Virginia Realtors’ conference this week
The Virginia Association of Realtors' Legislative Conference is this week - from Tuesday to Friday - and it's as exciting as it sounds. Really. The chance to talk politics, real estate, learn about other markets and meet and network with other Realtors is something I…
Vote today
It matters. If you don't know where to vote, go to the Virginia State Board of Election's page. Take 15 minutes to do your duty.
We’re lucky to have great GIS in Albemarle
Contrast Albemarle's open and excellent approach to GIS to West Virginia's: Now a county tax assessor has filed a lawsuit trying to block the tax maps from being put online, claiming copyright infringement and financial damages since fewer people are coming to her to buy…
Serious questions for real estate agents
Sometimes it's better to read honest insight from those you trust - this post has lots of it. Since I started this blog, one of my goals has been to read the macro-level analysis and apply it to the Charlottesville/Central Virginia real estate market. This…
The 10 Rules to blog by
Real estate bloggers, brokers, those in real estate associations considering "regulating" real estate blogs ... you should all read this article and watch this course. 1. Check your facts. 2. Avoid virtual vendettas. 3. Obey the law. 4. Weigh promises. 5. Reveal secrets selectively. 6.…
More on SB 768
Bacon's Rebellion has a good post today about the previously-referenced bill that would mandate impact fees on new development and eliminate proffers. The bill would remove localities' ability to negotiate (some say extort) proffers from developers; but ... is this the consequence the bill authors…
At what point is it cheaper to walk away?
$25,000? $50,000? $100,000? While mortgage fraud has abounded in recent years, voluntary foreclosures are not by themselves evidence of a newfound irresponsibility on Americans' part. To be sure, until recently, mass-scale voluntary foreclosures were unthinkable. But markets have changed, and people are changing their behavior…
“SB768: Conditional zoning; replaces cash proffer system with system of impact fees.”
I just don't like it. When the Republican Chair of Albemarle County's Board of Supervisors, who has a history of siding with real estate interests, says that "that he had already been making personal calls in opposition to the bill," something is amiss. Realtors were…
If the public doesn’t speak, don’t complain
From today's Daily Progress: A public hearing on Charlottesville Superintendent Rosa Atkins' proposed $58.1 million budget for fiscal 2008-09 was as over as soon as it started at Thursday's School Board meeting. Though no one spoke Thursday, the public will have another chance to comment…
Thursday thoughts – 2 February 2008
1 - I wonder if local builders will employ these tactics? As the housing slump drags on, some builders have a deal for potential buyers: Sign a contract, and if the cost of comparable homes drops before closing, you get the lower price.2 - Localizing…