Greater Bethesda Online

The Edgemoor, Downtown Bethesda – 4821 Montgomery Lane # Bethesda

The Edgemoor Condominium, known for both its elegance and its tremendous convenience, is home to a very special unit that we just put the market. This 2BR + den, 2BA apartment sits on the terrace level and is close to 1400 square feet and is offered for $749,900. Featuring hardwood floors, walk-in closets, a gas fireplace, gourmet kitchen and elegant baths, the owner of this unit also has one parking space in the underground garage.

The Edgemoor is truly a part of downtown Bethesda. The metro station is in the next block and Bethesda’s urban core sits two blocks in the opposite direction. Residents of The Edgemoor have the ability to walk to 200 local restaurants, shop at scores of retail stores, browse a myriad of galleries and enjoy both film and live theatre – all without getting into a car. It is truly a lifestyle of both luxury and tremendous convenience.

The Edgmoor Condos #104 – Just A Few Pictures

For More Information and Interactive Virtual Tour, please Visit Featured Properties of our Bethesda Real Estate Guide

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I recently posted about “Extraordinary Greater Bethesda Luxury Neighborhoods” in one of our other real estate news outlets and thought I needed to include a few other stand out neighborhoods in Northwest Washington DC real estate spectrum. So here goes…

Massachusetts Avenue Heights

The small neighborhood of Massachusetts Avenue Heights is home to the Washington National Cathedral as wall as a small, triangular residential section located between Garfield Street and Massachusetts Avenue. Its prime location (picture Hollywood Hills of DC) and its exclusive number of available homes are just two of the reasons why Massachusetts Heights is such a desirable neighborhood.

Cleveland Park, Washington DC

Cleveland Park, DC real estate features some of the finest homes and townhomes in the DC Metro area, but its personal properties aren’t the only reason so many people are attracted to this neighborhood. Rather, the extensive amount of green space that surrounds the neighborhood and its rich history are certainly major draws as well. In fact, the neighborhood was listed as a Historic District in 1987. A variety of exquisite architectural styles reflecting this history can be found within the neighborhood, including Queen Anne, Victoria, Mission and Classical Revival homes.

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Washington DC Edged Out By Seatle As “Literacy Town USA”

Congrats Washington DC. And congrats to Dr. Jack Miller who is responsible for a relatively thorough study. I normally argue that the metrics used to measure “city rankings”, are rushed and rife with confounding factors. And this list isn’t a total exception. But Dr. Miller, President Central Connecticut State University, uses “intelligent” parameters to reach his consensus.

Greater Bethesda Maryland Was Left…So Was Madison WI

Well…to be fair, Bethesda is officially “town”…and Bethesda’s population disqualified them anyway (city had to had a population of at least 250,000. But I would’ve loved to have seen us in the mix. Another notable left out of the study was Madison Wisconsin — precluded because of a population just $25,000 short of the minimum $250,000 threshold.

“How” Washington, DC Delivered

Literacy rankings were based of of 6 principal metrics:

• Bookstores (per 10,000 population)
• Education Level
• Internet Resources
• Library Support, Holdings, and Utilization
• Newspaper Circulation
Periodical Publishers

>> variables explained in depth

More critque to come — but until then, any thoughts on rankings below?

The 20 “Most Literate” Cities Per Study

1. Seattle, WA
2. Washington, DC
3. Minneapolis, MN
4. Pittsburgh, PA
5. Atlanta, GA
6. Portland, OR
7. St. Paul, MN
8. Boston, MA
9. Cincinnati, OH
10. Denver, CO

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A selection of the finest Bethesda homes for sale in the area.  As diverse, as they are extraordinary…

Luxury Home in Bethesda

Pictures and virtual tours by clicking on the links…

1.  The Bethesda Modern >> 5124 Wissioming Road, Bethesda 20816

2.  And it’s equally impressive little brother >> 10 Wissioming Court, Bethesda 20816

3. The Avenel (yes, there’s a Bethesda Section of Avenel) – “Modern Mansion” – not modern architecturally rather the year it was built. And with nearly 37,000 sq. ft. of interior living space, Mansion may be an understatement >> 7013 Natelli Woods Lane, Bethesda 20817

4. The Arts and Crafts Bethesda “Resort Spa” – How many ways can one enjoy their house? Almost 3 Acres, Pool ,Spa with waterfall, Pool house, Home Theatre, Wine cellar, ,HOME gym, Sauna…I could go on too! >> 8800 Saunders Lane, Bethesda 20817

5. “Estate of Convenience” – You can have your cake and eat it too in Edgemoor…walking distance to downtown Bethesda and the urban core, this 18,000 sq. ft. is the epitome of luxury urban village living. >> http://www.koitzgroup.com/idx/mris/MC7040588/details.html

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…By the Transitive Property I think…Bethesda is begging for a W Residence Hotel.  But since there isn’t one there yet, I wanted to give you a little peak at some of the cities where they have been built or are in pre construction.  Take a look at this video of the Residences in Austin, Atlanta, and Miami in that order.  Please note there’s music – albeit relaxing ambient “W”esq music.

