After a client has purchased a home, I feel that it is the beginning of a relationship.   1. We stay in touch with you and I am always there to answer questions or give you referrals.   2. Sure we give you an appropriate closing gift   3. I will send you periodic information about our area, your home, etc...    The Biggie! 4.YOU ARE INVITED TO MY YEARLY PARTY!!!   Food, Drink, Music, Singing! Meet new people!!! it is a great time for all!!!   Hope to see you there!!!                          NOTE: AR Associates - contact me for an invite!!!Best regards from Charlottesville!Charles McDonaldREALTOR, Licensed to sell Real Estate in the Commonwealth of Virginiahttp://www.mycharlottesvilleagent.com/     http://www.mycharlottesvilleblog.com/"Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, it can... 09/10/2007

                              Go Hoos!!! 09/08/2007

Well well WELL!  Hello Fellow Charlottesville Realtors, Buyers and Sellers!  I have been running my fellow Real Estate III colleague, Charles McDonald, all around Active Rain changing my Florida profile to Virginia, then saying the heck with it...I will just keep my Florida and start a new Virginia account!  My goodness!  So this has been my first semi real week of work...I have been running around trying to tie up real estate deals in Jacksonville, start prospecting in Charlottesville and wouldn't you know...getting a plane ticket BACK down to Jacksonville this coming Saturday...(so much for UVA vs. Duke)  Changing territories is never easy!  I wrote a post about a week ago that pertained to dusting off the old prospecting notes and starting all over from scratch.  It has proven to be ... 09/07/2007

I need new clients!  I am a Charlottesville native that moved away, and like everyone else, came back!  I have been practicing real estate in Jacksonville, Florida for the past 2 years, mortgages for 4.  I'm the full package!  Don't be shy.  Let me wow you with my real estate prowess and put you in a new home, or sell your old today!  You can visit my old website at http://valorieford.directhomes.com/ to see the last of my Jacksonville inventory.  My Virginia website should be up and running soon!  Give me a call today! :)  I wont disappoint... 09/07/2007

Interesting and Fun Facts about Charlottesville, Virginia  Charlottesville is a magnificent city that is surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and located within the confines of Albemarle County, Virginia.  The city is named after Princess Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburd-Strelitz, the wife of King George III of England.As of 2005, Charlottesville's city proper only had a population of 40,437.  Even though the city of Charlottesville and the county of Albemarle are two separate and legal entities, the Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the two as far as population.  That brings the total population to a busling 118,398!  Wow!  Back in 2004, Charlottesville was ranked as the number one BEST place to live in the United States in the book Cities Ranked and Rated  by Bert Sperling and Pet... 09/07/2007

Friday's After Five! Ever bored on a Friday?  You should stop by the Tiki Hut at La Taza Coffeehouse in Belmont, then walk on over to listen to live music at Friday's After Five on the downtown mall at the Pavilion!   Friday September, 07 SGGL What a great way to spend your evening.  I can almost guarantee you will see some familiar faces.  You can also look at the happenings posted in the C-Ville Newspaper or The Hook.  Every once in a while you will find some neat wine tastings, art gallery openings etc.  Check it out! Maybe I'll see you there! ;)Valorie Ford- Real Estate IIISpecializing in Charlottesville/Albemarle Real EstateSchedule Below... A Benefit for the Virginia Discovery MuseumDeedle Deedle Dees Friday, September 21 Budweiser Concert Series welcomesLucinda Williams with Char... 09/07/2007

The city of Charlottesville is nestled at the foothills (piedmont) of the Blue Ridge Mountains  in Western Central Virginia.  With over 40,000 inhabitants, it has earned the reputation of being one of the best places to live in the country.  In fact in 2004 it was voted THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE by Cities Ranked and Rated .  This included ranking and rating of over 400 metropolitian areas.    Charlottesville is small enough to offer that small town charm and diverse enough to provide lots of activities for everyone.  It is also a cityknown for it's historic attractions - it is home to Thomas Jefferson and his legacies which includehis home at Montecello and the top ranked University of Virginia.    It also has the homes of our 4th and 5th presidents James Madison and James Monroe.  These h... 09/06/2007

Almost 4 years and dozens of home sales later...I am finally returning to my home town of Charlottesville, Virginia from the sunny coastal city of Jacksonville, Florida.  I bring with me years of experience in several different types of markets that Charlottesville will never see.  (The beach market is a tough one to break in to!)  I am very excited about breaking back into the real estate industry.  It is always very humbling, but exciting none-the-less.  You start over with prospecting, mets and have not mets, rebuilding your database...  You dust off the old filing cabinet where you started filing prospects alphabetically so you had a paper and electronic copy.  I think that moving to a new market makes you realize how much of the fundamentals you start neglecting once you start rely... 08/31/2007

Just a reminder! Virginia Blood Services Blood DriveUVA Rowing Team11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Bloodmobile, UVA Gilmer Hall, McCormick Rd., CharlottesvilleContact: Kevin Sauer at (434) 982-5827 A good investment for all of us! Charles McDonaldREALTOR, Licensed to sell Real Estate in the Commonwealth of Virginiahttp://www.mycharlottesvilleagent.com/     http://www.mycharlottesvilleblog.com/"Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve." - Napoleon Hill  08/26/2007

