But where do I park my car in the Museum or Fan Districts?
It's a valid question and one that this REALTOR® is asked nearly every day. Or better yet, does this house have off-street parking or a garage? So here are a few parking considerations when buying a home in the Museum or Fan Districts:
1. Just buy a home that has parking behind it already! That makes it easier on everyone, right? Everyone but your wallet. Homes with some kind of off-street parking can command a much hgher price tag than those without in the Museum and Fan Districts. And say that you've got the money to spend, but your dream home may just not have it. There are handful right now for sale that have off street parking.
2. The Fan District has 2 zones of permit parking. This keeps our neighborhood from turning into a VCU parking lot. Zone 1 runs from VCU to about Lombardy and Zone 2 run from Lombardy to Meadow. Home owners can purchase permits for vehicles that they own ($25 each/year), plus up to two annual visitor passes ($35 each/year). This makes street parking (for home owners with permits) much easier!
3. If you don't have off street parking, be sure you "test out" the availability of parking. Yeah, you can go at 10:30am on a Tuesday and it will be a breeze to find parking. But the real test is at 7pm during the week and 10pm on the weekends. That will give you a real feel of what to expect. Is the house near VCU? Well remember when the students have breaks. Rest assured that you'll find ample parking the week of Thanksgiving. Near Carytown? Be sure to check it out on a Saturday afternoon.
4. But what about people the want to come visit me- where do they park? (Oh, and when you live the Museum and Fan Districts everyone will want to come see you!) They can park on the street just like everyone else. Tell them not to panic! If you are in Zones 1 or 2 in the Fan District, hand out your guest passes. But be sure to get them back.
I sure made all this sound complex. It really isn't that bad. We aren't in DC on Manhattan ... there is parking here in the Museum and Fan Districts. There are even people who have parking behind their homes that still choose to park on the street. You might have to circle the block a few times and you might not get a spot directly in outside your front door ... but eventually you will find parking.
But my favorite question of all "What about my brand new shiny car ... will it get scratched?" Well, YES - YES it will! You can count on that. However the parking gods may be looking down on you ... and leave you with this note on your windshield. This is an actual note that was put on my car this week. In all the years I've been living in the Fan District, I've NEVER received a note like this. And I've been hit countless times. In this instance, I had to search hard to see where she hit me.
My faith in humanity has been restored! SPEECHLESS ....
I speacilize in selling (and parking ) in the Museum and Fan Districts in Richmond VA. If you are looking to buy or sell, with or without parking, be sure to reach out to me- Shane Lott at Lott Realty Group at Keller Williams. Experience my passion for real estate and Richmond VA ... oh, and parking too!
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