Real Estate Information Archive

There were 1,381 Montgomery AL foreclosure homes for sale with 129 new foreclosures in January 2011. The average selling price of a Montgomery AL home was $158,604 and the average foreclosure selling price was $71,482 a $87,122 savings, according to RealtyTrac.com.

Foreclosure Activity and 30 Year Interest Rate

Montgomery interest rates averaged 4.76% in January while the number of foreclosed homes increased from 119 in December to 129 in January.

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 foreclosure activity was 0.07% lower than national statistics. 0.05% higher than
Alabama statistics, and the same as Montgomery County for the month of January.

Final Estimate of Value

Once the appraiser has applied the three approaches to the appraisal of your Montgomery real estate, he/she must decide which of them is the most reliable and most closely follows the actions of the market. For residential properties, the Sales Comparison Analysis is typically the most reliable. For commercial or industrial properties, all three techniques (or portions of one or more) may be reliable. The appraiser reconciles the various aspects of each technique into what he or she believes produces a credible and supportable opinion of value. The result is the Final Value Estimate, which, depending on the needs of the client, may be expressed as a single number or a range of value.

What If It's Low?

If the appraisal of your Montgomery real estate comes in low, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t complete the transaction. Your options to rectify the situation included the following:

• You can make up the difference in cash.

• The seller can lower the price.

• The seller can carry a second mortgage for the difference.

• You can order a second appraisal

• You can supply a list of comparable sales and ask for a review of the appraisal.

What Does It Include?

Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, your lender must furnish you with a copy of the appraisal of your Montgomery real estate if you request one in writing. Appraisals are very detailed reports, but they should include the following:

• Details about the subject property, along with side-by-side comparisons of three similar properties.

• An evaluation of the overall real estate market in the area.

• Statements about issues the appraiser feels are harmful to the property's value, such as poor access to the property.

• An estimate of the average sales time for the property.

• What type of area the home is in (a development, stand alone acreage, etc.).

Do remember that an appraisal of your Montgomery real estate is not a home inspection and cannot be considered a guarantee that the property is in good condition. Appraisers make notes about obvious problems, but they do not perform tasks done by certified home inspectors.

The 2011 real estate market forecast depends on who you talk to. There are conflicting signs but most experts predict a slow growth in sales nationwide. Real estate guru Barbara Corcoran has this to say about buying a home in 2011:

“Of course people are nervous about buying with so many mixed signals, but my advice would be: Do not wait. If there's one thing I learned about this real estate is that it's very slow to unwind and usually takes years to do it. But once it decides to turn around, those prices move up very quickly, and you'll just be joining every Tom, Dick and Harry bidding on the same house. If you have an inclination to move, you'll get no better time than now, with cheap money, cheap prices and an embarrassment of riches to choose from. Why wouldn't you buy now if you were so inclined?”

The only way to know when you are at the bottom of the market is when you bounce off of it. We bounced in December!

Let’s compare December 2010 to 2009 real estate statistics to see what improvement has taken place in our local market.

Midtown Montgomery real estate sales statistics for December show the average sales price increased by 2% to $142,814 when compared to December 2009.  The number of homes sold decreased by 3% in December.  The median sales prices increased 5% and market times decreased 1% or 1 day.

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 Homes for Sale:

7331 Heathermoore Loop, Montgomery AL 36117
MLS# 280858

Mrs. Clean lives here!! And you can, too! If you're tired of grimy, gloomy houses, call today to see this meticulously kept gem of a home. From the dramatic entry with hard tile floor and soaring ceiling to the master bath with its squeaky-clean double vanity and all-glass separate shower to the immaculate kitchen, every surface shines and every room welcomes. Priced to make you smile, too, so make this one-owner house your new home now!

Learn more about 7331 Heathermoore Loop and other Montgomery homes for sale by visiting HatTeam.com. 

Search all Montgomery Real Estate and homes for sale.

