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Displaying blog entries 1071-1080 of 1996

6 Steps For Avoiding Identity Theft When Moving

by The Hat Team

With all the news concerning retailers databases being compromised and resulting in consumer identity theft, you need to be acutely aware of the increase of identity theft during a move and take precautions to prevent your becoming a victim of enterprising criminals. Moving often makes it easier for identity theft to occur: we leave identity theftinformation behind that others can use---mail that is not rerouted to our new address, important papers that aren't shredded but left in the trash, or through hiring rogue movers. The following steps are essential to ensure your protection:

  1. If you are using a moving company, be sure that you know it is a trusted and reliable firm.  Sometimes simply getting recommendations from friends, family members, and real estate agents is not enough.
     
  2. Make a change of address checklist.  Before you move, make sure you take the time to list all companies, institutions, and subscriptions that you receive through the postal system. Click here for a list of those you should include.  Personally notify all financial institutions of your plans to leave your home.  One of the easiest ways that someone can obtain your personal identity is through mail theft.
     
  3. Submit a change of address form to the U.S. Post Office.  Once your form has been filed, double-check the confirmation from the Postal Service to make sure that they list your new address correctly. Your mail should start being delivered to your new residence within seven to 10 business days after you submit a change-of-address filing.  Ask a current neighbor to take in any mail that comes to your old address after you move.
     
  4. Although moving is a good time to discard unwanted personal files, records, and documents, don’t just throw them away; shred them!
     
  5. Make sure your technological “toys”---computers, cell phones, tablets, and the like—are secured by passwords and packed in unmarked boxes.  Better yet, take the computers, hard drives, and other external storage devices with you when you travel to your new home.
     
  6. Stay in your current home as much as you can while movers are there.

All this before you actually move into your new home.  After?  See part 2 next week.

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

Montgomery AL Home for Sale: 351 Winthrop Court

by The Hat Team

Montgomery AL Home for Sale:

351 Winthrop Court, Montgomery AL 36104
MLS# 312768

Lovely & Updated Garden District Home!


You have to come check out the unique floor plan in this wonderfully updated and added on to Garden District bungalow! Step from the fabulous front porch inside to find a formal dining room with a lovely antique craftsman fireplace and mantle, large foyer leading to the family room/den area, a spacious bright kitchen with a great island/breakfast bar and plenty of cabinets. If you enjoy the outdoors, you will love the back deck and beautifully landscaped back yard.

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

Do You Have Enough Homeowners Insurance?

by The Hat Team

The news lately has been filled with reports of tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and fires, each of which has resulted in untold loss of lives, homes, and possessions.  As we watch with horror the impact these disasters have on those homeowners insuranceaffected, it is only natural that we ask ourselves,” Would I be able to sustain such losses?  Would my homeowners insurance policy cover the costs of rebuilding my home?

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)) recommends that you use your annual renewal notice or any improvements to your home as a reminder to touch base with your agent or insurer to recheck how much insurance you really need.  Do you have sufficient coverage for rebuilding and replacement? Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders, a consumer advocacy group, urges homeowners not to blindly trust that their home insurer has all the bases covered.

With fluctuations in the real estate market, coverage equal to the current replacement cost (excluding land), is advisable.  The first step in getting adequate coverage is to establish your policy’s dwelling limit. Your target number is the full-replacement cost of your home and its possessions. The dwelling limit bears no relation to your property’s market value, its appraised value, or its assessed tax value. And don’t mistake the cost of new construction for the cost to rebuild, which is more expensive because of factors such as debris removal and higher demand for materials and labor after a catastrophe,

(You can get a pretty good idea of what it would cost to rebuild your home by using an online calculator, available at sites such as HMFacts.com ($7) and AccuCoverage.com ($8).

It’s a good idea to purchase guaranteed replacement coverage, meaning the insurer will pay whatever it costs to rebuild your home with materials of like kind and quality, without deducting for wear and tear. Avoid actual cash value coverage, which pays only the depreciated value of your home.

Check also on your need for flood insurance, even if you don’t live near a body of water, since policies vary in their coverage of many types of water damage.

And lastly, it goes without saying that you need to update the inventory of your possessions at least annually since it is not only a record of the contents of your house and their value, but also a good indicator of whether you have enough coverage.

