Bird's Eye View on Real Estate

How to Make A Turduken

Toni Bird (Prudential South O' Town Realty) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:08:44 -0600

Want something different for the holidays? Why not try a Turducken? A Turducken is a Turkey, Duck, and Chicken cooked all together with stuffing in between. My son and I decided to give it a try and it tasted Great! Warning - it makes a LOT of food.

How do you make one - This is what we did.

You will need:

10-12 pound Turkey

4-5 pound duck

2-3 pound chicken

Needle and white thread

Stuffing

Butter

Make The Stuffing

You can use any stuffing recipe. Here is how I do it.

1 large onion - chopped, ½ stalk celery - chopped, 1 apple cored and cut into cubes, 1 stick butter

1 loaf bread cut into cubes, 1/8 teaspoon Sage, 1/8 teaspoon Marjoram or Poultry seasoning

Salt and Pepper to taste

Place butter, celery, onion, salt and pepper in large pot and sauté on medium until onion and celery are softened (about 20 minutes). Add apple, sage and marjoram, after 10 minutes. Add bread cubes and stir until well mixed (don't mash down).

Remove the Bones

First, you will need to debone the birds. I started with the chicken first because I was more familiar with chicken as I have cut them up many times - and if you mess it up, it is not as obvious. Lay the bird breast side down. Cut the back from top to bottom along the back bone and peel the bones away from the meat. It should come apart pretty easily except for the breast bone (which you will have to dig out) and the legs and wings. For the chicken and duck, I just removed the wings. The Turkey wings I left in tact. The leg bones of the turkey are also left in tact. For the duck and chicken legs, cut around the bone, leaving the meat. Leave the skin on the turkey. The duck had a lot of fat attached to the skin so I removed most of it to cut down on the grease.

Assemble the Turducken

You will need a needle and thread to sew the birds together.

After the birds are deboned, lay the turkey skin side down. Cover the turkey with stuffing. Place the duck on top of the stuffing. Place a layer of stuffing on top of the duck. Then put the chicken on top followed by the remainder of the stuffing. Next, pull the two turkey ends together and stitch up. Once stitched together, the Turducken looks like a regular Turkey. Place the Turducken in a roasting pan with the breast side up and rub breast with butter.

Cook

Cook as you would a regular turkey - 350 degrees. A Turducken of this size should take about 4 hours. Cover initially, removing cover for last ½ hour so it can brown. Baste every ½ hour. The bones can be boiled to make a stock for the gravy.

Slice the Turducken across the breast so it shows off the layers. Enjoy

Buying A Home - Tax Credit is Extended and Expanded

Toni Bird (Prudential South O' Town Realty) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:15:38 -0600

Wow! Here It Is - the Final Word on the Tax Credit.

The House and Senate voted and President Obma just signed into law a bill that extends the First Time Home Buyer's TAX CREDIT. This means if you have never owned a home before OR have not owned a home in the last 3 years, you can get a Tax Credit of 10% of the purchase price of the home you buy. There is a cap of $8000 for the 1^st Time Home Buyer Tax Credit so if your house costs more than $80,000, then 8K is all you get. But that is a nice little chunk of change. You MUST have a house picked out and Under Contract by April 30^st and you MUST be closed by June 30 to receive the tax credit.

This extension also adds a provision for NON-1^st Time Home Buyers who want to BUY A NEW HOME.. If you have owned a home for the last 5 years and buy a new home (your primary residence - not a vacation home), you can get a TAX CREDIT equal to 10% of the purchase price of your New home (with a cap of $6500). The income limit for the non-1^st time home buyer is 125,000 for a single person and 250,000 for a couple. You also MUST have a house picked out and Under Contract by April 1^st and you MUST be closed by June 30 to receive the tax credit.

If you were waiting for something great to happen THIS IS IT. Not only can 1^st time buyers get a credit, but also people who would like to move up to a bigger home, or downsize to something more manageable.

Interest rates are still low - the last time I looked, they were under 5% for most borrowers and in spite of what you may hear, the banks have plenty of money to lend for home purchases. Also, you get a CREDIT - Not a deduction, so you will pay up to $8000 or $6500 depending on which category you are in, in less tax. If your tax bill is less than the credit amount, you will get CASH BACK!

If you haven't already done so, now is the time to contact a lender and get pre-approved for a loan. There is nothing you have to apply for to get the credit, just request the credit when you file your 2009 tax return if you close in 2009, or your 2010 return if you close in 2010.

You can shop for houses on line at my website www.ToniBird.com, At the top left corner, click on Search the MLS. When you are ready, contact me and I'll help you find the home of your dreams.

Save on Your Power Bill - Make Energy Efficient Improvements

Toni Bird (Prudential South O' Town Realty) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:58:45 -0600

Burr!! It is cold outside today. Looks like the temperature is somewhere in the 40's and it is cloudy and damp. The maple tree in my front yard has bright red leaves both on its branches and on the ground.

