Real Estate Information Archive

There is a growing segment of potential buyers looking for houses which incorporate the principles of feng shui. An ancient Chinese practice, feng shui is believed to improve one’s life through the use of color, location and positioning, and specific materials and objects, all of which combine to produce a positive energy, or chi, in your home.

The primary focus of feng shui is the positive flow of energy, which contributes to the creation of harmony in life. Integral components of the philosophy are the five elements of fire, earth, water, metal, and wood, and each of these is enhanced by color selection and use in your Montgomery AL home as follows:

Other feng shui principles to follow include:

1. Avoidance of unnecessary furnishings and objects:

In feng shui, less is more. Proponents of the practice suggest avoiding big pieces of furniture and removing most plants, photographs, and personalize items in order to facilitate the flow of energy.

2. Abundance of light:

Ample lighting is conducive to good energy and should be generously provided in your Montgomery AL home to provide a sense of spaciousness. Natural light is best, but warm, soft artificial lighting is acceptable. Dimmer switches are strongly suggested

3. Outside appearance:

A solid, strong front door is essential, as is an attractive and clutter-free entranceway. Your landscaping should be well-maintained, your house numbers need to be clean and easily visible, and a well-lit entrance is a must! 

4. The feng shui “trinity”:

The bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom are of vital importance in your home since there is a powerful connection among the three areas which promotes health and well-being.

• Bathroom: Try to create a spa-like, relaxing atmosphere through the use of lighting and mirrors, which give the room a sense of space
• Kitchen:  Incorporate unadorned countertops, fire and wood tones, and lighting under the cabinets to invite a good chi.   Add a basket of fresh fruit or flowers.
• Bedroom:  You should have a solid headboard and a bed that is approachable from both sides and flanked by two end tables. The walls should be in earth colors, and televisions, computers, and exercise equipment should not be present.

Good feng shui means positive energy, sure to help with the sale of your Montgomery AL home. Who doesn’t want the hope of good health, happiness, and prosperity?

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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 AvoidForeclosureMontgomeryAL.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.

Generally, most landlords appreciate good tenants and deal with them in a timely and reasonable.  There may be times, however, when the owner of your Montgomery AL home is unresponsive to your request for necessary repairs, and you know you need to take action of some sort.

Where to start?  First, familiarize yourself with the Residential Landlord / Tenant Act of 1973, RCW 59.18 which clearly details your rights, responsibilities, and legal remedies   You should also carefully you’re your lease and research your state and municipal laws governing tenant-landlord relations before taking any kind of action against the landlord of your Montgomery AL home.  Free legal advice is available to you at Just Answer.com or other similar online sites.

It is important that you ignore suggestions from well-meaning friends who advise you to withhold rent, have the repair done by a professional and either charge it to the landlord or deduct the cost from your rent, or break your lease.  Each of these options may well be viable, but only if done in a manner prescribed by law and thoroughly documented.

Once you have done your research and are knowledgeable about your rights, create a plan and follow it carefully. 

• Make your request for a repair to your Montgomery AL home in writing, unless it's an emergency that requires immediate action. Detail the problem, how it affects you, and what you want done and when.
• If your landlord fails to remedy the problem, build your case. Take pictures. Have a professional assess the problem and estimate repair costs.
• Consider calling state and local building or health inspectors if repeated requests are ignored.
• File a lawsuit. Suing your landlord should be a last resort action. However, if the need arises, you should not hesitate. Contact your county court clerk to briefly describe your problem and identify the proper venue for filing a lawsuit. Your state may also require arbitration or mediation before allowing the lawsuit to be heard. Bring witnesses to the trial if they will strengthen your case. Present an organized case with all of your documentation. Do not stray off topic or let your anger and frustration control your actions in court.
• While it is comforting to know that you have rights as a tenant, do not forget that you also have a responsibility to follow federal, state, and local ordinances in your quest for a solution to your problem.

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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.

When we consider becoming more “green” at home, we often think about kitchens and bathrooms, spaces which use a lot of energy and water and can pollute the environment of your Montgomery AL home.  While these are certainly high-impact areas that could easily be made more efficient, there’s also much potential for going green in your home office. Check out these simple suggestions:

• Paper:  Look for paper made with the highest amount of recycled post-consumer content. When you can, print on both sides of the paper. If you need to shred documents, keep that shredded paper to use when sending packages or even for storing items such as fragile holiday decorations or china. To recycle paper on a regular basis, have a small recycling box under the desk in your Montgomery AL home office.
   
