Open House, Sun May 19th from 1:30-4:00pm

One-level living at an unbeatable price in North Garden - nestled on an acre surrounded by professionally landscaped gardens and offering an idyllic country setting, yet close by to everything that Charlottesville has to offer.

This move-in ready home offers the very best of one-level living with spacious rooms, terrace level great room, 3 full baths, large one-car garage, great storage and wonderful outdoor space.  Watch the sun rise from the back deck just off of the kitchen and the sun set from the covered front porch. Rock Branch is just the right size with 2,275 finished sq. ft., of which 1600 sq. ft. is on the main level.

What’s worse than stink bugs and lady bugs put together?

You guessed it, the 17 year Cicada, and they are beginning to arrive in Charlottesville right now.

Your pets may snack on them and your ear drums may suffer but long term there shouldn’t be lasting effects.

First Cicada

I photographed this fine specimen this morning while showing a home in Charlottesville.

If was my first glimpse of the 17 year Cicada. It is almost a cartoon looking bug with long wings and bright red eyes.

Soon we will have more than we can even imagine and then, once they do through their cycle, they will lay their eggs and die.

They are not around long, but when they are here, you certainly know it!

Enjoy

Can you spot the Cicada?

Fall View from Great Room

Spring View from Great Room

We have a new listing, located in Murray Elementary School and Western Albemarle High School districts, coming on the market in a few weeks.

This property has some of the most outstanding views in Albemarle County, and it’s less than three miles from the Ivy I-64 exit.  The home is situated on 30+ acres, down a private paved driveway.

Built in 1984, this home offers over 4000 finished square feet that take full advantage of the views. The original home had a two car garage and the owner has added an additional three car detached garage with a full apartment.

Although the home has the original kitchen and baths, numerous improvements over the years by the home’s only owners  make it a prize:  copper roofing, Hardiplank siding, additional hardwood flooring, Ipe decking, and a whole house-and-apartment automatic generator. Also, there is an indoor Endless Pool in the private addition right off the master suite. This room also takes full advantage of the spectacular views!

Watch for more details soon and if you would like additional information, do not hesitate to give us a call.

First lets define an open house. Wikipedia defines an open house as “a free, one-day event held by a real estate agent to show a listed residential property to any interested parties” and this is a good definition, but not complete enough.

In real estate, there are two types of open houses. One is a Broker Open House and the other is a Public Open House. Both of these would typically have the listing agent, or another qualified agent on hand to answer questions and show the home to visitors.

Charlottesville Open House

Broker Open House

We will typically have a Broker Open House prior to a Public Open house because it is an opportunity to not just show a home to other brokers and agents, but to also explain any unique characteristics of the home to other agents. Often these are more of a social event for agents to meet-up, grab a quick snack and yes sometimes discuss the home. Remember when a home is listed, all pertinent details should be included in the MLS, not to mention that the listing agent is always just a phone call, email or text message away.

Public Open House

In our area these are typically on Sundays. When you drive around you will see open house signs all over as well as listed on-line and yes, even in print media. This is an opportunity for the public to get a peek inside your home.

Many seller do not want a public open houses as they know that it will attract neighbors and lookie-loos who just want to see how they decorate their homes. Although I have not seen a problem in our area, some areas have stopped doing public open houses for not just privacy concerns but also for safety reasons.

Attracting Buyers

Newer agents or agents looking for more business will be happy to sit at an open house for the listing agent. The reason for this is because there is the potential of an unrepresented buyer walking in the door. Since most homes do not sell from an open house, these buyers can easily be converted into clients. Here is an example.

A prospect comes into an open house and says, this is a nice home but I really wanted a larger kitchen. The agent at the open house will respond with something like, I know what you mean and I know the perfect place that will fit your needs, shall I show it to you? You get the idea.

Agency

Another point to consider is that your Charlottesville listing agent is representing your interests and what if a buyer wants to purchase? Will they use your agent (dual agency)? Or will they use another agent. Read more about agency at  Charlottesville buyer broker.

So why do agents really do open houses?

This is where we have to be brutally honest with sellers. Agents do not do open houses to sell your home. This is truly a mis-conception and agents know this. There are two reasons that agents do open house. One reason is to make the seller happy. To the seller, it appears that the agent is working for them as they see them spending time. The second reason is to get more business (buyer leads), and this is not something most sellers even think about.

I am sure there will be some agents who will disagree with me on this subject and there are certainly cases where a home sells at an open house, but with over 90% of the public starting their search online, I would argue that the same buyer would still be able to see the home and even setup a private tour, either with a buyers agent or by contacting the listing agent directly.

2013 First Quarter Numbers

Our Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors has just released the latest report showing stats for sales in our area, 2013 1st Quarter.

This report comes out Quarterly and gives us a good idea of the current Real Estate Market in the greater Charlottesville Area.

The specifics are pulled from our local MLS and you have likely been advised by your agent of specific trends in your area.

Remember to discuss specific market conditions with your Realtor.

2013 1st Quarter Charlottesville Market Report

View of Charlottesville

Flying over Charlottesville

This weekend I went flying with my son. He was taking a lesson and was the pilot for the day. I got to sit in the back of the plane and snap a few pictures of Charlottesville from the sky (see photo).

Charlottesville Green Space

One of the obvious things about flying over Charlottesville is all of the green space that we enjoy.

There are large farms and forested areas all along the Blue Ridge from the airport to Crozet. When we circled the area, we could see the city of Charlottesville, which is quite small from the air.

We could see the UVA Hospital, the Stadium and even homes of friends and clients.

If you get a chance, see Charlottesville from the air is well worth the effort, perhaps soon my son will be able to give private air tours!

Exceptional value in Greene County – close to NGIC/DIA, Hollymead Town Center and the Charlottesville Airport – and under 20 mins to Charlottesville.

Built in 2006, this better than new custom-built house offers over 4500 sq. ft. of well-designed finished space that features a whole house vacuum, plus a water softener and whole house filtration system and humidifier installed in summer 2012, a first floor master, two additional first floor bedrooms plus large finished basement and 2nd floor master suite!

The front half of the house includes a welcoming foyer with two bedrooms that have new cork flooring and share a Jack n’ Jill bath on one side and on the other a cozy dining room across from the chef’s kitchen featuring cherry cabinets, an abundance of counter prep space, the quietest possible Kitchenaid dishwasher installed in May 2012, a new disposal & faucet installed in Nov. 2012 and not one but two pantries!

Along the back of the house, the kitchen with informal dining and cozy family room have new maple flooring and open onto a wonderfully inviting & spacious great room, plus a screened porch, complete with Hunter plantation-style fan, and back deck overlooking the canopied hot tub/jacuzzi and partially fenced back yard.