Atlanta, Austin, and South Beach W Hotel and Residences…No Bethesda, MD

More Atlanta, Austin, and South Beach  W Residence Real estate Recources:

Some of the best recources for these three cities in particular…

• Miami luxury condos guide – Kevin Tomlinsin’s Miami Luxury Condo Gallery is reflective of his knowledge base…
• Austin real estate news – find the latest updates on W sales and inventory on Eric Bramlett’s  real estate news network.  Or contact him directly…he’s a downtown authority.
• Atlanta real estate guide – visit Ryan ward’s  Condos and Townhomes page to finest extraordinary Atlanta luxury condos

Don’t Give Up on a Bethesda W Condo / Hotel

That’s enough W Residence talk for today…but more resources soon and yes, I’ll keep pushing for the Bethesda location.

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The Rise of Hotel / Condo Bethesda Lifestyle?

Well not in reality…yet.  And yes, with so man Bethesda condos in the pipeline, do we need…can we absorb another? — that always always depends on timing and location.  A boutique hotel with a few residential condo units would be a perfect match for Downtown Bethesda.  Whatever, whenever is the W’s slogan right?  Well now we have the “wherever”…

Actually we need to take you...

Washington DC isn’t “W Hotel free” — situated at 515 15th Street NW,  President Obama could take a few minute stroll to Washington DC’s W.  But I’m talking about W Hotel and Residences.

My argument (and I’m right!):  Every area has slightly different housing needs — and if there’s one type of property the Bethesda area is begging for, it’s the 2000 sq. ft.+ luxury condo.  In this particular case, I picture a Boutique W, with approximately 40 hotels rooms and 30 residences…all 2000-5000+ square foot units (the residences, that is).  The upscale Hotel / Residence is the opitome of the “lock and leave” convenience, with resort style living.

The only other comparable Hotel/Residence in the DC Metro area is The Georgetown, DC Residences at Ritz Carlton …and what did we learn from those 28 units?….

When you actually build products that the public is demanding (think baby boomers with money), they sell…regardless of the market.  This past March wasn’t a wonderful time for Washinton DC real estate but that didn’t stop one of the Penthouse units at the Georgetown Ritz to sell for over $7M…a record for a DC condo.

I know the prices and condo fees that would come with a Residence/Hotel would stretch most Washingtonian’s pocket book.  But if you built it in downtown Bethesda, they would most certainly come…

Thoughts?

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For those who are interested in luxury Bethesda townhomes in the heart of Downtown, The City Homes of Edgemoor stands as one of the few choices. Because of escalating downtown Bethesda land prices in the late 1990s, most newer developments demanded that developers plan for more density – which led to condos — and along with them, the end of the short era of townhome development. Located a stones throw from The Bethesda Metro and the Downtown urban core, The City Homes of Edgemoor was the 2nd of just two luxury downtown Bethesda Townhome developements.

Just a little over a decade ago, the The City Homes of Edgemoor were just homes. Older, relatively run down single family homes lined Montgomery Lane at that point. After a local developer purchased the first couple of homes on Montgomery Lane, however, interest in the development of “City Homes” spread rapidly. In fact, the City Homes sold out before construction even began (circa 1997).

***Please note there’s background music..sorry

Video of the City Homes of Edgemoor Unit

During Phase 1 of the construction of The City Homes of Edgemoor, three rows of 4-level townhomes were completed. Two of the rows contained six townhomes, while the third row had only five units. Each of the townhomes provided approximately 2400 square feet of living space to its residents, with the exception of two that were found in the third row. It was in the third row that the developer and the builder, constructed their own personal units – each of which 3500 square feet (essentially a townhouse and a half). They also featured 3 car garages as well with elevators. These incredibly special units have since turned over — and one is actually currently on the market. There were only two other “normal” units completed during Phase 1 contain elevators.

