ICE-ing Out Home Building in Central Virginia
New construction delays used to have easy explanations: weather, supply chains, permits. In 2026, Albemarle County has one building inspector covering 720.5 square miles, and builders tell me the framers, roofers, and tile crews are staying home out of fear. Buyers are absorbing the uncertainty.
Talking Real Estate Matters – Interest Rates and Midterm Elections
Rates went from 6.01% to 7.28%, about 40% of August and September contracts took a price cut first, and cash buyers are back. Notes from a podcast I recorded this week, with sources.
Charlottesville-Albemarle Real Estate Market Shifting – October 2026
A client asked me what’s going on in the Charlottesville and Albemarle market, so I took notes while I answered. Inventory is at its highest since 2019, September brought the most new listings since 2007, and August–September contracts are down 4% from last year. The market is bifurcated: a third of homes still sell within 10 days, a third take over 60, and the price decides which side you land on.
Peril & a Rainbow – Jim’s Note September 2026
Clients recently asked me whether buying or selling right now is perilous, and my answer was yes: rates are up, a war is squeezing the global economy, and uncertainty is everywhere. And yet there’s never a perfect time to do anything, so we focus on what we can control, like pricing correctly, preparing well, and matching the decision to how long you’ll actually stay. Also inside: why renting first is the best way to figure out where to live in Charlottesville, why personal property has become 2026’s biggest negotiation headache, and three free guides for buyers and sellers.
Refreshing The Blog – 21 Years Later
Refreshing my real estate blog, RealCentralVA, for the first time in 20 years has been a journey.
Always Read Covenants and Restrictions
Always read the covenants and restrictions when buying a home in Charlottesville, Albemarle, or anywhere really. Some have silly restrictions that aren’t enforceable, some have racist restrictions that are no longer legal or enforceable, and some have legitimate restrictions that may prevent you from using the property the way you want — say, you want to build a garage, but the C&Rs prevent that.
Sewer Scopes are Good (in Charlottesville)
A sewer scope runs about $350, and it’s cheap insurance compared to what I’ve seen go wrong. At least once or twice a year, I run into a client whose sewer line has roots choking it, or a pipe that’s broken or crushed — the kind of damage that costs thousands to fix. I just had two properties scoped: one came back clean, the other had root intrusion that needed addressing before closing. I’d rather my clients pay for the scope now than call me after closing because sewage is backing up into their house. Client tears are bad tears.
Time, Complications, Contextual Fears, and Poop in Sinks | Jim’s Note August 2026
#190 This month: Our HVAC went out a few weeks ago — hot, real hot, and naturally on a Friday. My wife and I remarked that we had just put the new system in, until I pulled up the invoice and found that “just” was…
How’s the Charlottesville Market? In August 2026
How’s the Charlottesville market in mid-August 2026? I ran into a client the other day I’d not seen since they bought and sold their homes seven years ago. They’re a bit removed from it, the way most people are when they’re not actively buying or…
Revisiting the “0 to 5 Buyer is Gone” Post – 15 years later
Revisiting the “0-5 Buyer Is Gone” Theory We’re in a different market now. Some of the people who bought between 2021 and 2024 are trying to sell — and the ones who bought new construction, now competing against new construction, are having a hard time.…