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Displaying blog entries 141-150 of 166

Midtown Montgomery Home For Sale: 312 E Fairview Ave

Monday, August 31, 2015
by The Hat Team

Midtown Montgomery Home For Sale:

312 E Fairview Ave, Montgomery AL 36105
MLS# 320633

Updated and Move-in Ready!

312 e fairview ave

Looking for a lovely updated home in Midtown Montgomery near Cloverdale? This house has a lot to offer and is move-in ready! Beautiful open kitchen with granite and stainless appliances, two bedrooms down and two up, renovated bathrooms, one with a claw foot tub and the other with a walk-in shower. Hardwood floors throughout, a nice sun room and good sized living room and all new windows. Check it out today!

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtors Sandra Nickel Hat Team!

 

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Midtown Montgomery Home For Sale: 1466 Woodley Road

Wednesday, August 19, 2015
by The Hat Team

Midtown Montgomery Home For Sale:

1466 Woodley Road, Montgomery AL 36106
MLS# 320217

Custom Townhome Tucked Away Yet Convenient!

1466 woodley road

Custom townhouse is tucked away in a hidden cul-de-sac in the middle of Montgomery's beautiful Midtown area. Soaring ceilings and large open spaces give an airy, contemporary feel and is perfect for entertaining. Downstairs master is fit for a king or queen, with graceful double doors, "sunken" area, and private courtyard. Children or guests will have their own private space on the second floor, allowing plenty of room for everyone. Great price and great location, so make plans to see this one today!

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor Sandra Nickel, Hat Team!

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Garden District Home For Sale: 1253 S Lawrence St

Monday, August 17, 2015
by The Hat Team

Garden District Home For Sale:

1253 S Lawrence St, Montgomery AL 36104
MLS# 320232

Cute Garden District Bungalow!

1252 s lawrence st
Cute Garden District bungalow available in Midtown Montgomery! Under 70k and ready for new owner. Two spacious bedrooms and one bath. Enjoy the extra space of the enclosed front porch for whatever you desire. Put your finishing touches on this charmer with payments less than rent. In good condition but owner selling as is. Bring your imagination and contractor! See it today!

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtors Sandra Nickel Hat Team!

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Characteristics Home Buyers Are Looking For In Today’s Real Estate Market

Friday, August 7, 2015
by The Hat Team

Today we are going to let you in on a few ideas of what characteristics home buyers are looking for these days so that you can get top dollar for your home.  There is no better time than now to get busy about getting your home ready to sell.

laundry room

  • One of the most important things that home buyers these days are looking for is that there is a laundry room in the home.  Most folks do not want a laundry closet but an actual room where they can escape in order to get their laundry done.  A great way to catch the eye of the women of the family is to have a nice laundry room  with updated appliances and a few extras as well.  Many of these extra’s can be done DIY style.
     
  • Exterior lighting is another way to catch potential home buyer’s attention quickly.  As the days grow longer and it stays light longer many folks will be driving around looking at homes late into the evening.  By lighting your home up on the outside you are doing a great service towards selling your home more quickly. 
     
  • Replacing old windows for new energy efficient windows is a characteristic that many home buyers may be looking for.  With the high costs of energy these days, folks are doing all they can to lower their electric bills.  Buying energy efficient windows will help lower electric bills dramatically.
     
  • Extra storage space in your garage is a feature that most men will love in a new home.  By taking time to add some extra storage in your garage before a sale you may be adding extra change in your pocket. 
     
  • Eat-in kitchens are essential for a home to have for most people these days.  If your kitchen is not eat-in you may want to do a little bit of remodeling before you put your house on the market. 
     
  • Kitchen pantry storage is of up-most regard for most home buyers these days as well.  If you already have adequate pantry space then it would be a good idea for you to purchase some organizational shelves and such to make it less cluttered and more organized. 

These are just some of the many characteristics that potential home buyers are looking for in today's market.   If you can, it will serve you well to add at least one of these to your home before you put it on the market.

Information provided by Montgomery AL Realtors Sandra Nickel Hat Team.

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Montgomery AL Home For Sale: 3103 S Hull Street

Wednesday, August 5, 2015
by The Hat Team

Montgomery AL Home For Sale:

3103 S Hull Street, Montgomery AL 36105
MLS# 319985

Vintage Home Lovers Alert!

