Real Estate Information Archive

Deciding whether or not to buy a home is a big deal, especially for military families who may only live someplace for a short period of time. If you are in the military and are thinking about buying a home, here are some important things to take into consideration:

RESEARCH

It is important to start researching the area where you will be moving long before your moving date.  Check out websites, newspapers, and magazines with real estate listings. Have a list of wants and needs prepared to help narrow down the types of homes you are interested in viewing.  Pay particular attention to houses in the neighborhoods you are interested in to see how long they are staying on the market and if there are changes in their asking prices.

RESALE VALUE

Since military families often do not live in one place for very long, when buying a home, you need to really think about resale value. It is important to find a good neighborhood that does not have too much turnover, since having too many homes on the market could be bad for selling. It makes sense to buy in neighborhoods that are in desirable school districts, but that are well-established and will not be competing with new construction happening nearby. It is also a good idea to buy homes that have standard floor plans that appeal to more people rather than custom homes that may be unique, but only appeal to a few.

COMMUNITY

Moving often can make it challenging for military families to find a sense of community. Buying a home in an area that offers a lot of amenities makes it easier for residents to meet people and form connections. Look for neighborhoods that offer things like pools, fitness centers, dog parks, playgrounds, and community gardens. Families with children moving in the summer before school starts can utilize these amenities to meet people and establish relationships that will help you integrate more easily into the school year.

MILITARY INCENTIVES

You will find that many developers and builders will offer special incentives for military buyers. Some communities even offer free landscaping services for members of the military who are deployed. Military buyers also can qualify for interior design extras and help with closing costs. It is prudent to always ask about any available extras for active military and veterans.  In addition, military buyers can also benefit from special financing options. Using a VA Home Loan is a great advantage for military buyers. And if the military buyer has greater than 30% disability, there are tax benefits which will lower his or her tax rate. With low interest rates and your housing allowance, you will be able to pay your mortgage and build equity even if you only live there a short time.

Military buyers want the same things in a new home that all buyers want…a good floorplan, great schools, lots of storage, nice appliances, and a safe neighborhood. But you do bring a unique perspective to the home-shopping experience. Connecting with a military-friendly professional Realtor like Sandra Nickel is vital to navigating the homebuying process, especially right now with the market being so fast-paced. Sandra is a Certified Residential Specialist who will provide information about schools, safety, traffic, and neighborhood activities to help military families make the best choice for their new home!

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home, let Sandra Nickel and her Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs! Call them today at 334-834-1500 and check out https://www.homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com/ for more info! 

Photo credits: rismedia.com, colemanhighlands.org, debt.org

Montgomery AL Home For Sale

840 Terrace Ave, Montgomery AL 36106

MLS# 488789 | 3 Bedrooms | 1 Bath | 1,524 Square Feet | Cloverdale Terrace

Charming and Move-In Ready!

Virtual Tour

A charming move-in ready home located two blocks from Old Cloverdale and one block from ASU! The cozy screened front porch is the perfect spot for morning coffee or cocktail in the evening. Features include a beautiful living room with ornate wood mantle, dining room, lovely kitchen with updated counter tops and back splash that has prepared countless family meals. All three bedrooms have hard wood floors and the family room/den addition has a laundry room closet. You’ll enjoy the lovely back yard for cooking out. This Midtown Montgomery home has been loved and meticulously maintained by the same family for decades. Check it out today!

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor Lauren Keen, Sandra Nickel Hat Team.
 

Montgomery AL Home For Sale

736 E Fairview Ave, Montgomery AL 36106

MLS# 491365 | 4  Bedrooms | 4 Baths | 3,465 Square Feet | Cloverdale/Idlewild

Graced By a Majestic Live Oak

Virtual Tour

This elegant late-1920's Cloverdale home in Midtown Montgomery is tucked away behind a majestic old live oak! Grand formal living and dining rooms spill into the open kitchen and family room with volume ceilings. There is a cheery sunroom off the living room. The downstairs master suite includes a study with built-ins, and an updated bath. A guest bedroom with en suite bath rounds out the first floor of this wonderful spacious home. Upstairs there is a wet bar, built-in bench, another master bedroom with study and private bath, and a 4th bedroom also with private bath. There’s plenty of attic storage. Off the kitchen/breakfast room you will find a laundry and large pantry area. Enjoy relaxing out back in the private courtyard patio area. Plenty of parking between the front motor court, rear double driveway and detached two-car garage with workshop space. A front circular driveway provides additional parking, and all parking is accessed off Montezuma, so Fairview traffic is never an issue! Enjoy the ideal location walking distance to parks, dining, and entertaining and just minutes from downtown!

