[MD] Potomac - Opinions of this house and Merry Go Round Farm?

[Anonymous]

While it is several hundred thousand dollars above my budget, I'm sort of intrigued by this $2.7 million house in the Merry Go Round Farm neighborhood of Potomac

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Potomac/11508-Dalyn-Ter-20854/home/10633946


A few questions for the hive mind.

About the house:

Is the price a little high? The fact that it has been on the market for several weeks would suggest it is. But too high by how much?

This house down the street sold for $2.78 million in March - https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/11500-Dalyn-Ter-Potomac-MD-20854/37164529_zpid/. But the house that sold is bigger (11,521 square feet vs. 8,900 square feet), is on a bigger lot (0.72 acres vs 0.66 acres) and has a view of the Potomac, which the house on the market does not.

Comps in the neighborhood seem to range widely, with (as best I can tell) five houses selling for under $2 million in the last year, while another sold for $2.35 million and still another for $2.95 million.

Would a sale price of $2.2 million for this house be aiming too low in the current market? There are some funky things about the layout, and the kitchen cabinetry and countertops are a little dated (still quite nice), but I don't think those things are dealbreakers.

About the neighborhood:

I've read about the neighorhood and its history. Seems nice and quite bucolic, and I like the idea of 8 miles of trails for hiking and being close to the river and nature -- https://www.merrygoroundfarm.com/info.php?pnum=75b60b8746b67a.

On the other hand, HOA fees, predictably, are not cheap. And I doubt we'd use the equestian center in the neighborhood -- does it make sense to live there if you're not a horse person?

Is there a sense of community at all?

The commute to downtown DC also has the potential to be bad, it appears -- any insights on the commute?

I realize this is a house that is beyond the budget of most buyers. It's very likely out of mine, too.

Sorry for the long post. Thanks for any insights folks can share.

[Anonymous]

Merry go round is amazing and not that far Potomac Village.

They own a lot of land and have trails and can walk to Potomac. All houses are different, lots are big and everything is kept big. Prices are higher, has a good size HOA and property taxes a little higher.

But that said if you can afford it do it . Greedy developers won’t build another like it that close in ever again.

Lots of Rich folk

[Anonymous]

OP here.

Thanks for the insight PP.

I realized the link I posted to Merry Go Round Farm's website had an extra character in it.

This one should work: https://www.merrygoroundfarm.com/info.php?pnum=75b60b8746b67a

[Anonymous]

One of the few classy and architecturally aesthetic neighborhoods in Potomac.

[Anonymous]

Beautiful house and neighborhood, but looks overpriced. It’s been on and off the market for a while. Might be worth a low offer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Merry go round is amazing and not that far Potomac Village.

They own a lot of land and have trails and can walk to Potomac. All houses are different, lots are big and everything is kept big. Prices are higher, has a good size HOA and property taxes a little higher.

But that said if you can afford it do it . Greedy developers won’t build another like it that close in ever again.

Lots of Rich folk

It's 4 miles from Potomac Village.

[Anonymous]

I would give my right kidney for this house and this setup. But then again, I’m a horse person.

Tell you what, OP. You buy the house and I’ll sublet the boarding spot from you. 😁

[Anonymous]

OP again. I drove out to the neighborhood yesterday (from Bethesda). Man, it's far -- even without much traffic.

No doubt that helps account for the relatively unspoiled beauty of the area. But given recent rumblings that a return to the office will, in fact, involve an actual return to the office most days of the week -- dashing my increased telework hopes! -- I think it's just too far of a commute, even if I could afford it.

It does look like a great neighborhood and I'm sure someone will enjoy the house once it is priced right.

Thanks for all the feeback from everyone.

[Anonymous]

I actually drove from Potomac to Bethesda Metro every day for three years. Pretty much I till you get witching a mile of metro no traffic. I almost brought a house off Bradley somewhat close to beltway in Bethesda. I actually bought four miles further out in Potomac. I never encountered real traffic on River Road, Bradley or Georgetown road until
A few blocks before Wilson. That is where traffic starts.

Outer Bethesda vs Potomac is not a huge time saver. Close in Bethesda to DC or walking to metro is

[Anonymous]

Cedar Shake=leaks. That is unless your are incredibly diligent making sure they are all in good order. I’ve never been in a home with cedar shake that didn’t leak at some point. That house has A LOT of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cedar Shake=leaks. That is unless your are incredibly diligent making sure they are all in good order. I’ve never been in a home with cedar shake that didn’t leak at some point. That house has A LOT of it.

That's nonsense. What do you think is under the cedar shake? That's not a particularly old house. If it is good construction, it will not leak, and the cedar has nothing to do with that.

[Anonymous]

I live in Bethesda and my friend bought about half a mile from there. Potomac houses in that range usually go for a bit below asking. Look on Bethesda Beat as they post weekly home sales. I think it's because of how far out it is. Traffic is... OK.. but it's never going to get better (does it anywhere?) and can only get worse over time, because there's no way they can expand River, Macarthur, or Bradley and those 3 are your roads to get into town.

Personally I like it, but I've always worked from home. I think the commute can be tough for some.