Where Are We Now (according to the experts at the VCU Real Estate Conference)?
On Tuesday October 12th, I was lucky enough to attend the Annual VCU Real Estate Trends Conference. Each year, the Real Estate Department at Virginia Commonwealth brings in speakers from different disciplines of real estate and from the local, regional and national perspectives and they discuss their views on the market. This program is in its 20th year and is quite informative. This year had a decidedly different tone than the last two. The conferences... [Read More...]
Government: “We Forgive You?”
For a brief time last week, there was some buzz on Capital Hill about Fannie Mae (and maybe Freddie Mac) essentially forgiving the negative equity in the real estate mortgage market. The idea has apparently perished for now, but they were basically saying something to the effect of if you owe $500,000 on a $400,000 home (that obviously was worth more a few years ago when you bought it), then you now owe $400,000. I think it is an interesting concept... [Read More...]
To Dues or Not to Dues, That is the Question
Buyer: I would like to buy this condo but the dues are too high. Buyer: What does the column titled ‘dues’ mean? Buyer: Those dues are MONTHLY?!?!? AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Each and every day, I get asked about dues when showing condominiums. While some of the questions are quite astute and on point, many indicate a complete lack of understanding of what ‘dues’ really are. It is frustrating in that it is not a question... [Read More...]
Buying vs. Renting Near VCU/MCV
I would like to offer the following debate to the parents of VCU students and their Medical School counterparts who are coming to Richmond this summer (or who have already arrived) and who need to decide whether to buy or rent a home near the VCU or MCV Campus. You should buy a house or condo. Now I understand that my position on this is not without bias. I am a Realtor who sells a lot of property in and around both the VCU Campus and the MCV/VCU... [Read More...]
Richmond Grid Article Focuses on Downtown Richmond Condo Opportunities
As a follow up on the recent Loft Tour and as a part of a larger article on the attractive housing opportunities available in downtown Richmond, VA, the Richmond Grid invited me to highlight some of our listings in the Jackson Ward area. The article gave me a chance to highlight The Reserve, The Marshall Street Bakery, 212 Condos, and the Emrick Flats. The entire article is here. What do you think? For more information, see Richmond VA Condos. Read More →
212 Condos In The News
Charming, Classic, Yet Contemporary The 212 Condos got a great mention in Richmond Grid this week. The article highlights the condo owned by Michael Falcone and showcases the extraordinary job he has done decorating his unit. The pictures alone are worth the visit! The entire article is here. What do you think? For more information, see Richmond Virginia Condos. Read More →
More Buzz about the Manchester Pie Factory
A local blogger recently posted her thoughts on The Manchester Pie Factory, and included some pictures of the developer’s condo in the building. You can read the entire blog post and see all the cool pictures here. What do you think…ready for Manchester? For more information, see Richmond Virginia Condos. Read More →
Richmond Vying for Google Fiber
Richmond has responded to an RFI (request for information) from Google to be selected by the internet giant to get the experimental Google Fiber. The Google Fiber for Communities Project is an experiment to build an ultra-high speed broadband network that will deliver internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today. The planned network will offer speeds over one gigabit per second in the fiber-to-the-home connections.... [Read More...]
RTD Article on 3rd Annual Loft Tour
The 3rd annual Downtown Loft tour got some good press in the Richmond Times Dispatch this week. Venture Richmond, a downtown advocacy group, is sponsoring a Downtown Loft Tour of 15 lofts in six neighborhoods two weeks from today — on Saturday, March 27. “I wouldn’t live anywhere else but downtown,” said Tom McFalls, leasing manager at the River Lofts at Tobacco Row, whose industrial chic apartment will be open for the tour. The... [Read More...]
Richmond VA Seen On the Mend
Industry magazine Builder includes a study this month by a research firm called Market Intelligence that suggests that the Richmond area is likely to be one of the early beneficiaries of an improving economy. Housing economists have long held that the housing rebound, when it comes, will be uneven. The markets that benefit first will be the ones with the strongest core dynamics; places where house prices never got out of hand, cities where a diverse... [Read More...]
