The real estate selection in Charlottesville and Albemarle County is delightfully varied, with homes available in most price ranges for prospective purchasers drawn to the area. Charlottesville and Albemarle County properties for sale range from crisp new construction modeled after the Arts & Crafts design era to elegant country estates set against a picturesque backdrop to the urban condominiums overlooking the historic Downtown Mall, just to name a few.

Situated at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Charlottesville-Albemarle area is distinct and flourishing. Charlottesville boasts a growing population of just over 40,000 residents while the surrounding Albemarle County is home to over 90,400 residents. Home to the University of Virginia (consistently ranked #1 or 2 for public universities and founded by President Thomas Jefferson in 1825), two major health systems (UVA, Martha Jefferson), nearly 800 new government jobs with the National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC) and numerous small businesses, Charlottesville real estate remains a very solid investment.

While Charlottesville has long been enjoyed by residents, it has recently gained widespread commendation as a wonderful place to live.

  • In 2004, Charlottesville-Albemarle was rated the best place to live in the United States by “Cities Ranked & Rated.”
  • Money Magazine has also proclaimed Charlottesville and surrounding region as one of the “Best Places to Live and Retire.”
  • Charlottesville was ranked 2nd Best Place to Retire by Black Enterprise Magazine, based on a number of factors including housing prices, affordable health care, public schools, and traffic.
  • Charlottesville also ranked 13th in the Nation for Raising a Family, by Forbes. This ranking was based on school system, cost of living, graduation rate, standardized scores, home price, per-capita income, and crime rate. Forbes also recognized that Charlottesville’s average SAT score is among the best in the nation.
  • For leisure activities, Charlottesville was ranked One of Eight Best Places to Run in the US by Trail Runner Magazine. The large number of races held each year and the variety of off-road running options demonstrate Charlottesville’s recognition.
  • The Belmont neighborhood, just east of the Downtown Mall, was recognized as an “up and coming neighborhood” by Travel and Leisure Magazine, and will be featured by the magazine in the near future!