Virginia Archives

What is a “Green” Home

We Hear a lot about "green" homes these days. With the rising gas and oil prices, and increased awareness of environmental issues, more home buyers are interested in finding a home that is more energy efficient, with a lower ecological impact.

The following is a list of some of the features that builders strive for in a green-built home:

energy efficiency resulting in lower utility costs
cleaner indoor air
low maintenance and long lasting materials
conservation of water and natural resources
environmentally friendly construction
sustainability
higher resale value

There are several green-built homes on the market in the Charlottesville, Virginia area and I would be glad to show them to you.

Search all of the homes and farms for sale in the Charlottesville area.

Shopping For Real Estate in Central Virginia – Lock in Your Interest Rate

If you are shopping for a mortgage in today’s volatile mortgage market, it is a good idea to lock in the interest rate and loan costs. In the first half of 2008 interest rates ranged from 5.48% in January to 6.45% recently. The purpose of a rate lock is to protect a home buyer from rising interest rates by guaranteeing the interest rate that your mortgage will have. Otherwise, by the time your purchase has closed if rates have risen, a buyer could end up with a mortgage payment that they could not afford. since the lock is for a specific period of time, usually from 15 to 60 days, it is necessary to be sure that your home purchase can close within that time period.
For a more in depth article read Mortgage Rate Locks Become Crucial in Realty Times.

If you would like information on the Central Virginia real estate market, I would be glad to assist you.

Central Virginia Counties

There are several counties that make up the Central Virginia region: Albemarle, Fluvanna, Louisa, Greene, Orange, Nelson and Buckingham. Below are links to each county’s online information.

Albemarle County is located in the foot hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The county has a rich historical legacy featuring Ash Lawn-Highland the home of James Monroe and Monticello the home of Thomas Jefferson among others. There are many cultural and outdoor activities to choose from.

Charlottesville is an independent city surrounded by Albemarle County. The University of Virginia, which was founded by Thomas Jefferson is located there and is the largest employer. The city has been rated by many publications as one of the best places to live in the United States. The heart of downtown is the pedestrian mall which is the site of specialty shops and many restaurants, art galleries and outdoor cafes.

Fluvanna County located to the east of Albemarle is an area that is seeing rapid growth while keeping a rural feel. It includes the gated community of Lake Monticello which includes a large lake and golf course. The main town is historic Palmyra.

Louisa County is a largely rural, agricultural area with only 10% of its land currently developed. The Green Springs area sports scenic vistas of rolling hills in a historic preservation district. The town of Louisa, located 35 miles from Charlottesville and Mineral are the county’s two incorporated towns.

Greene County located to the north of Albemarle is still mostly agricultural, but has been seeing a lot of growth recently. The towns of Ruckersville and Standardsville are included.

Orange County is an area of farms and rolling countryside. Montpelier, the home of James Madison is a historic destination. The towns of Gordonsville and Orange are located in the county.

Nelson County which is bordered by the Blue Ridge Mountains contains part of the George Washington Forest and parts of the Appalachian Trail and Blue Ridge Parkway. The Wintergreen Resort, containg ski slopes and a golf course is located in the county and is a prime destination.

Buckingham County which is just across the James River from Albemarle is a rural area that is increasingly becoming known in the region by homebuyers looking for affordable property. The incorporated town of Dillwyn is located in the county.

If you are looking for real estate in Central Virginia, you have a lot of areas to choose from. There is sure to be a home in one that suits
your lifestyle.

Is There A Recession In The Albemarle County Horse Industry?

For several months this spring the Virginia Horse Journal had an ongoing discussion about whether there is a recession in the Virginia Horse Industry. One of the points that everyone agreed on was that the rising cost of gas was having an impact on horse ownership. Due to an increase in transportation costs prices of feed and supplies are going up. We will see an increase in the cost of hay this year in the Charlottesville, Virginia and Albemarle County area due to the higher price of fuel to run the tractors and hay making equipment. Luckily so far this summer we have had ample rainfall; so we should be able to buy hay locally and not need to incur the added expense of shipping hay in from other states.

Many stables are seeing customers cutting back on extras. They are taking fewer lessons and going to fewer horseshows. The stable owners are forced to raise shipping fees which also results in a smaller number of cllients who are able to afford showing. Unfortunately it is a no win situation as stable owners will either need to raise board or cut back on services. It looks like we will need to tighten our belts for a little while until the Virginia horse industry rides out the next few months before it can rebound as it always does.

In the meantime, if you are thinking of buying a farm, it may be the perfect opportunity to get the price of a lifetime. Buying or selling, I would be happy to talk with you about the Central Virginia and Albemarle County real estate market.

Pam Dent, e-PRO, SRES, NHD
Real Estate III
Charlottesville, Virginia
434 960-0161
www.JumpintoGreenerPastures.com
www.CharlottesvilleRealEstateTalk.com

407 Country Creek Way – New Fox Hollow Home

407 Country Creek Way, Palmyra, Virginia
4 bedrooms, 2.5 bath, 2,575 finished sq ft, built in 2007, $379,000

New home on a large 2.66 acre lot in Fluvanna County"s Fox Hollow community. This new home with an open floor plan features the advantages of one floor living. First floor master suite and an additional bedroom and full bath on the first floor. The second floor has another bedroom, half bath, and finished bonus room. The screened porch and large rear deck provide the perfect setting for outdoor entertaining. Some of the home’s special features include granite counters, stainless appliances and hardwood floors plus a two car garage.

