When you buy a Huntsville AL real estate in a subdivision, co-op or planned unit development, you may be subject to a host of rules and regulations as established by the Homeowners’ Association (HOA) governing that development.  

You’ve most likely heard of HOAs, but you may not know exactly how they operate and how they can impact you and your Huntsville AL real estate.  In this article, you’ll get information on some of the broader issues that you should be aware of when moving into a community governed by an HOA.

What is a Homeowners’ Association?

It is a corporation formed by real estate developers to market, manage and sell homes and lots within a development.

Does the Huntsville AL real estate developer retain control of the HOA forever?  No.  After a predetermined number of homes or lots are sold, the control is turned over, first, to a handpicked group of homeowners.  Later in the process, elections are held once a year within the development to choose board members.

Can anyone be a board member?

As long as you’re a property owner in the development governed by the HOA, you can campaign for the position.  Elections are held once a year.  It is not a paid position; board members volunteer their time.

What is the primary function of the HOA?

The primary function of an HOA is to maintain the rules and restrictions that were put in place by the developers and to maintain the community’s common areas.

Common areas include streets, parking lots, parks or green areas, pools and buildings used by the owners like a clubhouse or fitness center.  If your Huntsville AL real estate is an attached condo unit, this would include the exterior of your unit as well.

Can I elect not to join the HOA?

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Huntsville Real Estate For Sale: 2640 White Elephant Road Grant, AL 35747

MLS#947594

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4_mI9SilUM

Spectacular 7.60 Acre lot with partial interest in a Lake Access lot is ready for your family’s enjoyment. Get ready for family fun on the lake or just hiking through the woods. Located just 25 minutes to Huntsville and 10 minutes from Guntersville. This amazing lot has many building locations on the property. It is a private and secluded dead end road. Mature trees and mountain views plus lake access are just waiting for your dream home plans. See it today, it won’t disappoint.

Having lived in the Huntsville AL area for most of his life, Mike Manosky understands exactly what makes this community special.  In fact, those who know him well will tell you he carries the same traditional values and focus on the future as Huntsville. 

Mike brings with him a keen eye for the details of buying or selling a Huntsville AL home and seemingly boundless determination and energy, which is why his clients benefit from his unique brand of real estate service. Rooted in Tradition, Focused on the Future – Mike Manosky will help make the most of your Huntsville AL real estate experience. Give him a call today, 256-508-0211 Direct or 800-803-0053 Toll Free, and discover the difference he can make during your family’s move.

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Buying a home used to be celebrated. It was a sign of growing up and “getting somewhere.” Yet, tell someone you bought Huntsville AL real estate now days and you might just get wide eyes and a gasped, “You did WHAT?”

If you’re still trying to decide if buying Huntsville AL real estate is for you, consider all the reasons why people are still buying homes.

Well, first, you have the reasons that have stood the test of time:

• Once you buy a house, it’s yours until you decide to sell it.
• You experience pride of ownership.
• There’s also a sense of security in owning your own home, which is something missing in renting.

While those traditional reasons are tried, tested and true, there are others:

• Mortgage rates hit an all-time low, which became a big incentive for some buyers.  Potential buyers looked at the interest rates and figured they could never get a better deal on a mortgage.
• Home prices are lower too. Yes, the media says home prices may decline more, but the key word is “may.” The experts can predict all they want, but you don’t know for sure until it happens. Some first-time buyers looked at the prices, weighed their decision on “what if the prices start rising again” and signed the deal.

What about you? If you’re looking at the possibility of buying Huntsville AL real estate, what would get you to sign on the dotted line? Put your requirements and goals in writing, and make them realistic. When all the cards are right, there’s nothing left to do but play your hand.

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Labor Day weekend is almost upon us. Here are some fun things to do in the Huntsville area.

Sept. 2-5, Luverne: World’s Largest Peanut Boil Festival

In addition to the 17 tons of cooked peanuts, sample arts, crafts, children’s activities and more. Admission charged; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Details: 334-335-4468.

Sept. 2-3, Pinson: Alabama Butterbean Festival

Besides honoring the humble butterbean, this event includes a cornbread cooking contest, arts and crafts, food, greased pig contest, tail-waggin’ dog contest and Mr. and Miss Butterbean. Friday 5-10 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; free. Details: 205-572-2041, alabamabutterbeanfestival.com.

Sept. 3, Guntersville: 41st Annual St. William Seafood Festival

This popular seafood festival includes Creole-style gumbo, Cajun boiled shrimp, fresh crawfish, catfish and barbecue from 10:30 a.m. until it’s all sold out. Details: 256-455-4133, stwilliamchurch.com.

Sept. 3, Montevallo: Cars by the Creek and Catfish Rodeo

Prizes go to the top cars and the child who catches the most fish. Call 205-665-1519.

Sept. 3-4, Decatur: Battle for Decatur

Civil War re-enactors fight it out in mock battles each day at 2 p.m. Camps are also open for viewing. Admission’s free; 800-524-6181, decaturcvb.org.

