Charlottesville’s Real Estate Blog since 2005.
Clear, Honest Market Analysis. For People, Not Realtors.
Always read the covenants and restrictions when buying a home in Charlottesville, Albemarle, or anywhere really. Some have silly restrictions that aren’t enforceable, some have racist restrictions that are no longer legal or enforceable, and some have legitimate restrictions that may prevent you from using the property the way you want — say, you want to build a garage, but the C&Rs prevent that.
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A sewer scope runs about $350, and it’s cheap insurance compared to what I’ve seen go wrong. At least once or twice a year, I run into a client whose sewer line has roots choking it, or a pipe that’s broken or crushed — the kind of damage that costs thousands to fix. I just had two properties scoped: one came back clean, the other had root intrusion that needed addressing before closing. I’d rather my clients pay for the scope now than call me after closing because sewage is backing up into their house. Client tears are bad tears.
#190 This month: Our HVAC went out a few weeks ago — hot, real hot, and naturally on a Friday. My wife and I remarked that we had just put the new system in, until I pulled up the invoice and found that “just” was…
How’s the Charlottesville market in mid-August 2026? I ran into a client the other day I’d not seen since they bought and sold their homes seven years ago. They’re a bit removed from it, the way most people are when they’re not actively buying or…
Revisiting the “0-5 Buyer Is Gone” Theory We’re in a different market now. Some of the people who bought between 2021 and 2024 are trying to sell — and the ones who bought new construction, now competing against new construction, are having a hard time.…
#189 My notes are where I put my best writing, where I encourage you to subscribe as it’s only the one email a month, and I do my level best to write each note as if I’m writing it to one person – you (and…
Jim Duncan is a Realtor and Broker with Nest Realty in Charlottesville. He’s been helping buyers and sellers here since 2001, and writing about the market since 2005, making RealCentralVA one of the longest-running real estate blogs in the country.
My goal is the same: provide clear, honest analysis of the Charlottesville market. No spin. No pressure. Just straight answers to help you make the best decision for your situation. And candid opinions.
My goal is simple: help my clients – buyers or sellers – make good decisions.