Reston Real Estate: The High-Low Game, pt. 7

August is always a great time to buy a new house or six, so grab your prequalified subprime mortgage forms and let's hit the streets of Reston in search of those awesome dancing open house costumes and "price improvement" signs!

Our first stop on today's exciting tour of homes is the penthouse of the Paramount, that tall building near Reston's Fake Downtown. Priced at a reasonable $1,399,999, it's apparently got awesome views.

TOP FLOOR/15TH FLOOR PENTHOUSE WITH PANORAMIC VIEWS FROM ALL ROOMS.**LARGEST MODEL-3065 SF! BEAUTIFUL MARBLE ENTRY, HARDWOOD FLOORS, UPGRADED CARPET IN BEDROOMS. MAGNIFICENT MASTER SUITE WITH OVERSIZE CLOSET WITH DOUBLE-ENTRY. *TWO-ZONED HEAT/COOLING*HUMIDIFIERS* FAMILY ROOM/BREAKFAST AREA AS PART OF KITCHEN/GLASS WALL VIEWS WEST/SUNSETS/BLUE RIDGE MTNS.

You had us at "sunsets" and "Blue Ridge." Sounds nice, but the agent used this photo to illustrate the view instead:


Wow... the top of a parking garage. You'll be so enthralled by watching commuters' cars being towed away you'll forget to go to work, lose your job, and be unable to float that $6,632 mortgage. That can't be good for the old credit rating!

On the other end of the price spectrum is this charming townhouse on Lofty Heights Place. At $142,900, its entire lot is half the square footage of the Paramount penthouse. But judging by the street name, the entire neighborhood has awesome, penthouse-like views!

END UNIT ON A SHADY LOT THAT BACKS TO TREES. FRONT HALL ACCESS TO LIVING ROOM, STEP UP TO DINING ROOM. BRIGHT KITCHEN, ENGLISH BASEMENT. LARGE UTILITY/LAUNDRY ROOM. FULLY FENCED AND PATIO.

Trees, or the roof of a parking deck? The difference is a mere $1,257,099.