Tips for Fruitful networkingWhat exactly is the Department of Justice’s bone with the National Association of Realtors?Remember names at a meeting.Health care workers priced out of the marketThe National Grounds Intelligence Center is poised to see massive growth. There’s a reason I am building an NGIC-only page on my real estate website.The plastic pig (How to pick your agent)Technology is watching you.
Date Archives January 2007
Charlottesville Neighborhood – Belmont
Contract today’s image of Belmont as a hot bed of urban hipsters living in gentrified Victorians walking and riding bikes to the Downtown Mall with this fascinating paper written in 1980 by James H…. Mr. Buck’s prediction came true:Belmont has, in the past, somewhat of a bad reputation, but critics need to take a new and closer look at this promising neighborhood of the future.Its proximity to the Downtown Mall is one of the driving forces behind its growth. When selling a house on Hinton Avenue a couple of years ago, I was astonished to find that the tenant had no idea where my office is – on the busiest corridor in the area – because he never left the Belmont/Downtown Mall area…. Condos are the latest trend, with (LEED certified) green condos on the way, and new construction condos generally have not suffered the same drop off that condo conversions have.
It’s a tie
Tied with Jay. That’s pretty good company.I’m no big dog, but it’s something.
Withholding offers?
a story just came across my desk from another agent who said that, on a listing of his, two separate buyer’s agents are withholding two separate offers because the seller is offering 2.5%, rather than 3%.In one case, an agent said his/her broker would not allow him to accept less than 3%; the other case, she demanded the seller increase the offering to the buyer-broker.And you wonder why the Realtors’ profession gets a bad reputation?… What the Seller is offering should be irrelevant.As a buyer, when considering whom you are going to hire as your Buyer Broker – if the Realtor is hesitant to negotiate their fees with you up front, what type of negotiator will they be for you? Depending on what the Seller is offering through the MLS is a sign of a Realtor who is 1) stuck in the past and 2) not confident in their own abilities. From the Virginia Association of Realtors’ (VAR) Buyer-Broker:Broker shall promote the interests of Buyer by (a) seeking property at a price and on terms acceptable to Buyer, (b) presenting in a timely manner all written offers or counteroffers to and from Buyer, (c) disclosing to Buyer all material facts related to the property or concerning the transaction of which Broker has actual knowledge, (d) accounting in a timely manner for all money and property received in which Buyer has or may have an interest.
Where do you search for homes in Charlottesville?
Excellent post today from Kris Berg about the varied places one can search for homes. Frequently even my savvy home buyers are surprised that not all homes are listed in the MLS.Locally, I am directing my buyer clients to search not only search the local MLS – http://www.c-villebyowner.com/http://www.assist2sellcville.comGoogleCraigslistDaily ProgressThere are more sites, but these are the most popular.My value is in the representation I offer to my clients, not in searching websites.Two posts that I wrote stating the need for an over-reaching aggregator for the various search sites:An aggregator for the aggregator?What if the MLS went away?
So proud to be true
That my blog comes up #1 in Google.charlottesville “real estate” “the truth”Seriously. There are very few better compliments for this blog.
TDRs baby stepping forward
Charlottesville Tomorrow noted on Wednesday that David Slutzky was pressing forward with his Transfer of Development (TDR) proposal. I have noted previously that TDRs present a unique opportunity to at the very least, have a creative discussion about managing growth in our region. To read more about TDRs than you could ask for, visit Beyond Takings and Givings or download this pdf titled “Downzoning: Does it protect working landscapes and maintain equity for the landowner?”The bill, proposed by Del…. The Daily Progress has more.