• Printer cartridges:  Every year hundreds of millions of cartridges are used in this country--and 70 percent of those end up in landfills. However, cartridges are actually easily refilled/recycled, and you can also get paid to turn in used ones. There are a number of online sources that will supply a pre-paid shipping label to mail accepted cartridges in exchange for cash. Or you can turn in your used cartridges for recycling at some office supply stores and earn a credit for them.
   
• Power strips:  Get a single power terminal that connects to all the ancillary gadgets that run with the computer in your Montgomery AL home office. This way the moment you are not using the computer, they can be turned off, too. Keeping the computer and its accessories on through the night consumes more than 30% of the total power consumption when in use.
   
• Computer hardware:  In addition to being convenient, laptops are said to consume less than 1/8th the power of a regular desktop. With laptops now more affordable, it is advisable to switch to a laptop in your next purchase.  Likewise, LCD and LED monitors use about half the energy compared to a traditional CRT monitor.
   
• Used manuals and electronics:   Recycle unneeded computer manuals and “how-to” guides by donating them to local workforce development groups and charity organizations.  This also applies to old laptops, printers, and other office equipment. And don’t forget used batteries, cartridges, PDAs, and obsolete cell phones. What you may consider trash, another person may consider a life-changing gift!

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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.

Maybe you elected to leave your job to take care of your children or an ailing relative, or perhaps you are a victim of a job layoff or downsizing.  Whatever the cause for your current unemployed status, you should plan ahead for the day when you’ll be able to consider purchasing a Montgomery AL home.  The following information should be of help to you in your quest for a mortgage after a period of unemployment.

• Potential lenders often review your employment history when considering your loan application, and relatively recent gaps in employment can hurt your chances for approval. Mortgage lenders typically like to see you've had continuous employment, preferably with the same employer, for the previous two years. Lenders equate job stability with personal stability, which is an indicator you'll be able to continue making payments over time.
   
•  Based on current guidelines, which are subject to change, most lenders require that a gap of employment longer than three months be followed up by at least six months of employment before your income can be considered toward qualifying for the Montgomery AL home loan.
   
• Most lenders have a two-year "same line of work" requirement; the employment gap doesn't disqualify your  income from counting so long as you’ve been in the same line of work for at least two years.  Even then, the lender will likely use only your base salary to count toward your loan qualifications. Commissions, overtime, bonuses and other employment compensation beyond the base salary cannot be counted toward your ability to repay your mortgage without a two-year paper trail documenting the extra income.
   
• If you are looking to change lines of work, you will need to prove that you’ve been in the field for two years before your income will count. Time spent enrolled in an educational course does count toward the two-year "same line of work" requirement.
   
• Obtaining a home mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration is a meticulous process, so it pays to familiarize yourself with its policy on employment gaps before applying for a purchase or refinance loan for your Montgomery AL home. The FHA underwriter evaluates the "four Cs" of borrower credit: credit history, capacity to repay, cash assets, and collateral. To determine whether you are capable of making monthly payments on-time, the underwriter analyzes your employment history and the income it generates, also known as effective income.

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.

Yes, you realize that the economy is tough, and, yes, you’re well aware that it is a buyers’ market in the real estate world.  But your Montgomery AL home has been for sale for a long time now, and similar houses in the area have been selling.  You’re asking what you consider a fair price for the property, and you allow your Realtor to have periodic open house showings, so what is going on?

Generally the problem lies in one of four areas:  price, condition, availability, and location.

• Price:  In today’s economy everyone is looking for a bargain. With access to so much information on the internet, buyers cannot be fooled because it is very easy for them to compare prices. Many people won’t even bother looking at a house if they believe it is overpriced. Therefore, you should make sure your Montgomery AL home is not priced higher than similar homes on the market. However, if you are looking to sell your home quickly, you should set the price even lower than the competition.  For more help with pricing, visit RIS Media and Realtor.com
   
• Condition:  The condition of your home inside and out is critically important to making a sale. If your home doesn’t show well, a potential buyer is going to head elsewhere. Because most buyers are looking for a house they can move into without a ton of small repairs and cleanup, you should make any interior or exterior repairs on your Montgomery AL home that may be noticeable. While some buyers may be willing to negotiate on the price when there are repairs that need to be done, there are many who are looking for a home with a “move in worry free” condition. Clean and de-clutter thoroughly, and eliminate all odors  For staging suggestions, go to About.Com
  
   
• Availability:   Getting as many people as possible to view your home is important. Too much restriction on viewing times will naturally lessen the chance of selling the house quickly. Also, restrictions on viewing times may make a buyer may feel that the seller is not flexible and would not be willing to negotiate on anything else.
  