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor Billy Young, Sandra Nickel Hat Team.

Montgomery AL Home For Sale:

1231 Gregory Ave, Montgomery AL 36111

MLS# 490841 | 4 Bedrooms | 3 Baths | 3774 Square Feet | Edgewood

Tucked Away on Quiet Street

Tucked away on a quiet street is this beautiful family home in Edgewood looking for its next family! Unlike the typical ranch, the roof has been raised letting in plenty of bright light and the floor plan has been opened up. The huge eat-in kitchen with tons of cabinets opens onto the den/sunroom. With a formal living room, dining room, huge eat-in kitchen with tons of cabinets, a sunroom/den and family room with a fireplace, you have more than enough room to entertain family and friends in these wonderful indoor living spaces! All of the bedrooms are spacious, with the master having a fireplace and French doors to the patio. The outdoor space tops it off with the large patio and sparkling pool! There is plenty of yard for the kids and puppies to play. Don't miss the tons of storage space with extra hall closets, laundry room and utility room. Come see for yourself today!

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor Lauren Keen, Sandra Nickel Hat Team Realtors.

Montgomery AL Home For Sale

2931 Old Farm Road, Montgomery AL 36111

MLS# 469396

3 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms | 1,997 | Westminster Townhomes

Virtual Tour

Great brick ONE-LEVEL townhome convenient to everything in Midtown Montgomery! No climbing up and down stairs in this freshly painted move-in ready end unit. If you are downsizing but still want to keep some of your prized antiques or formal furniture, it has a living room, dining room plus a large breakfast room open to a cozy den/family room with real masonry fireplace. There are three spacious bedrooms, and the master even has two walk-in closets! An actual laundry room offers even more storage. A private patio and courtyard lead to two car carport with additional storage. Situated on a corner and behind Compass Bank, so you don't have to deal with "neighbors" nights and weekends and have additional parking for guests. A walled/fenced area with grass is perfect for pets!

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor Billy Young, Sandra Nickel Hat Team

Nobody wants to be in a situation where a house must be sold quickly, but sometimes circumstances beyond our control occur and suddenly there is a mad rush to get a house on the market and sold pronto. If you find yourself in that situation, don’t despair! I am here to tell you that you CAN sell a house quickly and for the best possible price. The following tips will help you get your house ready inexpensively, and before you know it you will receive an offer and be on the move!

1. HIRE A PROFESSIONAL REALTOR: Seriously. You will be so glad you did! Find a Realtor with a track record of sales that lets you know that she can sell a house quickly. One way to be sure you find the right Realtor is to check TESTIMONIALS. If a Realtor has a lot of happy clients, there is a good chance you will be happy too! Now is not the time to hire someone because she’s the friend of a friend, or he went to the same college as you. Do your research and find someone who will truly make this process as stress free as possible for you while successfully marketing and selling your home.
    
2. RENT A STORAGE UNIT: You don’t have a lot of time to declutter your home, so you need to be smart about it. Shoving extraneous items in your closets is not a solution because potential buyers walking through your home will be looking in said closets. A better option is a storage unit that can house anything that you need to get out of the house while it is on the market. The best rule of thumb is that if you don’t use something daily, store it. Keep in mind that if you rent a portable storage unit, you can have your things transported to your new home once you have moved.
   
