Brandywine MD Homes For Sale

Brandywine is both a town and a larger surrounding zip code area in Prince George's County, Maryland. Covering over 21 square miles of land, the community is known for large gracious homes, historic sites and lush scenic terrain. Brandywine is bordered by the banks of the Patuxent River to the east and the Potomac to the west. Long known for undeveloped land and wide open spaces, the Brandywine region began experiencing a a sharp growth in custom home construction from the mid 1990's to present. In 2008 however, following the national trend, prices began to drop. The result has been a period of opportunity for buyers who are looking for upscale waterfront homes for competitive prices. To learn more about Brandywine MD homes for sale, take a closer look at the active MLS listings below:

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In the beginning, Brandywine was tobacco country. Its roots go back to the late 1600's at a time when Prince George's County economy was driven by agriculture. The earliest sessions of Prince George's County Court were held in what later became Brandywine on the Patuxent River. By the mid-1800's the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad arrived, including the Pope's Creek branch depot. By 1985, an elaborate plan was launched by prominent developer Robert Bowie to create Brandywine City. A map of the plan shows approximately 1,000 evenly parceled lots with the junction of the B&P railroad head toward the northern border. For whatever reason, the plan never came to fruition. Brandywine continued its leisurely evolution as a comfortable place to live, including summer homes for some of Washington's elite.

As mentioned earlier, Brandywine experienced a significant drop off in property values during the recent real estate downturn. That said, there is a wide range of prices. Almost exclusively comprised of detached single-family homes, listings start in the very low six-figures and escalate all the way into seven-figure territory. Likewise, architectural styles are quite varied, including some stunningly ornate Victorian homes, Colonials of all eras, Ramblers, Split-Levels, Capes, Arts & Crafts, Craftsman-style cottages, and farmhouses. Perhaps the largest market segment however are recently built custom homes, many at a very reasonable prices. It just may be that the confluence of the real estate crash and the new housing boom conspired to create a weak price floor for new homes. While it wasn't good news for some developers, it is great news for buyers.

Despite the lengthy incubation and a somewhat soft real estate market, Brandywine seems posed on the cusp of a larger infrastructure upgrade. Why hasn't more happened to date? It's hard to answer. There have been pockets of the community that seem mired in a developmental rut, with car salvage yards, dealerships, industrial parks and convenience stores. Still, change is evident, including the recent Phase II completion of the Brandywine Crossing Shopping Center which features exciting new restaurants. a Safeway, Costco, Target, and the 60,000 square-foot Extreme Xscape Movie Theater. The commuter options are solid, with the Capital Beltway just to the north and a planned upgrade of the current MARC rail line. All in all, Brandywine finally seems to be heading in direction that was initially hoped for in 1895, when Brandywine City was just a gleam in the eyes of local businessmen.