Inside my home it's definitely warmer. I have the thermostat set at 68 degrees, but with the cold weather upon us, I'll be seeing that power bill climb again. The Department of Energy estimates that 56% of the energy use in a typical home comes from heating and cooling. If your house is not very energy efficient, it can be much more than that.

How do you know if you have an efficient house? You can get an energy audit and then have your home "weatherized". Weatherization is a term used to describe various improvements made to homes to optimize energy efficiency. According to the Department of Energy, on average, weatherization which can include things such as sealing up leaks in ductwork, replacing windows, replacing the HVAC system and adding insulation (among others), can reduce your heating bills by as much as 32%. That is about $350 per year at current prices.

I have an article about Weatherizartion in my November On-line newsletter. To see this and other articles click here.

Don't have the money to do home improvement projects? There are government programs to help people with limited income get weatherization done to their homes. Check out this website to get info on government help. Also, Alabama Power has low interest loans that can be paid through your power bill. Info on what is covered on their weatherization program and who to call can be found here.

There are also ways to get tax credits for making energy efficient improvements to your home which means money in your pocket - so don't miss out. This is a great time to improve the energy efficiency of your home AND not only save on utility bills but also increase the value of your home.

Buying A Home With Allergies - Look for An Air Purification System

Toni Bird (Prudential South O' Town Realty) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:43:55 -0600

Fall is here and the leaves are showing their red, gold and orange colors. I was showing houses for sale in Hoover Alabama the other day and everywhere the color was amazing.

When the leaves start to fall, it is time to rake - or in many places BLOW. It always amazes me that people will blow the leaves off their property. Then as soon as the wind starts to blow, the leaves are right back.... Not only do they blow the leaves but also all the DUST. Dust is EVERYWHERE. I don't know about YOU, but my allergies are going crazy right now.

We can't do much about what is happening outside, but if you have allergies, installing an indoor air purification system can be a big help. What is an air purification system? It is a machine that cleans the air and improves air quality.

There are three classes of air contaminants:

Particles - such as pollen, dust mites, dirt and pet dander

Bioaerosols - such as bacteria, viruses, mold spores and fingi

Odors/Chemical Vapors - such as pets odors, cooking smells, perfumes, paints and solvents.

These contaminants affect your health, the cleanliness of your home and your comfort. Several years ago, my husband bought me a free standing air purifier for Christmas. It really helped cut down on the dust in the house. When we moved into our new house last year (it had been empty for a year), we found that the A/C ducts had all kinds of dust and stuff in them. So we had the ducts cleaned.

The Mayo Clinic has found that air cleaners attached to whole-house systems are generally more effective than free standing cleaners. These air purifiers are installed on your HVAC system typically where the air filter will be placed.

I sold a house a few years ago and the seller told me her allergies were almost GONE after she installed the whole house air purifier. So, if you are suffering from allergies, take a look at installing an air purification system.

This house in the Jameswood subdivision, off Valleydale Rd. in Birmingham Alabama, has a Lennox Signature Collection PureAir Air Purification System already installed. That coupled with the fact that it has All hardwood floors on Both levels of the house makes it a great home for people with allergies. If you'd like to know more about THIS home click here.

Fall is a beautiful time of year. Improving the air quality in your home will help you enjoy it more.

Home Sale Activity - Hoover Alabama October 2009

Toni Bird (Prudential South O' Town Realty) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:23:37 -0600

Home sales in Hoover, Alabama dipped to 77 in October 2009. This was down from 93 in September, but still a lot higher than the 58 sales we saw in October of 2008. Prices on home sales closed in October ranged from $84,500 for a 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath condo at Four Seasons off Lorna Rd., to $800,000 for a new construction home in the Glascott section of Ross Bridge. One other property sold for under 100K - a 2 Bedroom, 2.5 Bath townhome in Windhover (off Old Rocky Ridge Road) sold for $85,900. This totally renovated, 4 Bedroom, 3.5 Bath in Eden View with a view of the lake sold for $310,000. Eight homes sold in Ross Bridge, 7 sold in Riverchase and 5 sold in Trace Crossings.

There is an incredible selection of homes currently available for sale in Hoover, Alabama. There are several new condo complexes with 133 units for sale and Townhomes are also a great choice for the 1^st time home buyer (there are 70 of those on the market as of today). You'll find prices from $51,900 up.

Hoover is a great community with a short commute time to downtown Birmingham.

If you would like to see what homes are for sale in Hoover, Alabama, take a look on my site. Under "location", scroll down to Hoover and you'll see everything Hoover has For Sale.

Home Sale Activity - Pelham Alabama October 2009

Toni Bird (Prudential South O' Town Realty) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:03:05 -0600

Home Sales in Pelham, Alabama remained consistent in October 2009, with 35 closed sales. There were 35 home sales in August 09 and 34 home sales in September 09 - all up from 27 sales a year ago. Prices ranged from $30,000 for a home is Deer Springs to $359,900 for a 4 Bedroom, 3.5 Bath in the Stoneykirk section of Ballantrae. Seven home sales were from Ballantrae, eleven sales were townhomes and 7 homes were new construction.

