The Free Enterprise Forum has released a new study that tracks local governmental spending. When I read the whole thing, I’ll have more to say. The Study is here (PDF).The Daily Progress’ coverage.
Date Archives January 2007
Transparency in politics takes a giant leap forward
The number of bills that are going to be introduced in the upcoming General Assembly Session that will impact the buying and selling of real estate in the Charlottesville area, other localities and statewide is phenomenal…. all of these will have an impact on the real estate market, both existing and new construction. Wouldn’t you rather be aware before you read the news that the State can come and take your property via eminent domain?I know that I have become more and more a politics geek in the past couple of years …… I had the privilege of playing around with the site for the past couple of weeks, and I have only two things to say – Wow, and Thank you, Waldo!
Links 01-09-2006
Find a pet-friendly hotel. Finding a hotel that is accommodating to pets is more and more important. (via lifehacker)January Home Maintenance check-list”graphic” Iraq photosIs the Realtor becoming irrelevant?
How to market new construction
The methods being employed in Fluvanna and Louisa at present are: (1) Make all lots available for sale to anyone (via standard marketing tools, i.e., MLS, print ads, etc.)…Simply market the hell out the thing in every way possible…. Pros: faster lot absorption, higher lot price potentialCons: speculators purchasing lots and sitting on them, undesirable heterogeneity in home styles, market-level sales commissions (2) Require buyers to use one or more pre-selected builders…In several instances, I’m seeing developers hire listing agents to sell lots, while requiring buyers to use a pre-selected builder(s)…. Pros: minimal sales commissionsCons: buyers may not want to use pre-selected builders, slower absorption (3) Sell all lots to one or more builders …assuming the desired price and absorption can be negotiated, and the builder is not some startup guy who could fold if a single home doesn’t sell, this is probably the best situation for developers. Pros: no sales commissions, predetermined absorptionCons: small builders may back out, price discount likely *Best, in this context, is how best to maximize value/return on the development of the subdivision.
Carnival of RE #24
Is up at HouseValues.
Class warfare in Fluvanna
Combined with NIMBY-sim in Fluvanna a few weeks ago. Speaking against a proposed mixed-use development in Fluvanna, a board member of the Lake Monticello Homeowners’ Association stated:“Townhome developments threaten to become the slums of the future,” Johnson said. (source)Wow. Arguing against a new development is one thing. Arguing from this mindset is totally uncalled for.
RealCentralVA is two years old
I have learned an enormous amount from the real estate bloggers out there, and plan to continue to do so…. National trends impact the Charlottesville, Virginia market, but the most influential real estate trends happen on the local level.7. Right or wrong, I feel a certain responsibility to write as well and as frequently as possible – both for my own and my readers’ continuity.I wanted to link to some of my older stories, but the conversion process from iBlog to Wordpress destroyed much of the formatting. If I could figure out how to install this tag cloud plugin, I’d post the most common words and categories over the past two years.Blogging is easy, but as with anything, blogging well can be quite difficult.