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Help for Montgomery Home Owners to Avoid Foreclosure

Wednesday, January 20, 2010
by The Hat Team

We are proud to announce Sandra Nickel Hat Team REALTORS, Montgomery real estate specialists, have developed a marketing strategy and website that is focused on assisting distressed homeowners find information and investigate options to avoid the foreclosure process.

montgomery foreclosureA short sale is a real estate transaction option that banks will consider instead of foreclosure with specific guidelines. As a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) we are determined to provide essential knowledge to homeowners in Montgomery facing this unfortunate circumstance. 

Visitors to AvoidForeclosureMontgomeryAL.com will find information regarding the process of foreclosure, what effects foreclosure has on a homeowner, and ways to prevent the foreclosure process from continuing. The website features easy-to-understand informational tools such as a list of frequently asked questions, a glossary of terms and free reports as well as resources that allow the homeowner to get their questions addressed in a confidential manner. In addition, the website offers the homeowner information regarding short sales, often a viable solution to foreclosure that can save a distressed homeowner from the damaging effects foreclosure has on their credit. 

It is important in today’s economic conditions for homeowners to know that they have options other than the foreclosure route. Statistics show that 50% of homeowners facing this stressful situation often ignore the issue and that doesn’t have to be. There are options such as a short sale, especially if the homeowner works with an experienced REALTOR® to provide them assistance in showing the lender the hardship situation and other real estate documentation.” 

Our new website provides visitors with a description of how the short sale process works, how it compares to a foreclosure, and how a homeowner may be able to qualify for a short sale. 

For more information about foreclosures and short sales in Montgomery, please feel free to visit the website at AvoidForeclosureMontgomeryAL.com, or to contact us directly at 334-834-1500 and by emailing [email protected].

cdpe

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Tips For Montgomery First-time Home Buyers

Friday, January 15, 2010
by The Hat Team

Low listing prices, reasonable interest rates, and an abundant variety of homes to choose from are among a few of the reasons now is the perfect time for buyers to make a move in today’s real estate market. Current market trends and other factors have made conditions even more favorable for first-time homebuyers. Though becoming a homeowner comes with huge responsibilities and financial commitments, first-time home buyers should take advantage of the market over flowing with opportunities. The following tips will help ease the mind when considering the smart purchase of your first Montgomery homemontgomery home. 

1. Become familiar with the new first-time homebuyer federal tax credit.  

People who are considering the purchase of their first home, or have not been home owners for at least the past three years can gain great benefits from the first-time homebuyer tax credit. According to FederalHousingTaxCredit.com, qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence on or after January 1, 2009 and before May 1, 2010 will receive a tax credit of up to $8,000. Unlike past tax credits from 2008, the money received does not have to be repaid, unless the homebuyer sells the property with in three years. 

2. Determine what is reasonably affordable.  

Prior to beginning the hunt for the perfect home, it is important to find an affordable price range. Many factors such as money available for a down payment, eligibility for a loan, and monthly mortgage payments, all play a role in determining what the buyer can comfortably afford. Total monthly mortgage payments should be, on average, approximately 30 percent of one’s gross monthly income. Affordability or loan calculators found on the internet can give a good idea of what is affordable. Before seriously inquiring the purchase of your first Montgomery home it is important to have a consultation with a knowledgeable financial advisor.

3. Deciding where and what  

Once an affordable price range is determined, it is time to decide where you want to live and what you are looking for in a home. Whether staying with in the same general area, or looking for a new location, it is crucial to do a fair amount of research on the area and its demographics. For example crime rates, school districts, shopping, medical facilities, and travel, are all important factors have to be considered since they could affect your everyday life. It is also essential to know what you are looking for in a home. Separate lists of essential needs and wants should be carefully thought out towards the beginning of the home search. The list of basic needs should include things such as minimum square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, location, and price. The want list should be compiled of things that would be nice to have, such as pools, big yards, and gated communities.  

4. Find a knowledgeable Real Estate professional 

Finding and purchasing a home is a complicated, overwhelming experience, which should be nothing but exciting. Working with an experienced real estate agent can make the process run smoothly and be more successful. The chances of finding the perfect Montgomery home are significantly increased when put in to the hands of the right real estate professional. 

Learn more about how we can help you purchase a Montgomery home by visiting HatTeam.com or give us a call for more personal service.