The first floor master bedroom suite just off the cozy “keeping” room has a tray ceiling, new cork flooring, wall of windows and a large walk-in closet – plus a master bath with a jacuzzi tub and separate walk-in shower and two linen closets.

The first floor laundry has plenty of storage space with lots of room to fold and sort. There’s also a large two-car 552-sq.-ft. garage that opens onto a back hall with easy access to the kitchen.

The second floor has s a 2nd master bedroom suite complete with walk-in closet and en suite bath.

The 1383 sq. ft. finished terrace level has a rec room, exercise room plus a 5th bedroom and full bath, a room that could be used as an office or extra bedroom, and 1195 sq. ft. of fantastic storage space.

Nestled on almost an acre surrounded by landscaped gardens.

For those who prefer to live in the country, this move-in ready home offers the best of all worlds – great storage, flex space and several entertainment venues/wineries/restaurants and hospitals within an easy drive.

As we have noted in previous blogs, Virginia has over 200 wineries and consistently ranks high in esteemed wine competitions across the nation and internationally. Less than 15 min. away from Barboursville Vineyards, with its renowned Palladio Restaurant, and Horton Vineyards, and 10 min. drive to Burnley Vineyards.

Fashion Square Shopping Center is 15 min. away, the Stonefield Shops are 20 min., Downtown is 40 min., the Martha Jefferson Medical Center is 10 min. and UVA Hospital is about 25 min. away.

just 10 minutes south on Rt 29 - 3975 Rock Branch Road – MLS#507723 – $299,000

3975 Rock Branch Road is located off Taylors Gap Road and Rt 29 South, and a stone’s throw from Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie at the Crossroads store, Albemarle CiderWorks (family-run Cidery and Tasting Room) and Pippin Hill Farm & Winery.

Watch the sun rise from the back deck just off of the kitchen and the sun set from the expansive covered front porch.

This 3 BR/3 full BA, 2,275 sq ft (1600 sq. ft. on main level) home is nestled on an acre surrounded by professionally landscaped gardens with a 675 sq. ft. finished terrace level plus 120 sq. ft. of fantastic storage and a large one-car garage.

The open floor plan extends from the foyer to the living room and on to the conveniently located dining area – part of the large kitchen featuring knotted pine cabinets, an abundance of counter prep space and a pantry … plus a hand-painted design above and to the sides of the sink. The dining area opens onto the large “terraced” back deck offering plenty of space to add a screened porch or pergola.

The master bedroom suite features two large closets and an additional large walk-in closet – plus a master bath with a soaking tub and separate walk-in shower.

The other two bedrooms are generously sized with natural light and large closets. The laundry is located behind doors in the hallway next to the hall bathroom and across from a convenient linen closet.

The terrace level offers potential for an office/guest/teen/mother-in-law suite with a separate entrance complete with a gas fireplace and full bath.

For those who prefer to live in the country, this move-in ready home offers the best of all worlds – great storage, flex space and several entertainment venues/wineries/restaurants and hospitals within an easy drive.

As we have noted in previous blogs, Virginia has over 200 wineries and consistently ranks high in esteemed wine competitions across the nation and internationally. 3975 Rock Branch Road is less than a minute away from Albemarle CiderWorks, 3 min. drive to Pippin Hill Winery, and about 15 min. to King Family Vineyards and 18 min. to Pollak Vineyards.

If you like skiing or year-round sports/hiking/camping, Wintergreen Ski Resort is about 35 min. away and the Shenandoah National Park is about 25 min. away.

Barracks Road Shopping Center in just 15 min., Stonefield Shops in 20 min., Downtown in 25 min., Fashion Square in 25 min. and at the UVA Hospital in about 15 min.

What is Match Day 2013? This is the day when over a hundred medical students at the University of Virginia will find if they are accepted!
It is truly a fantastic day for these hard working students who have spent 8 years getting to this moment.

Several months ago students picked their top choices of hospitals and many picked the University of Virginia Medical Center. After having several interviews these hospitals make their choices and today is the day that the decisions come out.

Charlottesville Residents

So these Residents will need housing and for many they will need to see Charlottesville Homes quickly!

This is where Charlottesville Solutions comes in. We have all homes in the area listed and exceptional Charlottesville agents ready to help you in your new home search. We understand that time is limited but we are experienced in working with Charlottesville Doctors.

Match Day 2013

The key things that these Residents will be looking for is the distance to UVA. This is why we have it on every listing on our website. Here is a snapshot of what most Residents ask us for in Charlottesville Homes:

1. Close to UVA – 15 mins is best
2. 2+ bedrooms
3. under 300K – Typically this is a First Time Home buyer and we have Doctor Loans which can offer exceptional financing.

So when you are ready, give us a call or visit CharlottesvilleSolutions.com we are always available to help you find the perfect home.

Welcome to Charlottesville!

Meriwether Lewis School

Yes, you can still buy a home with almost five acres in the Meriwether Lewis and Western school districts for under $600K – come and take a look!

Delight in the incredible Blue Ridge Mountain views during the drive in on Browns Gap Turnpike by way of White Hall and Garth Road.

Details

Colonial-style 4 BR/2.5 BA, 3019-sq.-ft home, including a side-facing 600-sq.-ft. two-car garage and 1359 sq. ft. of unfinished expansion space on the terrace level.

Open floor plan with beautiful hardwood flooring on the main level, built-ins and gas fireplace in the family room, separate study/library/den with glassed French doors and a large eat-in chef’s kitchen that has access to the back deck, which is completely wired for surround sound, as is the entire house. Second floor laundry.

About 4510 Grand View

4510 Grand View is located in Beaver Creek, a quiet subdivision that’s a minutes’ drive away from the Beaver Creek Lake Reservoir and Park, a 104-acre water supply reservoir that was built in 1964 for the Town of Crozet. In addition to the good quality fishing, what draws anglers to the lake are its outstanding seasonal views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the forested shoreline and the rolling terrain of the Piedmont.

What is close by?

Enjoy the quiet of the country while knowing there are several entertainment venues/wineries/restaurants and hospitals within an easy drive. Downtown Crozet is 8 min. away and you can be dining at Duner’s Restaurant in Ivy in 6 min.

Coming back on Rt. 250 East, you can be at the Northridge Medical Park in 10 mins., at Boars Head Inn in 11 min., Birdwood Golf Course in 12 min., at the John Paul Jones Sports Complex  in 15 min. and at UVA Grounds or Hospital in about 20 min.

If you’re Charlottesville bound, you can also use Garth Road to get to the Barracks Road Shopping Center in 18 min., Downtown in 25 min. and Fashion Square in 30 min.

