Ann Allen's Birmingham AL Real Estate News & More

Performance of Handel's MESSIAH at Riverchase United Methodist Church

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:27:49 -0600

Performance of Handel's Messiah at Riverchase United Methodist Church

Handel's Messiah was presented yesterday at Riverchase United Methodist Church in Hoover AL. It was the 62nd annual performance by the Alabama Civic Chorale, and was conducted by Bebe Clark Kok. There are nearly 100 voices in the chorus and they were accompanied by 13 players in the orchestra and organist, Walt Rogers.

The performance included Parts One, Two and Three ~ Prophecies and Fulfillments ~ The Passion ~ The Triumph.

We though we would be smart and arrive 30 minutes early. It wasn't early enough.....the sanctuary was already filled and chairs were being set up in the narthex, which is where we sat. Even so, we were close enough that we could see everything and enjoy the music too. It was wonderful and a great beginning to the Christmas season (yes, I know it's not quite Thanksgiving).

Some history about Messiah:

George Frideric Handel composed this work at his home in only about three weeks, from August 22 to September 14, 1741. The first performance took place in Dublin, Ireland at the New Musick-Hall on April 13, 1742 with about 50 musicians. Westminster Abbey has seen performances with hundreds of voices. According to tradition, King George was so moved by the Hallelujah Chorus that he stood and removed his crown. The entire audience was required by court etiquette to do so as well. Whether he was standing to honor the king of kings or needed to stretch his legs is a matter that some disagree about, but in any case, listeners still stand for the singing of this chorus.

Happy Birthday Dana!

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:09:15 -0600

Happy Birthday Dana! Well, almost......

Dana's birthday is not until the 29th, but rather than try to plan something over Thanksgiving weekend, The Big Par-Tay was last night. It was held at the Weatherly Clubhouse in Pelham AL, which turned out to be a great place for all her friends to hang out and dance.

It's a milestone birthday......this was a Sweet Sixteen Party. She invited friends from Pelham High School, Thompson High School and First United Methodist Church in Birmingham. The decorations were black and white, guests were dressed in black and white, and Dana wore purple. It was always easy to spot her in the crowd!

Getting ready to cut the cake!

Cake by Kendall (Dana's sister)

One of the few photos I could get her to pose for....

There were a bunch outside on the deck too!

Feeding birthday cake to Dad......

Cutting up with some of the girls out on the deck

I was surprised they even had heard of Macarena!

Everyone had a great time at the party, but it's not over yet. Probably the biggest thrill for Dana is yet to come. She still has to turn sixteen before she can get her drivers license, but it's pretty much a done deal. She took her driving test in conjunction with her Drivers Education class at Pelham High School and has already passed......so it's just a matter of having her birthday and taking the documentation so she can get her license. Birthday is on Sunday......she'll be official on Monday!

Birmingham AL Short Sales - 5 Tips Buyers Should Know Before Making an Offer

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:05:24 -0600

Jonathan Osman is a short sale specialist who lives and works in Charlotte NC. I had the pleasure of meeting him at REBarCamp RDU in Raleigh recently. He has written a great article that should be helpful to buyers considering the purchase of a short sale property. I thought my Birmingham AL readers would find it interesting and informative.

Thank you Jonathan for making this available for reblogging!

Via Jonathan Osman - Charlotte / Matthews NC (Keller Williams Realty):

This week, Kristin Ayers - our group's transaction manager - forwarded me an article that cited a number of reasons why a buyer should avoid purchasing a short sale or pre-foreclosure property. Of the 11 reasons they provided to avoid short sales, 10 were inaccurate. Therefore, as someone who lists and sells a number of short sale properties in the Charlotte Metro area, here are a few tips to aid you when offering on a short sale property.

1. What the Seller Owes Really Doesn't Matter

The article on short sales this week noted that buyers should be concerned with the amount the seller owes when compared to the market value of today. That is false. The reason why a home is listed as a short sale is that the seller owes more than the home is worth. In some neighborhoods, the banks are settling short sale properties for 40-50-60% of the previous purchase price because those sales figures are no longer relevant. As a buyer, you shouldn't focus on that number either but rather the market value of the property today. If a seller had private mortgage insurance, it can occasionally complicate the transaction but with so many mortgage insurers going belly up, their impact is becoming less and less.

