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Displaying blog entries 141-150 of 422

What Kind of Showing Was It?

by The Hat Team

showingsOne of the most frequent calls from homeowners to their agents is about the listing’s inactivity due to the lack of showings.  The homeowner commonly believes that the home is shown only when a buyer walks through the house with an agent.

Today’s buyers are more sophisticated than in the past due to the abundance of information available to the public on the Internet.  There are seemingly inexhaustible sites with homes for sale, valuation estimates and virtual tours.  There are extensive mapping sites with satellite images, traffic conditions, entertainment, shopping and other points of interest.

There are actually three legitimate types of property showings.  A knowledgeable buyer can view a home for sale online and make a reasonable determination of whether the home will fit their needs.  Occasionally, buyers will drive by a home to get a feel for the home and also the neighborhood which might cause them to eliminate any further examination or consideration.

The third type, the physical showing, certainly gives the buyer the opportunity for the closest scrutiny but is generally reserved for properties that have passed the inspections of at least one other type of showing.

Sellers should be aware of the different types of showings and that a sales agent’s job is to help the buyer find the right home.  The listing agent’s job is to market the home so that the right buyer finds it either through their own efforts or that of the buyer’s agent.

Search all Montgomery AL Real Estate And Homes For Sale.

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.

Interested in buying a bank-owned home? Get bank-owned listings alerts FREE!

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

Montgomery AL Real Estate: 2556 Jasmine Rd

by The Hat Team

Montgomery AL Real Estate:

2556 Jasmine Rd, Montgomery AL 36111

MLS# 306270

Live Like Hollywood Royalty!


Live like Hollywood royalty in this unique McGehee Estates property said to be a replica of a famous entertainer's Palm Springs home! Uniquely built around a central courtyard with glamorous swimming pool, all rooms enjoy gorgeous views of the heart of this home through newly installed French doors. Updates in the kitchen and total renovation/expansion of master bath give the feeling that this is a much newer home. Built for entertaining, the grand dining room will seat 12 comfortably, and the spacious living room will accommodate grand piano! Unique design allows for extreme privacy for owners. Retreat into the cozy den with fireplace, or onto the secluded rear terrace off the master bedroom. Current owner has invested much into upgrades and meticulous maintenance, so this dream home is ready to move into.

Search all Montgomery AL Real Estate And Homes For Sale.

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.

Interested in buying a bank-owned home? Get bank-owned listings alerts FREE!

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

Montgomery AL Home For Sale: 319 S Capitol Pkwy

by The Hat Team

Montgomery AL Home For Sale:

319 S Capitol Pkwy, Montgomery AL 36107
MLS# 306272

Charming Cottage With Architectural Details!


319 S Capitol Pkwy

Bright cheery rooms, move-in ready, and brand new central heating and cooling system are just some of the features of this ideally priced home in the heart of Montgomery! Convenient to downtown as well as I-85, this charming cottage has the architectural aspects you love like big front porch with swing, arches, built-ins, and fireplaces. Great flow for entertaining, too! If it's outdoor space you are after, this one comes on a DOUBLE LOT! Beyond the detached garage is an entire other lot with endless possibilities. Owner has meticulously cared for this home, and has now made it ready for a new owner.

Search all Montgomery AL Real Estate And Homes For Sale.

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.

Interested in buying a bank-owned home? Get bank-owned listings alerts FREE!

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

What’s Coming For Montggomery AL Real Estate In 2014?

by The Hat Team

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) as reported in RISMedia.com the national housing market will continue it’s recovery in 2014. Recently, NAR chief economist and Senior Vice President of Research, Lawrence Yun, presented his 2014 market forecast to a national gathering.

2014Mr. Yun predicted that over the coming year we will see a 6% increase in home prices, which is lower than the 11% increase we have seen in 2013. He predicts mortgage rates that will hit 5.4%, an increase of over 1% from what they have been averaging in 2013. These are what he thinks will be national averages so, obviously, Montgomery AL real estate will vary somewhat.

His optimism about continued recovery is somewhat tempered by no, to relatively low, gain in total housing unit sales. In other words, inventory of houses for sale is likely to remain the same, or slightly better, as 2013. Lower than normal inventory has been one of the biggest problems in the past year.

Mortgage underwriting standards are expected to ease somewhat, making mortgages more accessible to more buyers. However, that will be tempered by increasing interest rates. So, what does all of this mean to buyers and sellers of Montgomery AL real estate?

It’s a mixed bag overall and depends upon which side of a transaction (buyer or seller) you see yourself and what your personal circumstances are…

If you are a seller you should be encouraged by the projected increase in prices expected and by the loosening of mortgage qualifying guidelines. The combination of those two factors should mean more potential buyers will be house hunting.

You will also see no substantial increase in inventory of houses for sale which means it will remain fundamentally a sellers’ market. And if you are a seller with marginal equity the increase in prices over the year may be enough to make selling viable again.

