Huntsville, Alabama Real Estate Agent's Blog

Huntsville Deal of the week! 14003 Sawyer Circle, Huntsville Alabama

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 20:01:26 -0500

While out showing, I stumbled upon this little gem in South Huntsville. With 1800 square feet, the price is only $129,900...that is just $72 per square foot! The current neighborhood average for Active listings in Autumn Ridge is $86 per square foot...I call that a deal!!!

At 14003 Sawyer Circle in Huntsville you will first get a glimpse of the large fenced yard located in a cul de sac. Not only does this home offer 4 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths, but also a loft area that is perfect for a home office, or great area for the kids to hang out in their own space!

At only $129,900, I bet you are thinking this must be a "real fixer upper"? Well, think again! The owner has just put a new roof on this year, the heating and AC unit is only 3 years old and the siding has recently been replaced. Does it get any better than this?

The kitchen features new hardwood flooring, newer appliances and a new tiled back splash. You'll enjoy the two story great room with a fireplace.

As we all know, it's tough to find a deal on a home in this price range that doesn't need MAJOR repairs or improvements. Just bring your elbow grease, a little paint and I think you will find a home you will be proud to own!

The listing agent on this gem is Ashleigh Green. Her contact number is 256-527-0185.

Be sure to put 14003 Sawyer Circle on your list of "must see" homes. You'll be glad you did!

Be sure to check my interactive neighborhood search tools at www.NorthernAlabamaHomes.com

Open House Sunday August 30, 2-4 pm

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:35:12 -0500

Elizabeth Cooper-Golden | Re/Max Huntsville-Madison | 256-425-1659

Postwood Court, Madison, AL

Screened in porch, Mountain views, steps to Indian Creek Greenway and Research Park. Awesome open floor plan.

3BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $149,900

Year Built	Unspecified
Sq Footage	1,562
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	7,503 sqft
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

OPEN SUNDAY AUGUST 30TH 2-4 PM You can have it all, and here it is! 229 Postwood Court in Madison Alabama.
This one owner home has been painstakingly maintained. From the gorgeous thick lawn to the freshly painted interior, this is worth seeing, I promise ;)

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- Fireplace
- Walk-in closet	- Family room	- Living room
- Dining room	- Dishwasher	- Stove/Oven
- Attic	- Laundry area - inside	- Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Garage parking

- Playground

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

- Playground and Picnic area at the Greenway

- 3 bedrooms all feature walk in closets

- New screened porch

- A privacy fenced yard you will be proud to call your own

- Hard to find one level ranch

- Wood burning fireplace

- Open floor plan with so many possibilities of living arrangements.

- Whirlpool tub and separate shower in Master retreat

- Island and large eat in bar in kitchen, which opens to the keeping room

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Welcome home!	Wood burning fireplace
One of 2 living areas	Formal Dining
Screened porch	Mountain Views

Contact info:

Elizabeth Cooper-Golden

Re/Max Huntsville-Madison

256-425-1659

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Aug 29, 2009, 4:20pm PDT

Huntsville Real Estate Foreclosures On The Rise

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 23:59:15 -0500

Huntsville area foreclosure activity continues at its highest level on record for 3 three consecutive months now, with 1 out of every 807 Madison County Homes involved with some stage of the foreclosure process. Foreclosure activity is defined as the number of homes receiving foreclosure filings, default notices, auction notice, or bank repossession. No need to panic, however. We are FAR below the National level.

As illustrated in the following chart, the increased local activity began in March of 2009 with April and May following suite with a strong clear jump in foreclosure activity being reported each of the last 3 months.

Foreclosures fall into several categories and require customized searches to isolate these listings in the local Huntsville MLS. Here are a few of these searches to facilitate your viewing of these homes online: Huntsville Short Sale Homes For Sale, Huntsville Bank Owned Homes For Sale, Huntsville Hud Owned Homes For Sale, Huntsville Right of Redemption Homes For Sale

To understand the various stages of the foreclosure process and evaluate whether you should consider purchasing a foreclosure and at what state be sure you read our previous post: Should You Consider Buying a Foreclosure?

While foreclosure opportunities do exist in our local market it must be stated that in general Alabama and Madison County still remain in very good shape when compared to the nation as a whole.

It must also be stated that the bulk of Alabama's home foreclosures are isolated to its major metropolitan areas as illustrated in the attached graphics.

Keeping things in a Proper Perspective

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 23:51:31 -0500

Everyday life is full of a multitude of responsibilities embedded within our many individual roles: Husband, Wife, Father, Mother, Son, Daughter, Brother, Sister, Family Member, Workmate, Schoolmate, Friends, Peers, Bosses, Employee, Teachers, ...and so many more.

It is so easy for everyone of us to lose perspective from time-to-time, perhaps much more than we would like. I found in the following photos and captions a moment of pause. I hope you enjoy and pass them along.

A special thank you to CPT Alison L. Crane, RN, MS Mental Health Nurse Observer-Trainer 7302nd Medical Training Support Battallion for sharing this with all of us. God Bless our troops.

Huntsville Alabama Historic District. Is it really haunted?

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 23:18:03 -0500

I ran across an interesting tidbit of information this week while cruising the Internet. I never knew that much of Huntsville's Historic District is said to be haunted by several ghosts. Yep I said ghosts. ...I know ...I know ...but bare with me for a moment because this is actually an interesting family outing you can do while you are visiting Huntsville this summer or fall.

Huntsville historian and award-winning author, Jacquelyn Procter Reeves, has researched at length the history of our very own historic district. What she has uncovered will likely surprise many of us locals who thought we knew it all. In fact what she has uncovered and documented within her books are little known facts, as well as historic rumors, of haunted places in our very own Old Town Historic District.

Ok, here is what we know so far: ...A ghost at the Court House is said to be angry at the men who lynched him in 1904, ghost children on Walker St sing about a the Spanish flu epidemic that killed several people in the area in 1918, A U.S. Senator for 1849-1853 apparently prowles around his former home on Pratt Ave, and there are former confederate soldiers on Randolph Ave that of course are still upset over the Civil War.

