Space galore: Room to grow in Louisa

Address: 247 River Crest Road
Neighborhood: Mountain View Estates (Louisa)
Asking: $279,900
Assessment: $254,900
Year Built: 1996
Size:  3,059 finished sq. ft. /576 unfinished sq. ft.
Land: 1.5 acres
Curb Appeal: 7 out of 10

It would be easy to dismiss this neo-colonial as just another other subdivision home in a far-flung exurb.  But in this case, it’s important to keep all that business about books and covers in mind because it’s the interior that sets this house apart.

A tiled entry opens off a generous front porch and leads to a two-level great room, set off by a pair of columns. Large windows offer views of the deck and the yard beyond while the cathedral ceiling opens to an exposed walkway and a picturesque library nook on the second floor above. A soapstone stove keeps the room warm, and French doors open to the multi-level deck.

The adjacent kitchen and dining area are separated by a two-level breakfast bar. A checkerboard tile pattern and custom cabinets give the kitchen character while wide-plank flooring and exposed beams give the dining area a rustic feel. A bay window looks out onto the trellis that spans one portion of the deck, and a glass door provides access to the outside.

Off to one side of the main level is a first-floor bedroom suite. The attached bath has been fully updated with tile floors, marble counters, custom light fixtures and wainscoting. On the opposite side of the home is an attached two-car garage.

Upstairs, the master is spacious and bright with a private balcony, dressing area/closet, and an attached bathroom. Two more bedrooms share a large hall bath that features a tile shower and separate tub.

By far, the most interesting spaces on the upper level are the library nook, which includes a built-in reading area, and a large bonus room currently used as a painting studio. Accessed by a pair of French doors, this space could serve a multitude of other purposes– playroom, study, home office, exercise room, or den.

With nearly 2,500 finished square feet above grade, this home offers ample living space– and lots of space for the money– but for those who want more, there’s plenty of room for expansion in the basement, which currently houses the laundry facilities and provides a huge amount of storage space. The finished area is in need of significant updating, but the undertaking could be well worth the effort, especially for those interested in using the built-in sauna.

Bold paint choices throughout the home, combined with the custom floor plan and finishes, help distinguish this house from other cookie-cutter subdivision offerings, but there are a few items that a new owner might want to address that would assist in both updating and providing a personal stamp. The master bath could use some updating so that it’s on a par with the glamorous finishes found in the other two bathrooms, and the track lighting in the library nook, which is not only dated but obtrusive, could stand to be replaced.

And one of the largest considerations, of course, is the location. As the third quarter Nest Realty report indicates, sales volume in Louisa County has decreased over 18 percent since the same time last year with both list and sales prices declining, as well. While some may see this as a reason not to invest, optimists– especially those who find the prospect of being nearly equidistant from the Trader Joe's locations in Charlottesville and Short Pump attractive– may view it as an opportunity to secure a value.
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