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Montgomery AL Home for Sale: 3403 LeBron Road

Tuesday, September 23, 2014
by The Hat Team

Montgomery AL Home for Sale:

3403 LeBron Road, Montgomery AL 36111
MLS# 312392

Style, Quality And Functionality!

3403 lebron road
Style, quality, functionality...that's what you will feel when you enter this Cloverdale gem. Stylish upgrades and meticulous care have been provided by the current owner, meaning that all you have to do is move in! Open floor plan is perfect for entertaining, and there is even a bonus room/den/study/workout space off the kitchen for added functionality. And, out back there is a nice patio area overlooking a great lap pool! Mature shade trees make it bearable in the summer, and oh-so-pleasant in fall and spring. Close to Cloverdale's dining and entertainment districts, and minutes from bustling Downtown!

Marketed by Sandra Nickel, Sandra Nickel Hat Team Realtors.

 

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Midtown Montgomery Real Estate Market Report for August 2014

Friday, September 19, 2014
by The Hat Team

While the number of for sale by owner transactions is on the decline, approximately 9 percent of sellers decide to go it alone and forego outside help from a Realtor®. Typically those that go this route have extenuating circumstances, such as already having a relationship with the buyer (which happened in 40 percent of recent FSBO sales, according to National Association of Realtors® data). However, NAR’s 2013 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers shows that most sellers benefit from the outside help of a knowledgeable advocate when selling their home. Aside from being experts in the field, Realtors® have the time, know the market and needs of the potential buyers, bring an objective and fresh perspective to the seller, understand the complexity of all of the processes involved, and have the ability to attract qualified buyers.  It’s because of these reasons that sellers using a Realtor® tend to get more for their homes, according to NAR’s report.

Let’s look at how many sellers sold their homes with a Realtor in August.

August 2014 Midtown Montgomery Real Estate Market Update

Midtown Montgomery real estate sales statistics for August 2014, show the number of homes sold decreased by 9% when compared to August 2013. The average sales price increased by 3% to $140,940 for the month. The median sales prices increased by 16% to $107,500, and market times increased by 27 days.  The highest selling price increased by 40%, and the lowest selling home price increased by 14% compared to August 2013.

Midtown Montgomery  August 2014 August 2013
Homes Sold 29 32
Average Selling Price $140,940 $136,497
Median Selling Price $107,500 $92,000
Days On The Market 159 132
Highest Selling Price $830,000 $590,000
Lowest Selling Price $11,000 $9,640

For the latest Midtown Montgomery real estate market conditions in your area, please call me at 800-HAT-LADY or visit HomesForSaleInMontgomeryAlabama.com.

Information courtesy of Montgomery Alabama Realtor Sandra Nickel, Sandra Nickel Hat Team.

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Annual Maintenance

Wednesday, September 17, 2014
by The Hat Team

A common expectation of homeowners is to want the components and systems in their home to work when they need them. Periodic maintenance is just as important as having a trusted service provider to make necessary repairs.

annual maintenanceVictims of Murphy’s Law can attest that their air conditioner goes out on the hottest day of the year or the water heater fails when you have out of town visitors.

If the convenience of having things work doesn’t justify maintaining your home’s systems, consider that it can be less expensive than the results of neglect causing repairs or replacement.

  • Replace burned-out, dim or missing bulbs in light fixtures and lamps. Consider switching to LED bulbs.
  • Dryer exhaust vents build up lint even though you may be cleaning the filter regularly.
  • Fire extinguishers need to be recharged or replaced after expiration date.
  • Establish a recurring appointment on your calendar to change filters in your HVAC.
  • Replace missing or damaged caulk around sinks, bathtubs, showers, windows and other areas.
  • Clean gutters.
  • Schedule an inspection with a pest control a minimum of once a year unless you have a service contract.
  • Schedule a chimney cleaning prior to using the fireplace for the first time in the season.
  • Keep all tree branches and shrubs trimmed away from the home.
  • Pressure wash exterior, deck, patio, sidewalks and driveway.
  • Keep levels of insulation in the attic above your ceiling joists.
  • Check appliances with water lines for leaks or worn hoses.
    • ice maker  • washing machine   • dishwasher   • others
  • Test all GFI breakers and reset.
  • Inspect all electrical outlets for broken receptacles, fire hazards or loose fitting plugs.
  • Have furnace and air conditioner serviced annually.
  • Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and change batteries.