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Montgomery Real Estate Podcast - December 2009

Thursday, January 7, 2010
by The Hat Team

Sandra Nickel of The Hat Team presents:




This month's edition covers Montgomery real estate market activity and then we'll share why buyers and sellers have some big reasons to celebrate!

Features special guest Terri Murphy of US Learning.

Program length: approximately 7 1/2 minutes
download podcast mp3 file | subscribe to podcast feed
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Montgomery Foreclosure Statistics - November 2009

Wednesday, December 30, 2009
by The Hat Team

There are 1,207 Montgomery foreclosure homes for sale with 180 new foreclosures in November 2009. The average selling price of a Montgomery home is $179,504 and the average foreclosure selling price is $116,951, a $62,553 savings, according to RealtyTrac.com.

Montgomery Foreclosure Activity and Home Price Index

montgomery foreclosure

Montgomery 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.

Montgomery Foreclosure Geographical Comparison

Montgomery foreclosure activity is 0.05% lower than national statistics and 0.07% higher than Alabama statistics.

montgomery foreclosure

Montgomery Foreclosure Activity by Month

The number of Bank-Owned properties increased from 74 in October to 79 in November. The number of Auctions decreased from 127 to 79. The 6-month trend reflects an increase in Montgomery foreclosures.

montgomery foreclosure

Are you or someone you know behind on mortgage payments and facing a Montgomery foreclosure? You do have options. A short sale may be the answer to saving you, your family and your home. I am a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) with specialized training in helping families avoid foreclosure. Give me a call for a private consultation.

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Montgomery AL Real Estate Sales Statistics - Nov 2009

Friday, December 18, 2009
by The Hat Team

Pending home sales have risen for nine months in a row, a first for the series of the index since its inception in 2001, according to the National Association of Realtors®.  

The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in October, increased 3.7 percent to 114.1 from 110.0 in September, and is 31.8 percent above October 2008 when it was 86.6. The rise from a year ago is the biggest annual increase ever recorded for the index, which is at the highest level since March 2006 when it was 115.2.  

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said home sales are experiencing a pendulum swing. “Keep in mind that housing had been underperforming over most of the past year. Based on the demographics of our growing population, existing-home sales should be in the range of 5.5 million to 6.0 million annually, but we were well below the 5-million mark before the home buyer tax credit stimulus,” he said. “This means the tax credit is helping unleash a pent-up demand from a large pool of financially qualified renters, much more than borrowing sales from the future.  

Let's look at November Montgomery AL real estate sales statistics to see how the housing recovery is progressing locally.  

Montgomery AL real estate sales statistics for November show pending sales have decreased by 2% in 2009 compared to November 2008. The average sales price increased by 17% to $152,392 while sold listings were up by 4% from 2008.  Market times were 28 days more than 2008.

Midtown
Montgomery

Pending
Sales

Sold
Listings

Average
Market Times

Average
Sales Price 

Nov 2009

39

25

129

$152,392

Nov 2008

40

21

71

$126,000

For the latest Montgomery AL 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. 

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Mistakes You Don't Want to Make When Selling Your Montgomery Home

Friday, December 11, 2009
by The Hat Team

Selling your Montgomery home should be a smooth profitable transaction. But it could end up being an unsuccessful, draining experience, especially if the appropriate precautions and preparations are not observed. montgomery homeA majority of the time, the chance for success lies within the hands of the hired real estate expert. In order to guarantee optimal results, the sellers must be willing to cooperate and consider the professional advice of their real estate agent. Agonizing over a listing price, making the property presentable, rushing for last minute showings, answering inconvenient calls, and frazzling thoughts of not being able to sell are all stressful components of selling your home. If you and your home are not properly prepared there is a great risk of losing thousands of dollars in an unsuccessful transaction. Included in the following section are five of the most common, costly mistakes homeowners can easily avoid when selling their Montgomery home. 

