Tis the season… to shop!According to Advertising.com, nearly one third of those questioned said they started their holiday shopping before Thanksgiving.While many people purchase some of their gifts online, there are still quite a few folks that want to see the item before buying it.Shopping in a mall, however, can quickly turn to drudgery. So, how do you change that shopping experience into something exciting and enjoyable?If you live in Huntsville, Alabama, the answer is Bridge Street.
The Bridge Street Town Centre, located in Cummings Research Park and less than two miles from the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, is a 550,000 square foot “lifestyle center” that will ultimately have over 70 retail stores and restaurants.While some of the newly opened stores – Victoria’s Secret and Bath and Body Works to name two – are already familiar to the Huntsville area, there are others, such as Swarovski and Kate Spade that this area hasn’t seen before.Bridge Street is an open-air environment, giving it a European flair that will make shopping here a unique experience.
But shopping isn’t all there is to do.Monaco Pictures is a movie theater offering 14 screens and over 2,000 reclining seats.Ticket purchases are available at the box office, at one of six automated kiosks and online.Moviegoers will also be able to reserve seats.
If buttered popcorn and sugary sweets aren’t what your taste buds crave, don’t worry.Check out the Scene Lounge, an upscale restaurant near the entrance to the theater.This eatery is launching under the direction of a former chef from Wolfgang Puck’s Los Angeles restaurant. Whether you choose lunch and dinner, be careful you don’t forget about your movie while you’re relishing the excellent cuisine.
Taking advantage of the beautiful lake, Bridge Street also offers romantic gondola cruises.Open seven days a week (weather permitting) you can take your special someone for cruises that range from 30 to 45 minutes.Could anything be more romantic than listening to Italian music as you ride in the gondola with the person of your dreams?What a perfect way to propose, celebrate an anniversary or just say, “I love you!”
Bridge Street offers a unique family experience including paddleboats.Available with bimini tops for shade, and with one, three or four seats, you can arrange for one to two paddlers, or switch to an electric motor and just cruise while enjoying the scenery. Rather stay on land?Remote control sailboats – just like the ones in Central Park – are a fun idea!
Children of all ages will love the carousel overlooking the lake.Riding a fairytale horse is a great way to keep the little ones entertained while giving you a break as well.And don’t forget to try the pop jet fountain – an interactive water feature.
Another spectacular part of Bridge Street is the four-star Westin Hotel, projected to open April 1, 2008.With 210 luxurious rooms, guests can take advantage of the indoor/outdoor pool, workout room and spa, or order an in-room massage.There will also be 74 one-, two- and three-bedroom condos available for purchase.
Whether you have a lunch hour or a whole day, make plans to visit Bridge Street in Huntsville soon and experience the difference.
To learn more about living in Huntsville and Huntsville AL real estate, please call me at 256-508-0211 or visit MoveToHuntsville.com.If you are thinking of buying a home in Huntsville, please visit HuntsvilleHomeHunter.com to sign up to have automated emails of new listings sent to you.
The National Association of REALTORS® has published the results of its quarterly sales survey and found that the median home price continues to rise in most metropolitan areas.The median is a typical market price – meaning half of all homes sold for more, and half of all homes sold for less.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said the data underscores the fact that all real estate is local.“Some metro areas are hot, while others are experiencing localized problems,” he said.
The national trend seems to be holding true in the Huntsville/Madison area.In October 2007, although overall home sales had slowed, the average sales price increased 8% over the average sales price in October 2006.
As NAR President Richard Gaylord (RE/MAX, Long Beach) reminds us, it is important to pay attention to our local market when the media begins to discuss so-called national real estate trends: “There is no such thing as a national housing market . . . what’s really important for consumers is to make informed decisions based on individual needs, desires, and timelines in a given area.”
To learn more about Huntsville AL real estate, please call me at 256-508-0211 or visit MoveToHuntsville.com.Or visit HuntsvilleHomeHunter.com to sign up for automated emails containing the newest listings that meet your criteria.
Preserve your privacy! Seclusion is provided by the fence and shady trees surrounding this brick ranch on a spacious.67 acre lot in Trail Bend. You’ll enjoy a large master suite with a walk-in closet, as well as two additional bedrooms and 1 3/4 bathrooms. The large great room has a soaring vaulted ceiling, and it adjoins with the dining room – perfect for parties! Greet the morning as a family in the breakfast nook of the cozy kitchen. New Pergo floors and carpet throughout and recent paint inside and out make this home feel like new. The home also features a 2-car attached garage, covered front porch, and a detached storage building in the rear.
For more information about this home or other Huntsville real estate, visit our website, MoveToHuntsville.com. Interested in knowing the market value of your Huntsville home? Go to HuntsvilleHouseValue.com and your market valuation will be emailed to you.
May your Thanksgiving be blessed with the bounty of the season and the love of family and friends!
We’ll be back next week with more of the latest Huntsville AL real estate news and information!In the meantime, please feel free to contact me at 256-508-0211 or visit MoveToHuntsville.com.
Temporary problems in the mortgage market are expected to free some pent-up demand, but disrupted existing-home sales and distorted prices on sales closed in September, according to the National Association of Realtors®.Even so, prices continued to rise in some areas.Because of this and other factors, total existing home sales fell 8% and are 19% below the level that they were in September 2006.
Lawrence Yun, NAR senior economist, said the decline is understandable.“Mortgage problems were peaking back in August when many of the September closings were being negotiated . . . the good news is that mortgage availability has markedly improved in recent weeks . . .”
