Looking for something to do in Charlottesville, Virginia?  Save time on your calendar to attend some of the screenings at the Virginia Film Festival. The 21st Annual Virginia Film Festival will take place October 30-November 2.  The theme of this year's festival will be Aliens with more than 150 films and speakers exploring the many facets of the theme from immigrants and outsiders to extraterrestrial beings.  There will be over a dozen screenings of new films before their national releases. One of the highlights will be a 70th anniversary broadcast of Orson Well's War of The Worlds and afterwards a screening of the 1953 film classic War of The Worlds by George Pal. Rounding out the event will be numerous art exhibits, musical performances and gala parties organized around the alien the... 10/22/2008

I like to take breaks from working on my web inter-connectivity and real estate blogging by going for a run. It's a great way to view neighborhoods and see the inventory! My doctor says he actually thinks running lubes my joints and keeps my arthritis at bay. Yup, I'm a running Realtor. No, I haven't shown homes clothed in my running sweats and sneaks.  I don't think the Charlottesville real estate market's ready for that! I wanted to share some resources that map and log my runs and get me pumped up. Check out http://www.favoriterun.com. It's free and like I said, kinda fun.  You can check out some of my runs by typing in my user name: bygbyrd (yeah, ha ha, a "friend" gave me that handle!), putting in VA and Charlottesville. Another neat program is http://www.run.com.  And yet another ... 10/20/2008

Here are a few picks for this week and weekend: Thu 10.23Charlottesville Swing Dance Society 8pm, Municipal Arts Center, 1119 Fifth St. Ext.A night of high-energy dancing of all types. Lessons at7pm followed by a little swing dancin'. No partner necessary. call 980-2744.Fri 10.24 - Sun 10.26The Legend of Sleepy HollowOld Michie Theatre221 E. Water St.977-3690    Fri 10.24Friday Asian Noodle Night for Teen Chefs5:30pm - -8:30pm, Charlottesville Cooking School. 2041 Barracks Rd., Call 963-COOK.Aspiring chefs learn to make Asian cuisine like Vietnamese Pho, Japanese Soba, and Spicy Korean Beef Noodles.Fri 10.24The Capitol Steps8pm, The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., 979-1333Comprised of former Congressional staffers who've taken to satirizing the institution they once worked for, this... 10/20/2008

Mark your calendar for these events at the University of Virginia coming up this week and weekend:OngoingVirginia Film Festival Tickets - On Sale Now!Tues Oct 217:00pm      Men's Soccer vs. Longwood at Klockner Wed Oct 2211:00am     Miller Center Forum: America's Growing Dependency on Imported Petroleum   Thu Oct 238pm   Shakespeare on the Lawn Presents "Lear"Fri Oct 2411am    Miller Center Forum: Is Russia's Foreign Policy Really New?7:00 pm      Volleyball vs. Miami at Mem Gym 7:00 pm      Women's Soccer vs. North Carolina at Klockner StadiumSat Oct 257:00am and 4pmWall-E  at the Newcomb Hall Theatre9:00pm  Hullabahoos Fall Concert at McLeod HallYou can find a comprehensive UVA Calendar linked through my website Go Virginia Homes, a real estate resource for UVA Professors, Staff, Grad... 10/20/2008

  If you own or are building or renovating a home and have an interest in making your built environment "Green", there are many great resources available over at Lime.com. Explore topics such as Green Building, Green Design, Green Cleaning and find all sorts of interesting Green Lifestyle articles, videos, resource lists and blogs!  Realtors: this is a great site to refer your interested clients and customers to.  Limes features articles about a wide range of topics from straw bale building and non-toxic paints to energy saving for everyone to environmentally friendly yoga mats...Home, health, products, food: it is all covered here!             If you want more information about Green Building and the Enironment, check out my blog regularily and if you are interested in real estate in ... 10/20/2008

In Charlottesville, Virginia and all over the country people have raised their level of environmental awareness.  The "Green Movement" has grown and is moving into the mainstream culture.  The Buy Fresh Buy Local movement has taken hold.  There is interest in energy efficient homes and reducing our carbon foot print.  In addition we are increasingly concerned with the safety of the foods that our families are eating.  BUT how can we tell?  The May/June issue of The Women's Council of Realtors Magazine published a tip on how to read the fruit and vegetable labels in your local supermarket: 4-digit = conventially grown 5-digit beginning with 9 = organically grown 5-digit beginning in 8 = genetically modified There are many opportunities to buy "green" in the Charlottesville Virginia real ... 10/20/2008