Currently there are 291 Homes for Sale in Pelham Alabama. The median price is $184,000. Fifty Three properties are townhomes ranging in price from $93,000-$140,000. Forty Five properties are new construction. Weatherly is a beautiful neighborhood with large lots (many over an acre) - some with fabulous views and mature trees where you'll find prices from $177,900 to $894,900. You will find 19 homes for sale in Weatherly and this one is a foreclosure on sale for $299,900.

If you would like to know more about Homes for Sale in Pelham, Alabama, you can search the web at www.ToniBird.com/search.asp?

Home Sale Activity - Helena Alabama October 2009

Toni Bird (Prudential South O' Town Realty) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:49:01 -0600

Home Sales in Helena Alabama slowed in the month of October, with only 19 sales recorded. This was better than the 7 that closed in November of 2008, but down from the 33 we saw in August 09, and 28 in September 09. Prices ranged from $60,000 for a foreclosure that needed a lot of work in Tocoa Parc to $370,000 for a 5 Bedroom, 5 Bath on the water in Timberlake. The median price for homes sold in Helena, Alabama in October was $148,000. Four sales ranging in price for 140-170 were in Old Cahaba.

Helena, Alabama was rated one of the top cities to live in and has a considerable amount of inventory attractively priced for the first time home buyer (25 homes are priced below $125,000). Currently there are 239 homes for sale in Helena, Alabama starting at $86,000 for a 2 BR, 1.5 BA townhome on Rocky Ridge to $995,000 for an Estate in Environs Park on the Cahaba River.

If you would like to see what homes are for sale in Helena, Alabama, take a look on my site at www.ToniBird.com/search.asp? Under "location", scroll down to Helena/Pelham and you'll see everything for sale in these great cities.

Save Energy - Install a Programmable Thermostat

Toni Bird (Prudential South O' Town Realty) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:09:15 -0500

Right now most days are still warm and the evenings are just a tad on the cool side. Here in Hoover Alabama we can still wear shorts during the day - or at least all the High School students think so. Today it looks like it might rain again - a sign that a cool breeze is on the way. I'm thinking winter is right around the corner. YEA!!!!!

Winter though brings higher heating bills and higher bills is NOT something we are looking forward to. The average American household spends $2000 on energy bills - half of which goes to heating and cooling. With winter coming there are some things we can do. We can turn the thermostat down and put more clothes on when in the house. Many people have their thermostat turned up to the mid 70s. Set your thermostat to below 70 degrees. It will not be too uncomfortable (just put on some more clothes).

You may want to look into getting an Energy Star programmable thermostat. There are basically 3 kinds: The one that sets the temperature the same for all 7 days, the one that has the same temp for 5 days, then a different temp for 2 days, and a third that has 5 days, 1 day and 1 day. That way the thermostat lowers the temperature in the middle of the night when you are toasty under the covers and then raises it before you get up so you will be comfortable when you get out of bed. You can also set the temp to go back down after you leave for work or school. I have heard you can save $180 per year by properly using a programmable thermostat.

If you would like to get information from Energy Star on programmable thermostats click here.

When buying a home in the Hoover Alabama area, you can shop for a home with a programmable thermostat. That is one of the features that is published on the realtor's MLS data sheet. Looking for a new home to buy? You can shop for homes in the Hoover Alabama area on my website at www.tonibird.com. If you would like to know if a house has a programmable thermostat, let me know and I'll find out for you.

Buying A Home - Save for a Down Payment

Toni Bird (Prudential South O' Town Realty) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:26:54 -0500

I Need A Down Payment To Buy A House and I just can't seem to get there!!!

So you've been hearing about the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit; up to $8000 tax CREDIT if you haven't owned a home in the last 3 years and buy before Dec 1, 2009. Who wouldn't want 8K in FREE MONEY?

But you need to come up with the 3.5% down payment in order for the deal to work. You've been saving and you are Close, but not quite there yet.

Try these ideas:

Sell Some Stuff - Do you have DVDs, CDs, or Video Games that you don't use anymore? You can sell them back to a 2^nd hand gaming or CD store.
Sell More Stuff - Do you have furniture, bicycle, whatever that you can sell on e-bay? There is an e-bay store in the Wal-Mart shopping center on HWY 150 in Hoover if you don't want to do it yourself. There is always the yard sale - I say that last because I hate yard sales, but I've known people that have made some bucks selling used stuff.
Get a second job - We're not talking about forever, just until you get some money saved up and if you work retail at somewhere where you get discounts on stuff for your house, you can furnish your place at a discount. Have you looked at how much money you can make delivering pizza or babysitting? Also, it is October and the leaves will be falling soon. You can make some MONEY raking leaves.
Cut Off Your Cable (if you are not under a contract that hasn't expired yet) - This is only temporary. When you get the new house, you can get it back, but think of how much money you could save without say 6 months of cable payments?
Car pool. Depending on how far you live from work, you could save hundreds each month by sharing a ride - and get to know some friends really well in the mean time.
Check You Phone Bill - Do you have the right plan for the type of calling you make? You may need to cut back if you are paying extra.
Stop Eating Out - Most people waste a lot of money eating out. Eat Breakfast at home, bring your Lunch, Don't buy drinks and snacks out of the machine, and limit your Dinners out to a budgeted amount. Keep track of the money you spend eating out for two weeks. Most people are totally shocked at how much they spend of food.

