TERMS:

• Fixed rate:  The interest rates do not change during the life of the mortgage, thus allowing you to know the amount of your payment at all times.
• Adjustable rate (ARM):  The interest rate is tied to a certain index and margin and can fluctuate up or down, thus affecting the amount of your payment.
• Step:  The interest rate and monthly mortgage payment for your Montgomery AL real estate remain the same for a specified period of time, but after that the interest changes to the prevailing rate and stays there
• Balloon:  A loan payment that expands after a specified period of time.  Similar to a fixed rate loan in the early years but with a steep payment of all money owed at the end.

TYPES:

• Fixed rate mortgage:  Traditionally for 25 or 30 years, but also available for 15 or 20.  Although interest rates are somewhat higher than for other types of loans, that rate remains in place for the duration.  Especially good if you plan to live in your home for at least ten years.
• 1 Year ARM:  Also has a 30 year duration, but the interest rate is adjusted each year.  It is important for you to know how often the rate can be changed and if there are annual and life-of-loan caps on the rate.  Beware of payment caps, which can result in negative amortization.
• Hybrid mortgage:  Sometimes called a three-year fixed or five-year fixed, this type of mortgage incorporates some of the features of both a fixed rated and an ARM, meaning that the interest rate on your Montgomery AL real estate will remain the same for the first three (or 5) years but will then convert to a one-year ARM for the remainder of the loan term.
• Balloon mortgage:  In this type of arrangement, you pay a low rate of interest for a certain amount of time.  At that point, the entire amount owed is due, requiring you to refinance your property or make a final—and extremely large—payment to the lender.
• Interest-only loans:  As the name suggests, you pay nothing on the principal for the first five years.  After that you are expected to make regular monthly payments which include both interest and principal.
• FHA loans:  FHA mortgage loans are insured by the government through insurance that is funded into your loan. FHA allows down payments of as little as 3%. 
• VA loans:  Available to veterans who have served in the US military forces.  The main benefit to this type of loan is that you do not need a down payment.  The loan is guaranteed by The Department of Veteran Affairs.

Being familiar with mortgage terms and types should make it easier for you to talk with your Realtor and/or lender about which option is most beneficial for you.

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Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists buyers looking for Montgomery real estate for sale and aggressively markets Montgomery AL homes for sale. Sandra is also an expert in helping families avoid foreclosure through short sales and is committed to helping families in financial hardship find options. For more information you can visit AvoidForeclosureMontgomery.com.

You can reach Sandra by filling out the online contact form below or give her a call anytime

MLS#290410

Get Ready to Party! You can entertain hoards of people gracefully in this golf course home with a fully circulating floor plan and banquet-sized dining room. And every living space in this elegantly expanded and updated beauty has a breathtaking view of the multi-level rear deck, sparkling pool and #7 fairway of the Montgomery Country Club. Kitchen just refreshed with new easy-on-the-feet cork tile. Main level master suite is down a separate hall for total privacy. Toast your toes by any of the three working fireplaces. Guest bedroom and study on north side of home features a Jack-and-Jill bath.  Room off outdoor utility space perfect for pets and even has a Dutch door so they can see and hear but not interfere with guests. Huge closet off foyer is big enough for workout equipment, second home office or "coatroom duty" when owners invite a crowd. This light-filled home shows like a magazine layout so move it to the top of your list!

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Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists buyers looking for Montgomery real estate for sale and aggressively markets Montgomery AL homes for sale. Sandra is also an expert in helping families avoid foreclosure through short sales and is committed to helping families in financial hardship find options. For more information you can visit AvoidForeclosureMontgomery.com.

You can reach Sandra by filling out the online contact form below or give her a call anytime.

MLS #290394

Here is your opportunity to live in Old Cloverdale, just blocks from all the action, for well under $100,000! This great and spacious one bedroom cottage is perfect for a single or newly married owner. Big living room has real wood burning fireplace and built-in bookshelves. Relaxing screened porch off the kitchen is private and cozy. If you are looking for the Cloverdale lifestyle without the Cloverdale price, check this one out!

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Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists buyers looking for Montgomery real estate for sale and aggressively markets Montgomery AL homes for sale. Sandra is also an expert in helping families avoid foreclosure through short sales and is committed to helping families in financial hardship find options. For more information you can visit AvoidForeclosureMontgomery.com.

