REAL ESTATE- ON THE BLOCK- No stairing: Single-level living in Greencroft

Address: 570 Rodes Drive

Neighborhood: Greencroft

Asking: $599,000

Assessment: $563,000

Year Built: 1982

Size: 2,338 fin. sq. ft. 

Land: 2.2840 acres

Agent: David Cooke, Real Estate III, 984-7428

Curb Appeal: 8 out of 10

It used to be that bath and kitchen updates provided sellers with a guaranteed return on investment, but now those granite- and stainless-filled days might be over– at least it must seem that way to folks who just got their 2010 assessments. 

This seller, perhaps sensing that the investment might not pay for itself, opted to leave the kitchen as is with just a wash of new paint over the cupboards. Bathrooms, however, have been updated with traditional decorative accents from molding to fixtures.

Just off Ivy Road in Albemarle, this one-story colonial has plenty of comfortable living space and a small finished basement. Buyers are paying for the pastoral view and proximity to the Greencroft Club (a tidy pool and tennis place with a popular dining room). There's also a communal pond, which– for folks concerned about safety– is surrounded by a fence. 

The front door opens to a large living room with lots of light and crown molding. It's formal but comfortable, thanks to its size and a wood-burning fireplace and oak floors that extend to most of the first floor. A large dining room with a tray ceiling leads to a deck with Chippendale style railings. These pretty touches are echoed in a side door at the front of the house. 

An enormous sunroom off the dining room has a terra cotta tile floor and multiple windows as well as skylights. The room is large enough for comfortable seating and even a casual eating area in one corner. Built-in shelving frames the entryway. Although the ceiling fan might help a little, potential buyers would probably consider investing in some shades to prevent a sunny-to-sauna transition to the summer.

Off the living room, a hall leads to the private living areas. On the right, a small room has transom windows, a closet, and thin drawers built into the wall for storage. Although technically a bedroom, it's so small that its best use is probably an office or study. 

Across from the office is an updated half bath with a bowl sink atop an armoire-styled base. The other bath on the main level is a full bath shared by the master and second bedroom. 

The two bedrooms are of moderate size, but their closets are small. In the master, double closets that face each other in one corner are deeper than they appear. A big bay window overlooking the backyard calls out for some seating. For the price, buyers may expect a master suite, but they won't find it here unless they're willing to build an addition into the yard for a master bath.

A buttery yellow laundry room rounds out the main level. With tiled floor, built-in shelving, a stacked washer/dryer, and a mop sink, it combines convenience with aesthetics.

The basement has been finished to be not quite a granny flat, but it does have a wet bar and full bath in sky blue with tiled shower and attractive fixtures. A slew of closets accommodate out-of-season clothes.

This Greencroft home is ideal for a family who actually get along with one another: only two bedrooms and lots of living space dictate togetherness.    

PHOTOS BY SARAH JACOBSON

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