Gorgeous home in pristine condition! As soon as you enter the spectacular two story foyer with gleaming wood floors you will be amazed at the attention to detail. All dressed up? The formal living and dining rooms are perfect for formal gatherings. Entertain southern style in the massive family room featuring triple windows and a cozy corner fireplace. Do you love to cook but wish the clean up was easier? No worries, in this designer kitchen you can have the best of both worlds with everything you need to create a buffet of culinary masterpieces. The kitchen features a tile backsplash, work-island, wood floors, smooth-top range, breakfast bar and abundance of beautiful cabinets. Wait need more space? Check out the supersize pantry. You can fit all the extras in here. The lovely informal dining space with wood floors and triple window is perfect for enjoying family dinners. No need to worry about those stairs as the master suite with private entry is on the first level. Take time for yourself in the master’s glamour bath with separate shower, raised vanities, and a luxurious whirlpool tub. Shuffle the crowd upstairs to the 26 X 14 recreation room. Additional bedrooms generously sized for a growing family. When you need to get the work done, just close the door to the private study upstairs. Time to relax just grab your coffee and newspaper rain or shine step outside into the awesome screened porch. Fantastic fully fenced backyard! Storage, storage everywhere! Hurry this beauty will not last long! Call today for a private showing.
You’ve listed your property. You’ve spent your weekends with people traipsing through your home. You’ve done everything you can and your Huntsville real estate is still sitting on the market while others around you are selling. Why won’t your home sell?
You’ve cleaned your home—you think. Let’s examine a few areas many people overlook:
Did you stuff all your stuff in cabinets thinking no one will be bold enough to open cabinets and look inside? Hum… maybe. Maybe not. Lots of people open drawers, cabinets, and definitely will look in closets, so don’t stash all your stuff in closets. Besides being untidy it is likely that overstuffed closets will fall out in an avalanche when an unsuspecting buyer happens to peek.
Are there dirty dishes stacked up, clothes in the laundry baskets, or used towels all over the bathroom? Just because you have to live in your Huntsville real estate until you sell it doesn’t mean it looks good to your buyers. The ‘lived in’ look only makes your home look comfortable when friends and family visit, not prospective buyers.
Does your loving pet adore your visitors? Even the most well-behaved dog or cat may be a distraction. Not everybody is a pet lover, and even if they are they don’t want to have to deal with your pets while viewing a home. Have your dogs and cats in their crates when buyers come to see your Huntsville real estate listing. (more…)
Most articles across the Net that focus on finding a real estate agent tell you what to look for to find a good one. What if you already have one, though? How can you tell if your Huntsville real estate agent is the one that caused previous clients X, Y and Z to have never-ending nightmares? What if they’re related to the Wicked Witch of the West and, horror of horrors, you don’t know?
It’s enough to give a person the terrors, even though Halloween is already past. In the interest of helping you have a good experience (thus raising the reputation of agents everywhere), here are three things you can do if your Huntsville real estate agent starts giving you the heebie jeebies:
1. Find out if they’ve had any training since real estate school. Although it depends on the state, most agents have to complete a three- to six-week period of schooling. If they pass the real estate licensing exam they find a broker, sign a form, sign up with some real estate associations and are immediately moved into the echelons of “real estate professional.” That’s it.
If your agent hasn’t had any more training than that, there’s a high probability they don’t know everything they need to know to give you the professional help you need. Real estate school can only teach so much, especially in three to six weeks.
Spectacular views in paradise! Gorgeous custom builder’s personal home situated on 5 acres is ready for your family to take pleasure in. When you are done gawking at the scenery come in and take a look. The gleaming wood floors will welcome you into this immaculate home. A dining room fit for royalty with rich colors, wainscoting and 10ft ceilings allows for dinner parties will be on the grand scale. Think of all the culinary masterpieces you can create in the designer kitchen with all the bells and whistles. Entertaining will be delightful as the floor plan flows nicely with the kitchen, family room and outdoors! Invite the whole family as there is room for everyone in the impressive great room with lots of windows and great views. Chilly nights are perfect time to just snuggle up with your sweetie by the gas fireplace. If you are looking for mom and dad they are in their suite listening to music from the built in speakers under the stunning 10ft double trey ceiling with the recessed lighting on dim! Take time for yourself in this sweet bathroom with whirlpool tub, dual vanities and walk-in closet. The additional two bedrooms are very spacious. Bonus room with built in speakers, large closet and a 3/4 bathroom gives you everything you need to work, sleep or play. Grab your fishing pole and head to the stocked pond with fountain. You will not want to miss this opportunity to own your own piece of dreamland. Just bring the family. The rest is already here. 18 additional acres available, plus 3500 sqft workshop also available.