There were 1,250 Montgomery foreclosure homes for sale with 119 new foreclosures in December 20100. The average selling price of a Montgomery home was $144,257 and the average foreclosure selling price was $84,812, a $59,445 savings, according to RealtyTrac.com.

Foreclosure Activity and 30 Year Interest Rate

Montgomery interest rates averaged 4.71% in December while the number of foreclosed homes increased from 106 in November to 119 in December.

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 Foreclosure Geographical Comparison

Montgomery foreclosure activity was 0.08% lower than national statistics. 0.03% higher than
Alabama statistics, and 0.01% lower than Montgomery County for the month of December.

According to a national poll conducted by the National Cyber Security Alliance, 68% of all Americans make purchases online. If you have not yet done so or are sometimes hesitant about online shopping because of security concerns, use the following tips to develop and maintain good cyber-shopping habits.

1. Make sure that all security browsers on your computer are current and self-updating. The computer in your Mongtomery home is only as safe as you make it.
2. NEVER give out your social security number!
   
3. Use only secure and reputable websites. Secure websites add the letter “s” after http on their order page. Another indicator is a closed lock seen at the bottom of your screen.It is safer to use a website you’re familiar with or one found using a well-known search engine. You should also look for a physical address and customer service phone number, although those things are not always a guarantee of safety. To check on the reliability of a site, contact the Better Business Bureau.
   
4. Limit the personal information you provide. In fact, because merchants sometimes sell your email address, you may wish to create an email account that you use only for online purchases. Also, use the same credit card for all online purchases to aid in tracking fraudulent transactions or a security breach.
5. Check out shipping and handling charges before ordering. Merchants often add as much as 10%-15% of the product’s cost to your order.
6. Print out copies of your order, shipping confirmation, etc. on your Mongtomery home computer.
7. Be familiar with the return policy. Are returns allowed at all? Is there a time limit? Is there a “restocking” fee for returns? Who is responsible for paying shipping and handling on returns? If return information is not posted on the website, request that it be sent to you.
8. Pay with a credit card. Paypal and debit cards require an immediate reporting of fraud in order to get your money back. Also, your liability for fraudulent credit card charges is zero when the card is used online. Check with your credit card company to see if they offer a virtual card, which masks out your real account number.

Cyber-shopping is fast and convenient. It provides you with a vast array of products from which to choose in the comfort of your Mongtomery home and allows you to shop at any hour.. Buying online can be an efficient and pleasurable experience if you remain web-wise and security-savvy.

Yes, it’s that delightful time of year again, the time of shopping, decorating, baking, counting down the days, carols, entertaining, and making merry with friends and family. It’s a time of hustle and bustle--with so much to do in so little time! And so…it must also be time for some Christmas tips and time-savers to help you enjoy the holiday just a bit more--and to give you an excuse to sit down for a minute or two while you read this message! In an attempt to make life a little easier, I’ve organized my hints and suggestions into general categories. Unfortunately, this is the only thing I seem to be able to organize, as my own house is strewn with unwrapped gifts, un-hung decorations, and recipes for unbaked goodies! Maybe tomorrow…

SHOPPING AND GIFTS:                                                   

Little known trivia:  7/10 of all dogs in Britain receive gifts from their owners.

Who doesn’t like to save money? Sites for valuable coupons, codes, deals, and rebates for hundreds of stores.

Out of ideas? Need something unique like a ‘I Love You’ stones, a wine chiller, a deluxe valet or birthstone ornaments? RedEnvelope.com will surprise you with its offerings. Prefer something whimsical, geeky, or spiritual? Then go to Gifts.com.

There are ideas for those who are budget conscious and those with champagne taste. Many online shopping sites offer free shipping, and some will even gift-wrap for you!

Remember, you can rarely go wrong with a book and Amazon.com is a great source of seasonal favorites, new releases, or the perfect book for just about anyone, young or old.

Little known trivia: There are two Christmas Islands in the world--one in the Pacific and one in the Indian Ocean.

DECORATIONS:

Little known trivia:  The first tree tinsel was real silver cut into thin strips.

