Talking about Population Growth in Charlottesville – Costs, Benefits and Challenges
This should be fun. For those who read last month's note, you know that I was contemplating accepting the invitation to be on this panel put on by ASAP - Advocates for a Sustainable Population. Anyone who has read RealCentralVA for a while knows that…
Reasonable Expectation of Privacy in your Home?
Technology in and of itself isn't the challenge, the challenge is how we as a society deal with it. This is the sort of thing that will likely take legislatures many years (after "privacy" has been eliminated) to sort out. I highly encourage reading the…
Compromising When Buying a Home – Location, Location, Location
This beautiful graphic from Doorsteps simply demonstrates what homebuyers are willing to compromise: Not much has changed over the past couple years - homebuyers still refuse to compromise on schools, and remain willing to compromise on home price and size. I've had buyers choose to…
Goodbye Charlottesville Bubble Blogger(s) – for Now
Goodbye, Charlottesville Bubble Bloggers. Today marks their final post . Thanks for the insight, the forced introspection and for bringing some life to the Charlottesville real estate conversation. Please don't let your blog become yet another abandoned internet place feeding dead links.* Mid-2008 brought the…
Vetting Lenders – The Power of Misinformation
Continuing my series with of borrowing knowledge from lenders comes this from Ken Malinowski with Movement Mortgage. Takeaway: before you go see a lender, get a qualified recommendation from someone - preferably a trusted Realtor. After 16 years as a mortgage loan officer, I guess…
New Construction in Charlottesville and Albemarle
In short - there's lots of new construction in Charlottesville and Albemarle. It's been said that 2013 is the year of the return of the spec house; we're seeing more new construction than we've seen in years. Buyers have more options, sellers have more competition.…
Jim’s Monthly Note #2
Last month's note was fun to write, and I sincerely appreciate the few of you who subscribed and read. I'm finishing up the second note and will be publishing/sending it tomorrow morning. Working title: Seeking Better Realtors, Population Controls, The Market & Realtors -v- Zillow…
The Best, Most Popular Neighborhood in Charlottesville is …
(part one of two) The Best, Most Popular Neighborhood in Charlottesville is … Mill Creek. Redfields. Western Ridge. Bellair, North Downtown? All of the above. None of the above. The real answer to, "what is the best neighborhood in Charlottesville" - depends on you. What…
FHA Changes upon Us – More Expensive Loans, Fewer Buyers?
I'm often told that the information provided here is educational. Part of my own education is knowing the right people to whom I both direct my questions and clients. As such, I'll have a few posts in the next couple weeks from lenders whom I…
Downtown Charlottesville from the Top of the Waterhouse Condos
A few shots from the top of the Waterhouse condos (still under construction) on Water Street in Downtown Charlottesville. The solar array on top of the Ice Park is impressive.