The early fall is a great time to take care of these items before the weather becomes harsh.

Information courtesy of Sandra Nickel, Sandra Nickel Hat Team, Montgomery Realtors.

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Montgomery AL Home for Sale: 2105 College Street

Monday, September 15, 2014
by The Hat Team

Montgomery AL Home for Sale:

2105 College Street, Montgomery AL 36106
MLS# 312198

Best Of Both Worlds!


2105 college street

You will find the best of both worlds in this totally renovated Old Cloverdale home. Traditional living and dining rooms, plus a den/family room adjacent to the breakfast bar/kitchen area. The kitchen boasts granite counters and Travertine back-splash. Nice master bath with garden tub and separate shower. Spacious walled backyard is party perfect, and has a wonderful vintage brick terrace. Convenient to shopping, dining, and entertainment!

Marketed by Sandra Nickel, Montgomery AL Realtor, Sandra Nickel Hat Team.

 

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Montgomery AL Home for Sale: 1860 Llanfair Road

Monday, September 15, 2014
by The Hat Team

Montgomery AL Home for Sale:

1860 Llanfair Road, Montgomery AL 36106
MLS# 312207

Affordable and Move-in Ready!

1860 llanfair road


With 4 bedrooms, living room and den, your family will have plenty of space in this nicely updated home. Tucked away on a quiet street, you will be amazed at how convenient this location is! Children can walk to Vaughn Road elementary school, or Trinity. Convenient to I-85, you can get almost anywhere in town in a jiffy. Large fenced back yard is pet perfect. Affordable and move-in-ready!

Marketed by Montgomery Real Estate Broker Sandra Nickel, Sandra Nickel Hat Team.

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7 Tips For Purchasing The Home Of Your Dreams

Friday, September 12, 2014
by The Hat Team

At a time when there is a shortage of homes for sale in Montgomery, buyers need to give themselves an edge on the competition for their dream home.

home buyer1. Get pre-approved for financing prior to shopping for your dream home. Three to four months before you start shopping for your dream home do some homework. Review your credit scores and take action to clear up any credit discrepancies. Michael Corbett, author of Before You Buy, then recommends getting a bank or mortgage lender to pre-approve your loan. That does not guarantee you will receive a loan, but it shows credibility to the sellers and realtors involved with your potential transaction. It shows you can afford a mortgage for a given amount.

2. Don’t lowball your first offer on a property you really want. In the current market there are often multiple buyers interested in the same property. You may not have a second chance to “sweeten the deal” later. Make sure your Realtor has provided you with comparable property prices that justify your offer. Submit a strong offer the first time.

3. Consider an escalator clause in your offering contract. This is a clause where you agree to increase your offer if a higher offer is received by the seller.

4. Add extra earnest money to your deposit. This signals to the seller that you are really serious. To show your true commitment, consider doubling what the seller has asked for as a deposit.

5. Keep contingencies to a minimum when writing the final contract. Take a good hard look at the property and temper your contingency demands. The more chance there is the deal will not go through due to financing or inspections contingencies, the less inclined the seller will be to accept your offer.

6. Give the gift of time to the seller. Express your willingness to work with the sellers to make the closing timetable convenient to them. Be willing to close on the purchase and lease back to them if their timing is difficult. If you’re bidding on a short sale make it clear you understand the timeframe could be drawn out. Express your patience to work with sellers.

7. Consider using a Realtor to help you find your dream home. Such help can be invaluable, especially when it comes to the details of a contract. Best of all the sellers often pay for the cost of the buyers’ agent through commission split at the closing.

Information courtesy of Montgomery Alabama Realtor Sandra Nickel, Sandra Nickel Hat Team Realtors.

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Montgomery AL Foreclosure Trends for July 2014

Friday, September 5, 2014
by The Hat Team

In July, the number of properties that received a foreclosure filing in Montgomery, AL was 44% lower than the previous month and 44% lower than the same time last year, according to RealtyTrac.com.

Montgomery AL Foreclosure Status Distribution

The current distribution of foreclosures based on the number of active foreclosure homes in Montgomery, AL.