Virginia has over 200 wineries and consistently ranks high in esteemed wine competitions across the nation and internationally. 4510 Grand View is less than 10 min. from King Family Vineyards and Pollak Vineyards is 15 min. away.

Several other vineyards are close by – 20 min. to Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery , about 23 min. to Veritas Vineyard & Winery and 25 min. to Afton Mountain Vineyards. The Blue Mountain Brewery/Restaurant is 15 min. away.

If you like skiing or year-round sports/hiking/camping, Wintergreen Ski Resort is about 35 min. away and the Shenandoah National Park is about 25 min. Waynesboro is around 25 min. away with Staunton an additional 15 min. drive beyond that.

Oh yes and you can be at the new Stonefield shops and IMAX Charlottesville in 21 min!

4510 Grand View Drive – MLS#505187 – $595,000 

Maybe sooner than expected. It is all about the numbers, let me expand on this statement.

With the slowdown in the economy, what we have been seeing locally in Charlottesville, and on a national level, is New Construction has been out pacing Resales for the last couple of years. Buyers have been drawn to new, lower cost homes and location has been secondary. This is going to adjust and possibly sooner than one might expect.

Material Costs

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), tracks material costs and one thing to watch specifically is the price of lumber. A year ago, in Feb 2012, the random length composite price of lumber was $286. Today, Feb 1, 2013, this cost is $387. This is a $101 increase (+35%) in only a year. Track it yourself here –  NAHB Site

New Construction

The builders have to pass these costs on to the consumer or they will not be in business long. So the cost of new construction will rise (it has already started). With this rise, buyers will readjust and look to buying older homes and remodeling. Clients often tell me they watch HGTV and the before and after shows are certainly captivating. Remember Norm on This Old House?

A Bold Prediction

Resales in the next 12-24 months will bounce back strongly and location, vs new construction, will again be the number one factor on a buyers list. Watch for Resales of quality homes, in excellent locations, to take over as the most desirable homes bought and sold.

On Monday, Charlottesville city passed a resolution which,  ”calls on the United States Congress and the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia to adopt legislation prohibiting information obtained from the domestic use of drones from being introduced into a Federal or State court,” and “pledges to abstain from similar uses with city-owned, leased, or borrowed drones.”

What this means

Council member Dede Smith, who voted in favor of the bill, admits that the final legislation won’t do anything to prevent federal- or state-operated drones from operating over Charlottesville’s skies, but that the symbolic move could push other cities to follow suit.

“With a lot of these resolutions, although they don’t have a lot of teeth to them, they can inspire other governments to pass similar measures,” she says. “You can get a critical mass and then it does have influence. One doesn’t do much, but a thousand of them might. We want this on [federal and state lawmakers'] radars.”

Source: USNEWS 

An exceptional value – over 4,100 sq. ft. of living space for under $400K and conveniently located in Lake Monticello! – Full Details of 19 Acre Lane

19 Acre Lane

19 Acre Lane is located in The Acres neighborhood of Lake Monticello, a quiet section with nicely-sized houses that are spaced apart for privacy and with well-kept landscaped yards, each with around an acre of land.

Colonial-style 5 BR/3.5 BA, 4174-sq.-ft home with a wraparound front porch, including an oversized two-car garage with tons of storage and a bonus room above.

More Details

Open floor plan with beautiful hardwood flooring on the main level. Family room and kitchen at back of house open onto screened porch and a lovely deck.

Enjoy the quiet of the country, but know you’re very near several entertainment venues/wineries/restaurants/airports and hospitals.

19 Acre Lane is less than two minutes’ drive to the Turkey Sag gate at Lake Monticello, where you can find a gas station, a grocery store, 5 or 6 restaurants (Italian through to Chinese), bank, jewelers, florist, gym, pharmacy, doctor’s office, etc. Other facilities that can be reached at some of the other lake entrances include more gyms, stores and pharmacies, numerous restaurants (Mexican through to BBQ), hardware stores, garages and so on – essentially you have pretty much everything you could possibly need within a five minute drive of the house.

About Lake Monticello

Lake Monticello offers activities from boating and golf to tennis and swimming. The list of clubs and societies covers everything from rambling and bird watching to cooking and history – please use this website link for more info - click here

A Short Drive

If you’re Charlottesville bound, you can be at the Barracks Road Shopping Center in 25 min., Downtown in 35 min., at Fashion Square in 30 min. and at the UVA Hospital in about 25 min.

If you’re Richmond bound – you can easily access Rt. 64 and be at the Short Pump shopping center in about an hour and in Richmond fairly soon after that.

19 Acre Lane – MLS#506224 – $389,500

Western Albemarle Home

1415 Beacon Hill  – MLS#501141 – $299,000 

Come back for another look at this exceptional value – with Western Albemarle schools and under $300K!

1415 Beacon Hill in Signal Hill, a quiet subdivision with nicely-sized houses that are spaced apart for privacy and have well-kept landscaped yards, is a Colonial-style 4 BR/2.5 BA, 2028-sq.-ft home, including an additional 960-sq.-ft. unfinished basement with great potential and tons of storage, nestled on 3.45 acres.

It has an open floor plan with beautiful hardwood and bamboo flooring on the main level, and a 2-car, 528-sq.-ft. garage with a large bonus room above. The cedar deck in back has two levels, a spa, and looks out on the partially fenced-in rear yard with a dog run & pen.

Enjoy the quiet of the country while knowing there are several entertainment venues/wineries/restaurants and hospitals within an easy drive.

Virginia has over 200 wineries and consistently ranks high in esteemed wine competitions across the nation and internationally. 1415 Beacon Hill is less than three minutes’ drive to Cardinal Point Winery, and about 12 min. to Veritas Winery and 18 min. to Afton Mountain Winery. The Blue Mountain Brewery/Restaurant is seven min. away and Crozet/Waynesboro are both about 15 min. away. Several other vineyards are close by – Pollak Vineyards is 15 min. and King Family Vineyards is 18 min. away.

If you like skiing or year-round sports/hiking/camping, Wintergreen Ski Resort is about 25 min. away and the Shenandoah National Park is about 15 min.

If you’re Charlottesville bound, you can be at the Barracks Road Shopping Center in 25 min., Downtown in 35 min., at Fashion Square in 30 min. and at the UVA Hospital in about 25 min.

So, what are we looking at in 2013?

Many people, across the nation, will simply say sales and inventory. While these are important to watch, they are lagging indicators. Let’s look just a little deeper.

Washington

To be more specific – tax increases. When taxes rise, buyers will have less to spend on housing (down payment and monthly payments). Do not be fooled by the rhetoric you hear and read, think logically. Unlike Washington, households can not just raise their personal Debt Ceiling and have future generations pay for their homes. Households have budgets and they mean something.

