Real Estate Information Archive

3123 Woodley Terrace, Montgomery, AL 36106

MLS# 574537

3 Bedrooms | 3 Baths | 2,048 Square Feet | Woodley Terrace

Welcome to 3123 Woodley Terrace, a delightful gem nestled on a peaceful street! As you approach, the beautiful azaleas will be the first thing to catch your eye! Step inside to see the beautifully refinished hardwood floors that flow throughout the first floor, complemented by unique detailing along the staircase. The updated kitchen features a stylish tile backsplash, elegant granite countertops, and custom cabinetry—perfect for both everyday meals and entertaining. This charming home offers two spacious bedrooms on the first floor, while the finished upstairs boasts a third bedroom and additional bathroom. This versatile space is ideal for children or a home office, providing plenty of room to grow. Outside, you’ll find a two-car garage and a nicely sized fenced yard, complete with a lovely stone walkway—perfect for your gardening ambitions or creating a nice space for outdoor gatherings. Recent updates include a new HVAC system and roof installed in 2022, along with fresh interior and exterior paint, refinished floors, and new carpet installed upstairs this year. Don’t miss the opportunity to make this Cloverdale charmer yours!

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor, Ali Bertschy, Sandra Nickel Hat Team!

3574 Bankhead Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36111

MLS# 574169

4 Bedrooms | 3 Baths | 3,134 Square Feet | Edgewood

If you are looking for plenty of room and awesomely cool mid-century modern vibes, this might just be what you have been searching for! This Loeb and Hannon custom built masterpiece has only had two loving families in its life, and while the kitchen has had some updating, the layout and bathrooms retain the original (and pristine) fixtures and tilework. The impressive living room has a vaulted ceiling and lots of windows overlooking the expansive front yard. Cool metal-work screen divides the living room space from the formal dining area. The large kitchen has plenty of counter and cabinet space, smooth surface stove, double ovens, and a spacious breakfast room. Enormous wood-paneled den also boasts vaulted volume ceiling, wall of adjustable display shelving, and newly installed extra-wide sliding glass doors opening to covered rear patio. Built for the original family, the wood paneled "boy's" room has private bath, walk-in closet, and large windows up the vaulted front ceiling for lots of natural light. The two "girl's" room share a long walk-through bath with double vanities and original pink fixtures! The rear primary bedroom is quite large and has his/her separate dressing rooms and closets, sharing a walk-in shower and WC. Off the primary bedroom and the den/family room is a covered porch that runs almost the full width of the house, plus a patio from grilling and relaxing. Backyard has raised beds for gardening, a detached storage building, and a chicken coop for fresh eggs! The front and back yards feature heirloom fig trees, peach trees, plum trees, varietal persimmon tree, and blueberry bushes just about to burst with fresh fruit. Treat yourself to a visit to this one-of-a-kind time capsule and you too will be smitten with its architecture and unique qualities.

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor, Billy Young, Sandra Nickel Hat Team!

Let’s face it, selling and buying a house at the same time can be very overwhelming and usually involves some element of risk. However, it is common for people to have to buy and sell at the same time. Per the National Association of Realtors, 71% of repeat home buyers still owned their previous residences, which means it’s highly likely that most of them were both buyers and sellers.

If you are lucky enough to time it right, you may hit that perfect “sweet spot” where you sell your house, make a profit that can be used for a down payment, and then find your next dream home, in that order. But chances are, things might not go as planned and hoped for.

Let’s look at some common challenges you might face, different avenues that might work better for you, and tips for getting through the process with your mental health intact.

FINANCIAL ISSUES

Chances are you might not have the amount of cash on hand that it takes to make a down payment on a house unless you sell your current home first. If you have found your new dream home and don’t want to risk losing it while waiting to sell, you have some options. You could do a cash out refinance on your current home, take out a home equity line of credit, or maybe sell some investments. But keep in mind that these options have costs and might not work for everyone.

LOGISTICS

With all the details and decisions that have to be made when both buying and selling a home, the logistics of doing both at the same time can be complicated. You have to think about the timing of the purchase and sale and negotiating with both the sellers of your new home and the buyers of your current home; all while trying to organize and pack for your move. An experienced Realtor is vital to help you navigate this process.

RISK OF LOSING HOME TO NON-CONTINGENT BUYER

Buying and selling at the same time comes with risks, one of which is moving forward with a purchase before you have sold your current home. To minimize this risk, many homeowners choose to make their offer on a house contingent upon the sale of their current home. But this brings about another risk, because there is a possibility that your offer may get turned down in favor of a buyer who has made a non-contingent offer. At that point you may have to decide whether you can remove the contingency, which may not be financially possible.

