Belle Haven Homes On—And Off—The Market
Four houses go under contract since May 1
Local real estate activity has increased by 68 percent in the past six weeks, according to Coldwell Banker-Gundaker agents.
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A few weeks ago, I mentioned that a number of articles were discussing whether it was better to buy or rent in today's market. Many articles pointed to our area as one where a potential renter should think carefully about buying instead of renting in order to reap the benefits of homeownership. So let's focus on what the benefits of buying versus renting really are.
Renters: A major advantage of renting is that you are taken care of and have little or no responsibility for maintaining the property (other than meeting the terms of the lease). You don't have to paint the exterior, replace the roof, or call the plumber when the drain is stopped up. A second major advantage is that you can leave after the period of the lease term for any reason.
As a homeowner, you have a number of other advantages. You don't have to be dependent on the landlord to maintain the property that you live in, you can do it yourself. You can paint the walls and change the way the house or condo looks and functions. You may find that you have a greater sense of community and stability because you plan to stay in the same home for a period of years. Lastly, you are building equity, not only in the home but also in the community.
Like so many decisions in life, it is important to know what is important to you. If you want to live without much responsibility, it is clear which path you should choose. If financial security over time is a primary concern to you, then you need to think long term and figure out whether this is the time for you to buy. There are some financial calculators that help you to do this. Ginny Mae has a buy vs. rent calculator and so does the New York Times. These are very useful, but you have to tailor them to where you live and what your goals are.
This week we are back to Belle Haven looking at Active, Under Contract and Solds. Four houses went under contract since our last report that ended April 30.
| Address |
Sold Date |
Bedrooms |
Baths Full+Half |
List Price | Sold Price | Days on Market |
| 6035 Woodmont Rd |
May 23 |
3 | 2 + 1 | $629,000 | $621,455 | 139 |
|
6031 Woodmont Rd |
May 26 |
4 | 3 + 0 | $725,000 | $720,000 | 48 |
Below is a list of the homes which are either actively listed or under contract as of April 30:
| Address | Status | Bedrooms |
Baths Full+Half |
Days on Market | List Price | ||||||
| 1906 Belle Haven Rd | Active | 7 | 6 + 1 | 585 | $1,670,000 | ||||||
| 6205 Arkendale Rd | Active | 3 | 3 + 0 | 102 | $679,000 | ||||||
| 6030 Fort Hunt Rd | Active | 4 | 3 + 1 | 120 | $795,000 | ||||||
| 6029 Woodmont Rd | Active | 5 | 4 + 1 | 91 | $1,375,000 | ||||||
| 6008 Grove Dr | Active | 6 | 4 + 0 | 75 | $975,000 | ||||||
| 6110 Edgewood Terr | Active | 3 | 2 + 1 |
36 |
$985,000 | ||||||
| 6212 Tally Ho Ln | Active | 5 | 4 + 0 |
27 |
$995,000 | ||||||
|
6104 Edgewood Terr |
Active |
4 | 4 + 0 | 210 | $1,149,900 | ||||||
| 6036 Fort Hunt Rd |
Active |
3 | 3 + 0 | 13 | $849,900 | ||||||
| 1912 Glen Dr |
Conting/kickout |
6 | 5 + 1 | 309 | $1,599,000 | ||||||
| 6108 Fort Hunt Dr |
Conting/kickout |
4 | 5 + 0 | 39 | $1,499,000 | ||||||
| 2310 Windsor Rd |
Cntg/no kickout |
3 | 3 + 0 | 18 | $559,000 | ||||||
| 2318 Windsor Rd
|
Contract |
4 | 3 + 1 | 114 | $699,000 | ||||||
| 6106 Woodmont Rd |
Contract |
5 | 5 + 2 | 19 | $2,325,000 | ||||||
| 2107 Windsor Rd |
Contract |
4 | 4 + 1 | 5 | $1,740,000 |
Catherine Hare Foltz is a Realtor with Long and Foster's Old Town Historic District Office at 400 King Street in Alexandria. She can be reached by e-mail or at 703-626-6914.
