I've been writing this note for a few years now. It's impossible to value the ROI for the time spent writing this, but one thing I know is that the people who choose to read - usually at least 60% of subscribers every month - have told me that they find the content - the stories, the data, the context, and content - valuable. Even if I get only one response a month, or a client or friend mentions the note the next time we see each other, I know that the time invested in researching and writing is time well used. I'd be humbled if you … [Read more...]
Buying a House that’s “Good Enough”
There comes a time in every home search process (and often the home selling process) where one says "this is good enough." Arriving the point of whatever you want to call it - concession, compromise, acquiescence, acceptance, or, to use a positively-connoted descriptor - satisfied - is hard. The home search process can be hard, even if you're looking at new construction in the Charlottesville area market, as you're seeking a home where you and your family will live for, usually, at least seven to ten years. Coming to the conclusion of, … [Read more...]
April 2018 Note | Kindness Matters
Archives of my subscription-only monthly notes. The blog is more searchable. Interested in not waiting a few months to read it? Learn more here. For these posts, I don’t do much formatting/changing as I’m more concerned about simply having the content here forever (because I own the blog, and I don’t own Tinyletter) Be Kind. This encounter has stuck with me. In early January I was returning a gift, and tried to get it put back on my wife's credit card, which I didn't have. The young girl working at the counter tried to … [Read more...]
RealPodVA – Charlottesville Real Estate Podcasts
13 years ago, I experimented with podcasts. Time to revisit the concept. Here's the new podcast. With some awesome friends, we're launching the start of what we aim to be twice-monthly podcasts, talking about the Charlottesville real estate market, community, and a lot more. Listen to the first four podcasts here (they're still populating across all platforms). I take ZERO credit for the titling, which I love. First Episode, Y'all The One Where Jim Talks About HOAs that Dave Hates The One Where Jim Talks About the Value of … [Read more...]
Charlottesville Land Use – A Brief History
Jim's preface: Affordable housing in Charlottesville + Albemarle (and America) is at, or nearing, crisis stage. I love this post because I learned a lot from it. I hope you do, too. The housing crisis isn’t just about affordability—it’s about economic mobility, too Community land trusts take aim at rising rents Thomas Jefferson Community Land Trust Affordable Housing At Critical Stage The Global Housing Crisis What we are doing locally to address affordable housing is not working. I'm grateful for a community of very … [Read more...]
Railroads, Appraisals, Offers, Blogs | Monthly Note Archives
Archives of my subscription-only monthly notes. The blog is more searchable. Interested in not waiting a few months to read it? Learn more here. For these posts, I don’t do much formatting/changing as I’m more concerned about simply having the content here forever (because I own the blog, and I don’t own Tinyletter) Those of you new here, welcome! Two things: 1) This note is not for realtors, lenders, etc. 2) If you don't find this note valuable, please unsubscribe; if you do find it interesting and valuable, please forward … [Read more...]
Big AirBnB Changes Coming to Albemarle County?
Alison Wrabel at the DP reports: After three work sessions, the Planning Commission on Tuesday recommended to allow whole-house rental, where no owner is present, only in the rural area and for no more than seven days in a month and no more than 45 overnight stays per year. Whole-house rental was not recommended for the development area. The panel also backed allowing up to two guest rooms for homestays in townhouses and attached units with owner or manager present during rental. Commissioners also endorsed requiring the owners of … [Read more...]