Rivanwood Charlottesville Homes For Sale
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Rivanwood Charlottesville homes for sale offer Charlottesville waterfront homes for sale minutes from the Rio Road Shopping Center.
Rivanwood is a charming Albemarle County neighborhood of 16 custom-built homes on large lots bordering the South Rivanna Reservoir in Albemarle County.
Architectural Styles: include colonial and contemporary. The homes’ colors blend in with the natural beauty.
Amenities: None. However, homeowners have deeded access to the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir. The Rivanna Reservoir provides the perfect setting for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing.
Years Built: 1940 to 1990. The majority of which were built in the 1980s.
Number of Homes: 17 lots & 16 homes
Lot Sizes: 2 to 2.5 acres.
25-26 Sales: 0
Note: Two homes have sold since 2018, with a median price of $590,000. 2026 prices would raise the median price to approximately to $765,000.
Rivanwood HOA Fees: 2023 fees are $250-$300 a year.
Rivanwood HOA Fees Cover: area maintenance and the master insurance policy.
Albemarle County Public Schools that serve Rivanwood are Broadus Wood Elementary, Journey Middle, and Albemarle High School.
Location: 3 minutes to Rio Road Shopping Center. 15 mins to UVA’s Darden Business School & UVA Law School. 3 mins to Charlottesville Albemarle Airport and 11 to NGIC.
Directions: Hydraulic Road to a left at the Rock Store onto Earlysville Road. Just before the reservoir turn left on Woodlands Road. 0.6 miles to Rivanwood on the right.
My thoughts – Rare opportunity to live in a great neighborhood on the Rivanna Reservoir. Prime waterfront homes Charlottesville VA. Rivanwood Charlottesville homes for sale are seldom so move FAST. No amenities but the Rivanna Reservoir is your playground. UVA Crew is next door where you can take rowing lessons. Due to the Rivanwood neighborhood’s excellent location it’s definitely on my list as one of the best Charlottesville neighborhoods. I give Rivanwood an 8 out of 10
Toby Beavers – a top Charlottesville realtor since 2003, may be reached by text or phone at 434-327-2999
Rivanwood Charlottesville Homes For Sale
Rivanwood Charlottesville homes for sale: a small waterfront pocket that rarely hits the market
By Toby Beavers, top Charlottesville realtor since 2003
If you have been searching for Rivanwood Charlottesville homes for sale, you have already figured out the first rule of Rivanwood: it is hard to catch.
This is not a high turnover subdivision with a steady stream of listings.
It is a tiny, established enclave in Albemarle County with a true quiet lane feel and one major draw: the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir at your doorstep.
When one of these homes becomes available, buyers who understand Charlottesville’s inventory patterns move quickly, because chances are the next opportunity will not show up for a while. Source
What (and where) is Rivanwood?
Rivanwood is best described as a charming, custom home neighborhood of about 16 homes on large lots, bordering the reservoir in Albemarle County, close to Charlottesville conveniences without feeling like you live in town.
Lot sizes are typically about 2 to 2.5 acres, which is a big part of the appeal: privacy, mature landscaping, and a sense of space that is increasingly rare this close to the city. Source
From a practical standpoint, it is positioned for easy life logistics: about 3 minutes to Rio Road shopping, roughly 15 minutes to UVA’s Darden and UVA Law, close to the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport, and a reasonable hop to NGIC.
That combination, water access plus acreage plus proximity, puts Rivanwood in a category that buyers tend to hold onto. Source
The Rivanwood Charlottesville lifestyle: reservoir access as your amenity package
Rivanwood does not sell itself on clubhouses or tennis courts. In fact, it has no traditional neighborhood amenities, and that is intentional in the sense that the real amenity is the setting.
Homeowners have deeded access to the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir, which opens the door to kayaking, canoeing, and fishing.
If you are the kind of buyer who would rather paddle at sunrise than fight for a lap lane, this neighborhood speaks your language. Source
A detail I like sharing with water focused buyers: UVA Crew is next door, and that proximity can be a fun bonus if rowing is on your someday list. Source
What the Rivanwood homes feel like: custom, mature, and not cookie cutter
Architecturally, Rivanwood is not a one style neighborhood.
You will commonly see colonial and contemporary influences, and because these are custom builds, each home tends to have its own personality: different siting on the lot, different views, different indoor outdoor flow.
Another hallmark is maturity: trees and landscaping that have had decades to grow in, which creates that established, tucked away feel buyers try, and often fail, to replicate in newer communities. Source
On the timeline side, you are generally looking at homes built between 1940 and 1990, with many from the 1980s, an era when lots were larger and builders were not trying to squeeze maximum square footage onto minimum land. Source
Market expectations: why “no homes for sale” is common here
If your search results sometimes show “No properties found” for Rivanwood, that is not a glitch, it is the neighborhood’s normal rhythm.
Inventory is simply thin because there are so few homes to begin with, about 17 lots and 16 homes. Source
Historically, there have been very few sales since 2018, and the site notes a past median around $590,000, with a rough 2026 adjusted estimate closer to about $765,000.
I treat any current value estimate like that as a directional sign, not a substitute for a true comparative market analysis, but it is useful context for understanding how strongly reservoir adjacent property can hold value in our region. Source
Rivanwood HOA and Albemarle County Publis Schools: the practical details buyers ask first
Rivanwood’s HOA structure is relatively light.
Fees have been cited around $250 to $300 per year, covering area maintenance and a master insurance policy.
That is typically a welcome change for buyers used to heavier HOA budgets in some of the newer developments. Source
Schools listed for the area include Broadus Wood Elementary, Journey Middle, and Albemarle High School.
If schools are a deciding factor for your household,
I always recommend confirming the current assignment boundaries as part of due diligence, but these are the commonly referenced schools tied to the neighborhood. Source
How to Buy in Rivanwood Charlottesville Homes For Sale
Because Rivanwood listings can be rare, success here often comes down to preparation.
My advice is simple: get clear on your non negotiables (water access vs. water view, acreage needs, renovation tolerance), line up your financing strategy early, and be ready to tour quickly when something hits.
This is the kind of place where the right buyer does not just shop, they act decisively.
And yes, if you want my candid realtor grade: Rivanwood is one of those neighborhoods I put on my best of list for location and lifestyle.
I rate it an 8 out of 10.
Want me to watch for the next Rivanwood Charlottesville homes for sale?
Tell me your budget range, bedroom count, and how important deeded reservoir access is, and I will help you set up a tight search strategy so you are not relying on luck when the next home becomes available.
Toby Beavers – a top Charlottesville realtor since 2003, may be reached by text or phone at 434-327-2999