Real Estate Information Archive

When people think about where they might retire, the first place that comes to mind is Florida. But Florida is far from the only place that is great for retirement. According to U.S News Real Estate, Montgomery, Alabama, with its affordable home prices, inexpensive taxes, and low cost of living is a great place to stretch your retirement funds. Family homes here cost lower than the national average and Alabama has some of the lowest property taxes in the country. Add to that its rich culture and warm weather and Alabama is one of the best kept secrets of retirement opportunities!

Finances are a vital aspect of retirement, and you want to live in a state where you can get the most bang for your buck without having to sacrifice comfort and enjoyment. And Alabama has a lot to offer in that respect. You will find a lot of the same tax advantages in Alabama that you would find in Florida. Combined with the fact that Alabama is overall a less expensive place to live, it should be a top contender when deciding where to retire. Consider these financial perks:

• While Alabama does have an income tax, it is one of the lowest in the country, and social security benefits are completely exempt.
   
• The cost of living in Montgomery, specifically, is 11% lower than the national average.
   
• The cost of housing in Montgomery is 30% lower than the national average.
   
• Healthcare costs are lower in Alabama as well, with retired couples paying an average of 4.4% less than the average retired American couple.
   
• Retirees who own a home in Alabama benefit from one of the lowest property tax rates in the country.

Other than it being a financially smart decision to retire to Alabama, here are several reasons that Montgomery is a wonderful place to live out your golden years:

• The weather is ideal all year ‘round! With a subtropical climate, you will enjoy hot summers and mild winters.
   
• Alabama’s capital city is filled with art and culture. The Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald Museum, Hank Williams Museum and Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts offer opportunities to experience the charming history of this southern town along with fine art from around the world. You will also be able to enjoy professional performances at the Montgomery Performing Arts Center, the Montgomery Ballet, and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.
   
• The city of Montgomery is so rich with civil rights history it is known as the birthplace of the civil rights movement. Check out the Civil Rights memorial Center (CRMC), one of Alabama’s premiere civil rights sites. Experience an unforgettable journey through American history at the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. More great sites to visit include Rosa Parks museum; the Freedom Riders museum; the Southern Poverty Law Center Civil Rights Memorial; the Alabama State Capitol building; Dexter Avenue King Memorial Church and its Parsonage Museum, where King once lived.
   
• You can stay active and social at Montgomery Riverfront Park. Catch a ballgame featuring the Montgomery Biscuits at Riverwalk Stadium or take a riverboat cruise on the Harriott II. Bring chairs or a blanket and grab a spot on the grass where you can watch a show or listen to music at the Riverwalk Amphitheater.
   
• If you love outdoor living, one of the best parts of retiring in Montgomery will be the vast amount of green space and trails that are easy to access. Blount Cultural Park offers a dog park, open green space, a pond and more! Check out Eat South, Montgomery’s own urban teaching farm, or play nine holes at the golf course. Gateway Park offers hiking trails, or you can have a picnic, play horseshoes, and check out the planetarium at Oak Park.
   
• If you are a “foodie”, one of the best parts of living in Montgomery is all the incredible cuisine it offers!  From the finest southern cooking to the most exquisite fine dining, you will love the dining options in Montgomery!

So, if a lower cost of living, tax perks, mild weather, arts & culture, and green spaces all appeal to you, consider Montgomery, Alabama when making your list of possible places to retire.

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home (or both), 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://homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com for more information.

It’s the time of year when everything just seems “blah”. The holidays are over and winter looms before us…long and cold. Many of us leave for work during the dark morning and don’t arrive home until the dark of night. It can be depressing. Really. Scientifically.  Depressing. Per Psychology Today, Seasonal Affective Disorder (also called SAD) is a type of depression that follows the seasons. The most common type of SAD is winter depression. Scientists believe that SAD may be related to changes in the amount of daylight we experience. It is estimated that this disorder affects 10 million Americans, with another 10 to 20 percent suffering from a milder form of SAD. It’s more common in women than men and symptoms usually begin around age 20. Some people suffer symptoms so severely that they affect quality of life and 6% of people with SAD require hospitalization. While the promise of spring is just a couple of months away, we still have a bit of winter to get through, but don’t despair! While SAD is a legitimate condition that should be taken seriously and treated, many of us experience a mild form of “winter blues” that we can beat on our own.