You can reach Sandra by filling out the online contact form below or give her a call anytime.

MLS #290389

Wanted---homebuyer who appreciates classic design, unique spaces, and value! This historic Garden District bungalow is waiting for just the right person to love and enjoy it as much as its previous occupants. With classic characteristics like entry foyer, spacious living room with built-ins, and formal dining room with antique corner china cabinets, the next owner will have no problem living, relaxing, and entertaining in high style. Fun/funky kitchen will delight most cooks, and split design with master bedroom on the main level and guest bedrooms upstairs affords privacy. Don't miss the bonus: a groovy den/recreation room in the finished basement complete with fireplace, custom walls, and cool recessed ceiling. And, for those who enjoy the outdoors, the rear screened porch and brick patio surrounded by tall privacy fence are sure to please. Convenient to downtown and all that Cloverdale has to offer!

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Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists buyers looking for Montgomery real estate for sale and aggressively markets Montgomery AL homes for sale. Sandra is also an expert in helping families avoid foreclosure through short sales and is committed to helping families in financial hardship find options. For more information you can visit AvoidForeclosureMontgomery.com.

MLS#290229

First time on market in 54 years! This great home has been loved and enjoyed by the same owner since 1958. Constructed in 1952 of quality materials it is one of the most pure untouched mid century ranch homes I've been in years. Just to mention a few of the great period correct details include, open plan, not laminate but real hardwood floors, rock planter room divider and rock fireplace, unpainted pine sliding kitchen cabinets, lots of rich unpainted knotty pine paneling and stained unpainted trim including French doors, colorful 50's style tiled bath, built in ironing board, and built-in phone shelf. Raised conventional foundation combined with huge floor length windows that soak the interior with light give you the feeling of being in a lofty woody cabin. Few but large rooms give you the sense of much more than the economically to heat and cool 1444 square feet. Fully fenced yard for children and pets has a great spot for a deck off the den and kitchen. Seller has freshly repainted exterior windows and most of interior. Nice 90' wide lot keeps you from being right on top of your neighbors. Enjoy the comforts of the attached double carport with entrance to kitchen and all else this wonderful house has to offer for under 90k. Forgot to mention the washer and dryer which are often outside in a storage room on a house of this vintage are inside off the kitchen. Give us or your favorite agent a call to see today.

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Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists buyers looking for Montgomery real estate for sale and aggressively markets Montgomery AL homes for sale. Sandra is also an expert in helping families avoid foreclosure through short sales and is committed to helping families in financial hardship find options. For more information you can visit AvoidForeclosureMontgomery.com.

Although a divorce eventually involves the distribution of all of a couple’s assets—and action dictated by either an equitable distribution system or community property regulation—generally the most pressing issue (other than child custody)—is the resolution of dividing your Montgomery AL real estate.

Since the selling of a home is stressful by itself, let alone when accompanied by a divorce, the cooperation of both parties is vital to make a complicated and emotion-laden process work as smoothly and civilly as possible. The following suggestions to help combat volatile issues and strong feelings:

1.  Consult with your divorce attorney.  A well-crafted settlement agreement can help to avoid many types of disputes. The agreement should be quite detailed, including all potential issues that could arise during the sales process.  The greater the detail, the better.  The agreement should ensure that the interests of both parties are aligned towards selling your Montgomery AL real estate so that you both can move on with your lives.

2.  Find a real estate agent who specializes in selling property for divorcing couples.  With divorce rates continuing to rise, many Realtors are beginning to market themselves as specialists in selling  homes for couples who are divorcing.  These agents understand the complexities of a pending divorce case and will work with you on an individual basis. 

Before you can  decide how your Montgomery AL real estate is to be divided, you must first determine its value.  There are three methods which you can use to do this:

 Tax assessed value.  Although tax valuations tend to be low by as much as 10-20%, this value is likely to be the one used by the courts in case of dispute.

Appraiser.  For a fee of $300-$400 this person will perform a market valuation.

Realtor.  A real estate agent estimate the  can also value your property, generally for little or no cost.  His/her valuation may be less reliable than that of a professional appraiser, however.

Determining equity  in order to equitably divide assets is a complex process which can become quite complicated. 

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Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists buyers looking for Montgomery real estate for sale and aggressively markets Montgomery AL homes for sale. Sandra is also an expert in helping families avoid foreclosure through short sales and is committed to helping families in financial hardship find options. For more information you can visit AvoidForeclosureMontgomery.com. 

