By Lisa A. Lewis
Perhaps one of the most sought-after features when buying a home on the Eastern Shore is easy access to the water. Fortunately, there are numerous properties that offer homeowners the opportunity to enjoy the luxury and tranquility of living near the water. In this issue of What’s Up? with Eastern Shore Real Estate, we profile two water-oriented homes that are sure to delight.
Martingham
St. Michaels, Talbot County
Primary Structure Built: 1978
Sold For: $825,000
Original List Price: $895,000
Last Sold/Price: $450,000 (1995)
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2 full, 1 half
Living Space: 2,926 sq. ft.
Lot Size: 2.18 acres
A veritable dream house for a waterfront homeowner, this ranch-style home, located in an extremely private, serene setting on Hambleton Cove, offers elegant living spaces and stunning views of the Miles River. The property, which was listed on July 1st, 2015, closed on March 24th, 2016.
The spacious one-level home features a foyer with tile flooring, formal living and dining rooms with hardwood floors, a carpeted family room with a wood-burning fireplace, and a relaxing sunroom. The kitchen includes ample table space, a bar sink, a glass-top stove, and a ceiling fan. A comfortable, peaceful retreat, the master bedroom consists of a full bath and a walk-in closet. The home also includes two additional bedrooms, a powder room, a hall bath with a double sink and a tiled shower tub, and an oversized two-car garage with a separate workshop.
Several exterior features greatly enhance the property, including an in-ground waterside pool, a waterside deck, and a dock, while beautiful landscaping, a lovely garden with raised flower beds, and ick walkways add a touch of elegance.
“This one-floor home, while built to high standards in 1978, needed a substantial renovation to ing it up to today’s living standards,” says Carolina Barksdale of Benson & Mangold Real Estate, the listing agent for the property. “It had a good framework and an attractive floor plan. And [it] matched some of the key [selling] points of current waterfront buyers in the price range around $1,000,000: beautiful oad water views of the Miles River, an in-ground waterside pool, a very private setting, and close proximity to St. Michaels. I wish I [had] another one—or two—properties available like this in Martingham right now.”
In addition to its upscale amenities and beautiful, peaceful setting, the property also offers easy access to St. Michaels Harbor by boat—perfect for boating enthusiasts.
Sources: Carolina Barksdale (listing agent), Benson & Mangold Real Estate, 410-745-0417 (office), 443-786-0348 (cell), carolina@talbotrealestate.com, talbotrealestate.com Buyer’s agent:Debbie Meredith, Benson & Mangold Real Estate, 410-745-0415 (office), 410-310-8922 (cell), debbie.meredith@gmail.com, bensonandmangold.com.
The Cloverfields
Stevensville, Queen Anne's County
Primary Structure Built: 1978
Sold For: $394,000
Original List Price: $400,000
Last Sold/Price: $465,000 (2006)
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 2 full, 1 half
Living Space: 2,520 sq. ft.
Lot Size: .33 acres
Located one block from the community beach, boat ramp, slips, and pool, this three-level chalet-style home is an absolute gem—offering a luxurious lifestyle in which every single day seems like a vacation. The property, which was listed on April 4th, 2016, was on the market for only nine days and closed on May 24th, 2016. The home received multiple bids and sold quickly to one of the first buyers who saw it.
The beautiful home features exquisitely designed living spaces—including a gourmet kitchen with high-end stainless steel appliances and an elegant master suite with a walk-in closet, separate tub, frameless glass shower, and private balcony—and also offers the luxury of open loft-like style living.
Perhaps one of the primary selling points of this Cloverfields home was that it was fully staged by Chaney Homes, LLC to highlight its stylish features. Jennifer Chaney, the owner of Chaney Homes, LLC and a certified staging professional and decorator (as well as the property’s listing agent), knew that staging would make a dramatic impact, and she believes that staging the home ultimately led to multiple, escalating bids from buyers.
“The power of staging [is amazing],” says Chaney. “This post-and-beam chalet is far from a ‘cookie cutter’ home. [The] soaring, wooden ceilings [are] painted white, which ings texture, depth, and character throughout all three levels. [The] remodeled kitchen and baths [accentuate] the refreshingly unique style of this highly desired home. In the main-level half bath, there is a ick wall (the back side of the chimney), which adds dimension and warmth. [The home] also features gleaming dark wood floors, multiple decks, and [incomparable] style.”
Sources: Jennifer Chaney, CSP, GRI, MBA (listing agent), Broker, Owner, Designer, Chaney Homes, LLC, 410-739-0242, jchaney@chaneyhomes.com, chaneyhomes.com, www.zillow.com/profile/jchaney2. Buyer’s agent: Heather Frees, Berkshire Hathaway Homesale Realty, 410-732-3030 (office), 215-817-8988 (cell), hfrees@homesale.com, HeatherFrees.com.