Now let’s look at some tips to help you navigate the buying-while-selling process:

• Determine Financial Feasibility – It’s time to take a good hard look at your monthly disposable income and to ask yourself these questions:

• Can you afford paying both mortgages?
• How long will you be able to afford doing so?
• Do you have enough available cash for a down payment?
• Will you have enough available for down payment after paying both mortgages for a “worst-case scenario” period of time?

If you are living paycheck to paycheck, buying and selling at the same time is not a good option for you, but if you have a steady, dependable income and low monthly debts, you may be able to get through the process relatively unscathed. Talking to a trusted lender is a good idea at this stage because they can help you determine what you can afford to do.

• Consider a Bridge Loan – If you do not have enough for a down payment, you may want to consider a bridge loan. A bridge loan is a short-term loan that uses the equity from your current home to get the necessary down payment to complete your purchase. But you must keep in mind that this is only an option if you are ok with taking on two mortgage payments for up to six months to a year: the typical term for a bridge loan.
   
• Make Satisfying Offers to Both Seller and Buyer – If the thought of two mortgage payments is too much, as mentioned before, you can make an offer contingent upon selling your current home. With that contingency, your contract states that you won’t lose your earnest money if your house doesn’t sell. This eliminates your financial risk but weakens your offer. If another buyer makes a cash offer with no contingencies, sellers will go after the cash offer every time. Today’s market of low inventory and high demand means that a contingent offer is not as likely to be accepted. One way you can have a better shot at getting your new house is to offer significant non-refundable earnest money, in the hope that the seller will be willing to wait longer for your current house to sell.
   
• Look For a Cash Buyer – If you’ve already decided to buy your next home and sell your current home later, you definitely will want it to sell as quickly as possible. So, as a seller, a cash sale with no contingencies is the way to go if you can. You may want to seek out an instant homebuyer or a local real estate investment company to initiate a cash sale, typically a much faster process than a traditional listing process. The downside is that the offers you may receive might be significantly less than what you might get on the open market.

If your Realtor can help you find a cash buyer on the open market, all the better!

While the idea of buying and selling at the same time is definitely a little scary, the experienced, professional Realtors on Sandra Nickel's team can help you through the process.

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://www.homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com for more information!

1230 Westmoreland Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36106

MLS# 573792

4 Bedrooms | 3 Baths | 2,724 Square Feet | Cloverdale

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Situated in the heart of Old Cloverdale, this spacious home awaits its new owner! Made for entertaining, the first floor seamlessly flows from the living room, through breakfast/keeping room into a wonderful, updated galley-style kitchen with breakfast bar and granite countertops. The formal dining room is large enough for big family meals and has a quaint built-in china cabinet. Center rear is a big den/family room that overlooks the back deck and pool area. First floor also has a primary bedroom/bath with wall of custom built-ins and another guest bedroom and full bath. Second floor (which can be conveniently closed off if not in use) has landing gathering area, two good sized bedrooms, and another full bath. Just in time for spring and summer, relax and unwind on the big back deck overlooking saltwater pool and party gazebo! Saltwater pool has a rock-formed waterfall at one end. Don't miss the cozy screened porch off the living room with custom built hanging daybed for lounging and relaxing. This one is move-in ready and close to all the dining and entertainment venues in Cloverdale, plus minutes away from downtown and Maxwell!

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor, Billy Young, Sandra Nickel Hat Team!

227 Landmark Drive, Montgomery, AL 36117

MLS# 572672

3 Bedrooms | 2 Baths | 1,662 Square Feet | Landmark Estates

Welcome to 227 Landmark! This end-unit townhouse features a first-floor main bedroom, and spacious living/dining room combo. Upstairs are two more bedrooms, sharing a split bath with 2 vanity/dressing areas. Additional storage in walk-in attic space off front upstairs bedroom. Rear has private enclosed patio and attached storage room for your garden tools. Great location, close to shopping, dining, and entertainment. Relatively new HVAC, new water heater, fresh paint, new carpet upstairs!

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor, Billy Young, Sandra Nickel Hat Team!

If you are preparing to list your house for sale, you may be wondering if the financial reward will be worth the time, effort and money to fix up things that are in disrepair or that are dated. The answer to that question depends on a myriad of circumstances such as the current real estate market, the condition of competing inventory and whether the renovations that need to be made generally provide a return on investment.

Some home buyers are looking to purchase a “fixer upper”.  They are looking for properties priced to sell, perhaps because they don’t qualify for more expensive homes or maybe because they want to make a profit by fixing the home themselves. Most fixer buyers want to do simple repairs such as painting walls, replacing light fixtures and putting in new carpet.

