Greg has aggregated 190+ real estate blogs, and Active Rain and RealTown becoming the largest real estate blog platforms. Having written consistently for just over two years, now (1569 posts and counting), the time and dedication one must put forth can seem and be daunting. Blogging was just named part of Real Estate Trend #4 in Stefan Swanepoel’s excellent Real Estate Trends Report. Get your very own copy of Realty Blogging (with a gratuitous quote or two from yours truly)here.Having a blog is one thing; doing it well can is another.
Date Archives February 2007
Congestion pricing in Charlottesville?
With all the talk of late about the City of Charlottesville debating closing Old Lynchburg Road, a major artery into and out of the City, how long until the City considers instituting congestion pricing á la London? Imagine the potential revenue – 10 bucks to enter City limits – it could work. 🙂 We discussed this at length earlier this month. If the City can build a Transit Center (albeit a LEED-certfied one) in the absence of efficient transit, why not institute an entrance fee?
The value of transparent blogging
That’s fine, but be aware of the potential problems.Is Dual Agency good?… In a conversation the other day with another Realtor, we were discussing the soon-to-be-released Buyer-Broker form (to replace this one), which I sign with all of my buyer-clients.* He was wondering whether we should put a disclaimer in that says that we may not know about all of the properties that are out there, either by the limited-service firms, unrepresented sellers, etc., in light of the current wording in the Agreement that states:Broker shall use professional real estate knowledge and skills to represent Buyer in a diligent and effective manner and to locate property which is available for purchase and suitable to Buyer…. I’ve written a story about that, stating that there are so many different sites to search, frankly I need my buyers’ help in locating the property sometimes. I’ll say it again, my value is in representing my clients, not necessarily searching various websites.My constant references may seem annoying at times, but the fact is that I write almost every day, which puts me in a positionNo man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar.~Abraham LincolnClient is anyone that you or your firm has a formal agreement to work with.
Beware of redistricting
This is why I always use the word “probably” when referencing school districts.Ă‚Â Unless you can see the school and maybe throw a rock and hit it, there are no guarantees that that desirable Elementary-Middle-High School feeder pattern will remain intact.From today’s DP:“One of the things we’re doing with our Realtors is to say: ‘Please don’t promise folks when they move into the area that they’re going to be in that school for life,’” Behrens said. “In a growing community, in a growing county, you can expect boundary changes if you’re on the fringes….Ă‚Â Our goal is one time during elementary, so that you don’t have to be redistricted back and forth.”If your Realtor does guarantee that, challenge him.
Market cap on Charlottesville prices?
Is population growth of people on the upper end of the socioeconoic strata expected to rise that much here?I merely ask because of the amount of new construction and the current prices well over the $350,000 range for most detached homes…. Buying smart will come into fashion again.From last November’s HooK:”In the last several years, people had gotten away from the ‘buying smart’ mentality and were just buying,” he says…. “If you don’t do anything to the house to hurt or improve it, you’ll probably make money when you sell.”This is a particularly relevant letter to the editor in this week’s WSJ, referencing Japan’s housing price decline:…… We contRelated reading:Has the market hit bottom?Who is buying urban condominiums?: a tale of four cities.Goldman Sachs Housing Conference (Hat tip: Paper Money)My previous writings on appreciationcaveat: I am not an economist, fortune teller or nor sooth sayer.
All properties have to go in the MLS?
I was at a trade show this week, and besides having much to contemplate with regards to whether to switch brokerages in the future, I learned a bit, too.In one class, agents were talking about how they send buyer clients automated emails when new properties come on the market that meet their buyers’ defined criteria…. The response was almost adequate, but what was most striking was the apparent difference between the Charlottesville real estate market and the California real estate market. A California agent approached me after the class and said that in California, state law dictated that within 72 of taking a listing, that property had to be put into the MLS. When I suggested that this might be an MLS rule, she was adamant that it was a California state law.
Rant against Delta Airlines
I have received successive text messages from Delta saying that the flight will be delayed from 8 to 8:30, then 9, now 9:30. Delta’s website has no information, and the Delta representative seems almost resentful that people are asking why the flight has been delayed…. I would be inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt, but the last time I flew Delta, I had a terrible experience as well…. (I didn’t pay this time either)Upon arriving into Atlanta, the flight attendant said, “we’re 5 minutes early!