Charlottesville’s Real Estate Blog since 2005.

Clear, Honest Market Analysis. For People, Not Realtors.

Year: 2026

Flipping the Switch, Part 3: ADUs, Zoning, and the Practical Guide

GENERAL REAL ESTATE

Flipping the Switch, Part 3: ADUs, Zoning, and the Practical Guide

Flipping the Switch, Part 3: ADUs, Zoning, and the Practical Guide Part 1 covered the data. Part 2 covered the design. This week: the regulatory landscape, the ADU reality check, and the practical checklist. The ADU Conversation Has Changed When I wrote about this in…

Happy Homeownership Day (on a bicycle)

GENERAL REAL ESTATE

Happy Homeownership Day (on a bicycle)

A good day starts with a bike ride. A better day starts with a bike ride to meet clients for a final walkthrough of their first home. Smile, happiness, projects to be undertaken, projects to be planned, lives to be lived. It's a good day.…

Two Weekends Tell the Story of Charlottesville’s 2026 Spring Market

GENERAL REAL ESTATE

Two Weekends Tell the Story of Charlottesville’s 2026 Spring Market

One of the most important stories of the 2026 Charlottesville real estate market remains pricing + velocity. 82% of homes listed this year that went under contract went under contract in 30 days or less. In Charlottesville + Albemarle, 914 resale homes have been listed…

Two Weekends Tell the Story of Charlottesville’s 2026 Spring Market

GENERAL REAL ESTATE

Two Weekends Tell the Story of Charlottesville’s 2026 Spring Market

One of the most important stories of the 2026 Charlottesville real estate market remains pricing + velocity. 82% of homes listed this year that went under contract went under contract in 30 days or less. In Charlottesville + Albemarle, 914 resale homes have been listed…

AI Can Hear You. It Can’t Listen | Jim’s Note April 2026

MONTHLY NOTES ARCHIVES

AI Can Hear You. It Can’t Listen | Jim’s Note April 2026

It’s May, so here’s the archive of April’s note. If you’re interested in getting this note directly to your inbox every month, please subscribe here. If you have any questions about the market or the note, please ask me! This note led to a loss…

AI Can Hear You. It Can’t Listen | Jim’s Note April 2026

MONTHLY NOTES ARCHIVES

AI Can Hear You. It Can’t Listen | Jim’s Note April 2026

It's May, so here's the archive of April's note. If you’re interested in getting this note directly to your inbox every month, please subscribe here. If you have any questions about the market or the note, please ask me! This note led to a loss…

The Value that Solar Panels Bring to House – A Client Story

GENERAL REAL ESTATE

The Value that Solar Panels Bring to House – A Client Story

We can value solar panels. "Is the system owned or leased?" "Are the warranties and Net Metering agreements transferable?" "How old is the roof underneath the panels?" How do you value not being fully dependent on the grid? I was meeting a photographer at a…

How Many Homes Sold in Charlottesville Last Year (an MLS Story)

GENERAL REAL ESTATE

How Many Homes Sold in Charlottesville Last Year (an MLS Story)

Bear with me here. The MLS' utility and value are being threatened. You might be familiar with pocket listings; this is worse. Q: How many homes sold in Charlottesville last year? A: That's not that hard of a question to answer, thanks to the MLS.…

Flipping the Parental Switch – Part 2 of 3

GENERAL REAL ESTATE

Flipping the Parental Switch – Part 2 of 3

What a Multi-Generational Home Actually Looks Like in 2026 (Part 2 of 3) Last week I wrote about the data behind multi-generational living. This week: what does that actually look like inside a house? In 2015, I described the ideal "parent suite" as fewer steps,…

Flipping the Parental Switch – Part 1 of 3

GENERAL REAL ESTATE

Flipping the Parental Switch – Part 1 of 3

Flipping the Switch — Ten Years Later (Part 1 of 3) Used to be, parents took care of us; now, more and more often, we're taking care of the parents. I call it, "flipping the switch." Multi-generational households are becoming more commonplace; parents following the…

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Jim Duncan has been helping buyers and sellers in Charlottesville’s neighborhoods for 25 years. Get local insight born of experience.