2. Your Offer Should Be Within 10% of Market Value

No the banks are not giving these homes away but neither are they giving away bank-owned homes. Short sale offers within 10% of the fair market value of the property are accepted 9 out of 10 times. Some buyers prefer to low-ball the bank because they do not understand the bank's valuation process. However, low-ball offers are typically countered to by the bank at full market value. Therefore, a buyer who is not willing to pay 10% of fair market value should step aside.

So who determines what fair market value is: a local real estate agent or an appraiser. Depending on the price of the home, the values may be set by a local real estate professional (often not the listing agent) after the contract between buyer and seller. Often times, the agent who set's the price for the bank will be the one to list the property for sale should the short sale fail and the home ends up in foreclosure. As a result, they want a low-priced listing they can sell and routinely price the home low for the market. Also, bank owned homes are priced in the same manner (usually it's the short sale price) with the banks accepting within a percentage of the listed price.

3. Ask Questions of the Listing Agent

Ask 10 agents the way a short sale should be handled and you'll get 10 answers. Therefore, ask your agent to quiz the listing agent as to how many offers the property has, how your offer will be treated by the bank, where the seller is the short sale process, if a title search was done to reveal additional liens, etc. Our group handles short sales in this manner:
1. When an offer comes in from a buyer, it is negotiated between buyer and seller then signed by the seller creating a binding contract.
2. All other offers after the time of contract are accepted as backup-contracts only.
3. If the bank asks for all offers, we respond that we have 1 contract and x backup offers. We take a counter, if any, to the primary buyer and negotiate the sale with them. If they fail to consummate the transaction, we move to the next buyer with a backup contract. If we do not have a backup contract, the property is relisted for sale.
4. Once we have all parties in agreement, the buyer moves to closing.

4. Do Not Ask for Repairs to be Made

Short sales, like bank-owned properties, are sold in 'AS-IS' condition. Let's face it: the sellers are broke! If they hired someone to make the repairs, chances are they won't have the funds to pay them. We recommend that buyers to perform their home inspections even though the property is being sold 'AS-IS' because there are usually a host of latent issues that need to be resolved. Proactive buyers should consider performing their inspections pre-contract and use any repair work as leverage in their negotiations. For example, if the home has a bad roof, price the home with a bad roof, make your offer with the idea that you will need to replace that roof, and let the listing agent know the roof is bad. Word will travel and it will work in your favor to encourage a lower price.

5. No Contingencies and Be Prepared to Wait

Unfortunately, there's nothing short about a short sale. The banks are under staffed to meet the needs of sellers and think that with a 10+% unemployment rate, how many sellers are requesting assistance? Therefore, you need to be patient. That also means that you should not even think about asking for a contingency on the sale of your current home. Once the bank approves the short sale, you must close within 30-45 days. As a result, you must be flexible - preferably living with friends, family, or in a month-to-month rental - in order to consider a short sale. However, bank-owned homes are the same way so what's the big deal?

Never say no to a short sale in spite of what your agent may tell you. You're getting a great home for a great deal but like all good things, they take some time. The banks are getting easier to work with and routinely, the banks are paying real estate agents their full commissions so it's a win-win. In fact this entire year, we only had 1 short sale that did not pay well and it was one where we represented the buyer and the listing agent was very inexperienced. Even in that scenario, we were able to close the home in less than 60 days. By all means, do not expect that every short sale will work out and unfortunately, those are the ones you hear about most.

Good luck with your short sale purchase!

Charlotte NC Homes

UBI CARITAS - Maurice Durufle

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:07:25 -0600

Today I attended the funeral of a gentleman who spent a career in music serving schools, universities and churches throughout the country as a choral director. The service was a celebration of his life and the music that he loved and shared with so many people. The music I heard today was some of the most beautiful I have heard performed in quite a while.......it blew me away!

I have been looking for videos on YouTube in hopes of finding some of the music I heard. I found this version of Maurice Durufle's 'Ubi Caritas'.......a different setting than what I heard today, but this is the version that I have sung with my choir and I have always found it soothing to my soul. I hope you enjoy it too.

