About Charlottesville's Ngic

If you read (and listen to the news) you would think the market is not moving at all. Well for Charlottesville Real Estate that just is not true!

I just closed on the above home. It is fabulously finished with grand details. Full finished terrace level with theater area, rec-room and additional bed and bath.

I for one am a little tired of the "talking heads" on the news telling us how bad things are and that we have to do this or that....

Do not beleive the news, talk to an expert in your area!

About The Author

Charles McDonald, Associate Broker at RE/MAX Assured Properties and dedicated Buyers Agent is the author of this blog, and several other sites on the Internet. Charles and his team of experts in the Charlottesville area are always available to help you with your Real Estate needs. Call our team anytime at 434-981-1585 or to search for homes visit: Charlottesville Real Estate

Copyright © 2008 Charles McDonald, All Rights Reserved.

The National Ground Intelligence Center - NGIC - is planning a big relocation over the next 5 years which will bring an influx of home seekers to the Charlottesville Area, but not every one of those NGIC/DIA employees will want to buy a home. Some may want to first rent to get to know the area and others may want to ONLY rent because of a variety of circumstances, not the least of which is the soft selling market for those NGIC folks who already own homes in other markets.

I have updated my NGIC Real Estate Website with new information about finding rental homes near NGIC in Northern Albemarle County and Greene County. If you are considering a move to Rivanna Station, check it out and feel free to call or email me if you have questions!

Amy Webb

Charlottesville, It is all in how you look at things.

Our Daily Progress wrote it this way "Area jobless figure at 6-year high" click here to see the full article.

Well we are at 4.1% up from 3.9% in the Charlottesville Metro Area but this includes the counties of Albemarle, Greene, Fluvanna and Nelson. I can tell you that there are a lot of businesses looking to hire in the Charlottesville and Albemarle areas...

Now look at the above Chart. We are at 4.1, The state of Virginia is at 4.6 and the National number is at 6.1....

The Daily Progress does go on to say "Overall, the Charlottesville area has the 41st lowest unemployment rate out of the nation's 369 metropolitan areas. Less than a year ago, the Charlottesville region was consistently ranked in the Top 10."

So how do we stack up. Darn good. So instead of it at a "6-year high" I say that our jobless rate remains low and lower than state and national numbers.

Thoughts?

About The Author

Charles McDonald, Associate Broker at RE/MAX Assured Properties and dedicated Buyers Agent is the author of this blog, and several other sites on the Internet. Charles and his team of experts in the Charlottesville area are always available to help you with your Real Estate needs. Call our team anytime at 434-981-1585 or to search for homes visit: Charlottesville Real Estate

Copyright © 2008 Charles McDonald, All Rights Reserved.

Builders, Builders, Builders.... What are you thinking?

Our Housing market never really seems to stop building. We may have a single builder get out of the game (see: BUILDER calls it QUITS!). But the demand for housing is and continues to be strong for the Charlottesville Real Estate Market.

Some of the smart builders and smart developers know this.

We are seeing smaller developments around the city and even have a new development with hundreds of homes in the plan for the southern part of our area (This project is called Biscuit Run).

There is a lot of debate over where and how and why.

However, I want to go on record as saying to builders,

"stop building homes that do not have a First Floor Master!"

The baby boomers are at an average age of around 60 years old. I can tell you from experience that they do not even want to consider homes without a first floor master.

I am talking specifically about our Real Estate market, but I believe this is true in a lot of areas! There are some local builder's putting in 3 story (yes 3 story) homes in town and they are killing themselves by not having a First Floor Master option...

My next home purchase will have a First Floor Master and that is the Trend!!!

This is my opinion and I am stinking sticking to it!!!

When Looking for the perfect home in Charlottesville with a First Floor Master, give me a call, I will be sure you see them all!!!

About The Author

Charles McDonald, Associate Broker at RE/MAX Assured Properties and dedicated Buyers Agent is the author of this blog, and several other sites on the Internet. Charles and his team of experts in the Charlottesville area are always available to help you with your Real Estate needs. Call our team anytime at 434-981-1585 or to search for homes visit: Charlottesville Real Estate

Copyright © 2008 Charles McDonald, All Rights Reserved.

NGIC REAL ESTATE

The estimates were that some 900 new home owners would be relocating to our area near Charlottesville Virginia...

A recent story on www.c-ville.com by Will Goldsmith stated the following:

"All those home builders banking on selling houses to new National Ground Intelligence Center(NGIC) employees may be in for a rude awakening. An estimate from the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors (CAAR) is that only 30 to 40 percent of employees will relocate, the rest not wishing to unsettle spouses and children."

So are we talking about 30% or 300 jobs? There is also word out there that many will be looking to rent vs own. So of these 300 will half rent? That equates to around 150 possible new buyers. The other piece of information is that they are looking at the middle of 2010... a lot can happen between now and then.

None of this is totally clear but the clear thing is that a lot of builders and relocation companies that were counting on this move will have to re-group.

If there is one thing I have learned in business (I have been self-employed since the early 80's) it is that change is going to happen and you need to be able to adjust.

I hope that the builders and the Real Estate Brokers did not put all their eggs in one basket...

About The Author

Charles McDonald, Associate Broker at RE/MAX Assured Properties and dedicated Buyers Agent is the author of this blog, and several other sites on the Internet. Charles and his team of experts in the Charlottesville area are always available to help you with your Real Estate needs. Call our team anytime at 434-981-1585 or to search for homes visit: Charlottesville Real Estate

Copyright © 2008 Charles McDonald, All Rights Reserved.