MLS, Trulia and Zillow will only tell you a part of the story.
Being an integral part of the building and development market since the early 90’s means not only knowing the players and the projects, but the back stories that go along with them. Having been at the forefront of the market adjustment has also provided us with a unique perspective about what works, what doesn’t and what features provide a buffer against downturns.
Take a moment to explore our perspective on homebuilding in the RVA Metro.
The Spring Market Yes, it's January. Gray. Cold. Post-party and holiday spirits January. You may have already broken your resolutions by now (they never really had a chance, did they?) and the goal of losing 15 lbs. is already shattered by...
‘Dollar per Foot‘ is the ERA of real estate. For you non-baseball fans, ERA stands for 'Earned Run Average' and it represents the number of runs a pitcher gives up per 9 inning game. For decades (if not centuries,) it...
"Make the permanent things in your new home universally appealing and have fun with things that are easy to change." Each time we watch a commercial from Lowe's or Home Depot, we see a home that looks great. From the...
The ultimate appeal of real estate is that it is unique. And while in theory it is true, in reality, many lots differ little from one another. That said, spend some time not only in lot selection, but in understanding...
"Saving the trees on your lot when you clear feels great, but when the lot is cleared, the tree's profile changes quickly and not always for the better." Saving trees makes us feel good. Unfortunately, the shape and scope of a...
"Builders have popular plans for a reason. They can build them cheaper and the home functions better. Ask the builder which plans they like and then ask them 'why'?" You should always ask the builder not only what plan they...
Earthcraft Certified. LEED Certified. ‘High-Performance’ Housing ‘Energy Star’ Compliant. The incredible and powerful shift to responsible building techniques is both powerful and permanent. Building GREEN will continue to become more and more prevalent as both techniques and materials become more accepted...
Obviously, these costs vary by size, style, area, overall conditions in the marketplace and a host of other considerations, but generally speaking, most home builders follow a version of this economic model. Builder Costs (21%) Sales Commissions Closing Costs Deferred...
Buyer - “Look at the hardwood floors…. they are beautiful!” Seller – “Cha-ching” It is the most common refrain from almost any buyer when they see wood floors (of ANY age) that have been well maintained. Not only do they add...
"Many new homes now feature elements that will allow their owners to age in place. This is becoming more prevalent than ever." The design of homes is changing. As housing becomes progressively more expensive and a greater percentage of our...
Buyer - "All we did was add a $100 ceiling fan?!?" Builder - "You didn't just add a ceiling fan." What really happens when you want to make a change? When contracting to build a new home it is very...
Yes, it matters. Developers have learned over the years that the vast majority of people want to have their property values protected. Developers also want to insure that their neighborhoods continue to look as they originally intended and designed even...
Have you ever really thought about the steps it really takes to build a house? Here is a breakdown of roughly the 30 steps it takes to construct a new home. Clearing Rough Grading Stone installation for Driveway Footing Layout...
Virginia State Law dictates that a new home must be warranted by the builder that builds it. That is all well and good but a warranty on a home is far more complex than a warranty on a toaster and...
The most noticeable difference is price per square foot....but basing your decision on that metric alone is not going to tell you the whole story and if your Realtor (buyer’s agent) is telling you that the best value is the...
Windows are an integral part of your new home and it is important to understand the differences. A single hung window is a more affordable window that only has one workable sash (meaning only the bottom part goes up). Usually...
In the good old days (2000-2007), 'What if my house doesn't sell' was not overly concerning. For the most part, if the house was in decent shape and even close to a decent price, it would sell shortly with multiple...
Stick building is a more traditional way of framing a home. Most small or custom builders use this as their preferred manner of constructing their homes since they tend to build homes that are unique. Roofs, floor trusses and all...
Many subdivisions lack the ability to tell the market what they are about. Some offer a pool. Some offer walking trails. Some even offer TWO pools...but at the end of the day, they are really not easily distinguishable from one...
Pretend someone invented a camera that could take a picture of your life. If you took a picture of your life for 5 years in a row, do you think the images would change a little? Not at all? A...
As a company, One South met with a successful home builder in Richmond Va. (Lloyd Poe of Lifestyle Builders and Developers) to discuss the new normal for housing and what 2012 and beyond should bring. It was fascinating to hear...
“Making our buildings more energy-efficient is one of the fastest, easiest and cheapest ways for us to create jobs, save money and cut down on harmful pollution. This is an idea whose time has come.” - President Barak Obama ...
For anyone who is an investor or Realtor, 2008 to 2010 has been hard. Property values have plummeted. The buying marketplace was somewhere between skittish and petrified. Lenders panicked. Every deal was difficult. But I have more than one time...
Designed by lead developer John Dempsey for GreyCo development, Oak Park was created as his homage to the Ginter Park neighborhood in Richmond's Northside. Ginter Park is a turn of the century neighborhood located at the north end of the...
Opened to great fanfare in late 2006, Mountian Run was the brainchild of Tommy Pollard, a local business owner turned developer, who had developed The Hollows, roughly 15 years prior. MR was to be a 99 homesite rural preservation subdivision...
Right now, there is no doubt that the Nuckols Road corridor is the healthiest sub-market in the Metro. Home prices are arguably back to 2007 levels (compared to many other segments still well below 2007 pricing) and trending higher. It...
"If you are considering a new home, go through every builder model you can find and try to experience as many designs as possible." Do your homework but have a plan. If you are seriously considering building a home, then...
"A good Realtor knows what features in a new home are expenses and which are investments ... and remember, most builders think every feature is an investment." A Realtor with new home experience should be able to help offer guidance...
