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Displaying blog entries 1791-1800 of 1998

8 Low Cost Fixes To Getting Your Montgomery Home Sold

by The Hat Team
If you have a home that only you can love, you will benefit for these 8 low cost fixes to getting your Montgomery home sold quickly. We don’t live in a house the way we sell a house. Buyers aren’t interested in seeing dirty socks lying around or dirty dishes in the sink. Below are a list inexpensive things, from Realtor Magazine, that you can do to make buyers fall in love with your Montgomery home.

1. Move it.
Simply rearranging the furniture can reenergize a room. Add and remove furniture, lamps, rugs, and accessories from other parts of the house to create a whole new look. Mirrors are particularly useful when it comes to updating a room. Try one out in different rooms to see where it fits best. Even just moving a mirror to a different wall can create a more welcoming feel.

 2. Plant it.
Houseplants are a generally undervalued design component that can add texture, warmth, and color to any room. Just drop plants in their store containers into decorative planters. Small plants can be moved easily and regrouped to change a room's look, while larger ones make a statement on their own. 

Group plants together of differing heights, fullness, and color for the most dramatic effect. It's important to have plants that are well maintained and in tip-top condition.

 3. Paint it.
Paint is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to make a substantial change. Use dramatic colors in powder rooms and dining rooms, and more neutral colors in living spaces. When selecting colors, "be sure to ask, 'What am I trying to do? How do I want this to feel?'" And always, always do a test before you paint the whole room. 

 4. Organize it. 
Clutter just happens. So neaten up! A variety of organizing tools can make a space feel polished while maintaining utility. Hooks and shelves inside the door give people a place to hang coats and keys, while canvas bins or natural baskets help contain magazines and mail. Just a row of hooks pre-attached on a board is so easy to install. And shelves are a great way to neatly display collectibles. 

5. Hide it.
Have a banged-up wall? It may be easy to camouflage. Paintable wallpaper will smooth out an uneven wall or hide minor dents and dings. Adventurous home owners can even try a simple two-step painting process for a more complex finish. A apply a solid base coat, then a glaze. 

Your intent should never be to mislead buyers; be sure to disclose flaws that would affect home value. 

6. Replace it.
Cabinet handles, switch plates, and other small pieces of housing hardware can update a home for just a few dollars a piece. Scan each room to see what looks worn or outdated and then replacing it. Inexpensive quick-connect faucets can make upgrading the look of your bathroom a snap. Just be sure to measure before you go to the hardware store. Some sinks are drilled for an eight-inch spread. Others require just four inches. 

And don't forget the toilet seat. Fresh towels and a new toilet seat go a long way toward making a bathroom feel clean and new. 

7. Light it.
Lighting can have a major impact on a home's look and feel. Whether a room seems dark or too bright and harsh, try "layering" the lighting by adding accent pendants and lamps. Make sure they have independent controls, so that you can turn them on and off at will. 
Light is such a mood setter. You can create a cozy feel just by turning down the lights. Add dimmers in the dining room, bathrooms, kitchen, and even the hallways for less than $4 each. Then adjust the lighting to create the mood you want.

 8. Clean it.
Turn a critical eye to the flooring to make sure it's up to snuff. Scrub grout and seal natural stone. Rub out scratches and nicks on wood floors with scratch cover. Get down on your hands and knees and detail the floors. It takes a little elbow grease, but the results are well worth it. Vinyl flooring is a bit harder to spruce up but usually can be replaced easily and inexpensively.

Interested in selling your Montgomery home? Give me a call, I’m glad to help!

Montgomery Real Estate For Sale: 3417 Southview Avenue

by The Hat Team
Montgomery Real Estate For Sale:

3417 Southview Ave
, Montgomery AL 36111

MLS# 263455

Have you ever wanted your very own PARK? Do you enjoy lush landscape, privacy, rolling lawns, intimate outdoor rooms, and communing with nature? If you say "yes" to any of these questions, then you have found shangri-la! The jewel of this Edgewood property is the expansive double lot and grounds designed by the Olmsted firm (Central Park, New York!) Oh, and I almost forgot to mention the AWESOME house built for entertaining. Grand sized living and dining rooms, and a spacious yet cozy den/family room with "pickled cypress-finish" walls and built-ins. For your teenagers, there is a cool 2nd floor loft-like getaway suite with its own entrance, and for the guys, there is a "man-cave" on the lower level just perfect for exercise equipment, power tools, video games, and beer coolers! This most special and unique home and grounds are waiting for another family to fall in love with it, so call us today for your personal tour.

