HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA! AUBURN celebrates 4th of July and YOU ARE WELCOME to Celebrate Independence Day with the Auburn Community and Auburn Parks and Recreation, behind the Home side of the Duck Samford Football Stadium. Gates Open at 6 p.m. Entertainment begins at 7 p.m. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. Enjoy great food, live special musical entertainment and the best fireworks display in the entire area!
Active in Alabama, Mara Hawks, REALTOR with FIRST REALTY of Auburn, AL, #1 Real Estate Team in Lee County, THE LEADER in professional real estate services in Auburn, Opelika & Lee County for over 3 decades! Committed to INTEGRITY, KNOWLEDGE & SERVICE.
CLICK ON CART TO SHOP FOR HOMES IN AUBURN-OPELIKA, ALABAMA
Disclaimer: All information provided by this author is is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, which may or may not be deemed reliable at the time of researching this article and may be time sensitive.
The following report is calculated by the Alabama Center of Real Estate. This report, along with more detailed information, can be found on their website: http://arerec.cba.ua.edu/ Are you considering a move into or out of Lee County Alabama? If you would like to receive these monthly reports, emailed directly to you, along with other local area information, feel free to contact me with a request.
Active in Alabama, Mara Hawks, REALTOR with FIRST REALTY of Auburn, AL, #1 Real Estate Team in Lee County, THE LEADER in professional real estate services in Auburn, Opelika & Lee County for over 3 decades! Committed to INTEGRITY, KNOWLEDGE & SERVICE.
CLICK ON CART TO SHOP FOR HOMES IN AUBURN-OPELIKA, ALABAMA
Disclaimer: All information provided by this author is is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, which may or may not be deemed reliable at the time of researching this article and may be time sensitive.
A demolition of a vacant residence was ordered by an Atlanta real estate group, and they handed over the job of inspection and contractual work to a local environmental services company. No address was given. Instead, GPS coordinates were specified, just to be exact. When the hired contractor arrived at the Georgia home he was prepared to demolish, he made a final phone call to the office, describing the house and getting a final confirmation that he was at the correct address. Affirmative. Unfortunately, he was on the wrong side of the road and about 150 yards off... and that was the end of a house of heirlooms and the framework of a history that had animated several generations of a closely-knit family, ever since the house was hand-built by the owner's dad in 1950. OOPS! Read the full story HERE. Most fortunately, no one was at home!
Active in Alabama, Mara Hawks, REALTOR with FIRST REALTY of Auburn, AL, #1 Real Estate Team in Lee County, THE LEADER in professional real estate services in Auburn, Opelika & Lee County for over 3 decades! Committed to INTEGRITY, KNOWLEDGE & SERVICE.
CLICK ON CART TO SHOP FOR HOMES IN AUBURN-OPELIKA, ALABAMA
Disclaimer: All information provided by this author is is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, which may or may not be deemed reliable at the time of researching this article and may be time sensitive.
In their breaking news this week, U.S.NEWS & World Report listed Auburn, Alabama as one of the TOP TEN places to live in America. The biggest deciding factors for the poll were:
Active in Alabama, Mara Hawks, REALTOR with FIRST REALTY of Auburn, AL, #1 Real Estate Team in Lee County, THE LEADER in professional real estate services in Auburn, Opelika & Lee County for over 3 decades! Committed to INTEGRITY, KNOWLEDGE & SERVICE.
CLICK ON CART TO SHOP FOR HOMES IN AUBURN-OPELIKA, ALABAMA
Disclaimer: All information provided by this author is is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, which may or may not be deemed reliable at the time of researching this article and may be time sensitive.
On this MEMORIAL DAY, May 25th, everyone is invited to the Auburn Mayor's Memorial Day BREAKFAST at the Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center. This traditioanl event, now in its 11th year, honors our country's servicemen---the REAL American Idols...the unsung heroes who fought unflinchingly for our freedoms, the soldiers who sacrificed their lives, and the veterans who carry on the legacy with their lives, contributing their voice of remembrance and reason to their communities.
Tickets can be purchased for $20 each. All proceeds will be contributed to the Auburn Veteran's Memorial fund.
Following the breakfast that begins at 10:00 a.m., everyone is invited to attend a wreath ceremony at the Auburn Veteran's Memorial Monument, located at the corner of Ross and Glenn Avenues.
For more information about the Monument and the Veteran's Committee in Auburn, you are welcome to visit their website here.