You can reach Sandra by filling out the online contact form below or give her a call anytime.

MLS#290300

Cute, cute, cute! This great Cloverdale bungalow has charm and character. The exterior is hearty stucco and its architecture has Spanish undertones. The spacious living and dining rooms are great for entertaining, and while the kitchen is small, it has recently had a "facelift" and is completely adequate for a one or three person household. Cozy den/study off the living room is great for home office and could serve as a 3rd bedroom in a pinch! Don't miss the walk-in closet in the main bedroom, a rarity in Cloverdale! Priced to sell, so call your favorite agent and see this one before it gets away!

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Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists buyers looking for Montgomery real estate for sale and aggressively markets Montgomery AL homes for sale. Sandra is also an expert in helping families avoid foreclosure through short sales and is committed to helping families in financial hardship find options. For more information you can visit AvoidForeclosureMontgomery.com.

You can reach Sandra by filling out the online contact form below or give her a call anytime.

MLS #290161

Once in a lifetime opportunity! Own one of the larger homes on historic Madison Avenue at a bungalow price. Lender's loss is your gain if you act quickly and agree to tie up some minor loose ends, wait patiently through short sale approval process. Massive renovation since 2004.

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Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists buyers looking for Montgomery real estate for sale and aggressively markets Montgomery AL homes for sale. Sandra is also an expert in helping families avoid foreclosure through short sales and is committed to helping families in financial hardship find options. For more information you can visit AvoidForeclosureMontgomery.com.

MLS #290147

Got stuff and need space? Spread out in this family-friendly tri-level that offers privacy for all and a lifestyle like you thought you could never afford! Party by the pool, come inside to the huge bonus room with full bath and never get the carpet wet. Big separate den plus formal living room offers get-aways for adults and teens. Mature trees and shrubs mean beauty year-round. And just blocks from Faulkner, Eastdale and more. The buy of a lifetime so act now!

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Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists buyers looking for Montgomery real estate for sale and aggressively markets Montgomery AL homes for sale. Sandra is also an expert in helping families avoid foreclosure through short sales and is committed to helping families in financial hardship find options. For more information you can visit AvoidForeclosureMontgomery.com.

MLS#290156

Remarkable renovation in desirable Dalraida. Complete new kitchen featuring hard surface floors, counter-tops not to mention stainless appliances, new hardware and light fixtures will make cooking a pleasure. New wood floors, hard tile and carpet throughout. Huge main bedroom offers space for a sitting area with gigantic closet and renovated bath. Remodeled 2nd and 3rd bath serves two other good size bedrooms. The cook will enjoy the wide open living space which offers a view of the wood burning fireplace which can be enjoyed from the kitchen, dining, living room and den. Extra large lot has fresh new landscaping. You will also enjoy large detached garage for cars or maybe even a workshop. Separate laundry room conveniently located off kitchen. Sunroom looks over rear patio which has view of huge yard perfect for kids and pets. Almost forgot new roof and new energy efficient windows throughout will save lots of dollars on heating and cooling. Please give us or your favorite agent a call to see the best value Dalraida currently has to offer.

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Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists buyers looking for Montgomery real estate for sale and aggressively markets Montgomery AL homes for sale. Sandra is also an expert in helping families avoid foreclosure through short sales and is committed to helping families in financial hardship find options. For more information you can visit AvoidForeclosureMontgomery.com.

You can reach Sandra by filling out the online contact form below or give her a call anytime.

Environmentally friendly features have become more important to home buyers according to the 2012 Home Buyer and Seller Profile published by the National Association of Realtors. The importance of various features such as heating and cooling, energy efficient appliances and lighting, landscaping, and an environmentally friendly community differ by region.

• Commuting costs and environmental efficiency have increasingly factored into home buying decisions due to higher energy costs, but also due to overall concern for the environment.
• Factors that are most important to buyers are those directly related to the buyers’ pocketbook.
• Heating and cooling costs were at least “somewhat” important to 87 percent of home buyers.
• Commuting costs were at least “somewhat” important to 73 percent of home buyers.

Now take a look at how the Midtown Montgomery real estate market performed in 2011.

Midtown Montgomery real estate sales statistics for 2011 show the average sales price decreased by 8% to $126,628 when compared to 2010.  The number of homes sold decreased by 18% in 2011.  The median sales prices decreased by 5%, and market times increased 3% or 4 days.  The highest selling home price decreased by 13%, and the lowest selling home price decreased by 99%.