Employment

Or should I say unemployment. This is directly connected to the above discussion about taxes. If taxes go up on businesses, they will figure a way to cut costs (need I say more). We really need to see unemployment decrease across the nation. This will build confidence, put more money in circulation and truely stabilize the housing market.

Home Ownership mentality

This is something that is rarely discussed. When buyers feel it makes better sense to rent vs buy, this has a direct impact on our local market. In some cases, we actually are seeing where it is cheaper to now own vs rent in our local market. This should help with our local 2013 market.

Interest Rates

Everyone is aware that we are at historic lows in Interest Rates. When these rates tick up (and they will) it will have a direct impact on the Charlottesville real estate market.

Mortgage delinquencies and Foreclosures

In 2012, Mortgage delinquencies fell. This is a good sign and something that is worth watching.  Also in 2012 Foreclosures were selling at a discount. We will likely see less foreclosures in 2013 and this would be a very good sign. Both of these are key to the overall health of the market.

Cville Real Estate

Our Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors has just released the latest report showing stats for sales in our area for year ending 2012.

This report comes out Quarterly and gives us a good idea of the current Real Estate Market in the greater Charlottesville Area. Remember to discuss specific market conditions with your Realtor.

Charlottesville Area Year-End 2012 Highlights:

• Overall sales in Greater Charlottesville were up 15% over 2011, resulting in largest year-over-year increase in seven years.

• Active inventory to close 2012 was at the lowest level since year-end 2005 and down 13% from year-end 2011.

• Median sales price for the region in Q4-2012 was up 8%, over last quarter and Q4-2011, to $260,000.
• New listings were up 9% from the same quarter last year—the largest increase since Q4-2006.

No more driving to Short Pump to get Apple products or to have repairs done on our Apple devices, this is fantastic news for all of us in Charlottesville!

My friends and clients, Darryl and Anne Peck, will soon be opening a new PeachMac Store at Barracks Road in Charlottesville. PeachMac is known as the “SouthEast’s Apple Specialist” and the Charlottesville PeachMac will be their 12th store.

I recently met with my friends and below is an interview I did with Darryl Peck:

Interview with Darryl Peck

Darryl, can you tell us a little about PeachMac? How did you get started, How long you have been in business, Where are you based, etc…?

While we have been working with Apple in various ways for over 27 years now, PeachMac was just started back in 2007. Our headquarters is just a few miles from the UGA campus in Athens, Georgia, another great college town.

So your new PeachMac store in Charlottesville will be at Barracks Road Shopping Center which is a fantastic location. I also know that Anne is a UVA Alumni, is this one of the reasons you decided to expand to Charlottesville? Are there other reasons you decided on this area?

Obviously the fact that Anne spent five years in Charlottesville means that it is familiar to us. We have visited several times over the years for reunions and just to hang out for a weekend, and it’s always been one of our favorite places. So, it’s safe to say that it has been on our expansion list for quite a while. We started working on a store here in a serious way about 18 months ago and we are thrilled to be getting close to the finish line.

I imagine PeachMac will be hiring employees, how many do you expect?

We expect to hire 12-16 people for this store. Link to PeachMac Jobs in Charlottesville

I know you will be selling Apple Products, but PeachMac does so much more than just sell Apple products, can you elaborate?

PeachMac offers all the great products from Apple with the exception of the iPhone. But we do offer a vastly larger selection of accessories, and other products related to Macs, iPads, iPods and, of course, the iPhone. For instance, PeachMac was the largest retailer of iPhone cases in the US last year which is almost certainly due to our huge selection.

We are also an Apple Authorized Service Provider which means we can service and repair any Apple product, including the iPhone, whether it is covered under warranty or not. We have a significantly larger service menu available than one would find at an Apple Store.

PeachMac also offers significant training programs from free workshops to our award-winning PeachPlus service.

And the most important question of all, when will PeachMac be opening their doors in Charlottesville?

It will be this spring and we are hoping it’s early April, but until construction starts it’s difficult to nail down an exact date.

Anything else you want to add?

Yes. The best thing about opening a store in Charlottesville is that we now have a really good excuse to spend more time there. We have been to town about five times already in the past few weeks and even spent an entire weekend at the Boar’s Head with time to check out some of the great restaurants in town.

2013 Charlottesville Real Estate Assessment

The City of Charlottesville says that the released assessments are “an estimate of fair market value as of January 1 each year, based on property sales for the previous calendar year” Here is the Charlottesville City Assessor website if you would like to read further on this subject.

2013 Albemarle County Real Estate Assessment

Albemarle County, says it slightly differently, stating that  “The County of Albemarle appraises real estate every year based on fair market value as provided by the Virginia State Code”.

They continue to note that “The appraisal staff in conducting their field appraisal work considers adjacent property sales, condition of property, zoning stipulations, and other miscellaneous factors that could be an influence on the market value of the property”  Here is the Albemarle County Real Estate Tax Website for further details and information.

Charlottesville Home Prices

Charlottesville Market Reports show that sales are increasing year over year, with Median Sales Prices up in the City of Charlottesville and up in Albemarle County too. Lets hope this trend continues.

There are a lot of factors that are included to get Median prices from our MLS so your actually numbers may not follow these trends. I suspect that 2013 Real Estate Assessments will be, for the most part, sightly up from 2012.

Charlottesville Real Estate Tax Rates

Our real estate tax rates are based on Assessments:

• City of Charlottesville is $.95 per $100 of Assessed value.
• Albemarle County is $.762 per $100 of Assessed value.

Charlottesville Home Buyer

Many Charlottesville Buyers look to Assessments as a means of valuing a home and in many cases this can be a mistake. Using them as a guide can make sense, but since the data is generated at a point in time prior to the January release the information is not timely enough.

Getting a current Market Analyses of a home from your Charlottesville Agent will give you a better idea of a homes true value.

It is really simple to use and, as one client emailed me, kinda fun to use too.

How to do a Wildcard Search

1. Enter a search keyword (or keywords in “quotes”)
EXAMPLES: horse, farm, golf, lake, hospital, equestrian, NGIC, DIA, “first floor master”, “brick ranch” or even a partial address…

(Try any keyword you can think of; you are not limited to this list)

2. You can also finetune the search by choosing the County(s) to search in.

COUNTY EXAMPLES: Albemarle, Charlottesville, Greene, Fluvanna, etc

You can also combine areas with a “comma” –  EXAMPLE: Albemarle, Greene

Try Wildcard Search

Give it a try on the main page at: http://www.charlottesvillerealestatesolutions.com/

Let us know what you think?

