Charlottesville’s Real Estate Blog since 2005.

Clear, Honest Market Analysis. For People, Not Realtors.

General Real Estate

7 Harsh Truths

Seven Harsh Truths About Real Estate

Don’t want your housing foray to end in tears? My advice: Never forget these seven harsh truths.

1. A house is an undiversified bet on a single piece of property
2. Real estate doesn’t always go up
3. Leverage bites when you get it wrong
4. A house is a long-term investment
5. The big money is in the rent
6. Home improvements aren’t an investment
7. Mortgage debt has to be repaid

Most of this is pure common sense. However, those whose expectations are out of sorts may be in for a surprise one day. Soon.

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Jim Duncan has been helping buyers and sellers in Charlottesville’s neighborhoods for 25 years. Get local insight born of experience.

Dig Deeper

Revisiting the “0 to 5 Buyer is Gone” Post – 15 years later

Revisiting the “0 to 5 Buyer is Gone” Post – 15 years later

Revisiting the “0-5 Buyer Is Gone” Theory We’re in a different market now. Some of the people who bought between 2021 and 2024 are trying to sell — and the ones who bought new construction, now competing against new construction, are having a hard time.…

A Charlottesville e-bike Success Story

A Charlottesville e-bike Success Story

I have an e-bike. I love my e-bike. I ride it to meetings all over the City of Charlottesville instead of driving my car. e-bikes are great. A friend got an e-bike. He loves his e-bike. He has a different perspective, and I asked him…

Flipping the Switch, Part 3: ADUs, Zoning, and the Practical Guide

Flipping the Switch, Part 3: ADUs, Zoning, and the Practical Guide

Flipping the Switch, Part 3: ADUs, Zoning, and the Practical Guide Part 1 covered the data. Part 2 covered the design. This week: the regulatory landscape, the ADU reality check, and the practical checklist. The ADU Conversation Has Changed When I wrote about this in…

Happy Homeownership Day (on a bicycle)

Happy Homeownership Day (on a bicycle)

A good day starts with a bike ride. A better day starts with a bike ride to meet clients for a final walkthrough of their first home. Smile, happiness, projects to be undertaken, projects to be planned, lives to be lived. It's a good day.…

Interested in Learning More?

Jim Duncan has been helping buyers and sellers in Charlottesville’s neighborhoods for 25 years. Get local insight born of experience.