City Vineyard Gift Baskets & Wine - Birmingham AL- Save 15% on a Case of Beaujolais

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:20:16 -0600

City Vineyard Gift Baskets & Wine

Save 15% on a case of Beaujolais

Beaujolais is a delicious red wine made from Gamay grapes that is produced in the Beaujolais region of France. French law does not allow for the wine to be released prior to the third Thursday in November, so when the clocks strike midnight on that day over a million cases are shipped to Paris where they are then distributed worldwide.

City Vineyard Gift Baskets & Wine in Birmingham AL will be taking orders and if you would like to receive this 15% discount on a case you must let them know by Friday, November 13th. Please call for pricing and remember this applies to purchases of cases only and they do require prepayment.

Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrive!

City Vineyard Gift Baskets & Wine

5479 Highway 280

Suite 102

Birmingham AL 35242

205-437-3360

Courtesy of Ann Allen, e-Pro, SRES, ASP

205.902.4868

Keller Williams

One Chase Corporation Drive, Suite 150

Hoover, AL 35244

Photos taken by Ann Allen, and may not be reproduced without express written permission of Ann Allen, Keller Williams Realty, Hoover AL. Please check if Creative Commons License as been granted for this or other photography provided by Ann Allen. Permission usually granted if credit is given with a link back. Thank you for your understanding.

Buying a Birmingham Home.......Ouch! Don't Get Sued For Breach Of Contract.......

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:07:16 -0600

Buying a Birmingham home.....Don't get sued for Breach of Contract!

One of my Realtor® buddies shared this story today.....

He has an investor client that he has worked with several times. About six months ago this client found a property he was interested in and chose to make an offer without consulting the advice of his Realtor®.

The property was listed for $250,000 and he offered $150,000 for it. The seller accepted his offer, but the property appraised for only $141,000. At that point the buyer refused to go forward with the purchase. He had not made the contract contingent on financing or inspection. The seller sued him for breach of contract. This past Friday was court day. The buyer owes $17,000 in attorney fees and was ordered to pay the seller $19,000.

What is worse, being out $36,000 and having no property to show for it, or owning a property that you paid $9,000 more than it appraised for? And could working with his Realtor® have prevented this fiasco altogether?

Lesson learned the hard way. OUCH!

Be careful........a contract is a legally binding document and even someone experienced in purchasing properties may not protect their interests adequately. If you are a buyer, the commission your Realtor® earns is almost always paid by the seller. Don't take chances......get the professional help that is available at no cost to you!

Courtesy of Ann Allen, e-Pro, SRES, ASP

205.902.4868

Keller Williams

One Chase Corporation Drive, Suite 150

Hoover, AL 35244

Georgia Has Been Found and Reunited With Her Family!

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:40:19 -0600

Georgia has been found and reunited with her familyl!

You may remember that some friends of ours have been searching for their missing dog. She was found today and now she is finally home after 3 long weeks! Georgia and her brother, Vincent, escaped from their fenced backyard on October 15th. Vincent was found after just a couple of days and has been missing her terribly. These two have never been separated before now. Georgia has lost a lot of weight during her ordeal, but she is not hurt and will be fine. Can you imagine how happy these dogs are to be together again? Not to mention how happy their humans are to have them both home safe and sound!

It's a very happy ending!

We Had a Great Time at REBarCamp RDU!

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:05:46 -0600

We had a great time at REBarCamp RDU! Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to put this event together and help make it a success. I absorbed so much information in a short time my head is about to burst, but in a good way! It was so much fun getting to meet so many people in person for the first time. Here are just a few photos of some of the gang in attendance......

Patty and Thom

Wordy C and Jeremy

Carol

Debe

Sarah, Daniel, Jeremy and Lori playing Lynchburg Squares

Connie, Wordy C and Me

Nannette and Lori

REBarCamp RDU - I'm On My Way!!!

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:53:33 -0600

I'm on my way! I'm sitting in the airport in Orlando where I'll be catching my connecting flight to Raleigh in a few minutes. This is my first road trip in too long and I'm very excited about it!

It looks like I'm going to have time to relax and get settled in my room before heading to Beer for Bloggers this evening. Tomorrow will be a full day, I forget how many sessions there will be......for that matter I really don't know what Bar Camp is. I bet I know by the time I return home full of information.