I just could non resist posting this photo. I do not know where it came from as a family member emailed it to me. It just makes me laugh and I hope you enjoy it too.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Note: It is that time of year again and I do have a habit of saying Merry Christmas. In saying so I am expressing my freedom of speech and also hope that you will do the same no matter what your religious beliefs are. I hope that you and your familys enjoy the holidays as much as we do!

Tour homes – Tour schools

My Journey to Charlottesville

School rankings

When we opened the doors at Solutions, two years ago, I had a few simple rules for myself and our agents. One of the most important rules was “never hand me a piece of paper“.

The story actually started several years ago. I wrote a blog post in Aug of 2009 that I titled “I want a paperless office, am I wrong?”

Back then, I was already using digital signatures and electronic communication, but the challenge was that others needed to accept communication in this form.

At first this was a little difficult, but with a little help from technology and with the continual acceptance of digital signatures, I am proud to say that, at Solutions we are still a paperless office.

One of our agents recently commented on this subject by saying this

I can’t imagine how much MORE paper I would have in my office if we didn’t do this!  I’m glad we’re on the leading edge

SIDE NOTE: I actually turned off my Fax number several years ago. Whenever I have someone, or some firm, ask me for my fax number, I cringe a little.

Let’s all save a tree, go paperless, go green!

DEFINITION: The paperless office was a publicist‘s slogan, meant to describe the office of the future. The basic idea was that office automation would make paper redundant for routine tasks such as record-keeping and bookkeeping. The idea came to prominence with the introduction of the personal computer

The best of the old has been so tastefully restored – classic built-ins, original pocket doors and leaded glass windows (including the front door transom & original 3rd flr windows), gorgeous refinished fir floors.

The smoothly integrated renovations – seamlessly executed by a team led by Jeff Dreyfus of Bushman Dreyfus Architects – include a large eat-in kitchen (which can accommodate both US and UK appliances) opening onto the dining room and the expansive screened porch, a handsome master suite with attached bath, a second floor laundry, full finished attic with a bedroom/studio plus full bath.

For more details on how the city is celebrating – from exhibits and concert events to a civic ceremony on the actual date, Nov. 12, 2012 – please visit: Celebrate 250 History

Charlottesville, according to the city’s website, has grown from 500 residents in 1812, 50 years after King George III gave the Virginia locality its current name, to now more than 43,000 in the city; almost 100,000 in the county, as of the last census. Today’s growth happens on a scale no doubt unimaginable to the then town’s first inhabitants.

Incorporated in 1801, it didn’t become an independent city until 1888. According to the city’s website, “By the city’s 100th anniversary in 1862, the residents of Charlottesville, now numbering 2,500 (plus 500 U.Va. students) would experience change again: they would salute yet another flag of allegiance, the flag of the Confederate States of America.

“But as Charlottesville headed toward its 200th anniversary as a city, other changes were in the air, literally. Airplanes were carrying passengers like C.C. Wells, who flew from Wood Field, now the site of the Foxfield Race Course. Charlottesville gained its first radio station—
WCHV—in 1932.”

Today, the city’s “vision … is for Charlottesville to be a leader in innovation, environmental sustainability, and social and economic justice; to be flexible and progressive in anticipating and responding to the needs of the citizens; and to act as the cultural and creative capital of Central Virginia. With nine areas of focus—economic sustainability; lifelong learning; quality housing opportunities for all; arts and culture; green city initiatives; healthy city initiatives; a connected community; smart citizen-focused government; and community of mutual respect—the future looks bright as we head toward 2062 and the city’s 300th anniversary.”

For those interested in celebrating on Nov. 12 with the Governor and VIPs, and in conjunction with American Legion Post 74 and annual Veterans Day events, there will be a free Civic Ceremony from 11am – 2pm at the nTelos Pavilion Downtown Charlottesville (map)

Leading up the Nov. 12 events there will be a Grand Gala at the John Paul Jones Arena where Kool & The Gang will headline the “Celebrate! 250 Gala” starting at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 11, which is also Veterans Day. It will be a night that highlights the talents and diversity of the community. Tickets are priced from $10 to $30 and can be purchased at the John Paul Jones Arena website or through Ticketmaster.Celebrate250 honors the rich tapestry of generations that built Charlottesville, involving our diverse community of interests, cultures and backgrounds in building our new story. Celebrate 250

Also, according to the city website, Ida Lee Wootten, director of U.Va.’s Office of Community Relations, said the University “has partnered with the city in several ways to mark the 250th anniversary. The Heritage Theatre Festival presented the popular historical musical ‘1776’ this summer. The Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library has provided historical photographs that are being used throughout the celebration.

“In addition, the library has an exhibit, on view through Jan. 5, 2013, that displays a broad range of artifacts – everything from the oldest known city map to a section of the rope used to hang a murderous mayor. The items, which evoke major events in the city, include a Bible used in the coronation of Queen Charlotte, the city’s namesake. The Charlottesville 250th Anniversary Exhibit, which is co-sponsored by the Special Collections Library and Community Relations Office, is free and open to the public.

‘We are delighted that the University of Virginia can help support the community-wide celebration by hosting the gala at the John Paul Jones Arena,’ Wootten said. “We hope that area residents will enjoy celebrating together Charlottesville’s distinctive history and cultural vibrancy.’”

Other Exhibits:
250 Years of Transportation – City Manager’s office, Celebrate 250 Gallery (Next to Eppies)
City Neighborhoods – Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society
The City’s Public Schools – Downtown Visitor’s Center
City of Streetcars – Downtown Visitor’s Center
Wealth of Theaters – Keller and George
More than a Roof: Charlottesville Residential – Cavalier Inn.
Heritage of Faith – Looking for a home.
1962 Bicentennial – University of Virginia Community Credit Union
900 East Jefferson branch = 3 banners
1018 West Main St/Patton Mansion branch = 2 banners
1936 Arlington Blvd. branch = 2 banners

“Charlottesville 250th Anniversary Exhibit” Aug 28 – Dec 5 Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library University of Virginia (map)
Description: Through a remarkable selection of books, manuscripts, and photographs, this exhibition will trace Charlottesville’s history, featuring its 1762 founding, the American Revolution, the creation of the University of Virginia, the Civil War, Reconstruction, and key moments of the 20th century. Some of the treasures highlighted will include: Queen Charlotte’s coronation Bible; the first map of Charlottesville; Holsinger Studio photographs; and materials on the famous, infamous, and fictitious residents of Charlottesville.

