This story, which was originally published in the March/April issue of Bethesda Magazine, was corrected to reflect the real estate agents involved in the Long Acre Court and Wellington Drive sales. Hans Wydler and Dina Miller of Compass and Lauren Davis of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty were involved in the Long Acre Court sale. Lauren Davis of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty and Carolyn Sappenfield of RE/MAX Realty were involved in the Wellington Drive sale.
Montgomery County homebuyers must dig a little deeper in 2024, as home prices are on the rise. From November 2022 to November 2023, the median home price in MoCo rose 4.7%, says Bright MLS Chief Economist Lisa Sturtevant.
“The biggest constraint continues to be a lack of inventory,” she says. If there were more homes for sale, I bet we would have more homes sold.”
Montgomery County’s median home price is $580,000, Sturtevant says, but the single-family home, townhouse or condo you’ll find for the price tag differs wildly among communities.
So what will you get for your hard-earned money? With the help of Bright MLS, here are examples of homes that sold for around $580K, $1 million, $2.5 million and $4 million in 2023 in MoCo communities.
What can you get for $580K?
- $583,000
- 4208 Sandcastle Lane, Olney
- 1,632 square ft.
- 3 bedrooms
- 1 ½ bathrooms
Porter and Diana Olsen scrolled through listings on Zillow for entertainment, so they knew what they were looking for when they started to search for a single-family home as a step up from their Olney townhome. On the plus side, the house had been on the market for more than 80 days, and the homeowners had finally dropped the listing price to the Olsens’ price point of $583,000. On the minus side, the dated Olney Oaks Colonial home, built in 1986, had only one full bathroom, and the home’s size—1,632 square feet—was comparable to the Olsens’ townhome. But, the Olsens reasoned, the backyard was lush and wooded—just what they were looking for. They pulled the trigger.
“It was a combination of curb appeal and an opportunity,” Porter says. “The real kicker at the end was the backyard—it’s just this gorgeous view that you wake up to in the morning.”
Real estate agents: Galen Roop, Cummings & Co.; Ken Abramowitz of RE/MAX Town Center
- $580,000
- 4956 Sentinel Drive, unit 9-105, Bethesda
When unit 9-105 was put on sale in the Sumner Village condominium complex, just off Sangamore Road in Bethesda last November, real estate agent Tony Calkins, with The Calkins Group at Compass, knew it was special.
“Sumner Village is really sort of a hidden gem—it’s 27 wooded acres in the middle of Bethesda, which is hard to find,” Calkins says.
The buyers work in Washington, D.C., so the home’s proximity to their jobs was a motivating factor in their purchase. Offered at $569,000, the dated 1,491-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath unit built in 1975 came with an added incentive—a lovely patio overlooking a lush, wooded area that Calkins’ clients loved. The $1,053 monthly HOA fee disclosed on the Redfin listing fit the buyers’ budget.
“The key here was the spaciousness, the view and access to the outside,” Calkins says. “I think that’s what got them.”
Real estate agents: Trish Sweeney, Compass; Tony Calkins, The Calkins Group at Compass
- $575,000
- 9913 Tenbrook Drive, Silver Spring
When Daniel and Ndidi Alvarez moved from Chicago to the DMV for work, they had their eyes on Silver Spring for its schools and proximity to D.C.
The couple rented to start and looked for about six months before purchasing the three-bedroom, two-bath single-family house on Tenbrook Drive in the Argyle Club Estates neighborhood last November. To their relief, there were not multiple bids on the home—something they had experienced several times in their homebuying journey. Plus, the circa 1948, 1,700-square-foot Colonial with an updated interior was in the same school district as their rental, so their two sons were not displaced. And commute-wise, Ndidi could easily travel to her job in D.C.
“The neighbors came out and were greeting us, inviting us over for dinner. There were kids playing outside—I really did not expect that,” she says. “It was a pleasant surprise.”
Real estate agents: Jaime Willis, Compass; Hillary Balogh, The Schiff Home Team of eXp Realty
What can you get for $1M?
- $1,010,000
- 11827 Emerald Green Drive, Clarksburg
- 5,319 square ft.
- 6 bedrooms
- 5 ½ bathrooms
Samantha He worked as the selling agent for a couple who purchased this million-dollar property in Clarksburg. She says the new homeowners, formerly of Gaithersburg, looked in Bethesda and Potomac but were enticed by the Clarksburg Village neighborhood as well as the brick-front, Georgian-style house, built in 2013. Such features as a custom wine wall and outdoor fireplace sealed the deal.
