Two great ones from a Bethesda-centric lens (literally). Most of these pictures were taken Battery Park near Downtown Bethesda.   More pictures to come!

Backyard of a downtown Bethesda home

…The Bethesda Lane Promendae before it really stated snowing…

– Courtesy of our DC & Bethesda Real Estate Blog at KoiztGroup.com

Downtown Bethesda Snow:

A Bethesda MD Home in the Battery Park neighborhood after almost 2 feet of snow.

Bethesda Lane video coming soon!  Stay safe out there, Bethesda!

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

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.

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

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. >>7530 Hampden Lane, Bethesda 20814

…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. Unfortunately, the video doesn’t want to render (sorry) but here’s a link to the official “W Residences” website.  Take a look around.  Great site…no Bethesda

Some Tied True and Trusted 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.

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?