Here is a list of scientifically backed ways to “beat the winter blues”:

MAKE YOUR ENVIRONMENT BRIGHTER

Thirty minutes of light exposure can be as helpful as an antidepressant. Open your blinds, sit near a window and on sunny days, get outside! And if these options aren’t available, try light therapy.

MAKE HEALTHY EATING CHOICES

Certain foods like chocolate, asparagus, spinach, blueberries and oranges are known to enhance your mood and relieve anxiety.

SIMULATE DAWN

If you’re suffering with SAD, you may be finding it difficult to get up in the morning, especially if it’s still dark outside. A study showed that a dawn simulator, a device that makes the lights in your bedroom gradually get brighter over a set period of time, can serve as an antidepressant and make it easier to get out of bed in the morning. 6 Best Dawn Simulators

EXERCISE

A Harvard University study showed that walking fast for 35 minutes a day, five days a week or 60 minutes a day, three days a week can significantly reduce symptoms of depression. And for SAD, exercising in brightly lit environments is even better!

LISTEN TO MUSIC

Research has shown that listening to upbeat, cheerful music can improve your mood and reduce anxiety.

PLAN A VACATION

Research shows that although it might be months before you actually go, simply planning a vacation causes a significant increase in overall happiness.

LEND A HELPING HAND

Volunteering to help others is great way to improve your mental health and increase satisfaction in life.

SPEND TIME OUTDOORS

Even when it’s cold, the benefits of spending time outdoors are numerous. Time spent outdoors can improve focus, improve symptoms of SAD and reduce anxiety.

So, don’t let the winter blues get you down.  Take steps to lift your spirits and spring will be here before you know it!

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home (or both), 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://homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com for more information.

With all the fees and expenses involved in purchasing a home, it may be tempting to skip the  home inspection to avoid spending the money.  But in the long run, it may cost you more to skip it. Home inspections sometimes reveal things that ultimately could have cost you way more than the fee involved.

While you might believe that sellers are being honest about the condition of the home, it’s important not to take their word for it. Truthfully, they probably are being honest. But they don’t necessarily see what could be “wrong” with the house any more than you do. That’s why you need an expert to come in and do the inspection. They can find things that never would be noticed otherwise because they know what to look for. Home inspectors can also give you advice and things to look out for in the future. With that information, you can have an idea of how to prepare for potential costs down the road.

A home inspection can be a deal breaker as well.

For example, if sellers offer a discounted price or cash back for skipping the inspection, walk away from the deal. This is a huge red flag!  A home inspection only takes a few hours and is paid for by buyers, so there is no reason sellers should protest unless there are critical issues in the home they know about and are trying to hide.

When hiring a home inspector, you want someone with many years of experience and proper certifications and licenses. You also want someone who will be thorough…willing to go through the basement, attic and up on the roof to check out every nook and cranny of the home.  It’s important to gather as much information about the house as possible so that you know what you are getting into.

It is not mandatory for you to be present for the inspection, but it’s a good idea to be there.  Some inspectors are happy to have you walk along with them and ask questions as you go.  Others will want to do the inspection on their own and then have you do a walk through with them after they are done. Either way, be sure to look carefully through the report they give you and ask as many questions as you want. Remember that you are paying for their time, so don’t hesitate to have them go over the report with you so that you have a clear understanding of it.

Even if your inspection comes up clean, the fee you pay is worth the price to have peace of mind. Include it in your home-buying budget and don’t think of it as an “extra” expense. It is a crucial element of your decision in purchasing the home and paying a $450 fee and finding nothing wrong is better than skipping it and ending up having to spend thousands to repair something! 

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home (or both), 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://homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com for more information.

I remember watching The Jetsons when I was a kid and being fascinated by the idea of being able to actually see somebody when talking to them on the phone. And a robot maid? Who wouldn’t want one of those?!  I had no idea that in my lifetime, the things I saw on that cartoon fantasy would become a reality. Technologies like FaceTime and Skype allow us to see our loved ones no matter how far away they are. And while we may not have live-in robot maids (yet), things like robot vacuum Roomba have made house cleaning a breeze. Technology moves fast and sometimes it’s hard to keep up with all the options available to make life easier and safer.