However the story gets a bit creepier and they have added a bit of history and fun to the mix. Jacquelyn has now teamed up with Kevin Thompson, a lead investigator with the Madison County Paranormal Research Society and not only have they toured with paranormal mediums that have embellished upon the tantalizing history, they have formed a weekly Huntsville Ghost Walk Tour for the pleasure of the touring public.

Thus Jacquelyn and Kevin have pooled their talents to put this tour together; for an interesting, historical, and entertaining evening consisting of researched stories of ghostly activity and of course Huntsville's own rich history. The tour begins Saturday evenings at 6:00pm through October 2009 from the Harrison Brother's Hardware Store in downtown Huntsville and tickets are $8.00 for adults $6.00 for children 12 and under and can be purchased at Harrison Brothers or Call (256) 509-3940 for more information.

With so many relocation clients in and out of town for house hunting trips this summer, I would definitely recommended this family outing not only for the local History and creepy family fun stuff, but I think you will really enjoy a stroll through all the Huntsville Historic District Homes for Sale and taking a first hand look at our Huntsville Historic District.

In fact I think I am going to try and schedule our own tour with Hubby and Daughters sometime before the end of the summer, ...I just love the homes in the Twickenham District adjacent to Old Town and family time is just so important, isn't it! Have fun!

229 Postwood Court, Madison Alabama

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:32:40 -0500

You can have it all, here at 229 Postwood Court! Mountain views and the Indian Creek Greenway are all yours! Creekwood Subdivision is located literally seconds from Research Park.

229 Postwood Court has so much to offer. Location, condition and price. The open floor plan features 2 living areas. The formal living area would be a great home office, if needed! The keeping room off of the kitchen is the perfect place to hang out with family and friends.

All 3 bedrooms offer large walk in closets. New flooring has been installed in the kitchen and both full baths!

Liberty Knoll Subdivision Madison Alabama

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:07:44 -0500

If convenience, great schools and affordable housing interests you, check out Liberty Knoll Subdivision located in Madison Alabama.

Liberty Knoll is located off of County Line Road, one block off of Highway 72.

From the wonderful community pool, to the schools, you have a found a winner! Sidewalks, brick homes and minutes to shopping, Redstone and Research Park. Here is the community Club House:

Liberty Knollis currently zoned for Columbia Elementary, Liberty Middle and award winning Bob Jones High School.

There are currently 7 homes under contract or that have sold since January of '09. The average sale price since January '09 has been $219,922, with a low of $199,900 and a high of $258,500. Days on market have averaged only 82 days.

Homes in Liberty Knoll range from the high $190,000's to the mid $200,000's on average.

Publix Shopping Center is located nearby, which offers not only a new Publix grocery store, but also a wide variety of restaurants and boutique type shops.

Madison City Schools: http://www.madisoncity.k12.al.us/

For all things Madison: http://www.madisonal.gov/

To search other neighborhoods in the Huntsville area, be sure to visit my web site, www.NorthernAlabamaHomes.com Here, you will find a neighborhood search function. Enjoy!

Huntsville, Alabama 235 Postwood Court

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 09:49:27 -0500

WOW, is what you will say when you see this home. For only $!59,900 you won't believe the upgrades! 235 Postwood Court is located in Creekwood Subdivision, which is steps to Research Park and minutes to Redstone Arsenal. Walk to Indian Creek Greenway, located in the rear of the neighborhood. The kids will love the new playground!

When you pull up to 235 Postwood Court, the love affair will begin. Beautiful landscaping, lush lawn and a wooded lot are all maintained with the irrigation system. You will notice the gorgeous flower beds that surround the home. When approaching the front door, let the jazz music take you away, coming from the surround sound that is located on the interior AND exterior.

Once inside, the gleaming hardwood floors and two story greatroom will greet you, with a gorgeous fireplace. Again, enjoy the jazz music from the surround sound inside! The new hardwood floors flank the entire first level, including the master suite. From the greatroom, you will see the awesome built in fish tank! The main level master suite even has a private jacuzzi room, making a his and her bath! Double vanities are to be expected! The kitchen boasts newer appliances, a large breakfast room, a pantry, and of course, more hardwood flooring! Mom, you'll love it

Upstairs, you will find an open loft, which is perfect for a home office or playroom! Off the loft area, step out into paradise on your private deck with million dollar views of the mountains! The perfect spot to enjoy your morning coffee, or wind down after a long day. New laminate flooring can be found in the loft and hallways leading to two large bedrooms, BOTH featuring walk-in closets.

The masterpiece of the home is waiting to be found down the hall. Step into your own media room, complete with a big screen TV AND all components. Again, surround sound! This is the perfect spot for the family to enjoy their favorite movies. Guys, this is a great man cave as well! The media room also features a work out section and a small office space.

Outside in the back yard, of course you have more amazing landscaping. You will also find a covered patio and a basketball court! The storage building is perfect to keep the garage clutter free!

235 Postwood Court in Madison Alabama truly does have it all. Really, it does!

Compare this home to other homes in Creekwood Subdivision and you'll see it DOES have it all. Welcome home.

Creekwood Subdivision, Madison Alabama

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:23:12 -0500

Imagine having a Greenway located in your own neighborhood. Welcome to the Creekwood neighborhood, where having it all IS possible.

Mountain views, steps from the Greenway and affordable housing. Yes, you can have it all, in Creekwood Subdivision in Madison Alabama.

Homes in Creekwood Subdivison range from the very low $100,000's to the upper $100,000's. Creekwood Subdivision is literally minutes to Research Park, being the only subdivision in Huntsville that has an entrance directly into Research Park. Talk about avoiding traffic!