Let’s take a look at the Huntsville and Madison County October sales statistics to see if this trend held true:
Huntsville/Madison County Market Statistics
The Huntsville and Madison County markets saw a bit of a slow down in total sales. Sales prices, however continued to increase while market times dramatically decreased.
The average sales price increased in October 2007 by approximately 8% from October 2006 to $200,605. The price per square foot increased by 3% to $89 per square foot.
The number of homes sold decreased in October by 9%, as market times decreased by 42%, or 65 days. The sales price/listing price ratio remained almost the same from 2006 to 2007.
Date
Sold
Listings
Average
List Price
Average
Sale Price
Percent
SP/LP
Average
DOM
Average
Price
SqFt
October 2007
457
$203,983
$200,605
98.34%
91
$89
October 2006
504
$186,306
$183,668
98.58%
156
$86
This is a great time to consider buying or selling a home in Huntsville or Madison AL.For more information about Huntsville AL real estate, please visit MoveToHuntsville.com or call me at 256-508-0211.To begin searching Huntsville AL homes, please use my complimentary MLS search.
Temporary problems in the mortgage market are expected to free some pent-up demand, but disrupted existing-home sales and distorted prices on sales closed in September, according to the National Association of Realtors®.Even so, prices continued to rise in some area.Because of this and other factors, total existing home sales fell 8% and are 19% below the level that they were in September 2006.
Lawrence Yun, NAR senior economist, said the decline is understandable.“Mortgage problems were peaking back in August when many of the September closings were being negotiated . . . the good news is that mortgage availability has markedly improved in recent weeks . . .”
Click here to read the full article, and remember that the Huntsville AL real estate market is always changing from month to month and neighborhood to neighborhood.To find out the latest market trends or learn more about Huntsville AL real estate, please visit MoveToHuntsville.com or call me at 256-508-0211.To begin searching Huntsville AL homes, please use my complimentary MLS search.
Below is an excerpt from a recent article in the Montgomery Advertiser that speaks of good news for Huntsville’s economic outlook:
Compass Bank hosted its Business Leader Confidence Index luncheon Wednesday, and two experts said the economy is sending mixed signals that largely depend on where they originate and how large of an area they cover.
The BLCI is a survey of business leaders across Alabama. It collects input on areas related to economic growth or expansion and then assesses the results on a 1-100 scale.
Totals above 50 indicate growth and totals below 50 indicate a shrinking economy.
Responses on the national economy averaged 42.9, while Alabama’s economy generated more confidence with a 55.8 average outlook for the fourth quarter. Both of those figures were down about nine points from last quarter.
Respondents across the state averaged 50.7 for the economy as a whole. Huntsville, with a 55.3 average was the most optimistic.
“The state economy is on a roll, and the mood is upbeat,” Sam Addy, president of Compass Bank, said. “Things are great in Alabama.”
Business leaders at the lunch were asked to fill out a survey at the program’s start about what their expectations are. Eighty-six percent have low expectations for the national outlook, while 77 percent think the state economy has a bright out look for 2008.
Addy found those numbers interesting.
“I think it is quite decisive,” he said. “People have good reasons to be optimistic.’
If you are thinking of moving to the area, please call me at 256-508-0211 or visit MoveToHuntsville.com to learn more about Huntsville AL real estate.You may also begin searching for Huntsville AL homes here.
Last week, we learned that the Fed had cut its federal funds rate once again to 4.5%.What followed in the news was a flood of technical financial jargon, which just confuses many people rather than helping them understand how the change affects them.
Luckily for those who did not major in finance, BankRate.com has put together a handy “What The Fed Said” translator of last week’s news release!Check it out here and remember that an experienced Realtor can always refer you to a reputable lender, who can help you decide the best way to finance your home purchase.
To learn more about Huntsville AL real estate, please call me at 256-508-0211 or visit MoveToHuntsville.com.To begin searching for Huntsville AL homes please click here.
October has come and gone and we are already into a new month.As it always seems to do, the holiday season has once again sneaked up on us!
Visit the Huntsville Events Calendar to find out what’s going on around the Huntsville area this month.November is also still a great time to enjoy the beautiful fall foliage in Huntsville.For photos and ideas of places to go to observe the changing leaves, please visit AboutHuntsville.
For more information about living in Huntsville and Huntsville AL real estate, please call me at 256-508-0211 or visit MoveToHuntsville.com.You can also visit HuntsvilleHomeHunter.com to receive automated emails of new listings that match your criteria!
This Sunday, we will all roll our clocks back an hour and nightfall will come sooner each night.In the winter months our homes can seem darker than usual, but there are ways to use the natural light that is available in your home to brighten things up.Money Magazine has published a list of “Do’s” and “Don’ts” for adding light to any home – among the topics covered are:
Skylights (pick ones that open and choose carefully where to put them)
Big windows (install them to showcase your best views, but don’t forget to add small windows above or below them that open)
Window height (put windows high on the wall, but not tight to the ceiling)
Window grouping (group several windows together, but don’t separate them with fat supports)
Window shades (install shades in windows that face east, west, and south; avoid using UV-inhibiting coating)
Following these tips for adding light to your home will help to increase your home’s value.To receive a complimentary comparative home value analysis, click here.For more information about Huntsville AL real estate, please visit MoveToHuntsville.com or call me at 256-508-0211.
May your Thanksgiving be blessed with the bounty of the season and the love of family and friends!
Below is an excerpt from a recent article in the 
October has come and gone and we are already into a new month.
This Sunday, we will all roll our clocks back an hour and nightfall will come sooner each night.