   
• Location:  When it comes to buying a house location is everything. No matter how beautiful a home is, if it is in a bad location, it will be hard to sell.  To compensate for a bad location, you may reduce the price of your Montgomery AL home substantially if it needs to be sold quickly. Click here for possible solutions to a location concern.

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.

Yes, it is once again the Christmas season, and each of us has a favorite yuletide memory or a tradition that we include in our celebration each year.  Yet, in our fast-paced world, time marches on and customs change.  Just as real candles on the tree gave way to bubbling lights, twinkling lights, and now LED lights and hand-strung popcorn and cranberries were replaced by tinsel garlands and ribbons, Christmas 2012 brings with it new creations and unusual ideas which may well become traditions over time. Read on for the latest in tree and home decorations, stocking stuffers, unique gifts, and, of course, recipes.

Trees:

Trends for 2012 include an emphasis on skinny trees, metallic trees, and multiple trees spread throughout your home.    HGTV.com suggests thinking outside the box and reflecting your personality and lifestyle when it comes to decorating your tree(s).  Consider, then, silk flowers in your favorite color(s), ornaments made from sheet music or old books, or depicting a theme.  Nature-inspired motifs such as natural materials, birds, the sea, or your favorite animal are possibilities. Some with-it decorators even showcase their hobbies on their tree.  Gardening, golf, cooking…?      

Even tree toppers are changing.  While angels, stars, and bows are still popular additions for the tree in your home, creative sorts are replacing those with a floral arrangement, feathers, Santa’s hat, Frosty, Yoda, a cluster of colorful balls, and even the Eiffel Tower.  Click here for help in making unusual angels to crown your conifer.

Deck the Halls – and the Walls                                                                                    

Experiment with some low-cost “funky shui” in your home this year.   With a can of spray paint, unwanted picture frames, ribbon, old seasonal greeting cards, and wrapping paper you can achieve the reputation of an inventive decorator as you create unusual wall art, festive displays of branches, colorful lampshade stripes and “Christmas package” pillows, and one-of-a-kind paint-swirled bottles and glasses. 

Unexpected Stocking Stuffers Sure to Surprise

RealSimple.com and Perpetualkid.com have outdone themselves this year in terms of “who would have thought” suggestions for unique stocking stuffers for under $20.  Have fun as you fill those Santa stockings with a robot tea infuser, a hand-held sound effects machine, a cupcake shower cap, or scented straws.  Not full yet?  You can also add paper airplane push pins, permanent bubbles, or HotWheels’ new Ballistiks.  Not “outre” enough for you?  Then embrace the trendy mustache craze and include portable kits for emergency use, bracelet charms, gummy candy, or a baby’s pacifier reflecting the latest fad!

Food, Glorious Food

Tired of relying on standard fare such as plum pudding, Santa cookies, green bean casserole, and traditional turkey? Dare you try saffron turkey, cumin roasted potatoes, pine nut parsnips, and braised red cabbage—all covered in white wine gravy? If so, click here to get started.  Another appetizing menu has all the classics you want for the ultimate Christmas dinner updated with a stylish, modern flare.  FineCooking.com. gives you recipes for champagne cosmos, horseradish bread pudding, lemon thyme spinach, and ginger cake trifle—each sure to please even the most discriminating

 palates.

Let’s Not forget The Cookies

While chocolate chip, sugar, peanut butter, and candy cane cookies will never go out of style, there should always be room on the table in your  home—and in your stomach—for newcomers of the delicious sort.  Does your mouth water when you imagine chocolate/orange (or chocolate/hazelnut) cookie cups, gingerbread pinwheels, peppermint blossoms, or turtle bites?  If so, then Pillsbury can certainly help satisfy your sweet tooth.

Present Day Presents

Yes, Furbies are indeed back, but they are joined by the not-so familiar WHISKEY STONES and a new WINE-OPOLY BOARD GAME, both available at Gifts.com. Want something more cutting edge? Allmodern.com provides suggestions in 15 different categories and features items such as a gear clock, a molecule building set, and Ipad/Mp3 accessories. 

Amazon.com has compliled—and updates hourly-- a list of toys and games very popular with children this Christmas.  Sought-after selections include Moshi Monsters, Lego Creationary Board Game, and any Angry Birds Star Wars Item.  And, iIn spite of the advent of the IPad, Kindle, and numerous other electronic devices, many children still enjoy reading books and playing board games.  Ask your public or school librarian for age-appropriate suggestions or peruse Amazon’s book lists.

