Mike Harvey, President of the Thomas Jefferson Partnership for Economic Development gave an outstanding presentation to the members of the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors yesterday. His presentation offered antidotal and factual evidence of Charlottesville underemployment and racial disparity issues. The audio Podcast an PowerPoint are linked below. This is a message that everyone in the area should hear - especially policy makers.
Podcast of 10/1/09 presentation to CAAR
PowerPoint of 10/1/09 presentation to CAAR
Every week, the CAAR Real Estate Weekly, Charlottesville’s #1 real estate publication, includes some great articles on our local community. These articles are informative to everyone who lives in the area and provide a rich documentation of all the Charlottesville area has to offer. Here are a few of the latest articles:
Charlottesville Area Community Foundation Encourages Local Philanthropy - 6/10/09
Waterfront Property Could Be Closer Than You Think - 6/3/09
Making an Offer on a Short Sale? What You Need to Know - 5/27/09
Subscribe to the Real Estate Weekly Online at www.caar.com/clickbook.
Charlottesville has, once again, been ranked in a national survey of “best” cities. This time, Kiplinger has named us the 4th best city in America based on stable employment and job opportunities, among other things. Also, the number one city on the list, Huntsville Alabama, has strong ties to the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors. Huntsville is where the CAAR MLS system was developed and is still hosted. When members access the MLS, or the public searches listings on CAAR.com, they are accessing a database in Huntsville. Small world, huh.
Link to Kiplinger story
It was announced today that Martha Jefferson Hospital had selected a developer to re-develop the current hospital location. The announcement reminded us that we had not posted the podcast form the April 2 CAAR membership meeting featuring Elliot Kuida, COO of Martha Jefferson Hospital. MJH is a great corporate citizen and we appreciate all they are doing to help this community. The sound quality is a bit cheeky, but still worth the listen.
Podcast of the presentation
PowerPoint of the presentation
As people around the world think globally and act locally to celebrate Earth Day, it’s a great opportunity for us to share what CAAR and CAAR members are doing to go green. Below are just a few examples of steps we’ve taken to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Take a moment to share your efforts as well – we can all learn from them!
- GREEN Designation – Today and tomorrow, CAAR members are taking their first classes towards earning their GREEN designations from the National Association of REALTORS®. These REALTORS® will be well-versed in green building terminology and methodology, how to properly advertise green properties, how to best serve clients interested in green products, and even how to green their own businesses. Knowledge is power!
- Green Change Agents – A group of CAAR members meets regularly at the CAAR offices to discuss and evaluate ways that REALTORS® can be involved in sustainable living activities. Any member is welcome to join them to share and learn. Their next meeting is Friday, April 24th (Arbor Day!) at 9 am.
- Recycled Paper Content – CAAR staff started working last year towards using more recycled-content paper in the office. Now all of their standard envelopes contain at least 30% post-consumer recycled content and are FSC-certified, and all CAAR stationary is printed on 100% recycled paper – as was this year’s Membership Directory.
- Reducing Consumption – CAAR staff has been brainstorming ways to reduce their everyday resource consumption and has had particular success in two areas. First, through concentrated efforts – sometimes as simple as turning off printers and monitors when in a meeting – CAAR has significantly reduced its monthly electric bill. Staff has also taken to using washable silverware in their kitchen instead of disposable plastic and has an endless supply of mugs to use instead of Styrofoam cups.
From the Real Estate Weekly
Each April at the peak of Virginia’s springtime color, Historic Garden Week lures 30,000 visitors from throughout the United States and abroad who tour more than 250 of the Commonwealth’s most beautiful gardens, homes, and historic landmarks. Sponsored by The Garden Club of Virginia, Historic Garden Week—being held April 18-25—is now entering its 76th year, making it the oldest and largest statewide house and garden event in the country. Three-dozen tours are planned and run by an all-volunteer workforce.
Historic Garden Week is as much about historic architecture, art, antiques, and interior decorating as it is about gardens. Many of the homes are on the historic registry and some are only open during Garden Week.
Read the full article
(thanks to Real Central Va Blog for picking this up)
Forbes, once again, has ranked Charlottesville, VA in one of its “Best Places” lists. This time, we rank #11 in the Best Small Places For Business and Careers.
This is an interesting ranking system that combines home prices, salaries and sports success. The median income they use for Charlottesville is a bit deceiving, but other than that, #9 is a pretty good ranking.
Forbes Best College Sports Towns
Our Friends at WINA reported recently that Charlottesville has been named as a “best place” by yet another national magazine.
Charlottesville ranks high in more national publications
More national publications have given high rankings to the Charlottesville area. Black Enterprise Magazine has rated Charlottesville as the 2nd Best Place to Retire. The ranking is based on healthcare, housing prices, public schools, crime levels, traffic congestion and commercial air access. Many of the 20 locations recognized by Black Enterprise Magazine are in the South due to the mild climate, but only Charlottesville and Virginia Beach, which was ranked #9, were chosen from Virginia. The Charlottesville area also has been ranked 13th in the Nation for Raising a Family by Forbes Magazine. One of the factors cited by Forbes is the area’s high average SAT score of 1098, which is among the best in the nation.
Hearty congratulations go out to Carol Clarke of Montague, Miller & Co. upon her selection as VAR 2008 REALTOR® of the Year! Carol was singled out from over 36,000 VAR members as personifying the qualities of a truly outstanding REALTOR® in the state of Virginia. She has shown commitment to local, state, and national issues throughout her years of service and repeatedly demonstrates leadership in both her business and personal lives. She has served as both CAAR and VAR president and is currently Chair of the Virginia Real Estate Board. We have benefited from her dedication both here in Charlottesville and across the state, so please take a moment to join us in thanking her for her service and congratulating her on a well-deserved accolade!