Huntsville Real Estate Blog

Forbes.com has ranked Madison County, AL 1 in the latest survey of the Top 10 Affordable Places To Weather The Downturn.  Forbes considered factors such as well-priced homes, enviable job growth and proximity to vibrant cities when deciding where the best places are to live in these recessionary times.

Madison County, AL is an easy commuting distance to Huntsville with a population of 312,734.

Last year unemployment reached a 20-year high of 6.5%, but Madison County experienced 3.4% job growth.  

Moody’s Economy.com provided an affordability index for each county. A score of 100 indicates that a family earning the median income in the surrounding metropolitan area can afford to buy a median-priced home. The higher the score, the higher the affordability. Madison County’s score was 221.02.

The median property tax is $577 and the per capita income (in 2006 inflation-adjusted dollars is $27,065.

Learn more about Madison County real estate at MoveToHuntsville.com or give us a call, 256-508-0211.

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Real Deal - Experience Huntsville’s best businesses at a Half-Off Price!

Channel 19, WHNT-TV if offering half off deals with local businesses. 

They’ve worked out deals with some of our area’s best restaurants and businesses to give you 1/2 off gift certificates - That’s right, 50% off food and more!

Each week they will feature a business of the week. At 8:30 AM each Friday, they’ll open up the ONLINE store for that week’s business. But you have to be fast - there are only a limited number of gift certificates per week.

Have fun and Happy shopping! And keep checking back for more half-off certificates from Real Deals!

I can’t offer you half off your next home Huntsville pruchase, but I can promise to get you the best deal possible.

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Existing-home sales increased last month as buyers responded to improved housing affordability conditions, according to the National Association of Realtors^®.

Existing-home sales - including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops - rose 5.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate¹ of 5.18 million units in September from a level of 4.91 million in August, and are 1.4 percent higher than the 5.11 million-unit pace in September 2007.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said more markets are seeing year-over-year gains. “The sales turnaround which began in California several months ago is broadening now to Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri and Rhode Island,” he said. “The South was hampered by much lower home sales in Houston in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.”

Let’s take a look at the sales statistics for September 2008 to see how the Huntsville AL real estate market looks: 
  
Huntsville/Madison County Real Estate Sales Statistics 

Huntsville and Madison County real estate saw a 2% decrease in average sales price over September 2007.  There was a 10% decline in home sales this September, when compared against September 2007. The average list price has seen an decrease of 2% over last year.  Likewise, the sales price to list price ratio remained constant.  The average price per square foot saw a 1% decrease.  Homes remained on the market an average of 2 days longer than last year.  

There are lots of good things happening in Huntsville and Madison County real estate. I encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities. 

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

Search all Huntsville real estate and homes for sale.

Statistics are based on information for the North Alabama Association of Realtors and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed.  

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I going  to diverge from Huntsville real estate for a minute and encourage everyone to register to vote. With our economy in such dire straights, this election is extremely important!

The deadline to register is 10 days before the election, which is Tuesday November 4.

You can get Alabama Voter Registration information here.

Won’t be around on November 4? Here is Absentee Ballot information.

And here is Absentee Ballot Information for Military and Overseas citizens.

Don’t forget…you can’t just register to vote…you actually have to go to the polls and vote to make a difference!!!

Interested in learning about Huntsville real estate? Visit MoveToHuntsville.com.

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Huntsville Real Estate Market Report

The level of home sales is expected to show little movement in the months ahead, according to the latest projections by the National Association of Realtors^®.

The Pending Home Sales Index,¹ a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in July, fell 3.2 percent to 86.5 from an upwardly revised reading of 89.4 in June, which had risen 5.8 percent from May. The July index remains 6.8 percent below July 2007 when it stood at 92.8.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said home sales continue to edge up and down. “Pending home sales are oscillating month-to-month, with the long-term trend essentially flat,” he said. “Overly stringent lending criteria imposed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the past month no doubt held back contract signings.” 