These are just a few ideas. For ideas about saving money check out this article.

How much can you save in a month? Set a goal and see what happens. If you can't make the 3.5% by the end of November, then you will have a good chunk saved and can build on it. They keep talking about extending the tax credit for 1^st time home buyers and if THAT happens, you'll be ahead of everyone else. DON'T GIVE UP. Saving money to buy a home is a terrific goal. Once you buy a home, the value will increase and you will build equity which is also a means of saving.

If you would like help finding the home of your dreams, you can start by looking on line at my website. Let me know at toni@ToniBird.com if I can answer any questions. Good Lick!

Selling Your Home - Price It Right From the Start

Toni Bird (Prudential South O' Town Realty) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:01:38 -0500

When your realtor prepares to sell your home, that person will look at what homes have been selling for in the area immediately surrounding your home. What homes are selling for is what sets the Market Value - or what you can expect to get for your home. Prices have come down in Hoover Alabama, just like they have in the rest of the country, so it is unrealistic to expect to get the same amount of money your neighbor down the street got two years ago.

VERY UNREALISTIC

I like to say, you need three things to sell a house: great condition, great marketing and the right price. I have given all kinds of helpful "condition" hints in the past, but let's talk about PRICE.

The first three weeks on the market are the most critical when selling a house. So, it is important to resist the temptation to price it higher and then come down later.

Here's the thing, especially in today's current housing market where numerous sellers are competing for fewer buyers (there may be over a hundred properties that meet a buyer's general requirements), your house has to be in the top 10% to get noticed. No one - well almost no one - wants to look at 100 houses. Buyers look at homes on the internet and pick out their favorites. If the seller's home is grouped with others that have more "WOW", the buyer will just skip over it. Also, the majority of buyers use buyers' agents to assist them with purchasing a property. Buyers' agents will help the buyers find a home that's right for them. If their buyers are interested in a particular home and it is priced too high (based on comparable properties sold) then the buyers' agents will find their clients similar more reasonably priced homes to view in the same area.

As a seller's property that's over-priced continues to sit on the market the listing loses its newness. There are typically fewer new listings than existing listings. Agents pay a great deal of attention to what's new on the market. Homes that are priced correctly generate attention, activity and a sale; over-priced homes, on the other hand, sit for long periods, are passed over, and ultimately result in a price reduction.

If a seller has an over-priced home on the market and then finally lowers the price it sometimes goes overlooked. Because it's not a new listing it'll need a lot more attention to get agents and buyers to notice that this same home is now being offered for less.

There are things the realtor can do to try to get the home back in front of people - to COME SEE IT NOW - Emails, Flyers, ads, etc.. Not an impossible battle, but again, the listing is no longer new and may be less appealing even with the price reduction.

When the seller lowers the price, it may come too late and if the market is falling, the seller is still above its competition even though they lowered the price.

Most sellers who start too high, end up getting less in the end than they would have if they priced lower to begin with. If you'd like to know what houses have sold for in YOUR area, let me know at Toni@ToniBird.com. Reviewing information on SOLD properties will help see what the selling price of YOUR home should be.

If you'd like information on selling your, home check out the seller's library on my website at www.ToniBird.com.

Selling A Home - Fix Up the Bath

Toni Bird (Prudential South O' Town Realty) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:18:18 -0500

When looking at Buying A Home, one of the biggest yes or no items in the buyer's mind is the BATHROOM. You can have a great backyard, super den, and even updated kitchen with the latest bells and whistles, but that bathroom killed the deal! Could have been wrong color tile, bathroom too small or no separate tub and shower.

Fixing up a Bathroom is NOT that hard. If the room is too small, many times you can take in a nearby closet space or take out part of another room. These are fixes that a contractor can do fairly easily and doesn't add square footage (and additional cost) to the house.

Do you have that outdated colored tile from the 50's (aqua), 60's (pink), or 70's (avocado)? That outdated colored tile can be replaced (tumbled marble in a neutral color like the one you see here is very popular right now) and adding a seat or a spot to put your soap is a nice touch. Take a look at this house for sale in Birmingham, Alabama, that has been totally redone, with a gorgeous tub and shower. Can't you just see yourself relaxing in this beautiful bath?

Don't want that big of a project; paint the tile. Don't just slather on regular paint, there is a special paint that a professional can use. I had my mother's BRIGHT PICK bathroom painted white and it had a totally new look - the cost $400.

Light fixtures can make a huge difference and are not that expensive. I bought one for over the sink for $29.95. Some are a lot higher, but check the clearance isle at Mazer's, Home Depot or Lowes and you can find some really nice ones.

