Best properties on the market

1. Potomac, Md. This custom-built, European-style villa sits on more than 130,000 square feet and features large picture windows with panoramic views of the Potomac River. The five-bedroom home is also located near the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park. The house has an open floor plan, a patio, and a swimming pool. $2,295,000. Marc Fleisher, Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., (202) 364-5200

2. Washington, D.C. With views of the Potomac and the Key Bridge, this four-story, three-bedroom renovated town house includes a two-story “view room” with a wet bar, a whole-house multimedia system, and a roof deck with a hot tub. $3,995,000. Marc Bertinelli, McFadden Group/Washington Fine Properties, LLC, (202) 657-9000

Steal of the week

3. Colonial Beach, Va. This riverfront beach cottage has wide porches and a waterfront deck right on the Potomac. Built in 1900, the four-bedroom home features original hardwood floors, high ceilings, and updated bathrooms and kitchen. $385,000. Jimmy Coates, Exit Mid-Rivers Realty, (804) 224-9450

4. Bethesda, Md. This award-winning home, designed by Robert Gurney, sits along the Potomac. The five-bedroom house has views of the river and is in a private, wooded area. Amenities include multiple balconies, a roof deck, a patio, and a pool. $4,490,000. Anne Killeen, Washington Fine Properties, LLC, (301) 706-0067

5. Washington, D.C. Designed by Mark -McInturff, this house has three bedrooms, a fitness room, a hot tub, a sauna, and a slate-tiled patio. The central staircase and library have won architectural awards, and an oculus fills the home with light. Located in the Palisades, it overlooks the Georgetown Reservoir. $1,825,000. Zelda Heller, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, (202) 257-1226

6. Williamsport, Md. Known as the Daniel Donnelly House, this property was once used as a Civil War hospital. The three-bedroom home, located on a bend of the Potomac, was built in 1833, and details include the original floors, doors, and hardware as well as 10 fireplaces. $774,000. Gary Gestson, Long & Foster Historic Home Team, (301) 646-0046

7. Arlington, Va. This two-bedroom, 1,530-square-foot condo offers views of the Potomac and all the D.C. monuments. The home features a 21-foot private balcony and a 48-bottle wine cooler. The high-rise building has 24-hour front-desk service, security, an exercise room, and a pool. $899,000. Patricia T. Darneille, Century 21 New Millennium, (703) 748-5467