There are plenty of reasons why the M Streets are one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in all of Dallas. A lot of it has to do with one of the primary rules of real estate attraction: location. The M Streets is actually a general name for an area that comprises several smaller East Dallas neighborhoods, including Greenland Hills, the Belmont Addition, and the area in which 5839 Marquita sits, Greenland Crest.
The whole neighborhood was once lousy with Tudors and Craftsman homes, but a spate of teardowns and zero-lot-line McMansions has infringed on the character of these cozy, warm neighborhoods with shade from the limbs of mature trees that arch over the streets.
Now, if you want to buy in this neighborhood, and you want to score one of the 1920s Tudors, you can’t go wrong with this adorable house on Marquita — a brand-spanking-new listing from Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty agents John Scoggins and Brittany Rich. Jump to see all of the tremendous original details in this classic home!
Right off the bat, you can see that the door has that lovely peaked Tudor arch, a motif that is repeated in the living room doorway. It’s just a little taste of the lovely period details to be found throughout this 1926-built home. And while it may look quite modest from the street, this home manages to pack in three bedrooms, two full baths, a detached two-car garage, and 1,736 square feet of living space on a tidy .162 acre lot.
Now, Scoggins and Rich have priced this home at $514,999, which is on the budget side for this location and size. I have to estimate that the reason is the lack of upgrades in the kitchen and bathrooms, which are big-money areas of the house. Keen eyes will also note that some improvements have been made, including that vaulted ceiling in the living room.
As far as the kitchen goes, keep the cabinetry, but replace the sink, faucet, and appliances with something a bit more modern and stainless steel, lending an overall more transitional look that would complement a less-warm shade of gray on the walls. I’d also tear out tile counters and backsplash with some quartz or marble, leaving enough of an overhang on the peninsula to create a small sitting area. Adding some lighting to the upper cabinets would be a tremendous, dramatic improvement, too.
Of course, there’s a small spot for a breakfast nook with a bench or a booth that overlooks the back deck and grassy, shaded backyard. In all, the kitchen has a lot of potential for someone with just an inkling of vision.
Now the hall bath is cute, with the tile laid in a traditional pattern framing the cozy space. The pedestal sink is small, but that’s to keep the scale in check. What we don’t see is the tub and shower, as you don’t get a full shot of the space. I’d keep this bathroom and tear out the master bath and re-do it, as it’s nothing to write home about at all.
The master bedroom is a decent-sized 14 x 13, complete with a walk-in closet. It’s a great space, although the beige paint on the walls does nothing for me. I do like the upholstered platform bed, though. It coordinates well with the traditional decor.
In the backyard you’ll find plenty of room for the rugrats to run around, and make no mistake, this is a great area for people with children. It may not be Lakewood Elementary, but Robert E. Lee is going through a resurgence right now, with parents organizing around the school to bring in a dual-language immersion program and International Baccalaureate curriculum. Lee feeds into Long Middle School and Woodrow Wilson High School, too.