Remember, too, that not all gifts need to be tangible.  The sharing of your time and talents is most appreciated by all recipients, including children.  Think about an outing to a museum or the zoo, a shopping expedition for an Angel Tree child, caroling, cooking lessons, or a project in which the entire family participates,

So there you have it—a modern-day take on many elements of Christmas. There is one more relatively new idea which is quickly gaining in popularity, however, and that is.the determination to slow down, relax a bit, and actually enjoy the season with friends and family.  May your holiday be a rewarding and peaceful one!

Yes, summer has come to a close, but that doesn’t mean that you need to bid adieu to gardening or enjoying colorful blossoms in your Montgomery AL home.  Actually, cooler temperatures, moist soils, and the absence of pesky insects in autumn make for ideal conditions for fall planting and spending time in your garden.  Generally, the items on your to-do list fall into three categories:  enjoying it now; housekeeping, and preparing for the future.

Enjoy It Now

Probably the favorite activity of gardeners who owns a Montgomery AL home involves the planting of flowers, trees, and shrubs which will provide bright colors for the next few months.  Before investing in fall plantings, however, click here for information and planting advice for your geographic region.  Some colorful and popular blooms include asters, red spider lily, Mexican sage, goldenrod (that it is a source of hay fever is a misconception), fall crocus, witch hazel, and perennial sunflower (smaller than the annual sunflower).  For a wider, more unusual variety, this Better Homes and Gardens website offers a large selection of lesser-known—but just as colorful—species for fall planting as well as planting information for each one.

This is also a favorable time to plant trees and shrubs with brightly-colored foliage on the grounds of your Montgomery AL home.  Consider amur, sugar, and Japanese maples; burning bush; birch, and ginkgo, or click here for more unusual varieties.

Housekeeping

While you’re outside admiring your handiwork, you can take advantage of that time to tend to some gardening “housekeeping” tasks.  This list includes the following “do’s”:  picking bagworms from evergreens, deadheading perennialsand disposing of all diseased foliage, dividing and transplanting perennials, fertilizing trees and shrubs, adding plant debris to your compost pile, weeding, and watering trees and shrubs, particularly evergreeens, generously.  Note:  There are also three “do not’s” on this list.  Resist the temptation to do any severe pruning until early spring, defer mulching until mid-November, and discontinue fertilizing your roses.

Preparing For The Future

Finally, you will want to prepare the plants in the garden of your Montgomery AL home for the future.  You still have time to purchase and plant tulip, crocus, and daffodil bulbs for glorious color in the spring, and you can dig up and the bulbs of begonias and gladiolus in peat moss or vermiculite.  Before the night temperature dips below 55 degrees, bring houseplants back inside—only after carefully inspecting them for insects and thoroughly washing the leaves and the container. 

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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.

Few people can buy a home for cash. According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), nearly nine out of 10 buyers of Montgomery AL homes finance their purchase, which means that nearly all buyers -- especially first-time purchasers -- require a loan.  The real issue with real estate financing is not getting a loan (almost anyone willing to pay lofty interest rates can find a mortgage). Instead, the idea is to get the loan that's right for you -- the mortgage with the lowest cost and best terms.

Realtors routinely urge prospective buyers to get pre-approved for a loan before they even begin looking at Montgomery AL  homes. They also stress the importance of obtaining a letter of pre-approval rather than of pre-qualification.  Although many homebuyers use these two terms interchangeably, there are significant differences between the two.  Simply stated, pre-qualification lets sellers know that a prospective buyer of their home is likely to qualify for a loan, whereas pre-approval, although not an absolute guarantee, indicates that a loan officer has determined a borrower is credit-worthy and financially able to qualify for a certain loan.

The advantages of searching for a Montgomery AL  home with evidence of pre-approval in hand are many.  In essence, they include the following:

• Mortgage preapproval is going to tell you exactly how much money you can borrow. This way, you will know how much your mortgage payment is going to be ahead of time.
• You won’t waste time (or be sorely disappointed) by looking at houses you can’t afford.
• Sellers and Realtors will take you seriously.  They are much more comfortable with the certainty that you can obtain a loan (and that the deal won’t fall through), and thus may be more willing to negotiate.
• Once you find a home, the mortgage process can proceed more quickly because your lender will already have.

