FHA Changes – What they mean for the Charlottesville real estate market
I'm not a mortgage broker or a lender in Charlottesville, but I know folks who are. Guest post by Matt Hodges with Compass Home Loans:FHA has picked up much loan volume that the sub-prime world vacated – so much so that for every ten new…
School Values and Housing Prices – Specifically in Albemarle County
Do better schools increase house prices? From my perspective as a Realtor in the Charlottesville area, the answer is yes. I have never had buyers tell me that they wanted to live in a bad school district; but virtually every single one - whether they…
More Charlottesville Real Estate Data than You Might Have Wanted
Edit: Bumped to the top because I really don't want anyone to miss this analysis. This is going to be a developing post as I read through Barry Merchant's presentation from this morning. Barry Merchant's VHDA presentation at Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors (PDF) Here…
Charlottesville and Albemarle Governments Clash. Again.
For anyone interested in a prime example of the City of Charlottesville's and County of Albemarle's occasionally dysfunctional relationship, Rachana Dixit and Brandon Shulleeta have great story in today's Daily Progress. When explaining the City/County relationship to relocating buyers, I often describe the governments as…
Albemarle County Assessment Figures Released
From a press release from the County this morning ... much more to come later ... bolding mine. Albemarle County is sending reassessment notices to taxpayers this week reflecting changes in property values resulting from the County's recently completed annual reassessment. The 2010 reassessments show…
C-Ville looks at NGIC and DIA
Will Goldsmith with the C-Ville consistently produces outstanding work. Today is no exception. In just over 4,000 words, he provides one of the best, most insightful analyses I've read. (and gets a few swipes in at the DP) But military intelligence isn't likely to improve…
An Interesting Question – Schools and Housing Values
Seth Godin asks in the "Ubiquity of Competition": There are twenty towns you can choose for your family's new home. One invests in its schools, has a focus on inquiry, AP courses and community, while the others are muddling through, arguing about their future. Which…
Questions Raised about Biscuit Run’s Purchase
From Charlottesville Tomorrow: The director of the area's regional transportation planning body wants state officials to explain why nearly half of the $9.8 million used to purchase the Biscuit Run property for a new 1,200 acre state park came from federal transportation funds. Metropolitan Planning…
Albemarle County’s School Budget Request
One of the reasons people choose to relocate to (and stay within) Albemarle County is that our school systems are generally regarded as being quite good. Now that the Albemarle County Schools' Budget/Funding request has been released, we need to do our part and see…
When Does the Charlottesville Real Estate Season Begin?
Left as a message via the message box on the right last night: I'm looking for a house, but can't find what I'm looking for east of town in the right price range. When do you think the "season" will begin and we will see…