If you don’t match, then you have two days to “scramble” into a program, ANY program that wishes to take you.The Charlottesville area real estate market depends on the University of Virginia in many, many ways, and UVA Medical Residents are no exception. Typically, they come in every year with similar criteria – less than $300k (usually closer to less than $250k), three bedrooms, at least one and half baths, and no more than twenty minutes to the Medical Center. The UVA Housing Management System may be an option, as may be renting for several years, but many residents, after analyzing our local market, determine that they will be better suited buying…. :)I am working on developing a page specifically for UVA Medical Residents, and would welcome input from anybody with insight.I have written (briefly) about Match Day ever since I started this blog in January 2005.As always, I may be contacted here.
Browsing Category Marketing
Where do you search for homes in Charlottesville?
Excellent post today from Kris Berg about the varied places one can search for homes. Frequently even my savvy home buyers are surprised that not all homes are listed in the MLS.Locally, I am directing my buyer clients to search not only search the local MLS – http://www.c-villebyowner.com/http://www.assist2sellcville.comGoogleCraigslistDaily ProgressThere are more sites, but these are the most popular.My value is in the representation I offer to my clients, not in searching websites.Two posts that I wrote stating the need for an over-reaching aggregator for the various search sites:An aggregator for the aggregator?What if the MLS went away?
How to market new construction
The methods being employed in Fluvanna and Louisa at present are: (1) Make all lots available for sale to anyone (via standard marketing tools, i.e., MLS, print ads, etc.)…Simply market the hell out the thing in every way possible…. Pros: faster lot absorption, higher lot price potentialCons: speculators purchasing lots and sitting on them, undesirable heterogeneity in home styles, market-level sales commissions (2) Require buyers to use one or more pre-selected builders…In several instances, I’m seeing developers hire listing agents to sell lots, while requiring buyers to use a pre-selected builder(s)…. Pros: minimal sales commissionsCons: buyers may not want to use pre-selected builders, slower absorption (3) Sell all lots to one or more builders …assuming the desired price and absorption can be negotiated, and the builder is not some startup guy who could fold if a single home doesn’t sell, this is probably the best situation for developers. Pros: no sales commissions, predetermined absorptionCons: small builders may back out, price discount likely *Best, in this context, is how best to maximize value/return on the development of the subdivision.
Friday links 12-22-2006
An example of mortgage fraud?Staging Q & A – staging/preparing one’s house is becoming more and more important in this market.Fun with conservationMy new favorite local radio stationMainstreaming of solarThis guy says that the real estate market in 2007 will be good (video). That CNBC is FINALLY offering video is fantastic.
New website is finally up
Email is finally working smoothly thanks to Google Apps, jduncanrealestate.com is redirecting to realcentralvarealestate.com and I have some great ideas for both this blog and the new site. Ideas:Targeted pages to some of the strongest employers, specifically the National Grounds Intelligence Center which houses a large number of active military, government contractors and civilians…. Two of the pages I am most looking forward to developing are the ones for first-time home-buyers and luxury buyers. Two very different markets with their own idiosyncrasies and unique aspects.Real estate is local, and the information there will remain local, yet has to have an international reach, so writing ad copy with that in mind will be a focus as well.
Zillow steps it up
Zillow!And may become the de facto National MLS. Greg at the Bloodhound has an extraordinary analysis…. The speed with which the real estate blogosphere has analyzed this is phenomenal.2. Most real estate agents still have absolutely no clue about what Zillow is, or how it is going to change their business.3.
How to build a local business – Part 1
Build your name recognition and build your brand. In this case, it is the Realtor brand.The Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors just purchased a house that will provide affordable housing for one family in the region. Affordable housing is something that affects us all, and it takes quite an effort to even begin to offer solutions. Dave Norris writes about the Charlottesville City Council’s recent attempt.