There were 1,572 Madison County & Huntsville foreclosure homes for sale with 100 new foreclosures in July 2010. One in every 1,415 housing units received a foreclosure filing in July. The average sales price of a Madison County AL home was $210,690 and the average foreclosure sales price was $180,698, a $29,992 savings, according to RealtyTrac.com.
Madison County & Huntsville Foreclosure Activity and Home Price Index
The Madison County and Huntsville price appreciation remained level in July with 100 new foreclosure homes.
Madison County AL foreclosure activity is based on the total number of properties that receive foreclosure filings – default notice, foreclosure auction notice or repossession notice – each month. Home price appreciation is based on month-over-month percentage change of the Home Price Index. The Home Price Index is calculated from home sales records.
Madison County & Huntsville Foreclosure Geographical Comparison
The magazine, which gives an account of Huntsville’s and Redstone Arsenal’s growth, includes interviews with several families who have relocated here as a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission’s shift of nearly 5,000 federal jobs from the Washington area to Redstone.
In the article, Ethan Hadley, the vice president of economic development with the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce, calls the 2005 BRAC the “largest economic development announcement in Alabama history,” with thousands of new, high-paying federal jobs coming to Huntsville. BRAC has resulted in a $500 million construction boom for new federal facilities, according to the article, and significant contractor expansion at Cummings Research Park is accompanying the new government activity.
The BRAC transition is also putting stress on military organizations overwhelmed by expanding missions, according to the article. The Army Materiel Command is moving its entire headquarters from Fort Belvoir, Va., to Redstone, the magazine states, “just as its work force handles some of the most complex logistical operations in recent history – withdrawing an array of equipment from Iraq and deploying more to Afghanistan.”
Katherine Peters, the reporter who wrote the “New Federal City” article, visited Huntsville in June and talked with several members of incoming BRAC commands and other business leaders.
Have you ever seen a child right after a huge chewing gum bubble pops on his face? A mess everywhere, eyes wide, mouth in an “O” – rather reminiscent of the real estate industry when its own bubble popped. Homeowners panicked and began trying to sell their Huntsville homes.
As more pushed to unload the instantly unwanted “step child” of homeownership, the real estate market became glutted, resulting in lower sales prices. Two years later, some owners are still trying to sell their Huntsville homes, still panicking, and still worried about what the future will bring. However, you might be like some homeowners, who are indecisive about selling their homes or who realize they don’t really want to sell.
Stop.
Take a deep breath.
Quit worrying for a moment and ask yourself… Why am I selling?
There are good reasons to sell:
Your house has become hard to afford.
You’re getting older and need to move somewhere that doesn’t take as much maintenance.
You need to relocate for your job.
But there are a lot of not-so-good reasons to sell: (more…)
The Huntsville Madison County Builders Association first annual Home & Outdoor Living Expo, featuring 83 exhibitors, takes place this weekend and is something you ‘do-it-yourselfers’ won’t want to miss. The Expo runs from Friday, August 27 through Sunday, August 29, 2010 at Von Braun Center’s South Hall. Admission is $5.00 per person and kids are free.
The focus of the Expo will be on home products, decorating, landscaping, building products and outdoor living products. With Fall right around the corner, consumers will find helpful tips on weatherizing your home, outdoor living spaces, fall landscaping, interior design ideas and many other home products and services that can be used in and outside your home.
Don’t forget to save time to attend one of the many seminars on how to reduce your winter energy usage, fun and easy outdoor cooking, how to select a builder and more!
Many real estate aficionados worried that the ending of the homebuyer tax credits would mean an end to sales. However, a new real estate survey, conducted April, 2010, says homeowners with a home for sale in Huntsville and throughout the nation have more chances to sell their homes.
Survey Group
1,000 American consumers
Ages 25 – 64
$35,000 + household income
Survey Results
Over 90% of American consumers think the homebuyer tax credit program helped the real estate industry and first-time buyers.
65% actually looking for a home don’t consider the end of the tax credit program to be a factor in their own decisions.
46% expect area real estate prices to increase over the next year.
12% expect area real estate prices to decline over the next year.
79% expect to see an increase in prices over the next five years.
20% expect prices to rise significantly over the next five years.
75% of renters think renting isn’t as good a long-term choice as owning a home.
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s “Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination” exhibit has been named the 2010 Alabama Event of the Year by the Alabama Tourism Department.
The exhibit debuted at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center June 25 and runs through Sept. 6. It features more than 80 props and costumes from all six “Star Wars” movies. More than 60,000 people have visited since the opening of the exhibit. If you are a Star Wars fanatic you won’t want to miss it!
