BCCDC Real Estate by Marcie Sandalow

What does a termite look like?

marciesandalow — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:14:03 +0000

It’s not often that we see ‘em, but it’s good to know when you do. My favorite termite inspector handed me this card today. It’s a keeper!

East Bethesda MD 20814 Homes for Sale 2/3/12

marciesandalow — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:19:03 +0000

Update for 2/3/2012… One new listing, one went under contract last week and no price reductions.

All the homes in this article are currently for sale within East Bethesda. The top of the list features the newest listings, while the bottom showcases those that have been on the market for quite some time. I’ll be updating this post every Friday, so be sure to check back to see what’s new, what’s gone, & what might be coming (and check out the date up top… if it’s not current, neither is this information!). I’ve lived in East Bethesda for over 16 years. I’ve sold real estate in East Bethesda for over 12 years. It’s a wonderful neighborhood within walking distance of two metro stops AND downtown Bethesda. While all of this information is available to you on the various search engines, I’ve taken the time to inject my opinion on the condition, pricing, and likelihood of each property selling… or not. I hope you’ll give me a call if you have any questions. I have loved living here over the years, and I want to share it with other enthusiastic people!

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

8403 Baccarat, $950,000
Nice townhouse with 3 bedrooms, 3 full baths and 2 half baths. Many bathing opportunities. 2-car garage. Pretty wood floors. Granite counter tops. Breakfast room. Steps from NIH and metro. Competitively priced given the recent comps. HOA fee $165/month. Days on Market: 7

4624 Windsor Lane, $675,000
Back on the market. 2 BR/2FB cape/bungalow. Walk to NIH metro. Built in 1938. Updated kitchen. The price is ambitious for only 2BR. Lot measures 6,371 s.f. 1-car garage. For sale by owner. Recent $20K price drop. Days on Market: 126

4301 Rosedale Avenue, $1,865,000
New property to be built by Miller Development on a 10,605 s.f lot. Touts upscale finishes, designer kitchen, energy efficient systems, hand cut stonework, and wide plank floors. 5BR/4.5BA. Recent and rather unusual $70K price increase (they’ve recently started construction, and I’m guessing there are some add-ons). Days on Market: 226

7903 Kentucky Avenue, $1,300,000 range
6 bedrooms/5.5 baths. 4 levels. Due to deliver sometime in the summer of 2012. Built by Douglas Construction. The lot is on the small side at 5,250 s.f., but you’re a short 2-block walk to the park, a 1-block walk to BCC high school, and 12 minutes to metro. Not yet on the MLS. Days on Market: unavailable

4527 & 4508 Maple Avenue, $1,525,000
6 bedrooms/5.5 baths. 4 levels. Both in various phases of construction. Both built by Douglas Construction. They put out a good, solid house. Not yet on the MLS. Days on Market: unavailable

4319 Rosedale Avenue, $1,575,000
6 bedrooms/5.5 baths. 4 levels. Still time for customization Also by Douglas Construction. Sits on a larger lot… 9,000+ s.f. Not yet on the MLS. Days on Market: unavailable

ACTIVE LISTINGS MAP:

Click here to view the embedded video.

If you like East Bethesda, you might enjoy reading some of my other posts:

Top 10 Reasons to Live in East Bethesda

East Bethesda School Guide

B-CC Cluster Schools

Walk to Bethesda Metro & Walk to NIH/Medical Center Metro

If you would like to take a look at any of these East Bethesda properties, give me a call. I’d be happy to arrange a tour.

Lastly, if you would prefer to break outside the confines of East Bethesda, take a look at the attached alternative Bethesda/Chevy Chase zip codes. I work throughout Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and DC:

Information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

Census Fun Facts- Montgomery County MD

marciesandalow — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:24:10 +0000

The census is out. Montgomery County has done some changing since the last census in 2000:

The population has increased roughly 100,000 and now stands at 971,777. That makes it the 42nd most populous county in the nation.
Bethesda tops the largest towns within Montgomery County with 90,499 residents. Germantown is 2nd with 86,395. And Silver Spring comes in 3rd with 71,452.
Our county’s population has grown more diverse over the past decade. Montgomery County’s Hispanic population grew at the fastest pace (64.4 percent), followed by Asian and Pacific Islanders (37.0 percent), Blacks (25 percent) and other minority groups (21.3 percent).
The 39.3 percent increase in all minority groups combined offset a 7.8 percent decline in the number of non-Hispanic Whites living in the county.
Minorities now account for more than half the population within Montgomery County.

These are just some of the highlights. For more information on our community (and I mean boatloads), click here.

