Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jim Duncan @jimduncan.bsky.social · 8h

Basically, what I've been saying for years

"Insurance challenges could impact the future of home sales

As climate disasters increase, insurers are retreating, leaving homeowners with fewer, costlier options — and causing home sales to fall out of contract."

www.realestatenews.com/2025/10/11/i...

Insurance challenges could impact the future of home sales

As climate disasters increase, insurers are retreating, leaving homeowners with fewer, costlier options — and causing home sales to fall out of contract.

www.realestatenews.com

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Jim Duncan @jimduncan.bsky.social · 19h

Your turn, UVA.

www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/10/b...

Screenshot.

As Trump demands ‘compact’ with top universities, MIT says no deal
University president Sally Kornbluth said its practices already “meet or exceed” the federal government’s list of demands.

By Diti Kohli Globe Staff,Updated October 10, 2025, 10:37 a.m.
The MIT Grad Student Union held a news conference and rally Friday urging university leadership to reject a "compact" the White House sent to MIT last week.
The MIT Grad Student Union held a news conference and rally Friday urging university leadership to reject a "compact" the White House sent to MIT last week.David L Ryan/ Globe Staff
Just over one week after the Trump administration stepped up its push to reshape higher education, sending nine prominent universities a lengthy list of demands, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology became the first to say, effectively, “No thanks.”

In a letter Friday to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, MIT president Sally Kornbluth said the school’s practices already “meet or exceed” the administration’s requested provisions for merit-based admissions and financial aid, and that the university disagrees with other demands that restrict academic freedom and institutional independence in exchange for federal dollars.

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Jim Duncan @jimduncan.bsky.social · 1d

Mornings like this.

Sunlight illuminating mountain over a field

Two people on bicycles, looking at morning light on the mountain, pink clouds, one of the cyclist is taking a picture.

Car in the distance ahead, trying to ruin the picture

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Jim Duncan @jimduncan.bsky.social · 1d

I hope the city and county do. It’s not one or the other.

Jim Duncan @jimduncan.bsky.social · 1d

And if it’s done only in the city and not tied in with the county, it’s not sufficient

Livable Cville @livablecville.bsky.social · 1d

Good bike infrastructure will make the Charlottesville area a better and safer place to live. We are tired of waiting for it to become a reality. It’s not that hard. We need the city to deliver on its promises asap.

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 3d

“When streets became calmer & safer, more people felt comfortable trying a bike commute for the first time. Families began pedaling to the park…Local businesses saw new life…And cycling stopped feeling like a niche activity—it became part of everyday Parisian life.”

Via @momentummag.bsky.social

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Jim Duncan @jimduncan.bsky.social · 2d

There are surely downsides, but top line, this is great for Charlottesville & Albemarle. And the Charlottesville real estate market

"AstraZeneca today announces that it will invest $4.5 billion in its new manufacturing facility in Virginia"

www.astrazeneca-us.com/media/press-...

AstraZeneca plans to increase investment and scope of its Virginia manufacturing facility to $4.5 billion, creating 3,600 new jobs

www.astrazeneca-us.com

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Jim Duncan @jimduncan.bsky.social · 2d

Still thinking about how on this morning’s ride my group was buzzed by two cars in succession, both going at least 35 miles an hour and a 25, and the police officer behind them did absolutely nothing.

Still, a great ride

moon, sunrise illuminating the mountain and a paved road

train on the left, double yellow line and pavement, helmet light brightly illuminating the road.

start of the sunrise. black at the bottom, trees's silhouettes, and then increasing from faded light blue to darker blue.

and a darn power line.

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Jim Duncan @jimduncan.bsky.social · 2d

Would be cool if Garmin would put an app on the Apple Watch. Thinking about abandoning Strava because of their recent stupidity

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Reposted by Jim Duncan

Pierre eM @pirmk.bsky.social · 2d

Le monde a besoin de plus de Portland Frog. @4nikkolas.bsky.social

Une peinture représentant Portland Frog face à une muraille de forces de "l'ordre"

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Reposted by Jim Duncan

JP Collins @profjpc.bsky.social · 3d

“Who” is, objectively, the funniest possible response here

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 3d

Q: Have you given any more thought to possibly suspending habeas corpus?

TRUMP: Suspending who?

Q: Habeas corpus

TRUMP: I don't know. I'd rather leave that to Kristi.

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Jim Duncan @jimduncan.bsky.social · 3d

To be fair, overlapping MSAs is common.

And yes, Charlottesville and Albemarle should coordinate better on transportation and housing policy.

Jim Duncan @jimduncan.bsky.social · 3d

My opinion (not an economist or future teller) - if rates get to 4%, we're in trouble.

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Jim Duncan @jimduncan.bsky.social · 3d

This is the only response.

a man in a suit and tie is laughing with his mouth open

Alt: Goodfellas character in a suit and tie is laughing with his mouth open

media.tenor.com

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Jim Duncan @jimduncan.bsky.social · 3d

The new ResiClub Terminal offers some great data visualizations that support this.

map of Virginia showing typical higher-tier home values (65th–95th percentile) by metro area for August 2025. Charlottesville is $786,700; Richmond $589,001; Harrisonburg $518,596; Staunton–Waynesboro $470,875; Lynchburg $446,736; Roanoke $473,238; Elkins, WV $261,342. Darker blue indicates higher values.

map of Virginia showing typical lower-tier home values (5th–35th percentile) by metro area for August 2025. Charlottesville is $296,040; Richmond $264,953; Harrisonburg $248,850; Staunton–Waynesboro $227,821; Lynchburg $170,047; Roanoke $182,991; Elkins, WV $85,320. Darker blue indicates higher values.

map of Virginia showing typical middle-tier home values (35th–65th percentile) by metro area for August 2025. Charlottesville is $460,718; Richmond $384,156; Harrisonburg $343,589; Staunton–Waynesboro $321,056; Lynchburg $281,523; Roanoke $290,965; Elkins, WV $156,565. Darker blue indicates higher values.

map of Virginia showing home price percentage change since March 2020 by metro area (Aug 2025). Charlottesville up 41.5%, Richmond up 46.8%, Harrisonburg up 43.2%, Staunton–Waynesboro up 40.1%, Lynchburg up 49.6%, Roanoke up 52.9%, Elkins, WV up 40%. Blue shading shows positive appreciation.