Are you going? Can't wait to see everybody!!!

Sunday Balloon Rides At Shelby Baptist Church in Pelham AL

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:03:06 -0600

I don't go anywhere without my camera anymore. I never know when I will have an opportunity to capture a unique photo.......like this one.........

Last Sunday afternoon I was on my way home and came upon an unusual site in my neighborhood. I was driving on Bearden Road, having just crested the hill by Pelham High School on the way to my house, and was surprised to see this colorful hot air balloon floating above a grassy lot by Shelby Baptist Church.

I pulled in to get a close up shot and watched as the balloon rose and lowered again. From what I could tell the balloon wasn't flying any further than up and down. I don't know what the event was, but they looked like they were having a lot of fun! I'm glad I didn't miss the chance to get a photo!

Courtesy of Ann Allen, e-Pro, SRES, ASP

205.902.4868

Keller Williams

One Chase Corporation Drive, Suite 150

Hoover, AL 35244

Photo taken by Ann Allen, and may not be reproduced without express written permission of Ann Allen, Keller Williams Realty, Hoover AL. Please check if Creative Commons License as been granted for this or other photography provided by Ann Allen. Permission usually granted if credit is given with a link back. Thank you for your understanding.

Celebrating Our Anniversary and Halloween at Leonardo's Italian Restaurant in Vestavia

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:07:01 -0600

Leonardo's Italian Restaurant in Vestavia will always be one of my favorite places to dine in the Birmingham area. Mike and I had our wedding reception there almost eight years ago. We had a morning wedding and then everybody went to Leonardo's for lunch. It was wonderful!

A cozy little place that serves lunch and dinner, offers a full bar with live music nightly, Leonardo's is a real treat!

Our anniversary will be Tuesday, but we decided to celebrate with dinner at Leonardo's a few days early. I am so glad we did because we got to join in the fun as the restaurant and staff celebrated Halloween.

Soft piano music played by Mario added to the romantic (and a little bit spooky) atmosphere of the evening. We were amazed they he could play with those gloves on!

There were some other characters running around too......we spotted Elvis, who was one of the servers.

There are so many choices on the menu and I had my usual hard time making a decision.. I finally settled on Lasagna and Mike chose Veal Saltenboca, which he always enjoys. My portion was huge, but so good I could have eaten every bite. We finished by sharing the Tiramisu. Yummy!

When you visit Leonardo's, be sure to try the rolls. They are to die for! Don't fill up on them though (they will keep bringing them), you will want to save plenty of room for your meal.

Leonardo's Italian Restaurant

2520 Rocky Ridge Road

Vestavia AL 35243

205-979-6996

Courtesy of Ann Allen, e-Pro, SRES, ASP

205.902.4868

Keller Williams

One Chase Corporation Drive, Suite 150

Hoover, AL 35244

Happy Halloween! You Get An Extra Hour Of Sleep Too!

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:36:23 -0500

Happy Halloween!

It's almost time to put on your costume and greet the trick or treaters, or go to a party, or whatever you like to do to celebrate Halloween.

Have fun, be careful, and don't eat so much candy you give yourself a tummy ache.

Don't forget before you go to bed to turn all your clocks and watches back one hour. We are coming off Daylight Savings Time and get an extra hour of sleep tonight.

Now is also a good time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors.....and change them again in the Spring when we revert back to Daylight Savings Time.

Courtesy of Ann Allen, e-Pro, SRES, ASP

BIRMINGHAM AREA REAL ESTATE

205.902.4868

Keller Williams

One Chase Corporation Drive, Suite 150

Hoover, AL 35244

Ann@AnnAllenTeam.com

Halloween Fun at The Alabama Theatre - Childrens' Matinee Triple Feature

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:49:00 -0500

Halloween Fun at The Alabama Theatre

Childrens' Matinee Triple Feature

When? Saturday October 31st 2:00-3:30 PM

Featuring:

Witches In Stitches

Spongebob Halloween

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

All Seats are $6.00 and will be available at the box office 1 hour prior to showtime

Why wait until dark to start the Halloween fun? Get the party started early by bringing everyone downtown to The Alabama Theatre Saturday afternoon to enjoy these Halloween flicks on the giant screen.

