Marcie Sandalow Bethesda Chevy Chase DC real estate

Original Source: Shemali's Middle Eastern Market

Whenever I visit my doctor at Foxhall Square (happily and sadly, not often enough!), I stop off at Shemali's. Shemali's specializes in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean foods, and it's just a fabulous place for all sorts of delicacies. My husband, who is a bit of a babaganoush snob, swears that theirs is the best in town. I love their hummus, tabbouleh, falafel and spinach pies. Their pita bread is always fresh and soft... not like the stuff you often find in the grocery stores. They have an excellent selection of nuts, imported foods, olives, cheeses and grape leaves!

The owner, Gretta Chemali (they changed the spelling of the store because people kept mispronouncing it as ch-mali instead of sh-mali) is incredibly friendly and has always been helpful to me in my semi-annual quest for something different. The store offers up a deli, groceries, carry-out foods and can provide catering. Soon they will be serving hot food in the cafeteria within Foxhall Square Mall. Parking in the building is free for the first 15 minutes... good enough for a quick dash into the store and out again! Shemali's is located at 3301 New Mexico Avenue #117 in Washington, DC. Phone: 202/686-7070. Give it a try, and enjoy.

Original Source: East Bethesda 2011 Sales Activity through 8/1/11

Here's the latest analysis on sales activity throughout East Bethesda:

The numbers thus far are a mixed bag. The average of all listings sold was up by $77,570. But prices are down in almost all categories from 2010 when you break the sales down by bedroom. The average price in 2010 was $911,817. So far in 2011 that number is $989,387. Why the jump? We've had a higher proportion of larger homes sell this year. Give the year a chance to round out, and I suspect that the number will go down. In 2010 sellers received 96.5% of their original asking price. In 2011, so far, sellers have received 97.4% of their original asking price. The increase reflects the large number of homes that received asking price or better (11 total).

The problem with mid-year statistics is that you never know which half of the year you will get... the better half or the worse half. So far in 2011 we have had 21 sales in East Bethesda. That's on track for sales last year, which totaled 42. As of this writing, we've also got 12 active listings and 6 under contract.

My take: the Spring market was brisk and busy, and resulted in a number of multiple bid situations. The Summer market seems to have screeched to a halt. And while some properties appear to be sitting on the market, very little new inventory is available, which is actually giving some of these properties an unexpected boost.

If you are in the market to buy or sell this year, please give me a call. I live in East Bethesda and have been monitoring local market trends for over 12 years now. I'd love to help.

EAST BETHESDA UPDATE:

Individual Homes Sold:

If you care to see photos or learn more about these individual homes, click here. Click on the camera icon or photo real for additional photos.

Map of EAST BETHESDA

View East Bethesda in a larger map

My husband and I took a short trip to Middleburg, VA a few weeks ago. Kids were at camp. It was divine. While there, the owner of our B&B told us about a Rodin in the graveyard behind the inn. Apparently a really rich family commissioned the piece for one of their family members. We missed it on our first tour because it sat outside of the main gate.

I found myself just as partial to this cool horse grave marker.

Original Post: East Bethesda MD 20814 Homes for Sale 8/5/11

Update for 8/5/2011: One under contract, no new listings and no price drops... it's August, afterall.

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 15 years. I've sold real estate in East Bethesda for over 11 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!

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

4301 Rosedale Avenue, $1,895,000
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. Days on Market: 44

4707 Maple Avenue, $1,450,000
Big house. Really big house. 4 finished levels of living. Nice finishes. Pretty wood floors. Carpet in the bedrooms. 7 bedrooms/5.5 baths. Open kitchen/family room overlooking deck. Cavernous and close to Wisconsin Avenue, so the hike to metro is short. Really large price drop of $117,500. Days on Market: 50

4514 Chestnut Street, $550,000
Wonderful cottage with 2 bedrooms and 2 full baths. Large, dry basement with a 1960s wet bar awaits your finishing touches (3rd bedroom... rec room, you choose!). Great news... new furnace and CAC installed August 2011. Newer appliances in the kitchen. Pretty, level yard with mature plantings. More photos. Days on Market: 52

4400 Highland Ave, $669,000
2 bedrooms and 1.5 baths in a charming old brick colonial set on a 7,150 s.f. corner lot. Needs a lot of work. There's no central air, the floors are tired and the kitchen is almost original. But, despite these challenges, the house is sunny and cheerful. Would be great spruced up, perfect for an addition, and/or beautifully sited for new construction. Your pick. Days on Market: 70

4600 Rosedale Avenue, $1,049,000
I'm always a little bit suspicious of long skinny houses on small lots (4,800 s.f.), but this one is pretty nice. Very open 1st floor with hardwood floors, nice kitchen, half bath and access to the yard. Finished basement. A total of 4 bedrooms and 3 full baths on the two upper floors. Loads of sunshine. Built in 2011. Days on market: 83

4701 Rosedale Avenue, $759,000
Brick colonial with 3 BR/2.5FB. There's a lot of fresh paint. And some refinished hardwood floors. 2-story carriage house offers up even more possibilities (and it has a 1/2 bath, albeit, a little rustic). There's a bonus room via the master bedroom on the third floor. One block to Wisconsin Avenue and a quick jog to NIH Metro. One of the bedrooms is in the basement... Still a little pricey. Days on Market: 84

