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Midtown Montgomery Real Estate Market Trends - October 2013

by The Hat Team

The Fed recently announced they would continue their current pace of purchasing bonds until the economy was stronger. This bond purchasing program is the reason that mortgage interest rates are at historic lows. Rates began to increase over the last several months just on the anticipation that the Fed would announce that they would be reducing the level of bond purchases last month. When that didn’t happen, rates actually decreased.

That was great news for any buyer in the process of purchasing a home. However, this window of opportunity is expected to close in the very near future as most experts expect the Fed to taper the bond purchasers in December.

So, don't let this opportunity pass you by. Leverage your buying power NOW while rates remain low. Contact us today for help!

Take a look at sales figures in our local real estate market for September 2013.

Midtown Montgomery real estate sales statistics for September 2013 show the number of homes sold increased by 28% when compared to September 2012. The average sales price increased by 29% to $ 184,238 for the month. The median sales prices increased by 21%, and market times increased by 52 days from September 2012.  The highest selling home price increased by 33%, and the lowest selling home price decreased by 22% from September 2012.

While it’s tempting to rejoice over these huge increases, it’s important to remember that they compare just one month’s activity in each year.  And because Midtown homes are so different in size, degree of renovation, etc., sales values from year to year reflect more than just “more business” but “different business” as well.  A more important and meaningful statistic is this:  at the end of the September, 2013, selling prices market-wide are up 3.46%.  Yes!!!!!!

Midtown Montgomery September  2013 September 2012
Homes Sold 29 21
Average Selling Price $ 184,238 $ 131,321
Median Selling Price $ 155,000 $ 122,500
Days On The Market 166 114
Highest Selling Price $ 545,000 $ 367,500
Lowest Selling Price $ 20,000 $ 25,500


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.

Information is provided by the Montgomery Area Association of Realtors and is deemed accurate but not guaranteed.

Rating Your Best Friend

by The Hat Team

Man’s best friend enjoys many of the benefits of his master’s home besides food and shelter and a comfortable place to live and play.  In return, dog owners expect companionship and possibly, protection; after all, even a small dog can bark to signal intruders.

dogFew people doubt that most dog owners love their pets and treat them well.  The costs associated with having a dog can include medical and dental that rivals human expenses, premium food, toys, grooming and license fees.  However, one of the expenses not anticipated by pet owners is a higher homeowner’s insurance premium.

There are almost five million dog bites a year with children being the main victims.

“Dog bites accounted for more than one-third of all homeowner’s insurance liability claim dollars paid out in 2012, which amounted to more than $489 million,” said Peter Robertson, representing the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, testifying against the bill at a hearing of the Committee on Financial Services.  He said, “The total cost of dog bite claims increased by more than 51 percent between 2003 and 2012.”  It is now estimated that dog bites cause losses of over one billion dollars a year.

Some insurance underwriters have denied or canceled coverage or increased the premium of the owner’s liability insurance based on the homeowners’ specific breed of dog such as Pit Bulls, Dobermans, Akitas, Mastiffs, Malamutes and even German Shepherds.  The aggressive nature of certain types of dogs combined with specific training or lack of training, abuse or neglect are identified by insurer’s refusal to provide liability coverage.

If you are considering what insurers identify as a high-risk pet, you might want to visit with your insurance agent prior to acquiring your new best friend to see if it affects your rates.

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: 3827 Duquesne Dr

by The Hat Team

Montgomery AL Real Estate:

3827 Duquesne Dr, Montgomery AL 36109
MLS# 304774

Priced To Sell And Ready for YOU!


3827 Duquesne Dr Montgomery AL

Calling first time home buyers and savvy investors. This BRICK rancher is priced to sell and ready for a new owner. This floor plan has living room/dining room combo with hardwood floors PLUS a den and eat-in-kitchen. PLUS, there is a bonus room off the kitchen with a closet that has been used as a 4th bedroom, study, game room, office, and extra storage space. Out back there is a fully fenced back yard, patio, large workshop, and covered area for various uses. Hallway and all 3 bedrooms have oak hardwood floors under the carpet. Needs lipstick and rouge, but otherwise ready to 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.

Montgomery AL Home For Sale: 363 Ryan St

by The Hat Team

Montgomery AL Home For Sale:

363 Ryan St, Montgomery AL 36107
MLS# 297862

Move-In Ready!

363 Ryan St Montgomery AL

Like new low maintenance patio home is fresh and ready to move into! Convenient to I-85, shopping, and dining...this open floor plan home makes a perfect first home or downsize home, and works beautifully for a room-mate situation. New carpet, fresh paint, plus refrigerator, washer, and dryer. All for less than you would pay in monthly rent for the same quality space!

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 Foreclosure Trends - August 2013

by The Hat Team

In August, the number of properties that received a foreclosure filing in Montgomery, AL was 3% higher than the previous month and 36% higher than the same time last year, according to RealtyTrac.com.

Montgomery AL Foreclosure Status

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

montgomery al foreclosure

Montgomery AL Foreclosure Activity by Month

The number of Auctions increased 32.6% compared to the previous month and increased 10.9% compared to the previous year. The number of Bank-Owned properties decreased 24.0% compared to the previous month and increased 111.1% compared to the previous year.

montgomery al foreclosure

Montgomery AL Foreclosure Geographical Comparison

Montgomery AL foreclosure activity was the same as national statistics, 0.04% higher than Alabama numbers and the same as Montgomery County statistics in August 2013.

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!

You can reach Sandra by filling out the online contact form below or give her a call anytime.

Midtown Montgomery Real Estate Market Trends - September 2013

by The Hat Team

The American Dream of homeownership is alive and well, according to a majority of renters surveyed for the NAR 2013 National Housing Pulse Survey. The survey found that more renters are thinking about becoming homeowners than in past years and the number of Americans who prefer to rent is declining. Thirty-six percent of renters said they were thinking about purchasing a home, compared to only 25 percent in 2011. 

Americans’ concerns about home values continuing to drop have also diminished. A majority of respondents revealed that housing prices in their area are higher than last year, and 38 percent reported an increase in local housing market activity in the past year.

Take a look at sales figures in our local real estate market for August 2013.

Midtown Montgomery real estate sales statistics for August 2013 show the number of homes sold increased by 19% when compared to August 2012. The average sales price increased by 38% to $133,319 for the month. The median sales prices increased by 9%, and market times increased by 20 days from August 2012.  The highest selling home price increased by 67%, and the lowest selling home price increased by 2% from August 2012.

Midtown Montgomery August  2013 August 2012
Homes Sold 31 26
Average Selling Price $133,319 $96,731
Median Selling Price $84,000 $76,500
Days On The Market 128 108
Highest Selling Price $590,000 $352,000
Lowest Selling Price $9,640 $8,000

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.

Information is provided by the Montgomery Area Association of Realtors and is deemed accurate but not guaranteed.

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.

Equity dynamics.png

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.

Displaying blog entries 841-850 of 1311

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