3. USE A PROFESSIONAL STAGER AND PHOTOGRAPHER:  It’s always important that potential buyers get a stellar first impression of your home, but even more vital when you are in a hurry to sell. Experienced home stagers are able to look at your house and see it from a buyer’s perspective. They know how to emphasize the positive and down play the negative. Equally important are your listing photos. The more photos you have, the more likely your property will be viewed online. If hiring a professional photographer is not in the budget, then do your homework and be sure to take the best photos possible. Real Estate Photography Tips
    
4. TAKE THE “YOU” OUT OF YOUR HOME: Potential buyers want to look at a home and imagine it as their own. It’s hard to do that if they are surrounded by your family photos and personal treasures. Let’s face it, your little one’s art project may be a “Mona Lisa” to you, but might just be distracting to a buyer.  Keep it simple with the art…you want them to see the house and how it could be their home.
    
5. BRING ON THE LIGHT: A poorly lit home comes across drab and dreary. Who wants that? Brighten things up with both natural and artificial light. When your house is going to be shown, make sure window coverings are open and turn on lights in all part of the house. Consider new paint if any of your rooms are dark colors. A fresh coat of a light, neutral shade will not only make a room feel brighter, but bigger as well.
    
6. MAKE SMALL HOME IMPROVEMENTS: Now is not the time to start a major renovation. Focus on small improvements in rooms like the kitchen and bathroom, where return on investment is most likely to occur. Small, inexpensive touches such as a new shower curtain or new hand towels can give a room a boost. And if you have old, run down appliances, spending a little money to get shiny new ones will be well worthwhile!
   
7. SPRUCE UP CURB APPEAL: First impressions matter…A LOT. When a potential buyer pulls up to your house, it is vital that they like what they see on the outside, or they might not ever make it inside. Make sure your yard is tidy by mowing and edging the lawn, trimming up shrubs and putting down new mulch.  Use a pressure washer to clean the exterior of your home along with your driveway and sidewalks. Put a fresh coat of paint on your front door and create a welcoming aesthetic on your front porch with some pretty flowers. Remember…you can’t sell your house if people don’t see it. A lovely exterior indicates an equally lovely interior.
    
8. SHARE, SHARE, SHARE: Take part in promoting your home. Your Realtor will take care of listing it, but you can use your own social media to get the word out too! Don’t be shy. Send your listing to as many people as you can. You never know who might know someone, who knows someone, who knows someone that is looking for a home where you live!

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home, let Sandra Nickel and her Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs! Call them today at 334-834-1500 and check out https://www.homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com/ for more info! 

Photo Credits: forbes.com, interiorfun.com, diynetwork.com

Montgomery AL Home For Sale:

700 S Marquette Dr, Montgomery AL 36109

MLS# 490842 | 3 Bedrooms | 2 Baths | 1,550 Square Feet | Mayfair

Pride of Ownership Abounds!

Virtual Tour

Welcome to this wonderful move-in ready home in Mayfair! Pride of ownership shows throughout this immaculately maintained home. The unexpected huge updated kitchen that opens into the cozy family room/den is a nice surprise and makes this ranch feel a lot more open. The formal living room/dining room and three bedrooms have hard wood floors. The laundry room is conveniently located in the master bedroom. The 4th bedroom is off the den and currently being used for storage. Relax in the evenings on the large covered back patio and don't miss the garden that's already planted! Located just minutes from I-85, downtown and just down the road from the VA Hospital. Check it out today!

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor Lauren Keen, Sandra Nickel Hat Team.

There was a time when there were three mortgage loan types available to home buyers. You could get a Fixed-Rate Conventional Mortgage, an FHA Loan or a VA Loan. But times, they are a changing.  Now there is a vast array of mortgage loan types to be had!  Let’s learn about some of them, and the differences between them.

We will start with the Most Popular:

FIXED-RATE MORTGAGES - These loans come in 5-year, 10-year, 15-year, 20-year, 30-year, 40-year, and even 50-year timeframes and they are all completely amortized.

FHA LOANS - FHA Mortgage Loan types are insured by the government through mortgage insurance that is funded into the loan. This is an ideal loan type for first-time buyers because it has minimal down payment requirements and does not rely on credit scores for approval.

VA LOANS - VA loans are government loans available to veterans who have served in the Armed Forces for the United States. They are also available to spouses of deceased veterans in some cases.  The requirements depend upon the years of service and whether or not the veteran was honorably discharged or not. The primary benefit of a VA Loan is that the borrower does not have to come up with a down payment. The loan is guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, but funded by a conventional lender.

