What’s a sex offender worth?
"About four percent of the value of your home." (Story here) I marketed a house last year in a neighborhood housing a sex offender. His presence most assuredly prevented at least two offers from being written. Strictly anecdotally, this offender influenced the relative value of…
Where to watch the World Cup in Charlottesville?
Way off topic, but of vital importance (to me) and 1.5 billion other people. Where are the best places to watch the World Cup in CharlAlbemarle?
Charlottesville is #12
Charlottesville (CharlAlbemarle or the Charlottesville MSA) is now ranked as the 12th best in the "Small Metro Areas" category in the 2006's Best Cities for Relocating Familiesâ„¢ study. This may be an important "study" in that it appears to be targeted towards businesses relocating their…
Cul-de-sacs, roads and more
I have been meaning to write about this article in the WSJ concerning the planning perils of cul-de-sacs; I started a post on the 5th and then Jonathan Miller at Matrix beat me to it. For some local context, read Charlottesville Tomorrow's post last year.…
Property taxes, traffic and straw
What will localities do if/when property values level off and they will be forced to either 1) live within their means or 2) raise property tax rates or 3) find another source of revenue (tax)? Green trends continue their upward trend: Reasons for building green…
New Construction Closing Dates
Builder: We'll close on 28 June. Buyer: Really? Builder: Well, probably. We'll be close. As close as we can. Don't worry. You'll still buy the house, though. And if closing is delayed because of your actions, you will be heavily penalized.The above fictional conversation is…
Afternoon Links 06-05-06
Much like the Property Grunt, I try to apply other markets' analyses to the Central Virginia market. Sellers, price your (properties) appropriately and be patient with your brokers. They are undergoing one of the most stressful times in their careers. However, let them know that…
Builder’s Blitz in Charlottesville
I have been negligent in not writing about this event, starting today in Charlottesville. I make a general rule not to post press releases and such (and have written about Builders' Blitzes a few times), but this is an exception, due to Habitat for Humanity's…
Off-topic, yet interesting
Are Americans Ready for Smaller Houses? Time Will Tell. I, for one, believe that smaller houses are poised for a return to prominence and vogue. More and more, I have clients asking for utility bills. Witness the condo boom - good, functional, efficient spaces that…
Buyer’s or Seller’s Market?
Are we in a Buyer's or Seller's Market? Outstanding post and comments at Matrix. What if it's not "either - or" and just a balanced market? From the comments: All in all, we are much closer to a buyers market than you think and it…