October 2009 was better than October 2008 for several areas in Mobile County! The Number of Monthly Sales as well as Average List Price, Average Sale Price and Month's Inventory all saw improvement these areas:

Municipal Park/West Central
Springhill/USA
West Mobile
Tillman's Corner
South Mobile County/Theodore
West Mobile County
Saraland 

But we were not worried about Katrina either. WE DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD BE THAT BAD! How bad could it really be? We didn't even board up for Katrina. That year had started out with Tropical Storm Arlene, then Tropical Storm Cindy, and then Hurricane Dennis. The media warned us to stay in during Arlene, but we had an anniversary reception and a wedding, so we ventured out and everything was okay. Then we had Cindy and Dennis within a week of each other. They really scared us with Dennis and nothing happened here. Early the morning that Dennis came ashore the hurricane was a 5 and headed straight for us. I can't even tell you how many people left town and it veered east and weakened and we were spared. My children and grandbaby were at the house with us and we cooked all our chicken, potatoes and eggs, ate a lot and watched the storm pass us by. Some people had been boarded up most of the season that year and there was not really any reason. Then here comes Katrina. It was headed towards Louisana, then turned and hit Mississippi (For those of you that aren't aware Katina actually hit Mississippi, a lot of people don't know that). It was a big storm, but we weren't worried.  AND THEN THE WATER STARTED RISING!

The children and grandbaby were assembled again to ride out another hurricane. We joked about not having any chicken or potatoes. We watched the water rise from the canal, but high tide was 9:30 so we thought it would start going down after that. Everyone in the driveway had moved their cars to the street by 9:30 because the water was sure getting high. We thought it might really be a close one. We now understand what a storm surge means. In no time at all the water was entirely too high. When it started coming in the house it was coming in from all directions! Not just the door. My granddaughter saw it first. Then I saw it on the floor between my bedroom and bathroom. Suddenly it was everywhere! MORE PICTURES

Luckily my daughter lives around the block, in the right direction, on higher ground and in a house on piers. My daughters and their husbands grabbed my grandchildren and headed for the cars. They wanted us to come with them but we stayed behind to move the low stuff. At this point we realized our floors were all going to get wet, but we really didn't expect more than that. As fast as we could move things higher the water rose. We put stuff on top of beds and tables and then the beds and tables started floating. It was so beyond anything we had every imagined. Now, thinking back I can really understand the people in Louisana and Mississippi that stayed. They didn't in their widest imaginations think this would happen. Our house was at least 50 years old and it had never flooded before. It has been though plenty of hurricanes and we not only felt safe, we invited our children over. People across the country wonder why people didn't leave. You really don't think something like this is possible. And if it is possible it certainly is not likely. It's almost like being worried about getting stuck by lightning.

AND IT JUST KEPT RISING!!!

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 I spent several hours sitting on the kitchen cabinets hoping I would not have to sit on top of the freezer or refrigerator. At one point we saw our neighbors floating down the street in their boat. A rescue boat took out our mailbox! That's not a site you see every day. The highlight of the morning for me was when I discovered the chocolate cake on the kitchen cabinet!!! At times it was like a really bad David Letterman episode of 'Will it float?' One couch did. The other one didn't. It turns out most stuff does. When the waters finally started going down I reached over to the legal papers next to me and called my insurance company and started the flood insurance claim. I always thought they were ripping me off making me pay flood insurance on a house that had never flooded and I thought never would. I am really glad the mortgage company made that a requirement.

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10 MONTHS LATER

As you can see, we do not live on a big body of water. It's a canal that flows into Halls Mill Creek that flows Dog River that flows into Mobile Bay that flows into The Gulf of Mexico. Usually you cannot even see the water from our house. It really shows you how incredible the surge from Hurricane Katrina was! 10 months later the sheetrock had been removed throughout the lower four feet of our house, the insulation and the sheetrock were replaced. The flooring was all removed. We have all new flooring, new sheetrock half way up, all new paint, new cabinets and new countertops. With that much re-modeling also comes new light fixtures, new appliances, electrical work, etc. Our solid wood furniture has been stripped and refinished. The rest of our furniture had been replaced. I also had to replace my vehicle, my computers, my clothes and shoes and too many miscellaneous things to name here. Before it never really sounded bad to have all new stuff, but when it's forced on you it really isn't a lot of fun. I don't want to sound like I'm complaining. We were so much more fortunate than many people I know. We have been able to replace the things we needed.

