Posts Published by Jim Duncan

Father, husband, Charlottesville real estate agent, bicycle rider & soccer coach. And more. Lots more.

Picasso Coming to Virginia

in Charlottesville on

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts proudly announces a landmark exhibition in honor of its 75th anniversary, Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso , Paris. VMFA is the only East Coast venue for the exhibition’s seven-city international tour. The exhibition, which will be on view from February 19 through May 15, 2011, is co-organized by the Musée National Picasso , Paris and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts .

One of the most difficult parts of living in Charlottesville is making time to take advantage of the various opportunities.

Read More

Au Revoir, Forest Lakes & Hydraulic Markets?

in Albemarle Charlottesville on

The beauty of the Markets – gourmet gas stations which really are ” ironically delicious ” – the original one at Bellair , the newest one on 29 at the corner of Greenbrier, the one at Hydraulic and 29, and the ones at Forest Lakes and Mill Creek – is that they are decidedly Charlottesville .

…“We’re trying to make these stores destinations rather than convenience stops,” said Stuart Lowry, marketing director for The Markets of Tiger Fuel, a Virginia convenience chain that offers fresh seafood, a fancy deli and professional chefs.

…While I share some of the writer’s sentiments, I’d rather focus on their current contributions to the economy and to the culture of Charlottesville for the past 20+ years as a resident, customer and Realtor in Charlottesville. … I may sound a bit elitist, but given the choice between a snack or sandwich and a cup of Mudhouse Coffee at a Market or a chili dog and a fountain drink at a 7-11, I’ll choose the former every day of the week.

Read More

Buying a Home to Get More Expensive. Again.

in General Real Estate on

Obama report on Fannie, Freddie plan may boost mortgage rates The Obama administration wants to raise fees for borrowers and require larger down payments for home loans as part of a long-term effort to restructure the nation’s housing market. But it warned that these measures could boost mortgage rates and make it harder for home buyers to secure the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, a mainstay of American home buying for decades. My first reads/reactions? – Cash buyers will be far better than borrowing buyers – Government’s not going to get out of the mortgage business . – Can’t live with ’em, can’t live without ’em – Calculated Risk likes Option 2 More at the WSJ : “The cost of mortgages is probably going to go up, and homeownership is probably going to go down,” said Daniel Mudd, the former chief executive of Fannie Mae who is now CEO of Fortress Investment Group. … As I tell anyone who asks, the best part of being an informed and active real estate agent is that every day brings new opportunities to learn.

Read More