If you are a buyer you should be encouraged by the slackening of the mortgage underwriting guidelines, but the increase in interest rates will be disappointing. However, interest rates are coming back to what is considered normal, rather than onerous like before the bubble burst.

You will also be faced with a less than ideal level of inventory of houses for sale. That will not only make it difficult to find exactly what you want in a home, it will also potentially trigger bidding wars in a sellers’ market. However, the increase in prices means values are on the upswing as long as you don’t over pay for a property.

The bottom line for most sellers and buyers is that there will be positive changes in the year ahead, but fundamentally it will all balance out to be very similar to 2013. That is not necessarily a bad thing from many individuals’ point of view.

Search all Montgomery AL Real Estate And Homes For Sale.

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.

Interested in buying a bank-owned home? Get bank-owned listings alerts FREE!

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

 

Midtown Montgomery Real Estate Market Trends - December 2013

by The Hat Team

Yes, it’s true…real estate activity slackens during the holidays but here are some things to consider about housing hunting during the holidays…

  • Lower seasonal prices are likely before the anticipated increases in 2014. Many homes on the market during the holidays are being offered because the sellers are being transferred. January is a high workplace transfer month. Transferees are trying to sell their homes during the holidays because they feel they have to.
  • Less competition among buyers is common because many are concentrating on holiday activities. If they don’t have to move for some reason they tend to wait until after the year-end holidays. That means fewer competing offers and less likelihood of bidding wars.
  • Seller anxiety begins to set in during the holidays. That means potentially better deals can be had. Sellers who need to move get more willing to bargain during the holidays because there is less demand from buyers.
  • Less competition from other buyers means you can do your house hunting being a little more relaxed about the potential of losing a house that you really are interested in.

Don't be disappointed like the couple in the video. Contact me today and let's get started!

Take a look at sales figures in our local real estate market for November 2013.

Midtown Montgomery real estate sales statistics for November 2013 show the number of homes sold decreased by 8% when compared to November 2012. The average sales price decreased by 14% to $ 110,475 for the month. The median sales prices increased by 21%, and market times increased by 9 days from November 2012.  The highest selling home price decreased by 56%, and the lowest selling home price increased by 67% from November 2012.

Midtown Montgomery November  2013 November 2012
Homes Sold 22 24
Average Selling Price $ 110,475 $ 129,001
Median Selling Price $ 113,750 $ 89,900
Days On The Market 144 135
Highest Selling Price $ 255,000 $ 575,000
Lowest Selling Price $ 9,110 $ 3,000

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.

Own a Piece Of History In Lowndesboro AL!

by The Hat Team

Lowndesboro AL Home For Sale:

200 S Broad St, Lowndesboro AL 36752
MLS# 306019

Own A Piece Of History!

200 s broad st
Authentically restored Pre-Civil War farmhouse on 1.03 acre site in beautiful historic Lowndesboro. Wonderful home to display your prized antiques and slow down from the fast passed world. Great cozy den with wood burning fireplace off large updated kitchen makes a great place to hang out. Owners paid $145k in 2004 and have spent around 60k in careful and accurate period restoration since. Their loss is your gain on this rare chance to not only own a piece of history, but to own one with all the hard things done. Beautiful heart pine flooring, hand crafted fireplace mantles and a stunning brass chandelier in dining room are but a few of the details you will fall in love with in this home. HVAC updated as well as (2) water heaters. Septic system has a 2500 gallon tank. A separate pump house with drilled well is near a nice 24'x12'workshop with power and ac. Owner rebuilt nice screened back porch and spent many labor intense hours clearing the acre site of old overgrowth. Give me or your favorite agent a call to see this grand property price to sell!!

Search all Montgomery AL Real Estate And Homes For Sale.

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.

Interested in buying a bank-owned home? Get bank-owned listings alerts FREE!

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


 

 

 

Montgomery AL Real Estate: 516 E. Fairview Avenue

by The Hat Team

Montgomery Homes for Sale: 
516 E Fairview Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36106

MLS #305627

Grand old house with magnificent spaces, architectural detailing and across from LeGrande Park!

What a grand old house! From the moment you and your guests walk through the front door, everyone will find that this is no ordinary home. Magnificent spaces and architectural detailing provide the perfect backdrop for your treasured possessions. More than ample parking also helps enable entertaining on any scale, whether it be intimate family gatherings or parties for a huge crowd. It needs only your vision to create the kitchen that will make those occasions a pleasurable part of the process. Situated on an incredible lot right across from LeGrande Park, means it's close to some of the best restaurants, shopping and entertainment Midtown has to offer.

Search all Montgomery AL Real Estate And Homes For Sale.

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.

Interested in buying a bank-owned home? Get bank-owned listings alerts FREE!
You can reach Sandra by filling out the online contact form below or give her a call anytime.