For the latest Midtown Montgomery real estate market conditions in your area, please call me at 800-HAT-LADY or visit HomesForSaleInMontgomeryAlabama.com.

Information is provided by the Montgomery Area Association of Realtors and is deemed accurate but not guaranteed.

Montgomery AL Foreclosure Activity and 30 Year Interest Rate

Montgomery interest rates averaged 3.96% in December while the number of foreclosed homes dropped from 122 to 58.

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.

Montgomery AL Foreclosure Geographical Comparison

Montgomery AL foreclosure activity was 0.10% lower than national statistics, 0.01% higher than Alabama and the same as Montgomery County statistics for the month of December.

MLS#289929

Sprawling Ranch On A Beautiful Cul-De-Sac Lot!

Not your traditional ranch! From the street, this looks like any other ordinary '60's ranch, but one look inside and you will realize this one's special! Foyer...typical, but pine paneled den with masonry fireplace in the front, where one might expect a dining room, NOT typical. Living room and dining room on the back have great views of the yard, and flow well for entertaining. Cozy kitchen and a bright sunroom are on the left end of the house, along with the master bedroom. Two other bedrooms and hall bath on the opposite end of the house, making this the predecessor to the "split-plan" so popular in new construction today. Situated at the end of a private cul-de-sac, kids can play safely. Don't miss the brick terrace out back and big two car carport with additional storage. All this, in prestigious Allendale, and priced to SELL, so call your agent NOW for an appointment to view this great home.

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Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists buyers looking for Montgomery real estate for sale and aggressively markets Montgomery AL homes for sale. Sandra is also an expert in helping families avoid foreclosure through short sales and is committed to helping families in financial hardship find options. For more information you can visit AvoidForeclosureMontgomery.com.

You can reach Sandra by filling out the online contact form below or give her a call anytime.

MLS#289903

Super Started Home With A Fantastic Price!

What a great house for a first time home buyer or investor looking for cash flow! Three bedrooms and two FULL baths, plus a HUGE eat-in kitchen that is actually big enough to set up a den/family area at one end, and still have room for a dining room table and chairs. Relax on the covered rear patio as you enjoy the expansive fenced backyard. (Perfect for pets and children!) With new carpet, fresh paint, and updates in both bathrooms, this one is sure to please.

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Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists buyers looking for Montgomery real estate for sale and aggressively markets Montgomery AL homes for sale. Sandra is also an expert in helping families avoid foreclosure through short sales and is committed to helping families in financial hardship find options. For more information you can visit AvoidForeclosureMontgomery.com.

You can reach Sandra by filling out the online contact form below or give her a call anytime.

MLS#289749

Flip this house! 3 bedrooms and 2 bath fixer in need of new lease on life. Similar size home a few doors down sold for $122k in last year! Sold as is! Lowest price in Cloverdale/Idlewild on lower Park. Not for the faint of heart, but great money making potential for right buyer! And, if you want a project with loads of potential value, in walking distance to parks and Cloverdale hot spots, call us or your favorite agent to see what this old house has to offer.

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Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists buyers looking for Montgomery real estate for sale and aggressively markets Montgomery AL homes for sale. Sandra is also an expert in helping families avoid foreclosure through short sales and is committed to helping families in financial hardship find options. For more information you can visit AvoidForeclosureMontgomery.com.

You can reach Sandra by filling out the online contact form below or give her a call anytime.

If you are one of the millions of Americans whose home has lost value in recent years, despair not.  Whether you’re trying to spiff up your Montgomery AL real estate for resale, to raise its appraisal, or just to keep current with updating and maintaining what you currently have, there are many relatively easy and budget-worthy steps you can take.   Some of these minor projects designed to increase value are quick fixes while others may require a weekend’s worth of work, but all will certainly revive the look of your property.

Exterior improvements:

• Keep shrubs and trees neatly pruned.  Plant new trees for energy savings and aesthetic value.
• Add low-voltage lighting for pathways
• Pay attention to the front door of your Montgomery AL real estate.  Does it need new weather stripping?  A fresh coat of paint? Updated (or at least polished) hardware—knockers, knobs, hinges, and light fixtures?
• Spend $10 to test your lawn for needed nutrients.
• Attend to the garage door.  Use a mixture of one part bleach to three parts water and a soft-bristled brush to give it a thorough cleaning.  Still dirty or stained?  Rent a power washer for about $60.
• Check for faded or peeling paint.  Sand and apply a fresh coat.

