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Equity Dynamics

by The Hat Team

Equity is the difference in what your home is worth and what you owe. Ideally, as the value goes up and the unpaid balance goes down with each amortized payment made, the equity grows from two directions.

equity dynamicsThis dynamic leads to increasing a person’s net worth much faster than many other investments.

A homeowner has minimal control over value. It is necessary to maintain the property to avoid depreciation and make good decisions on capital improvements. After that, appreciation is generally controlled by supply and demand and the economy.

Mortgage management is something that the homeowner does have control. Making the decision to select a shorter term mortgage at a lower interest rate can have an impact on equity build-up. Lower interest rates amortize faster than higher interest rates which will also affect equity growth. Currently, it is possible to get a 1% lower rate on a 15 year mortgage than a 30 year mortgage.

Compare two alternatives of a 30-year and a 15-year mortgage. The payments will definitely be higher on the shorter term because it pays off quicker. However, if a person can afford the higher payments of $362.53 more per month in this example, the equity will be greater. Even after you take into consideration the higher payments, the increased equity is $17,236 at the end of the seven year holding period.

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Another decision that can affect equity build-up is making additional principal contributions along with the regular payments. Whether you’re making an occasional lump sum payment toward principal or regular monthly contributions, it will save interest, build equity and shorten the term on a fixed rate mortgage. Estimate your personal savings with this Equity Accelerator.

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: 3505 Blair Place

by The Hat Team

Montgomery AL Real Estate:

3505 Blair Place, Montgomery AL 36109
MLS# 304343

Good Investment Potential!

3505 Blair Place

This spacious duplex has been owner occupied for over 50 years! While left side is basically in original condition (and currently used by owner as storage) the right hand unit has had upgrades to bath, electrical, and HVAC. Large corner lot has many shade trees, and plenty of parking (two separate two-car carports.) Good investment potential, great location!

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: 1222 S McDonough St

by The Hat Team

Montgomery AL Home For Sale:

1222 S McDonough St, Montgomery AL 36104
MLS# 304330

Garden District Gem with Charm!

1222 S McDonough St
Pristine and waiting for you to say "I'm HOME! This Garden District gem will charm you with its gleaming hardwood floors, antique glass French doors, and space-saving built-ins. Kitchen is updated with glass-front cabinets and tile counter-tops. Third bedroom has had French doors added which lead to a sunny Florida room addition, and the rear deck overlooks a large fenced back yard. Don't miss the "nicest" basement in Montgomery, perfect for a man-cave, kids play area, or large media/rec. room. Wonderful neighborhood, great neighbors, and close to churches, shopping, dining, and minutes from Downtown!

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.

Real Estate Projects That Pay Off

by The Hat Team

As the spring “spruce up” season approaches, the fancy of Montgomery AL real estate owners often turns to home improvement projects.  Whether these be large or small, interior or exterior, for resale purposes or for personal houseenjoyment, do-it-yourself or contracted out, nearly 30 % of renovators maintain that they are hoping to increase the value of their home and recoup as much of the cost as they can.

Taking precedence would be the non-glamorous “basic updates” to maintain a healthy, solid, safe home To that end, deal with repainting, fixing the leaky roof, and replacing rotting wood, wiring, and/or plumbing as needed are ongoing needs.

And then?

  • One of the top remodeling projects is as simple as replacing the siding on the outside of your home, thus increasing both protection and curb appeal to your Montgomery AL real estate.  Choose either fiber-cement to recoup 78% of the cost or vinyl for a payback of 69.5 %.
     
  • Updating your windows comes next. Whether you select vinyl or wood windows to replace drafty old ones, you can recoup up to 69.1 percent of the project's cost on your home's resale value.  New windows do much for the look of a home inside and out and certainly contribute to energy-efficiency.
     