East Bethesda MD 20814 Homes for Sale 1/27/12

marciesandalow — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:43:51 +0000

Update for 1/27/2012… One new listing. One went under contract last week and there were no price reductions.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

7907 Chelton Road, $649,000
Pretty Colonial with 3 bedrooms and 1 bath. Sunny (and dated) kitchen, fresh paint, & beautiful wooden floors. First floor sun room Big yard. 5-blocks to Metro. Nice block. Close to Lynbrook Park. Days on Market: 0

Click here to view the embedded video.

If you like East Bethesda, you might enjoy reading some of my other posts:

Top 10 Reasons to Live in East Bethesda

East Bethesda School Guide

B-CC Cluster Schools

Walk to Bethesda Metro & Walk to NIH/Medical Center Metro

If you would like to take a look at any of these East Bethesda properties, give me a call. I’d be happy to arrange a tour.

Lastly, if you would prefer to break outside the confines of East Bethesda, take a look at the attached alternative Bethesda/Chevy Chase zip codes. I work throughout Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and DC:

Information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

Shredding in Montgomery County MD

marciesandalow — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:05:31 +0000

In this age of identity theft and paranoia, people are shredding their stuff. Sometimes you have a job that’s too big for your $16 shredder from Target.

So, what are your options? I did a little digging, and they are abundant.

Montgomery County occasionally hosts a “shredding day” event. None are yet planned for 2012, but it’s a free way to get bulk shredding done, assuming you can wait it out.
Then there’s the ARC… The Arc Montgomery County identifies, creates and sustains inclusive communities that embrace and engage individuals and families affected by intellectual and developmental disabilities. They can say it better than I can, so here’s their spiel:

Recycling Solutions
301.294.4020

Secure document destruction made easy!

We provide you with a secure container (for confidential material) and/or containers for non-secure paper.
At a prearranged time, your paper is picked up and then delivered to The Arc Recycling Solutions.
We shred your documents and issue you a destruction certification with your invoice.

The Arc Recycling Solutions offers you a secure, systematic approach to document destruction, including:

Insured, registered and licensed drivers and vehicles
Locked security document containers
Scheduled document pickups
Locked vehicles
Video security
Documents crosscut into 1/4” x 2” strips
Workforce disinterested in your documents
Certification of Destruction

We provide all labor, personnel, equipment, supplies, vehicles, materials, supervision and other related services,
plus an unbroken document chain of custody,
strict security practices and certified document destruction.

And if you’re willing to do some driving, you can also shred your paperwork (and discs, flash drives and VHS tapes) FOR FREE at FreeSecureShredding in Gaithersburg. It’s open to anyone, including DC residents. If you want to stick around to verify that your stuff has been shredded, you pay $30. Click here for more information.

There are hundreds of other options out there. A shredding truck can come to you. A secure bin can be dropped off at your home or business, etc.

Good luck!

Rock Creek Park in the Winter

marciesandalow — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:03:49 +0000

My husband took this picture of Rock Creek Park yesterday morning.

It’s good to live near Rock Creek Park.

East Bethesda Colonial for Sale

marciesandalow — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:04:07 +0000

Update 1/27/12 – UNDER CONTRACT

4411 Maple Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814

Welcome to this classic East Bethesda, center-hall brick colonial home featuring 3+ bedrooms and 2.5 baths. Located on a lovely tree-lined street, this fabulous house is a half-block walk to Lynbrook Park, a short walk to Bethesda Metro, 3-blocks to the Capital Crescent Trail, a few blocks to B-CC High School, and an easy stroll into downtown Bethesda. The location can’t be beat!

The first floor has beautiful hardwood floors. As you enter the house, a lovely living room with a fireplace can be found to your left. To the right of the entryway is the dining room with chair railings and lots of sunshine. The renovated kitchen is bright and cheerful with decent cabinet space, overlooking the back yard. Just beyond the living room is a family room with a half-bath, opening to a brick patio in the back yard.

Second floor features 3 bedrooms and one full bath with a tub. All the floors are carpeted… but wood floors reside underneath. We’ve pulled up a corner in one of the closets to give you an idea of what they look like.

The lower level features a finished walk-out rec room (currently used as a spare bedroom) with an abundance of sunlight. The sellers installed a 2nd full bath in 2009. The utility room has houses the W/D, furnace and sturdy shelving for all of your storage needs.

There is a driveway in the front yard, along with ample street parking for residents.

Estimated taxes for FY13 are $6,622

Offered at $699,000

Directions: From DC, North on Connecticut Avenue, R- Maple Avenue to 4411.

4411 Maple Avenue, East Bethesda, MD 20814

If you’re unable to make it to the open house, please call to schedule an appointment.