The Alabama Theatre

1817 Third Avenue North

Birmingham AL 35203

205-252-2262

Find us on this Map

Courtesy of Ann Allen, e-Pro, SRES, ASP

BIRMINGHAM AREA REAL ESTATE

205.902.4868

Keller Williams

One Chase Corporation Drive, Suite 150

Hoover, AL 35244

Ann@AnnAllenTeam.com

Keep On Smiling!

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:08:06 -0500

These smiling faces were spotted at Myer's Plants and Pottery - Pelham AL

Photo taken by Ann Allen, and may not be reproduced without express written permission of Ann Allen, Keller Williams Realty, Hoover AL. Permission usually granted if credit is given with a link back. Thank you for your understanding.

Aldridge Gardens - Fall Hydrangea Sale - Hoover AL

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:29:27 -0500

Aldridge Gardens Fall Hydrangea Sale

Saturday, October 24th

9 AM - 5 PM

Aldridge Gardens in Hoover AL is having their annual Fall Hydrangea Sale Saturday, featuring over 40 different varieties of hydrangeas. The sale will also include trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals. For those that would like help making selections, members of the Alabama Hydrangea Society will be on hand to help with any questions you may have. One of the featured plants that will be available is the Snowflake Hydrangea, patented by the gardens founder, Eddie Aldridge.

It looks like we are going to have nice weather, so come spend some time strolling around the gardens and the lake, and maybe do a little shopping for your own garden.

Click here for a link to some of the hydrangeas featured at the gardens.

Aldridge Gardens

located at

3530 Lorna Road

Hoover, AL 35226

205-682-8019

Welcome to Aldridge Gardens!

Birmingham AL Short Sales: Foreclosure or Short Sale--What's the Difference?

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:18:50 -0500

Debe Maxwell is a short sale specialist in Charlotte, NC. and has written a wonderful article on the subject. She does a great job of explaining the difference between foreclosures and short sales and I'd like to share it with Birmingham AL homeowners. Thank you Debe for making this available for re-blogging!

Via Debe Maxwell, Realtor® Let's Talk CHARLOTTE! (Helen Adams Realty):

Foreclosure or Short Sale--What's the Difference?

Losing your home to foreclosure is a painful event that continues to haunt you long after your home has gone back to the bank. Your credit score is severely affected and, regrettably, most people cannot be sure that they will remain safe from foreclosure because they haven't foreseen the "unexpected." Such events as serious illness, a major accident, divorce or job loss can happen to anyone at anytime. It’s a good idea to understand the available alternatives should such devistating events occur in your life.

So, what IS the difference between a foreclosure and a short sale? Simply put, the homeowner still owns the property with a short sale; when a property has been foreclosed upon, the BANK/LENDER owns it. The foreclosure process is quite expensive for the banks/lenders so, they generally PREFER you short sell the property than for them to proceed with a foreclosure. With a short sale, the owner still lives in the property and maintains it as normal--with a foreclosure, the distressed property is left vacant and is generally in ill-repair.

A short sale MUST be listed in your local MLS with a Realtor®. Your short sale specialist works to negotiate the short sale FOR you and follow the process all the way to Closing on your property with you. The bank/lender MUST reach an agreement with you and your buyer as to price and other contractural agreements as well as a Closing date. Again, your short sale specialist handles the communication of this entire process for YOU.

As well, with a short sale, the damage to your credit is far less extensive as with a foreclosure. A short sale can be erased from your credit in as short a period as 6 months and can take up to 2 years as opposed to at least 7 years with a foreclosure. The ability to get a handle on your finances early in the game is imperative--contacting your Charlotte NC short sale specialist can save you more than you know. You are able to reside in the property until the deal is Closed--a far more 'respectable' alternative to being evicted when the bank forecloses on the property.

Foreclosure is, by far, the worst available option for you. The result of a foreclosure is the lender taking ownership of your home/property. You will not only lose your property but, the bank/lender can obtain a judgment against you for the amount that you owe plus the costs for the foreclosure process that the bank/lender incurs. Your credit will be ruined for many years to come, further worsening your financial situation. This makes obtaining any credit, incredibly difficult. There is absolutely nothing positive about foreclosure. Avoid foreclosure at all costs.

