Notes from the frontline
Writing about the Charlottesville real estate market requires a "boots on the ground" viewpoint. For the past week, I have shown most of the inventory in the $300k-$550k price range in the City of Charlottesville and the urban ring. 1) Appraisals from four, six, eight…
A macro view versus the reality of million dollar homes in Charlottesville
Rarely if ever do I highlight individual properties, but I will make an exception in this case. Somehow I missed this story on CNBC earlier this year: "In this university town, there are about 30 homes priced at $1 million or more, if you're in…
The HooK’s Annual Manual
In spite of all of the Realtor ads, The HooK's Annual Manual is one of the core ingredients in my relocation packages. 1) Map 2) Business Cards 3) Annual Manual 4) Market Data, etc. All the information is readily accessible on their excellent website, but…
What do we do if the population exceeds optimal levels?
As mentioned in June on Charlottesville Tomorrow's site in June, and approved by the Board of Supervisors, Advocates for a Sustainable Population (ASAP) have received an additional $11k from the City of Charlottesville (you may have to scroll down) for their study to research what…
These cities may have green condos, but Charlottesville will have a LEED-certified development
From CNN Money (h/t: Move): As environmental building becomes more popular, condo developers are selling their "green" credentials to cost and ecology-conscious consumers.Cost and ecology-conscious consumers are no longer necessarily mutually exclusive. More and more, they go hand-in-hand. Via a press release yesterday: ... Belvedere,…
If you want to know about growth issues in Charlottesville/Albemarle
Check out Charlottesville Tomorrow's 47-page study released this morning. KEY FINDINGS With respect to policy issues related to land use, infrastructure, taxation, transportation, and leadership, the survey results indicate: * There is strong public support for policies, like phasing or time based zoning, that would…
The state of the Charlottesville market – or a coincidence?
In the past week, I have had two different sets of clients make low offers on properties, properties that have been sitting for some time. Low offers are nothing new; what was new is that the buyers' respective first offers were essentially their best offers…
Quick market update for Charlottesville/Albemarle
Currently there are: 1192 non-condo properties on the market. 370 non-condo residential properties are under contract. 107 (nearly 10% of the current inventory) have gone under contract since the first of the month. 224 condos are actively on the market. 133 condos are under contract…
The perils of being quoted in the media in Charlottesville
Sometimes, it seems that being quoted in the media is more trouble than it's worth. I'd like to see C-Ville open their stories in a manner similar to The HooK. Transparency hurt nobody. Take today's story in the C-Ville Weekly on the area's home sales…
Really, Al Roker?
Et tu Barbara Corcoran? Blanket statements are dangerous, especially when comparing the run-up from 2004 to 2007, but in Charlottesville, there clearly are not enough rooms on grounds for the UVA students and grad students. Buying smart likely will pay off in the end. Related…