Over the past few months, I (and many of my neighbors I'm sure) have watched a plot of land at the corner of Lee Highway and Rosemary Lane undergo a big transformation.
"Before" photo circa 2012, courtesy of Google Maps.
Although Lee Highway is relatively busy, this location (in the Fairfax County part of Falls Church) is just minutes from the City of Falls Church, walking distance to a proposed Fresh Market grocery store, convenient to several metro bus routes, and an easy drive to many major commuter routes: Orange line metro, route 50, I-66 and 495. In my (slightly biased) opinion, this neighborhood is one of the best locations in the D.C. area! Of course, if you're one of my neighbors you probably already knew that, and are probably anxious to know about the house!
**Before I continue, I should note that I'm writing this with the permission of the Listing Agent, Bobby Able, and the owner, Archwood Properties. I'm writing about it here because I saw it, was very impressed, and thought you might be curious!**
2801 Rosemary Lane, Falls Church, VA
2801 Rosemary Lane is a well-appointed, 5 bedroom 4.5 bath colonial style home that sits on about 1/3 of an acre of land. It boasts dual staircases, a two car garage, Energy Star certified heating and cooling systems, a gourmet kitchen, a two-story family room with floor to ceiling windows and lots more!
What do I love about this house?
Would it be too lazy to just say, "everything"? But seriously, this home has a lot going for it. A big yard with brand new sod (no dandelions...yet), over 4,000 square feet of finished space to spread out in, and it still has that "new house smell." (As an aside, if you know of anyone looking for a house one-third of the size that smells like 1954, just let me know...joking!)
Foyer Family Room
My favorite features are the dual staircases, which I think many families would appreciate for practical purposes, the upper-level bedrooms, two of which have adjoining bathrooms, and the high ceilings and windows in the family room. I did tour the home in the middle of the day, but there was so much light that I didn't even think about turning on the lights in the family room and kitchen. I could see this alone being a big energy savings for the family that moves in! Also, who doesn't love a two-car garage? There's also a nice, walkout-level basement with a large rec room, a smaller carpeted den, and an unfinished utility room that has great potential.
What don't I like?
Ok, this brand new house is pretty amazing for under $1 million, but if it were up to me, a few things would have been done differently. For starters, although the location is very commuter-friendly, it does create the challenge of traffic and noise. I think most buyers who want a home of this size would require a fence both for privacy and safety if they have small children. To me, this is a no-brainer. Additionally, I did notice quite a bit of noise from Lee Highway. I thought this was the kind of thing that can't be changed, but the builder actually has a plan for mitigating that issue...stay tuned. Additionally, there is space for a deck (including doors) off the family room, but it was not built. This could be an opportunity for a buyer who doesn't need it now to add it later and save a little upfront on the purchase, or a small hassle if a deck is one of your must-haves. The laundry room is on the main level, so it's good that it's not in the basement, but really, it should be upstairs with all the bedrooms! Laundry chute anyone? Lastly, although the basement is mostly above ground-level, the windows to the back are pretty small. I wonder what it would take to replace them with full-sized windows...
Living Room Formal Dining Room
I spoke to the listing agent, Bobby Able, about what I thought could have been done differently, and he had good news for potential buyers! The owner and builder are very willing to work with interested parties to make these types of changes as well as other more cosmetic changes! That means that as a buyer, you could still have the home customized to your needs before moving in one box! Very cool!
If you are curious to see the interior of the house, want to learn about what can still be customized, or want to talk to the builder about what it takes to complete this type of project from the ground up, drop by the Builder's Open House this Saturday or Sunday, July 18th and 19th to meet the owner, NDI Builders.
Ready to make an offer? Want to see other similar homes in the area, or want to talk about the process of buying or selling a home in Falls Church? Call me today! I'm here to help! Rita Oliva, Realtor 703.678.6954
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