Instead of defaulting to “raise taxes,” only two member of the Albemarle BoS think they need to reevaluate government’s “core services.”… While a possible good start, my question is this – how many people will actually use it?… We need to have a coordinated transit plan with the County of Albemarle and the surrounding counties. All I can think of is “monorail!”I’ve talked about Charlottesville/Albemarle/Central Virginia’s transportation issues for some time, and there seems to be very little progress on anything productive besides more meetings.
Browsing Category Politics
Sorry, you can’t use that fireplace
Regulating wood burning fireplaces in certain localities.In any locality with a population density of greater than 1,000 persons per square mile, the locality may by ordinance regulate the use of wood burning fireplaces in any portion of the locality where such use may constitute a nuisance to adjacent residences. Such ordinance shall not apply to any dwelling that does not have an adequate source of heat without burning wood.See the bill at Richmond Sunlight…. Consider also that the data is from the 2000 Census and Virginia’s population has increased by more than 630,000 citizens since then.”Virginia is increasingly becoming an urban state. The combined population living in Northern Virginia, Richmond and Tidewater is now at 5.3 million, or roughly seven out of 10 Virginians,” Spar said.There is a reason they say that no one is safe when the General Assembly is in session.Link to the map at GeoCommons.Huge thanks to Bill at GeoCommons.
Albemarle County assessments are being mailed Friday
They won’t release the 2008 assessments over the phone (anymore) as they want to notify the homeowners by mail first.The Albemarle County real estate assessor’s site will be updated next week. I predict there will be (and should be) substantial outrage and controversy next week, most likely because while assessments may have decreased or stayed flat, the County budget has already been set – and the mil rate will (my prediction) most likely be raised to compensate.- We’re all dealing with less money – and here’s the quote from that post – Slutzky countered that the tax rate was only dropped last year to counter-balance the effects of large increases in property tax assessments. “Now that we’re not even close to that same scenario, I’m suggesting that a revisiting of the tax rate is going to be inevitable in the spring,†Slutzky said.These are a few relevant posts from the recent past – – Assessments, property taxes and shifting market values in Albemarle County (good clarification posted)- Get ready for real estate assessments in Albemarle County…. For the record – real estate assessments have very little, if any, correlation to market value.Come back on Saturday and Monday and post your assessments; I’ll have an open thread seeking feedback and responses.
This is why I tell my clients that everything can change
Purchasers should exercise whatever due diligence they deem necessary with respect to adjacent parcels in accordance with the terms and conditions of the purchase contract, but in any event prior to settlement on the subject property. In short, sellers are generally responsible for disclosing anything within the four corners of their property, and the buyer (and buyer’s agent) should do all the due diligence they can to learn about what is outside those four corners.And then read this story at Charlottesville Tomorrow referencing the Mosby Mountain development on 5th Street Extended/Old Lynchburg Road – Bill Edgerton (Jack Jouett) also expressed sympathy for the neighbors, but he could not support making an exception, in part because of the history of neighborhoods changing their minds on sidewalks, particularly when faced with the prospect of a new neighborhood being connected to an existing development…. Mitchell was, however, quite surprised to learn that, at least in the view of some of the Planning Commissioners and staff, his cul-de-sac was seen as accommodating a road interconnection to future development adjacent to his property…. Mitchell said that if the County ever tried to connect Hatcher Court he would both be opposed to it and try to buy the land behind him.In my view, unless you own the land around you, it is more likely than not to become, at some point, either a through road (not the cul-de-sac you’re used to) or some form of development.In this case, it sounds like the neighbors don’t want the sidewalks; but what happens in ten years when the cul-de-sacs become through roads?
“A C-SPAN that covers local meetings”
A great description of Charlottesville Tomorrow. Listen to Brian Wheeler’s most recent weekly appearance on WINA here, covering North Pointe on 29 North, Places29 and several other topics that affect the Charlottesville real estate market.As I have noted before and elsewhere, Charlottesville Tomorrow is, regardless of your perspective, one of the many things that sets Charlottesville and Albemarle apart from other areas. How I wish there were something like this for Augusta and Waynesboro.
Get ready for real estate assessments in Albemarle County
Get ready folks for a whole flurry of news, blog posts, media coverage and general griping and hallelujah-ing, depending on the perspective.I just got off the phone with the Albemarle County Assessor’s office; two properties’ assessed values in the the same subdivision in Albemarle dropped by approximately 9% and 10%, respectively. The ramifications will be far-reaching.The land values stayed the same; the drop in assessed values came from the improvements (the houses themselves).One argument could be that the new assessments are more in line with where the true market value should have been for the past several years…. Market value is the price that a ready, willing and able buyer will pay, and a seller will accept.The website will be updated at the end of the month.*Here’s my offer to property owners of Albemarle. If you feel that your assessed value is wrong, and you intend to challenge your real estate assessment, contact me and we’ll set up a meeting to discuss your options.
Check your school district before you buy
And as much as it pains me to say, don’t necessarily trust the MLS. Here is why (I’ve written about this numerous time over the years)-
School districts change all the time. I tell my clients that they shouldn’t feel confident that they will remain in the school district in which they think they’re buying unless they can throw a rock from their front porch and hit the school – and even then the lines may be redrawn.