Active in Alabama, Mara Hawks, REALTOR with FIRST REALTY of Auburn, AL, #1 Real Estate Team in Lee County, THE LEADER in professional real estate services in Auburn, Opelika & Lee County for over 3 decades! Committed to INTEGRITY, KNOWLEDGE & SERVICE.
CLICK ON CART TO SHOP FOR HOMES IN AUBURN-OPELIKA, ALABAMA
Disclaimer: All information provided by this author is is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, which may or may not be deemed reliable at the time of researching this article and may be time sensitive.
I attended the recent Commencement exercise of Auburn University graduates, as it included my daughter, Hilary. The Commencement Address was given by former pro athlete and an AU alumnus, Vincent "BO" Jackson. It was a touching moment when he had all of the graduates stand, look towards where their family might be sitting in the bleachers, and say "THANK YOU" to their moms. The graduation also happend to be on Mother's Day weekend.
As for my daughter, I couldn't be more proud of this young woman's perseverence, fortitude and poetic heart of worldly compassion. As any parent knows that has attended a college graduation, it's a moving on for you, too, as you witness your child moving into yet a larger realm of challenges and opportunities. While her college diploma can hold a matter-of-factness, the graduate, herself, will carry the qualities and character, developed so poignantly throughout her years, for a lifetime. This is solid ground to stand on, having learned that the highest uses of the mind cannot be set apart from the heart.
Following the traditional fanfare & Recessional, the graduates made their exit to the WAR EAGLE spirit song, heard at all of Auburn's athletic events. May "the force" of the EAGLE be with you, Hilary Hawks!
Active in Alabama, Mara Hawks, REALTOR with FIRST REALTY of Auburn, AL, #1 Real Estate Team in Lee County, THE LEADER in professional real estate services in Auburn, Opelika & Lee County for over 3 decades! Committed to INTEGRITY, KNOWLEDGE & SERVICE.
CLICK ON CART TO SHOP FOR HOMES IN AUBURN-OPELIKA, ALABAMA
Disclaimer: All information provided by this author is is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, which may or may not be deemed reliable at the time of researching this article and may be time sensitive.
FOR SALE: 734 Cotswold Way, Auburn, AL, listed by FIRST REALTY in AUBURN, ALABAMA. Contact me for more informatuon or to schedule an appointment to view.
BIG WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY with bank-owned home, greatly reduced, new construction. This home is a masterpiece of architectural artistry. The pitch is perfect and a variety of composition and tones lend rarity and richness to divergent spaces. This extremely handsome home is edged with a fully stocked pond.
A huge Master suite is on the main level; 3 bedrooms and a Bonus Room (or 5th bedroom) are upstairs; This home has a stunning, formal Dining Room with coffered ceiling. A subtle, sophisticated entrance of stamped stone and aromatic, solid cedar beams, usher you into living at its finest. Living spaces with 2 fireplaces and walls of windows, overlook covered deck & pond.
COTTAGE-style, custom stone, stucco & honey-colored brick exhibit a beautifully textured exterior that conveys an authentic European flavor of distinction and tradition. A rich layer of 50-year Centennial Slate shingle roofing, Windsor bevel windows, hand-hewn flooring and details, oversized closets & baths, wood beams & decadent detail compose depth and resonance.
Active in Alabama, Mara Hawks, REALTOR with FIRST REALTY of Auburn, AL, #1 Real Estate Team in Lee County, THE LEADER in professional real estate services in Auburn, Opelika & Lee County for over 3 decades! Committed to INTEGRITY, KNOWLEDGE & SERVICE.
CLICK ON CART TO SHOP FOR HOMES IN AUBURN-OPELIKA, ALABAMA
Disclaimer: All information provided by this author is is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, which may or may not be deemed reliable at the time of researching this article and may be time sensitive.
If you find that you can afford to purchase a home while the housing market continues its downward shift, there are some excellent benefits for your investment, especially if you are a first-time homebuyer.
1. Per square foot, home prices have dramatically decreased in the past 24 months.
2. A large crop of inventory has created a high probability for you to find the créme de la crop!
3. Interest rates are considered "historic" as they haven't been this low in decades.
4. First-time homebuyers (or those who haven't owned a home in at least 3 years) are most eligible to qualify for the $8000 tax credit, if home is purchased before November 30, 2009. (Find out more)
Breaking News Update: While there was a plan brewing as late as last week to allow first time home buyers to use the $8,000 federal income tax credit for down payment, HUD reversed their decision and have closed the door on this option. One concern had been the similarity this seemed to have to ‘seller-funded down payment assistance.' And it could have been viewed as debt rather than credit, so NO !