  • Since kitchens have become increasing important facets of Montgomery AL real estate, remodeling updates in this room pay off and are well-worth considering.   According to HGTV, you can expect to recoup 60%-120% of your investment on a kitchen remodel, as long as you don’t go overboard. You should never make your kitchen fancier than the rest of the house--or the neighborhood, for that matter.
     
  • And don’t forget energy-efficiency in the kitchen improvement plans. . By using energy-efficient appliances, households can save up to $400 per year on utility bills.  Click here for a few simple steps to follow when shopping for energy-efficient appliances.
     
  • The National Association of Home Builders states that adding a bathroom to a single-family detached home has a strong impact on the home's overall value.  An additional bathroom, even a half bathroom, adds significant value to your home, according to the experts at NAHB.  A half bath may add up to 10.5 percent to a home’s value, while a full bath can tack on an additional 20 percent.

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.

Selling Your Montgomery AL Home: Set The Stage

by The Hat Team

theaterIf you’ve ever been involved in a theatrical production, you are well aware of the many hours of planning, practice, and preparation that precede the actual performance.  You hope to gain rave reviews from your audience and will thus be sure to put forth much energy and effort in order to do so.to be successful. 

In much the same way, you, as the seller of your Montgomery AL home, have aspirations of wowing potential buyers with your stellar presentation and being rewarded by appreciative applause in the form of a quick sale.  Just practice the following script and stage directions for dramatic results…

The curtain opens on a tastefully furnished room with adequate, but not overcrowded, furniture.  There is ample room to walk between the moderately-sized pieces, and doors and windows are not blocked.  Flowers and bowls of fresh fruit add color and a pleasant scent.  Personal photos and memorabilia are not present, and the few paintings that adorn the walls contribute to the overall light and airy atmosphere.

ACT I:

  • Clean, clean, clean and de-clutter even more!  Create an impressive stage set by buffing floors and washing walls. This is the time to donate, throw away, and organize the many items that take up too much room, distract from positive features, make your Montgomery AL home appear smaller, and create a feeling of chaos.  Let your granite countertops, roomy closets, and ample cabinet space take center stage for potential buyers.

Intermission:

Audience members will now be milling about the area

outside your theatre, so be sure that you have taken steps to

make it attractive and appealing.

 

ACT II:

  • Concentrate on stage lighting.  Wash windows, open curtains and drapes, illuminate darker spaces. Put away winter bedding, accessories, and area rugs. Bring in spring with soft colors. Consider investing in inexpensive staging items like towels, throw pillows, candles and table settings in lavender, yellow, sage green and pale blue.   

 

Final curtain:

Time to take a bow, accept the flowers, bask in the applause, and enjoy

the accolades. Your presentation has been a complete success, and you

 will soon be entertaining offers for 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.

 

Montgomery AL Home For Sale: 1443 Watson Ave

by The Hat Team

Montgomery AL Home For Sale:

1443 Watson Ave, Montgomery AL 36106
MLS# 304080

Updated With Amenities You Expect!

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Spread out in this spacious Old Cloverdale home. Updated with the amenities you expect in this area, all you need to do is buy this one and move in! With features like whitewashed knotty pine kitchen and a 3rd bedroom/den with real wood-paneled walls, this place is brimming with character. Formal and casual living areas fit any lifestyle, and the private back yard is perfect for entertaining or just relaxing. Two car carport in the back as well as a workshop and tool shed are versatile work/play/utilitarian areas as well. AND...a little known "secret"...pop out the back gate and you are literally steps from shopping, dining, and more! Conveniently located to interstate, downtown, and the Cloverdale Entertainment district.

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.

Mortgage Interest Deduction

by The Hat Team

MDIOriginally, in 1913 with the Sixteenth Amendment, Income Tax allowed a deduction on any interest paid by a taxpayer. Prior to World War I, most interest was paid for business purposes and very little paid by individuals. Credit cards, revolving credit, student loans and home equity loans that would charge interest would not become popular for decades.

