Huntsville Real Estate Blog

Not all Huntsville real estate agents are created equal. A person can work as a real estate practitioner, but not be a Realtor. So, what is a Realtor?

A Realtor^® is a licensed real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of Realtors^®, The Voice for Real Estate , and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

The term Realtor^® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a licensed real estate professional who is a member of NAR.

There are approximately 2.6 million licensed real estate professionals in the United States, but only 1.2 million are members of NAR.

The terms Realtor^® and Realtors^® are not generic terms. That is, they are NOT synonymous with “real estate agent” and “real estate agents.”

The term Realtor^® was coined in 1916 by a national association official, Mr. Charles N. Chadbourn, a past president of the Minneapolis Real Estate Board. Chadbourn saw the term functioning as a collective mark to distinguish members of the national real estate association from nonmembers. NAR registered the trademarks in 1949 and 1950.

The NAR Code of Ethics obligates Realtors^® to be honest with all parties involved in a transaction, whether it is the buyer, seller, or cooperating agent.

The Code requires Realtors^® to identify and take steps to eliminate practices which may damage the public or which might discredit or dishonor the real estate profession.

Realtors^® must take a refresher training course and examination on the Code of Ethics every four-year cycle. Real estate licensees who join NAR are required to take a minimum of two and a half hours orientation on the Code.

NAR’s Public Awareness Campaign, now in its ninth season, is aimed at increasing consumer awareness about the value Realtors bring to the real estate transaction.

The new ethics spot, “Someone You Can Trust,” highlights the honesty and integrity that Realtors^® bring to each and every transaction, and also specifically mentions the quadrennial ethics training requirement every Realtor^® must complete.

There is also a new spot aimed at the unrepresented seller market. The spot, “Don’t Try This At Home,” targets unrepresented sellers with a hard-hitting message: Realtors^® have the experience to price your home, so it can sell for up to 16 percent more than selling it yourself.

In 2005, the NAR increased marketing efforts to the Hispanic audience with the introduction of a 30 second television spot that aired on major Hispanic networks. In just one year, the awareness of the term Realtor^® increased 9 percent among Hispanic audiences.

Realtors^® are strong advocates for homeowners and homeownership.

Every year, NAR leads the way on Capitol Hill and in the corridors of Washington to keep homeownership a top national priority.

NAR’s support for the mortgage interest deduction and other federal policies helps to keep housing more affordable and makes housing a great investment. Sound housing policies empower home seekers to purchase a home of their own.

Realtors^® build communities.

The role of Realtors^® in our communities goes far beyond the real estate transaction process of buying and selling. As local business owners, Realtors^® are vested in building healthy and vibrant communities across the country, neighborhood by neighborhood.

Realtors^® nationwide participate in several NAR programs that better our communities. One such program is the Housing Opportunity Program, which provides tools and resources for promoting affordable housing at local, state and national levels. The Good Neighbor Awards honor Realtors^® who have made an extraordinary commitment to improving the quality of life in their communities through volunteer work.

In the industry’s HOPE Awards (Home Ownership Participation for Everyone), real estate professionals recognize individuals and groups who are making outstanding contributions to increasing minority homeownership.

Local and state associations of Realtors^® also initiate many community projects to improve our neighborhoods.

Realtors^® have access to educational opportunities and training in real estate specialties that are not available to other licensees. In these courses, Realtors^® learn to develop skills in guiding clients and customers through the complex real estate transaction process.

NAR offers advanced educational opportunities to its members that enable Realtors^® to present the public with such accredited sub-specialties as buyer’s representation (ABR), residential real estate expertise (CRS), or Internet readiness (e-PRO).

Through membership in NAR’s affiliated institutes, societies, and councils, Realtors^® devote themselves to continuous study of the most recent trends in their fields to stay abreast of industry developments in their specialized areas and better address industry issues. (Copyright NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®)

I am a Huntsville Realtor. My experience, knowledge, training, and integrity is just a click or a phone call away.  Call me when you are ready to buy or sell Huntsville real estate. 800-239-4749 #4932.

For the latest Huntsville AL real estate market conditions visit MoveToHuntsville.com  

A Huntsville planning subcommittee reviewed plans for a 763-lot subdivision, Anslee Farms, off Blake Bottom Road where Huntsville is sprawling between Madison and the Monrovia community.

Plans for another  173-lot subdivision south of Capshaw Road and east of Balch Road near Madison were temporarily withdrawn Wednesday, but will be reviewed after completion of necessary paperwork.

The building of another 976 homes west of the city raises concerns about school overcrowding and road congestion. Both new subdivisions would be zoned for the K-8 Providence School, which is near capacity only 2 years after completion. And a new traffic count shows 8,000 vehicles using two-lane Blake Bottom daily to reach Research Park Boulevard.

Read the full story…

For the latest Huntsville AL real estate market conditions, please call me at 256-508-0211 or visit MoveToHuntsville.com  

The Central Alabama Business Journal reports a bright outlook for Alabama’s economy:

→  Real per capita income was 0.7 percent higher than the national rate for the first six months of 2006.