Interior improvements:

• If you can’t replace the water heater in your Montgomery AL real estate with a tankless model, wrap the one you have in fireproof insulation.
• Install modern light switches and outlets throughout your home.  Add dimmer switches.
• Insulate windows.  (Easy-to-follow instructions.)
• In bathrooms replace dated towel racks, light fixtures, sinks, toilet seats, and hardware.  Purchase a low flow toilet.  Re-grout where needed.  Display matching towels.  If the floor is in poor shape, consider putting easy-to-install vinyl tiles right over the old one.
• Add crown moldings, wood trim, and/or cornices to give room a look of quality.
• Update your kitchen inexpensively by replacing fixtures, faucets, and hardware.  Consider pendant lighting.  Refinish cabinets rather than replacing them.
• Clean and organize all closets.  

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Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists buyers looking for Montgomery real estate for sale and aggressively markets Montgomery AL homes for sale. Sandra is also an expert in helping families avoid foreclosure through short sales and is committed to helping families in financial hardship find options. For more information you can visit AvoidForeclosureMontgomery.com.

You can reach Sandra by filling out the online contact form below or give her a call anytime.

While we all need a certain amount of stress to spur us on and help us perform at our best, the key to managing stress lies in that one word: balance. Achieving a healthy work/life balance an attainable goal, but in order to do so you must make changes in your life.  Following are a few tips to ensure success:

Leave your work at work:  Use your commuting time to transition from work to home.  Rather than think about problems at work, shift gears and concentrate on your family responsibilities or enjoyable activities which await you at your Montgomery AL real estate. You can also use commuting time to unwind by listening to music or a book.  Change your clothes when you arrive home to strengthen the notion of being away from work.  Resist the urge to check any and all electronic devices for work related messages.

Inquire about flextime or telecommuting:  It just may be that your boss will recognize that you can do your work at different times or from different places.

Learn to say “NO” on occasion:  Be it for work or for home, you don’t always have to be the one to “step up to the plate” and volunteer for yet another responsibility.

Make time in your schedule for physical activity and fun:  Every Montgomery AL real estate owner knows that keeping fit by exercising and eating healthy foods is a remedy for stress and/or depression, but too many of us don’t make a concentrated effort to write in our calendars—in  ink—specific visits to the gym.  Consider, too, the benefits of taking up a new hobby, such as cooking, scrapbooking, or archery, that you can enjoy individually or with family or friends. 

If you have already tried most of the above recommendations but have still not succeeded in balancing the roles in your life, you might ponder this thought by author Jon Gordon and read his new book:  “Personally, I have never been able to balance the scales of work and life on a day-to-day basis. Rather, I’ve come to realize that the dance between work and life is more about rhythm than balance.

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Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists buyers looking for Montgomery real estate for sale and aggressively markets Montgomery AL homes for sale. Sandra is also an expert in helping families avoid foreclosure through short sales and is committed to helping families in financial hardship find options. For more information you can visit AvoidForeclosureMontgomery.com.

You can reach Sandra by filling out the online contact form below or give her a call anytime.

There were 859 Montgomery AL foreclosure homes for sale with 1 in every 796 housing units receiving a foreclosure filing in November 2011. The average selling price of a Montgomery AL home was $102,519 and the average foreclosure selling price was $76,367, a $26,152 savings, according to RealtyTrac.com.

Montgomery AL Foreclosure Activity and 30 Year Interest Rate

Montgomery interest rates averaged 3.99% in November while the number of foreclosed homes remained the same at 22.

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.

Montgomery AL Foreclosure Geographical Comparison

Montgomery AL foreclosure activity was 0.04% lower than national statistics, 0.06% higher than Alabama and 0.01% higher than Montgomery County statistics for the month of November.