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It's just one of those things that is too weird to understand if you haven't done it. We lived in my office for over five months. The first morning I woke up in my house it felt like I was in The Twilight Zone. I was home, but everything was just a little bit off. The walls were a different color, and my bed and furniture were different. It was like living in a parallel universe. I almost expected a strange man to walk into the room and say "Good morning, dear." Luckily the only strange man to walk into my room was the same one that had been around for over 20 years, so that helped. It has taken a while for it to seem like home. I no longer feel the urge to ask someone where things go, though I do still occasionally look for things that are no longer here. The headaches are mostly over for us at this point. The value of the property in our neighborhood is on the rise. We are very fortunate that were not displaced like so many people in Louisiana, on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and in Bayou La Batre and Coden, Alabama. I know there are a lot of people that are still living in a nightmare. Even though the chance of another Hurricane Katrina is believed by most to be very slim, I think there is a lot of tension in people on The Gulf Coast everytime the word hurricane is mentioned on the TV or radio. And from now on, the old expression "If the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise" will always have a very different meaning than before.

Address: 10492 Corinne Drive Irvington, Al 36544 

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2

Garage: 2 car, detatched

size: 2,150 sq. ft.

price: $225,000

An exceptional home in an exceptional location! Like New 2100+ square foot home has all the amenties you've dreamed of. including open floor plan, raised ceilings, granite counter tops, custom cabinets, stainless appilances, wood flooring. Crown molding, man block plumbing, recessed lighting, energy efficient and beautiful as well. Just minutes from the new I-10 exit, you can be in Mobile in a flash. Accepted offer can include a home warranty and termite bond.

 Granite countertops, custom cabinets, and stainless appliances

Large, open living room gives the whole house a comfortable feel

Formal Dining area

                          Lovely, designer colors throughout the house

Double vanity with seperate shower

Once it passed the Senate and the House there was really no doubt, but I am really excited about the new version of this bill. We have had a lot of first time home buyers that have been very excited to close on a house and be eligible an $8000 tax credit. We have had a few that were getting very worried because for one reason or another it didn't look like they would find a house and be able to close by the end of November.

Now they have until the end of April to get into a contract. It's not a lot of time to waste, but it's enough time to make wise decision. Plus now if someone wants new construction that is an option, since they have until the end of June to close.

I really like the part of the new bill that allows buyers that have owned a house to get a tax credit of up to $6500 if they buy a new home. I really don't know why that couldn't have applied to all owner-occupant buyers, but at least there is one other group eligible..

The income limits have now been increase also, from $75,000 to $125,000 for a single person and $250,000 for a married couple. One of my doctors is young and has never owned any real estate. He's renting right now, but he did not qualify under the old plan. Maybe he will qualify now.

For additional information I posted the information and changes on my website.

Our company has several agents who have experience assisting sellers who were facing foreclosure. They have helped sellers stay in their homes longer and/or they have been successful in working with the seller's bank or mortgage company to sell the property before it was foreclosed on.

The following agents have also taken our Short Sale class. Seller's that are facing foreclosure may have better options. These agents can represent a seller in a short sale situation.

Email: Doug Martin

Email: Becca Fields or visit her website 

Email: Debra Williams

Email: Sarah Pugh

Email: Katie Baluyut or visit her website

Email: Libby Davis or visit her website

Email: Julie Martin or visit her website

Address: 111 Garnett Ave  - Dauphin Way Historic District

Bedrooms: 2

Bathrooms: 2

Garage: Single Carport, Detached Garage

Size: 1,100 sq. ft.

ONLY $89,900

This is a great opportunity to purchase a really nice cottage in the Old Dauphin Way District for a great price. New kitchen cabinets, countertops and a backsplash that looks great! New dishwasher & stove. The area between the kitchen and the den has been opened up and the kitchen and den area have just been painted. There is new flooring in the den. The carpet has been removed, so now you can see the hardwood floors. This is really a fabulous home!

