Today I held open 5200 Mountain Blvd. for the first time. It is always interesting meeting and talking with homebuyers and hearing their thoughts about the market. As I welcome people into the house, I strike up conversation by offering to answer their questions about this home or the real estate market in general. I also ask them what homes stood out for them as they went house hunting. (I love to hear feedback from active buyers.)
Today, I heard a comment about the Laurel and Maxwell Park districts being over priced for where it is. (The gentleman also, said he could be bitter since he had a chance to buy a home in the Laurel 10 years ago for $100,000!) For people who are buying homes in the high $400,000 to the low $500,000 range, you differently have to make concessions. Buy a bigger house in a "less desirable" neighborhood or a smaller house in a "more desirable" neighborhood.
My suggestion is this: a house should fit your needs for 7-10 years in this real estate market and you should buy the best neighborhood you can. Remember you can't move the house. (Well technically you could...) If you are not sure about a neighborhood investigate it! Visit a home of interest 3 different times, in the day, in the night and if possible on the weekend, walk the neighborhood and talk to the neighbors. If the next door neighbor is nasty to you, then do you really want them as your neighbor?
You can visit 5200 Mountain online at www.5200Mountain.com, now available for $529,000. Pictured above is a map of the walking trails near this home and a shot of the diningroom.