• Did you know that celebrating the New Year is a tradition that dates back nearly 4000 years? Or that Julius Caesar was the first person to designate January 1^st as the start of the new year?
• Did you know that the symbol of Baby New Year dates back to ancient Greece? The Greeks marked the rebirth of their god of fertility by parading a baby around in a basket.
• 40 to 45 percent of American adults make one or more resolutions which include weight loss, exercise, quitting smoking, and money management. By the second week of January, 25 percent of people have abandoned their goals, however.
• Certain foods play an important role in the kitchens of Montgomery AL  real estate on New Year’s Day.  Circular foods such as donuts and cakes represent good fortune, while legumes, especially black-eyed peas and lentils, promise good luck and wealth.  Cabbage and other greens whose leaves resemble folded money are also popular, as is ham, which symbolizes progress and prosperity. 
• As with many other holidays, numerous superstitions and traditional practices are connected with the onset of the new year.  It is thought that the first visitors to your Montgomery AL  real estate will bring you good or bad luck, depending on who you keep as friends and enemies, and in Italy people wear red underwear on New Year's Day as a symbol of good luck for the upcoming year.
• And as for the future of Montgomery AL  real estate?  Opinions vary from the cautiously optimistic to those far less rosy, with many financial gurus still sitting on the fence.  Oh, for a crystal ball!

As you reflect on the past year, do remember the good things that have occurred in your life and in the world and resolve to greet 2012 with a positive attitude and a sense of anticipation.

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Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists buyers looking for Montgomery real estate for sale and aggressively markets Montgomery AL homes for sale. Sandra is also an expert in helping families avoid foreclosure through short sales and is committed to helping families in financial hardship find options. For more information you can visit AvoidForeclosureMontgomery.com.

You can reach Sandra by filling out the online contact form below or give her a call anytime

Ready to update the kitchen in your Montgomery AL home? Whether the renovation is for the purpose of increasing resale value or for your own personal use and enjoyment, it never hurts to know what the building industry sees as sustainable, in-demand, cost-effective, and efficient improvements for one of the most important rooms in your Montgomery AL home. As American lifestyles change, so do the needs and desires of your family members and/or potential buyers, especially in the areas of appliances, flooring, lighting, counter tops and backsplashes, cabinetry, energy efficiency, and color.

• Basic design:

An energy-efficient and functional design is extremely popular right now. Function, maintenance, and appearance should be combined to provide a streamlined look, adequate storage, easy accessibility, maximum dining, prep space, and a welcoming appearance. More and more homeowners are opting for removal of walls to make the kitchen more open and family-friendly

• Flooring:

Hardwood floors are still desirable, as are those made of renewable bamboo and cork. Stone and porcelain tiles are also in demand because of their longevity, easy maintenance, and the availability of a wide variety of shapes and designs. Some tiles even look like wood and come in plank configurations.

• Cabinetry:

Practical and attractive are the order of the day for this feature. Cabinets are available in recycled materials and exotic woods, and darker woods are in demand. Mixing materials, such as glass and wood or two different types of wood or wood stains, has become popular in remodeled or brand new kitchens. Desired cabinetry features include many drawers, swing-out shelves, pull outs (for dishes, pots and pans, and bake ware, e.g.) and drawer organizers.

• Countertops:

Granite is still the most popular material, but engineered surfaces are often used instead. Many kitchens of today feature island/peninsula combinations or dual or tiered islands to allow more than adequate space for food preparation, storage, and family dining.

• Backsplashes:

No longer simply a feature to protect the kitchen walls in your Montgomery AL real estate, homeowners are now using this area to add color and decoration. Glass tiles in a wide array of hues, especially those made from recycled glass, are predominant this year and allow you easy maintenance and a way to express your own style.

• Appliances:

The integration of appliances into the cabinetry is big for 201, and, of course, all appliances must be energy-efficient! Stainless steel remains the preferred finish.

• Lighting:

LED lights are the choice of the safety and energy conscious owner of Montgomery AL real estate. Layers of light, including ceiling, under-the-counter, and ambient lighting, are being combined to illuminate kitchens. Pendant lighting is increasingly popular.

• Wall treatments

Wallpaper is back! Often paintable and washable, wall paper can be metallic, hand-painted, tone on tone, patterned, and textured and is now being used to decorate entire rooms rather than just an accent wall. Paint colors? Try out the deep colors of dark grey, grape, navy, or forest green.

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Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists buyers looking for Montgomery real estate for sale and aggressively markets Montgomery AL homes for sale. Sandra is also an expert in helping families avoid foreclosure through short sales and is committed to helping families in financial hardship find options. For more information you can visit AvoidForeclosureMontgomery.com.

You can reach Sandra by filling out the online contact form below or give her a call anytime.