Happy Holidays to all of our Clients, Colleagues, Friends and Family, and the very best wishes for all happiness and prosperity in the coming New Year from all of us at Nalls Home Partners!
Hope you all have a Happy Holiday Season!
Warmly,
Tom, Barbara, Susan, Renee, Ron, Harrison, Lola and Jessica
Nalls Home Partners
Featured Clients of The Month
Our Client of the Month this month is the Kashlinsky family, pictured here in the living room of their new home in the Old Farm neighborhood of North Bethesda / Rockville Maryland. Sasha is a cosmologist at NASA and his wife Natalie is a programer at the Treasury Dept. Far closer to their hearts, they are the proud parents of two of my favorite boys ever, Moshe and David, who made house hunting a lot of fun and sometimes a real adventure!
The Kashlinsky's moved just down the road from a lovely Chadsberry townhouse that Sasha bought with us many years ago, in part to have space to create a fully separate "in law" apartment for Sasha's mother, who will be living with them. It's the second time in as many years that we've worked with buyers to this specific end and I think it's a growing trend. In the Kashlinsky's case, staying in the neighborhood AND finding a house that could be modified took almost a year but in the end, the house is perfect and the time well spent as we all became friends. Their townhouse, now under contract, is scheduled to settle in early January and I will genuinely miss being in such close touch.
Mazel Tov, Sasha and Natasha! We did it!
(More on Dr Kashlinsky's very interesting work can be found online, starting with his own website.
Pending Home Sales Jump in October
Information Provided by National Association of Realtors®
Washington, DC, November 30, 2011
Pending home sales rose strongly in October and remain above year-ago levels, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
Pending Homes Sale Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, surged 10.4 percent to 93.3 in October from 84.5 in September and is 9.2 percent above October 2010 when it stood at 85.5. The data reflects contracts but not closings.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said improved contract activity is a hopeful sign. "Home sales have been plodding along at a sub-par level while interest rates are hovering at record lows and there is a pent-up demand from buyers who normally would have entered the market in recent years. We hope this is indicates more buyers are taking advantage of the excellent affordability conditions," he said.
"Many consumers are recognizing that home buyers in the past two years have had one of the lowest default rates in history. Moreover, continued inventory declines are another healthy sign for the housing market," Yun added.
The PHSI in the Northeast surged 17.7 percent to 71.3 in October and is 3.4 percent above October 2010. In the Midwest the index jumped 24.1 percent to 88.7 in October and remains 13.2 percent above a year ago. Pending home sales in the South rose 8.6 percent in October to an index of 99.5 and are 9.7 percent higher than October 2010. In the West the index slipped 0.3 percent to 105.5 in October but is 8.1 percent above a year ago.
"Although contract signings are up, not all contracts lead to closings. Many potential home buyers inadvertently hurt their credit scores and chances of getting a mortgage through easily averted actions, such as cancelling an old credit line while taking on a new one," Yun said. "Such actions could unwittingly prevent buyers from obtaining a mortgage if their credit score is close the margins of qualifying, or they might get a loan but with less favorable terms."
Regional Sales Trends
Sales Trends for the Month of October
Single Family Homes
Contracts Ratified Per Month (information from GCAAR)
Montgomery County
DC Statistics
Our Listings
12514 Pennyfield Lock Road Potomac, MD 20854
$8,500,000
Rare 24 +/- acres in sought after location offers extraordinary opportunity for genuinely majestic residence or potential for private family / organization compound. 5 recorded lots, 2+ more possible. Important W/S & U on site. Rolling meadows, mature woodlands, stunning vistas including seasonal river 2 exist houses lovely but value is in the land.
Estimated Tax and Non Tax Charges for First Fiscal Year of Ownership $23,199,000
8033 Ellingson Drive Chevy Chase, MD 20815
$899,000
VERY popular model in wonderful Rock Creek Forest! Four large bedrooms up (including master bedroom with sitting & dressing rooms) + upper level hall laundry. Formal living & dining on main level + huge renovated kitchen, family room, den, foyer entrance. Bright Lower level recreation room, bath, attached 2 CAR GARAGE!
Estimated Tax and Non-Tax Charges in the First Fiscal Year of Ownership $7,772.80.
2802 Blaine Drive Chevy Chase, MD 20815
$699,000
Total facelift! Now this really IS the one you've been waiting for! 2 baths up? Check. Main floor family room? Check. Sun room off the renovated eat-in kitchen, foyer, large rooms, gleaming hardwood floors, bright finished lower level, two fireplaces, three freshly painted finished levels & charming fenced yard? Yup, it's all here. Short walk to Rock Creek Park, swim tennis club, shopping & houses of worship!
Estimated Tax and Non-Tax Charges in the First Fiscal Year of Ownership $5,778.89.