8513 Halston Way, $979,900
Yikes! Another townhouse! 4-levels of fun. Marble-tiled bath, jacuzzi tub, 11-foot ceilings and a custom kitchen with granite counters. Private deck. Days on Market: 112

4502 Rosedale Avenue, $1,349,000.
This one listed and sold last spring. So, if it was the "one that got away" you've got another chance (for more money, of course). Pretty house, great kitchen, nice finishes, and despite the teeny lot, there is a satisfactory little yard and patio. Constructed in 2007, it still offers up that new house feel. 2,880 square feet of living space AND a 2-car garage. Days on Market: 127

7917 Kentbury Drive, $1,039,000
4BR/4FB and a lap pool (aka endless pool). Chic, contemporary renovation with an open floor plan and an abundance of sunshine. Love the stair railings and the whimsical shelves dividing the LR/DR. This one sits on the Capital Crescent Trail... and while the jury is still out on the Purple Line, this one would tempt me to take that chance. Really lovely house. Days on Market: 150

8507 Halston Way, $999,000
This townhouse features 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths and 2 half baths. 4-levels of living, including a 2-car garage. Granite in the kitchen, and private deck with a fig tree! Days on Market: 197

4717 N. Chelsea Lane, $1,578,000
Back on the market. Seems to still be under construction, but eventually this will be the first PASSIVE house in the metro area. A passive house is so energy efficient that it saves an average 90% of HVAC energy of a standard home. Cool. 5 bedrooms, 4 full baths & 1 half bath. $41K cheaper than when it was on in the Fall. Days on Market: 201

4306 Chestnut Street, $1,749,000
This one hasn't been built yet. There are additional home designs available that can work the price down to $1,600,000. Built by Georgetown Development. Beautiful block. Shady, large trees. Fabulous location. No photo available. Days on Market: 427

4608 W. Virginia Avenue, $939,000
This house is really different. It consists of a lovely bungalow, originally built in 1923, along with a sizable addition, which serves as a studio/office. The bungalow is inviting, though dated. The kitchen is older, but the house and garden ooze charm. The addition in the back, which is connected to the bungalow portion of the house by a corridor just off the kitchen, is large and cavernous, and also quite nice. It features a separate entrance off of the driveway, a full bath, a large studio, and a second floor office- quite large. It's not obvious how to incorporate this space into the bungalow... they really do function as separate quarters. Perfect for someone in need of a home office. Very buyer specific. Days on Market: 451

4514 Maple Avenue, @ $1,525,000
This is a property not yet available on the MLS, and in the beginning stages of building. Delivery is expected in Spring 2011. It will have 6 bedrooms and 5.5 baths, and sits on a lot that measures 6,000 square feet. For more information and floor plans, give me a call. Days on Market: unavailable

4527 Maple Avenue, $1,525,000
Same situation as the house above and likely to have a similar price. 6 bedrooms/5.5 baths. Sits on a 6,269 s.f. lot. 4 levels. Estimated delivery: Fall 2011. Days on Market: unavailable

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

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.

DC is HOT... And not in a good way. Some tips to keep things cool:

1. Run your dishwasher when you go to bed at night... not during the day when it will just add to the heat.
2. Use fans. Even in air conditioned spaces, fans cool you down by as much as 8 degrees.
3. Cotton clothing will keep you cooler than synthetics. Lighter colors are best. And the looser, the better.
4. Drink a lot of water. Avoid caffeine and alcohol, as they tend to dehydrate the body.
5. Keep a spray bottle in the fridge, and zap yourself with a cool mist spray every once in a while.
6. Avoid meals that require turning on the stove. Cold soups and salads make great summer meals.
7. Take frequent baths and showers with cool or tepid water.
8. If you don't have AC, head to the mall, the library... or the movie theater. Fit in some cool activities during the hottest parts of the day.
9. Wear your hair up.
10. If you wear a hat, pour some ice cold water into it and quickly place it on your head.
11. Keep an eye on your pets, and older friends and relatives. Make sure they're well hydrated and safe.
12. Cool your pulse points. Run cold water over your wrists... or place a cold washcloth on your forehead. It's supposed to keep your body cooler for about an hour.
13. Put your sheets in the freezer for an hour before hitting the sack (no, I have not tried this... but it sounds intriguing!).
14. Alternatively, fill a hot water bottle with cold water, and keep it at the bottom of your bed near your feet.
15. Exercise. Focus in on the start or end of the day when temperatures are at their lowest. And if you can't change your exercise time, consider walking instead of running.
16. Eat hot/spicy foods! Really. The kind that make you sweat. Once your skin is damp, the evaporation will keep you cool.
17. Remember the sun screen.
18. Soak your feet in a bucket of cold water.
19. Wet your hair frequently and let the water evaporate.
20. Close your blinds during the day. Open the windows at night.
21. Slice a thin piece of cucumber and put it on your forehead, or eyelids. Feels divine.
22. Stop moving around. Sit still for a while. Read a book. Get away from the computer (a heat source)!

Despite the heat, it's still a wonderful place to call home. If you're considering a move DC or surrounding areas, I'd love to help you in your home search.