Learn more about 434 Banyon Road and other Huntsville real estate by visiting MoveToHuntsville.com. Search all Huntsville real estate and homes for sale.
Home sales surged in the fourth quarter of 2009 with many areas seeing double digit gains according to the National Association of Realtors. Total existing-home sales (single-family and condo) jumped 13.9 percent above the third quarter and 27.2 percent above the fourth quarter of 2008. Distressed property sales accounted for 32 percent of the fourth quarter transactions, down from 37 percent from 2008.
Lawrence Yun , NAR chief economist, said the first-time home buyer tax credit, combined with record low interest rates, played a dominant role in fourth quarter sales. Yun went on to say, “With inventory levels trending down over the past 18 months, we expect broadly balanced housing market conditions in much of the country by late spring with more areas showing higher prices.”
Take a look at how Huntsville real estate sales statistics in January 2010 compared to January 2009.
Madison County/Huntsville Real Estate Sales Statistics
Huntsville and Madison County saw a decrease of 14% in sold listings when compared to January 2009. The average sales price decreased by 7% to $189,639. The average price per square foot decreased by 1% when compared with January 2009. And the average list price decreased by 7%, while homes were on the market an average of 12 days less than January 2009.
Date
Sold Listings
Average List Price
Average Sale Price
Percent SP/LP
Average DOM
Average Price Sqft
Jan 2010
220
$195,999
$189,639
96.89%
84
$85
Jan 2009
256
$210,712
$204,312
97.21%
96
$84
For more information about Huntsville real estate, please visit MoveToHuntsville.com or call me at 256-508-0211.
Real estate aficionados who follow the upswings and dips in the Huntsville real estate market were worried that the end of the first-time home buyer’s credit would mean an end to housing sales. Sales were up, prices were down and the market seemed to be stabilizing – thanks, in large part, to the tax credit. The tax credit motivated potential home buyers to become actual home buyers, which kept home sales stable.
Fortunately, those worries were groundless. President Obama signed a five-month extension on the first-time buyer tax credit November 6th. The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009 covers quite a few new bits of housing legislation:
Extends the first-time tax credit until April 30, 2010
Expands to include those home buyers that haven’t owned a home in three or more years
Allows first-time buyers that are overseas military personnel to take advantage of the credit until May 2011
Requires documented proof that the buyer actually bought a home
Changes the credit amount from $8,000 to “$8,000 or 10% of the home’s value”, whichever is less
Sets the qualification guidelines at $125,000 a year or less for individuals and $225,000 or less for couples (credit amount becomes a scaled decrease above these income levels)
Requires a minimum age of 18 for those applying for the tax credit
Adds $6,500 tax credit for those that have lived in a home for at least five years, but want to buy a larger house (more…)
Consumer Reports surveyed over 17,000 readers on the state of their home improvement projects. The results of the home improvement survey point out that you should definitely do your homework before doing the home improvement on your Huntsville real estate.
Over half of those surveyed went at least $2,000 over budget for room additions. On basement finishing, 56% spent $1,350 over budget. Kitchen remodeling also had 56% going over budget, by $1,200. Lastly, 45% went over budget by $700 on deck additions. What was the reason? Surprisingly, they all had similar reasons:
Plan adjustments
Underestimated labor
Increased cost of materials
Special tools needed
Unexpected system upgrades
If you plan to remodel your Huntsville real estate in the near future, keep these tips in mind so your home improvement goes as planned:
Do your research – Factor in delivery and removal fees. Make sure you know which products the contractor should have and plan ahead. (more…)
Now that the Home Buyer Credit Act has been extended and qualifying income levels have been raised, this is an ideal time to purchase a house. Generally advertised as a tax credit for first-time buyers, the new legislation actually benefits many current homeowners, also. Originally slated to end in November 2009, the credit deadline has been extended to April 30, 2010. If you have a binding, signed contract and settle on a home before June 30, 2010, you are also eligible.