Consider a short sale rather than allowing a foreclosure on your property. A short sale is an option for property owners with serious financial issues. In the case of a short sale, one sells their home for less than what they owe the bank/lender. Some lenders will not agree to a short sale however, most prefer it to going through the lending institution's expense of a foreclosure. This is a time that you MUST have someone working for you that KNOWS short sales. Experts advise pursuing a short the minute you realize that you are in trouble. The longer you wait and the farther behind in your mortgage that you get, the less likely your bank/lender is willing to allow a short sale.

Any option is better than foreclosure! Do everything that you can before foreclosure occurs and do it as quickly as you possibly can. DO NOT WAIT! Consider a short sale and check with a short sale specialist before foreclosure is the only option remaining for you.

Don’t do this alone! Having someone to work on your behalf is priceless. Facing foreclosure is horrifying and going it alone is one of the most overwhelming experiences you can face in life. A short sale specialist is imperative in getting through this process with both dignity and composure. Don't let pride stand in your way of contacting a short sale specialist--this is our JOB and we do understand. Let us do our job and help you through this proess so that you can avoid foreclosure.

You NEED an experienced Charlotte NC short sale specialist! Contact us today so that we can help YOU.

This Might Be The Biggest Spider Web I've Ever Seen ~ Halloween in Ivy Brook, Pelham AL

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 12:14:59 -0500

Halloween in Ivy Brook, Pelham AL

Don't be scared, he's a friendly spider! He wants trick or treaters to know they are welcome here!

Paws In The Park - Pell City, AL

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:29:31 -0500

PAWS IN THE PARK - PELL CITY, AL

Admission is FREE!

Come join the fun at the ASPCI's annual fundraiser this Sunday, October 18th at Lakeside Park in Pell City, AL.

Bring your family and friends (and your pets of course!) and enjoy food and entertainment while raising funds for the Pell City Animal Shelter.

There will be animals available for adoption and you can have your own pet microchipped for only $25!

Attractions include:

Approximately 30 vendor booths
Food vendors
Free hot-air balloon rides (weather permitting)
Free rock climbing wall
Free space bounces
Pet contest
Face painting
Antique car show
Live bands

Come spend a fun day at Paws In The Park from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. - Lakeside Park in Pell City, AL!

Dogs Missing in Bluff Park......Vincent Is Home, But Georgia Is Still Missing!

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 19:32:42 -0500

DOGS MISSING IN BLUFF PARK!

Georgia is a black and white female and she is still missing!

She is a Husky/German Shepherd mix with blue eyes.

VINCENT HAS BEEN FOUND!

Vincent was spotted by the Bluff Park Piggly Wiggly, where he and Georgia were seen around noon on October 15th by animal control. Many friends have been on the lookout for these much loved pets and Vincent was spotted by one of them today. She whistled one of his favorite songs, a Barry Manilow tune, and he perked up but ran and hid from her. Anita called Vincent's owner, K.C., who rushed over and he came out of hiding to be reunited with her. K.C. said he collapsed at her feet and cried for about 10 minutes.

His sister, Georgia is still missing! Please continue to look for her! This is the first time they have been separated in 9 1/2 years! Vincent is glad to be home but misses her very much!

Please call Bluff Park Animal Clinic (823-3034) if you see her!

GEORGIA

Dogs Missing in Bluff Park......Have You Seen Them?

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:02:46 -0500

DOGS MISSING IN BLUFF PARK!

Georgia is a black and white female and Vincent is a blond male.

They are Husky/German Shepherd mix with blue eyes.

Last seen by animal control around noon on October 15th by the Bluff Park Piggly Wiggly, when chased they ran in different directions. In 9 1/2 years Georgia and Vincent have never been separated.

They are not agressive.

Please call Bluff Park Animal Clinic (823-3034) if you see them!

Can You Guess What Kind of Puppy This Is?

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:30:14 -0500

Free The Hummingbird!

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:27:41 -0500

I noticed this poor little hummingbird in our garage yesterday and he is still there today. I left the garage door open for him but he is confused and can't find the opening. He is flying around the ceiling and although he takes some rest breaks, the little guy has got to be worn out.

It was not easy to take his picture....this fella is fast!

Has anybody got an ideas of how I can help him find his way out?