Ride bikes, jog or enjoy a leisurely walk at Indian Creek Greenway, located within the subdivision. Enjoy the best nature has to offer after a long days work. What a way for the children to wind down! The kids will love the new playground at the Greenway.

Creekwood Subdivision in Madison is zoned for Providence Elementary and Middle School, and Columbia High, an International Baccalaureate World School, offering the IB Diploma Program.

If you are wanting convenience, affordability and great schools, be sure to give Creekwood Subdivision a try! Creekwood truly has it all...and more.

Honor those that fight for OUR freedom

Mon, 25 May 2009 10:34:51 -0500

Today, at 3:00 pm EST, there will be a national moment of silence in honor of those that have fought and continue to fight for our freedom.

Since the war began in 2001, nearly 5,000 Americans have paid the ultimate price to protect our freedom, from the Revolutionary War to Operation Iraqi Freedom, and each war in between.

Many think that Memorial Day is a time for fun, food and the official kick off of summer. Let's not forget the true meaning of Memorial Day. Let us all take time to honor those that have given all, to protect our fine country.

God Bless Our Troops.

206 Ashley Way, Madison Alabama

Sun, 24 May 2009 20:33:25 -0500

Home sweet home. That is the feeling you get when you pull into the drive at 206 Ashley Way in Madison Alabama. Homes in Ashley Estates are sought after and a rarity. This is your opportunity to own your piece of paradise. Offered at only $259,900 featuring 5 bedrooms and 3 baths.

Knowing how important having a home "show room ready" is, the detail oriented sellers have gone above and beyond here at 206 Ashley Way. Not only have they completely updated and remodeled the home, but they have also priced it to sell. This is a win win for savvy buyers.

Ashley Estates is the perfect location, located close to Research Park and Bridge Street. Of course, 206 Ashley Way is zoned for award winning Madison City Schools. Ashley Estates features a large neighborhood park, loaded with playground equipment. While the kids play, relax on one of the many park benches.

Starting with a new roof and finishing with new door knobs, you won't believe all of the new updates at 206 Ashley Way. New carpet, tile and hardwood, along with fresh paint, appliances and lighting are just a few of the recent upgrades here.

The kitchen opens to the great room and features a center island with cooktop and large pantry. You'll love the cherry cabinets! A desk is located in the kitchen area as well, making it the perfect spot to search for new recipes on your laptop.

You will find a large formal dining room and 2nd living area, both featuring gleaming new hardwood flooring. Just down the hall from the kitchen, is bedroom number 5. This would be a perfect home office if needed!

The winding staircase off the large entry, leads you to 4 bedrooms upstairs. The Master Suite is enormous and features a sitting area with amazing views! Granite countertop in the Master is again, a wonderful new feature of 206 Ashley Way.

The large wooded lot features a 16x20 deck. Perfect for relaxing and taking in the gorgeous views.

If you have been searching for homes in Madison Alabama, be sure to visit 206 Ashley Way.

111 Willow Brook Drive, Madison Alabama

Fri, 08 May 2009 21:51:05 -0500

Welcome to 111 Willow Brook Drive in Madison, Alabama. Located in the Knox Creek Subdivision, this home is a real gem.

You will be pleasantly surprised at what $117,900 will get you in this 4 bedroom, 2 bath home. From the gleaming hardwood floors to the tiled kitchen, can you say "Bang for your buck?".

111 Willow Brook Drive has been completely remodeled in the past year. You'll love the new kitchen featuring all new cabinets, tile flooring and new appliances.

The moment you step in the door, you'll notice the vaulted ceilings and the corner fireplace. The hardwood floors gleam and are featured in the living room AND the 4th bedroom. This 4th bedroom has 2 closets and double doors making this a fabulous option for a den or home office, if you choose.

The master suite bath was also a part of the major remodel last year. Large and open, the master retreat features 2 pedestal sinks and tiled flooring. The master suite features a large walk-in closet.

You'll love the large corner lot with a privacy fence.

111 Willow Brook Drive is zoned for highly rate Providence Elementary and Middle School and Columbia High School, which is the first Huntsville school to be named an International Baccalaureate School.

If you are searching for homes in Madison Alabama from $100,000 to $125,000, be sure to visit 111 Willow Brook Drive. You'll be glad you did!

Hidden Lake Subdivision, Huntsville Alabama

Fri, 08 May 2009 20:04:02 -0500

Tucked deep in the valley, surrounded by mountains, you will find Hidden Lake Subdivision in Huntsville Alabama.

When I first discovered Hidden Lake in Owens Cross Roads, I knew this was a place I could call home. The moment I took the scenic drive down Old Big Cove Road, I was hooked. Peaceful. Awe struck by the mountain views. It was love at first site. At every glance, I saw the glorious foothills of Northern Alabama. I was enveloped in the forest it seemed. Everywhere I looked, I saw stately trees, peaking down on me from the foothills. Serenity, at last!

You will fall in love with the gently rolling hills. You will fall in love with the large community lake. Childhood memories will be made at the large community pool that overlooks the lake. Homes range from the upper $200,000's and many enjoy the luxury of backing to the lake.

Minutes from Hampton Cove and Jones Valley, the location of Hidden Lake Subdivision is hard to beat. Zoned for Hampton Cove Elementary and Middle Schools and top rated Huntsville High School, this is a parent pleaser!

If you are searching for homes in Owens Cross Roads Alabama, be sure to visit Hidden Lake Subdivision. If you are searching for homes in Northern Alabama, be sure to visit my web site, www.NorthernAlabamaHomes.com From neighborhood searches, to searches by square footage, I think you'll find all the information you need for your next home search!

FHA Loans vs Conventional Loans - 5% down - Things you need to know !!!!

Sat, 02 May 2009 18:59:09 -0500

With so many mortgage changes in our industry, I think it is SO important to keep my clients informed. Jeff helps me do that by writing great articles that explain the mortgage process. I an one of Jeff Belonger's biggest fans. He knows his stuff, to say the least. If you are going to be purchasing in the future, you may want to subscribe to his blog. Jeff keeps us all informed about new loan products and important changes headed our way.