As of September: Charlottesville’s Mosaic , i.e. neighborhoods

“Queen Charlotte”
Exploring the life and legacy of our City’s namesake, Queen Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, this exhibit is on display through March at the Albemarle County. Historical Society, 200 Second Street NE. Keri Matthews, Curator. (434) 296-1492

“Celebrating Charlottesville’s 200th Anniversary, 1962”
This exhibit highlights Charlottesville’s celebrations during its 200th anniversary, on display through September at several University of VIrginia Community Credit Union Offices.

“250 Years of Transportation” (See site for PDF)
Take a ride through time with historic photographs of transportation changes in Charlottesville. Trains, planes and automobiles: they all have a rich history in town. City Manager’s Office and off the Mall at the Celebrate 250 gallery next to Eppies at 407 East
Main Street. (434) 970-3333

Heritage of Faith
This exhibit chronicles the evolution of Charlottesville’s first places of worship, the progression in the community’s sense of religious identity, religious leadership in politics and government, education, medicine and business, and the town’s lasting contributions to the nation and the world. On display through May at the Visitors Center across from City Hall on
the Downtown Mall. (434) 296-1492

More Than a Roof: Charlottesville Residential
This exhibition surveys key aspects of Charlottesville’s residential architecture between the late 19th century and the present. In doing so it illuminates a good deal of our city’s history. The exhibition explores the way that developers, builders, architects, homeowners, and renters have sought to balance social and cultural ideals with changing economic, technological, and spatial possibilities.

More than merely a roof over our heads, our dwellings and settlement patterns reflect the changing architectural and social values of Charlottesville’s individuals, families, and communities. Our homes have been shaped by both practical realities and American dreams.

Exhibition is mounted by Professor Daniel Bluestone and students in the Community History, Planning, and Design Working, in the historic preservation program at the UVA School of Architecture. The exhibition will be launched with a reception on May 4th at the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society, 200 2nd Street, NE, 5:30-7:30 PM.

Charlottesville Public Schools
The possibilities of a better life, friendships made, and general life lessons can all be said to stem from one’s schooling experience. Charlottesville City’s Public Schools are no exception and as schooling efforts extend back into the nineteenth century the topic seems a worthy subject of study. Hence, please join us on the 3rd at the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society as we hold a reception to initiate the newest edition to the Celebrate 250 series of exhibits, The City’s Public Schools.

So often we just don’t take the time to keep in touch with people that are important to us, so, on this one day of the year, getting together with friends old and new, to let them know how much we appreciate them, is a real treat.

Standing on our deck with some of the nicest people I know, I remembered again why choosing to live in Charlottesville was one of the best decisions of my life.

This seven acre estate parcel located in Indian Springs, about 12 mins North-West of Charlottesville in Albemarle County, offers panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. 

CLICK PHOTO FOR MORE IMAGES

The home site offers views from every window of your future home. There is a private area for decks, a pool and even gardens. The photos give a glimpse of nature’s power to hypnotise anyone who is lucky enough to visit such a fine property.

We are available to show this property upon request and will even have a builder meet with you to give you ideas of the many possibilities that this estate property offers.

# of Views : 973]]> http://www.charlottesvillerealestatesolutions.com/2012/10/indian-springs-charlottesville-virginia-2/feed/ 0 http://www.charlottesvillerealestatesolutions.com/2012/10/charlottesville-welcomes-the-shops-a-stonefield/ http://www.charlottesvillerealestatesolutions.com/2012/10/charlottesville-welcomes-the-shops-a-stonefield/#comments Tue, 23 Oct 2012 19:43:54 +0000 Charles McDonald http://www.charlottesvillerealestatesolutions.com/?p=15957

Charlottesville Virginia’s latest shopping mall is the Shops at Stonefield

The folks in Charlottesville make a pastime of enjoying great food and are waiting with anticipation to sample the fare at the new restaurants going in at The Shops at Stonefield.

Edens development, a leading national retail real estate developer, has given careful consideration to what the local residents might find desirable in both shopping and dining.

There will something for every taste at The Shops, so far the list of restaurants includes: Parallel 38, Cyclone Anaya’s, Black and Orange, Jason Alley’s Pasture, Travinia Italian Kitchen and Burtons Grill.

A pedestrian friendly main street will run through the center with shops including Trader Joe’s, Pier One, Williams Sonoma and Pottery Barn, as well as Regal Cinema 14, the areas only IMAX theater.

The center will also offer residential Townhomes and a hotel. The Shops are scheduled to open in November of 2012, just in time for the holiday season.

Haden Place is located on Haden lane, between Old Trail and Jarman’s Gap.

Details of Haden Place

This 34 home subdivision has been planned for years and is being brought to you be Gibson homes . The 14 single family homes will be built by Gibson Homes, the 14 attached homes will be built by Southern Development.

Additionally there will be 6 cottages built on the property.

Haden Place Price Range

Price range for the single family homes is starting in the mid 400K’s and the price range for the attached homes is starting in the low 300K range.

Contact for Haden Place

Becky Crowe, who recently joined Charlottesville Solutions, is marketing the neighborhood. She has over 10 years of new construction experience and represents Gibson Homes. You can contact Becky directly at 434-962-5503.

I promised you a surprise from Solutions and we are very excited to announce that Becky Crowe has joined Charlottesville Real Estate Solutions.

Many people know Becky as not only an exceptional agent and advocate for her clients, but also as the representative for Gibson Homes in Charlottesville.

Having a background in new construction gives Becky a unique perspective on the real estate market. This gives her an eye for details, when looking at any home (new or resale).  She knows materials, selections and systems within homes.

Agents with deep roots in the area and exceptional experience is what Solutions looks for in an agent. Becky exceeds these requirements and we are pleased that she has chosen to call Solutions “home”.

Our Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors has just released the latest report showing stats for sales in our area, 2012 3rd Quarter.

This report comes out Quarterly and gives us a good idea of the current Real Estate Market in the greater Charlottesville Area. Remember to discuss specific market conditions with your Realtor.

3rd Quarter 2012 Highlights:

What is interesting is that many of these same parameters are the requirements of most couples who are looking to retire.

Since I work in Charlottesville Virginia real estate, I meet many people from around the world, who are now retiring and looking for the quality of life that we all deserve.

You can start by checking out publications, as they do a good job of locating places that are desirable.
Here are a few example of what some publications say about Charlottesville:

Kiplinger.com – “Number One City for Retirement ” and “Top Places to Retire”
Money Magazine – “100 Best Places to Live”
Relocate America – “Best Place to Relocate”
Travel 50 & Beyond – “Top Ten Great Places to Retire”
Golf Digest – “Best Retirement City for Golfers”
AARP – “Top 10 Healthiest Places to Retire”

Well, you get the picture. That being said, when we decided to relocate, we visited many locations across the United States and ended up in Charlottesville.
This was the best decision of our life.