Auctions accounted for 57.4% of foreclosure activity in July 2014 and Bank-owned properties accounted for 42.6%.

montgomery al foreclosure

Montgomery AL Foreclosure Activity by Month

The number of Bank-Owned properties decreased 41.0% compared to the previous month and 54.0% from the previous year in July. The number of Auctions decreased 46.6% compared to the previous month and 36.6% from the previous year.

montgomery al foreclosure

Montgomery AL Foreclosure Geographical Comparison

Montgomery AL foreclosure activity was 0.02% lower than national statistics, 0.01% higher than Alabama numbers and the same as Montgomery County statistics in July 2014.

montgomery al foreclosure

Are you or someone you know behind on mortgage payments and facing a Montgomery foreclosure? You do have options. A short sale may be the answer to saving you, your family and your home. I am a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) with specialized training in helping families avoid foreclosure. Give me a call for a private consultation.

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!

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Cash Flow and Equity Build-up

Friday, September 5, 2014
by The Hat Team

Many years ago, Las Vegas hotels would entice customers with inexpensive rooms, meals and entertainment so they would gamble.  It may have worked initially but if you’ve been to Las Vegas recently, the bargains are gone.  Hotels expect each division to be a profit center on its own.  As a consumer, I might not like the changes but as an investor, I’d have to be pleased with increased profitability.

cash flowYears ago, real estate investors used to accept negative cash flow buoyed by tax incentives in hopes of making a big payday due to appreciation when they sold it.   Today’s investors are focusing on tangible, current results like cash flow and equity build-up.

Cash flow is the amount of money you have left over after collecting the rent and paying the expenses.  Since rents have gone up considerably due to supply and demand in the last few years and mortgage rates are at near record lows, income is up and expenses are down, making the cash flows attractive.

If the cash flow is sufficient, you could have a good investment even if the value of the property never increased.  Cash on Cash doesn’t consider appreciation and measures the cash flow before tax advantages by the initial investment.  A rental with $3,170 CFBT divided by an initial investment of $29,000 would generate a 10.93% Cash on Cash rate of return.

Low down payments on investor properties are also a thing of the past.  Non-owner occupied mortgage money is available but the investor should expect to put down 25-30%. An advantage of having a smaller mortgage is a lower payment.

Most mortgages are amortized loans with both principal and interest due with each payment.  The forced savings of the principal contribution builds equity in the property and can be considered a part of the rate of return.

A $100,000 mortgage at 4.5% for 30 years would have $1,613.29 applied to principal in the first year.  Divide that by the same $29,000 initial investment and the amortization would generate another 6%.

Without factoring in appreciation or tax advantages, this rental example generates much more than most alternative investments.  There certainly are many different aspects that affect the risk and return on rental investments.  If you haven’t scrutinized single-family rental opportunities in a while, you should look again.

Information courtesy of Sandra Nickel, Sandra Nickel HatTeam Realtors in Montgomery, Alabama.

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Montgomery AL Home for Sale: 1813 Winona Ave

Thursday, September 4, 2014
by The Hat Team

Montgomery AL Home for Sale:

1813 Winona Ave, Montgomery AL 36107
MLS# 312001

Picture Perfect Restoration!

1813 winona ave
WOW! Impeccable complete and total restoration in historic Capitol Heights! Get the old house charm but absolutely everything is brand new. From the large front porch to the gorgeous hardwood floors, magazine quality kitchen and baths and huge deck overlooking shaded back yard, it's simply picture perfect. Check out this fabulous home today.

Marketed by Sandra Nickel, Sandra Nickel Hat Team, Montgomery Alabama Realtors.

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Montgomery AL Real Estate: 1229 Autumn Ridge Road

Tuesday, September 2, 2014
by The Hat Team

Montgomery AL Real Estate For Sale:

1229 Autumn Ridge Road, Montgomery AL 36117
MLS# 311881

Neat As A Pin And Ready To Move In!

1229 autumn ridge road
One of the largest plans in Halcyon Summit! This home is well maintained and ready to move into. Popular split design puts master bedroom on one side of the house, and two larger guest rooms on the other side. 4th bedroom could also be study/office/nursery. If you have lots of belongings, or enjoy separate living areas, this might be the floor plan for you with a living room, dining room, and a den/family room off the kitchen. Pretty backyard with mature trees providing shade has covered patio. And, from the covered front porch area, you have a great view of the "lake" and fountain across the street (and peaceful canal runs beside the property!). Neat as a pin, clean, neutral colors, and ready to be YOUR next home.

Marketed by Sandra Nickel, Sandra Nickel Hat Team, Montgomery Alabama Realtors.

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Displaying blog entries 711-720 of 1311

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