Archive of my monthly notes, sent once a month from JimsNote.com. Now over 1000 people subscribe, and that feels like a reasonable deal. Not big, not small. Reasonable deal.
This month: a winter home tip, seeing your house as a product and fixing doorbells, the worst thing that happened, double-tapping, separations and lasts. Hope you like it. Questions? 434-242-7140
(I deliberately sent) my note out before the election. Vote. Now or on election day. And wonder why Election Day is not a holiday.
The Charlottesville and Albemarle Markets
We’re entering the typically quiet period of the Charlottesville area real estate market, when the people who put their homes on the market really want or need to sell, and the people who are actively looking at homes are often in a time crunch to buy or have the luxury of time flexibility. This is normal seasonal slowness; we have pockets of quickness right now. We haven’t had the right inventory in the Charlottesville market for decades, so there almost always remains a certain degree of pent-up demand.
Many of my client conversations now are preparing for the 2025 real estate market — buyer consultations (setting plans, timelines, expectations) and seller consultations (preparation for sale, exterior photos). Thinking about 2025? Let’s schedule a coffee to discuss your timeline and goals.
The market feels slower now than it has been.
In Charlottesville + Albemarle from 9/1 – 10/27, resale homes
- 2019 – 528 ratified contracts
- 2023 – 487 contracts
- 2024 – 484 contracts
- Stable, yes. I perceive a difference is the feeling/perception of uncertainty about the future of America/ the economy.
New resale listings in Albemarle in October
- 2019 – 129
- 2020 – 142
- 2023 – 113
- 2024 – 116
A great winter home tip
If you’re wearing a sweater, it’s time to disconnect your hoses, even if you have a “frost proof” hose bib.
A client said that to me a few years ago in response to my advice to disconnect hoses in the winter. Her reminder is better and more memorable than mine, and I’m using it.
Busted pipes cost money, time, and frustration.
Sellers, Fix the Doorbell
A colleague told me years ago that home buyers decide in the first 30 seconds if they are going to make an offer on your house. While that might be a bit of hyperbole, it’s mostly accurate.
I was talking to a seller recently, and I mentioned that they should replace their doorbell. They said, “But we did! It’s a custom Ring!” I responded, “I was talking about the one on the front door, it’s rusty.” 🙂
Pretend you’re seeing your house for the first time; you might be surprised at what you see.
“If that’s the worst thing that happens to me today, it’s a good day.”
That’s something I say often, often when something seemingly significant goes wrong, something that with perspective is relatively trivial.
One day though I came home, complaining about something annoying. My 30-year-old was at our house with our grandkids and I started to relate my complaint to her, and she said, “Well Dad, if that’s the worst thing that happens to you today, you’ve had a pretty good day.”
I was so happy and angry. And a little bit proud.
There are often bumps and challenges in real estate, but at the end of the day, we will find the right home or the right buyer for your home, and the process does work, even if it takes more time than hoped or anticipated.
Less Dark Skies
My wife and I have had a fun year of looking at the Northern Lights, comets, and meteors – from our neighborhood. Less fun because of the new thing in new neighborhoods: outside lights on all night long. I called Albemarle County about their Dark Skies code; no response as of yet.
The houses and the traffic are fine; it’s the declining Dark Skies that is troubling.
Is it possible to balance progress with preservation in our growing community?
“Thanks for Double-Tapping”
I wear AirPods a lot. I was in the office one day when I was about to cross paths with a colleague. As I got nearer, I double-tapped my left AirPod to stop whatever it was that I was listening to.
He said, “Thanks for double tapping,” as I took out my AirPod to ask a question.
Reminded me of the story I wrote in March: “The neighborhood is less friendly. Everyone is wearing AirPods.”
A client said this to me recently, and I think they’re on to something. We choose isolation more now than I feel we did pre-covid, and certainly pre-AirPods. I don’t have a moral to this observation.
Keeping Separated
I don’t enter a client relationship hoping to become friends. I may become friends with my clients after the transaction, and I always try to be friendly and relatable.
Having professional detachment allows me to best advise my clients.
I was driving relocating-to-Charlottesville clients around looking at homes. We’d been together for a few days. At one point, I noticed in the back seat that she was crying. I asked what was wrong, and he said that the houses we had seen were so inferior to those they were accustomed to. Add on to that that they were coming from upstate New York; at dinner the previous evening as they were coming to terms with the Charlottesville market, their server had commented something like, “Oh, you’re from New York? Everything here must seem so cheap to you!” NYC ? New York.
I listened, empathized, understood, and we uncomfortably adjusted their search price, and they found the right home. Expectations matter.
I’m here to represent your best interests. Simple.
Nearly 10 Years In…
I wrote my first monthly note 10 years ago. I’m asking you for suggestions on how to improve this note for the next decade. Suggestions welcome, just reply to this email.
While I’m asking: I need someone to redo RealCentralVA.com and RealCrozetVA.com, both will be 20 years old next year and are suffering from 20 years of bloat. Help, please.
What I’m Reading
- Real estate
- Climate
- Asheville ranks on list of cities most likely to see impact of ‘climate migration’ – from June of 2023.
- US Climate Vulnerability Index
- massive influx of people to future climate disaster zones is gonna have all kinds of consequences
- Homeowners are stuck in this Florida city damaged by violent weather — many want to sell, but buyers are scarce
- This is a kind of incredible animation of temperature increase since 1850. (via Seth Godin).
- I wrote Moving to Charlottesville/Albemarle/Central Virginia for a Climate Safe Haven? and about Sellers’ Price Anchors (yes, I do still blog)
- Information and AI
- Baltimore City leaders are considering a gas-powered leaf blower ban. Here’s why. — I’ll vote for the person running on a “band gas-powered lawn equipment” platform. and — leave the leaves where they fall.
What I’m Listening To
- Pete Buttigieg wants to make America Not Suck … Again?
- Fiction via the Libby app; trying to not listen to political podcasts.
Pay attention to the lasts. My wife sent me something on Instagram that talked about how parents pay attention to the firsts, and neglect to pay attention to the lasts. My younger one and I would run outside to wave to the train when it went by, and we did that every time. Until she didn’t want to anymore.
I do that now with my grandsons and will keep doing it until he stops wanting to. Darn it.
Next month: finding market equilibrium, looking at 2025, and hopefully a story suggested by one of you.
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