Only a few want to take a house down to the studs and completely redo it.  These potential buyers will want a price for the home that will allow for all the repairs, the inconvenience of doing the work, and often a bit more.

For example, if a home is worth $200,000 fixed up but needs a new roof, and the roof costs approximately $10,000, a buyer most likely will not offer $190,000 for this home. The reason is that they can probably find a similar house that already has a new roof for $200,000 and save themselves the headache of replacing it themselves.  A buyer in this situation might offer $175,000 or less, in which case it would make more sense for the seller to replace the roof and sell it for $200,000.

It’s important to note that many buyers are looking for “turnkey” homes. They fear having to make major repairs because they might be costlier than anticipated or other problems might be revealed. Even if the price is right, homes listed for sale in “as is” condition might not attract as many buyers.

However, before doing major renovations, there are many things to consider. Smart sellers will research what their home’s market value will be once improvements are made and compare it to the cost of the renovations. If an upgrade won’t provide a return on the investment, it probably doesn’t make sense to do it.  Knowing the condition of your competition is helpful. For example, if other homes for sale in your neighborhood all have modern kitchens, it might make sense to update yours. This doesn’t mean you should tear it down and start from scratch. Often a minor kitchen remodel will suffice.

Also, keep in mind that kitchen and bathroom remodels are known to bring the best return on investment.

Start by making a list of the things in your home that are dated or in disrepair and then prioritize.  Here is a list of 10 minimum improvements to make before putting your house on the market:
 

• Patch all holes and cracks in walls and ceilings.
• Fix all appliances and HVAC systems.
• Repair leaky faucets.
• Replace worn carpeting.
• Repaint dark or marred walls in neutral colors (not white).
• Replace broken windows.
• Repair the roof.
• Change dated light fixtures/ceiling fans.
• Replace old linens/window coverings.
• Fix any code violations.

If your real estate market is a sellers’ market and homes are moving quickly, you can get by with fewer fixups, however a home that needs repairs will still deliver a lower price. If it’s a buyers’ market, people might not even be willing to look at homes that need repairs.  An experienced professional Realtor like Sandra Nickel can assist you in determining if renovating your house will benefit you when selling.

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home or both, let me, Sandra Nickel, and my Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs! Call us today at 334-834-1500 and check out https://www.homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com for more information.

1948 Graham Street, Montgomery, AL 36106

MLS# 572092

3 Bedrooms | 2 Baths | 1,410 Square Feet | Cloverdale

This adorable Old Cloverdale cottage is just a few blocks from Cloverdale's happening dining and entertainment district! Step inside and discover a unique and wonderful open plan perfect for entertaining! Kitchen and bathrooms have been nicely updated over the years, making this practically move-in ready. Large primary bath features double vanities, walk-in shower, and walk in closet. Out back is a large concrete patio perfect for a fire-pit and grill, plus a wired workshop/storage building that would be ideal for he/she-shed, studio, and great storage. Come check this one out before it's gone!

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor, Billy Young, Sandra Nickel Hat Team! 

Spring is almost here! Yay! That means it is the time of year to throw open the windows and start washing, sweeping and scrubbing all the rooms in your home. This is the ideal time of year to do your deep cleaning in order to keep your house looking its very best. Also, if you start now, you will be done and ready to enjoy the weather when spring arrives.

If you feel overwhelmed by the idea of cleaning your whole house, here is a handy guide to help you get started:

Kitchen

• Empty your cabinets and wipe them down. Take some time to check your spices for expiration dates and toss any that have expired. Keep a note pad nearby so you can write down what needs to be replaced.
• Clean your oven. If it is self-cleaning, make sure you have your windows open (pick a cool day for this), so that the house doesn’t get too hot. If it is not self-cleaning, create a paste with baking soda and water, cover the interior of the oven with the paste and leave it overnight. The next day, use a plastic scraper to remove the paste and grime along with it. Then wipe with a damp cloth.
• If you are able, carefully move your kitchen appliances and sweep or vacuum and mop to get rid of built-up dirt and grime.

Bathroom

• Clean the bathroom exhaust fan. It can collect dust like a ceiling fan, so give it a good cleaning to prevent mold and mildew from growing.
• Clean hairbrushes and combs by soaking them in the sink. Do the same with makeup brushes, wash them with mild soap and allow them to air dry.
• Go through your vanity drawers and get rid of any old makeup or skin care products that you no longer use or that have passed their prime.

Bedrooms

• Take mattresses off the bed to vacuum both sides of them. Then, if possible, prop them in the sunlight for a few hours. The sunlight can help kill germs. When you replace the mattresses on the bed, be sure to flip and rotate them from their previous position.
• If you don’t wash your pillows regularly, now is a great time to do it. If they are looking pretty bad, then you should replace them.
• Switch to lighter weight bedding for spring and summer. If you have been using flannel sheets and heavy comforter, change to light cotton sheets and quilt for warmer months.

