Imagine you have $599,000 to spend on a house and you can’t decide between living in Baltimore City or Baltimore County. These two houses are a snapshot of what the market looks like right now. Have a look, there are more photos online. Tell us what you think, and what your considerations would be. Only one can win …
Hot House #1: 314 Northfield Place, Baltimore 21210
French Provencal style home, circa 1929, in stucco with slate roof. Four bedrooms, three and a half baths over 3,015 sq. ft., in fair condition. Hardwood floors, fireplace, marble bath, master suite, basement bar. Landscaped .3 acre lot with detached two-car garage: $599,000
What: A Pinterest worthy mini-chateau, with lots of style and a great patina. It needs new paint and some updating but is not decrepit.
Where: Keswick, the Roland Park neighborhood south of Cold Spring Lane (Roland Park Elementary/ Middle School district). Walk to Miss Shirley’s, Evergreen Cafe, Loyola University.
Why: Head turning.
Why Not: Needs work, no a/c.
A few miles up Charles Street, for the same price (although recently reduced), a very different house is for sale in Ruxton. This Cape Cod house is bigger than it looks and has been recently renovated.
Hot House #2: 1502 Berwick Road, Ruxton, 21204
Cape Cod style house, circa 1933, wood frame with shingle roof. Four bedrooms, three full baths, 1,822 sq feet. Recently updated, with new windows, central air, whole house generator, irrigation system, one-car garage with an electric charging station, .4 acre lot: $569,500 (reduced from $599,000)
What: A light, airy practical house, in move-in condition. Three ground-floor bedrooms and large second-floor rec room, plus unfinished basement.
Where: In the heart of Ruxton, near the village center. Riderwood Elementary, Dumbarton Middle, Towson High public schools. Walk to Graul’s.
Why: A good choice for downsizers because much of it is on one level.
Why Not: Street is narrow.
The taxes for the city Home are crazy high. I would be nervous out and about at night. Listening to the helicopters late at night. May have to send children to private schools.
But, if you are moving here from an area like NYC, you think you won the lottery, get a great home for the money and can afford the taxes and private schools.
Would buy the Ruxton Home. Lower taxes.
Better re-sale. Good schools, food shopping close. Prestigious area.
Thanks Rosemarie, all good points.
Just kindly pointing out that Northfield Place is not in Keswick. I’m not sure why the Real Estate section should be confused about actual locations of properties given that it is the Real Estate section. Northfield Place is in Roland Park. Roland Park is a neighborhood with distinct and clear boundaries. There is no “the Roland Park neighborhood” referring to separately named neighborhoods within Roland Park. Roland Park is the neighborhood. For administrative purposes the Roland Park Civic League divides the neighborhood into six plats (based on the original stages of development) and Northfield Place is in Plat 5.
Keswick is the little pocket neighborhood off Cold Spring Lane. It is not part of Roland Park and is not represented by the Roland Park Civic League. The rear of this property does back onto Keswick, but it is not in Keswick. The character of Keswick is also quite different from the grander character of Northfield Place.