Riding a Bicycle from Hollymead to Downtown Charlottesville
Riding a bicycle from Downtown Charlottesville to Hollymead Town Center - I drove the new Berkmar Extension recently with a client who also rides a bicycle, and we discussed the feasibility of riding from there to Downtown Charlottesville. Commuting by bicycle from 29 North to Downtown…
Something Always Happens (in a real estate transaction)
Or ... What Could Go Wrong? There is a fairly linear process to buying a home (in Charlottesville, or anywhere else). Define needs/wants Hire buyer agent Refine needs/wants Search Find Offer to Purchase Contract Loan Process Inspections Walkthrough Closing A lot happens in there, most of…
Three Charlottesville Neighborhoods; Three Distinct Markets
"Is it a sellers' market?" A potential client asked that question recently, specifically after we toured three neighborhoods in the immediate urban ring of Charlottesville. Each of the neighborhoods is in the County of Albemarle (meaning, County schools, police, fire, taxes, etc), but they are considered to be "Charlottesville"…
Biking to Home Inspections
Now that we have a Nest outpost in Crozet (NestWest, we like to call it), I'm hoping to be able to ride my bicycle to more home inspections. Every mile counts. (even China gets it) A great day when I'm able to ride to…
Comfortable Price Point + What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
This is the advice I give buyer clients, in this or any market Buy a home where the monthly payment + operating costs is comfortable. And be prepared to live there for at least 4-5 years. A client of mine defined "comfortable price point" as…
PSA to Home Buyers in Charlottesville – Beware Fake Wiring Instructions
1 - Watch out for wire fraud. 2 - Confirm everything. 3 - Question things that don't seem quite right. 4 - We have seen and heard of this scam at some of our Nest offices (one of the benefits of having a growing reach). 5…
4 Things about Seasonal Slowing of the Charlottesville Market
I've referred to this chart so many times in the past few days, I thought I'd write another post. (most of) The Charlottesville real estate market remains highly active. But ... Amazingly, we are entering the seasonally and expected less active part of the market. …
Did You Know about the Hole in the Wall?
Every house has them ... those little things that make a house unique, sometimes good, sometimes not so good. Ideally, every transaction would be so easy, unstressful, remarkably friendly and amicable that the seller and buyer would meet and talk about these home's idiosyncrasies. The…
Rural vs Urban Life
I love getting messages from friends and readers. What follows is an exchange with a particularly thoughtful client discussing rural and urban life in the Charlottesville area. (my words are italicized) * Actual urban living in Charlottesville is becoming rather unaffordable for many folks. Suburbia is not urban…
Professional (real estate) Photos Matter
*this is a marketing post It's amazing that bad MLS photos are still a thing, but they are. Sellers: if you're hiring a professional real estate agent, it's reasonable for you to check to make sure the photos they are using to market your home…