This beautiful Charlottesville area horse farm on 716 Salem Road in Schuyler close to Charlottesville, Virginia closed on Friday.  I am proud to have been the listing agent on this lovely property. 716 Salem Road, Schuyler, Virginia 39 acres, 3 stall barn, large ring, round pen, pond, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath brick home, 2 bedroom cottage. If you have a horse farm that you are thinking of selling, it is important to hire an agent who is knowledgeable about horse properties and understands the particular wants and needs of the equestrian buyer.  In the same vein if you are searching for that perfect Central Virginia horse farm to buy, you need an agent who can speak with understanding about the equine ameneties and truly knows what is required to make a farm not just a farm, but a horse farm.... 10/19/2008

I love living in Forest Lakes, I think it's one of the nicest places to live in, and around, Chsrlottesville, Va. 1. Contoured landscape hides the fact that you are in a large development with over 1500 homes!  Trees, hills, lakes, and manicured landscaping.  Add a hot air balloon flying overhead at least twice a week! 2. Self contained schools with bus transit. 3. Basketball courts, volleyball nets, tennis courts, 2 pools (one with a water slide!), work-out facilities, baseball and soccer fields, and miles of trails for biking/running/walking. 4.  Easy access to downtown, shopping, Washington, DC, or east and west on I-64. 5.  Hundreds of kids--it seems like we live in a child migration zone with everyday herds of 'em ambling around the neighborhood. So I wanted to keep you up with the... 10/18/2008

Many people who are searching for a Charlottesville, Virginia home are relocating to Central Virginia from out of state.  When they call to make an appointment to meet and look at homes for sale they often ask for names of hotels in the area.  This post will give you a sampling of just a few of the Charlottesville area hotels that are available.  Downtown Charlottesville The Inn at Court Square - 410 Jefferson St. E,  434 295-2800 Omni Charlottesville Hotel - 235 West Main St. at the end of the downtown mall, 434 971-5500www.omnihotels.com West Main St. Courtyard Marriott - adjacent to the UVA Medical Center - 1201 W. Main St., 434 977-1700www.courtyardcharlottesville.com Hampton Inn & Suites - walking distance to UVA Medical Center - 900 W. Main St.,  1-800-426-7866www.hampsuites.com 2... 10/17/2008

Don't miss this Avon Park Open House! Open House Sunday October 19, 1:00-4:00 p.m.1612 Hathaway St. #A, Charlottesville, VA. 22901 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2,202 finished square feet/618 unfinished, $359,000   You must see the amazing views from the wrap around porch on this end unit in Avon Park.  Spacious floorplan with large open kitchen which sports granite counters, stainless appliances and maple cabinets.Large 2 car garage.  Lawn maintenance included in the HOA dues. Avon Park is located just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia, minutes from downtown, the University and the hospital. Contact Pam Dent, e-PRO, SRES, NHD, REALTOR®, Real Estate III, Charlottesville, Virginia at  434 960-0161 , pam@JumpintoGreenerPastures.com, to list your property for sale or to buy a property in the fol... 10/16/2008

The 2008 horseshow season is winding down.  Then there will be a few weekends of down time before the 2009 season starts in the beginning of December.  This is often a season to say goodby to the good friend that you have shared several years of showing with.  Ponies are sadly out grown or a rider is ready to move on to a more challenging mount which will allow them to progress to the next level.  As a result the fall break between seasons becomes the perfect time to go horseshopping. Charlottesville, Virginia and Albemarle County are in the middle of the Central Virginia horse country.  With the large number of stables, the area becomes a popular horse shopping destination.  In addition fall is the perfect time to come to Virginia and shop for the perfect Charlottesville horse farm whi... 10/13/2008

Today I received an email containing a quote from Thomas Jefferson regarding banks that offers some words of wisdom that can speak to us in our present ecconomic situation.   We continue to repeat the same lessons until we learn them, both individually and as countries. 'I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.'Thomas Jefferson 1802 Letter to the Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin (1802)3rd president of US (1743 - 1826) In l... 10/13/2008

If you are relocating to Charlottesville, Virginia one of the neighborhoods that you might want to consider is Dunlora.  This beautiful community is located on Rio Road convenient to downtown Charlottesville and route 29 shopping, NGIC and GE Fanuc. The Dunlora neighborhood consists of private homes, most of which are sited on wooded lots on cul-de-sacs.  The community possesses the following amenities: Walking trails pool Club house with a weight and aerobics room 2 lighted tennis courts Garden plots There are currently 10 Dunlora homes actively listed for sale, ranging in price from $419,500 - $699,900.                                        pictures from the mls These are some of the Dunlora homes that are listed for sale at this time Contact Pam Dent, e-PRO, SRES, NHD, REALTOR®, Rea... 10/12/2008