Sept. 4, Alexander City: Annual Labor Day Weekend Concert

Blues Traveler will perform in an evening concert on Lake Martin. Details: 256-212-1479, lmat.org.

Sept. 4, Guntersville: Labor Day Dog Show

Categories include biggest, smallest, best dressed, most talented, fluffiest, youngest and oldest. Sign up at the nature center inside the main campground by 12:30 p.m.; the show starts at 1. Details: 256-571-5445, visitlakeguntersville.com

Sept. 4, Scottsboro: First Monday Arts Sunday

Artists and craftsmen show off their works of art in this juried show. Children’s activities, music and food vendors are also included in the event, held in conjunction with the First Monday flea market around the Jackson County Courthouse Square. Call 256-259-1056.

Sept. 4-5, Crane Hill: Sweet Tater Festival

The annual event in Dowling Memorial Park features great arts and crafts, door prizes, a flea market, rides, games and entertainment Sunday and Monday; 256-531-7916, sweettaterfestival.com.

Sept. 5, Ider: Ider Mule Days

A tradition for more than 100 years, with mules, horses and carriages, plus antique cars, arts and more. Details: 256-675-4184, discoverlookoutmountain.com.

Sept. 5, McCalla: Labor Day Celebration & Moon Pie Eatin’ Contest

Spend time at the Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park for a festival with crafts, music, barbecue and more from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Details: 205-477-5711, tannehill.org.

Sept. 5, Montgomery: Labor Day at Old Alabama Town

Return to the days before Labor Day was established in 1894 to see how early Americans lived in 19th century Alabama. The event is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; 334-240-4500, oldalabamatown.com.

Sept. 5, Section: Annual Section Labor Day Festival

An all-day musical festival with gospel, bluegrass, country, rock and more, plus volleyball and homemade ice cream. Call 256-228-3414.

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Whether you’re planning on selling soon or just want a comfortable home to live in now, here are five projects that increase your Huntsville AL home’s comfort and value:

1. Uncover hardwood floors.  Is there a hardwood floor lurking under your Huntsville AL home’s carpet?  If you’re not sure, pull up the carpet in an unnoticeable corner and investigate. If you find wood floors, you’ll probably need to refinish them, but that’s a lot less expensive than installing new hardwood flooring.
2. Add ceiling fans.  Everyone likes to save money, and adding ceiling fans can reduce your electric bill considerably.  Central air conditioning costs about 70 times more to run than a ceiling fan.  In the summer, fans can make you feel 3 to 8 degrees cooler, allowing you to reduce the use of your A/C and still feel just as cool.   Use your ceiling fan in the winter too.  Just reverse the direction the blades rotate so the air flows up toward the ceiling, and keep the fan on low.  This circulates the warm air around the room without creating a chilly draft.
3. Install a new bathroom floor.  Installation is typically the most expensive part of this home improvement, so if you can do it yourself, you’ll save quite a bit of money.  Choosing a neutral-colored tile adds the most value.
4. Update bathroom and kitchen fixtures.  Replacing outdated or unattractive fixtures is a low-cost, high-impact renovation project.  In bathrooms, put in new spa-style showerheads and towel bars.  In both rooms, put in new light fixtures, sink faucets, switch plates, outlet covers, cabinet knobs and drawer handles.  Choose items in colors and finishes that appeal to a wide audience.
5. Power wash your Huntsville AL home’s exterior.  Make your home look almost as good as new by power washing away the grime.  Clean the siding, driveway, walkways and patio.

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The Alabama Center for Real Estate (ACRE) at The University of Alabama presents Alabama’s residential market leaders through mid-year (January-June) as identified by percent change when compared to the same period in 2010.

Category                Leader             YTD June 2011        YTD June 2010    %Change

Sales                       Mobile                     1,612                       1,747                 -7.7%

Median Price            Huntsville             $171,436                  $169,200              1.3%

Average Price          Birmingham          $172,222                  $165,200              4.2%

DOM                        Tuscaloosa               128                            128                  0.0%

Units for Sale          Tuscaloosa             1,631                        1,894               -13.9%

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Having lived in the Huntsville AL area for most of his life, Mike Manosky understands exactly what makes this community special.  In fact, those who know him well will tell you he carries the same traditional values and focus on the future as Huntsville. 

Mike brings with him a keen eye for the details of buying or selling a Huntsville AL home and seemingly boundless determination and energy, which is why his clients benefit from his unique brand of real estate service. Rooted in Tradition, Focused on the Future – Mike Manosky will help make the most of your Huntsville AL real estate experience. Give him a call today, 256-508-0211 Direct or 800-803-0053 Toll Free, and discover the difference he can make during your family’s move.

Rain gutters are essential because they direct rain water away from your home to protect it from water damage. Any home repair professional can tell you about the damage sustained when Huntsville AL homes don’t have gutters or the gutters haven’t been properly maintained.

