ABCDE saturday, july 24, 2010 WHERE WE LIVE HOMES FOR SALE A community with the right stuff
by Barbara Ruben Special to The Washington Post
When Kathy Weigel moved into her brick rambler in the community of North Town Creek in St. Mary’s County in 1993, she got an unusual housewarming gift: a military-base ID card for the wife of Apollo 12 astronaut Pete Conrad. The Conrads lived in the house in the 1950s, and the card was discovered by a sub- sequent owner and has become part of the legacy of the house. When Weigel downsized to a nearby condo a few years ago, she passed the card on to the new res- idents. Conrad wasn’t the only astro- naut in the neighborhood. John Glenn and other astronauts lived in the abutting subdivision of Town Creek Manor when they worked as test pilots at nearby Patuxent River Naval Air Station. Although the two subdivisions are next-door neighbors and share an elementary school, North Town Creek is in the unin- corporated town of California, and Town Creek Manor is in the larger Lexington Park. But they are generally referred to collec- tively as Town Creek. Weigel’s house and Town Creek
even merited mentions in Tom Wolfe’s 1979 book about the space program, “The Right Stuff.” That’s how she found out that the house used to be surrounded by rhododendron bushes and that the astronauts and their wives would regularly gather there for parties.
Described by Wolfe as being lo-
cated on a “scrub pine peninsula that stuck out into the Chesa- peake Bay,” Town Creek is dom- inated by ramblers and split-lev- els built in the 1950s and ’60s. It isn’t directly on the wide mouth of the Patuxent River where it meets the bay, but its residents
TOWN CREEK
BOUNDARIES: Shady Mile Drive to the north, Route 235 to the west, Maple Road to the south and Dent Drive to the east. SCHOOLS: Town Creek Elementary School, Esperanza Middle School and Great Mills High School. HOME SALES: In the past year, 12 homes, ranging from a four- bedroom split-level for $170,000 to a four-bedroom Colonial for $300,000, have been sold, according to Re/Max 100 agent Michelle Camaioni. Recently, there were six properties on the market, at prices ranging from $174,000 to $334,000. WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE: Town Creek Elementary School, Town Creek Pool. WITHIN A 15-MINUTE DRIVE: Solomons Island, Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Chesapeake Bay.
$247,284 Market view for
Zip code 20653 Median sales price
April ’10 - June ’10 $429
BARBARA RUBEN FOR THE WASHINGTON POST Town Creek in St. Mary’s County was once home to astronauts training at the Patuxent naval facility.
are within a few miles of the wa- ter. The namesake creek starts at the river and winds through part of the community. Diane Fadeley, who grew up in
Town Creek in the 1950s and ’60s and moved back a few years ago, recalls: “Most kids’ parents were afraid with the base being so close because quite a few fliers died. I remember three or four crashes. Plane crashes were not uncommon back then.” In “The Right Stuff,” Wolfe says
that during a string of 10 fatal ac- cidents, whenever Jane Conrad saw smoke through the window of her house or heard a siren, she would panic, worrying that her husband had crashed.
Weigel moved to the Town Creek home not because of its highflying past but because it is on a dead-end street of homes on large lots. “I also liked the neighborhood because it was a nice mix of young and old people,” she said. “I started hosting National Night Out, and others also hosted this annual event [which focuses on crime prevention]. I started a Christmas-decoration contest, and although there is no commu- nity association, we banded to- gether and fixed the entry posts” that hold the sign for the commu- nity. Town Creek started a Fourth of July parade that features fire en-
gines and children on bikes. They also hold a mini-triathlon for kids. For families with young children, many activities are keyed to Town Creek Elementary School and the private neighbor- hood pool next door. Michelle Camaioni, a real es-
tate agent with Re/Max 100, said clients looking to buy near the base often request Town Creek. “It’s a holdover from when Pax River began, with a quiet, old- fashioned feel,” she said, refer- ring to the naval installation’s test-pilot days.
She said prices have stopped dropping and have been flat over
live continued on F2 -0.2% year over year
Nearby Zip codes
California, MD 20619 Median sales price
$265,720
$405,000 Solomons, MD 20688
Median sales price
$320,000 4-bedroom 2.5-bath single-family home
washingtonpost.com/realestate SOURCE:
See more homes at:
PenFed Real t y is a member of the Pentagon Federal Credit Union family. Membership is not required to conduct business with PenFed Realty.
1
BUYER'S REBATE*
Chesapeake Beach, MD MLS# CA7390975
5 BR/3.5BA SF in Richfield Station Village. Finished L/L includes full BA and 5th BR. HW floors on 1st lvl., Fireplace & enclosed deck overlooking yard w/ pond.
Michelle Dyer, 301-875-7821 Severn, MD MLS# AA7384050
Lovely Split Lvl Home w/ 4BR/2BA in The Provinces! Finished L/L w/ Fireplace, garage, fenced yard & Patio. Close to Arundel Mills, Ft.Meade, BW Pkwy and more!
Rita Steven Carre, 240-432-5037
HOME BUYERS %
HOME SELLERSList with PenFed Realty and get full-service marketing.
You can get a 1% rebate when you buy a home with PenFed Realty. On a $400,000 home, that’s $4,000 back!
COMMISSION* 5 TOTAL
Expert representation & superior service. Contact one of our agents today.
Clarksburg, MD $299,900
$389,900
MLS# MC7271110 PRICE IMPROVED! Beautiful & charming renovated historic home on 1 acre lot
w/ detached garage and loft workshop. Original hardwood floors throughout, 2 FP’s, and large front porch.