Come visit anytime and see why the small town of Charlottesville is so desirable.

A few links for retirement questions:

Jefferson Area Board of Aging JABA

Charlottesville Senior Center

Martha Jefferson Hospital

Charlottesville Solutions Agent Sybil Mahanes

Well the word is out and we are very excited to announce that Sybil Mahanes has joined Charlottesville Real Estate Solutions.

Sybil was born and raised in Charlottesville Virginia. Her love of the area and its people is infectious. Prior to real estate, Sybil was the owner of the Ivy Store, a landmark in Western Albemarle, and she knows most residents on a first name basis.

When I first met Sybil, about seven years ago, she and I became friends right away. She was always available to help me and even asked me to join her as a co-listing agent with a local Western Albemarle neighborhood.

I often tell people that if you go to lunch with Sybil, be prepared, it is like going to lunch with the mayor, so many know her that you will certainly meet a lot of people.

With over 20 years of Real Estate experience, Sybil has seen buyer and seller markets and knows how to get the best deal for her clients.

When you are looking to buy or sell your home in Charlottesville, Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene or Nelson, it would behoove you to have Sybil looking after your best interests.

By definition “we do not work to support a large firm or franchise“.

This is what makes us unique and is a great strength in a volatile real estate market. Our standards put our clients’ needs first, not the firm’s.

I am not used to seeing Ads

I do not promote products

How to stop seeing Ads while surfing the web

Just google the name “ad blocker” and you will see several options available.

I hope it works for you and if you get a chance to try it, please comment on this post and tell me what you think.

Find out the numbers before you shop

This is a great question and the typical answer from a Charlottesville Real Estate Agent is to refer you to a lender.

While speaking with a lender will certainly get you a more precise answer, and I do recommend getting a pre-qualification letter from a qualified lender, it would be difficult to get a lender to redo the calculations on every home you are considering.

Types of Calculators

Great question! As a father who relocated his family to the Charlottesville area over 12 years ago, I can tell you that I started by looking at schools first. The neighborhood and homes were second and third on my priority list.

My Kids are Grown

Great Home, Great Deal?

The Cart before the Horse

Charlottesville Real Estate Market

Our Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors has just released the latest report showing stats for sales in our area, 2012 2nd Quarter.

This report comes out Quarterly and gives us a good idea of the current Real Estate Market in the greater Charlottesville Area. Remember to discuss specific market conditions with your Realtor.

2nd Quarter 2012 Highlights:

What you need to know as of July 1, 2012

If you’re thinking of purchasing a home in Virginia, you’ll want to know that there’s a new Agency law that will take effect on July 1 that will change the way you can see houses no matter where you are in the state.

A great many of our clients already use our Solutions website to look up houses in our local MLS system and find out area information. We’re always happy to answer any general questions you may have and this won’t change with the new law.

What’s new about the law

The only difference is that after July 1, 2012, if you’d like to make an appointment to go see a house with one of our team of licensed REALTORs®, or any REALTOR® in Virginia for that matter, the state will now require that you first enter into a written brokerage relationship agreement with one of us regardless of whether this is the first time you’re contacting us to discuss purchasing a house or if you’ve been working with one of our Solutions team members for some time.

Before seeing a home for sale

What this means is that if you’d like to see a house you will need to sign a buyer broker agreement that contains the duties and obligations of all parties, a specific start date and end date, and how your REALTOR® will be paid. It can be good for one day or up to several months.

The intent of this new requirement is to ensure that buyers are aware of the types of representation available to them. You and your REALTOR® can discuss and agree upon the length of your agreement when you sit down and review the other terms and conditions.

Duties of an Agent

Typically, buyers will engage a REALTOR® as an exclusive standard agent, one who’s required to perform specific duties for his or her buyer client, which include:

• negotiating terms and conditions of a real estate purchaser contract;
• preparing written offers and counteroffers;
• promoting your interests;
• maintaining the confidentiality of your personal and financial information;
• and accounting for any money received, in which you have an interest.

There are other types of buyer brokerage service – limited service and independent contractor and we’d be happy to explain these to you as well.

Solutions for you

When you engage a member of the Solutions team as your standard agent, you have a professional advocate working hard on your behalf. We can offer you the benefit of solid business experience, training and access to timely market information, can negotiate solely on your behalf, reduce your stress and save you money.

Call us today and we’d be happy to explain the benefits of the new Buyer Broker July 1, 2012 law. It will take some adjustment in the next few months, and we expect some growing pains, but we believe this is a positive step forward in assuring our buyer clients that they’ll receive the best attention possible as they look for their new home in our beautiful Charlottesville area.

As my clients know I love the Charlottesville area and I love showing Charlottesville Real Estate and Homes to my clients.

A lot of factors go into the decision to relocate to a new area and one thing I have learned is that no two clients are alike in this regard.

If time permits, we will often tour specific areas while discussing your needs and I will actually explain why I choose to move my family to this area from the West Coast.

Sometimes I get a message after a first meeting that just says it all. Below is an email I received this morning after meeting with a client for the first time:

Hi Charles,

Charlie and I so enjoyed our time with you! Your love of Charlottesville is infectious. We didn’t feel like we were with a real estate agent, but rather with a friend, passionate about his community. We felt, heard and understood, the result of your masterful listening skills; you continually checked, understanding of our requirements, refining as needed, which assisted us in gaining clarity, as well. Your broad knowledge base and brilliant engineering mind left us feeling confident that we were in good hands. Thank you kindly for your generosity of spirit; we are blessed to be working with you.

All the best,

Irene and Charlie

0.95 – Charlottesville City

0.762 – Albemarle County

0.5981 – Fluvanna County

0.69 – Greene County

0.65 – Louisa County

0.53 – Madison County

0.60 – Nelson County

0.72 – Orange County

0.48 –  Augusta County

0.90 - Staunton City

Note: these tax rates are all based on $100.00 of real estate assessment.
Example: If you own a home in Albemarle County that is assessed at $200,000 your taxes would be

0.762 x 200,000/100 = $1,524 per year

They wanted excellent schools, a neighborhood and privacy (all within budget). Sometimes a neighborhood and privacy are a dichotomy.
Well the hunt was on and we soon found the perfect home, in the school district my clients choose, in a neighborhood and yes even with privacy (backing to a river).

Now we have one extra surprise, there was a small private pond on the property. It is rare to have a private pond in a neighborhood but this was part of the charm of the property. Below is a photo of the first day at the new home.

Not only is this the first day, it was the first “cast” that their son made from the dock!

When I talk to clients about Charlottesville Real Estate, I will often mention the quality of life we have here. Sometime a picture is worth a thousand words.