If you’ve been thinking about turning your house into a “smart home”, but you don’t know where to begin, here are the basics to get you started:

• Create your command center with a voice-controlled smart speaker. Smart speakers come equipped with smart assistants and they usually come with an app that will be a hub for all your smart-home devices. The speaker allows you to control them all with voice commands without having to log in to different apps.  You want to be sure that you use the right type of speaker based on the other technological services you use. For example, if you use an Apple HomePod, it will only work with Siri and iTunes and is only compatible with other iOS smart products.
  
• If you feel like setting up your smart home is going to be too expensive to do all at once, then smart lighting is a good place to start. It’s relatively inexpensive and is one of the best applications for voice control. By using Smart Bulbs, you will not only save energy, but you can create a more secure home because you will be able to control your lighting remotely. You can also turn a basic light switch into a dimmer…think romantic ambiance! Once you make the one-time purchase of a small hub that is plugged in and connected to your router via Ethernet, all you have to do is replace your current bulbs with smart bulbs. The whole process just takes a few minutes, and since the hub can accommodate up to 50 bulbs, you will only need one. When purchasing the smart bulbs, make sure they are compatible with the smart assistant you are using in addition to making sure you are buying them in the correct size to replace the ones you have. Some brands, like Philips Hue offers starter kits that are compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri.
   
• Invest in smart plugs. They will make almost everything easier! Smart plugs are adapters that turn simple appliances into smart appliances. With a smart plug you can control many of your devices from anywhere by simply using an app.
  
• Smart home-security devices are a little more challenging to install but are worth it for the security they provide. A smart doorbell is a good place to start. It lets you monitor who is coming to your door whether you are home or somewhere else.  It uses a camera and an in-app calling feature that utilizes two-way audio and one-way video.
   
• A larger expense comes into play when you desire large smart appliances such as washers, dryers, and refrigerators. Smart plugs cannot be used to control them. So, that means replacing current large appliances with new smart ones. And as you can imagine, that can be very costly.
   
• Set up an IFTTT app. IFTTT stands for “If This, Then That”, and it adds an extra layer to your smart home.  Available on the App Store, Google Play and in a desk top version at IFTTT.com, this app will help you connect your smart home features in creative ways based on your personal needs. 

Keep in mind that this is a simple guide to begin the process of turning your house into a smart home. There are a lot of products available, so do your research and find the one that is the best fit for you and your family!

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home (or both), 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://homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com for more information.

1809 Winona Avenue, Montgomery, AL  36109

MLS# 550038

3 Bedrooms | 2 Baths | 1,665 Square Feet | Capitol Heights

Welcome to Capitol Heights! This move in ready home with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths has just been updated for its new owner. Walk in to find beautifully refinished hard wood floors, fresh paint, new door hardware and tons of natural light. The huge kitchen has a new tile floor, new granite countertops and new stove and dishwasher. Both bathrooms have been spruced up with a new shower and new vanities. Check it out today!

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

 

Self-Portrait Workshop with Kira Nam Greene

January 6, 2024 – 10:30 am to 2:00 pm

Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts
1 Museum Drive
Montgomery, AL

Designed for adults

Take a closer look at yourself with Kira Nam Green, featured Present Tense artist, in this conceptual self-portrait class that encourages participants to explore their own identity and experiences through artmaking.

This mixed media workshop is FREE and limited to 15 students and advance registration is required.

Register Here

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The Collective - Grand Opening Event!

January 6, 2024 – 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

1704 Carter Hill Road
Montgomery, AL

DRINKS! REFESHMENTS! MUSIC! AND MORE!

Montgomery Alabama…THE ULTIMATE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE IS HEADED YOUR WAY!

The Collective GRAND OPENING is happening on January 6, 2024.

The Collective is a 3-n-1 Boutique that covers you from head to toe brought to you by 3 women who push and motivate each other daily! Join the #collectiveexperience where WOMEN collaborate!

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Bluegrass Jam and Sit & Sew

Saturday, January 6, 2024 – 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Alabama River Region Arts Center
300 W. Tallassee Street
Wetumpka, AL

The Alabama River Region Arts Center hosts a bluegrass jam open to all players of acoustical instruments and singers. Sit and Sew encourages all quilters, knitters and crocheters to bring projects to work on. Join the fun every first Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for both events. 