This home has all the features you would want in a historic home and more. High ceilings, hardwood floors, eight 48x24 framed windows plus nine additional windows for lots of natural light, a built in bar in the dining room, and wide molding throughout. Extras inside this house include a den in the back and a new second bathroom that includes a whirlpool tub.

Outside there is a 384 s.f. deck, with solar lights, overlooking a large fenced back yard that is perfect for entertaining or just relaxing. There is also a detached garage and a workshop! Good area. Many houses on the street have been renovated.

Just one week to go! I'm so excited to be going to the NAR convention in San Diego next week. I was looking for a group to see if anyone had planned any get togethers for the ActiveRain community, but didn't see anything, so I started a new group. I called it NAR 2009. How original. If there is already one out there that I can't find, someone please let me know.

I really appreciated Kimberly Dotseth's post on restaurant recommendations in San Diego. I have never been to San Diego so I wouldn't have a clue about where to go. So thank you Kimberly.

Who else is coming to the convention? Is anyone reading this teaching a class or exhibiting at the trade show? I learn so much on ActiveRain, I wouldn't want to miss it if any of you are actually going to be a speaker.

Top Producer For October 2009 - Sarah Pugh

Top Listing Agent For October 2009 - Joe Winans

Short Sale Class
We had a fabulous Short Sale Class Friday. It was very informative. Now if you know of a seller that is pre-foreclosure we have agents that can assist you in assisting them. You can now refer or co-list your seller's that have a potential short sale issue to:

Doug Martin
Libby Davis
Katie Baluyut
Lee Martin
Sarah Pugh
Becca Fields
Julie Martin

I was inspired by Lenn Harley's post on team's and team specialists, who was inspired by Mirian Bernstein, who was inspired by a NYTimes article. Lenn's post touch on so many great topics I wanted to discuss each one separately. (Besides their is no Alabama football today, so I don't know what else to do!)

Real Estate Teams: I have a great team! I started it in 2001. It's called Port City Realty. My company is small enough for me to really consider it a team. I came from the largest company in town so I have been exposed to both extremes. My current office started with just me and my sister-in-law, Lee. Actually at that time you could consider my husband and my teenage son part of the team because they were doing a lot of work behind the scenes. I now have 14 agents and I team up with different agents, at different times, for different reasons, on listings and when working with buyers. It definitely benefits my clients/customers and it also benefits me. I don't have an official "team." I'm not crazy about a team with a name, but that's just me. I have no problem with others that like them. I have different agents that just do really well in a variety of areas, and so many times I feel like it will benefit everyone involved to co-list something, or to work together with a buyer. Whenever I'm working as a team with someone the buyer or seller works with both of us from the beginning. I've never had one that was uncomfortable with the other agent, because I always explain why the other agent is working with us. Buyers and sellers appreciate having the additional help.

Specialties: I have several specialties. I think it's a mistake to put all you eggs in one basket. All my specialties come from experience. Additional education has helped in a couple of areas, but I would never compare a real estate specialty to a medical specialty.   I hear that a lot from speakers and I don't believe that even the most educated real estate specialist is as educated in their field as a doctor is required to be in their field.

I am a waterfront specialist. I know more about waterfront properties than 99% of the Realtors in my area, through years of working the waterfront market, not from any classes. (My son knew more about waterfront properties than 90% of the local agents when he was still a teenager from running around with me, asking questions and running around in his boat, but that's beside the point.)

I'm also a Condo Specialist. I have the best condo site in town, and am very knowledgeable about the local condo market. Again, no special school.

I also specialize in Investment Properties. I have had a lot of REO listings over the past few years and I am a HUD broker. From this I have gained a lot of experience working with banks and assets companies and also working with buyers who purchase investment properties. There have been a few classes required for this, but most of it is experience. I recently earned my CPPS designation. (Certified Short Sale Professional). I have worked on several short sales, but would not consider myself a short sale specialist...yet. But is it a part of the investment market, so it is something I am learning.