I get a lot of people asking why I moved to Charlottesville Virginia and why I am so excited about living here. My family, back in California could not understand it until they came to visit.I want to invite you this visit Albemarle county and Charlottesville, which is not east to do so I thought you might want to see this Visual Tour of our area. Just click on this link:http://www.visualtour.com/shownp.asp?T=858686 Enjoy!!!Charles McDonaldREALTOR, Real Estate III 08/21/2007

So what are Critical Slopes? Our county defines them as a grade that is greater than 25%.. that's 22.5 degrees....We have a zoning requirement that a home and septic can not be on a critical slope, but this is not the extent of the issue. Our County is now trying to pass a new Zone Ordinance (ZTA-2007-00003) That will not allow you to have a driveway, street or alley that is on a critical slope..... Are they kidding, we are right along the Blue Ridge and many homes have walk-out basements that are on a slope. Most neighborhood driveways would not pass this. Even, Mr. Jefferson's home, Monticello, would not pass this ordinance.....This is an example, in my opinion, of being over regulated!!!Regards Charles, Charlottesville Agent and concerned citizenCharles McDonaldREALTOR, Licensed to s... 08/09/2007

Note: The overall trend of DOM was in a downward slope (broken last Oct).. Also note the Higher Highs and Lower Lows on the number of units sold. This trend is critical and my clients are advised of this...Charles McDonaldREALTOR, Licensed to sell Real Estate in the Commonwealth of Virginiahttp://www.mycharlottesvilleagent.com/     http://www.mycharlottesvilleblog.com/"Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve." - Napoleon Hill 08/06/2007

To the Active Rain Community- American Home Mortgage has ceased all operations and are exploring the possibility of liqiuidation as it cannot fund loans and are facing a Class Action Lawsuit (please read article below)!!   Please be sure to check with your LO's to see if they are approved or have loan commitment through American Home Mortgage.  These loans will not be able to fund, which means the loans will not be able to close.  If I can be of any assitance please don't hesitate to callRead about Class Action Lawsuit belowhttp://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/primenewswire/124240.htm Tue Jul 31, 2007 2:14PM EDTNEW YORK (Reuters) - American Home Mortgage Investment Corp, a struggling mortgage lender, said on Tuesday it can no longer provide funding for home loans and has hired a... 08/02/2007

guitarist/singer Peter Frampton is coming to the Paramount Theater this week. This is amazing! Remember: Frampton Comes Alive! (1976) I am showing my age!My wife and I will try to get tickets, see you there!!!Check out this link for more information:http://www.theparamount.net/calendar_shows_PeterFrampton.aspxAlso check out : www.frampton.com it's a great website... regards, Charles 07/29/2007

So the numbers for DOM (Days on the Market) are telling a story:Albemarle:2002 - 762003 - 722004 - 792005 - 552006 - 592007 - 92This is staggering. The DOM is now greater than five years ago, How is your market doing???Comments welcomeRegards, CharlesLicensed to sell Real Estate in the Commonwealth of Virginiahttp://www.mycharlottesvilleagent.com/   07/16/2007

I recently took the kids (and my wife) to see the movie "Evan Almighty". I sell real estate in Charlottesville Virgina and a good portion of the movie was filmed in our county of Albemarle. They built the ark in Old Trail a planned community in Crozet and it was amazing. Great to see some neighbors homes in the movie too!More of a kids movie (in my opionion). But really funHope you get a chance to see it and see the area that my family and I call home.Regards, Charleswww.MyCharlottesvilleAGENT.com 07/15/2007

Charlottesville Virginia Real Estate is located just east of the Blue Ridge mountains in central Virginia. Charlottesville has incredible mountain views, is about 45 minutes to skiing and is just a few hours to the eastern seaboard. We are located where Thomas Jefferson decided to build his home, Monticello, a must see when touring Charlottesville. The University of Virginia, founded in 1819 by Jefferson is in the heart of Charlottesville. Ex-presidents, Madison and Monroe also made their homes nearby. The city of Charlottesville has a population of approximately 41 thousand which is why we have the feel of a small town. However, we also have the amenities of a big city. We have theaters, art museums and even big name shows that come to Charlottesville. Our downtown mall is a walking br... 07/12/2007

The history of the Charlottesville area will amaze you. Several presidents called this home. Meriwether Lewis, of Lewis and Clark, birth place is about a mile from my home. Of course, Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark from here to the West! Charlottesville has had several famous residents (see below) add to this list, Dave Mathews Band, Sissy Spacek and Jessica Lange. The author, John Grisham calls Charlottesville home and most Virginia football fans would recognize Howie Long who lives in the wonderful Ivy area of Charlottesville VA. USA Today says "Mr. Jefferson would be proud".     Come visit and drop me a lineCharles McDonaldwww.MyCharlottesvilleAGENT.com 07/11/2007

Thank you for reading and contributing to my post.  Please check back soon as I try to post as frequently as possible.  Also note that all parts contained within my posts represent my own personal interests, opinions and passions both in and out of the Real Estate community.  May God bless us all in what we do. - Zach Dahl  07/10/2007

July 2nd and we have 1043 active residential listing in our county of Albemarle.697 detached and 182 attached, 23 farms and 141 condos. (388 listing just in the city of Charlottesville)351 properites in the county are either contingent or pending. This is about 30% of the active totals. Seems are market is still vibrant!Regards, Charles 07/02/2007