This report comes out Quarterly and gives us a good idea of the current Real Estate Market in the greater Charlottesville Area. Remember to discuss specific market conditions with your Realtor.

1st Quarter 2012 Highlights:

Charlottesville 1st Quarter Real Estate Market Report 2012

My Background

I can remember a drafting class I took in high school where we used pencil and paper (eventually we went to mylar and ink, but that’s another story) to draw up a floor plan of a home. We actually built a scale model of the home we designed, and ever since I’ve been hooked on design.

I went on to design everything from medical devices and tanks for the military to satellites. When I got into electronics, I started my own firm and we designed circuits for more products and companies than I can count.

Moving to Charlottesville

When we moved to Charlottesville 12 years ago, I left that life behind and got into real estate. It was therefore natural for me to have a passion for new construction and also to want to learn every part of the process.

Selecting a Home Site

The process of selecting a home site is much more complex than just what fits a clients’ budget. The topography of the lot is a major factor and you actually should have a good idea of what your home design will be so that you can see if the two work together.

There are also several other things to consider: power, water, easements and line of sight. I can go on, but you get the idea.

Selecting a Builder

The biggest mistake I see clients make is that they use the builder who owns, or has an option to own, the lot they want. It’s a huge decision when you select a builder, and, let me tell you from experience, you want one that’s not only excellent, but one that you get along with, as this process has a lot of interaction.

The second biggest mistake I have seen in our area is someone who works with the builder’s agent or goes to a sales office and works with the builder’s representative directly. Working without an agent to represent your interests in Virginia doesn’t make sense. When someone does this, they must think they are getting a better deal, but this isn’t true.

The price, with or without an agent, will be the same. I don’t understand why someone wouldn’t use a professional to protect their interests. The truth is that the public just needs to be better educated on this subject.

Selecting an Agent

I do watch other agents, and even those who represent builders. Most have very little knowledge of engineering, construction and the problems that may arise in the process of building.

I’m not saying that these agents are not good at what they do with regard to writing a contact, negotiating a price, working with the attorney, etc., but I am saying that they tend to treat new construction like any other contract, and, in my opinion, new construction is unique.

Why Some of my Clients Build

For some clients building is a perfect option. If they have the time, the capital and really want new construction, then a client may be a good candidate for building.

Final Note

Building is not for everyone and it takes special considerations. If you’re thinking of building, let’s talk!

Using the Web to Search

I have clients who use a computer to do everything from ordering pizza to trading stocks. When people become so accustomed to using the web to find everything, they can sometimes over think things, and real estate is one of those things that they over think.

Let me explain:

I need to educate my clients better

When a client says “I found this home on Zillow” or “I found this home on Trulia” I realize that I have not fully done my job in explaining how our Solutions MLS site works.

Many sites are not complete

Sites that are “syndicated sites” – that receive listings from other sources – are never 100% up-to-date and often homes that are listed are not removed once they go under contract.

Keep in mind that sites like Zillow and Trulia are not bound by rules like a Multiple Listing Service. They do offer a broad view of homes in most areas, but, again, not a complete and fully accurate list of homes.

Why would a client look on these sites vs using Charlottesville Solutions which has a full MLS data feed?

The answer, as I alluded to above, is that I have not fully explained that they are NOT going to see any additional listings on these sites and, in fact, they will NOT see all homes available and the pricing may NOT even be correct.

Don’t Over Think Search

Clients who love technology and the web will sometimes over think how to use them. They may think that looking at multiple sites will show them more data (in this case homes).

The fact is they will save a tremendous amount of time and frustration by using our one-source full feed site.

To recap:

The data on our Solutions MLS Site is current, comprehensive and shows all homes available in our market.

So again, which is best? The answer is our local Charlottesville Solutions MLS Site.

Enjoy!

This is the day when over a hundred medical students at the University of Virginia will find if they are accepted!
It is truly a fantastic day for these hard working students who have spent 8 years getting to this moment.

Several months ago students picked their top choices of hospitals and many picked the University of Virginia Medical Center. After having several interviews these hospitals make their choices and today is the day that the decisions come out.

Charlottesville Residents

So these Residents will need housing and for many they will need to see Charlottesville Homes quickly!

This is where Charlottesville Solutions comes in. We have all homes in the area listed and exceptional Charlottesville agents ready to help you in your new home search. We understand that time is limited but we are experienced in working with Charlottesville Doctors.

The key things that these Residents will be looking for is the distance to UVA. This is why I have it on every listing on our website. Here is a snapshot of what most Residents ask us for in Charlottesville Homes:

1. Close to UVA – 15 mins is best
2. 2+ bedrooms
3. under 300K – Typically this is a First Time Home buyer and we have Doctor Loans which can offer up to 100% financing.

So when you are ready, give us a call or visit CharlottesvilleSolutions.com we are always available to help you find the perfect home.

Welcome to Charlottesville!

Is buying your own home better than investing in stocks right now?

“If I knew where I was going to want to live the next five or 10 years I would buy a home and I’d finance it with a 30-year mortgage… It’s a terrific deal.”

Should we buy multiple houses?

“If I was an investor that was a handy type and I could buy a couple of them at distressed prices and find renters, I think it’s a leveraged way of owning a very cheap asset now and I think that’s probably as an attractive an investment as you can make now.”

Interestingly enough a couple of my clients who are investors in Charlottesville Real Estate have bought more than one home in the last year. This is because they see this as an opportunity.

Personally I always think it is best to own your own home.

Green Charlottesville is Cool

It is not just cool to go Green, it makes perfect sense. Many Charlottesville Homes are energy-efficient and environmentally friendly which is what Green Homes are all about. Many people rely on a Certified Green Home and the truth is that many Builders are building within 95% of the guidelines already.

Let’s look at some of the guidelines of a LEED Certification

What is LEED?

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It provides building owners a way of defining, identifying and implementing green building design and construction parameters.

Getting LEED Certification is a 3rd party verification that a home was built using energy efficiency, sustainable site development, water saving, material selection and indoor environmental quality.

Green Charlottesville Builders

In Charlottesville, many builders are building Earthcraft Homes, using High Quality Heating and Cooling systems, Energy-star Appliances, Low Flow Faucets and even energy efficient light bulbs, just to name a few.

What is really interesting is that many builders in Charlottesville have been ahead of the curve in both designing and building to these specifications for years.

Green without Certification?

One thing to understand is that a home can be Green without being certified, and, in fact, we are seeing a lot of Charlottesville homes being remodeled with Green in mind. It is a wonderful trend in Charlottesville.

Buyers and Builders can check the National Association of Home Builders for information on their National Green Building Standard. With the discussion on Green building on a National level, it is a good start. But the end result rests in the hands of the local builder and consumer.