Multiple buyers bid on the home, pushing the price tag from its $939,990 list price to the winning bid: $1,010,000. He says seven other potential buyers competed for the home, with two bids exceeding $1 million. Her clients, who offered a cash deal, won out, and soon settled into their six-bedroom, 5 ½-bath home.
Real estate agents: Donna Pfeiffer, RE/MAX; Samantha He, DMV Landmark Realty
- $1,002,000
- 10910 Old Coach Road, Potomac
Patricia St. Clair and her husband raised two sons in their 3,197-square-foot Potomac Colonial home, built in 1966. After 36 years and the death of her husband, St. Clair decided it was time to downsize and move closer to a son and his family in the Atlanta area.
Though the house had been meticulously cared for, the family had not updated the original kitchen or bathrooms. Displaying wallpaper, vinyl flooring and laminate countertops, the home was priced conservatively, comparable to other nonrenovated homes in the area.
Real estate agent Jared Russell’s low pricing gamble paid off. He listed the four-bedroom,
2 ½-bath home at $800,000, received 30 offers, and sold it in a matter of hours for $1,002,000.
“I still can’t believe the price I got for that beautiful home,” St. Clair says.
Real estate agents: Jared Russell, DMV Living; Zhang Tian, Signature Home Realty
- $1,005,000
- 4110 Denfeld Ave., Kensington
Joshua and Michelle Boyd purchased their 2,972-square-foot Craftsman home in Kensington last year for just over $1 million. Moving from a half-mile away, the couple needed more space now that they have a child, but they wanted to live in the same general area.
“There were probably easily 50 to 100 houses that we looked at over the last year and a half,” Joshua says. “When we both toured the house…it was pretty damn near perfect. There were a few things that we wanted to change, but it’s move-in ready.”
The Boyds gained a one-car garage, two additional bedrooms (four total), two more bathrooms
(3 ½ total), a walk-in shower and a family-friendly neighborhood. The home’s location was important since Joshua’s parents and aunt live nearby. Joshua works from home in cybersecurity, and Michelle is a nurse in Rockville Town Center.
The Boyds offered $30,000 over the asking price of $975,000 to purchase the 2-year-old home, but have no regrets.
“It just felt meant to be,” Joshua says.
Real estate agents: Suzanne Parmet, Compass; Wendy Gowdey, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
What can you get for $2.5M?
- $2.495 million
- 5504 Mohican Road, Bethesda
- 5,330 sq. ft.
- 5 bedrooms
- 4 ½ baths
Andy and Saira Spicknall were living in Bethesda but needed more space for their three elementary school-age children.
“We love the community here. We love the school district. So we wanted to stay in the area,” Saira says.
An open house was held over the Easter weekend at the 12-year-old 5,330-square-foot, five-bedroom, 4 ½-bath Craftsman on a quiet cul-de-sac in the Mohican Hills neighborhood. The Spicknalls were out of town and missed it but made a beeline to take a look the day after.
“The proximity to where we were already living was a plus, but also this neighborhood feels quieter,” Saira says. “It feels a bit secluded…like a little bit of your own personal getaway compared to where we were living before.”
The fact that the home was listed over a holiday weekend may have worked to the Spicknalls’ advantage, Saira says. “Had it been on the market for longer, I think that it would have been more competitive to get than it was—we jumped on it very early.”
Real estate agents: Jim Begg, Compass; Abby Schulten, Washington Fine Properties
- $2.6 million
- 4819 Wellington Drive, Chevy Chase
The Hidaka family had lived abroad with their two children, calling Tokyo, Singapore and London home. But when it came time to move back to the States, Masaki Hidaka, a part-time professor at American University, told her husband she “really wanted to be able to walk,” after living in such pedestrian-friendly cities.
The family started with a townhouse, and last year purchased a 4,464-square-foot Colonial home, built in 2015.
The five-bedroom, 5 ½-bath home touted a landscaped backyard with a gas fireplace and spacious patio. The 9-year-old house is steps from shops and restaurants, and a short commute to the Hidakas’ jobs and to their children’s high school.
Real estate agents: Hans Wydler & Dina Miller, Compass; Lauren Davis, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
- $2.495 million
- 8603 Long Acre Court, Bethesda
With two kids and a need for two home offices, Eric and Lindsey Aberg had outgrown their three-bedroom condo in Northwest D.C. The District-based attorneys were tired of urban living, desiring less traffic, more quiet and a bigger home.