First-time buyers are those who have not owned a home in the last three years. They are eligible for a credit of 10% of the purchase price up to $8000. Ownership of a vacation home or rental property not used as a primary residence does not disqualify a buyer as a first-timer. Repeat buyers, or those who have owned and lived in a principal residence for at least 5 consecutive years of the last 8, may qualify for a credit of up to $6500. Income levels have been increased to $125,000 for individuals and $225,000 for couples.
The current Huntsville market, with an abundance of inventory and moderate prices, is ideal for taking advantage of these tax credits. Take a look at how Huntsville real estate in 2009 compared to 2008.
Huntsville/Madison County Market Statistics
Huntsville and Madison County saw a decrease of 6% in sold listings when compared to 2008. The average sales price decreased by 4% to $191,946. The average price per square foot decreased by 2% when compared with 2008. And the average list price decreased by 4%, while homes were on the market an average of 12 days less than 2008.
Date
Sold Listings
Average List Price
Average Sale Price
Percent SP/LP
Average DOM
Average Price Sqft
2009
4,719
$196,799
$191,946
98.13%
79
$84
2008
5,024
$204,185
$199,782
97.94%
91
$86
For more information about Huntsville AL real estate, please visit MoveToHuntsville.com or call me at 256-508-0211.
There are a lot of financing options to help you buy Huntsville real estate, if you can meet the credit guidelines.
Most lenders prefer to use 30-year mortgage loans. With a longer loan term, the lender can collect more money in interest over the life of the loan. For those who are credit-worthy, a 15-year mortgage term may be offered. So, what is the difference between the two? Here are a few guidelines:
What About a 30-Year Mortgage?
Thirty-year mortgages are becoming the normal term for Huntsville real estate loans. The payments are usually more affordable and lenders are quick to recommend them. Lenders are more likely to offer you a higher loan amount with a 30-year loan, but the trade off is usually a higher interest rate.
Signing up for a 15-year mortgage can save you a lot of money in interest payments. True, your monthly payments will be higher than with a 30-year loan, but the impact on your long-term finances may be worth it.
You absolutely must see this beautiful 4 bedroom ranch with plenty of room to roam inside and out. Come in through the lovely entry with high ceilings, double sidelights and gorgeous Palladium window. Entertaining will be delightful in the stunning dining room with wainscoting and a “let the sunshine in” window. Warm up to the cozy gas fireplace in the dazzling great room with soaring 16 foot ceilings and an abundance of natural light. There is no need to worry about spills as the wood floors meet the tiled kitchen floors. Everyone can be a cook in this huge kitchen with all the bells and whistles you need to create culinary masterpieces. The king and queen’s suite boasts a double tray ceiling, dual vanities, walk-in closet, separate shower and a bubble bath just for you. The enormous backyard is the place to be as there is room for anything and a privacy fence is already in place. The ‘hobbyist’ in your family will be thrilled about the workshop with electricity. Come on out and take a look there is room for everyone here.
Learn more about 295 Mossy Oak and other Huntsville real estate by visiting MoveToHuntsville.com. Search all Huntsville real estate and homes for sale.
Did you stuff all your stuff in cabinets thinking no one will be bold enough to open cabinets and look inside? Hum… maybe. Maybe not. Lots of people open drawers, cabinets, and definitely will look in closets, so don’t stash all your stuff in closets. Besides being untidy it is likely that 
It’s enough to give a person the terrors, even though Halloween is already past. In the interest of helping you have a good experience (thus raising the reputation of agents everywhere), here are three things you can do if your Huntsville real estate agent starts giving you the heebie jeebies:
Real estate aficionados who follow the upswings and dips in the Huntsville 
Sets the qualification guidelines at $125,000 a year or less for individuals and $225,000 or less for couples (credit amount becomes a scaled decrease above these income levels)
Consumer Reports surveyed over 17,000 readers on the state of their home improvement projects. The results of the 
If you plan to remodel your 
Most lenders prefer to use 30-year mortgage loans. With a longer loan term, the lender can collect more money in interest over the life of the loan. For those who are credit-worthy, a 15-year mortgage term may be offered. So, what is the difference between the two? Here are a few guidelines: 