Visit this site first. The visual story of an old home’s return to glory. Some of the pictures are not for the faint of heart! For those of you with visions of restoration, this is…
Browsing Category General Real Estate
Buying a new home?
New-Home Incentives: Who Benefits More — Buyer or Builder’s Affiliate?: If you have shopped for a newly built house in recent years, you have probably run into this: The builder offers you a substantial incentive — a finished patio, extra square footage or lush landscaping — if you agree to obtain your mortgage, and maybe your title and settlement services, through an affiliate of the builder. Ryan Homes is building a couple of developments in Louisa and Fluvanna Counties and is offering exactly what is described. It seems to benefit my clients, so I will fight to ensure that they get what is being offered. To the extent that lenders pass along discounted fees or offer preferred rates to builder partners, builder financing incentives to buyers may in fact represent true savings.
Chemistry when choosing an agent
From the RealEstateJournal (update 3 Feb 2014 – the previous link broke; this one works)
Finding an agent is a lot like dating: Chemistry counts. You’ve given ample hints that you prefer No. 1, the agent with whom you have rapport.
I am not sure that my wife would agree, but this is true. If there is not the appropriate chemistry between client and Realtor, the working relationship may be more difficult. Be sure you feel comfortable with your Realtor and feel that you can trust him/her. Not all Realtors are the same!
Albemarle County Schools Redistricting
Albemarle County, having just redistricted a few students for the Fall 2005, is ramping up again to redistrict many more students for the Fall 2006 school year…. Check and double-check where your kids will go to school. Look at the school district maps – Albemarle’s are here – and call the Transportation Department. Most REALTORS try their very best to have the most up-to-date, accurate information, but always do your own due diligence.
57th District House of Delegates race
I had the opportunity this afternoon to hear David Toscano, Kim Tingley and Rich Collins speak today at CAAR…. Kim Tingley is the newcomer and Rich Collins is a newcomer to the “running for office†landscape, but a brilliant person – I would love to take or audit one of his classes…. This seat is an unenviable position – seemingly endless needs – transportation, education, economic growth, growth – with very little money to go around. I like and appreciate ideologues; heck I happen to play one myself at times, but the political landscape is so unforgiving tow ideologues I wonder whether one could actually accomplish anything.
And then there’s this –
“Of Course, There’s No Bubbleâ€: “We’re still getting started,†says real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran, who has advice about buying, selling, and hot spots across the U.S. This part is interesting – Q: Any advice for sellers?… The one thing: If you want to be overpaid, underprice by 10% and see what happens…. Only 1 in 10 people maybe has that chutzpah, but it works again and again and again…. Over and over again, people say, “I’ll give you the higher price, but I need five days.â€
Real Estate’s high P/E ratios
A Canadian take – Merrill Lynch’s David Rosenberg has been a housing bear for some time and you wouldn’t look like a genius following his advice. Prices in the United States and Canada keep going up, no matter what the economist says…. Just because the housing bubble “hasn’t burst, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist,†he told Barron’s…. The bubble talk is everywhere!