Owners of Huntsville homes for sale are wondering, “What are buyers looking for?” This is especially true if the home has been on the market for a while. Well, homeowners aren’t the only ones. Several companies, including Better Homes and Gardens and Avid Ratings, the exclusive research provider for the National Association of Home Builders, have researched this question.
So, what are buyers looking for in national and Huntsville homes for sale? In a 2010 Avid Ratings homebuyer’s study, over 22,000 homeowners, who bought their homes in the past nine years, provide some clues. In short, the study says practicality beats out extras any day.
The days of formal dining rooms, oversized backyard patios and community clubhouses are gone. Swimming pools aren’t that big a deal, but neither are upstairs laundry rooms or home theaters. These extras have been replaced by practicalities such as:
Children’s playground
Walking paths
Large kitchens (with island if possible)
Home office or study
Main-floor master bedroom
Two-car garages
Oversize showers with seating
As well, although buyers are willing to have less space, they’re big on “green” features such as high-efficiency windows, insulation and appliances.
Summer is almost over and come mid-august the kids are bored and looking for something different to do. Huntsville has lots of fun activities to offer restless families. Take a look at Go! Magazine’s list of “25 Things You Must Do in Huntsville Before the End of 2010.” 1. White barbecue
Head over to Gibson’s Bar-B-Q on South Memorial Parkway and eat a plate of barbecued chicken drenched in white sauce.
2. Big cave
See the world’s largest cave opening at Cathedral Caverns State Park in Grant. The cave is one of Alabama’s most beautiful natural wonders.
3. Lost luggage OK, it’s not in Huntsville, but take a drive to Scottsboro and check out the world-famous Unclaimed Baggage Center. You may find that Polaroid camera you lost in 1978.
4. Bravo! The Huntsville Symphony Orchestra is one of this city’s treasures. For more than 50 years, the orchestra has been wowing audiences. Don’t miss it.
5. 4th and long
In Alabama, football is religion. Praise the pigskin at Milton Frank Stadium and see a game between whichever high school teams are playing.
You may just be targeting the wrong market. Young families, Gen-Xers and 30-somethings tend to want to move into a Huntsville home with high technology: expensive items like home theaters or home automation. Older buyers, however, have a frugal mindset, are often on a fixed income, and have a different set of requirements for their potential Huntsville home.
Why would you want to market to older buyers? Several reasons, but the main reason is the size of this market, especially the size of the baby boomer generation.
The Population Reference Bureau reports that there were 76 million births during the 19 years covering the baby boomer generation. A large percentage of these baby boomers, who are now between the ages of 46 and 64, are looking or soon will be looking for a home to live in during their retirement years.
Storage space – Most have amassed a lot of personal belongings they aren’t willing to get rid of when they move.
First floor master bedrooms – The older you get, the less stairs you want to climb as a rule. First floor master bedrooms are an excellent selling point.
Easy-open windows – No one wants to struggle with opening windows. This is especially true with the older generations. (more…)
Horse enthusiasts will delight in this beautifully remodeled home on over 10.3 acres and zoned for horses. Your horses will be able to spend lazy days in the fenced pasture with views of your own private pond. They will feel as pampered as the rest of the family when returning to the 3-stall horse barn with tack room. Your guests will enjoy relaxing on the covered front porch on a hot day. And what is even better, is the view Mom and Dad will enjoy from the upper screened porch. Grab a good book, a cold glass of lemonade and while away the afternoon! This lovely home’s remodel includes sparkling hardwood and tile flooring throughout. The Kitchen and Baths feature luxurious new cabinetry and solid surface counters. The Master Suite with its glorious views is a relaxing respite from the rigors of the day. The additional Bedrooms are spacious, sunny and bright, as is a private Study. The shared bath offers a Toto whirlpool tub and toilet for soothing tired bones. This unique property is just minutes south of Huntsville for easy commuting and entertainment venues, as well as only 10 miles from the Tennessee River Bridge, making it perfect for horse lovers wanting convenience. So pack up the kids and the horses and make this gem yours!
In the article, Ethan Hadley, the vice president of economic development with the 
As more pushed to unload the instantly unwanted “step child” of homeownership, the real estate market became glutted, resulting in lower sales prices. Two years later, some owners are still trying to sell their Huntsville homes, still panicking, and still worried about what the future will bring. However, you might be like some homeowners, who are 
runs from Friday, August 27 through Sunday, August 29, 2010 at Von Braun Center’s South Hall. Admission is $5.00 per person and kids are free.
Survey Group
So, what are buyers looking for in national and Huntsville homes for sale? In a 2010 Avid Ratings 
1. White barbecue
Why would you want to market to older buyers? Several reasons, but the main reason is the size of this market, especially the size of the baby boomer generation.