However, by the 1930’s, the Federal Housing Authority was created to help people to finance homes. Later, other quasi-governmental agencies like FNMA, FHLMC and GNMA were created to help facilitate mortgage lending. 

Even though, Congress never intended to use this deduction to encourage homeownership, it has certainly benefited millions of people who couldn’t pay cash for their home. This deduction has made owning a home more affordable for tens of millions of people.

The Tax Reform Act of 1986 eliminated the deduction of interest on most personal debt with the exception of qualified mortgage interest debt. Two new terms were introduced to specify what was qualified.

Acquisition Debt is the amount of debt incurred, up to a maximum of $1,000,000, to buy, build or improve a principal residence or second home. It must be a recorded lien and the amount cannot be increased by refinancing. In other words, the acquisition debt is a dynamic amount that decreases as the loan amortizes.

Home Equity Debt is any amount up to a total of $100,000 over Acquisition Debt. It must also be a recorded lien against either the first or second home. It can be used for any purpose and is no longer restricted to medical or educational purposes.

In the example below, a person borrowed money to buy a home and the entire first mortgage was acquisition debt. The unpaid balance was reduced by the payments made and the acquisition debt followed accordingly. At some point in the future, after the home had gone up in value considerably, the owner refinanced a much larger amount.

The existing acquisition debt was transferred into the new mortgage. Any borrowed funds that were used for capital improvements could be added to the existing acquisition basis. The interest on those funds would be deductible.

The owner/borrower could also deduct the interest on up to a maximum of $100,000 of home equity debt. If there was still debt above the acquisition and home equity debt, it would be classified as personal debt and the interest on it would not be deductible.  

 

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Lenders are not concerned if they are making a tax deductible mortgage on a home. They want to make sure there is sufficient equity in the property to secure the mortgage should it have to be foreclosed. A homeowner should consult with their tax professional if there is a question about deducting the interest on their mortgage.

Click Here to use a Refinancing Analysis.

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: 1241 S Hull St

by The Hat Team

Montgomery AL Real Estate:

1241 S Hull St, Montgomery AL 36104
MLS# 303906

Garden District Charmer!

1241 S Hull St Montgomery AL


Currently zoned and used as an architects’ office, this wonderful Garden District charmer could be your next office...or simply have zoning changed to single family residential and call it HOME with a few modifications! Spacious rooms and wonderful architectural features compliment this gem in the rough.

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 For Sale: 700 Eliza Place

by The Hat Team

Montgomery AL Real Estate For Sale:

700 Eliza Place, Montgomery AL 36109
MLS# 303860

Start Living The Good Life!

700 Eliza Place Montgomery AL


This custom built garden home sits on a convenient corner lot with side entry double garage. Meticulous owners ensure that this property has been well maintained and cared for, so all you have to do is move in and start living the good life. Great floor plan includes large living room and formal dining room, and an open kitchen with a center island, built-in work space, and breakfast nook. There is even a sitting/keeping area off the kitchen for casual living. Split plan means owners and guests (or children) are somewhat separated. AND, while there is some yard space, and outdoor living on the side yard, it is all easy to maintain. Call today for your private tour of this perfectly priced patio 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.

Montgomery AL Home For Sale: 1468 Woodley Rd

by The Hat Team

Montgomery AL Home For Sale:

1468 Woodley Rd, Montgomery AL 36106
MLS# 303857

Completely Renovated Home Offering Lots Of Privacy!


Give up lots of yard without compromising interior space. This completely renovated home is tucked away in a cozy cul-de-sac and provides much privacy. Comfortable great room with fireplace opens to kitchen/breakfast area with travertine and granite. Spacious master bedroom and bath downstairs and two more guest bedrooms and a bath up. Covered rear patio makes a great outdoor living space, and the over-sized detached garage could serve many uses (workshop, home office space, man "cave", etc.) There is even a raised garden on the side for fresh herbs and veggies.

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 51-60 of 83

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