3103 s hull street

Calling all vintage home lovers!! Less than $55.00 per sq. ft. and with a sparkling salt water cool pool in desirable Midtown Montgomery!! Live near Cloverdale without the Cloverdale price!! Home features original stained wood work which is so hard to find. Original baths with the right period look including beautiful tile work. Large living and formal dining rooms or entertaining. Enclosed side porch to relax. Kitchen is updated and has breakfast bar! Optional active neighborhood association is a great way to get involved and meet your neighbors. Single car attached garage houses laundry. Short drive to area hot spots! Huge 15k price reduction from previous listing! Motivated Owner says sell, sell, sell!! Their loss is your gain. Call us or your favorite agent to view today before someone beats you to one of, if not THE, best values in the Historical South Hull District.

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtors Sandra Nickel Hat Team!

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Midtown Montgomery Home For Sale: 3319 Lexington Road

Thursday, July 30, 2015
by The Hat Team

Midtown Montgomery Home For Sale:

3319 Lexington Road, Montgomery AL 36106
MLS# 319782

Old House Lovers Dream!

3319 lexington rd

Old house lovers hurry to see this quaint very original 1930’s cottage in Midtown! Hardwood floors, arched openings, original double porcelain drain board sink are only a few of its charms. Butler’s pantry with original built-ins is to die for. Three good size bedrooms and two beautifully original baths will be just for your liking if you don't like period incorrect renovations. Screened-in porch at rear overlooks private back yard. Detached double garage for what ever you desire up to and including storing your rolling stock. This is truly a special home with unusual crazy brick pattern on exterior. Pull down stairs leads to a floored attic perfect for storage or future expansion. Call us or your favorite agent before someone else beats you to your dream home!

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtors Sandra Nickel Hat Team!

 

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Ins and Outs Of Negotiating

Saturday, July 18, 2015
by The Hat Team

If you’re a seller of a home you need to understand the complexities of negotiating. This is particularly true if you are attempting to sell your home by yourself. This is known as a “for sale by owner” or FSBO.

handshakeMost people understand that selling a home is complicated. But just about the least understood component of being a seller is the need to do a lot of negotiating. Even if you are working with a Realtor it is good to know what is going on, often behind the scenes. Why? So you have an appreciation of what the Realtor is doing for you.

Here are just a few of the types of negotiations you need to be ready to deal with…

  • The buyer’s agent whose sole responsibility it is to protect the best interest of the buyer, not yours.
  • The buyer who wants the best deal possible from you.
  • The home inspection company which is working for the buyer and almost always finds problems with the property for sale.
  • The termite company if there are challenges by the buyer.
  • The buyer’s lender if the structure of the financing requires the seller’s participation.
  • The appraiser if there is a question of value.
  • The title company if there are any challenges with permits, certificates of occupancy, or the survey.
  • The municipal government if there a problems with permits or certificate of occupancy.
  • The survey company if there any discrepancies or challenges.

Every one of the above participants in a real estate transaction has special interests and specialized knowledge about a different component in the sales process. Each one has to be negotiated with on some level to make sure the sale gets to closing smoothly.

It takes a lot of skill to understand everyone’s interests and how those interests fit into the bigger picture. Some of their interests and intertwined, and some are very specific to a given specialty. Some of the interests are very objective and others are very subjective and emotional.

In addition to all of that, your emotions as the seller tend to run high. It is extremely difficult to remain calm and objective when dealing with other people over the sale of your home. That is because you are not just selling a house and a property…you are selling the home you and your family have lived in. It’s personal.

The primary message is to be very careful about making a decision to go the FSBO route and be very selective when deciding on a Realtor to be your agent of negotiation.

Information courtesy of Montgomery AL Realtors Sandra Nickel Hat Team.

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Is It Time To Downsize Your Home?

Friday, July 10, 2015
by The Hat Team

If you’ve officially joined the ranks of the empty-nesters. one of the first questions that usually comes to mind is should we downsize our home. The kids are gone and we probably don’t need this big house. But is buying a smaller home right for you? Obviously, there are pros and cons to consider about both your finances and lifestyle before making a decision.

downsizeReasons not to downsize:

  • The family is spread all across the country and you want to have a place for everyone to gather for the holidays and vacations.
  • You’ve been in your current home for many years and have filled it with mementos you don’t want to part with.
  • You’re not emotionally ready to pack up and leave a lifestyle you worked hard to create. Leaving family, friends and familiar surroundings is more than you can bear.
  • You enjoy the feelings that go along with your larger home. A smaller home will not feel right for your current lifestyle.