No this is not a trick question.  The answer is the obvious...ONE.  With all of the inventory on the market today your home will not get a second or third chance to make a good first impression.  Curb appeal is an important starting place for preparing  your home to sell.  If prospective buyers continue to drive on by without stopping to go inside, they will never get to see that wonderful floor plan or beautiful granite counters. What can you do to add to your home's curb appeal?  The first step is to keep the grass cut, the bushes pruned and with fall coming, the leaves raked.  An easy welcoming step is to add some color such as a pot of flowers, mums or pansies maybe, on the front porch.  Also, landscaping is a relatively inexpensive way to increase your home's visual appeal, and som... 10/12/2008

We have been looking at the September figures for the area real estate market over the past week.  To tie it all together it is important to look at the larger picture.  In this post we will consider how the figures for the year to date compare with the figures for last year during the same time.  We will be looking at the figures for homes sold from January 1 through September 30. In Albemarle County, Virginia 822 homes have sold since the beginning of 2008.  Compare this with the figures for 2007 when 1,211 homes had been sold by the end of September.  This translates to a decrease in homes sold of 32.1%. In the city of Charlottesville 477 homes have sold this year to date, however in 2007 525 homes sold in the same time frame.  This is a decrease in sales of 9.1%. The above figures a... 10/08/2008

Charlottesville, Virginia is located not only in the heart of Albemarle County, but it also is the commercial center of a seven county region.  According to the Chamber of Commerce Charlottesville serves a consumer population of about 225,000 people.  The main industries consist of tourism, hospitality, retail, agriculture, manufacturing, construction, education and technology. Charlottesville has received many national rankings acknowledging its position as a good place to do business.  In 2005 the city was nationally ranked as the 12th "Best Small Place for Business or a Career".  In addition Charlottesville has received a AAA bond rating from Moody's Investor Services and Standard & Poor's.  Plus Charlottesville made CNN/Money magazine's list of "100 Best Places to Live". The followi... 10/07/2008

As we are considering the activity in the Charlottesville, Virginia real estate market, we should look at what happened in the area condo market over the past month.  This market report will focus on sales of condos and attached homes in the Charlottesville, Virginia and Albemarle County real estate market. In September, 2008, 20 Charlottesville and Albemarle County condos and town homes were under contingent contract.  The average list price was $294,098 and the median was $219,450.  They had been on the market for an average of 172 days. 12 condos and attached homes had contracts pending with an average list price of $309,264 and a median of $234,945.  The average days on market was 279. In September 2008, 46 Charlottesville area town homes and condos sold.  The average sales price wa... 10/07/2008

We are starting a new month and it is the perfect time to look at what has been going on over the past month in the Charlottesville, Virginia real estate market.  The following market report will deal with the sales of single family homes, condos and townhomes in the city of Charlottesville. In September, 2008 26 Charlottesville homes had contingent contracts.  The average list price was $301,996 and the median was $257,200.  The homes were on the market for an average of 168 days. 8 Charlottesville homes had pending contracts.  The average list price was $262,538 and the median was $269,700.  They were on the market for an average of 161 days. In September, 2008 45 Charlottesville, homes sold.  The average sales price was $257,153, the average list price was $270,224 and the median was... 10/04/2008

A Chocolate FestivalLee Park 10.18An Art Show!October 25, 2008 5:00 pm to 10:00 pmTwenty artists, including Lee Alter, Bill Finn, Vee Oswalds, and John Trilby, contribute works to a one-night art show to benefit Children, Youth & Family Services, Inc. The event features music by 6 Day Bender. Montessori Community School, Pantops Mountain, 305 Rolkin Road. 979-0096.   This month at MonticelloOct. 4Tufton Fern WalkMeets at the Tufton Farm, 9:30 a.m. $10Oct. 11, 12Plantation Community Weekend10 a.m. to 4 p.mOct. 18Apple TastingReservations required. Meets at 9:30 a.m. at the Tufton Farm nursery. $10Oct. 23Lecture: The First Emancipator . . . Robert Carter4 p.m. at Kenwood, home of Monticello's Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies. Free.This month at UVASports, Sports ... 10/03/2008

If you are a supporter of University of Virginia Sports, check out The Sabre, your online home for everything Cavalier. The Sabre offers schedules and feature articles, but it is really known for the discussion boards, where the obesessed go to obsess!! If you are a UVA Alum, parent, staff member or faculty and will be looking for real estate in Charlottesville for a second home, retirement, for your UVA Student or because you are moving here to work at the University, check out my UVA real estate website featuring UVA Hotlinks homes near UVA for students, faculty and UVA medical residents real estate information for all parts of Charlottesville and Albemarle Community information and Real Estate Resources and keep an eye on this blog for regular updates on UVA Events!     10/03/2008