Freddie Wofford, 240-472-4305
Upper Marlboro, MD $325,000
$300,000
MLS# PG7272791 Beautiful 3BR/3BA home in 55+ Marwood Community! Two BR’s on main level, office &
Loft w/ bedroom & bath. Lovely Patio backs to trees. Close to 495 & Andrews AFB. 9906 Stonewood Ct.
Brenda Black, 202-256-7285 Clinton, MD MLS# PG7285558
Beautiful brick home w/ 4BR 2.5BA featuring new flooring, fresh paint, screened-in patio, pool & garage! Conveniently located to Andrews AFB & Rt. 5.
Maurice Jackson, 240-893-2288
Windsor Mill, MD $99,500
MLS# BC7385945 Spacious 2BR/2BA Condo in Candlewood Community! Be a homeowner for less
then the cost to rent! Central location, close to everything, and easy access to 695.
Michelle Dyer, 301-875-7821 Woodbridge, VA MLS# PW7365979
Beautiful home on great lot w/ four large bedrooms! Totally renovated! Hardwood floors throughout main & upper levels.
Sally Barnes, 571-239-5202 $269,900 $225,000 Halethorpe, MD MLS# BC7329075
PRICE IMPROVED! 2-unit duplex on 4.43 acre home site! 2BR/1BA in each unit or convert to SF home, you decide. Tear down, fix up, or build a new dream home!
Rita Stevens, 240-432-5037 $200,000 %
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Listings advertised in PenFed branches including The Pentagon, Fort Myer, Fort Meade, Bolling AFB
Internet listing syndication to all major real estate portals including Craigslist, Zillow, Google, MSN, and 28 others Multiple military relocation sites,
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Herndon, VA $559,900
MLS# FX7390858 Immaculate End UnitTH w/ 4BR/3.5BA in Great Oak Hill Community! HWfloors,W/O finished
L/L w/ BR&BA. Fenced yard, deck & EZ access to toll Rd. & future metro! 13030 Greg Roy Ln.
The Wiles Group, 703-868-1571
Woodbridge, VA $409,950
MLS# PW7377750 PRICE IMPROVED! Beautiful end-unitTH w/ incredible views of Powell’s Creek in
waterfront community. Gourmet Kit., finished L/L w/ wet bar, patio & 2 car garage. Great community amenities w/ pool.
Eric Guggenheimer, 571-278-4924 DC Metro Area HQ: 11864 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 101, Reston, VA 20191 • Please visit our web site for offices in your area. *Certain restrictions may apply. Please see web site for program details.
Alexandria, VA $130,000
MLS# FX7392991 Verywell kept 2 lvl Condo w/ 2BR/1.5BA in Sequoyah Community. Move-in ready, HW
floors, Fireplace, large balcony & lots of parking! Close to Rt.1, public Trans., and Ft. Belvoir.
Linda Clay, 571-330-7986
Reduced $25,000
0 MILES MARYLAND 2 4 Town Creek 4
California ST.
CREEK DR. 235
237
MARY’S CO.
VA. 246 D.C. MD.
P.G. CO.
CHAS. CO.
VA. THE WASHINGTON POST LARIS KARKLIS/
MARY’S CO.
MARY’S CO.
ST. ST.
Ches. Bay
CAL. CO.
Detail Solomons
Patuxent River Naval Air Station
Lexington Park
CALVERT CO.
2
Homes for sale in 20653
$209,900 3-bedroom 2-bath single-family home
Reduced $20,000
$289,900 4-bedroom 2.5-bath single-family home
F R
Ches. Bay
Alexandria, VA MLS# FX7385351
Meticulously maintained 4BR/2BA in Stoneybrooke! Commuter's dream in heart of Alex., fresh paint, updated BAs & kitchen w/ S/S appliances, snrm, deck!
Deliea Roebuck, 703-505-5252
Jessup, MD $254,900
MLS# HW7391814 Charming Country Cottage w/ 3BR/2.5BA. Enjoy Huge backyard and screened in porch.
Convenient commute, public Transportation at your door step, minutes to Ft. Meade, 95 & 295. 9951 Guilford Rd.
Shari Underwood, 410-336-6076
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PenFed Realty is now interviewing top agents — call today!
John Sabo, 703-716-2900
$469,000
3.875% RATE 3.633% APR
5/5 ARM Jumbo & Conforming—Same Rate
Adjusts only once every 5 years
We pay most lender’s fees† You pay no points For purchases & refinancing
Apply today at Pentagon Federal Credit Union
PenFed.org/MortgageDC
800.970.7766 ~ Se habla español.
All rates and offers are as of July 22, 2010, offered for a limited time, and subject to change without notice. At a 3.875% initial interest rate, the APR for this loan type is 3.633%, and can increase. Based on current market conditions, the monthly payment schedule for a $600,000 loan would be 60 payments of $2,822 at an interest rate of 3.875%, then 299 payments of $2,712 at an interest rate of 3.500%, then 1 payment of $2,711 at 3.500%. (Principal and interest only. Payment will be higher with taxes and insurance.) The initial rate can change every 5 years by no more than 2 percentage points up or down, never to exceed 5 percentage points above the initial rate. When the rate adjusts, we’ll give you the lower of the then current index and margin or then current 5-yr ARM rate for a new loan. †Investment properties are not eligible for this rate or lender fee offer. Existing PenFed mortgage is not eligible for lender fee offer. PenFed pays credit report, flood search, tax set up and appraisal fees.We pay settlement attorney fees if one of our preferred settlement providers is used. If a loan iswithdrawn, does not close, or the purchase contract is terminated, all third-party fees and costs incurredwill become theresponsibility of theapplicant.Other termsand conditions for lender’s feesmayapply;pleasecontactamortgagerepresentativefor details. Different terms and conditionsmay apply in Puerto Rico.
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