  1. Do not believe all real estate professionals are the same, choose wisely
    The process of selling your home involves many tedious details and critical decisions. Real estate professionals are experts in handling these situations and offering knowledgeable guidance to sellers. It is crucial to research several professionals in order to find a suitable match with experience selling homes similar to yours. Real estate agents use different methods to sell their listings. Innovative professionals who promote listings with newer techniques to attract buyers are always more successful than professionals relying on traditional strategies. 24-7 advertising, excessive exposure and lead generation are important services agents offer to aid in selling your home. Hiring and utilizing the right real estate professional can significantly maximize the chances for a smooth, profitable transaction. 
  2. Effects of ignoring cosmetic upkeep
    The potential buyer’s first impression of your Montgomery home is crucial. Dirty dishes piled in the sink, unkempt lawns, cluttered rooms, stained carpets, scattered soiled laundry, and disgusting odors may seem like little things, but they are big turn-offs to prospective buyers. Ignoring cosmetic upkeep leads to loosing home sales. It also never hurts to hire a staging company to assist in making the home more appealing to buyers.
  3. Refusing to make repairs
    Another major cause in loosing home sales is the seller’s refusal to make necessary repairs. In the long run, it is not beneficial to sell “as is”. Instead, making needed repairs or improvements will increase the home’s value. A real estate agent can decide what repairs will boost the home’s value.
  4. Picking a price that is not too high or too low
    When properties get priced too high they tend to sit on the market and eventually develop a label of a problem property. When priced too low a home could fly off the market, allowing the buyer to get a great deal and the seller with lost potential profits. Listing the home at the appropriate price could make or break a successful sale. Real estate professionals use their market knowledge and special tactics to appropriately price the property and ensure a timely and profitable sale.
  5. Making things convenient for prospective buyers
    Providing easy access to the property for showings is the key to finding the right buyer. Appointment-only showings take away from the buyer’s convenience because a specific time has to be set to fit the schedules of multiple people. Using a lock box is the best way to provide easy access for showings. You are less likely to miss out on a sale when buyers are never denied a chance to view the property. 

Learn more about how to successfully sell your Montgomery home by visiting HatTeam.com. 

What’s your Montgomery home worth?

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Montgomery Real Estate For Sale: 26 N Pennsylvania Street

Sunday, December 6, 2009
by The Hat Team

   Montgomery Real Estate For Sale:

   26 N Pennsylvania Street, Montgomery AL 36107

   MLS# 269987

Ever notice how rare it is to find covered parking, much less ATTACHED covered parking in any of Montgomery's older neighborhoods? Well, this brick home in historic Capitol Heights comes with an ATTACHED 2-car GARAGE. No more getting rained on coming to and from your home, no more scraping ice in the winter and scorching hot seats in the summer! Walk through the breezeway connecting the garage to the house and you'll find a roomy 3 bedroom two bath home with living room, dining room, eat-in kitchen and sunroom! Out back there is a two tiered deck great for entertaining or just relaxing with the family. The large fenced yard is pet friendly and great for kicking the ball around with the kids or grand kids. Conveniently located to schools, shopping, dining, and all the Downtown Montgomery has to offer.

Learn more about 26 N Pennsylvania Street and other Montgomery Real Estate by visiting HatTeam.com

Search all Montgomery Real Estate and homes for sale.

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Another Happy Montgomery Home Seller - 2804 Windsor Ave SOLD

Thursday, December 3, 2009
by The Hat Team

montgomery home2804 Windsor Avenue in Montgomery AL is SOLD!

It is a remarkable home with vintage detailing, but it is too late! The Hat Team, Sandra Nickel Realtors, sold this stunning home in only 31 days for the full asking price. The average market time in Montgomery is 84 days.

Get results like these when selling your Montgomery home by calling the Hat Team at 800-428-5239 or contact us by email.

What's your Montgomery home worth?

 

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Another Happy Montgomery Home Seller - 1811 Longmeadow Drive SOLD

Thursday, December 3, 2009
by The Hat Team

There is another happy Montgomery Home Seller. 1811 Longmeadmontgomery homeow Drive has been sold by the Hat Team, Sandra Nickel Realtors.

This home is move in ready and convenient to everything! It sits on a quiet street with great neighbors...but you are too late!

The sales price was 98% of the list price, making this home seller VERY happy!

Looking for results like this? Call the Hat Team, 800-428-5239, or contact us by email.

Find out your Montgomery home is worth.

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Another Happy Montgomery Home Seller

Thursday, December 3, 2009
by The Hat Team

3410 Ridgefield Drive in Montgomery was a feast for your eymontgomery homees and pampered your pocketbook!

It's too late!!

This up-to-date Vaughn Meadows beauty, boasting gorgeous views virtually everywhere you look, sold for 98% of the list price. Needless to say, the owner is thrilled!

You can get results like this when selling your Montgomery home by calling Sandra Nickel, Sandra Nickel Realtors, 800-4248-5239

Don't hesitate. Call today and put more money in your pocket!!

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