Faucets and other fixtures are also a pretty easy fix. The houses we see from the 80's have a lot of brass fixtures that are considered outdated. These can all be replaced with brushed nickel or oil rubbed bronze. If you start the job - finish it. That means the stopper in the bottom of the tub should match the faucet. And those shower doors CAN be replaced with oil rubbed bronze. This bathroom to the right is in a house built in the 90's and WAS brass just 3 short months ago. Look at it now!

If you'd like a few ideas about fixing up YOUR bath, let me know. Be creative, look at magazines and shop around. We bought several fixtures and faucets at the day after Thanksgiving Sale - and the big boxes are not nearly as crowded as the mall!

Investing in fixing up the bath will pay really make your house stand out when it comes time to sell!

Get Tax Credit for New HVAC

Toni Bird (Prudential South O' Town Realty) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:36:28 -0500

Ahh, it's raining right now, temp in the 70s, and really muggy outside. But a huge COLD FRONT is supposed to be on its way. Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE the cold weather. My idea of the perfect day is 40 degrees with the sun shining and no wind. It is easy to breathe and it's just exhilarating!

Soon we will be able to stop running the A/C and open the windows for fresh air. This summer wasn't as hot as it has been in the past, but I for one will be glad to see a little relief from that big summer electric bill. My electric bill is less than ½ in the spring and fall when I don't run the HVAC.

One thing I've been hearing a lot about is the tax credit for getting energy efficient appliances. The credit is part of President Obama's Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Environmental Protection Agency has a rating system called Energy Star which means appliances that qualify meet strict energy standards. You can get a tax credit for up 30% of the cost of a new qualifying HVAC unit (with a cap of $1500). Now that means if you buy a new HVAC system with the new energy star ratings, you save big bucks on your utility bill (statistics show up to 30% if your HVAC is over 12 years old), AND you can get MONEY BACK when you file your taxes next January.

That sounds lime a WIN, WIN, to me.

If you want more info on the requirements for getting a tax credit for a new HVAC unit click here.

Want to save money on heating and cooling but don't want to go through the effort of having a new HVAC unit installed? You could buy this house. These owners have already purchased a new HVAC unit for this lovely house. Big rock, wood burning fireplace - very romantic on a cool evening, hardwood floors - the real thing (not laminate), new kitchen counters, fabulous deck and now a NEW HVAC. It doesn't get any better than this! And if you haven't owned a home in the last 3 years, this one qualifies for an $8000 first time home buyer tax credit.

Something to think about. Some people sit around and complain about the "government spending all that money". Well here is your chance to make it work for you.

Can I Use The 1ST Home Buyer Credit as My Down Payment?

Toni Bird (Prudential South O' Town Realty) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:44:47 -0500

You keep hearing about the first time home buyer's tax credit and want to take advantage of it, but can you USE the $8000 to actually BUY the house. Well, NO. The problem is with 99.9% of the loan programs out there today, you need to have a down payment AND pay closing costs.

So, how much money do you need? Well FHA is the most popular loan for people who haven't saved up a lot of money and the down payment is 3.5% of the price you are paying for the house. So, if the house costs $100,000, you have to have $3500 as a down payment. If the house costs $80,000 you have to have $2800. If the house costs $145,000 (like the house at the right) the down payment would be $5075 - you get the point.

In addition to the down payment, you will need to pay your closing costs and prepaid items. What is that you say??? Well, closing costs are fees that are paid to the lender to make the loan (all those people who work on your loan have to be paid so there is a processing fee, an underwriting fee, a tax service fee, etc). Also, you will need things like a title policy to make sure the person who is selling the house actually owns it, and the termite report to make sure the house has no termites and the closing attorney who closes the house needs to be paid.

Prepaid items are things paid in advance like your homeowner's insurance. Just like you buy car insurance in case something happens to your car, you buy homeowners insurance in case something happens to your house. This fee is paid a year in advance, so you pay a One Year premium at closing.

So, that seems like a lot, but don't worry. Your realtor will make sure it ALL happens before you get to the closing - you just have to pay for it.

Many times the seller will pay some of the closing costs for you - if they like the price you are paying for the house. But you still have to come up with the down payment (3.5% of the purchase price).

It can be a challenge to save up money to buy a home but if you have some money in the bank, now would be a great time to talk to lender to see if you can qualify to buy a house. The first time home buyer tax credit is set to expire on November 30, 2009, so you have to find the home and close within 60 days. With a good lender and a good realtor, this is definitely possible - but don't wait.

You can search for homes for sale in Hoover Alabama and the Greater Birmingham area by going to the MLS Search section of my website. Click here for ALL the homes available in the area. See something you like, let me know and we'll go take a look!

Buying A Home - How To Get The Best Rate

Toni Bird (Prudential South O' Town Realty) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:27:43 -0500

Are you thinking about Buying a Home and want to get the best mortgage payment? Want to make sure you are getting the best interest rate on your mortgage? Well finding the best rate is not always finding the best deal.