5. Homeowners are able to take advantage of significant tax deductions, while building equity and household wealth. With the abundance of homes for sale in a downturned market, a good strategy to consider would be to scale back and revise the picture of your DREAM home...maybe something smaller or something you can gradually upgrade. There a lot of new construction, smaller homes , where builders have included some of the nicer building materials and extras that are traditionally expected in higher-priced homes. It's worth checking out the lower price ranges, even if, right now, you can afford more.
Rent costs, along with the costs of living, don't seem to diminish with the housing market prices. If you are a renter, it would be worth finding out the facts and learn what it would take to take the leap into home ownership. 2009 is a really great year to become a homeowner!
Active in Alabama, Mara Hawks, REALTOR with FIRST REALTY of Auburn, AL, #1 Real Estate Team in Lee County, THE LEADER in professional real estate services in Auburn, Opelika & Lee County for over 3 decades! Committed to INTEGRITY, KNOWLEDGE & SERVICE.
CLICK ON CART TO SHOP FOR HOMES IN AUBURN-OPELIKA, ALABAMA
Disclaimer: All information provided by this author is is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, which may or may not be deemed reliable at the time of researching this article and may be time sensitive.
I am always delighted when our good friend, Paul Slaybaugh, shares his layered insights and keen commentary on the real estate industry. A top-producing agent with the leading brokerage in Scottsdale, AZ, Paul brings a warp to his storytelling that any reader---appreciating playful yet profound and informative perspectives---will welcome. His authentic archery of targeting issues and musings with perfectly aimed words, gives the rest of us an opportunity to re-focus and even laugh a bit at our selves and our seriously challenging times. Reading the Slaybaugh Chronicles will tell you the story of Scottsdale real estate...you'll make yourself right at home!
I loved this illustration of SHORT SALES, using a fox and a henhouse:
There is always opportunity in the margins. Unfortunately, margins tend to attract the marginal.
The latest water cooler rumbling to emerge from a recent tour group meeting centered on a purported professional short sale negotiation company. Here in the Valley, short sale negotiation has become its own cottage industry in the past year and a half, and for good reason. Most Realtors had never encountered a short sale before the recent woes in the market. You can include me among those ranks. As such, there has been great demand recently for third party professionals who know the drill and have contacts within the various institutions for expediting the process. While the skill-set required to negotiate with the bank is really little more than gumption, persistence and know-how, the learning curve can be steep, and the time commitment impractical. Many agents would rather enlist the help of a specialist to handle this critical portion of the transaction than practice on their first few short sale clients. The stakes are too high for an erstwhile, but bumbling rube to fumble it all away. For many of us, it just makes good, practical sense for all parties involved.
Now comes the “but.”
Back to the recent tour meeting of which I mentioned, the latest scuttlebutt is that at least one major short sale negotiation company is the focus of an open investigation. It seems there is some question as to whether this outfit was utilizing fraudulent measures to cash in on a much grander scale than the stated fee of their services. Nothing has been proven, and no charges have been filed to my knowledge (hence the glaring omission of the company name here), but the concern is that this company might have engaged in the “double escrowing” of the short sales they were hired to negotiate. Plainly stated, upon receiving an offer that both buyer and seller had executed and forwarded to the negotiator to submit to the bank for review/approval, this company is thought to have tabled said offer and worked to negotiate an even lower sale of their own with the bank. Once accepted, they would orchestrate the virtual simultaneous closings in which they bought the property from the bank and turned around and sold it to the buyers at the higher price. Neither the buyer nor seller would ever know that there were actually two transactions taking place concurrently.
Of course, if the negotiation with the bank failed, the buyer and seller would simply be informed that the offer had been rejected … eventually. Even though the bank never saw it. The buyer wouldn’t be overly thrilled to learn of this, of course, but the seller is the one who really stands to lose in such a scenario. He is the one with the imminent foreclosure and interminable credit limbo on the line while the entity hired to negotiate on his behalf plays Russian roulette with his financial well being.