Marcie Sandalow: Telephone: 301/758-4894. E-mail: MarcieSandalow@bccdcrealestate.com
Catarina Bannier: Telephone 202/487-7177. E-mail: CBannier@EversCo.com

Click here for information on The Top 10 Reasons to Live in East Bethesda

East Bethesda MD 20814 Homes for Sale 1/20/12

marciesandalow — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:10:35 +0000

Update for 1/20/2012… At last. A new listing. One went under contract last week and there were no price reductions.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

4411 Maple Avenue, $699,000
Lovely center-hall Colonial with 3-4 bedroms and 2.5 baths. Renovated kitchen, fresh paint, & pretty wooden floors. First floor family room with powder room. 2nd floor offers 3BR and 1FB. Finished walk-out basement with new full bath (2009), ample built-in shelving and plenty of space for a rec room or 4th bedroom. Brick patio out back. 1/2 a block to the neighborhood park. Full disclosure… it’s my listing, and I love it! Click here for more photos. Days on Market: 0

Click here to view the embedded video.

If you like East Bethesda, you might enjoy reading some of my other posts:

Top 10 Reasons to Live in East Bethesda

East Bethesda School Guide

B-CC Cluster Schools

Walk to Bethesda Metro & Walk to NIH/Medical Center Metro

If you would like to take a look at any of these East Bethesda properties, give me a call. I’d be happy to arrange a tour.

Lastly, if you would prefer to break outside the confines of East Bethesda, take a look at the attached alternative Bethesda/Chevy Chase zip codes. I work throughout Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and DC:

Information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

Water Quality Monitoring Classes to begin 1/19/12

marciesandalow — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:47:20 +0000

The Audibon Naturalist Society begins a Water Quality Monitoring Class tomorrow from 7-9pm (sorry for the late notice), and again on February 26, 2012 from 2-4pm at Woodend Sanctuary in Chevy Chase, MD. In the class “we will explore how benthic macroinvertebrates (a.k.a. bottom-dwelling boneless creatures) help us assess the health of local streams and learn how to identify these organisms to the taxonomic level of order. In the field workshop, we will practice monitoring techniques and then collect and identify the macroinvertebrates we find. One classroom session and the field workshop are recommended for those interested in becoming monitors.”

If you haven’t had a chance to check out the Audibon Society, DO! It’s situated not too far from Rock Creek Park, and offers an array of classes, summer camps for kids, and events like the Bloomin’ Birdathon. For more information, you can check out their website, here.

2011 Real Estate Statistics- Bethesda/Chevy Chase & DC

marciesandalow — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 11:11:00 +0000

2011 Wrap up

On Wednesday of this week I had an opportunity to share some local real estate statistics on the new Washington Post’s “Where We Live“ blog. While it didn’t exactly launch into a vibrant on-line discussion (come on… it’s statistics), it was fun having it out there.

The table below breaks down real estate activity for 2008-2011 in the Bethesda/Chevy Chase/DC markets. Read below the graph for detailed analysis on what it all means…

Click here to view the embedded video.

I’ve been selling real estate for 12+ years. I’m always getting asked how the market is doing. The simple answer is that it’s a whole lot better than the rest of the country. But those in the market always want more detail, and that’s complicated. It’s easier to talk about real estate when there is a distinct swing in the market. I’ve been tracking real estate trends in Bethesda/Chevy Chase/Northwest DC for many years (specifically zip codes 20814, 20815, 20816, 20817, 20015 and 20016) and in 2011 we’ve got a hodge-podge of plusses and minuses, ending the year on a bit of a dull plateau. Still, given the turmoil in other parts of the US, this is a fine predicament.

In 2007 2,153 homes sold with an average price of $918,074
In 2008 1,796 homes sold with an average price of $870,833
In 2009 1,951 homes sold with an average price of $819,145
In 2010 1,978 homes sold with an average price of $834,749
In 2011 1,964 homes sold with an average price of $839,263

The one extreme in this market is the reduction in foreclosure and short sale activity. Collectively, there were 22 bank sales in 2008; 75 in 2009; 91 in 2010; and 30 in 2011, a welcome reversal.

Sellers in these zip codes received between 93.1% and 96.8% of their original asking price. With two exceptions (20814 & 20015), this number has improved gradually since the market bottomed out in 2008/9. The number of days on market has improved, too.

In the last three months (10/10/11 onward) 429 new listings have hit the market. As of today, 206 remain active, 41 have withdrawn from the market, 78 are under contract, 4 are temporarily off the market, and 94 have successfully sold, leaving a mysterious 6 listings out there in limbo land. Crunching numbers from the MLS is not always an exact science

I’ve been complaining about a lack of inventory for ages now. The once guaranteed annual 10-15% return on real estate investments is long gone. Trade-up buyers are waiting it out for a variety of reasons:

Job security
A return to previous $ levels
Upside down on mortgage

Lastly, those who previously ditched DC for other locales are choosing to stay put due to our strong job market. Thank you, government.

As buyers or sellers, I’d love to hear what you think about the current market conditions.