Looking for new ideas to freshen up the holiday decorations in your Montgomery home? Think about displaying seasonally dressed teddy bears, hanging small ornaments on house plants, using cookie cutter or foil-wrapped walnuts as tree ornaments, and tying ribbons and bows to the stems of wine glasses and around the handles of cutlery . These ideas and 95 more can be found at http://www.allthingschristmas.com.

Get suggestions for suggestions on both indoor and outdoor decorating, making wreaths, and creating themed trees. The site also includes some unusual centerpieces, such as a child’s pop-up book, an arrangement of green apples, cinnamon, and greenery, and colorful balls made from Christmas light bulbs. Ever thought about a sugar plum tree?

Little known trivia: 77 million Christmas trees are planted each year.

And speaking of trees, did you know that 5 miles of lights are used to light up Rockefeller Center?

You can also have a virtual visit to the White House tree in the Blue Room. And you just can’t miss the singing tree!

Singing! How could I omit the MUSIC category?

MUSIC:

Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself around you like a shawl. - Bess Street Aldrich

The sounds of this holiday are like no other with pealing bells, children’s shrieks of delight and excitement, rustling gift wrap, whispered secrets and wonderings, and ever the Christmas songs inviting us to sing along in joy and celebration. In addition to the singing tree, you can join in, listen to, or hum with seasonal tunes. Think to about joining or forming a group to go out caroling some evening.

Perhaps it’s time for a lighthearted Christmas poem before we continue on our holiday journey.

Fall of the Snowman by Paul Curtis

Here is a thought of little worth
Snowmen start their fall to earth
From Heaven above unassembled
And like the snow globe it resembled
But if a snowman were then desired
Some assembly would be required.

Okay, back to the subject at hand. Now for…

FOOD:

Little known trivia:  Many parts of Christmas trees (pine, spruce, and fir) are both edible and nutritious!!

The traditional Christmas dinner in 17^th century England was a boar’s head served with mustard.

Ah, breathe in deeply and savor the smells and tastes of the holidays! In addition to gingerbread men, sugar cookies, and baked ham or turkey, what about trying eggnog bread or Christmas soup?

Whatever is served at a traditional Christmas dinner, meat is probably the main attraction, and what good is that to the vegetarians.  Here are some ideas to mix and match for a vegetarian Christmas menu.

Decorating cookies, making colorful Rice Krispy treats, and enjoying a holiday meal together are all great family activities--and all are delicious!

Feeling challenged in the baking department? These how-to videos will make you a pro!!

Christmas good luck superstitions around the world include: finding a pickle or spider web ornament on the tree, kissing under a sprig of mistletoe, and eating an apple or sprinkling bird seed outside your door on Christmas Eve.

And yet another poem--

THE SANTA CLAUSE by Paul Curtis

When I was a child
I believed in Santa Claus
When I got older
I didn’t believe in Santa Claus
When I became a parent
I was Santa Claus
Now I have grandchildren
I look like Santa Claus

What a perfect segue to the next category!

FOR THE CHILDREN:

The web is overflowing with activities, crafts, games, puzzles, stories, coloring pages, and the like for the younger set, all designed to entertain the kiddies and help them wait for Santa to arrive.

To that end they can keep an up-to -the-second countdown, check the ‘naughty and nice’ list, read Santa’s blog, send your pet’s email to Santa.

The little ones will also enjoy playing Rudolph’s Christmas Quiz Game, getting Santa’s autograph, coloring Christmas pages, watching the Rudolph cam, and playing ‘YuleSearch’.

And don’t forget to track Santa’s Christmas Eve journey!!!!

As long as we know in our hearts what Christmas ought to be, Christmas is. Eric Sevareid

Christmas is the time to let your heart do the thinking. Patricia Clafford

Yes, this is indeed the time for…

REACHING OUT TO OTHERS:

No time to write out Christmas cards? To send holiday e-card greetings to friends and family

And speaking of greetings--and gratitude--Xerox has a web site that lets you send a message of thanks to soldiers currently serving in Iraq. This is a FREE service and only takes a minute to choose a design (3 of which are Christmas themed) to send. What a great way to spread the spirit of the season!