I hope you find this information useful! Enjoy.

Via Jeff Belonger -- The FHA Expert.com -- FHA Loans -- FHA mortgages - USDA loans (Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc):

For several of you that read my blogs, I try and do a FHA vs Conventional purchase comparison once every few months.

FHA loans have been more wisely used in recent months as the choice of mortgages. What I hate hearing is that they have taken the spot of the subprime loans. This is not true by any part of the imagination. This statement is from those that are inexperienced in both the mortgage and the real estate industries. The realization has been that 30% of the subprime mortgages in the last 5 years previous to the last 2 years should have been FHA mortgages, not subprime. A recent survey has stated that FHA loanscould be more than 60% of all loans originated for the 2nd quarter of 2009.

To compound this, so many said just because you had a conventional loan, you had the better loan. This was not always true when putting 3 percent down or even 5 percent down. In most cases, you were told this, because that particular lender was not FHA approved. Now? Even with 10% down and credit scores less than 700, FHA loans in many cases, will be the best mortgage for you.

So you could argue the fact that this is just my opinion, that FHA mortgages in many cases would be better for you. True, even though I have over 16 years of experience as a loan officer in the mortgage industry. But numbers don't lie. Let me show you..... and in this scenario,

The example below is based on a $300,000 purchase price with 5% down. One reason why conventional rates are a little higher in this scenario as in FHA rates is because Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have added penalties per se. If you are putting down less than 30% and your credit score is less than 720, certain fee penalties would apply to you, which would increase your rate. The FICO (credit score) that I am going to use is 679, which is above the average credit score and I will still show in this example that FHA loans are cheaper, even with 5% down.

***And keep in mind, some lenders have penalties on FHA mortgages with credit scores under 660 now. We don't. And many lenders can't do FHA loans under 620. I can still do them down to 600. Just beware of those promising you FHA loans under 600, they don't close as much as promised.***

Disclaimer : These rates are examples, but the spread shown in the example is real. To compare this scenario apples to apples, the fees are the same and with 1.75 points. In this scenario, there are no lender fees. The conventional rate also includes the penalty for the 679 credit score.

Okay, Jeff, you used 4 total examples. I am confused. A better than average loan officer will use all 4 comparisons, to show you the bang for your buck. I will explain each one below.

Conventional vs FHA - Your monthly savings is $170.36, favoring the FHA loan. Some of you might be saying that you will be adding $4,897.00 onto your principal balance if you did the FHA mortgage because of the FHA one-time mortgage insurance premium. This is correct and I don't want to confuse you with more numbers and charts. But here is a quick breakdown. If you kept your house for 5 years, which most people sell in a 6 year period, you would have saved $11,115.00 in payments in 5 years. This is a difference of $6,218.00 that you have saved!!! And one other thing that is very small, but still makes a difference.

Conventional Financed MI vs FHA - On the conventional loan, you can get a huge discount by adding the mortgage insurance onto your loan amount. Now your FHA monthly savings is only $37.83 a month, but you are now adding $4,560 to your total loan amount on the conventional loan. That comes out to an additional $76 a month over a 5 year period, if you wanted to pay down your mortgage to the same as the FHA loan. So now your total monthly savings is $113.83. Yes, you do get a larger tax write off on the mortgage insurance being financed, but with the lower rate on the FHA loan, you also subtract more off the principal quicker.

Conventional Lender Paid MI (LPMI) vs FHA - On the conventional loan, you are paying a higher rate, which part of it pays for your monthly mortgage insurance. Your monthly savings on the FHA loan is only $74.44. In 5 years, you saved $4,466. But you added $4,897 onto the FHA loan, which means that in 5 years, you came out $431 better on the conventional loan in 5 years. But hold the presses... You get a higher tax write off, because you added more money onto your FHA loan and you are slightly reducing your principal because you have a interest rate that is 1.25% lower than that of the conventional loan.

The end result on the 3rd comparison? You will still come out ahead on the FHA loan. But let's take it a step further. Take your savings of $74.44 a month and add it back into your payments monthly for 5 years. Guess what, my principal balance in 5 years on the FHA mortgage is $5,199 lower than that conventional mortgage.

Again, a very good loan officer should understand these comparisons and be able to show them to you, if you need to see the numbers to help make your decision. I have heard many borrowers in the past say that their loan officer did these comparisons and suggest the conventional loan. Rut row... I didn't fudge these numbers. ... just a FYI.

Another Footnote : You will be subtracting a few more dollars per month from your principal because your interest rate is lower, which would offset the interest that you would write off on the higher rate. Just something else to remember, but consult your tax consultant or CPA.

For more updated information on Conventional PMI (private mortgage insurance) - Please read this detailed blog by Robert Rauf. The new world of PMI - update (FHA loans save the day)

For more FHA loans vs conventional loans comparisons :

FHA loans vs Conventional loans - A true numbers comparision with 5% down - Using a 710 credit score

FHA loans vs Conventional loans - A real comparision with 5% down - Using a 659 credit score

FHA Loans vs Conventional Loans - 20% down - A Rude Reality Check - Would you believe that FHA loans could be cheaper even with 20% down? Come see why and how.

FHA Loans vs Conventional Loans - 5% - 4 comparisons that you need to know - Comparing a FHA loan against 3 types of conventional loans with different types of monthly mortgage insurance. Guess who won while still using a 679 credit score.....

- FHA Loans - USDA Loans - VA Loans -

- Energy Efficient Mortgages -

- Conventional Loans - 203 k loans -

- Mortgages -

Experience & Knowledge at its BEST !!!

_________________________________________________________________________________________

For more information on FHA loans, please go to this link. The FHA Expert

For more information about the 2009 Tax Credit for First Time Homebuyers : 2009 Tax Credit

For important mortgage insight to watch for, please read : Consumers need to be aware of these Red Flags !!!!