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Jim Duncan @jimduncan.bsky.social · 3d

Two Charlottesville real estate market things from today:
- photographer said he's very busy with sellers prepping to list their houses this year
- lender said he's heard of a lot of sellers about to go on the market, try for 30 days (or until Thanksgiving) and pull off if they don't sell.

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Jim Duncan @jimduncan.bsky.social · 3d

Got to ride my bike to pick up a thing or two.

I do like this stretch of road though, although it could be a bit curvier

#charlottesville

Fancy single-family townhomes on the left. Two lanes of pavement for cars and trucks . Trees on the right and then a walking path of pavement.

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Jim Duncan @jimduncan.bsky.social · 3d

I liked some parts of this month's note, in part because when I sent it to a client in response to her query about the market, she said, "I read your note every month the day it comes out!"

realcentralva.substack.com/p/charlottes...

Charlottesville Market Insight, Shocking New Construction numbers, Smart Searching, & (re)Imagining Growth

October 2025 | Jim's Note -- Happy October — cooler air, falling leaves, Charlottesville real estate market questions — plus a few ideas on housing, cities, and legacy.

realcentralva.substack.com

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Reposted by Jim Duncan

David M. Perry @lollardfish.bsky.social · 3d

I really believe that huge majorities of Americans don’t want masked soldiers shooting priests in the street. They don’t want naked children ripped out out of their apartments in the middle of the night and handcuffed. We win by making sure these stories get told.

Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 3d

The same people who insisted devout Catholic Joe Biden was leading a “war on Christianity” are now cheering Trump on as his armed goons assault clergymen.

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 3d

WATCH: Trump’s lawless Ice goons shoot an unarmed priest in the head with a pepper ball. Completely out of control.

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Jim Duncan @jimduncan.bsky.social · 4d

Amazing congratulations! Thank you so much!

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Reposted by Jim Duncan

DEMSEC @demsec.bsky.social · 4d

Stephen froze like a deer in the headlights and pretended to have connection issues because he unintentionally gave away the game plan.

“Plenary authority is complete, absolute power over a specific area or issue, with no significant limitations."

Show people this clip. This is an insane slip up.

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Jim Duncan @jimduncan.bsky.social · 4d

A great day to ride bicycles outside, no matter what else is happening in this world.

sunrise with a moon dog. like a sundog, but a moon dog.

two people on bicycles, and a moon and clouds

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Jim Duncan @jimduncan.bsky.social · 5d

Charlottesville real estate Reddit AMA now. These are always fun, in part because I always learn something from the questions

www.reddit.com/r/Charlottes...

From the Charlottesville community on Reddit: Charlottesville Real Estate AMA - October 2025

Explore this post and more from the Charlottesville community

www.reddit.com

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Reposted by Jim Duncan

Catherine Zoltan @catherinezoltan.bsky.social · 5d

Republicans should note. Governor Greg Abbott of Texas and Senator Mike Lee of Utah have endorsed Federal Occupation of States. These are both elected officials speaking on behalf of Texas and Utah. Valuable information! Please share! #Utah #Texas #FederalOccupation

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Jim Duncan @jimduncan.bsky.social · 5d

Well said.

Group of people standing in line trying to get into heaven behind a sign that says “ANTI-VAX STATION
WAIT HERE UNTIL THE PEOPLE YOU INFECTED HAVE GONE”

Because you know well, by choosing to not be vaccinated, they killed people

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Jim Duncan @jimduncan.bsky.social · 6d

Oh, no, Blackrock is buying all the homes!

Actually ...

www.resiclubanalytics.com/p/housing-ma...

(I had no idea there were so many Greene Counties!

U.S. counties where large investors—those owning at least 100 homes—own the highest percentage of the single-family housing stock -- Louisa County has 12 "large investors"

For this analysis, “large investors” are defined as firms that own at least 100 single-family homes. The data consolidates smaller LLCs under their respective parent companies.

U.S. counties where large investors—those owning at least 100 homes—own the highest percentage of the single-family housing stock -- Charlottesville City has ZERO "large investors"

For this analysis, “large investors” are defined as firms that own at least 100 single-family homes. The data consolidates smaller LLCs under their respective parent companies.

U.S. counties where large investors—those owning at least 100 homes—own the highest percentage of the single-family housing stock -- Albemarle County has 12 "large investors"

For this analysis, “large investors” are defined as firms that own at least 100 single-family homes. The data consolidates smaller LLCs under their respective parent companies.

U.S. counties where large investors—those owning at least 100 homes—own the highest percentage of the single-family housing stock -- Greene County has 7 "large investors"

For this analysis, “large investors” are defined as firms that own at least 100 single-family homes. The data consolidates smaller LLCs under their respective parent companies.

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