Types of House Gutters

• Wood gutters are still in use, especially on older Huntsville AL homes, but they are perhaps the most difficult to maintain properly. These gutters are prone to rotting, wood and mold. Additionally, they’re an attractant for wood-eating insects. The weight of these gutters requires very strong mounting to compensate in the case of backed-up water. If your home has wood gutters, you may want to update your gutters to one of the more modern options.
• One of the most popular materials for gutters is aluminum. These gutters are lightweight, cost-effective and durable. If improperly maintained, standing water can rust the metal and cause leaks. Depending on where the leak is, this can create rust streaks down your Huntsville AL home’s siding.
• Vinyl gutters don’t have the rusting problems of aluminum or the weight problems of wood. Vinyl doesn’t rot; it’s very heavy-duty and lightweight. Vinyl gutters are easy to maintain.  But, leaks can be an issue with vinyl.  Because vinyl gutters are often sold in shorter lengths than aluminum gutters, there are more seams which can lead to more leaks.  Vinyl gutters are also more susceptible to cracking or buckling in extreme temperatures and are extremely expensive to repair properly. (more…)

There were 686 Huntsville AL foreclosure homes for sale in June 2011 and one in every 1,727 housing units received a foreclosure filing. The average sales price of a Huntsville home was $163,477 and the average foreclosure sales price was $117,744, a $45,733  savings, according to RealtyTrac.com.

Huntsville AL Foreclosure Activity and 30 Year Interest Rate

Huntsville interest rates averaged 4.64% in June while the number of foreclosed homes decreased from 80 to 55.

Foreclosure activity is based on the total number of properties that receive foreclosure filings – default notice, foreclosure auction notice or bank repossession – each month. Interest rate is based on the average 30-year fixed rate from Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey.

Huntsville AL Foreclosure Geographical Comparison

Huntsville AL foreclosure activity in June was 0.09% below national statistics, 0.01% above state figures and 0.02% below Madison County statistics.

 Huntsville AL Foreclosure Activity by Month

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For some frustrated sellers, the answer to “Why isn’t my home selling?” is “It’s the agent’s fault!”  If your immediate instinct is to drop your Huntsville AL real estate agent for a new one, you might want to take a deep breath and consider the following:

1. Do you think agents are like lottery tickets?  Going through Huntsville AL real estate agents as fast as scratch-off lottery tickets isn’t going to get your home sold faster.  In fact, it usually slows down the process.
2. Is your home priced correctly?  That’s probably the number one difference between homes that sell fast and homes that sit on the market.  A poorly priced home could be your agent’s fault.  Then again, you could be partially to blame.  Did you insist on a specific price even though your agent strongly recommended a lower price?  Did you refuse to lower the price when your agent suggested lowering it?  If you’re inflexible about price, switching agents will not help. 
3. Did you make the home improvements recommended by your agent?  If your agent suggested you paint, clean carpets, reduce clutter or complete any other inexpensive, easy-to-accomplish task, and you didn’t do it, you’re greatly reducing your opportunity to get your home sold.  You chose to work with your agent because he is a knowledgeable professional.  Take his advice and get those home improvement tasks done now.
4. Has your listing agreement expired?  If your listing contract has expired, this is the perfect time to consider switching agents.  Go back to the start, identify 3 new agents and interview the agents.  If you find one that fits your needs better than your current agent, let your agent know you won’t be renewing your contract.
5. Did your agent market your home?  If your agent has not done all the marketing he promised, point this out and ask him when he’ll get the marketing in place.  Follow up to be sure it’s done on time and professionally.  If he still doesn’t market your home like he said he would, it may be time to switch agents.  
6. Are you being impatient?  If you made all the home improvements recommended by your agent, your home is properly priced, and all marketing tasks are completed, you may just need to have a little patience.  This is a slow real estate market.  That means your home isn’t going to sell overnight.  Ask your agent the average number of days it takes a home to sell in your area, then wait that length of time before thinking about changing agents.

Don’t replace your agent just because you don’t know what else to do.  You’ll be wasting time and effort.  Instead, work with your agent to determine what else can be done to get your home sold.

If you decide to search for a new Huntsville AL real estate agent, I’d be honored if you’d allow me to interview for the job.  Call me at 256-508-0211 Direct or 800-803-0053 Toll Free or email me at mike@movetohuntsville.com to schedule an interview.

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Having lived in the Huntsville AL area for most of his life, Mike Manosky understands exactly what makes this community special.  In fact, those who know him well will tell you he carries the same traditional values and focus on the future as Huntsville. 

Mike brings with him a keen eye for the details of buying or selling a Huntsville AL home and seemingly boundless determination and energy, which is why his clients benefit from his unique brand of real estate service. Rooted in Tradition, Focused on the Future – Mike Manosky will help make the most of your Huntsville AL real estate experience.