Whenever you make a big purchase, it's always a good idea to shop around. There are hundreds of financial institutions wanting to give you a mortgage. If we hear about the Fed dropping the rate and the Fed Rate seems to be controlled by this one person (or government committee) then why can one mortgage company have a rate of 6.0 and another have a rate of 6.5? Well, everyone is out to make money (there is nothing wrong with making a reasonable profit) but what sounds like the best deal isn't always the best deal.

There are two things you need to look at when shopping for a mortgage: rate and fees (fees typically run 3-5% of the loan amount but some can be really high). If you are looking at 2 companies and one is offering a rate of 6.0% and the other company is offering a rate of 6.5%, then the first company is probably charging you more fees than the company offering 6.5% rate.

Fees equate to cash out of your pocket at closing. A higher rate means you pay a higher monthly payment. So, you are either going to pay the money today, or over the life of the loan.

So with all these fees and rates it is hard to compare apples to apples. That is where the APR comes in. The APR takes into account the amount you are paying in fees along with the rate. The lower the APR the better the overall deal. So if you are calling around or checking out rates on the internet - look for the APR.

If you would like any information about buying a house in the Hoover, or Greater Birmingham Alabama area, please contact me at http://www.tonibird.com/.

Moving Checklist

Toni Bird (Prudential South O' Town Realty) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 19:55:29 -0500

Getting Ready to Move?

So you've got a contract on your house - now the fun begins. You know you've got to pack but don't forget to let everyone know your new address.

Here is a list of those to notify:

Provide the post office with your forwarding address two to four weeks ahead of the move.

Notify your credit card companies, magazine subscriptions, and bank of your change of address.

Create a list of friends, relatives, and business colleagues who need to be notified about your move.

Notify your children's school about your move (some school districts will require a change in school if your address changes).

Arrange to disconnect utilities and have them connected at your new home.

Cancel the newspaper, or change the address so it will arrive at your new home.

Cancel insurance coverage on the old residence. Insurance on the new property is usually handled by the closing attorney so you HAVE insurance on the New home, but sometimes people forget to cancel insurance on the old home. Most insurance is paid ahead for one year so you are entitled to a refund. You will want to check to see which insurance covers items DURING the move. Usually movers only cover what they pack.

Good Luck with your move.

If you would like any help finding a new home in Hoover, Alabama or the Greater Birmingham Area, just let me know. Search the internet from my website http://www.tonibird.com/search.asp?

How do I know if I Qualify for the Home Buyer Tax Credit?

Toni Bird (Prudential South O' Town Realty) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:14:36 -0500

It is very easy to qualify for the tax credit. Anyone who has NOT owned a home in the last 3 years can qualify for the tax credit. When you want to buy a home, you must qualify for a loan (unless of course you are paying cash) but if you can qualify to buy a home, the tax credit is YOURS. Do nothing NOW; in January when you file your 2009 tax return, you get the form for the credit and attach it to your return.

The tax credit is equal to 10% of the price you pay for the house, up to $8000. They call it the $8,000 tax credit because most of the homes in our city are over 80,000. If you pay only $60,000, your credit will be $6,000. This first townhome is on sale for $79,900. Click here for more info on this home. Your tax credit for this one would only be $7,990.

Here is another great home for sale. This one is a house with a nice fenced backyard that is on the market for $109,900. Click here for more info on this great property. Since there is a cap of $8,000 on the credit, then 8K is all you would get.

Remember, this is actually a tax CREDIT. So if you owe 8,000 in taxes, you will pay -0-. If you only owe $4000, then you will get $4000 back. It's that simple.

Both of these are good choices and there are many, many more. This is a great time to buy a home. What could you do with an extra 8K next year???

Great Home for 1st Time Home Buyer

Toni Bird (Prudential South O' Town Realty) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:35:30 -0500

There are a lot of tax credits floating around out there these days. One is the tax credit for 1st time home buyers. What happens is this - if you buy a home for the first time, you get a tax credit equal to 10% of the amount you paid for the home.

So, next January when you go to file your taxes, if you bought a $60,000 house, you can subtract $6000 from your tax bill. If you buy a $100.000 house, you get to subtract $8,000 because $8000 is the most they will give you back.

If you had taxes deducted from your paycheck, you can get a refund of what you paid in UP TO $6000 or $8000 in our example above. What if you didn't have to pay that much? Great news, you get a CREDIT of the whole $6000/$8000. THIS IS A HUGE DEAL.

The tax credit will run out ON DEC 1st, so it's time to get started looking if you want to take advantage of the tax credit. If you have questions, call me. If you have good credit and some money in the bank, we can get you into a house before the tax creit runs out.

Here is a house that one of my clients bought a few years ago as HER first house. It was perfect for her. She even made some improvements like adding hardwood floors and redoing the kithen. Click here to see what the house looks like on the inside. Can you see yourself living there? AND can you see yourself getting an $8000 check from the IRS AND living here?

It has a small backyard, and very little exterior maintennce, so you won't have to spend your weekends mowing at your 1st House. Sounds really good, doesn't it.