Overall

• Don’t neglect your walls! They get dirty too. Use an extended duster to remove dust and cobwebs and then use a flathead mop to wipe away dirt.
• Take down curtains and wash them (following manufacturer’s instructions). Clean blinds as well. Either take them down and clean them outdoors or thoroughly clean them using appropriate cleaning materials.
• Clean your baseboards. The best way to do it is to get down on the floor and scrub them with microfiber cloth and hot, soapy water. But if getting on the floor is a deal breaker for you, they have many tools available specifically for wiping down baseboards.

Spring cleaning does not have to be an overwhelming task!  Don’t try to do it all in one day. Spread it out over a few days or a weekend. And don’t do it all yourself!  Get the whole family involved and you will be done before you know it!

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home or both, let me, Sandra Nickel, and my Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs! Call us today at 334-834-1500 and check out https://www.homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com for more information.

Whether you are selling a home or buying one, you are going to want to know the value of the home so that you can determine the selling price or if the sale price is appropriate. But what you may not be aware of is that there are 3 different types of home values. It may be confusing to you when trying to determine what the true value of the home is.

Let us break it down for you so that you will understand the 3 types of home values and what they mean.

ASSESSED VALUE

The assessed value is the assigned dollar value of your home used by local tax assessors to determine property taxes. Tax assessors calculate assessed value based on various factors, which may include the appraised value and the fair market value, as well as any home improvements, whether you generate income from the property, and any tax exemptions. The assessor will give you a figure that is commonly a percentage of what they perceive the value to be. Because property taxes are based upon assessed value, ideally, this figure will be lower. It should be close to your actual market value, but frequently it is not.

APPRAISED VALUE

When you are refinancing or purchasing a house, an appraiser will be hired to determine the value of the house in question. They will use the same process that real estate professionals use to determine the fair market value. A licensed appraiser will consider the location, size and condition of the home along with any renovations that have been completed. They will walk through the home and compare it to others with similar amenities and improvements in the area that have sold. Most appraisals will include a construction or replacement cost that is used for insurance purposes.

FAIR MARKET VALUE

Fair market value is what a home is worth based on the current market climate. It encompasses how a home looks to prospective buyers compared to other homes in the area. It takes into consideration the sale prices of homes that are similar (same number of bedrooms, square footage etc.) A real estate agent will start by looking at “comps” to figure out what buyers have been willing to pay for properties comparable to yours. Other things that help determine fair market value are whether it is a seller’s or buyer’s market and how much inventory is available.

Because these different types of values can be subjective, it is vital to make sure you are looking at a comprehensive overview when trying to determine the value of the home you are selling or buying. An experienced Realtor like Sandra Nickel can assist you with this process by providing a comparative market analysis.

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home (or both), let me, Sandra Nickel, and my Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs! Call us today at 334-834-1500 and check out https://www.homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com for more information.

When you make an offer on a home and it gets accepted, you have every reason to be excited. Becoming a homeowner is making an investment in your own future; likely the largest financial investment you will make. However, it is prudent to be aware that there are other costs involved in purchasing a home other than your down payment and monthly mortgage payments.

Closing costs are an expense you may not be aware of if you are a first-time homebuyer. These costs must be paid prior to closing on the home. They include property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, title search fees, and appraisal fees. In addition, the closing costs provide the funds that pay the people who have performed services throughout the loan process, like the appraiser and your real estate agent.

Your closing costs will be itemized for you and provided at your closing. But it is important that you look over them closely and take the time to ask any questions you may have before you sign any documents. If there is something you do not understand, your mortgage banker or Realtor can explain it to you.

The homebuyer can negotiate with the seller to determine who will cover the closing costs, but every loan has different guidelines about how much a seller can pay. Your mortgage banker can provide you with your options.

Whether you end up paying for all or just some of your closing costs, it is crucial for you to include the amount you will have to pay into your budget. You can estimate the cost by calculating 2% to 6% of your purchase price. For example, if your loan is $200,000, your closing costs will range anywhere from $4,000 to $12,000. You will also receive a document from your mortgage banker after you apply for your loan that will list the anticipated closing costs. They may change a little during the process, but it will give you a good idea of what to expect.

So, while saving for a down payment is an obvious necessity, you may want to also set aside some cash each month to go toward other expenses associated with buying a new home.

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home (or both), let me, Sandra Nickel, and my Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs! Call us today at 334-834-1500 and check out https://www.homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com for more information.