Learn more about 3417 Southview Avenue and other Montgomery real estate by visiting HatTeam.com.

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Montgomery Real Estate For Sale: 2501 Winchester Road

by The Hat Team
Montgomery Real Estate For Sale:
 
Looking for the best deal in Vaughn Meadows? Here it is! This spacious brick home on large corner lot has great bones and awaits fresh paint, new carpet, and your creativity in updating the ample kitchen and bathrooms. Your family will have lots of room to grow with 4 well-proportioned bedrooms; and plenty of room to play in the huge backyard.

Laern more about 2501 Winchester Road and other Montgomery real estate by visiting HatTeam.com.

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Montgomery Keeps Getting Better

by The Hat Team

Montgomery just keeps getting better! In Forbes Magazine’s 11th annual ranking of the Best Places for Business and Careers, Montgomery ranked 49, up from 102 last year and 120 in 2007.  Fueling Montgomery’s rise in the rankings is the “Projected Job Growth” for the Montgomery Metro – rising from 57 in 2008 to 17 this year. In fact all of Alabama’s metros are in the top 20 metros, out of 200 metros.

The rankings are determined by a series of metrics established by Forbes ranking factors including local colleges, educational attainment of residents, and quality of life offerings.

With 651,000 jobs in February and 4.4 million since the recession began in December 2007, this is quite an accomplishment for Montgomery. Kudos to all!! 

Montgomery Real Estate For Sale: 1811 Longmeadow Drive

by The Hat Team
Montgomery Real Estate For Sale:
1811 Longmeadow Drive, Montgomery AL 36106
MLS# 263142
 
Move in ready and convenient to everything! If you like being outdoors, you'll love the big covered porch and huge back yard. Dotted with mature landscaping, the back yard is fenced and even has a large "dog run" in the rear. Back inside this cozy home there are 3 good sized bedrooms, and if you have lots of clothes, you're in luck because all 3 have DOUBLE closets! Quite street and great neighbors make this one you'll love to come home to for years to come!

Learn more about 1811 Longmeadow Drive and other Montgomery real estate at HatTeam.com.

Montgomery Real Estate For Sale: 1314-1316 Hull Street

by The Hat Team

Montgomery Real Estate For Sale:

1314-1316 Hull Street, Montgomery AL 36104
MLS# 263041

Potentially wonderful and currently acceptable triplex in Montgomery's historic Garden District. 1314 occupies entire first floor and is over 1500 sq ft including living room with decorative fireplace, formal dining room, breakfast room, modern kitchen, sunroom, laundry room, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath. Each charming upstairs unit (1316A&B) has living room, breakfast room, modern kitchen, 1 bedroom, 1 bath. All have front porches and rear balconies--just the kind of thing historic neighborhood tenant’s desire. And a wonderful place to enjoy the peal of the church bells from The Ascension, just down the block. Off-street parking at rear for 4 or more cars.
Learn more about 1314-1316 Hull Street and other Montgomery real estate at HatTeam.com.

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Montgomery Homeownership 2008 Tax Deductions

by The Hat Team
Montgomery homeowners can get an income tax deduction on the mortgage interest they pay. But there are other tax deductions you can take on your principal residence or second home, such as property taxes, and in some cases, for Private Mortgage Insurance. Read 2008 guideline from Turbo Tax:
You can deduct:
  • Your property taxes.
  • Property taxes for taxpayers who don't itemize. New for tax year 2008, if you do not itemize deductions for 2008, you can increase your standard deduction by up to $500 of real estate taxes paid in 2008 if you file as a single person, or by up to $1,000 of property taxes paid if you file jointly.
  • The mortgage interest on your primary residence, as well as any secondary residence you own. (There are limits, but relatively few taxpayers are affected.)
  • The interest on up to $100,000 borrowed on a home-equity loan or home-equity line of credit, regardless of the reason for the loan.
  • Points that you paid when you purchased the house (or those that you convinced the seller to pay for you).
  • The premiums paid for Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) in 2008, but only for policies issued after 2006. (The right to this deduction disappears as Adjusted Gross Income rises from $100,000 to $110,000 on a joint return, and from $50,000 to $55,000 on a single return.)
  • Home improvements required for medical care.
How much can I save?
 
The actual amount of money you save on your annual income tax bill depends on a variety of factors:
  • Your filing status (single, head of household, married filing jointly, married filing separately)
  • Your standard deduction amount
  • Your other itemized deductions
  • Your taxable income
Your home-related deductions, plus your other itemized deductions must add up to more than the standard deduction (increased by the amount of property taxes noted earlier that are allowed to non-itemizers), or they won't save you any money.
 