Although lender requirements for pre-approval may vary somewhat, be prepared to supply the following information:

• Purchase Agreement
• Social Security Number and Date of Birth
• W-2/1040 Forms
• Recent pay stubs
• Bank account statements
• Credit card statements
• Debts and liabilities
• Mortgage or rental histories
• Investment properties
• Employers
• Asset statements
• Personal property
• Current and previous statements

Supplying all this information may seem like a time-consuming process, but in the end of your house-hunting journey, you’ll be glad you did it!

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.

Garage, yard, or estate sales might not be your preferred locations for finding that special jewel for your Montgomery AL home or for resale on eBay or Craig’s List, but it can happen, especially if you’re prepared, patient, and persistent. Think of such a search as a treasure hunt that well may provide fun (or extra cash) for the family, hone your negotiating skills, present you with a challenge, and even result in the discovery of a “rare” find. 

Confirmed aficionados of these sales offer the following advice for novices:

• Be prepared:  Check newspapers, community bulletin boards, curbside signs, and local newspapers for times and locations near your Montgomery AL home.  Use on-line sources to augment this type of information. Map out the most efficient route before you start out.  It is also helpful to be aware of the “going prices” for many items, info you can find on eBay Pulse or Yard Sale Search.  Have a general idea of how much you can afford to spend.  Wear comfortable shoes and bring lots of $1 bills!  Best times to browse: at the very beginning or at the end of the day.
   
• Know what to buy: 1). Wood furniture that is in good shape and can be rejuvenated with a new coat of paint is nearly always a good bet, yard sales gurus say.  Do consider size in terms of fitting in the perfect spot in your Montgomery AL home and in transporting the item.  2).  With many books selling for $1 or less, yard sales are the perfect place to stock up on beach reads or volumes for resale.  3). High-end clothes can be found if you’re looking in an upscale neighborhood.  Whether you're buying clothes for yourself or for resale purposes, examine them carefully for rips and stains and avoid anything that smells of smoke!  4). “Paintables” are items that can be transformed with paint.  Lamp bases (and yes, even the shades), glass bottles and jars, baskets, and pieces of pottery are all ideal candidates.5).  Young children’s clothing and games for kids of all ages.
   
• Remember these caveats:  Resist the urge to buy every bargain you see so you don’t overload your own Montgomery AL home.  Avoid upholstered furniture and/or mattresses which may carry bugs. Be wary of used electronic gadgets unless you know what you’re doing. Stay away from bike helmets, child car seats, or cribs which may not meet current safety regulations.

Ready?  Grab your map, your pricing guide, your wallet, and your list of desired treasures.  Set out to have a good time, and Go!

  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.

Despite survey after survey showing that consumers expect home prices to continue to decline next year, most owners of Montgomery AL homes still believe their houses are worth more than what their agents recommend.

Nearly three out of four home owners, 76 percent, believe their homes are worth more than the recommended agent listing price. By contrast, 68 percent of home buyers believe homes are overpriced, according to HomeGain’s latest survey, which involved over 400 real estate agents and brokers and more than 2,000 home owners nationwide. The gap between what sellers expect and what agents recommend has actually grown slightly over the past year even though national median prices have declined about 4-7 percent this year. A year ago 73 percent of owners thought their homes were worth more than their agent’s recommended listing price.

A new study by the Research Institute for Housing America, the think tank affiliate of the Mortgage Bankers Association, documents a profound market fissure caused by owners' fears and hesitation — what researchers call "negative selling sentiment.  "Nearly 80% of consumers in the study's survey think this is a great time to buy a house, but more than 92% of homeowners think it's not a great time to sell.

According to Syracuse University economist Gary Engelhardt, compared with earlier post-recession periods, today’s owners have been more deeply shocked by the extent and severe side effects of foreclosures, short sales, and unemployment. In the aftermath of earlier recessions, such as in the early 1990s, 40% to 60% of homeowners remained relatively positive about their prospects if they chose to sell — far higher than the very few who see it that way today.

Many owners of Montgomery AL homes "have not adjusted their price expectations downward" to keep pace with local declines in property values which occurred after the mortgage bust, Engelhardt says, thereby contributing to the sharp divergence in their real estate visions compared with those of buyers.

This is consistent with the results of a study conducted in mid-2011 by Zillow, the online real estate and mortgage information company. Zillow found that sellers nationwide were having trouble coming to grips with what market forces had done to their property values. They knew prices had declined, but they didn't necessarily think those devaluations applied to their Montgomery AL homes.

Click here for an approximate value of your Montgomery AL home.

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