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

Montgomery AL Foreclosure Trends for August 2014

by The Hat Team

In August, the number of properties that received a foreclosure filing in Montgomery, AL was 43% higher than the previous month and 22% 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 71.4% of foreclosure activity in August 2014 and Bank-owned properties accounted for 28.6%.

montgomery al foreclosure

Montgomery AL Foreclosure Activity by Month

The number of Bank-Owned properties decreased 4.3% compared to the previous month and 42.1% from the previous year in August. The number of Auctions increased 77.4% compared to the previous month and dropped 9.8% from the previous year.

montgomery al foreclosure

Montgomery AL Foreclosure Geographical Comparison

Montgomery AL foreclosure activity was 0.01% lower than national statistics, 0.03% higher than Alabama numbers and the same as Montgomery County statistics in August 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!

Crafting an Acceptable Offer

by The Hat Team

An agent was presenting a contract to a single, senior woman who was moving into a retirement home.  It was a full price offer with reasonable terms and timelines but the seller wouldn’t accept it.  When the agent probed deeper, she discovered that the seller was concerned with her dining room table.

tableIt had been the first piece of nice furniture that she and her husband had purchased and they had literally spent a lifetime celebrating and making decisions at that table.  It troubled the owner to think that the table would go to strangers who might not appreciate it as much as her family had.

The agent told the elderly seller that she knew of a church nearby that had a community room filled with lovely tables like hers.  If she liked the idea, the agent would call the church to see if they’d like to have it.  Once a new home for the table was found, the sale of the home went smoothly.

Lower inventory and increased demand in certain price ranges have increased the frequency of multiple offers on the same home.  Sellers are frequently faced with a decision dilemma on which offer to accept and the price may not be the most important factor.

Sellers generally need the equity from the sale of their home to purchase another one but they also don’t want to have to temporarily move if they’re not able to get into the home they’re purchasing.  Flexible buyers have discovered the value in coordinating the sale and possession of the homes.

Sellers want to know when they make a decision on an offer, that the buyers will be able to perform as the contract is written.  The more contingencies that can be eliminated or minimized, the more comfortable a seller will feel about the certainty that it will close according to schedule.

The buyer should be pre-approved with all verifications and credit reports having been done.  Simply having a loan officer’s opinion is definitely not the same thing as a pre-approval.

There is a unique dynamic to every transaction because the parties are individuals with infinite priorities and values.  The art of the deal takes place when these unique variables are considered to define a mutually acceptable offer involving price, terms and conditions. The role and experience of the agents contribute to the successful outcome.

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

Ins and Outs Of Buying a Short Sale

by The Hat Team

Buying a property through a short sale can be financially beneficial. But you need to go into the process understanding your market! That means having a knowledgeable realtor and attorney.

short saleA homeowner is “underwater” with their mortgage when they owe more than the value of their home. The term “short sale” comes from the situation where the proceeds from a sale are less than, or “short” of, the amount of debt.

Lenders are motivated to allow a short sale when they perceive it will create more net income than a foreclosure. Sellers are motivated because it puts them in more control of timing, and causes less damage to their credit than foreclosure.

For the buyer, a short sale means a purchase price that is discounted from the normal sale price. However, the market situation with short sales is very specific to your state and your market. Here are some trends across the country…

25% of US homeowners with a mortgage are underwater. That is 10.7 million homes! That percentage is down from 28% in September 2012. It is important to note that 8.3 million of those homes are on the edge of being underwater with a LTV ratio of 90%-110%. The other 2.4 million have an average LTV ratio of 125%.

A primary factor helping that downward trend is a decline in investors’ interest in short sales. A decline in investors buying at discount means prices are moving upward. Increasing prices means increases in value, which means increases in equity for the homeowners.

However, according to RealtyTrac.com it will take years, not months, for the 125% LTV owners to recover enough equity to allow them to sell. That means the short sale opportunities are available for a while.

As a buyer of a short sale, be aware the process takes time. All parties have many more documents to review and approve. Your due diligence will take longer. And the process leading to a closing will take longer.

Make sure you are working with a Realtor and an attorney who have experience with short sales in your market. One way to qualify a Realtor is to know they are trained as a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE). That means they have specific training in streamlining short sales. It is not mandatory, but it is a valuable credential.

At least, make sure your Realtor and attorney have actual experience with short sales. Go into the process with a lot of patience.

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

Montgomery AL Home for Sale: 3403 LeBron Road

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.

 

Midtown Montgomery Real Estate Market Report for August 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.

Annual Maintenance

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.

Montgomery AL Home for Sale: 2105 College Street

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.

 

Displaying blog entries 1071-1080 of 1996

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