Look to your community to extend the spirit of giving. Donations of money, food, clothing, and time will always be welcomed by the Salvation Army, local charities and relief groups, and church outreach programs. Modeling generosity, commitment, and caring is one of the greatest gifts you can ever give your children, and your own Christmas will be enhanced by doing so.

And with that thought, dear readers, I will close with warm wishes for peace and good will to all--for I, too, still have gifts to wrap, decorations to hang, and goodies to bake.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Nearly eight out of 10 Americans believe buying a home is a good financial decision, despite ongoing challenges with the economy and housing market. That’s according to the 2010 National Housing Pulse Survey, an annual report released by the National Association of Realtors®.

The survey, which measures how affordable housing issues affect consumers, also found job security concerns to be the highest in eight years of sampling, with 70 percent of Americans saying that job layoffs and unemployment are a big problem in their area; eight in 10 cite these issues as a barrier to homeownership.

Despite economic uncertainty, 68 percent of those surveyed still believe now is a good time to buy a home; while that number is down from last year (75 percent), it’s up from 2008 (66 percent) and 2007 (59 percent). Lower home prices and record-low mortgage interest rates may be attracting buyers to the housing market – more than one-fourth of renters said they are thinking more about buying a home than they were a year ago. Sixty-three percent of renter respondents said that owning a home is a priority in their future, and nearly 40 percent said it was one of their highest priorities.

Lower home prices have improved affordability. Let’s take a look at October home sales and see how improved affordability is affecting our local housing market.

Midtown Montgomery real estate sales statistics for October show the average sales price decreased by 18% to $106,826 while the number of homes sold decreased by 24% from 2009.  Median sales prices dropped 43% and market times increased 14% or 7 days in 2010.

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.

Ode to Thanksgiving

To our national birds
The American Eagle
The Thanksgiving Turkey
May one give us peace in all our states
And the other a piece for all our plates

What did the Pilgrims eat on Thanksgiving? 

It is commonly believed that the first actual celebration of the harvest and blessings from God took place in Plymouth in 1621. The festivities lasted three days and included feasting, entertainment, and competitions. For more about the holiday’s history!

Who Doesn’t Love a Parade?

The first annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade took place in 1924. That first year, it was known as the Macy's Christmas Parade. It was created to launch the holiday shopping season. Today, the parade is attended by an estimated three million people each year. Approximately 44 million people around the country watch the parade on television.

Other large parades which commemorate the holiday are the IKEA Thanksgiving Parade in Philly, McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade in Chicago, and the UBS Parade Spectacular in Stamford.

Find holiday-themed wallpaper or screensavers here!

Want some holiday music to enhance your gathering? Get free, fast downloads of 30+ songs.

“If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness.”  …. Gerald Good

Thanksgiving Around the World

Thanksgiving is essentially a harvest related festival. It celebrates communal harmony.

Canada celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday in the month of October.

India also has a number of harvest related festivals in different regions.

Other Thanksgiving traditions around the world.

Money-saving tips for Thanksgiving--something we would all be thankful for!

1. Have a BYOD (bring your own dish) celebration. Asking your guests to contribute to the meal is a great way to save on expenses--and on your own cooking time.

2. Keep it simple. Cut down on the number of side dishes you have. A festive table doesn’t have to be extravagant.

3. Serve boxed wine or large bottles of soda. Cans and individual bottles are far more expensive.

4. Use natural items for decorations--leaves, fruit, squash, gourds, pumpkins, and dried flowers from your garden. A large candle and colorful fruit make a lovely centerpiece. Visit a dollar store for inexpensive holiday items.