Who's Paying Your Mortgage?

by The Hat Team

question markAs a homeowner, you obviously pay for your mortgage but as an investor, your tenant does.  Equity build-up is a significant benefit of mortgaged rental property.  As the investor collects rent and pays expenses, the principal amount of the loan is reduced which increases the equity in the property.  Over time, the tenant pays for the property to the benefit of the investor.

Equity build-up occurs with normal amortization as the loan is paid down.  It can be accelerated by making additional contributions to the principal each month along with the normal payment.  Some investors consider this a good use of the cash flows because interest rates on savings accounts and certificates of deposits are much lower than their mortgage rate.

In the example below, is a hypothetical rental with a purchase price of $125,000 with 80% loan-to-value mortgage at 4.5% for 30 years compared to a 3.5% for 15 years.  The acquisition costs were estimated at $3,000, the monthly rent is estimated at $1,250 and $4,800 for operating expenses. 

11-11-2013 7-42-16 AM.png

Notice that both properties have a positive cash flow before tax.  The cash on cash return is the revenue less expenses including debt service divided by the initial investment to acquire the property.  The 15 year mortgage will obviously have a smaller cash flow and lower cash on cash but the equity build-up is significantly higher.

If the goal of the investor is to pay off the property to provide the highest possible cash flow at a later date, a shorter term mortgage with a lower interest rate will help them achieve that.  A simple definition of an investment is to put away today so you’ll have more tomorrow.  Sacrificing cash flow now, during an investor’s earning years, is a reasonable expectation to provide more cash flow in the future when it might be needed more.

Contact me if you’d like to explore rental property opportunities.

Search all Montgomery AL Real Estate And Homes For Sale.

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.

Interested in buying a bank-owned home? Get bank-owned listings alerts FREE!

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

Montgomery AL Real Estate: 3424 Woodhill Road

by The Hat Team

Montgomery AL Real Estate:

3424 Woodhill Road, Montgomery AL 36109
MLS# 305281

Incredibly Maintained One-Owner Home!

3424 woodhill rd
Incredibly maintained home by the same owner for the past 30 years! Take advantage of recently new HVAC, water heater, dishwasher and more! This home has been loved, it shows, and owner is sacrificing as it is time to downsize! Cozy and large great room features beamed ceilings and fireplace! Nice updated eat-in kitchen will please most cooks. Fruit bearing pear and fig trees, as well as, blueberry bushes. Fully fenced yard, two storage areas, one with dog door, and a double carport add to the quality you will find in this home. Almost forgot, zoned for Dalraida Elementary. Hurry to see before it’s gone!

Search all Montgomery AL Real Estate And Homes For Sale.

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.

Interested in buying a bank-owned home? Get bank-owned listings alerts FREE!

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

Finding the Best Montgomery AL Real Estate Agent for Your Needs

by The Hat Team

Buying or selling Montgomery AL real estate is a complex procedure, so it’s important to select a competent, honest agent who will skillfully represent your best interests throughout the entire process.  As you begin your search for property or for a new owner of your home, keep your eyes and ears open.  Notice the names on real houseestate signs in your neighborhood, ask friends and relatives for referrals, attend open houses in your target area to meet the agent on duty, and check the real estate section of your community newspaper,

Once you have compiled a list of names, you will next want to determine if the person is a Realtor, agent, or broker.  A Realtor is someone who is licensed by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), is bound by a Code of Ethics, and has access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). 

As you prepare to interview Montgomery AL real estate agents on your list, be sure to discuss the following topics:

  • The price range of most of their transactions.  Some agents specialize in high-end properties and won't give their best effort on properties under a set value. If they usually deal in fixer-uppers, they may not have the experience to navigate "Millionaire's Row".
     
  • Their familiarity with and experience in your target area.  If you're buying, a Realtor should be able to provide you with information on the community, the schools, taxes, traffic, nearby amenities .and other facts. If you're selling, you want your agent to be able to talk to prospective buyers about these details.
     
  • The amount of time they can give you—and availability to meet at your convenience.  If you need someone on weekday evenings or can meet only in the morning, will the agent be able to accommodate you?
     
  • What services can you expect from them? In addition to helping you buy or sell Montgomery AL real estate, interviewing potential clients, previewing and showing property, discussing sales conditions, drawing up and presenting offers, holding open houses, and writing contracts—all the while meeting deadlines and hand-holding when necessary—you should also expect your agent to be current on marketing strategies, federal/state programs, and area real estate trends and comps.
     
  • References from previous clients.  Listen to what their past customers have to say. Google their names, too, and check the state for any licensing or disciplinary information.

Search all Montgomery AL Real Estate And Homes For Sale.

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.

Interested in buying a bank-owned home? Get bank-owned listings alerts FREE!

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

Displaying blog entries 141-150 of 422

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