A recent HooK article by Courtney Stuart focused on Roger Voisinet’s (fellow Realtor) solar-powered business – If you wore bell-bottom pants and platform shoes in the 1970s, you were groovy. If you placed a few solar panels atop your home or business, your cool factor went through the roof– literally….Today, Voisinet foresees a revival of more technical solar devices thanks in part to the rising tide of energy prices. He notes that there’s still a 10 percent federal tax credit for businesses, and many states– including Virginia– are considering additional credits.The revival is under way, if recent news is any indication…. The EarthCraft House in Charlottesville is another (pdf).Annette Osso, executive director of the VSBN, said, “While the mid-Atlantic area has benefited from years of low energy prices and plentiful sources of drinking water, we are beginning to see a lot more attention given to green building.
Date Archives November 2005
Central Va’s changing market
Buyers are being more selective and expect more from sellers in price negotiations and perhaps subsidies for closing costs.
…Be patient….In summary, the heady times are no longer with us. Normal used to be a few days to a couple of weeks on the market to get a ratified contract.
…If you do a Google Blog search for Virginia Real Estate or Northern Virginia Real Estate, we come up at the very top of the first page.
…Our properties are posted to “craigslist” and soon on Google Base (beta in test now) as well as Google and Yahoo maps.This, and all competitive businesses require constant innovation, idea implementation and ultimately, consistent execution.
Blog Panel tomorrow
As noted on CvillePodcast about tomorrow’s VPTC forum:Blogs are fundamentally changing the way companies are marketing their products and services. …On November 17, a panel of experts will define and discuss exactly what these new tools are, how they are changing the way companies interact with their customers, and present some fascinating scenarios describing what’s happening in the blogosphere right now.Technology is changing how we interact with our client base in many ways…. As Waldo remarked a little while ago, Jim Duncan provides a great example of how a blog can be beneficial to its author and to the community…. Now, if you asked me to name three real estate agents in the area, I don’t doubt that I’d name him.A little recognition on such a prominent blog may (hopefully) go a long way …
Growth and the County’s credibility
From Jessica Kitchin’s story in the DP:The meeting was intended to be an information session for those who live in the Village of Rivanna – one of Albemarle County’s five growth areas and the only designated village in the county. County spokeswoman Lee Catlin, Planning Director Wayne Cilimberg, Planner Elaine Echols and Community Development Director Mark Graham all spoke to those in attendance about the planning process and what is expected to come.In light of last week’s quiet revelation that the County may have mismanaged the Crozet Master Plan, The supervisors asked county staff to look into whether the Old Trail Village development in Crozet includes significantly higher densities than those included in the Crozet Master Plan. (bolding mine)“If there is substantially more density, perhaps we can look [to cut back growth] in other areas of Crozet,†Rooker said.”If the above is an accurate, and Tom Loach is correct when he says on CvilleTomorrow’s blog:The question of a huge difference between what was in the Crozet Master Plan and what was before the BOS for rezoing (a 103% increase by my calculations in housing units and 78% increase in commercial development) was raised as early as the Planning Commission by members of the community…. It’s just that no one in the County bothered to look at the data or if they did, it didn’t seem to matter.My question is this – What credibility does the County government have left?
My first real estate podcast!
I have just released, in conjunction with VirginiaPodcast.com, my first listing podcast for the property I am marketing in the Grayrock subdivision in Crozet, Virginia…. Please let me know what you think. I am looking for candid feedback; this is a good start and I have another one in the works. Thanks to Sean for all of his technical wizardry.
Societal benefits of homeownership
This story in the New York Times raises a few questions as to whether the clear societal benefits of homeownership are outweighed by the opportunity costs of the mortgage interest deduction.Blatantly cutting and pasting to make my argument -…77 percent of homeowners said they had at some point voted in local elections, while only 52 percent of renters said they had. About 20 percent of renters knew the name of their representative on the school board; 38 percent of homeowners did.
Remodeling, etc.
As the market continues to shift from such a hot sellers market to more of a buyers market, I predict that more money will be spent on existing houses and renovations…. Basic alterations can make it easier and more affordable to carry out daily activities, such as bathing, cooking or climbing stairs, and can improve a home’s overall safety. Projects for aging-in-place remodeling vary from the installation of shower grab bars or adjustments of countertop heights, to private elevators and first-floor master suites. Since professional modifications are often barely noticeable to visitors, homeowners can enjoy their home safely and without any institutional feel.These types of modifications are obviously far easier (and probably cheaper) to install in the building phase, but not all housing stock (I know this will surprise most of you!)