Selling A Home - Add Molding for that Special Touch

Toni Bird (Prudential South O' Town Realty) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:22:03 -0500

I was showing houses to a client the other day. This is a buyer's market as we have heard so there are literally hundreds of homes for sale in her price range. Based on most of her specific requested items and through the use of the internet (pictures really help weed out the undesirable) we basically narrowed it down to 30 homes. Over a period of three trips we ventured out to personally view the top picks.

She had a couple of subdivision that she had friends living in already so we really wanted to explore those neighborhoods. Some of these were typical tract home developments. In these, many of the homes can look the same. So, what makes one home look better than the other? If you are the seller, what do you do to make YOUR home stand out?

Decorating of course is important and we have seen many instances where a nicely decorated home will sell it. She is also very interested in the yard. One home she is interested in has a patio and fountain in the back yard. It is absolutely beautiful - she referred to it as the Sanctuary.

Another item that she commented on over and over again was the use - or lack thereof of molding. Some homes had crown at the ceiling, but dinky molding along the floor. Crown molding and wider baseboards give the home a more finished look. Often times in tract homes, the builders will use small baseboards, no crown at the ceiling and no molding around the windows. I had a client a couple of years ago that was totally focused on crown molding. She bought a house without it, and had a contractor install molding and new hardwood floors before she would move in.

If you are trying to sell your home in a buyer's market and want your home to have a little edge on the others in the neighborhood, try installing some additional molding - especially in the living room and master bedroom. It will give YOUR home a little better appeal and could be what makes the sale.

If you would like some other tips about getting YOUR home ready to sell, check out the seller library at my website www.Tonibird.com.

Home Sale Activity Helena Alabama February 2009

Toni Bird (Prudential South O' Town Realty) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 22:29:53 -0500

Home sales in Helena (one of the top 100 places to live in America) increased to 19 in February. This doesn't sound great - but it was better than the 7 that sold in November 2008 and the 14 in January! The average salesprice was $207,886. Eight sales were in Old Cahaba, 4 in Riverwoods and the rest throughout the city. The highest price can be found on a 4 bedroom, 3 bath in Riverwoods. The average days on the market for sold properties was 132. Currently there are 256 properties on the market.

Helena prides itself on its family friendly atmosphere. Are you looking for a new home? Search for a home in Helena, Alabama or the Greater Birmingham Area at my website www.ToniBird.com.

Home Sale Activity Pelham Alabama February 2009

Toni Bird (Prudential South O' Town Realty) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 22:12:12 -0500

There were 15 home sales in Pelham Alabama in February 2009. This was down from a spike to 34 in December, but closer to the 18 that sold in November. The average salesprice was $161,895 which was down from $187,606 in January. Prices have come down in Pelham, but part of the reason for the drop in average salesprice is the fact that only one home over $250,000 sold in February. Typically we see more of the higher priced homes in Ballantrae sell and that brings the average price up. Sales ranged from $110,000 for a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath townhome in Sommersby to $290,000 for a 4 bedroom, 3 bath in the Laughlin section of Ballantrae. Currently there are 289 properties on the market in Pelham (down from 334 in September). Showing activity has really picked up in the last two weeks and contracts are being written. Pelham home sales in March should jump up. In March 2008 we saw 32 homes close in Pelham, I expect we will see March 2009's number close to that.

Looking for a new home? The internet is a great place to start. Search for a home in Pelham, Alabama or the Greater Birmingham Area at my website www.ToniBird.com.

Home Sale Activity Alabaster Alabama February 2009

Toni Bird (Prudential South O' Town Realty) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 22:05:23 -0500

Home sales numbers in Alabaster remained stable in February with 31 closed sales (up from 30 in January). The average sales price was $168,175 - up from 135,867 last month when we had a glut of foreclosures being purchased out of the market. Sales ranged from $65,000 for a 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath in Mountain View to $550,000 for a 5 Bedroom, 4.5 Bath new home at Sterling Gate. Currently there are 366 properties on the market. Building has all but stopped in the numerous new home subdivisions along HWY 119 near Veterans Park and there are some good deals that can be found there as builders try to shrink some of their standing inventory. Many subdivisions have the streets and sewer in but only 5 or 6 homes. This doesn't look good right now, but it reminds me of Plano Texas in the late 80's when we had the LAST housing crisis. I flew over Plano on the approach to DFW airport and I can remember seeing 1 house all by itself surrounded by miles of streets going nowhere. I flew over 2 years later and there were completed subdivisions everywhere. If you like these homes, NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY. These neighborhoods WILL come back and be finished out sooner than you think.

Looking for a new home? Check out the inventory of completed homes in Alabaster, Alabama or the Greater Birmingham Area at my website www.ToniBird.com.

1st Time Home Buyers Take Advantage of Tax Credit

Toni Bird (Prudential South O' Town Realty) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:32:41 -0500

Boy, has it gotten busy lately or is it my imagination! I listed a home for sale in Helena, Alabama 3 weeks ago and we already received an offer. The seller had fixed it up and it looked GREAT. The person who is buying the home as never owned a home before and can take advantage of the First Time Home Buyer's Tax Credit.