What can't I deduct? 
  • You can't deduct the following payments for your primary residence:
  • Dues to a homeowners association
  • Insurance on your home
  • Appraisal fees for your home
  • The cost of improvements to your home. (But keep those receipts. They may help you reduce your taxes when you sell your home.)

Interested in becoming a Montgomery homeowner and taking advantage of the available tax deductions? Visit HatTeam.com or give us a call for more personal service.

Search all Montgomery homes for sale.

 And if you bought the home in 2008, you may be able to deduct more than you think. Don’t forget to include real estate taxes you reimbursed the seller for – taxes the seller had already paid for the time you actually owned the place after your purchase. That amount will be shown on the settlement sheet.

Montgomery Homes For Sale: 3813 Ware Hill Drive

by The Hat Team

Montgomery Homes For Sale:

3813 Ware Hill Drive Montgomery AL 36109
MLS# 262898

Don't let the plain-Jane exterior fool you. Inside it's party time! Imagine all your friends gathered in your home. Some in front of the big screen TV lounging on the sectional. Some playing ping pong or shooting pool, others sunning next to the pool and everyone in and out of the open kitchen/dining area for snacks and drinks. Yes, buy this squeaky-clean, up-to-date beauty and your home will be party central! All for as little as approximately $1500 cash and payments MUCH cheaper than rent!

Learn more about 3813 Ware Hill Drive and other Montgomery homes by visiting HatTeam.com.

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Montgomery Homes For Sale: 3554 Bankhead Avenue

by The Hat Team
Montgomery Homes For Sale: 
 
3554 Bankhead Avenue, Montgomery AL 36111
MLS# 262854 
 

Fashionable Bankhead Avenue! Not your traditional ranch...this spacious brick home has a bright open feel. Large living/family room with fireplace has gorgeous views of the expansive back yard. Updated kitchen opens to "morning" room with 3 sets of double closet pantries giving more than plenty storage for all your "stuff." Got kids, the bonus room/den off the kitchen is a perfect playroom/hangout and has its own half bath. Two of the three spacious bedrooms have walk-in closets. If you enjoy outdoor living, you'll never want to leave the private screened porch that overlooks the beautiful backyard.

Learn more about 3554 Bankhead Avenue and other Montgomery homes by visiting HatTeam.com

Search all Montgomery homes for sale.

Montgomery Real Estate Sales Statistics - February 2009

by The Hat Team
Pending homes sales continued their decline as potential buyers waited for clarity on the housing stimulus bill and the weakening economy according to the National Association of Realtors®.
 
The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in January, fell 7.7 percent to 80.4 from a downwardly revised reading of 87.1 in December, and is 6.4 percent below January 2008 when it was 85.9. The index is at the lowest level since tracking began in 2001, when the index value was set at 100.
 
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said the downturn in the economy also weighed heavily on the data. “Even with many serious potential home buyers on the sidelines waiting for passage of the stimulus bill, job losses and weak consumer confidence were a natural drag on home sales,” he said. “We expect similarly soft home sales in the near term, but buyers are expected to respond to much improved affordability conditions and from the $8,000 first-time buyer tax credit.”
 
Let’s take a look at the Midtown Montgomery real estate sales statistics for February to see how the market looks:

Montgomery AL real estate sales statistics for February show pending sales decreased by 36% in 2009 compared to February 2008, the average sales price increased by 31% to $190,729 while sold listings were down 4% from 2008.  Market times showed an increase of 2 days or 2% from 2008.

While February pending sales this year were down 36% compared to 2008, the average sale price of closed sales in the same month was up 31% to $190,729.  This is a clear indicator that last year's statistics were heavily affected by foreclosure sale activity in Montgomerys' least expensive market areas.  Unit sales held steady with only a decrease of one homesale February 2009 vs 2008. 
 
Active inventory continues to decline, with the number of homes on the market for sale down over 10% in February 2009 vs 2008.  Declining inventories are one of the earliest signs of a market recovery.  And we expect a big spike in first-time buyer sales this spring as Montgomerians realize they can acquire a home with very little cash outlay and get back as much as $8,000-10,000 at tax time.

Midtown
Montgomery

Pending
Sales

Sold
Listings

Average
Market Times

Average
Sales Price

 Feb 2009

34

21

110

$190,729

Feb 2008

53

22

108

$131,682

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.

Displaying blog entries 1791-1800 of 1998

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