East Bethesda Real Estate Statistics for 2009:
It's time for my annual number crunching. So, how is East Bethesda real estate faring? Better than the rest of the region. Prices are down from last year, roughly 12% regionally and 6.9% within East Bethesda. And while lower prices are never great for sellers, if you are a move-up buyer, the savings on your new home should more than offset the loss you'll take on your current. At the time of this writing we have an extremely low inventory of homes for sale (4 houses are available in our neighborhood, ranging in price from $535,000 - $1,450,000). With this rather severe lack of inventory we've also been seeing some multiple bids (remember those!). So even though it goes against the usual grain of advice, listing your house to sell this holiday season might be advantageous.
This year I've added a new element to my sales analysis: original list prices. In this market, the figure is especially important for sellers assessing a smart asking price and buyers trying to figure out how much to offer. In more robust markets, the difference between the original list price and the final/revised list price is minimal. However, in a declining market, the difference is often significant. 
The difference is most noticeable in high-end homes. The average beginning list price of 6+ bedroom homes in East Bethesda (there were 7 sales total) was$1,615,285. At the time these homes were sold, asking (or list) prices had been reduced to an average $1,547,685. Actual sales prices (meaning, what they got in the end) averaged $1,436,428. That means that these homes sold for an average of 11% less than the original asking price, and 7% less than the final asking price. As a buyer or a seller this information is instrumental to getting a true sense of the market.
Part of what is helping the local housing market begin its recovery is that mortgage money is easing up. For qualified buyers we have seen the return of the 80/10/10 loan, which allows buyers to put down 10% on a new home, vs. the 20% required just a few months ago. FHA loans are gaining in popularity and are a lot more consumer-friendly than in the past. Additionally, appraisals seem to be more grounded in reality, allowing for more successful transactions.
East Bethesda is bordered by Wisconsin Avenue, Jones Bridge Road, Columbia Country Club and the East-West Highway.
Be sure to give me a call if you are looking to buy or sell in East Bethesda in 2010.
-Marcie Sandalow
Evers & Company Real Estate, Inc.
 |
|
|
Helping buyers and sellers in Bethesda/Chevy Chase and DC. Fabulously organized. Locally knowledgeable. Cool under pressure. Connected. Please call me if you're looking to buy or sell in 2011.
I've been selling houses in Bethesda, Chevy Chase and DC for 12+ years, though I've long been immersed in the world of real estate. My mother was an agent, and in fact, co-owned Chambers-Cross, a real estate office in the Chicago suburbs (Winnetka).
My area of expertise is concentrated in Bethesda/Chevy Chase, where I live, though I'm well versed in the overall DC market. I'm actively involved in the community and schools, having served as membership coordinator for the East Bethesda Citizens Association, and a two-year term as PTA Co-president at Chevy Chase Elementary School. In 2011-12 I'll serve as co-vice president for Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School PTSA. What was I thinking? I've got great contacts and a wealth of information about and throughout the region.
I work with new buyers, old buyers, repeat buyers, short sale buyers... These days most people can find their future home of choice on-line. My job is to help you sort through all of the minutia involved in buying a house: figuring out local comparables, transportation, restaurants, schools, and most importantly, financing, home inspections & contract negotiation. It's my job to help you get the best house for the best price. It can take a week. It can take a year. I'm with you every step of the way.
I also work with all sorts of sellers (condos, houses, down-sizers, up-sizers, estate sales, out-of-town sellers and those just plain leaving town!).. The key to my success has been in my extensive familiarity with the DC region and my complete devotion to detail. I work with an in-house graphic designer and photographer, so your house is always shown in the best possible light- both on-line and through our gorgeous brochures. I can offer a variety of inexpensive staging options for furnished or un-furnished homes. And I'll preview your home and make suggestions for improving various elements enabling you to position yourself to get top dollar. I advertise not only through print media (The Post, the Washingtonian, etc) but through a variety of social media including the Multiple Listing Service, Craigs List, Realtor.com, Zillow, Redfin, and my own website: bccdcRealEstate.com
Buying and selling property in Bethesda/Chevy Chase/DC need not be an angst-ridden event. With the right agent to guide you through the process, it can, in fact, be quite enjoyable. And while I'm laid-back with my clients, I'm rather fierce when it comes to negotiating on their behalf.
If you're in the market for a home in Bethesda, or have a home to sell in Chevy Chase, or DC, give me a call.
Here's why: I'm professional, organized, keep you in the loop on a daily (and sometimes hourly) basis, and have a wonderful roster of past and present clients. I know the schools, transportation, running trails, dog parks, restaurants, sports leagues, neighborhood clubs/pools, etc... I've got a long list of tried and true vendors who provide me (and you) with assistance on mortgages, inspections, home repairs, landscaping, under-ground oil tanks, mold remediation.... you name it! I can walk you forward and backward through a contract. I've got great connections AND I'm connected. Check out my BLOG at: www.bccdcRealEstate.com
I take pride in knowing the ins and outs of the Bethesda, Chevy Chase and DC real estate world. And with 11+ years experience in real estate, I've weathered every kind of market... the good, the bad and the recently complicated. I have first hand experience with what it's like to be an investor/landlord, and I have experience with bank sales. I enjoy doing the research required to thoroughly know my markets.
