No, I didn't think so.


This is what people in Bethesda think of when they think about Silver Spring:

Anonymous
Post 03/29/2012 21:04     Subject: Re:Great house in Bethesda
Anonymous wrote:I have a similar house (layout, size) in the same general vicinity as the one posted by the OP, and I agree this one is overpriced - you can get 3/4BR and Bethesda schools in the $750k range. To the PP who thought the kichen was lovely, sorry - someone spent a lot of money on structural work to open up the back of this house and then really cheaped out on the kitchen - cheezy cabinets, terrible layout with no area to work, and low range appliances. It could be improved, but I wouldn't consider this an updated kitchen at this budget. On the other hand, the SS house isn't really a comparison - it's tiny, old, and doesn't a precious foyer either, plus very problematic schools despite the one shining student who ended up at Harvard.


And you know this ... how?

Have you ever looked at the schools, talked to the families whose children go there?

No, I didn't think so.
Anonymous
Post 03/29/2012 20:36     Subject: Re:Great house in Bethesda
I have a similar house (layout, size) in the same general vicinity as the one posted by the OP, and I agree this one is overpriced - you can get 3/4BR and Bethesda schools in the $750k range. To the PP who thought the kichen was lovely, sorry - someone spent a lot of money on structural work to open up the back of this house and then really cheaped out on the kitchen - cheezy cabinets, terrible layout with no area to work, and low range appliances. It could be improved, but I wouldn't consider this an updated kitchen at this budget. On the other hand, the SS house isn't really a comparison - it's tiny, old, and doesn't a precious foyer either, plus very problematic schools despite the one shining student who ended up at Harvard.
Anonymous
Post 03/29/2012 20:02     Subject: Re:Great house in Bethesda
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Looks like this (bona fide) starter house has a foyer:

http://www.cbmove.com/property/details/706785/MLS-MC7805070/10002-Rogart-Road-Silver-Spring-MD-20901.aspx


I dont get this http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/downcounty/
http://gis.mcpsmd.org/gis/PublicLocator.asp
Does that mean you can chose your own school? Why would you chose crimestein over the better ones?


Do you mean Einstein HS? Because calling it crimestein is just juvenile (not to mention misleading).

Define "better"?

One of my DD's best friends graduated from Einstein and is at Harvard now and is doing great. She's the only one of their group to have been admitted to an Ivy - the other students all went to "better" schools.
Anonymous
Post 03/29/2012 19:43     Subject: Great house in Bethesda
House is butt-ugly and too close to Old Georgetown Road.
Anonymous
Post 03/29/2012 16:34     Subject: Great house in Bethesda
Anonymous wrote:House is overpriced. Hate the location.


Maybe you think it is overpriced because you hate the location, but lots of people would be happy with a 4 BR house in walking distance to downtown Bethesda.
Anonymous
Post 03/29/2012 16:24     Subject: Re:Great house in Bethesda
Anonymous wrote:Looks like this (bona fide) starter house has a foyer:

http://www.cbmove.com/property/details/706785/MLS-MC7805070/10002-Rogart-Road-Silver-Spring-MD-20901.aspx


I dont get this http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/downcounty/
http://gis.mcpsmd.org/gis/PublicLocator.asp
Does that mean you can chose your own school? Why would you chose crimestein over the better ones?
Anonymous
Post 03/29/2012 16:18     Subject: Great house in Bethesda
House is overpriced. Hate the location.
Anonymous
Post 03/29/2012 15:33     Subject: Re:Great house in Bethesda
Looks like this (bona fide) starter house has a foyer:

http://www.cbmove.com/property/details/706785/MLS-MC7805070/10002-Rogart-Road-Silver-Spring-MD-20901.aspx
Anonymous
Post 03/29/2012 13:43     Subject: Great house in Bethesda
Anonymous wrote:Ladies, I assure you that I'm just a friendly DCUM poster. I am renting on this street and love it - would have considered buying it myself except we are moving tomorrow into a new home. And while $865 isn't a "starter home" for some, for others who can afford it, this IS a good starter home if you want and can afford to live in Betheda. I'm not friends with the neighbors or anything, but it looks nicely done and this is an ideal neighborhood if you're transitioning from D.C. (I'm a city girl myself) to the 'burbs (you can walk to everything in downtown Bethesda, the bus stops at the end of the street, NIH and its paths are at the end of the street, etc. I don't think you can beat this area and I've loved living here. Was just trying to be helpful.

Also, what do people do with a foyer exactly? I've never had one...I always think it's a bunch of wasted space.


Foyer:

Hang coats, dedicate storage for backpacks, boot/shoe tray, hooks for dog leash. Contain mud, dirt, dampness, water from outside on a rug or mat designated for that purpose.

Put incoming & outgoing mail, keys on the foyer table.

Transition space for people coming in, public space for people you don't want in your living spaces.

Our "starter" home had no foyer and it drove me nuts. Never again.