If you haven’t quite finished shopping for this year’s holidays and have three truly tough names on your list that you absolutely have to get something for, you may also be thinking THERE’S GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY. We’ve rounded up some imaginative ideas for you and created a simple checklist for next year. […]
The holidays are here and you just found the perfect job in another city, or you decided you’ve had it with winter and want to move somewhere warmer, or you visited an Open House and found the perfect new home but recognize any offer you make would have to be contingent on the sale of […]
While some homes seem built for entertaining, many aren’t designed that way. Still, you can make the most of what you have starting right at the front door and carrying it throughout your house. Your home’s entry should be inviting whether you have a sidewalk, a porch, or simply the door from the hall of […]
Are you tired of the hustle and bustle of city life? Maybe you don’t like the traffic or the anonymity of living in a subdivision where you barely know your neighbors? Perhaps you love exploring local history, or appreciate sharing our area’s beautiful scenery with out-of-town visitors, or maybe what excites you is visiting local […]
If it’s Orange County history you want, Frank Walker’s your man. First a dairy farmer and then a lawyer, Walker joined the Orange County Historical Society in 1984, where he served as president, secretary and tour guide after he “woke up to exactly how much was around.” Or you might talk to Long Island native […]
Downtown Charlottesville offers jobs, restaurants, shopping and entertainment, a combination of features that bring a growing number of homebuyers wanting to live in a community that is vibrant, urban and walkable. Of course the highlight of the downtown area is the lively pedestrian mall—one of the few of its kind still thriving after years of […]
Walk to the downtown mall, enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee with friends and family without leaving your neighborhood, and maybe even let go of a car. If all of this appeals, consider the popular walkable community of Belmont offering a downtown lifestyle that is still affordable, though agents warn, “not for long.” The Belmont […]
How much are you spending on energy to heat and cool your home? How efficient is your home at energy conservation? How energy efficient are your lights, and your computers and other electronics? Winter is on its way—if you can’t answer these questions, it is time to assess your home’s readiness for cold weather by […]
The outlook for commercial real estate in the Charlottesville area remains strong according to local agents who cite declining vacancy rates and robust activity throughout the region. While demand is especially high in the downtown area, we are seeing growth in the commercial market all over town and in every sector from retail and office […]
Yes, we know you’ve only just put away the pumpkins and plastic bats, but we’re already hearing “Frosty the Snowman” in shops. The Big Holidays are on the horizon and it’s not too soon to be laying your plans. Are you having company this year? Will you be hosting people with disabilities? Are there children […]
Historic and heartwarming (Loving). Family-friendly and inspiring (The Eagle Huntress). Searching and shocking (The Promise), romantic (La La Land) and jaw dropping (Liv Ullmann, Werner Herzog and Shirley . .. that’s right, MacLaine)—if it boasts more than 125 films, and way too many admiring modifiers to choose from, it’s the 2016 Virginia Film Festival, screening […]
If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water. —Loren Eisley If you love the […]
Buyers looking for a house with privacy to enjoy a laid-back country lifestyle for an affordable price should seriously consider contacting their agent about Fluvanna County. First-time homebuyers are welcome there as are growing families who want more space, horse owners looking for a farm, or active retirees wanting to be free of home maintenance. […]
It all comes down to chlorophyll, the green pigment in the leaves. Every autumn, as the days get shorter and the nights get cooler, two phenomena occur. One, as the production of chlorophyll slows and eventually comes to a halt, other pigments already present but obscured become visible: brilliant yellow and gold, and orange, crimson […]
A baby on the way? What could be more exciting! You’ve got to get ready, so we’ve organized some ideas for you as you prepare. Many parents-to-be visit nursery shops and check out the endless cute ideas on the Internet. But do you really want pink or blue walls with pastel dancing giraffes around for […]
The most historic place around is not on the market. A red brick neoclassical dream house constructed from 1769 to 1784, remodeled from 1796 through 1808, and today valued at “priceless and inestimable,” Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello is on the National Registry of Historic Places and on every history buff and architecture lover’s bucket list to […]
Antique features lend character and individuality to the newest of homes and may harken back to our region’s history. Often a particular historical element, such as a salvaged door or window, lends an extra dash of personality to the home as well. “Very true,” declares Virginia Gardner, a REALTOR® with Roy Wheeler Realty Co. in […]
It’s not too late to see the best of Charlottesville’s new construction as the Blue Ridge Homebuilders Association’s 53rd Annual Parade of Homes continues this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, October 8 and 9 from noon to 5:00 pm. This year’s Parade features 38 homes from 18 builders, up from last year, reflecting our region’s active […]
One day it’s 93 outside, but the next it’s 84, and they’re even calling for 81 later in the week. What season is this? Obviously it’s early fall, when the AC can take it easier in the evenings, and the nighttime temps will soon be perfect for sleeping. Better yet, if the heat is easing […]
“Perhaps the first and biggest benefit people get from volunteering is the satisfaction of incorporating service into their lives and making a difference in their community and country,” says the Corporation for National and Community Service. A seldom recognized bonus: In the past twenty years, studies have shown that people who volunteer reap health benefits […]
People who live in the town of Scottsville enjoy a community that is diverse, thriving and very scenic. Home of Albemarle’s first county seat, Scottsville is located on a bend of the James River at the intersection of Routes 20 and 6 where the three counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna and Buckingham come together. Though set […]
How much is your home worth? How much more would it be worth if you remodeled the kitchen or enlarged the master bedroom? How do you know what price to set when you put it on the market, so it’s neither over nor undervalued? Is that condo you’re thinking of buying worth the $8,000 more […]
When you’re sprucing up your house to sell, some renovations positively increase a home’s marketability and selling price while others never come close to recouping the expense. According to Remodeling Magazine’s “2016 Cost vs. Value Report” figures for the Richmond area—the closest market for comparison—the highest value item is the installation of attic insulation which […]