I take my job very seriously. And I love it! I'm happy to say that the bulk of my business comes from past clients and by the way of referrals. To me, that's the ultimate compliment.
If you're new to the Bethesda, Chevy Chase or DC market, you might care to check out some of the articles below (also found on my website). They are full of practical information along with local market trends:
2010 Wrap Up (for Bethesda, Chevy Chase and DC)
How to get from "Under Contract" to "Closed" in 11 (sometimes) Easy Steps
Asking Price vs. Selling Price
How to Avoid the Inspection Jitters
House Hunting Wish List: tips to help you figure it all out
Mortgage Don'ts
BCC Cluster Schools
Whitman Cluster Schools
10 Common Selling Myths
Selling an Estate in Bethesda, MD
When Part of the Job is NOT making the Sale
Walk to Bethesda Metro
Walk to NIH/Medical Center Metro
My husband and I worked with Marcie to purchase a single family home in Bethesda. Having worked with almost a half dozen realtors in the past ten years (bought and sold two other properties), we highly recommend Marcie as a knowledgeable, experienced, and dedicated professional.
Our main criterion for selecting an agent was expertise in the Bethesda/Chevy Chase market as we were looking for a house within walking distance of a Bethesda-area metro stop. Marcie did not disappoint! Her extensive knowledge of the characteristics of the various neighborhoods and the quality and value of the housing options within the neighborhoods were invaluable in setting our expectations and helping us buy the best house for us. Marcie is easy to talk to and is a good listener, which ended up being critical for us as she found us our house before it officially went on the market.
Marcie’s experience and professionalism really shine when it comes to getting from the contract to the closing. For us, the process was almost painless with Marcie. She was always on top of the deadlines and details, she negotiated title company fees on our behalf, and she took care of several items that were not her responsibility but made life easier for us (for example, arranging for the removal of the freezer left behind by the seller).
Marcie’s dedication to real estate and to her clients goes beyond the transaction at hand. She has generously shared with us many of her contacts: from hardwood flooring vendors to pediatricians. And her website and blog continue to provide us with useful information about Bethesda and the surrounding community.
Marcie has an easy-going personality and is a pleasure to work with. We highly recommend her to home buyers.
-Rosemary & John, 2011 Purchasers
I am pleased to write a review about Marcie Sandalow. I was a first time home buyer and found Marcie on the internet while I was inquiring about a property. Though I ended up not pursuing that particular listing, Marcie suggested we still meet and I could give her my wish lists for a home. She was extremely flexible and was able to show me several properties around my schedule. Being from the area, Marcie has extensive knowledge about the Washington, DC metro area, and has many great connections in financing and home repairs. Once I found the property I knew I wanted to pursue, Marcie was very diligent and thorough in making sure I got what I wanted. Not to mention, she showed me the property several times at my request so I could make sure it was perfect. I really felt that she was looking out for my best interests during and after the sell. I would recommend Marcie to anyone looking to purchase a house from a first time home buyer to a veteran.
Melanie A. (Washington, DC), 2011 Purchaser
We worked with Marcie to sell our house. We really enjoyed the experience (as much as you can enjoy selling your house). We felt well matched with her. She was easy to work with, well organized and personable. We were confident in her knowledge of our neighborhood. We agreed with the price range that she suggested and sold the house in just a few days. One of the most important factors for us in choosing someone was their integrity. Marcie has a great reputation in our neighborhood and we felt like she was following good business practices and treating us fairly. We would freely recommend her to anyone who asks.
Heather & Greg, 2010 Sellers
I have been a real estate owner and investor in the DC area for ten years. I’ve worked with several agents, but always keep coming back to Marcie. She has several qualities that make her both an excellent agent and a pleasure to work with.
First, Marcie treats your priorities as her own. This is a rare quality among real estate agents as most of them frankly are after a commission and don’t make their decisions based on the client’s needs and wants. Marcie in contrast makes important decisions (such as recommendations for offering price) based on what the client’s bottom line priorities are.
Second, Marcie is patient and has a pleasant personality. This is important because real estate transactions can often be somewhat of an emotional roller coaster and its good if someone on the team is grounded and willing to deal with the back and forth of the shopping process. Buying or selling real estate can take a long time, and it’s a real bonus to work with someone who is likable.
Third, Marcie is organized, efficient and follows through. The process of buying or selling real estate in DC often has a lot of moving parts, for example you need to draw up lists of open houses to visit, often there is a need to coordinate with four or five different individuals or organizations (buyers, sellers, agents, bankers, closing attorneys, inspectors, contractors, etc.). Marcie is also great about keeping her word. If she says something will get taken care of it, it gets taken care of. No need to monitor or follow up, she gets the job done and moves the deal forward.
Fourth, Marcie works with a good outfit. Evers and Company is a good real estate agency with a great reputation for honesty and excellent service. This is important because there are synergies that come along with working for a better company – for example you get more local knowledge about which properties have problems, which closing attorneys are to be avoided, where good deals can be found, etc. This is important for reducing the overall amount of stress in the transaction as well as maximizing your profit and minimizing your hassles.
All in all I give Marcie an A+. Give her a call, you won’t regret it.
-James H., Multiple Purchaser and Seller 1999-Present
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2013 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