Reasons to downsize:

  • The lower (or zero) mortgage payment that comes with a smaller home would give you more discretionary funds to travel and enjoy other recreational activities.
  • A smaller home means less to maintain and more time to play.
  • You and/or your spouse are not able to navigate the stairs like you use. A single level home is more desirable.
  • A smaller, newer home is more efficient and cost effective.
  • You need to be closer to a family member who needs assistance and your attention.

If you decide to downsize, make sure the new home fits both your lifestyle and pocketbook. Talk with a real estate professional about how much money you will net from the sale of your current home, as well as the costs of buying another one. Look into how much it would cost to move and to maintain the smaller home. Make sure it really is cheaper to live there. Downsize only once you’re satisfied that the finances make sense.

Buy into your new lifestyle

A smaller house in your current neighborhood could be the right decision if your priority is maintaining close ties to neighbors. Just make sure there are amenities like public transportation and stores nearby if your health begins to deteriorate.

A retirement community could be perfect if you never want to move again and you want to focus on travel, hobbies and perfecting your golf stroke instead of mowing the lawn. Talk to current residents to see whether they’re happy with the rules and the way things are run. Another option you may prefer is a condominium to eliminate the maintenance but not be locked in for life like many life care communities.

It is a big decision to downsize. So, make it carefully, do not rush, and get professional advice about the real estate and financial aspects of moving.

Information provided by Montgomery AL Realtors Sandra Nickel Hat Team.

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4 Tips to Prepare Your Home For Summer Vacation

Friday, July 3, 2015
by The Hat Team

Summer has arrived!  Many families plan for their summer vacation months in advance but did you know that you need to prepare your home for your vacation as well?  Below are a few tips on what you should do to prepare your home for your summer vacation.   

  • summer vacationMow your grass before you leave for your vacation.  I would suggest that you set the mower on the shortest cut you can get so that you don’t have to worry about it growing up while you are gone.  If you are going to be gone for an extended period of time you may want to arrange to have a family member mow your yard at least once while you are gone.  Mowing your yard before vacation makes it look like you are still at home and therefore may keep away potential intruders. 

     
  • Another thing you should do before you leave on vacation this coming summer is to contact the post office and have your mail canceled while you are gone.  You can pick your mail up at the post office once you arrive back home and start your service back up.  This may sound like a huge ordeal but it really is an easy way to keep things neat and tidy while you are away from home.  This simple act will also deter intruders.
     
  • If you don’t want your house to stand out as if no one is home, you may need to install a flood light that is activated by motion outside of your home.  This way if someone walks up to your house that is not suppose to be there the neighbors will be able to see them and can report anything out of the ordinary.  Another thing you can do with lights is to set a few inside lights on a timer so that it looks like you are home.
     
  • Some water heaters have a VAC mode otherwise known as a vacation mode. If you have this setting on your water heater it’s a good idea to use it while you are away.  Doing this is not only a good way to save on your bill but it is also a good way to avoid any type of flooding that may occur while you are gone.  The last thing you want to come home to is a flooded house due to a broken or burst pipe.

Hopefully these tips will get you started in the right direction before you set off on your summer vacation and you’ll be able to relax and have fun without worrying about your house! 

Information provided by Montgomery AL Realtors Sandra Nickel Hat Team.

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Eliminate Mortgage Insurance

Monday, June 29, 2015
by The Hat Team

Why would you consider refinancing if your mortgage is only two or three years old and the rate is not considerably higher than what is currently available on new loans? Because you may be able to eliminate the mortgage insurance and have significant monthly savings.

chopped.jpg

Many homes have seen their values rise in the past few years. The current loan-to-value ratio may be low enough to no longer require mortgage insurance. In some cases, a homeowner might actually pay a little higher rate than they currently have but lower their monthly payment dramatically because the mortgage insurance isn’t required.

A rough rule of thumb is that mortgage insurance is not needed on loans at or less than 80% of value. There could be programs available that would allow a higher LTV than 80%.

Careful consideration should also be given to the fees required to refinance. Lenders differ in not only the rates they charge but also the fees associated with the loans and the process. If you’d like a recommendation of a trusted mortgage professional, we’d be happy to make a recommendation.

Information provided by Montgomery AL Realtors Sandra Nickel Hat Team.

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Displaying blog entries 141-150 of 166

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