This article in the Washington Times is but one example: The downturn in the housing market is deepening, with new home sales at a nine-year low, prices down for the fourth month in a row and mortgage applications at their lowest point in three years. …”We see construction diminishing somewhat and real estate prices flattening, not declining,” she said…. I received this email the other day from a reader who is renting in the area – Did you see this article in Yahoo news?… If there is a compelling reason to to buy rather than rent and you plan to be in the area more than a short period of time, (insert my usual caveats here – if you have good credit, are mentally ready for the responsibility of owning, etc.) then you should probably consider buying…. They have been conditioned to getting at least the asking price, that some are unable to see the forest for the trees. Take the past few days for example – I wrote four offers, all of which are fair offers, based on the recent sold comparable homes.1) Asking price: $285k…. Just because a Seller is asking for a certain price does not mean that is what the property is worth. That said, if a ready, willing and able buyer wants to pay full price, that property is worth full price.
Browsing Category Greene
Population increases (shocking!)
The Weldon Cooper Center has released a study showing population increases throughout the Commonwealth. The Thomas Jefferson Planning District (our region) has seen a fairly significant increase in its population – 7.5%.Albemarle has seen a provisional change of 7.4%.Charlottesville – .5%Greene – 11.2%Fluvanna – 24.4%Louisa – 12.1%Nelson – 4.2%The above numbers are the total percentages, combining the natural increases and the change due to migration.
Exactly what our region needs – more high end homes.
From today’s DP – Greene County supervisors on Tuesday opened the door for a new high-end neighborhood in Ruckersville…. The 40 new one- and two-story houses likely will cost between $430,000 and $450,000 – a price range that would cover most county service costs, developer Barry Dofflemyer said. In addition, the company will give the county $2,000 in proffers for each house built…. As for the proffers, Dofflemyer doubled the amount per home from $1,000 to $2,000.This was interesting and pertinent regarding the impending Albemarle County BoS elections.Greene likely will be the home for most of Dofflemyer’s future projects, he said, because Albemarle County has become a difficult place for a small developer to work.Where do you think these new homeowners will work?
Greene and Fluvanna news
I try to stay regionally involved and up to date; it is very difficult to do.
Growth, politics and the market (morning reading)
Tom McCrystal has a nice post.Conserve energy.The NYTimes causes a stir this morning with a report on the housing market.Greene faces its future with their Board of Supervisors elections.Development issues in Louisa and Fluvanna.Everything in this region always comes down to money, politics and growth.
October Forum Watch
IN THIS ISSUE: Important Dates Zoning Issues Master PlanningWater Supply Transportation Policy Other Land Use Editorial Important Dates October 3rd – Greene County Board of Supervisors Candidate Forum – 7:00 pm William Monroe Middle SchoolOctober 8th – Charlottesville Neighborhood Design Day 9:00 – 3:00 pm Various locations see article in Master PlanningOctober 10th – TJPDC MPO Transportation Improvement Program Public Hearing – 5:00 pm 401 E. Water StreetOctober 10th – Albemarle County Jack Jouett Supervisor Candidate Forum – 7:00 pm Jack Jouett Middle SchoolOctober 17th – Albemarle County Rio District Supervisor Candidate Forum – 7:00 pm Woodbrook Elementary SchoolOctober 27th – Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority Water Supply Community Outreach meeting – 6:30 Monticello HSOctober 31st – HalloweenOctober 31 – November 4 Places 29 Charrette #2 details to follow soon ACOBACOB – Albemarle County Office Building CCH- Charlottesville City HallGCAB – Greene County Administration BuildingFCGC – Fluvanna County Government Center Return to Top Transportation Policy Meadowcreek Parkway – The Free Enterprise Forum released a report indicating the Meadowcreek Parkway Project could be completed prior to the separate federally funded US 250/McIntire Meadowcreek Parkway interchange project…. Details and locations of the meeting can be found at http://www.charlottesville.org/content/files/2CCD2AF7-2578-49B6-9DA3-C82AB79DD19E.pdf Fluvanna County In what may be one of the most overreaching decisions to date, the Free Enterprise Forum has learned that Fluvanna County is requiring Army Corps of Engineers and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality approvals on yield plans (A yield plan is a fictitious development that indicates how many units could be built on a particular parcel by right) submitted to determine density of their required cluster subdivision…. A map of the study area can be found here http://www.albemarle.org/upload/images/Forms_Center/Departments/Board_of_Supervisors/Forms/Agenda/2005Files/20050504/Northerndevelopmentattachb.pdfReturn to Top Other Land Use Albemarle County Mountain Overlay Committee – This committee is now idle waiting for staff to draft proposed language for a Mountain Overlay District (MOD) Ordinance.
End Growth in Greene?
From cvillenews – If there’s one thing that every candidate for the Greene County Board of Supervisors can agree on, it’s the need to end growth. So reports Kate Andrews in today’s Progress:This should prove an interesting story to follow. The region is facing growth issues – affordable housing, resource limitations, infrastructure weakness and inadequacies …… What impact can the County BOS have when private landowners continue to sell their land to developers?