Two years after Phase 1 was wrapped up in 1998, the second phase of the project began. At this time, the developer acquired a couple more properties and chose one of Bethesda’s most prominent builders, to construct two additional rows of townhomes. Although the units are similar to those that were built during phase 1, they are a bit larger. In fact, each home is approximately 3,000 square feet (via an extra 6 feet of depth). In addition, each unit has its own elevator.

The City Homes of Edgemoor are considered to be such a desirable place to live. Residents of The City Homes of Edgemoor enjoy easy access to nearly 200 restaurants and more than 100 specialty shops, boutiques, movie theatres and more within the area.

Looking for all Bethesda homes for sale on the Bethesda MLS?  We can handle that at KoitzGroup.com…come on over any time!

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How would you like it if Downtown Bethesda were on a beach?  Bethesda Magazine posed this question in a humorous and brilliant series of pictures depicting “in a perfect world”.  This was one of the coolest and most fun pieces I’ve seen in quite some time.  I wish I had the link to my favorite picture, but it was similar to this one of Barnes and Noble at the corner of Woodmont and Bethesda Avenue, which is at the center of the urban village core.  But instead of the massive parking lot (not seen), there was a beach!

Downtown Bethesda at the intersection of Woodmont and Bethesda Avenue. What if Downtown Bethesda were on a beach?

Sarasota, FL & Gulf Goast, AL Inspiration Time

One of the best side-benefits of having real estate agent/marketing friends across the country is being able to keep up with different markets, and feel the pulse of the different areas where these professionals work.  Of course there’s no substitution for visiting, but I wanted to introduce you to two Beach destinations through the pictures below.

I encourage you to take a look at both of the websites associated with each area.  You can almost “feel the life of these areas” through them.  I was hoping that a look at these two extraordinary destinations through these two extraordinary web experiences will give you (at least the Greater Bethesda contingent out there) inspiration to answer this question:

If you could Move Downtown Bethesda anywhere, where would you move it?

Gulf Shores Real Estate?

Gulf Shores real estate anyone? Courtesy of Cal Carter and the top producing Gulf Shores Life Real Estate Team at Keller Williams.

Gulf Shore life looks awfully nice — especially through the lens of Cal Carter’s Gulf Shores real estate guide.   Appropriately titled GulfShoreLife.com, one look at the vivid slide-shows, images, and custom home listing displays on this triumph of a web guide will explain why I thought Bethesda would fit well on these sandy beaches.  For even more pictures, visit Cal’s Alabama Gulf Coast real estate guide…

Sarasota Real Estate

Luxury Sarasota Real Estate? Marc Rasmussen, one of the elite agents in Sarasota, has an equally impressive website -- LuxurySarasotaRealEstate.com is filled with images, videos, and all Greater Sarasota MLS property listings.

Recently touted as the #1 area to buy a home in the US, take a look at Marc Rasmussen’s LuxurySarasotaRealEstate.com – one of the finest and most attractive real estate guides anywhere. Besides perusing properties through a customized Sarasota MLS, don’t miss his Sarasota real estate news section for more Sarasota flavor.

Thoughts on where you’d move Bethesda (or your city, for those not from the area) if you could move it anywhere?

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And when’s the last time you saw a sequel better than the original?  Well, if the New York Time’s has its facts straight, many more homebuyers’ may be enjoying this second iteration of the Homebuyers’ Tax Credit.

There was a tentative deal a couple days ago, as reported by Jolenta Averill, a prominent Madison, WI real estate agent has been doing a wonderful job keeping tabs on the latests news and notes with the proposed tax credit.  You can read many of the proposed details in her tax credit update post from Saturday.

Some of the newest proposed conditions can also  be found at this >> Real Estate News network if you’re interested in the details.  But before you leave me (or if you’re tired of reading!), three of the most notable changes to the Tax Credit would include:

1. Extended to April 30, 2010 (slated to end in a few weeks)
2. No longer limited to only first time buyers and
3. Applies to people with higher income limits.

Beautiful home on a tree lined in Bethesda's Edgemoor subdivision

Better For Bethesda Real Estate & Beyond?

As many have argued, the “First Time” buyer home credit needed to be more inclusive, both in regards to income and prior home ownership status.  $8,000 on an $825,000 Bethesda property wasn’t going as far as an equivalent in most other cities.  With fewer new Greater Bethesda property listings coming on the market (seasonal), this “Homebuyer Tax Credit 2.0″ may be a catalyst to help  lower the current absorption rate.  There are other variables that will weigh heavily into a potential home purchase, of course — but “Credit 2.0″certainly wouldn’t hurt.

Thoughts?

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