“The curb appeal is unmatched,” Lindsey says of the 4,731-square-foot traditional Georgian brick home that was built in 1926 and caught her eye when she did a drive-by through the Hillmead neighborhood. And with its six bedrooms and 5 ½ baths, there was more than enough room.
Since an open house was set for two days after the day she did her drive-by, the couple sprang into action. They did a walk-through a day later and offered the list price. Lindsey even wrote a letter to the homeowners, sharing their story. The sellers could have gone through with the open house to see if they received any additional interest, but instead chose to cancel it and accept the Abergs’ offer.
Real estate agents: Lauren Davis, Hans Wydler and Dina Miller, Compass
What can you get for $4M?
- $4.025 million
- 5306 Kenwood Ave., Chevy Chase
Jennifer and Rob Keller moved back to Montgomery County from the San Francisco Bay Area, where Rob’s in-house legal position at Cisco is based. The couple, parents of two school-age daughters, transplanted the family to the Kenwood section of Chevy Chase, within walking distance of Washington Episcopal School, which one of the girls attends.
“We feel very, very fortunate because it was kind of a tight market here last summer,” Jennifer says. “There weren’t that many houses available, and also we really wanted a swimming pool.”
The Kellers’ 6,636-square-foot brick Colonial, built in 1941, has six bedrooms, 6 ½ baths, a library, exercise room, and in-ground pool and spa combo. The home underwent a renovation in 2002 and offers custom shelving, an updated kitchen and custom cabinetry. The Kellers were so convinced that the Kenwood Avenue home should be theirs that they made an offer within 24 hours of viewing photos of the house—without ever walking through it, not even via video.
“We like a traditional house,” Jennifer says. “It was the style, the size we needed—as soon as I saw pictures and the pool, I was like, That’s it.”
Real estate agents: Ralph Nichols, Fairfax Realty Premier; Dana Rice, Compass
- $3,850,000
- 10809 Red Barn Lane, Potomac
Christopher and Lena Bryant fell in love with an 11,840-square-foot, six-bedroom, 7 ½-bath English country manor in the heart of Potomac.
“We really loved the layout,” Lena says. “When we walked through, we were like, This feels like home to us.”
The couple, their 14-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son, along with their two black Labrador retrievers moved from Seattle last summer to be closer to aging parents and Lena’s work headquarters. Finding a place nearby for their equestrian daughter to ride and board her horse was a factor.
“We were drawn to this street, oddly enough, through another house in our initial search,” Christopher says. “This house came up for sale and we quickly jumped on it.”
As the price tag indicates, the massive home offers many amenities. The Bryants can go for a dip in the saltwater pool, enjoy a meal in the gourmet farmhouse kitchen and gaze at the 100-year-old reclaimed beams from a Pennsylvania farmhouse in the great room. At this 2.79-acre estate, guests can also grab a bottle of vino from the wine cellar or get a sweat on in one of multiple workout rooms.
“There’s something for everyone in the house,” Christopher says. “The kids have their pool and the trampoline. We’re really happy with the choice we made.”
Real estate agents: Gary & Lisa Rudden, Rudden Bobruska team, RE/MAX Realty; Joshua Baumgardner, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
- $4,000,000
- 5120 Wessling Lane, Bethesda
Compass realtor Margie Halem’s out-of-state client wanted to live on Bethesda’s Wessling Lane because he had lived on it years earlier—and loved it. So when this home at 5120 Wessling Lane went on sale last year, Halem brokered the deal. Originally listed for $3,850,000, the 6,710-square-foot Craftsman in the Bradley Hills neighborhood garnered multiple offers and sold for $4 million.
“They loved the space, the warmth and the location—the location was huge,” Halem says about why the new owners chose the six-bedroom, six-bath home. “It is a really nice house—it was perfect for his family.”
Located within walking distance of downtown Bethesda, the home was built in 2015 with every bell and whistle, including a chef’s kitchen, floor-to-ceiling cabinetry, a home theater with built-in projector, a bathroom with heated floors and a freestanding soaking tub. The modern, open floor plan seamlessly integrates with the landscaped backyard and built-in firepit.
“It doesn’t feel like you’re in an urban setting,” Halem says. “It’s just a peaceful, quiet street but literally you’re a stone’s throw from everything—that’s the appeal.”
Real estate agents: Emily Sower & Robert Crawford, Washington Fine Properties; Margie Halem, Compass
This story appears in the March/April issue of Bethesda Magazine.