Copyright © 2009 by Jeff Belonger

Go ahead. Shoot yourself in the foot. The pitfalls of overpricing your home.

Sat, 02 May 2009 16:35:04 -0500

The art of pricing your home to sell is SO IMPORTANT. While I understand your thoughts on overpricing your home, I'm here to tell you, you are making a HUGE mistake. Go ahead and load the gun in preparation for shooting yourself in the foot.

The days of putting a price on your home because you "need or want that price" are gone. Buyers are much too savvy. After the recent nationwide meltdown of the Real Estate market, buyers are skittish. Rightly so. A good majority of our buyers here in Huntsville are Engineers and Scientists. They make up approximately 80% of my business. Without our stable Engineers, our Real Estate market could be in the tank with so many other cities. Slow and steady growth has seen us through the tough times. Yes, our market is down a bit, but compare us to other areas and we are doing very well.

I work with buyers and hear what they have to say. With a large inventory of homes for sale in Huntsville, it's easy to understand why a buyer would not want to waste their time making offers. Buying and selling is psychological.

Buyers look at dozens of homes and typically can know the market value better than a seller does. Why? They see them all! By the time my buyers make an offer, they are well educated on our Huntsville Real Estate market, from data I have gathered for them from recent sales and by seeing for themselves. Neighborhood comparables are an indicator of market value. It is nearly impossible to convince today's cost-conscious, consumer-savvy buyers to pay more than the housing market says it is worth. Would you? As a Huntsville Buyers Agent, it is the agents job to ensure buyers have all of the data necessary before making their offer, so they can make an educated decision.

Overpricing your home will not only cause it to linger on the market, but will also raise red flags as to why it hasn't sold, when it has been reduced over time to the correct market price.

Let me walk you through some of their thoughts and how overpricing can and will be the loaded gun.

Buyers Point of View

The sellers must be hard to deal with because their home is so overpriced.

They found a similar home that meets their criteria that is priced at market value. Why fight with an unrealistic seller?

The buyers do not want to offend the sellers.

Afraid of being told "NO" by the seller. They can't risk the rejection, or won't.

Afraid of overpaying. What if the housing market continues to decline?

Something is wrong with this house. Look how long it's been on the market!

Oh yeah! Here is a real desperate seller! Look how long it has been on the market and how many times it has been listed. If they just reduced it that much, they'll take this much! (I can smell blood, so prepare yourself for a LOW offer...below market more than likely!)

Realtors Point of View

I am not interested in showing over priced listings to my clients. I do not want to risk losing credibility by taking my buyers to see an over-priced property. If I DO show a clearly overpriced home, it is usually in an attempt to show them how well THE OTHER home is priced.

From a Realtor's point of view, why do I want to fight with the agent that clearly thinks his listing is priced at market, when the numbers prove otherwise. My buyers have "X" amount of time to buy a home. Collectively, we have no time to waste here. If the transaction begins on a negative note, it can more than likely end on one as well. I'll pass.

Sellers: Do your homework

Price your home correctly. Listen to your agent. Listen to our Real Estate Market in Huntsville Alabama. The longer your home lingers, statistically you will sell it for less. The first 30 days are the most important time when listing your home! If you can't list you home for the price you have in mind in today's market, consider waiting.

By ALL means, avoid shooting yourself in the foot by making sure you are working with a qualified Realtor that will price and market your home to get you top dollar, in a timely fashion! Choosing a Huntsville listing agent is the most important step. A good agent may not always tell you want you want to hear. They will tell you what you need to hear!

Another Broken Egg Cafe, Huntsville Alabama

Sat, 02 May 2009 13:37:44 -0500

I love breakfast. A GOOD breakfast. It has always been my favorite meal of the day. I've been searching for another local "non chainy" place to call home when I have a breakfast craving. I don't consider IHOP or Denny's "good". I want atmosphere. I want great service and by golly, I want good food! I have found it. Another Broken Egg Cafe.

Another Broken Egg Cafe is located in Jones Valley in Huntsville, Alabama. The franchise began in Mandeville, Louisiana in 1996. They have slowly spread their wings and I'm SO darn glad they perched here in Huntsville. Much thanks to Buddy and Lori Buckner for opening in our area!

My husband Tim and I headed to Another Broken Egg Cafe last weekend, on a mission to fix my craving for great grits. Upon entering, I fell in love with the charm of the French Country decor. Color splashed walls, colorful tables and great music. The atmosphere was casual enough to "hang out" on a lazy Saturday morning, but formal enough to impress. (If that makes sense).

We chose to sit outside in the courtyard. Our service was spot on, from the moment we walked in the door. Again, so impressive. Be sure to ask for C.C. (otherwise known as Cecelia). Our service was outstanding!

I ordered the Ham and Cheese omelet. It came with country potatoes, but I chose to substitute cheese grits. (no surprise there). My breakfast also came with an English Muffin. Delicious, delicious, delicious! My omelet was very large and more than enough for me.

My bowl of cheese grits was also more than I could finish.

On my next trip, I am trying their Blackberry Grits. Oh yum!

Tim is a bit more adventuresome than I am and he ordered the Southwest Scramble. His plate came with the Country potatoes (that were yummy, I might add). His scramble consisted of chorizo, onions, green chilies and tomatoes, smothered with melted jack and cheddar cheese. It was served with a warm tortilla, guacamole and delicious homemade salsa. Again, large portions and more than enough to fill him up! He thought it was wonderful.

We had the pleasure of meeting a fantastic group of "kids" (anyone under 30 is a kid to me), sitting at the table behind us. They discovered Another Broken Egg Cafe last month and raved about the service and food, consistently being top notch. Lucky for me, they allowed me to photograph their food, lol. From Biscuits and Gravy to Pancakes, again, they give the food a thumbs up! Meet Dee, Samantha, Jeremy and Adam. Three are also actors in a local theatre group here in Huntsville. No wonder they had such outstanding personalities, all 4 did! ;)

Another Broken Egg Cafeis now my favorite breakfast spot. I can't wait to take my clients when I'm showinghomes in Jones Valleyarea. Knowing they will get great food AND great service makes it a no brainer, doesn't it?

