From today’s WP – If you have shopped for a newly built house in recent years, you have probably run into this: The builder offers you a substantial incentive — a finished patio, extra square footage or lush landscaping — if you agree to obtain your mortgage, and maybe your title and settlement services, through an affiliate of the builder….”What they’re doing here is discouraging buyers from shopping in the open market,” Savitt said. “They’re trying to steer people to the lenders they’ve got deals with, and they try to make your head spin with big incentives” that may be more illusory than real.In many cases, the Buyer does fare much better by using the builder’s affiliates…. It is hard to turn down this type of incentive – sometimes a $20k incentive to use their lender.
Date Archives June 2005
Afternoon links
Eminent Domain linksArin’s blog, quoting a DP editorialNo property is safe, if someone thinks he can make more money from it than you can and if government decides it wants some of that extra money.WSJ (paid sub…. You’ve got the environmental, good government and private property groups all working together on this.The court’s decision will raise political awareness of this issue…. OtherSatisfying the aging population of our areaThis is one of the most important segments of our market.The importance of teaching historyQuoting Ronald Reagan: “We’ve got to teach history based not on what’s in fashion, but what’s important,” he said.
A few Eminent Domain articles
Or a gas station.Reason.Opinionjournal.That protection was immensely diminished by yesterday’s 5-4 decision, which effectively erased the requirement that eminent domain be invoked for “public use.” The Court said that the city of New London, Connecticut, was justified in evicting a group of plaintiffs led by homeowner Susette Kelo from their properties to make way for private development including a hotel and a Pfizer Corp…. The properties to be seized and destroyed include Victorian homes and small businesses that have been in families for generations.When these Ed Schultz and Lars Larson are agreeing, the SCOTUS has done something really wrong.
Drought upon us?
Checking the local water levels here, it would appear that we have no problems with water. Or you go go to the RWSA home page to get more current data.6/23/05Reservoir Levels Total % Remaining 98.1%Sugar Hollow FullRagged Mtn. -1.54South Rivanna FullIf we as a region do not 1) plan and implement said plans adequately, we could face a world of problems.
C-Ville is a great place for a “getaway”
Jim Hargan — author of “An Explorer’s Guide: The Shenandoah Valley; Mountains of the Virginias” (Countryman Press, 2005) — recommends Charlottesville for its restaurants, museums and beautiful scenery.Goody. More press to bring more people here.From the Washington Post.
Location, Location, Location
Does this seem a bit nutty for 819 finished square feet? (Please leave out the condo comparisons!)This is an absolutely charming cottage located in a delightful and very popular neighborhood…. There is no closet in the downstairs bedroom but it can be created by opening into the linen closet on the other side of the wall and moving the location of the door.Not my listing, but for more information go here.