5225 Pooks Hill Road Unit 120S
Bethesda, MD 20814
$195,000
Highly sought after deluxe 1 bedroom with a den in The Promenade. 1st floor unit in the South tower is conveniently located above ground with a lovely balcony,no elevator necessary. This is a must see!Coop fee includes taxes, heat, gas, cable, amenities such as indoor pool & Outdoor Olympic Pool, tennis, gym, billiards, putting green, 24 hr concierge, Metro-Ride-On, restaurant, grocery store, and more.
Very special townhouse in sought after Chadsberry! Bright, dramatic modern floor plan with soaring two story living and brick fireplace, separate dining room, renovated kitchen & breakfast room, huge master bedroom suite with sitting room & balcony, fully finished lower level, two great decks overlooking private park. Great neighborhood location with loads of parking, close to everything (except the Parkway!)
Estimated Tax and Non-Tax Charges in the First Fiscal Year of Ownership $6,287.68. .
Under Contract
5618 Massachusetts Ave. Bethesda, MD 20816
$485,000
Price is not a typo and house is not a tear-down. Needs some TLC & there's a bit of deferred maintenance but it's really very sweet, has three nice big bedrooms,two full baths, replacement windows, good living/dining rooms & what could be a pretty sun room again. Perfect for anyone wanting an affordable home in 20816. Estate - "as-is" only.
Estimated Tax and Non-Tax Charges in the First Fiscal Year of Ownership $6,714.94.
Under Contract!
2710 Colston Drive Chevy Chase, MD 20815
$749,000
What a house! Pretty colonial with 2 additions on tree lined street in popular Rock Creek Forest! Lovely formal rooms, well done stainless steel & granite kitchen, adjacent breakfast room & mud room / porch. BIG 1st floor family room, over-sized bedrooms & lovely Master Suite. Great lower level cool Murphy bed, attached GARAGE, gorgeous yard & flagstone patio. Forget your remodeling plans and move in here!
Estimated Tax and Non-Tax Charges in the First Fiscal Year of Ownership $
$6,327.25
Under Contract
4201 River Road NW Washington DC 20016
$749,000
Unique offering just 2 blocks from the Tenley Metro, shops, etc. Very charming traditional farm house (maybe 2 joined houses & probably older than tax records indicate)on a 6,000+ sf lot(s) that may qualify for duplex zoning. LOTS of potential but the house will likely need significant work. Charming traditional farm house in an AMAZING CLOSE-IN LOCATION!
Very special larger Lakelands home in gorgeous location with lake views, all the bells and whistles that the neighborhood is famous for. Wonderful open floor plan, good condition and shows well. Subject to third party approval but we'll make it as easy as possible. Great opportunity!
Estimated tax and non-tax charges for the first fiscal year of ownership $9,335.12
Sold!
2110 Ross Road Silver Spring, MD 20910
$525,000
WOW! Top to bottom renovation, gorgeous open floor plan, center hall , wonderful room sizes, 3/4 bedrooms, 3.5 updated baths, family room on main off open gourmet kitchen with ample table space, nicely finished lower level, attached GARAGE, screen porch & deck overlooking large fenced yard. Fresh paint, gleaming hardwoods, the works! Great price too - won't last.
Estimated Tax and Non-Tax Charges in the First Fiscal Year of Ownership $5,397.61 .
Sold
8210 Larry Plave Chevy Chase, MD
$685,000
Another Rock Creek Forest winner! Freshly painted top to bottom, refinished hardwoods, renovated kitchen, updated Baths- the works! Large bright bedrooms, living room, dining room, 1st floor family room or 4th BR with attached bath, eat in kitchen, cozy den/sunroom, great professionally finished lower level . Updated systems, recent roof gorgeous stonework & landscaping. So much charm - on one of the prettiest streets in the neighborhood.
(Click on Above Image to Read an Interesting Article about: predictions for 2012 housing market for Realty Biz News)
Event
The Water-skiing Santa 2011 - Washington, DC
Date and Time: December 24, 2011 at 1 p.m.
Rain, snow or shine.
Location: Santa skis at National Harbor
Event
Winter Wonderland, Rockville Concert Band.
Date and Time: December 18, 2011, 3 p.m. Location F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, Rockville Civic Center Park, 603 Edmonston Dr. Rockville, Maryland. Free, no tickets required.
Walk Score!
What is Your Home's Walk Score? Click on the Above Image to Find Out!
Junk in the Trunk
"We Smell Better"
A Taste of Our Own Medicine...
With four of the girls off to college, it seemed like time to do some 'decluttering' at our own house - made SO much easier with the help the incomparable junk hauling company Junk In The Trunk! Owner Frank Coyne and wonder-helper Edwin are shown here with all our old STUFF, beautifully sorted so that what can be donated will be taken to the appropriate charity and the rest taken off to the dump - all in one trip! I LOVE these guys!