Let’s take a look at the Huntsville sales statistics for August 2008 to see how the Huntsville AL real estate market looks: 

Huntsville/Madison County Market Statistics 

Huntsville and Madison County real estate saw a 3% increase in average sales price over August 2007.  There was a  32% decline in home sales this August, when compared against August 2007.  The average list price has seen an increase of 5% over last year.  Likewise, the sales price to list price ratio remained constatant.  The average price per square foot saw a 1% decrease.  Homes remained on the market an average of 7 days longer than last year. 

There are lots of good things happening in Huntsville and Madison County. I encourage you to take advantage the opportunities.  

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

Statistics are based on information for the North Alabama Association of Realtors and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed. 

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Existing-home sales rose from the first quarter in 13 states, largely from buyers responding to discounted home prices, according to the latest quarterly survey by the National Association of Realtors®. Nearly one-quarter of metropolitan areas showed rising home prices in the second quarter from a year ago, with greatly mixed conditions continuing around the country.  

NAR President Richard Gaylord, a broker with RE/MAX Real Estate Specialists in Long Beach, Calif., said foreclosures are distorting the price data. “In many areas with large concentrations of foreclosure sales, homes are being purchased below replacement cost values,” Gaylord said. “Many buyers with long-term expectations are getting exceptional value in the current market. Once the inventory is drawn down, price pressure will return because the costs of construction are rising - today’s buyers are very well positioned to build wealth over time.” National Association of Realtors®. 

Let’s take a look at the sales statistics for July 2008 to see how the Huntsville AL real estate market looks: 
  
Huntsville/Madison County Real Estate Sales Statistics 

Huntsville and Madison County saw a 20% decline in home sales this July, when compared against July 2007.  The average list and sale price has seen an increase of 6% over last year.  Likewise, the sales price to list price ratio remained almost the same.  The average price per square foot increased saw a 4% increase.  Homes remained on the market an average of 17 days longer than last year.

Even though the statistics show a drop in the total number of sales, it is important to remember we are comparing to record year in 2007. The current market is good, just not as good as in years past. I fully expect the Huntsville market to rebound early next year. It is an excellent time to buy now as we are seeing larger amounts of negotiating room on the existing inventory. Interest rates are very low making it an excellent time to buy.  

There are lots of good things happening in Huntsville and Madison County. I encourage you to take advantage the opportunities. Please call or email anytime with any questions, 256-508-0211.

Search all Huntsville real estate and homes for sale.

Get the current market value of your Huntsville home.

Statistics are based on information for the North Alabama Association of Realtors and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed.  

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Mark your calendars!! The Alabama Sales Tax Holiday is this weekend, August 1, 2 & 3, giving shoppers the opportunity to purchase certain school supplies, computers, and clothing free of state sales or use tax.  Local sales and use tax may apply – see list of participating cities and counties.  

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to take advantage of making purchases without having to pay sales tax.  It’s a great time for back-to-school shopping!

Only specific items qualify as tax exempt and guidelines must be followed, so click on the details for the information directly from the state. 

And for a great deal when buying Alabama real estate, visit my website, www.MoveToHuntsville.com.

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Check out National City’s Home Valuation website to see how Huntsville AL real estate valuation compares to other cities across the country. This site is not only informative, but it shows that - despite the national media’s attention to the real estate slowdown - much of the national real estate market is still valued fairly, making it a great time to buy.

To learn more about Huntsville AL real estate, please call me at 256-508-0211 or visit MoveToHuntsville.com. You may also visit click here to request a complimentary market value analysis of your Huntsville AL home!

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• The real estate market in Alabama as a state is not expected to slow as much in 2008 as in the rest of the country.
  
• 4% increase in appreciation is predicted for Huntsville homes (the second-highest prediction in the state!)
  
• Increasing jobs and industrial construction are predicted to help Huntsville continue to grow.
  
• Northern Alabama is predicted to experience less market slowdown than the rest of the  state.

Average market times increased, with the average home on the market for 111 days vs 84 days in January 2007.  The average price per square foot of home went up 6% to $90.

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This week I wanted to share a link with you that I hope you’ll find helpful.  This site offers reviews of restaurants in Huntsville, and allows readers to add their own reviews.   

If you are