Look Quick! There's a Glimpse of Blue Sky!

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:41:02 -0500

Like so many of you, here in Birmingham AL were have had more than our fair share of rain in the past few days and it's not over yet! It may be Monday before showers move out and we get a chance to dry out.

With reports of flooding and loss of life, I realize we are getting through all this a lot easier than some folks. This morning we have even had several hours when I haven't seen a raindrop. I took the opportunity to enjoy some time outdoors while I could and was grateful for it. We are still under a flash flood watch in our area with isolated and scattered showers in the forecast for days.

First-Time Homebuyers in Birmingham AL - Don't Miss The $8,000 TAX CREDIT! - Counting Down The Days To The Deadline!

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 11:54:53 -0500

First-time Homebuyers in Birmingham AL need to close on their home by November 30, 2009 in order to be eligible to receive the $8,000 Tax Credit.

Time is getting short!

If you haven't already gotten started, you need to find that home and negotiate terms that you and the seller agree on. Once you have a contract you will begin the loan process. This won't happen overnight. An average period to close your loan is about 45 days.

Don't forget about the holidays! You don't want to count on being able to close on that last day......what if your closing is delayed? It happens all the time.

Don Rogers' article explains how this could impact your closing, as well as a couple of pretty cool countdown clocks to help you keep up with how much time is left. One counts down the days until the credit expires; the other counts the days until you should have a accepted contract on a home.

Via Don Rogers REALTOR®, GRI O'Fallon MO & St Charles County MO homes (RE/MAX Gold):

So Why The Clock AND Is It The Right Time? Which clock should be used?

I have been using this clock, below, for some time now on my weekly market updates to draw attention to how much time is left until the $8,000 Tax Credit expires.

Countdown Clocks
And to the best of my knowledge, right now, the Tax credit is set to expire at the stroke of midnight on November 30, 2009.

So here is my dilemma…..On Friday I was talking with a friend and managing broker from another company. Yes we can have friends that work in other companies, but I digress. He brings up a very interesting point and one that we need to look at when presenting this topic to our eligible homebuyers. That is:

November 30, 2009 is a Monday

November 29, 2009 is Sunday

November 28, 2009 is Saturday

November 27, 2009 is the day after you guessed it

November 26, 2009 which is a Thursday and a HOLIDAY (THANKSGIVING)

Does anyone see a possible problem here? Or is it just me?

Are we considering the possibilities of potential problems with funding, to where the property has closed by the prescribed time?

Title companies/Attorneys can handle just so many closes in a day even if they have extra closers on hand to handle the rush and where will they come from?

Banks are still going to close at 5pm, maybe 6pm in some areas!

What about getting the wire transfer of funds in time to close before 5pm, maybe 6pm in some areas?

What happens if there is a change to the settlement statement that will affect the APR at the last minute? Remember the RESPA changes that have taken effect just recently.

And the list could go on and on.

So should we be looking at, at the latest unless it is an all cash deal, closing on Friday November 20, 2009? Just so we will have a little bit of a cushion in the event of a problem!

That being the case, if we figure 45 days to close on a home then this is what the clock would look like to have an accepted contract as opposed to the one above.

Countdown Clocks

Just sayin’………………………

Don Rogers is a licensed REALTOR® in Missouri. I specialize in St. Charles County. If you are looking to buy or sell or you are relocating to the area and would like information about the St Charles County MO area do not hesitate to give me a call at 314-954-6775 or if you would prefer to send me an email at Don@DRogersHomes.com.

Happy Birthday Molly!

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:02:01 -0500

Happy Birthday Molly!

I can't believe you have just celebrated your 14th birthday!

We are so proud of all your achievements, you are an excellent student and have been blessed with the gift of dance, but even more special is your kind and gentle heart.

You are beautiful inside and out and we love you so very much!

As your Nana, I got the privelege of staying home with baby Richard while you and your friends enjoyed an evening of bowling to celebrate your birthday. I'm sorry I don't have pictures to post from the party, but by missing the bowling I had a wonderful time with the little guy, who that night was still wearing a cast on his leg but was getting around very well.....finally the little guy is out of his cast!

Happy Birthday Molly!

You are a beautiful girl and your family loves you so very much!