They have a wide variety of choices here on their menu. Another Broken Egg Cafe is now serving lunch and dinner as well. I hope you enjoy your experience as much as we did!

Foreclosures in Madison County see a dramatic increase!

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 10:14:48 -0500

According to RealtyTrac's latest foreclosure report for the first quarter of 2009, foreclosures in Madison County have seen a dramatic increase when compared to the same quarter of 2008. The company reported that foreclosure activity in the area increased a whopping 80% quarter over quarter and up 21% from the 4th quarter of 2008.

RealtyTrac CEO James Saccacio said in a news release regarding the nationwide foreclosure activity spike that occurred during the quarter:

"Since much of this activity was in new foreclosure actions, it suggests that many lenders were holding off on executing foreclosures due to industry moratorium and legislative delays."

When looking at some of the detailed Madison county charts provided via our RealtyTrac membership it lends credence to the theory espoused by Mr Saccacio. Note the almost 200% increase in foreclosure activity in March 2009 compared with the last 12 months on average.

Madison County Foreclosures vs Interest Rates

It is even more interesting to dig a little deeper into the report and get a sense of what market segments are being most affected. Note within the following chart that the market segment that is being the most adversely effected are homes valued at $200k or less, with most of this activity centered within the Huntsville Real Estate metro area.

Madison County Foreclosures vs Market Value

How this will effect home prices in the Huntsville area is yet to be seen, however some due diligence, especially across various price ranges is certainly something we are looking at putting together in the very near future.

To search for homes in Huntsville and all of Madison County, be sure to visit my web site, www.NorthernAlabamaHomes.com I think you will find it to be the best search tool around!

Ashley Estates in Madison Alabama. Our hidden gem!

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:52:48 -0500

Ashley Estates in Madison Alabama is one of our hidden gems. Charm. Character. Mountain views. Green space. Neighborhood park. Nature. Minutes from Research Park, Redstone and Bridge Street Town Centre. Sound perfect? It is!

Ashley Estates has charming older homes, larger wooded lots and views to die for! Homes for sale in Ashley Estates are few and far between. Many have been updated, while others are waiting for the perfect buyer that wants to create their own masterpiece.

Walk to the neighborhood park. The kids will love the playground while you sit on the park benches and enjoy the green space.

Homes don't last long in Ashley Estates and typically the inventory is low. Once you drive through, you will soon discover why. I took a few photos of some of my favorites for you to enjoy.

Bob Jones High School and Horizon Elementary are just a mere stones throw! Come see for yourself why Ashley Estates is Madison's hidden gem.

The average square footage of homes in Ashley Estates ranges from just below 2000 square feet, to near 4000 square feet. There truly is a home to fit every one's lifestyle!

If you are searching for homes in Madison Alabama, be sure to put Ashley Estates on your tour! Conveniently located between Slaughter Road and Hughes, off of Eastview Drive.

Madison Alabama Housing Market Report. What is the 3 year history?

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:05:37 -0500

While the Madison Alabama housing market has been better than most, we did not manage to skate through the housing crisis unscathed. I found the following statistics to be very interesting:

As you will notice, the average days on market for homes in Madison Alabama has nearly doubled, year over year since 2007 and the average list to sale price has dropped slightly. The GREAT news is that our home prices continue to INCREASE. This is very good news for all of us in the Madison area. While are sales are down, our home prices are on the up swing.

February 2007: There were 68 sales, with an average sale price of $245,076. List to sale price average was 98.77 and the average days on market was a mere 59. On February 15, 2007, there were 414 homes available, making our inventory levels at a 6.08 month supply.

February 2008: There were 46 home sales in Madison Alabama, obviously down from previous year. The average sale price was $265,054 with an average list to sale price of 100.06%. The average days on market was 86. On February 15, 2008, there were 395 homes available, making our inventory levels at a 8.59 month supply.

February 2009: There were 35 sales, one up from 2008. The average sale price was $272,504 with an average list to sale price of 95.90%, a 4% drop over 2008. Average days on market was 150. OUCH. On February 15, 2009 there were 363 homes for sale in Madison, making our inventory levels at a 10.37 month supply.

Category - Residential / PropType: Single Family Detached / Area: 05 - MAD CITY LIMITS

Month	Year	Monthly Sales	Avg ListPrice	Avg Sale Price	% Diff Sell/list	Avg DOM	Curr Inventory	Months Inventory
January	2007	59	$246,127	$245,076	99.57%	89.0	364	6.17
February	2007	68	$258,720	$255,538	98.77%	59.0	414	6.09

January	2008	34	$258,809	$252,977	97.75%	104.0	387	11.38
February	2008	46	$264,902	$265,054	100.06%	86.0	395	8.59

January	2009	36	$284,408	$274,663	96.57%	106.0	342	9.50
February	2009	35	$284,143	$272,504	95.90%	150.0	363	10.37

Yes, our days on market are up, list to sale price is down but the exciting thing is: OUR HOME PRICES ARE UP! This is great news for our market. So, if you are planning on selling, patience and pricing right are the strategy here. If you are buying, there are plenty of choices right now.

Rolling out the Red Carpet Service! Why didn't I think of this sooner?

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:43:41 -0500

Huntsville Alabama is growing rapidly, and I am continually working with Relo buyers. As we all know, working with Relo clients is very rewarding, and typically also VERY time consuming. Don't get me wrong, I love working with my Relo buyers but there had to be a better way.

Huntsville has the definite "sprawl" and I can easily drive clients around for hours and not see all sides of town. To show a buyer even just one home in each area can take all day. Literally. This does not include our initial meeting at my office, the tour of Huntsville or lunch.

The light came on a few weeks ago and now my problem is solved!