→  The 3.2 percent unemployment rate was more than 1 percent lower than the country’s unemployment rate of 4.5 percent.

→  The state’s overall economy is forecast to grow 2.5 percent in 2007, just ahead of the Global Insight’s 2.4 forecast for the country.

→  The state added 4,570 jobs in the transportation equipment sector last year while motor vehicle manufacturing showed an increase of nearly 1,000 jobs.

→  The motor vehicle sector output jumped 16.5 percent in 2006 to $5.2 billion and the industry is forecast for significant growth in 2007 – 15 percent this year.

→  State exports totaled $10.8 billion in 2005, a nearly 20 percent increase from 2004. But in 2006, exports exceeded $10.5 billion during the first nine months.

→  Nonresidential construction is another strong sector, helped by the surging automotive industry, which also leads to new shopping and commercial construction projects.

→  Real estate is actually undervalued in most Alabama cities, according to Nigel Gault, group managing director for North American Macroeconomic Services for Global Insight. 

Undervalued real estate translates into excellent investment opportunities for Huntsville home buyers. Give me a call, 800-239-4749 $4932,  if you are interested in buying a home in Huntsville or Madison County.

On April 4, the Tennessee Valley chapter of Honor Flight  will make its inaugural trip see the World War II memorial in Washington, D.C., with 13 veterans aboard. The all-expense paid, one day trip is a way of honoring our Veterans and saying thank you for the sacrifices that were made.

The flight to Washington will leave early in the morning and return in the evening. Veterans will be taken to their memorial, other war memorials and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Honor Flight which originated in Ohio in 2005 by Air Force Capt. Earl Morse and, to date, has flown over 900 veterans to Washington.

Honor Flight needs your help. Donations are what makes these trips possible. The April trip carries a price tag of $20,000. $12,000 has been raised, so far. Another trip for 200 veterans, planned for September, has a cost of $60,000.

If you are a World War !! veteran and never seen the memorial, you are eligible for an Honor Flight. Applications for veterans and guardians can be picked up at The Huntsville Times, 2317 S. Memorial Parkway.

Please help honor our veterans and make a donation!

Donations can be mailed to Honor Flight, c/o The Huntsville Times, P.O. Box 1487 West Station, Huntsville, AL 35807.

For the latest Huntsville AL real estate market conditions, please call me at 256-508-0211 or visit MoveToHuntsville.com  

Moving to Huntsville and wondering how far your salary will go here? This Cost of Living Calculator will compare your earning power in the city you live now to your earning power in Huntsville.

Interested in buying Huntsville or Madison AL real estate? Visit my website to view all Huntsville real estate listings and give me a call, 800-239-4749 #4932 for a FREE relocation package.

The Federal Reserve Board left interest rates unchanged this week, leaving the federal funds rate at 5.25 percent.

Recent indicators have suggested somewhat firmer economic growth, and some tentative signs of stabilization have appeared in the housing market. Overall, the economy seems likely to expand at a moderate pace over coming quarters. Full story…

Because of this decison, interest rates should remain steady for Huntsville home buyers. Search all Huntsville real estate for sale or get the current market value of your Huntsville home.

Seven Huntsville leaders were honored this week at a Path of Honor ceremony held at the Senior Center.  Each honoree was recognized for his service to the community and presented with a brick inscribed with his or her name to be placed in the Path of Honor walkway in the center’s garden on its Drake Avenue campus.

Honorees included:

Bobby A. Bradley, former president and CEO of Computer Systems Technology Inc. He has served on numerous public boards and charities, including the boards of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Madison County United Way and the Land Trust of Huntsville & North Alabama.

Nick Mangus, a retired scientist and engineer for the Army and Dynetics Inc. He now serves as chairman of the Galaxy of Lights construction crew at the Huntsville Botanical Garden. For the past eight years, he has worked as the lead designer for the annual light show fundraiser and teaches monthly drawing classes at the Senior Center.

James R. and Jeanne L. McCown, community volunteers. Jeanne McCown serves on numerous community boards including the Arts Council, the Botanical Garden and Huntsville Museum of Art, while James McCown works with the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce and chairs the local chapter of the American Diabetes Association.

T. Frank Morring, a retired Army employee and World War II veteran. He has served in leadership roles with the local Kiwanis Club for 40 years, has served on the YMCA board for 15 years and is a founding chairman of the Huntsville-Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, among other activities.

Martha Rambo, community volunteer and advocate of local historic preservation efforts. She was instrumental in the establishment of the Huntsville Historic Preservation Commission, has a longtime affiliation with the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra and was instrumental in the building of the VBC.

Betty Schonrock, community volunteer and arts patron. She is a member of the VBC board and serves on the Saturn V Restoration Committee, and has been active in numerous other groups, including Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform, the Mental Health Association, the museum and symphony.

Congratulations and thank you to all this year’s honorees for your dedication to our community.