Stone colonial-style house, circa 1947, with recent high-end addition and renovations. Hardiplank siding and rubber roof on addition, architectural shingle roof on main house, all with copper gutters and trim. Four bedrooms, seven baths over 8,454 sq. ft. Thirty-six feet long great room with vaulted ceiling and stone fireplace. Study with walnut built-ins. Open gourmet kitchen, breakfast room with raised-hearth fireplace. Living room with bowed bay window, 28′ dining room with fireplace, sunroom/family room with fireplace. Master suite with fireplace, two walk-in closets, spa bath with separate shower. Three-and-a-half-acre lot with outdoor living room and stone fireplace, extensive patios and hardscape, pool, cabana, fire pit and tennis court on professionally landscaped grounds: $1,845,000
What: Not the most expensive for sure, but according to a couple of real estate agents (overheard at last Sunday’s Open House), this is “the best house on the market right now.” Here’s why: It’s impressive, but not overbuilt, with a level of high-end creature comfort that will appeal to many, many buyers. Zillow reports it’s among the most visited houses in the area, and despite its price tag, the Open House was packed. Owned for nearly 20 years by fund manager Doug Ober and his wife Fran, it has been well- and truly loved. A stylish renovation a few years back expanded the footprint by almost half and kept the charm of the historic home while adding light, space and luxury appointments of a family compound. There are big rooms and quiet little corners, window seats and spa baths, a Japanese garden and an outdoor living room. The list goes on…
Where: Officially part of Towson, this house is in the “unincorporated community” of Hampton, originally part of the historic Ridgely estate that includes the Hampton Mansion. Hampton is north of central Towson off Seminary Avenue, a mile or two east of York Road. Attractive homes of different styles sit well apart on wide, meandering streets. Hampton feels like both a real neighborhood and country living and is experiencing a revival in popularity as Towson continues to grow. The 2,400 recreational acres of the Loch Raven Reservoir are less than a mile away.
Why: Outdoor living room — who else do you know who has one?
Why Not: Kind of far from Eddie’s.
Would Suit: Social homebodies who like to bring the party to them.
NB: John Ridgely, the last owner of the Hampton Mansion, began designing this neighborhood in the 1930s and modeled it after the Baltimore City neighborhood of Guilford. There are separate “plats” within the community and protective covenants that run with the land, meaning that they extend to each owner of every house.
