The legislation called for the creation of Urban Development Areas that would steer growth in fast-growth counties into districts where jurisdictions were prepared to concentrate their investments in roads and infrastructure — and allowed localities to assess impact fees to help pay for it. … … One of the reasons that General Assembly Republicans are adverse to new taxes is that HB 3202 significantly has already increased the ability of local governments to raise funds through impact fees.
Date Archives May 2008
A 30 second review of the new Realtor dot com
Not sure why a featured listing asking $995k shows at the top of the screen when I’m searching for houses between $250k and $350k. … I still want GIS, crime, school, etc, but this is a decent start (as well it should be – Realtor.com has continually redefined the standard of “underwhelmingly underperforming” for YEARS.
Declining Market? Not so much
From the WSJ – Fannie Mae is expected to announce Friday (today) that it is scrapping a policy requiring higher down payments on home mortgages in areas where house prices are falling. … … For instance, if appraisers can demonstrate that home prices in a given neighborhood are stable or rising even though values are falling in the wider metropolitan area, the declining-markets policy doesn’t apply.
Median Housing Prices for Central Virginia
In response to a reader question, these are the median prices for all residential properties in the Central Virginia* region: Quick summary – 2006 was the peak year. 2008 
2007 
2006 
2005 
2004 
After the break, I show the median prices for just single family homes in the region – excluding condos and attached homes. … Data for the Shenandoah Valley – Waynesboro and Augusta Counties, is just not as robust as what we have in the Charlottesville MLS – so I am unable to post their data with confidence. 2008 
2007 
2006 
2005 
2004 
Light blogging this week
Between actually working, family stuff, volunteering Life has happened this week.
Curious whether any Charlottesville HOAs restrict solar panels
Except to the extent provided in the condominium instruments, declaration, or rules and regulations duly adopted pursuant thereto, no community association shall enact any provisions restricting solar power or as provided in subsection D, any restrictive covenant included in an instrument affecting the title to real or leasehold property, that restricts the installation or use of any solar energy collection device on units or lots that are part of the development real property in the Commonwealth is declared to be void and contrary to the public policy of the Commonwealth . … The A community association may prohibit or restrict shall not enforce any provision of a restrictive covenant that became effective on or after July 1, 2008, that restricts the installation and use of such solar energy collection devices on the common elements or common areas of real estate that the community association owns or has under its care, custody, or control .
Bike Week in Charlottesville
(gas prices are absolutely impacting ever facet of our lives – real estate, too ) “Many people did the ‘drive to qualify,’ ” looking in farther-out suburbs to find affordable homes, says Joe Cortright, an analyst at Impresa Inc., a consulting firm. … One thing I am wondering is this – where are the best places to buy recycled bikes in the Charlottesville area?