Real Estate

What $900,000 Buys You in Virginia, Louisiana and New Jersey


This house, known as Miami Lodge, has been owned by the same family for 60 years. Aside from fresh paint and updated structural systems, it has remained virtually unchanged since it was built more than 100 years ago.

Like most of Hopewell’s older homes, it is in the City Point neighborhood, known for its river views. The Virginia headquarters of Union Army Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, overlooking the confluence of the Appomattox and James Rivers, is within walking distance. The city’s river walk is about five minutes away by car, as are a number of popular seafood restaurants and markets. Richmond is about a 30-minute drive.

Size: 3,688 square feet

Price per square foot: $243

Indoors: This large house sits behind a wide lawn, framed by mature trees and flowering plants.

Doors set in the covered brick porch open to a great hall with a fireplace (one of eight in the house), high ceilings, a chandelier and tall windows that fill the room with light.

To one side is a parlor that has a fireplace with a glossy tile surround. Beyond is a formal dining room with another fireplace, another chandelier and original heart-pine floors. Behind the dining room is a kitchen with light wood cabinets and space for a small breakfast table.

On the other side of the entrance hall is a sitting room with access to an enclosed porch. Nearby is a full bathroom with an original leaded-glass window.

All five bedrooms are upstairs. The primary bedroom has original picture molding and a fireplace framed in green tile. This space connects to a wing that holds a guest room, a home office and a full bathroom.

Across the hall is a guest room with blue-and-white toile wallpaper; next door is a bathroom with a white porcelain pedestal sink and a walk-in shower. Two more bedrooms off the main hall are large enough to hold double beds. Also off the hallway is a covered balcony with sweeping views of the Appomattox River.

Outdoor space: The rear porch and the patio, charming spots for outdoor dining, offer glimpses of the river. Off the terrace is a garden planted with boxwood; beyond is a gazebo and a koi pond. The detached garage holds two cars.

Taxes: $6,672 (estimated)

Contact: Susan W. Jones, The Steele Group, Sotheby’s International Realty, 804-814-0334; sothebysrealty.com


River Ridge is about 25 minutes from the center of New Orleans, and many of its nearly 14,000 residents commute into the city for work. The area was mostly farmland until the postwar housing boom, and many of this neighborhood’s homes date to the midcentury; others, like this one, were built to replace older structures.

This property is a few blocks from a commercial area with a Langenstein’s grocery store, a Planet Fitness gym and a CVS drugstore. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is a 15-minute drive.

Size: 3,342 square feet

Price per square foot: $269

Indoors: A brick footpath connects the sidewalk to the front door, which swings open into a foyer with hardwood floors.

The hardwood flooring continues into an open living area with a fireplace and a built-in entertainment center flanked by tall windows that overlook the lawn. Behind the sitting area is an island that separates this space from a kitchen with white cabinets and stainless-steel appliances. Nearby is room for a dining table beside a window facing the side of the property.

The primary suite off the dining area has a bedroom large enough for a king-size bed, two walk-in closets and a full bathroom with a separate tub and shower.

Another bedroom suite is off the foyer, along with a home office. A powder room and a laundry room are also on this level.

There are two more bedrooms on the second floor; they share a bathroom with a double vanity and combination tub and shower. Nearby is a spacious den used as a media room and playroom.

Outdoor space: A brick patio is in back, abutting the carport, which has a garage-style door facing the street and a ceiling fan, making it an easy spot to move outdoor dining on rainy days. The backyard is landscaped with grass and surrounded by a wood fence, with a stone fountain framed by a low hedge in one corner.

Taxes: $8,448 (estimated)

Contact: Lauren Smith, Rêve Realtors, 504-491-3488; lauren.reverealtors.com


Jersey City, across the Hudson River from Lower Manhattan, has long drawn those who prefer to remain close to city amenities, but also want a residential neighborhood with more space. This condominium is in a converted townhouse, updated with central air-conditioning, soundproofing and a video entry system. It is between downtown Jersey City and the Journal Square neighborhood, about a block from the Jersey City Armory.

A cafe, a wine shop and restaurants serving Salvadoran, Honduran and Ecuadorean cuisine are all within a few blocks; waterfront bars and restaurants are about a 10-minute drive. The financial district is about a half-hour drive; commuting by train takes around 40 minutes.

Size: 2,204 square feet

Price per square foot: $408

Indoors: The entrance to this unit is at ground level: The front door opens into a living room with hardwood floors, recessed lights and a wet bar with a mini fridge and sink. A hallway leads from this area to a bedroom with an en suite bathroom; access to the unit’s private outdoor space; a powder room; and a laundry room.

From the center of the main living space, a custom-made oak-and-glass staircase leads to the upstairs level, where there is a kitchen with quartz counters, a quartz-topped island and Bertazzoni appliances. Opposite the kitchen, next to the top of the stairs, is space for a dining table under a modern-style light fixture with round bulbs.

Two bedrooms are also on this level: The primary suite is just off the kitchen, with a custom-designed walk-in closet and a bathroom that has a soaking tub and a marble walk-in shower with glass walls. At the other end of this floor is another en suite bedroom with space for a desk and workout equipment.

Outdoor space: The rear terrace, off the first floor, is paved with stone and brick, and surrounded by a new wood fence. It is large enough for outdoor entertaining, with room for a table and lots of seating. One deeded parking spot comes with the unit.

Taxes: $12,024 (estimated), plus a $300 monthly homeowner association fee

Contact: Eddie Perez, Compass, 201-344-2886; compass.com

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