So while nothing is proven in this instance as of yet, it serves as a consumer alert. While I was careful in the selection of the professional I have enlisted to negotiate with the various banks on my sellers’ behalf, some might mistakenly believe that any fly-by-night company that has branded itself as a “short sale negotiation specialist” is reputable. Just as you would exercise diligence and perform your own investigations in the selection of your Realtor, don’t let your guard down when settling upon the service enlisted to actually talk to the bank. Find out how long they have been in operation. Are there any complaints lodged with the Better Business Bureau (though some may be such neophytes that they haven’t been around long enough to incur complaints)? How long has your specific negotiator been involved in either the Real Estate or banking industry prior to their current position?
Maybe I’m just jumping at shadows, but I can’t help but wonder if this is a niche that won’t prove to be populated by failed Realtors, loan officers, car salesmen, financial advisers, taxidermists, Maytag men and arthritic slow-pitch softball umpires in hindsight. There are some good ones out there who are absolutely invaluable to the busy Realtor and desperate seller alike, but I am under no illusion that there aren’t more than a few soulless chasms of dollars and teeth hiding behind the polished veneer of a snappy tagline as well.
When dealing with a property that you are trying desperately to sell before the bank forecloses, the stakes are elevated to financial Thunderdome proportions. If your short sale survives the fight, you will walk away with a limp (credit damage, possible tax ramification, etc), but at least you walk away. A foreclosure will effectively kill your aspirations of future home ownership for the next 5 years.
FOR SALE: 715 Cotswold Way, Auburn, AL, listed by FIRST REALTY in AUBURN, ALABAMA. Contact me for more informatuon or to schedule an appointment to view.
COTTAGE-style, custom stone, stucco & brick exhibit a beautifully textured exterior, layered with 50-year Centennial Slate shingle roofing. Windsor bevel Windows, handsomely sized closets & baths, wood beams & generous trim compose depth and subtle richness in this architecturally inspired home!
Active in Alabama, Mara Hawks, REALTOR with FIRST REALTY of Auburn, AL, #1 Real Estate Team in Lee County, THE LEADER in professional real estate services in Auburn, Opelika & Lee County for over 3 decades! Committed to INTEGRITY, KNOWLEDGE & SERVICE.
CLICK ON CART TO SHOP FOR HOMES IN AUBURN-OPELIKA, ALABAMA
Disclaimer: All information provided by this author is is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, which may or may not be deemed reliable at the time of researching this article and may be time sensitive.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
A demolition of a vacant residence was ordered by an Atlanta real estate group, and they handed over the job of inspection and contractual work to a local environmental services company. No address was given. Instead, GPS coordinates were specified, just to be exact. When the hired contractor arrived at the Georgia home he was prepared to demolish, he made a final phone call to the office, describing the house and getting a final confirmation that he was at the correct address. Affirmative. Unfortunately, he was on the wrong side of the road and about 150 yards off... and that was the end of a house of heirlooms and the framework of a history that had animated several generations of a closely-knit family, ever since the house was hand-built by the owner's dad in 1950. OOPS! Read the full story 
In their breaking news this week, 
On this MEMORIAL DAY, May 25th, everyone is invited to the Auburn Mayor's Memorial Day BREAKFAST at the Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center. This traditioanl event, now in its 11th year, honors our country's servicemen---the REAL American Idols...the unsung heroes who fought unflinchingly for our freedoms, the soldiers who sacrificed their lives, and the veterans who carry on the legacy with their lives, contributing their voice of remembrance and reason to their communities.
BIG WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY with bank-owned home, greatly reduced, new construction. This home is a masterpiece of architectural artistry. The pitch is perfect and a variety of composition and tones lend rarity and richness to divergent spaces. This extremely handsome home is edged with a fully stocked pond.
Room (or 5th bedroom) are upstairs; This home has a stunning, formal Dining Room with coffered ceiling. A subtle, sophisticated entrance of stamped stone and aromatic, solid cedar beams, usher you into living at its finest. Living spaces with 2 fireplaces and walls of windows, overlook covered deck & pond.
If you find that you can afford to purchase a home while the housing market continues its downward shift, there are some excellent benefits for your investment, especially if you are a first-time homebuyer.
5. Homeowners are able to take advantage of significant tax deductions, while building equity and household wealth. With the abundance of homes for sale in a downturned market, a good strategy to consider would be to scale back and revise the picture of your DREAM home...maybe something smaller or something you can gradually upgrade. There a lot of new construction, smaller homes , where builders have included some of the nicer building materials and extras that are traditionally expected in higher-priced homes. It's worth checking out the lower price ranges, even if, right now, you can afford more. 
;)
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