What Would you Change about the Real Estate Process – Conveying Space
How best to convey space? Size? April's note generated some excellent responses, responses for which I'm grateful - not simply for the insight offered but that readers took significant time to respond. Thank you! * "You asked in your monthly note about what's typically missing…
Changing the Proffer System in Albemarle County
I can't argue with any of this. I'd say that there has to be a balance between new homes paying their way and existing homes paying their way. "I think the presumption of the policy is that the county needs an additional means of collecting…
The 29 Saga Continues
Decades and decades of planning and fighting about what to do about Route 29 and I'd argue that our region is worse off because nothing substantive has been done other than widening 29 and adding stop lights. Anyone stepping into the morass that is the…
30+ Tips for First-Time Homebuyers
This week I had the opportunity to talk to a small group of first time homebuyers. In preparing, I asked social media, "What one piece of advice would you give a first-time homebuyer?" The answers - from clients (recent and not), friends, and good real…
Costco Coming to Charlottesville, Bringing Traffic With It
Who woulda thunk that dropping 150,000 square feet of retail would bring traffic with it? The Stonefield shopping center is challenging at best to navigate - from Trader Joe's to Pasture, for example, and is remarkably so for a pedestrian (I haven't yet tried to…
Rivanna Village – 400 More Homes Coming – Near Glenmore
What they've done here is pretty cool. 400 more homes coming to that section of 250 East will be interesting. "The plan also features about 32 acres of open space and linear parks, a mixed-use village center and single-family homes." This is a prime example…
May 2014 Monthly Note – Puzzles, the Market & Buyers’ Questions
This month's note will be published by the end of the week. Promise. The above is my working, preliminary outline for my Monthly Note - some of the best stuff I write that I don't publish on blogs ... and don't have the archives publicly…
What do Buyers (Moving to or In) Charlottesville Read?
In last month's Monthly Note I asked - What do you read? One of the best responses was this: What do I read? The sites I've used as we've considered where to move include the local newspapers and related sites -- just to get an…
1st Quarter 2014 Nest Report – Sales Down, Fundamentals Stronger
Have a few minutes? Curious about what happened in 2014's first quarter in the Charlottesville real estate market? Spend a few minutes reading our 1st Quarter 2014 Nest Report. My suggestion? Read, digest, and then ask questions about how the market data and report pertain…
Bad Data, Sexual Offenders and Property Values
Question everything. Always. You can search for sexual offenders in Charlottesville and Albemarle (and the entire Commonwealth of Virginia); but how do you know if the data is accurate? Now that sexual offender data display is becoming more commonplace, how long until consumers start to…