Charlottesville’s Real Estate Blog since 2005.

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

Buyers

What will it take?

An education. Talking to one of my clients last evening, discussing why his property has not yet sold, we discussed how I, despite having been in the business for almost five years (a grizzled veteran based on the number of new agents out there), have seen only the “boom” in the market. I have lived through the slower times, as both of my parents are Realtors, but have not experienced it first hand. During the last lull, the internet was not what it is today – what will the new market look like?

The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.
Winston Churchill (source)

Incentives are being offered that have not been seen before. Buyers’ agents commissions, incentives to pay buyers’ closing costs …

I now get several spams a week with incentives. This – from a national builder in the area (missing an apostrophe) –

New Options

From a local Realtor –

My sellers … are offering $3000 bonus to buyer’s agent.  They will also pay $2000 toward buyer’s closing cost (w/ acceptable offer.)

This home is the BEST QUALITY HOME IN THIS PRICE RANGE (this was also 24 pt. font for emphasis)

Another national builder, not in this area,

… is offering a 4% broker/agent referral fee for the first customer, 5% for the second customer and 6% for the third, fourth, fifth …

One local seller is offering with their house … “A brand new (almost) CAR!”

Is red really an inviting color with positive connotations?

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I have been been representing buyers and sellers in Charlottesville, Albemarle, and Central Virginia since 2001. Get local insight born of experience.

Dig Deeper

Sewer Scopes are Good (in Charlottesville)

Sewer Scopes are Good (in Charlottesville)

Orangeburg, Terra Cotta, PVC .. what kind of sewer line does your house have? What kind of sewer line does the house you're considering have? I wrote last month about sewer scopes I advise my buyers to have the sewer lines scoped. It’s usually about…

When Should Buyers Pull their Credit (when buying a home)?

When Should Buyers Pull their Credit (when buying a home)?

I asked Matt Hodges with Gray Fox Mortgage  a couple simple questions a lot of my buyer clients have, and thought you'd find the answers useful. When should buyers let their lender pull their credit? Regardless of when a buyer wants to purchase, if they…

Artificial Housing Inventory in Charlottesville

Artificial Housing Inventory in Charlottesville

I'm guilty of this, too. For houses that come on the market in Charlottesville and the Charlottesville area, what I'm seeing is this Home is listed as a Coming Soon on Monday/Tuesday so that we Realtors can tee up our buyers. House is activated on…

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My goal is simple: help my clients – buyers or sellers – make good decisions.