Plus, 804 Day + Olympic salsa
 
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Today’s Forecast

97º | 20% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:15 a.m. | Sunset 8:16 p.m.
 

Getting real about the (e)state of home buying

How difficult is it to buy a home in Richmond?
An aerial view of The Fan District in Richmond, VA, showing a street lined with green, yellow, orange, and red trees and many homes. In the distance are several larger buildings in front of a blue sky.
The index’s data is updated monthly. | Photo by @takeone.aerial
Whether you’re planning your next move or just love scrolling Zillow, NBC’s home buyer index — which debuted in May and is updated monthly — might help you keep better tabs on the Richmond real estate market as it shifts from month to month.

How it works

The study uses a 0-100 scale to measure the level of difficulty when purchasing a home; the higher the score, the more difficult. It’s measured using four factors: cost, competition, scarcity, and economic instability (think: market volatility, unemployment, and interest rates).

Is it legit? A real estate industry analyst, bank economist from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, and other experts helped develop the tool, according to NBC News. Examine the methodology.

A few caveats: The index does not capture additional homebuying difficulties for certain groups, such as those with lower credit scores, and it can’t always capture data for more rural communities.

Richmond’s rating

The data listed below comes from June 2024, but it’s updated monthly — in other words, you can check back whenever you’re curious. Check out Richmond’s numbers, on a scale of 0 (easy) to 100 (difficult):
  • Overall difficulty index | 76.4
  • Cost index | 72.9
  • Competition index | 81.7
  • Scarcity index | 68.7
  • Economic instability index | 92.2
The index also shares that a median income buyer here in Richmond can afford a $312,000 home — compare that to the median list price for a home, which is $379,000.

Feel good about buying, but want to stay updated on what it’s like to live in Richmond? Check out our City Guides for the 411.
Asked

As of June 2024, what is the overall home buyer difficulty index for the entire nation (100 being most difficult)?

A. 69.7
B. 91.2
C. 83.8
D. 78.3
Make your guess
 
Events
Friday, Aug. 2
  • Bart Chucker Band | Friday, Aug. 2 | 9 p.m.-1 a.m. | River City Roll, 939 Myers St., Richmond | Free | Get there early to grab a seat for this rollicking country show.
Saturday, Aug. 3
  • RVA Duck Race and Festival of Inclusion | Saturday, Aug. 3 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Brown’s Island, 500 Tredegar St., Richmond | Free | The annual event from the Autism Society of Central Virginia will make a splash with over 18,000 ducks racing down the canal.
  • Dog Days of Summer & Movie | Saturday, Aug. 3 | 5-10 p.m. | Meadow Farm Museum at Crump Park, 3400 Mountain Rd., Glen Allen | Free | Bring your pup for a night of activities capped off with a pet-themed outdoor movie.
  • Pitch’n A Fit & South Hill Banks | Saturday, Aug. 3 | 7 p.m. | Dogwood Dell, 600 S. Arthur Ashe Blvd., Richmond | Free | Enjoy an evening of bluegrass as part of the city’s Festival of Arts.
  • Mini Concert Series | Saturday, Aug. 3 | 7-8:30 p.m. | The House, 900 Catherine St., Richmond | $10-$25 | Enjoy a night of jazz with Atiba Taylor and The Ascension Project to support the Moore Street School Foundation.
Sunday, Aug. 4
  • 804 Day | Sunday, Aug. 4 | 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. | Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W. Broad St., Richmond | $0-$18 | The first 804 guests who purchase Science Museum admission on August 4 get to see a giant screen film or astronomy show in The Dome for free.
  • RVA Music Lovers Bus Tour | Sunday, Aug. 4 | 1-3:30 p.m. | The Valentine, 1015 E. Clay St., Richmond | $40-$50 | Celebrate Richmond Music Week with a trip to uncover hidden histories and infamous local music stories around the River City.
More weekend events
Click here to have your event featured.
 
Pets

Give your dog a new lease on lunch
A doodle pup waits for his Nom Nom dog food to be poured into his bowl.
Nom Nom’s meals are pre-portioned for your dog’s unique caloric needs, so there’s no guessing, no scooping. | Photo by Nom Nom
Dog parents know that a stimulating day begins and ends with enriching meals.

That’s why Nom Nom’s enticing variety of vet-developed recipes burst with the nutrients dogs need and the tastes and textures they crave. Imagine — beef that looks like beef and carrots that look like carrots. No high-temperature vats, artificial flavors, or impossible-to-pronounce preservatives.

That’s because Nom Nom is made with love (aww), not meat meal (eek).
Get 50% off your first box
News Notes
Try This
  • Starr Hill is hosting Olympic Salsa tonight, a combination dance class and Olympic watch party. A free, beginner-friendly Cuban-style salsa class with Havana Social kicks off at 7 p.m., followed by a happy hour featuring $5 Sabre Premium Lagers.
Sports
  • Richmond soccer fans packed City Stadium once again for an NWSL Summer Cup match between the Washington Spirit and Chicago Red Stars. The visiting players commented on Richmond’s big crowds and enthusiastic fans. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Arts
  • This weekend is your last chance to catch the Samurai Armor exhibit at the VMFA. Check out our preview and get tickets before the exhibit closes this Sunday, Aug. 4.
Eat
  • Today, Chewy’s Bagels will make its final delivery to local grocers around town. However, the shop teased some exciting announcements on the horizon for its Carytown location — including possible new flavors.
Environment
  • Virginia has received two federal grants to help capture climate changing emissions. The EPA grants, part of the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program, total around $150 million for state environmental programs. (Virginia Mercury)
Asked
  • Ready for your lunch break? We’re looking for the best local spots to score a meal for under $12. Drop your recommendation and you could get a mention in the next update to our guide.
 
Drink

🍹 That’s the spirit

That’s the spirit: Cast your vote in the Virginia Cocktail Games
RICtoday_VirginiaCocktailGames
The Lasting Legacy, Breakfast of Champions, and Triple Jump are River City creations. | Photos via Virginia Spirits
The Virginia Cocktail Games have kicked off with 25 craft drinks in the running to be named Virginia’s 2024 Cocktail of the Year. Three finalists in the Central Virginia region are from Richmond.

Meet the River City drinks in the running:
  • Lasting Legacy | Made by bartender Dom Giannelli of The Jasper, this cocktail has brandy, Virginia strawberries, homemade coconut cream, tarragon, and quinquina.
  • Breakfast of Champions | Paul Polk of Charlotte’s Southern Deli created this drink with Belle Isle Coffee Moonshine, rum, spiced vanilla liqueur, pineapple juice, and passion fruit syrup.
  • Triple Jump | Ernesto Gonzalez of Grisette crafted this bright drink with Virago Spirits Modern Gin With Oolong Tea, Virginia cucumber falernum, lychee syrup, and lemon juice.
Voting is open through Sunday, Aug. 11.

The public vote will determine who moves on to the next round, an in-person competition to be held in September at the Virginia Distilled festival at the VMHC.
The Buy

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Answered

We asked about your can’t-miss August festival
Almost 58% of respondents said they’re most psyched for the Carytown Watermelon Festival. 804 Day and JamPacked were tied for second place.

Plan ahead for the biggest River City events with our ultimate festival guide at the button below.
Your party passport
 
The Wrap
 
David Lefkowitz.png

Today’s edition by:
David
From the editor
The VDH has lifted the recreational advisory for the James River, and not a moment too soon — the last thing we need are 18,000 sick ducks in the canal.
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