USDA LOANS - USDA Loans are offered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture for eligible home buyers who want to buy a rural property.  They often come with no down payment required and can sometimes be more affordable than an FHA loan.

INTEREST-ONLY MORTGAGE TYPES – This name is a bit misleading, as these loans are not truly interest-only in terms of the borrower only paying interest on the loan.  The reality of the interest-only mortgage is that it offers an option to make an interest-only payment. This option is only available for a set period of time.  However, there are some junior mortgages that are interest-only and necessitate a balloon payment in the amount of the original loan balance at maturity.

Now, let’s take a look at HYBRID LOANS:

ADJUSTABLE-RATE MORTGAGE TYPES -  There are various types of adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMS). They can fluctuate monthly, semi-annually, annually, or remain fixed for a set amount of time before they adjust.

OPTION ARM MORTGAGE TYPES – These types of loans are complicated. Like your standard ARM, the interest rate on them will fluctuate periodically, but in these loans, the borrowers can choose from various payment options and index rates.  WARNING: The minimum payment option can be dangerous as it can result in negative amortization.

COMBO/PIGGYBACK MORTGAGE LOAN TYPES – This is a type of financing that consists of TWO loans: a first mortgage and a second mortgage. They can be adjustable-rate, fixed-rate or a combination of both.  This is option is used by borrowers when the down payment is less than 20% in order to avoid paying private mortgage insurance.

MORTGAGE BUYDOWNS – A mortgage buy down is a choice for borrowers who want to pay a lower interest rate in the beginning of their loan.  Basically, fees are paid to lower the rate, thus the name buydown. Buyers, sellers, or lenders can buy down the interest rate for the borrower.

Finally, Specialty Mortgage Loan Types:

BRIDGE LOANS – Bridge loans are used when a seller’s home has not yet sold and the seller wants to borrow equity to buy another home.  The seller’s existing home is used as collateral for the bridge loan.

STREAMLINED-K MORTGAGE LOANS – FHA has a program that provides money to a borrower to make home improvements by rolling the funds into one loan. This is similar to the 203(K) Loan Program, but involves less paper work and is easier to get than a 203(K).

EQUITY MORTGAGE LOAN TYPES – Equity loans are second, or junior to the existing first mortgage. Borrowers take out equity loans to get access to cash. The loans can be adjustable, fixed, or a line of credit that allows the borrower to obtain funds on an as needed basis.

SHAERED APPRECIATION MORTGAGES – These are rare in the United States, but shared appreciation mortgages allow home buyers to share part of their property’s value gains with an investor or lender. The guaranteed return to the lender means that the borrower will get a lower interest rate and lower monthly payment on the loan.

REVERSE MORTGAGE – This type of mortgage is for people over the age of 62 who have enough equity in their homes.  Instead of making monthly payments to the lender, the lender makes monthly payments to the borrower for the duration of their residence in the home. Reverse mortgages can be done with either fixed or adjustable interest rates. Please get advice from a trusted advisor before considering a reverse mortgage!

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home, let Sandra Nickel and her Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs! Call them today at 334-834-1500 and check out https://www.homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com/ for more info! 

Montgomery AL Home For Sale

3163 Malone Dr, Montgomery AL 36106

MLS# 488633 | 3Bedrooms | 2.5 Baths | 1,734 Square Feet | Hillwood West

Lock it and Leave it!

Virtual Tour

If you want low-to-no maintenance in a move-in ready townhome, this might just be your next purchase! This elegant brick two story townhome is convenient to everything in Midtown Montgomery! It’s a classic Hillwood design, with spacious living room, dining room, and big kitchen overlooking sunny breakfast room. The rear covered porch overlooks a small courtyard with a grassy area for small pets. The second floor has a large master bedroom with two walk-in closets and a split bath. Another ample guest bedroom with full bath is on the second floor as well. The convenient rear access parking pad means no on-street parking.

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor Billy Young, Sandra Nickel Hat Team!