If you are a first time home buyer (and a 1^st time home buyer is defined as someone who hasn't owned a home in the last 3 years), then you can qualify for an $8,000 TAX CREDIT on your 2009 taxes. A tax credit which is good for homes purchased through December 1^st 2009, is better than a deduction because it is subtracted directly from the amount of tax you owe. If you don't owe $8000, you get cash back!! Just buy a house and you can get a credit for 10% of the home's purchase price (up to $8000).

There is nothing that you have to apply for ahead of time. The credit will be claimed when you file your income tax return. Click Here to see a copy of the form that you file with your taxes. If you owe less than 8,000 in taxes, you will get CASH BACK to use on whatever you want. Check out the form for instructions and information about income limits and what to do if you sell the house before 3 years is up.

You keep hearing Now is the Time to Buy, well Now is the Time to Buy.

I told you about the house with the offer on it - well there is another one right down the street waiting for YOU. This home has 2 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths and a nice updated Kitchen. The owners have loved this house and NOW it is your turn. Take A Look at the Visual Tour.

If you haven't already done so, now is the time to contact a lender and get pre-approved for a loan. Click here to shop for houses on line at my website www.ToniBird.com, When you are ready, contact me and I'll set up appointments for you to see your top picks.

Home Sale Activity Oak Mountain February 2009

Toni Bird (Prudential South O' Town Realty) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:45:43 -0500

The Oak Mountain area for the most part, includes property between I-65 and Hwy 280 in North Shelby County. Some property is within the Hoover City limits and other is in unincorporated Shelby County. This area, which possesses many homes in the million plus category, had 40 closed sales in the month of February - up from only 32 in the month of January.

The average sales price was $326,890. Prices ranged from $102,500 for a 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath condo at Horizon (where there are currently 18 others homes for sale ranging from 89,000 to 136,900) to $790,000 for a 5BR, 5.5 Bath home in Highland Lakes. The average days on market for the sold homes was 104. Currently there are 666 homes on the market which reprresents a 16 month supply.

With the warm days of March, we typically see an increase in buying activity. Are YOU Looking for a new home? Search for a home in the Greater Birmingham Area at my website www.ToniBird.com. When you see the ones you like, give me a call and I'll be happy to show them to you.

Home Sale Activity Hoover Alabama February 2009

Toni Bird (Prudential South O' Town Realty) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:29:01 -0500

Hoover Alabama saw 52 homes close in February 2009. Eleven were in Ross Bridge, Six in Bluff Park, Five in Trace Crossings, and the rest throughout the city.

In the Hoover Alabama area, the average salesprice was $265,523 with prices ranging from $41,116 for a 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath condo in Four Seasons, to $909.000 for a home behind the gate at Lake Cyrus. The average days on the market for sold homes was 117. Currently, there are 936 homes on the market which means there are a lot of fabulous homes to choose from.

March typically sees an increase in buying activity. Are YOU Looking for a new home? Search for a home in Hoover Alabama or the Greater Birmingham Area at my website www.ToniBird.com.

Selling A Home - Pink is the Most Expensive Color

Toni Bird (Prudential South O' Town Realty) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:56:27 -0500

Do you like pink?

I lot of people - mostly girls, like pink. Easter is right around the corner and those little pink Easter dresses are pretty, and what would the Easter Bunny do without his pink ears and nose. Many flowers are pink. I saw lots of pink tulips last week and the azaleas are just beginning to peek out. In a few weeks, we will see pink everywhere. In fact, the world would definitely be missing something if we didn't have pink.

I showed a house the other day. It was a great price for the neighborhood and was a foreclosure. The house was a 4 Bedroom, gray brick, one level on a nice flat lot. When we walked up to the front door, my client pointed out that the mortar was a dark PINK. I had NEVER seen pink mortar before. When we got inside, the walls were a pale (almost white) pink - but paint is an easy thing to change. We stepped into the kitchen and WOW there was a pink and purple border, a pink and purple faux finished accent wall, pink corian counter tops and a very light pink ceramic tile on the floor. We didn't go any farther. The price may have been good, but too much work!! There is a hefty price tag associated with changing out all the counter tops and flooring in THIS house. Now, thinking back, I wished I had checked out the bathroom....

I was in a DIFFERENT house and it DID have a PINK cultured marble jetted tub and pink vanities. The house has been reduced over 50K just to compensate for the pink in the bathroom and is a STEAL. Someone just needs to really like pink, or deal with ripping out the tub and vanity tops. That CAN be done, but most people don't want to do the work. If YOU would like to tackle this depinking project, let me know 'cause this house is a bargin!!

The moral of the story is this....If you like pink - that is great. You can even decorate your house with pink paint, accessories, rugs and even furniture. But DON'T use PINK for anything that would be expensive or difficult to replace - it could cost you THOUSANDS.

If you are thinking about selling your home in Hoover Alabama or the greater Birmingham Area, I can help. Give me a call and we'll get started.