3 First Steps in My Ideal Day to start the Buyer Journey in Charlottesville
The first time meeting in Charlottesville with new to me buyer clients, I like to try to accomplish a lot. The pandemic changed things. How I work with buyer clients is one of the bigger things that has changed. What used to be anywhere from…
Looking to 2024
I'm going to try posting on LinkedIn more this year. And keep posting on 2024 resolutions* Learn more. Get better at what I do. Write more, and write more consistently on realcentralva.com, realcrozetva.com, and continue to build the number and quality of readers of Jim's…
Disclosing Flooding in Virginia, Sort of
Virginia is a buyer beware Commonwealth. Yes, there is the mandatory disclosure to disclose "repetitive floods" -- "repetitive risk loss" means that two or more claims of more than $1,000 were paid by the National Flood Insurance Program within any rolling 10-year period, since 1978"…
Who Knew HOAs Could be Progressive? No Woodstoves?
No woodstoves in your neighborhood? Woodstoves. No woodstove (including free-standing and fireplace insert) shall be installed, maintained or used on any Lot. Read the HOA packages, folks. My clients found this when they read the HOA docs. There's often some interesting things in homeowner association…
Climate Change and Insurance — A Charlottesville Insurance Perspective
I've written about climate change and real estate markets quite a lot. I know the real estate side of this world very well. I tangentially know the homeowners insurance world, and read a lot about it. So I asked an old friend and insurance agent,…
14 Years Later, Real Estate Commissions Have Shifted
We've been thinking and talking about the real estate lawsuits for years. The first of many have now concluded, and real estate commissions are changing. How? We don't yet know. Ramifications? Still unknown. Right now, we have lots and lots of questions. I know this…
Are People Moving to the Charlottesville Area Due to Climate Change?
I'd argue that the answer to the question - "Are people moving to Charlottesville due to climate change?" is -- I think it's a factor that more and more of my buyer clients are articulating as a contributing factor when considering where to move. Have…
Touching Grass on a New Listing
I had no idea that "touching grass" is "internet slang." “Touching grass” is an internet slang that refers to the act of going outside and spending time in nature as a way to improve one’s mental health and well-being1. It is often used in response…
What IS a Great Real Estate Agent?
What is a great real estate agent? We were riding our bicycles this morning in Crozet, and a new guy joined us. He's fast unfortunately. :) He moved to the Charlottesville area a few months ago, has already ridden a lot of our roads, and…
A Quick Mid-2023 Look at Charlottesville’s Real Estate Market
Looking at the state of the Charlottesville real estate market, little has changed since this time last year. There are certain houses that I am watching that sold within the past 3 years that are back on the market - some go under contract quickly;…