For more information on this home or on other homes in Charlottesville and the Central Virginia area contact:
Pam Dent, e-PRO, SRES, NHD
Real Estate III
Charlottesville, Virginia
www.JumpintoGreenerPastures.com
www.CharlottesvilleRealEstateTalk.com

Don’t Miss This Glenmore Open House – Sunday July 20

Open House, Sunday July 20, 1:00-4:00pm
3194 Darby Road, Glenmore, Keswick, Virginia

Don’t miss the opportunity to view this amazing home located in the Glenmore Community just east of Charlottesville, Virginia. 4 bedrooms, 4 full and 2 half baths, 5,000 square feet. The breathtaking floor plan, innovative design and state of the art kitchen are not to be missed.

For more information on this home or others in Glenmore and the Charlottesville area call:
Pam Dent, e-PRO, SRES, NHD
Real Estate III
Charlottesville, Virginia
www.JumpintoGreenerPastures.com
www.CharlottesvilleRealEstateTalk.com

Crozet Farm – The First To Receive Conservation Funding

A 288 acre farm in Crozet, Virginia is the first property to be protected from development under a program that was funded by the 2007 General Assembly and designed to stop the loss of farmland and forests. The farm has 128 acres in agriculture and more than 6,700 feet fronting on the protected Beaver Creek Reservoir. Under the program Albemarle County was the recipient of a grant of $403,220 to purchase the development rights.
Albemarle County now has more than 74,000 acres of farm and forest protected. They especially target properties that protect critical natural resources. The use of easements can help to keep farmland in agriculture by compensating a farmer for money that he might receive from developers.
The use of conservation easements is one more tool to use to keep the balance between growth and farm land in the Charlottesville area. It is important to preserve the rural beauty that makes Albemarle County such a special place in which to live.

Read the entire article.

For more information on farms, country homes and residential property in Charlottesville and Albemarle County contact:

Pam Dent, e-PRO, SRES, NHD
Real Estate III
Charlottesville, Virginia
434 960-0161
www.JumpintoGreenerPastures.com
www.CharlottesvilleRealEstateTalk.com

The Glenmore Equestrian Center

Do you dream of keeping your horse at home, but can’t afford to buy a farm? Or you don’t have the time to devote to taking care of horses and keeping up with all the chores of owning acreage. The answer may be to buy a home in an equestrian community. Imagine being able to wander down to the barn to see your horse whenever you want to or your children riding their bikes to the barn. All of this can happen in Glenmore.
The lovely neighborhood of Glenmore is located just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. This is a community of homes in a range of styles and price ranges with many amenities including pool, tennis courts, golf course, fitness center and club with an excellent chef. Of prime interest to horse enthusiasts is the adjoining full service equestrian center which is professionally managed by Shadowfax LLC. In Glenmore the rest of the family can be happy enjoying their interest and you can follow your dream of having your horses at home.

If you’re looking for a guide, check out our Buyer’s Checklist!

For more infomation on Glenmore or other options for horse properties in the area please contact:

Pam Dent, e-PRO, SRES, NHD
Real Estate III
Charlottesville, VA
434 960-0161
Jump into Greener Pastures
Charlottesville Real Estate Talk
Charlottesville City Blog

Ready For Horses, Fluvanna County Farmette

1891 Covered Bridge Road, Kents Store, Virginia

3 bedrooms, 2 bath, 2,112 finished sq ft, 576 unfinished, 6 acres, built in 2000, priced at $385,000

All you need are the horses. 6 acre horse ready farmette in Fluvanna County convenient to both Charlottesville and Richmond, Virginia. The horse amenities include a six stall barn, run-in shed and board and electric fencing. The home features a living room, family room, kitchen with separate dining area, sunroom, first floor bedroom and bath. There are two additional bedrooms and bath upstairs. The extensive decking and pool provide the perfect opportunity to enjoy the peaceful setting. A two car garage and finished bonus room that is not included in the finished sq ft completes the offering.

For more information on this property or on other homes in the area please contact:

Pam Dent, e-PRO, SRES
Real Estate III
Charlottesville, Virginia
434 960-0161
www.JumpintoGreenerPastures.com
www.CharlottesvilleRealEstateTalk.com
www.Charlottesville.virginiablogpage.com

Estate Quality Home in Fluvanna County

161 Little Pond Lane, Palmyra, Virginia

Estate quality home of exceptional construction and design on 14.5 scenic acres within an easy commute of Charlottesville, Virginia. This welcoming CapeCod style home of exceptional construction and design is situated among scenic rolling farmland. Enjoy the view of your stocked pond from the welcoming front porch. The large screened porch with brick floor, patio and in-ground pool add to your opportunity for outdoor living. The very large master suite has French doors leading out onto the screened porch and the lovely palladian window looks out on the pool. The 4,888 finished sq ft and 2,618 unfinished affords plenty of room for family and guests. The open kitchen has a breakfast bar and cooking island. A study, formal dining room, and spacious family room finish out the first floor. The home has many special features such as hardwood floors, high ceilings, walk-in cedar closets and plantation shutters. There is also a 3 car detached garage and a detached garage which includes a home office. Priced at $995,000.

For more information on this home or other properties in the area please contact:

Pam Dent, e-PRO, SRES
Real Estate III
Charlottesville, VA
434 960-0161
www.JumpintoGreenerPastures.com
www.CharlottesvilleHorseFarmsandCountryHomes.com
www.Charlottesville.virginiablogpage.com