Albemarle County Planning Commission denies new development near the Ashcroft neighborhood . This seems to be as good a time as any to remind those who are seeking to buy in Charlottesville or Albemarle (or anywhere, really) that if you don’t own it, it’s going to change . Never assume that that field/cul-de-sac/dead end is going to stay that way. Is the decision good/bad/ugly?
Median Home Prices – Attached Homes for Charlottesville MSA
Looking back at a decade of attached home sales in the Charlottesville MSA* – Albemarle, Charlottesville, Fluvanna, Greene and Nelson – seems that the peak Scanning through these numbers clearly demonstrates several things: – High-level analyses such as those found in the Case-Shiller reports are meaningful from one perspective – that of confidence and trends. – The respective peaks for various localities were in different. Albemarle may have peaked in 2006 while Charlottesville’s was 2007. – Transactional volume matters . Look at how easily Nelson’s numbers can be skewed. – For a real analysis of how much your home or the one you may be considering buying might be worth, you absolutely, positively need an analysis specific to your home, your neighborhood, your area.
… 2001 
* There were no attached homes sold in Greene County via the Charlottesville MLS in 2001. 2002 
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* There were no attached homes sold in Greene County via the Charlottesville MLS in 2001. 2008 
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Median Sales Prices for Charlottesville MSA – Looking at a Decade
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Homebuyers in Charlottesville: Please Work with Charlottesville Lenders. Here’s Why
Lender asks for my recommendations for attorney/title company, appraiser, etc. (local lenders tend to have pre-existing relationships to take advantage of) I consult with my client to ensure that he approves, and proceed. … Hopes and dreams have been smashed because an incompetent, unknown lender does not have any reason to work harder, does not have any relationships to maintain, has no concerns regarding accountability.
…He calls another local lender with whom he and I both have excellent working relationships and passes the package over to the other local lender. … I’m inclined to do whatever it takes (so long as it’s moral, ethical, legal) to ensure that my clients are taken care of.
Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors’ Market Report
Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors’ Report for 2010 (PDF) Browse the whole thing.
Search for Homes in Charlottesville – This Time, It’s a Beta
I’ve long thought (and most importantly, so have my clients) that Diverse Solutions , the providers of my home search tool, put together the best search for homes tool in the real estate industry.
…• New language in the search box • The map will now update as the criteria changes without the need to click view results • The map now shows properties immediately once a location is specified • Clicking on a city marker now adds it to the locations and shows properties • Added a variety of new design elements • Isolated and moved the Save as Favorite button I know that people want to search for homes without signing up, without being contacted by a Realtor, etc. etc. I don’t spam, I don’t contact without permission (I do send a “thank you for registering” email) and I want you to enjoy using this tool as much as I appreciate your using it and contacting me whenever you’re ready.
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Now, as soon as they release a version that allows for me to provide search results based on radius and polygons, I’ll buy every developer at Diverse Solutions a couple cases of fantastic beer made right here in Central Virginia.
Talking about the Charlottesville Real Estate Market – WNRN Radio 9 January 2011
If you are interested in – whether from a buyer, seller, voyeur, moving to Charlottesville perspective, I highly encourage you to listen to this hour of radio Matt Hodges and me as we discuss the Charlottesville real estate market, national trends affecting all of us, and what the conversation may mean to you, the real estate consumer. … Some of the stories to come: One of the best parts of doing radio shows is that I always generate new ideas to write about. – Top 10 most popular neighborhoods in the area; I’m finalizing the methodology for how this will be determined, so I won’t promise the publication date. – An expansion on the nomadic class. – The internet’s/telecommuting’s impact on attracting people to the Charlottesville area. … Title issues, conveyance of title, property ownership – I think this is going to be a huge story in 2011. – Mobility – many of today’s potential homeowners are choosing to not buy because they want to have options. – QE2 – DIA and NGIC – their impact on the Charlottesville real estate market; in short, they they provided a stabilizing force. – Loan Level Pricing Adjustments – what does this mean to homebuyers?
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– Foreclosure rate for the Charlottesville MSA – Majority of Virginians oppose gas-tax increase – Town hall to discuss Hollymead development area expansion – Realtors’ response to Mortgage Interest Deduction – Commentary: Mortgage Interest and Real Estate Tax Deduction Facts – Facing Scrutiny, Banks Slow Pace of Foreclosures – Homeownership is not a must .