Conventional Loan Limits Jump in 2019; Good for Real Estate or Difficult for Consumers’ Budget?
From Matt Hodges with Presidential Mortgage. (Bolding is mine) This is a story from Matt discussing things buyers need to be doing as they prepare to buy a home. The Federal Housing Finance Authority (FHFA) raised the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (collectively conventional loans)…
Be Kind. It Matters
Reupping this story from April. This encounter has stuck with me. In early January I was returning a gift, and tried to get it put back on my wife’s credit card, which I didn’t have. The young girl working at the counter tried to make…
Growing Rio Road and Biscuit Run
Two big Albemarle County news items with respect to the use of the land, and local human settlement patterns, trails and traffic. Albemarle County’s blueprint for a walkable, urban destination at the Rio Road and U.S. 29 intersection has been approved. This is going to massively…
December 2018 Monthly Note | Community, Connections, Wrapping 2018
I write this note once a month. It's fun, hard, and it's usually the best stuff I write every month. Subscribe here. One email a month. Easy. This might be a good one. Wrapping 2018. That mistake I made 1st offer = Best offer Deep…
Ending 2018’s Charlottesville Real Estate Market, Looking at 2019
The Charlottesville real estate market showed signs of moderating (which is a good thing), driven by a few factors Affordability continued to be a challenge for many buyers Prices continued to rise. While I think we're going to continue to see appreciation continue (broadly), 2019…
Client Code of Conduct *or* My Commitment to My Client
Helping my clients make good decisions. That's my simple goal every day. That goal requires the right partnership. One of the most important things I do is to manage my clients' expectations, whether that's what to expect when they make a low offer on a…
Real Estate Market Shift – Tips for Buyers and Sellers in Charlottesville
The Charlottesville real estate market is shifting. We've been in a sellers' market for several years, and we're transitioning (broadly, all markets are micro-local) to a balanced/buyers market. For some buyers/sellers (and agents) this is going to be a shock to the system. Tips for…
Insight into Crozet’s Real Estate Market – Almost End of 2019
Originally posted at RealCrozetVA. Sales are slowing, inventory is creeping up, new construction is moving along, and we're seeing price moderations. Every micro-market is different. Each market within Charlottesville and Albemarle that I work has unique aspects. Forest Lakes is affected by NGIC, UVA Research Park, Target,…
November Note | Predictions, Perspective, Wedding vs House
Monthly Note time. Subscribe here. Notes for curious people who aren't in the real estate industry. (more…)
Scooters in Charlottesville
Get ready for scooters, Charlottesville. Because they are coming. For some reason, I can imagine a gaggle of scooters heading into Woolen Mills. What are they? To my eye, they are souped-up motorized versions of those razor scooters kids ride. But really. Scooters have become enormously…