This is why I am obsessed with correct spelling (via Seth Godin): Few things demonstrate one’s dedication to “attention to detail” as spelling. Spelling is a simple, and often quite public way to show your true colors. Fluvanna County building permits are down, YoY, but assessments are way up.Blogging for listing feedback (courtesy of real/diaBlog). Similar to ShackYack, but focused strictly on listing feedback, my greatest question remains – what is the potential liability to the blog provider if damaging (true or untrue) comments are made?What does a $250k house get you?
Date Archives January 2007
Computerized housing
And you thought I meant “smart homes,” didn’t you? I saw this written up elsewhere, but Treehugger had the best, and the only one had links to the pertinent websites. The future may be coming faster than we think.
Smoke-free buildings?
This, from a recent eco-broker listserv:“Do you address the issue of secondhand smoke in multi-unit buildings as a component of indoor air quality? A condo could be built with the healthiest eco-construction but still be hazardous to your health if you end if living next to or above a smoker.After many inquiries, I finally found a smokefree condo property recently – the new Mississippi Lofts has a provision in the bylaws for no smoking anywhere on the property…. And a realtor or developer championing the smokefree condo issue could have a nice little niche.”Per LEED standards, Version 2.2 (page 31 of this PDF):Zero exposure of nonsmokers to ETS (Environmental Tobacco Smoke) by prohibition of smoking in the building, OR, provide a designated smoking room designed to effectively contain, capture and remove ETS from the building…. A quick search of the MLS shows a couple of single-family properties being marketed as “no smokers have ever lived here” and “house being sold as-is – owners were smokers” …There is more to the story than houses and developments that are designed to be “green.”
Match day approaches for UVA
If you don’t match, then you have two days to “scramble” into a program, ANY program that wishes to take you.The Charlottesville area real estate market depends on the University of Virginia in many, many ways, and UVA Medical Residents are no exception. Typically, they come in every year with similar criteria – less than $300k (usually closer to less than $250k), three bedrooms, at least one and half baths, and no more than twenty minutes to the Medical Center. The UVA Housing Management System may be an option, as may be renting for several years, but many residents, after analyzing our local market, determine that they will be better suited buying…. :)I am working on developing a page specifically for UVA Medical Residents, and would welcome input from anybody with insight.I have written (briefly) about Match Day ever since I started this blog in January 2005.As always, I may be contacted here.
Upgraded WordPress
Apparently there was a security vulnerability. Thanks to Greg for the heads-up.Also, I took the opportunity to activate Askimet (and de-activate Bad Behavior and Spam Karma) and changed my comment-closing plugin.If anything seems dodgey, please let me know.
Transparency in real estate fees
$250,000 x 3% = $7500If I made that much, that would be great.Now, take the referral fee off the top – $7500 – 35% = $4875. Still, not so bad.Now, split it with the Broker – $4875 – 50% = $2437.50Now, from this, take out taxes (being an independent contractor, there is no withholding, etc.), Realtor dues, all marketing expenses …… Prices of properties and sales volume certainly help offset the potential negative income when dealing with referrals, as does the repeat business when those buyer referrals contact me to market their homes …… there is at least one (big) company from whom I never accept referrals because their agreement stipulates that once I work with someone whom they referred to me, all future transactions with that client must send this particular company a 35% referral fee.
If you drink wine in Virginia
Then you should be interested in this bill, that:Restores to certain Virginia retailers the privilege of delivering wine and beer to their customers…. which is not a bad thing. More here.One of our local wine shop stewards will be at the General Assembly on Thursday to testify for reinstatement of this privilege.