I bought a Garmin GPS for my clients to use! Genius :) Why didn't I think of that sooner? They are always thrilled when I give them the GPS I have preloaded with addresses of ALL the homes they HAVE to see. As we all know far too well, many of these won't make it on the "let's look inside list".

I have also loaded all of my favorite Restaurants, and points of interest I think they would enjoy seeing. This has really been a time saver for me and my buyers really are enjoying the freedom of getting to know the area at their own pace. By the time they have spent a couple of days comfortably driving around, they have a much better idea of which side of town they want to call home and it's a downhill run from there!

Why didn't I think of this sooner? It's the best $300 I've spent all year!

Huntsville Homes for Sale with Map Search!

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:15:36 -0500

I am one lucky gal. Not only am I lucky to have married such a wonderful man, but that wonderful husband of mine is my webmaster. Tim has worked tirelessly to continue making my web site the best. We have received several kind comments regarding the recent addition of our Subdivision/Neighborhood maps. Our maps incorporate built-in custom-searches of our local Huntsville MLS. We are especially grateful for the links we received from Tips and Answers, City Data, and Topix.

To improve this functionality, we have made a 2nd pass at incorporating the Google Map option for searching the Huntsville Alabama MLS and several improvements have been made:

The single North Alabama MLS mapis now muti-layered with MLS Area wide searches available at the top layer, city and town searches in the next layer, and the bottom layers can be used to search subdivisions and neighborhoods at varying map granularity's.
If you know you are already interested in a particular area we have broken the North Alabama map into a few smaller maps each displaying and capable of searching a particular MLS area. These maps require much less navigation, contain subsets of the North Alabama Map, and are thus much faster and user friendly.
They include: Search Huntsville Homes by Map, Search Madison Homes by Map, Search Madison Co Homes by Map, Search Limestone Co Homes by Map, Search Morgan Co Homes by Map, Search Jackson Co Homes by Map, and Search Marshall Co Homes by Map.
We have improved our subdivision filter to cascade a 3 level search (area, city, subdivision) thus virtually removing the duplicate property problem when the subdivision name is the same and the location different.
All of the maps are now automatically built from the database each night, ensuring none of the searches become stale over time.

We are sorry that we are unable to display maps of individual properties, as our local MLS rules prohibit us from displaying this and other detailed sales information to the public.

However, it is our fiduciary duty to provide ‘customers and clients' with all available information and we are committed to fulfilling this duty using the most efficient means possible. If you are in or will be in the Huntsville Real Estate Market and are in need of the services of a knowledgeable local REALTOR® please drop us an email or give us call @ 256-425-1659 and we will be happy to assist in anyway we can. www.NorthernAlabamaHomes.com

Taste the Best of Madison Alabama

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 14:56:09 -0500

Taste the Best of Madison Alabama

Don't miss this premier annual event. This year promises to be bigger and better than ever!

Meet executive chefs, sample the best cuisine and beverages Madison has to offer, and enjoy a silent auction and live music. Tuesday, March 24th 5-8 p.m. Country Hearth Inn & Suites 8716 Madison Blvd Madison, AL 35758.

This annual event, sponsored by the Madison Chamber of Commerce, is a fundraiser for the Chamber that provides much needed programs and resources to our members and community. Supporting the Taste of Madison is a show of support for the Chamber, but just as importantly, this premier event promises to be an evening of fun and entertainment for everyone in Madison! Tickets are on sale at the Madison Chamber office March 2-24. Get yours today!

Taste of Madison Who's Who: Madison Chamber of Commerce Members Bring You This Presentation:

Madison Magazine & Business Directory
Hands on Madison Stem & Stein
Main Street Café
Apple Lane Farms
Golden Rule Bar B-Q
Lawler's Barbeque
Costco
Chapala Mexican
Westin Hotel
Port Of Madison
Crickets'
Budding Chef
Ruby Tuesdays
Bunzos'
Spice of India
Table Service Catering
KFC
Purity Dairy
Sun Drop
Sukura Japanese Steak House

Remember: Madison Chamber of Commerce Members, 190 Lime Quarry Road, Suite 105, Madison AL 35758, Phone: 256-325-8317, Fax: 256-325-8340, E-mail: director@madisonalchamber.com, OR felecia@madisonalchamber.com for ticket information.

The $8,000 Tax Credit -- Let's Break it Down

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 20:54:03 -0600

Finally, a crystal clear explanation of the new $8,000 tax credit! Nicole did a wonderful job of explaining step by step all the questions I had regarding the change. This really helps clarify all of the changes. Thanks Nicole!

Enjoy.

Via Nicole Lahti, Austin Texas Mortgage (Real Mortgage Partners):

Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours....is not just Stevie Wonder's 1970 Motown classic, but our $787 Billion (yes, with a B) stimulus plan with various tax cuts and spending programs aimed at reviving our economy. This is our country's largest anti-recession effort since WW2.

Part of the stimulus included a revision to last year's repayable tax credit to an $8,000 tax credit that does NOT need to be repaid.

Be advised, not all tax preparers are aware of all of the provisions of the new tax credit. I had a client call me from Jackson Hewett saying they would not apply the $8,000 tax credit for a house she purchased in 2009 to her 2008 tax year. This is not correct, see When Can the Credit be Claimed below.

So here's a breakdown of the new $8,000 tax credit:

All first-time homebuyers who purchase a home between January 1, 2009 and November 30 , 2009 may be eligible for a tax credit of $8,000 or 10% of the purchase price, whichever is lower. Unlike its $7,500 predecessor, the $8,000 does not need to be repaid.

Tax Credit vs. Tax Deduction

This is a tax credit, not a tax deduction, meaning its a dollar-for-dollar decrease to your tax liability. Also, the tax credit is refundable, meaning you can receive the full value of the credit even if you do not have an $8,000 tax liability.