5. Check store ads for sales and coupons before you shop for Thanksgiving Day goodies.

6. If time and your schedule allow, bake it yourself. Baking all your pies at one time will also save energy costs.

7. Plan ahead for using the leftovers. In addition to the tradition soup and sandwiches, think about turkey chili, tacos, frittatas, enchiladas, salads, and even paella.  Note: price per pound of a turkey decreases with weight. The bigger the bird, the less the cost--and the more for leftovers!

8. Volunteer. Soup kitchens, church outreach programs, and ‘Meals On Wheels’ can certainly use help, so skip the shopping, share your time with others, and let your family members see how fortunate they really are.”

“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, “Thank you,” that would suffice.”         Meister Eckhart

Interesting facts:

More than 40 million green bean casseroles are consumed each Thanksgiving!

Tofurkey, a soy-and-wheat based turkey alternative, was created by Sam Tibbot in 1995 and continues to be a popular choice among vegetarians.

And speaking of vegetarians…there are lots of websites with fabulous vegetarian recipes and ideas for veggie stuffing, gravy, sides, and all foods Thanksgiving. Prefer organic? How about diabetic recipes for appetizers, sides, breads, and desserts?

Here’s a complete holiday planning guide. Menu ideas. Everything you wanted to know about turkey.

Videos on choosing, thawing, stuffing, roasting and carving the bird. Wines ideal for thanksgiving dinner. Don’t forget dessert!

Tired of the same old, same old? Here are alternatives to turkey.

Thawing, cooking, and serving the bird:

To calculate the amount of food you’ll need, follow this guide.

• Whole turkey--1 lb. per person
• Bone-in turkey breast--¾ lb. per person
• Boneless turkey breast--½ lb. person

Time required for thawing the bird: for each 4 ½ lbs. of frozen turkey, allow 24 hours of thaw time in the refrigerator. Once fully thawed, the turkey may be refrigerated for 1-2 days.

Quick" thawing method: Place turkey in its original wrapping in sink and cover with COLD water. Change the water every 1/2 hour to maintain the temperature. Allow 1/2 hour per pound to defrost the turkey. Most turkeys will take from 5 to 10 hours to thaw.

Share Thanksgiving greetings with friends via email or send a mobile greeting free of charge.

Don’t forget the kids!

There are so many Thanksgiving activities for the younger set to take part in, especially while they’re waiting for the turkey to cook.

Make memories with these turkeys made from tracings of your child's hands and feet.

Use fresh and dried leaves for art projects like the creative ones at Squigly's Playhouse.

Make a simple banner using coffee filters and printed letters looks more complicated than it is. Children will love folding the filters to look like turkey tails.

This Thanksgiving Feast is a fun arcade-style food game for kids to learn about nutrition.

Celebrate the Thanksgiving with holiday coloring pages.

Create your own log cabin on paper using Popsicle sticks.

Think you are smarter than a TURKEY? Go on a turkey hunt and find out!

Get games and puzzles that are too numerous to count and just plain fun!

Everyone will love the Thanksgiving word scramble, a fun word search and the color and print eye chart.

Holiday Humor for the young--and young at heart

• Can a turkey jump higher than the Empire State Building?
   Answer:  Yes - a building can't jump at all
  
  
• Which side of the turkey has the most feathers?
  Answer:  The outside
  
  
• Why do Pilgrims have trouble keeping their pants up?
  Answer: Cause they wear their belts on their hats!
  
  
• What is the Turkey's favorite black tie celebration?
  Answer:  The Butter Ball
  
  
• Want more?

Thanksgiving Traditions

Here you can download Over The River and Through the Woods.

Nothing says Thanksgiving more than traditional football rivalries.

Holiday Travel

If your ‘over the river and through the woods’ trip is not taking you to Grandma’s, you might want to visit Road Trip America to help plan.

Traveling with kids? Here are tips to help entertain them.

So there you have it--facts, tips, humor, recipes, quotes, and websites to guide you to everything you have ever wanted to know about Thanksgiving.

May your Thanksgiving be an enjoyable celebration shared with friends and family, and one filled with gratitude for all your blessings!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!