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MGM Runs

Saturday, January 13, 2024 – 6:00 am to 8:00 am

Hilltop Public House
3 N Goldthwaite Street
Montgomery, AL

Get a move on with this weekly social run! Routes are 3, 6 and 10 miles, and count toward perks. Slide by the bar for a spot of coffee, some brunch, or a Bloody Mary. Catch a pinch of soccer during the season. Start your Saturdays off right!

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Brr Its Cold Outside Chili Bar

Saturday, January 13, 2024 – 11:00 am to 2:00 pm

Harley-Davidson of Montgomery, AL
655 N Eastern Blvd.
Montgomery, AL

Get ready for a sizzling good time at our upcoming Chili Bar! We're turning up the heat with a unique and flavorful experience that will tantalize your taste buds and warm your soul. 

Purchase Tickets Here

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The Black Jacket Symphony

January 19, 2024 – 8:00 pm to 12:00 am

Montgomery Performing Arts Center
201 Tallapoosa Street
Montgomery, AL

The Black Jacket Symphony offers a unique concert experience through recreating classic albums in a live performance setting. A selected album is performed in its entirety by a group of handpicked musicians specifically selected for each album, with no sonic detail being overlooked--the musicians do whatever it takes to musically reproduce the album. The performance is separated into two sets--the first set features the album being recreated as a true symphonic piece. The second set, which features a selection of the album artist's "greatest hits", opens in full contrast to the first set with an incredible light display and the symphony being much more laid back. The tone is set very quickly that this is going to be the musicianship of the first act paired with all the bells and whistles of a major rock and roll show.

Purchase Tickets HERE

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Kids’ DIY-U Workshop: My First DIY Toolbox

Saturday, January 20, 2024 – 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Lowe’s Home Improvement

4501 US Highway 231
Wetumpka, AL 36092

Time to get to work! This Kids Toolbox Workshop will have your little helper eager to tag along on your next home improvement project.

Purchase Tickets Here

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Goldfish Swim School Montgomery – Grand Opening Celebration

Sunday, January 21, 2024 – 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Goldfish Swim School
2460 Berryhill Road
Montgomery, AL 36117

Join Goldfish Swim School Montgomery for our FREE Grand Opening Event on Sunday, January 21st from 3-6 p.m. All are welcome!

Event highlights include family swim, arts & crafts, a photo booth, a balloon twister, refreshments and much more! This event is FREE and open to the public! Please note that parents/caregivers should plan to be in the water with their children for family swim. Little swimmers who are not yet potty trained are required to wear a reusable swim diaper (available for purchase in the facility).

We ask that families sign up for ONE Family Swim Time Slot (either 3-4 p.m., 4-5 p.m. or 5-6 p.m.).

P lease reach out to us at [email protected] with any questions! We can't wait to see you in the pool!

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Magical Montgomery Scavenger Hunt

Wednesday, January 24, 2024 – 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Goldthwaite Street
Montgomery, AL

Your creative, nontraditional scavenger hunt begins at a scenic spot that's a local favorite. You'll get your digital quest from your live and interactive remote host. Then you’ll take off on your own to experience a wide variety of carefully curated locations in town. You'll walk or drive to the various checkpoints as you interpret creative tasks, accept wacky challenges, and get outside your comfort zone!

Magical Montgomery Scavenger Hunt is happening on Wednesday, January 24,2024 at 02:00PM

To access further details about this event, Click HERE.

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Prattville Band Mattress Fundraiser

January 28, 2024 – 11:00 am to 5:00 pm

Prattville High School
1315 Upper Kingston Road
Prattville, AL

Come get a better night’s sleep AND support the 11th Annual Prattville Band Mattress Fundraiser! We carry quality name brands like Simmons, Beautyrest, and Therapedic mattresses for up to 40% below retail. This is ONE DAY only, so we need your help to SPREAD THE WORD by inviting all of your family and friends! Profits go directly to Prattville Band!

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home (or both), 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://homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com for more information.

Photo credits: allevents.in, unation.com, eventbrite.com, h-dmontgomery.com, mmfa.org, albamabluegrassmusic.org