Phase-Out

The tax credit phases-out for individuals making $75,000 or over modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), and couples making $150,000 or over MAGI. Below are examples of how the phase-out will apply to the two different scenarios.

Individual Making $75,000 or Over

Assume that an individual homebuyer has a modified adjusted gross income of $88,000. The buyer’s income exceeds $75,000 by $13,000. Dividing $13,000 by $20,000 yields 0.65. When you subtract 0.65 from 1.0, the result is 0.35. Multiplying $8,000 by 0.35 shows that the buyer is eligible for a partial tax credit of $2,800.

Couple Making $150,000 or Over

Assume that a married couple has a modified adjusted gross income of $160,000. The applicable phaseout to qualify for the tax credit is $150,000, and the couple is $10,000 over this amount. Dividing $10,000 by $20,000 yields 0.5. When you subtract 0.5 from 1.0, the result is 0.5. To determine the amount of the partial first-time homebuyer tax credit that is available to this couple, multiply $8,000 by 0.5. The result is $4,000.

Who Cannot Take the Tax Credit

If any of the following apply, you cannot take the tax credit:

1. Individuals making $95,000 or over MAGI, and couples making $170,000 or over MAGI; meaning you receive no tax credit if your income is this much or more a year.

2. You buy your home from a close relative, including: parent, sibling, spouse, grandparent, child, etc.

3. You sell your home within the first three years of purchasing it. If this occurs, the tax credit must be repaid.

4. You are a non-resident alien

First-time Homebuyer Definition

A first-time homebuyer is defined as someone who has not owned a home within the last three years. If married filing jointly, both spouses must meet the first-time homebuyer definition to take the tax credit.

When Can the Tax Credit be Claimed?

The $8,000 tax credit can be claimed for your 2008 tax year (filed by April 15th 2009), 2008 amended return or 2009 tax year.

Homes That Qualify

The tax credit is applicable to any home that will be used as a principle residence. Based on that guideline, qualifying homes include single-family detached homes, as well as attached homes such as townhouses and condominiums. In addition, manufactured or homes and houseboats used for principle residence also qualify. For new construction, the purchase date is considered the day you occupy the home; therefore you must move-in by November 30th 2009 to qualify for the tax credit.

Also, homes in the District of Columbia qualify for the tax credit.

How About Those Who Purchased Homes in 2008?

Homes purchased in 2008 are subject to the $7,500 repayable tax credit.

My Meeting with Mayor Finley Madison Alabama

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:08:13 -0600

In January, Mayor Finley rolled out the new "Access Madison" Initiative. Mayor Finley firmly believes that we need more community involvement to bring government closer to the people it serves.

http://www.madisonal.gov/pressreleases/acessmadisoninitiative.pdf

Part of this plan is a monthly luncheon meeting with the Mayor. I attended the meeting last month and found it full of great information. Mayor Finley has had a very busy 100 days in office! Today, I had the pleasure of having a one on one with the Mayor, to ask questions and learn more about our great city. I grabbed my camera this morning for a photo opportunity, only to learn it was not going to cooperate. So, no photo opp. for me, lol.

My main focus today was about our schools. I was thrilled to learn Dr. Fowler, the Superintendent of Madison City Schools, has put together a 12 member "Blue Ribbon Committee" to analyze our schools, and present us with several options. While we do have the land acquired for a new high school, (80 acres) we do not have the funding in place. The committee will write the report and he expects to have it in hand in 60 days, approximately. The plan will give us options on how to proceed. If there is ANY money to be found for our schools, they will find it :) Mayor Finley stressed that it will be a community wide decision on how to proceed, if we do build the new high school. The projected cost will be $65,000,000 and will be a 3 year project. As we all know, Bob Jones is overflowing, with 2200 kids.

Our current population is approximately 43,000. We have 11,000 children here in Madison. The average income in Madison is $105,000, with 50% of our citizens hold a BS degree or higher...obviously, education is very important to the residents of Madison.

I would highly suggest coming to one of the Access Madison meetings. They rotate breakfast and lunch, to fit most schedules. You can find the schedule above on the web site. Mayor Finley is making himself very accessible to the residents here in Madison Alabama, in keeping with his vision of bringing the government closer to the people it serves! I enjoyed my 30 minutes, without interruption.

Mayor Finley is also in the process of interviewing for a new Economic Development position, for Madison. The main purpose of this position will be to bring new business to Madison, which will help our tax base, which will help with our roads and schools, which will make us ALL very happy :)

I was VERY impressed with Mayor Finley today. I'd call his first days in office "100 days of greatness"!

Mayor Finley has a wonderful vision for Madison Alabama and truly wants to know what our vision is for Madison as well. I for one will be cheering him on and giving him my support, each step of the way. Call for your appointment and get your list of questions ready! Why NOT get involved?

www.NorthernAlabamaHomes.com

Huntsville-Madison Parade of Schools March 2, 2009!

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:16:19 -0600

Many parents often choose a private educational facility over the local public school system for a variety of reasons and just as often it is difficult to decide which school is the right one for your family and your circumstance.

This is especially the case when special needs are involved as was the situation within my own family. So I was very-very excited when the over 20 members of the Huntsville-Madison Private School Organization announced their first, and hopefully annual, Parade of Schools event.

On Sunday afternoon, March 2, 2009 from 1 to 4 p.m the tour is on! It will include both church-affiliated and secular schools for children entering preschool through high school graduation.

The best part of this tour is that all member schools will be open for prospective parents to tour, ask questions, and get an inside view of Huntsville area private schools. This will certainly be a convenient way for parents to examine up-close and personal several schools on the same day and hopefully answer many of those nagging questions.

A comprehensive map of all member school locations is available and each member school also has a link to its own website so prospective parents can survey the landscape, prepare their route, and plan their upcoming tour.

What a great community event, and hopefully all who desire to attend will be able to do so. And is this not a great example of what perhaps the Huntsville-Madison Public School System could do, during their summer recesses, to assist the many families involved in the BRAC relocation effort?