I am a Marketing Specialist. I have some of the best websites in town. I earned my e-PRO designation back in 2002, and I am going through the course again now. I take every class I can on marketing, the internet and social networking. I go to NAR every year and then usually attend 2-4 other educational conferences. I apply what I learn every chance I get. My properties are advertised everywhere. My sellers and buyers are kept informed. I also have my CRB designation (Council of Real Estate Brokers) and so I am able to get great educational information from them through their webinars.

I rarely work as a Buyer's Agent. This is a hot topic in some circles. I don't represent buyers. In my state I can work as a transaction broker for buyers, which I choose to do. I do an excellent job with buyers. I have a problem with asking a buyer to sign a contract agreeing to work only with me. I think buyers are consumers therefore should be able to shop around. I don't have a problem with other Realtors who work as Buyer's Agents, I just choose not to. I am a fabulous transaction broker. I work mainly from referrals. Sometimes I get contracts from agents that are working as buyer's agents who (I'm trying to think of a polite way to say this) do not write contracts how I would think a "buyer's agent" should (how was that?). The buyer's agents may or may not have had additional training. I'm really big on additional training for everyone, so I won't say anymore about that here.

After re-reading this I think maybe I need a good way to make sure all of this is in my personal advertising. I will admit I'm more of a marketing specialist when it comes to marketing properties than I am when it comes to marketing me. This blog didn't start out to be a personal resume, but it ended up being a little of that. But it was to make a point. Where's my point? Having a team and being a specialist (in several areas) is a very good thing. And yes, I think the consumer benefits if you and your team members, in any given transaction, really do specialize in what they are doing. A good team should always be changing and learning. Every transaction adds to the experience and should make you a better Realtor for the next transaction.

Congratulations to Doug Martin for obtaining his CSSP Designation.

New Listings
202146 - 10425 TWO MILE CT, IRVINGTON, AL - $90,000 - Lee Martin
201950 - ALBERT CARL RD, THEODORE, AL - $8,600 - Brandi Cook
201951 - ALBERT CARL RD, THEODORE, AL - $7,700 - Brandi Cook
201952 - ALBERT CARL RD, THEODORE, AL - $10,000 - Brandi Cook
202036 - LANCASTER RD, #2, THEODORE, AL - $55,000 - Julie Martin

http://mobmls.net/MobileReports/ListitLib/show_report.aspx?ID=INJ3792780

More New Listings - Katie Baluyut
201670 - BEN HAMILTON RD, #1, THEODORE, AL - $119,000
201682 - BEN HAMILTON RD, #4, THEODORE, AL - $119,000
201686 - BEN HAMILTON RD, #8, THEODORE, AL - $119,000
201685 - BEN HAMILTON RD, #7, THEODORE, AL - $119,000
201684 - BEN HAMILTON RD, #6, THEODORE, AL - $119,000
201680 - BEN HAMILTON RD, #2, THEODORE, AL - $119,000
201681 - BEN HAMILTON RD, #3, THEODORE, AL - $119,000
201683 - BEN HAMILTON RD, #5, THEODORE, AL - $119,000
201688 - BEN HAMILTON RD, #10, THEODORE, AL - $160,000
201689 - BEN HAMILTON RD, #11, THEODORE, AL - $216,000
201687 - BEN HAMILTON RD, #9, THEODORE, AL - $317,000
194602 - BEN HAMILTON RD, THEODORE, AL - $1,413,400


http://mobmls.net/MobileReports/ListitLib/show_report.aspx?ID=INJ3792791

Accepted Offers
7300 Broadview Drive E. - Becca Fields -Julie Martin
3145 Wellborne Drive - Julie Martin - Becca Fields
Bryant - Joe Winans
6421 Live Oak Circle - Brandi Cook

Closed
24888 Wolf Bay - $90,000 - Lee Martin
770 Copperfield Drive E - $117,500 - Sarah Pugh

We will have a Short Sale Training class this Friday, October 30 from 8:30-12:00. The cost is $55. In order for you to list any short sale properties in the future you will need to take this class. It is a very informative class and should help you be very successful when listing short sale properties.