A Home in Charlottesville

Charlottesville Food Blogs!

amy — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 19:57:06 +0000

As part of my ongoing commitment to spread the word about all the great restaurants in Charlottesville (because nobody should ever have a bad meal here), following is a list of my favorite local food, restaurant review, “food porn” and wine blogs:

Mas To Millers

The Charlottesville 29

Vintage Virginia Dining

The Pippin Hill Farm Blog

Have any others to suggest? Drop me a note and I will check them out!

In the meantime – eat, drink and be merry, Cville!

Understanding your FICO Score

amy — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 19:32:49 +0000

If you are in the market to buy a home in Charlottesville (or anywhere) this Spring, you need to have a solid understanding of how your credit score affects your ability to obtain financing (a mortgage) at a favorable rate. Check out this great resource from FICO with loads of information about “credit basics”.

Here are some other useful resources along the same lines -
Working with a Lender
HUD Resources on Home Buying Economics
The Correct Place to get your Free Annual Credit Reports

Charlottesville Events Calendar: things to do this week!

amy — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:02:58 +0000

Looking for something to do this week and weekend in Charlottesville?

You could:

learn to swing dance

catch a lecture at The Miller Center or at Monticello

spend a cozy evening at Fossett’s with Beleza

see Iphigenia 2.0 at Tandem Friends school, any one of a number of Plays at ASC in Staunton, Live Arts or UVA

enjoy The Princess Bride on the big screen or

just try a Bird Walk at Ivy Creek!

Petit Pois: intimate and cozy French dining on the Charlottesville Downtown Mall

amy — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 23:28:27 +0000

In the rush of the restaurant scene on Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall, where there is a new “in” place every month, there is a cozy little spot tucked in the corner of Central Place which has been around a while, which you should not overlook.

I had a wonderful meal at Petit Pois a few weeks back. It was actually on February 15, but we got to enjoy the prix fixe menu from Valentine’s Day! I ate a scrumptious frisée salad topped with a poached egg, perfectly seared scallops and a yummy chocolate hazelnut mousse. Everyone with me enjoyed their meals as well, especially the warm banana bread pudding – divine!!

The atmosphere is quiet yet cheerful and very French: intimate seating, tile floors and attractive, welcoming ambience.

January 2013 Year to Date Charlottesville Real Estate Market Report

amy — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 23:15:32 +0000

My firm, Nest Realty, just issued a real estate market update for January 2013 for the City of Charlottesville and signs are trending towards continued recovery, in single family homes at least. Check it out and watch my website for periodic market updates.

Charlottesville Lunch Favorites

amy — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 21:52:09 +0000

Need a quick lunch around town? Here are my favorites -

Downtown: La Taza, The Whiskey Jar, and Rev Soup

Westside: Aromas Cafe at Barracks Road or Bellair Market, for the best sandwiches in town.

Up North: Whole Foods or The Lime Leaf

Out there: Check out the newly re-opened Plank Road Exchange in Batesville and DON”T MISS Daisy’s Oatmeal Cookies.

Match Day 2013 and the University of Virginia

amy — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 14:22:40 +0000

Match Day is coming!

If you’re a medical student hoping for a Resident Position at UVA, here are some resources for planning your move the Charlottesville:

Charlottesville Community Guide
Charlottesville Home Search Getting Started Guide
Start Browsing Homes for Sale
Financing a Home Purchase
UVA Topics and Links

Questions or planning a visit? Call me anytime at 434.760.1319.

Maya: local, Southern inspired cuisine in Charlottesville..a perennial favorite!

amy — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 14:07:10 +0000

This is the first of a series short ”Food Posts” I will be doing, mostly because clients who come in from out of town often ask me for restaurant recommendations, but sometimes only after they had had a mediocre meal. Charlottesville is a fantastic dining town with a rich food culture, so it pains me that anyone wastes time and money on a mediocre meal!

My perennial favorite eatery is Maya, on West Main Street. Offering Southern leaning cuisine with a farm to table ethic, Maya is alway yummy, with a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere, no pretension and no fuss, and it is relatively affordable to boot (as nicer dining goes).

The menu is fairly vegetarian friendly and with the option to build a dinner out of delicious side dishes (such as hand cut cheese grits and cornbread) it is pretty kid friendly too. That being said, the vibe is generally grown up: so don’t fear the space will be full of whining toddlers.

My picks: The Local Trout in Caper Brown Butter or the Crispy Seitan, if you are meat – free. Any of the sides are great (choosing is the challenge) but make sure you ask which ones have hidden bacon or lard: this is a Southern restaurant after all!

Enjoy.

New Federal Loan Regulations – Spring 2013

amy — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 13:25:28 +0000

Here is a concise and informative Nw York Times article about new federal loan rules requiring lenders to verify ability-to-pay. Coming mid 2013.

This is just another step in our recovery from the loan crisis of the past few years. One would think the importance of these sorts of controls would be self evident, but since the banks cannot regulate themselves, it’s more than appropriate the government steps in and puts it in writing.

Good to see there are protections in the rules designed to help keep credit flowing to lower and middle income buyers. Let’s hope they work!

Charlottesville’s Old Metropolitan Hall

amy — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 15:26:04 +0000

Looking for a great space for your next party or company event? Check out Charlottesville’s newest cool venue: Old Metropolitan Hall. Just opened, this space is light, high ceilinged and beautifully renovated: think 1920′s Jazz club meets SOHO loft. The final touches are still being put in place, but the party is already started: Nest Realty kicked it off by holding our Annual Company Fest there last night. The downtown mall location cannot be beat!