Real Estate Information

Deciding to buy a home is exciting. But it can also be overwhelming, especially for first-time homebuyers. There is so much to think about! Before you start your home search, you should find a mortgage lender who can help walk you through the home-buying process.

Follow these mortgage tips and you will be prepared to purchase the home of your dreams!

• FIND THE BEST LENDER

With a little homework, you will be able to find the best lender to help walk you through the home-buying process. Get recommendations from friends and family or from your Realtor. Interview lenders. Find out what their closing time averages are and look up customer satisfaction rates. This is likely the largest financial investment you will ever make, so be sure that the lender you choose is right for you both personally and financially.

• DETERMINE HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO SPEND ON A HOME

There is a difference between what you can afford and what you are willing to spend. Many factors play into this decision. Your lifestyle, the size of home you’re looking for, and other expenses should all be considered. You might be shocked by what the numbers say. Chances are you won’t want to spend as much as you qualify for. So, work out a budget first and don’t overestimate what you can afford.

• GET PRE-APPROVED FOR A MORTGAGE LOAN

The last thing you want to happen is to find the perfect home and not be able to make an offer because you haven’t been pre-approved for a loan. Taking the time to do this now will save you time and grief in the future.

• STOP SPENDING

Now is not the time to make large purchases. Avoid taking out new lines of credit. Don’t purchase a new car or apply for a new credit card. Make sure that you are not adding to your credit card balances. Remember that your Debt to Income Ratio is a vital piece of the mortgage puzzle and can be a deal breaker if you go over your limit.  Save large purchases for after closing day.

• DON’T RUSH!

Now that you’ve got all your ducks in a row, the fun begins. Take your time searching for the right home. This is a financial investment that you will be living with for a long time, so don’t settle. Professional Realtor Sandra Nickel and her team can answer any questions you have about purchasing your first home. 

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home (or both), let me Sandra Nickel and my Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all  your real estate needs! Call us today at 334-834-1500 and check out https://homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com for more information.

Photo Credits: loans.com, realtor.com, schlage.com

With kids heading back to school, it can be challenging to transition from a summer schedule to a more demanding school year schedule. Establishing a morning routine will help keep everyone organized. 

Here are some tips for creating an effective routine for your family:

• SET A TIME FOR WAKING UP ON SCHOOL MORNINGS AND STICK TO IT  

Consistency is key. By waking up at the same time every day you will develop a pattern of wakefulness and sleepiness each day. It’s equally important to go to bed at the same time every night, especially for young children who need 10 to 11 hours of sleep. Once you have determined what time your kids need to get up to get ready for school, you can then easily determine what time they need to go to bed.

• PREPARE FOR EACH DAY THE EVENING BEFORE

Make sure that school bags are packed up and placed in a designated spot to be picked up the next morning. Have your children choose their outfits the night before as well. Plan for lunches if your children bring them from home. Have them ready to grab and go. Get the day off to a good start by having everything organized and ready to go.

• CREATE A “TO DO” LIST FOR YOUR CHILDREN THAT INCLUDES EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO DO BEFORE LEAVING FOR SCHOOL

Brushing teeth, getting dressed, putting on shoes, eating breakfast etc. You can find Free Printable Charts or you can have your children make their own.  Place it where you know they will see it first thing every day.

• MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR A HEALTHY BREAKFAST

Any breakfast is better than none but try to avoid having sugary sweets for breakfast every day. Your kids need fuel for their bodies and minds to be successful at school.

• LEAVE THE HOUSE WITH PLENTY OF TIME TO GET TO THE BUS STOP (OR SCHOOL, IF YOU ARE DRIVING)  

School can be stressful for kids. Having to rush in the door can set a bad tone for the day, while arriving at school calmly and with time to spare sets a positive tone for the day.

Setting a consistent routine will get you into the school year groove and make mornings more pleasant and the school day more successful!

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home (or both), let me Sandra Nickel and my Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all  your real estate needs! Call us today at 334-834-1500 and check out https://homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com for more information.

Photo Credits: mwsinusandsleep.com, usatoday.com, kidsactivitiesblog.com, newsweek.com

Are you a Baby Boomer who has reached retirement age? If so, you may be asking yourself if it is time to sell your home. This is a time in your life to finally enjoy the fruits of your labor and the last thing you want is to have to take care of a large home or be tied down to a big mortgage. There are plenty of younger people looking for starter and trade-up properties, meaning there are a lot of buyers out there competing for homes. So, the question you need to ask yourself is, “should we sell now?”. 

Consider these questions to find your answer:

• Will you be able to afford your home once you have retired?  It is important to think long term about the monthly costs of staying in your home. Even if you have paid off your mortgage, you will still be responsible for property taxes, insurance, HOA fees, and utilities. Then there are home repair costs.  If you are living on a limited monthly income, an unexpected, costly home repair can be devastating.
  
• How much equity do you have in your current home? If you have a lot of equity built up in your current home, you can use that to purchase a retirement home and have little or no mortgage, freeing up your monthly income for other things.
   
• Can you keep up with home maintenance? Maybe you are someone who enjoys yard work and other home maintenance tasks, but depending on your age and health, these chores can become more challenging with time. A condo with an HOA fee might be the way to go so that you can enjoy your golden years with the peace of mind knowing that you don’t have to do maintenance work yourself.
  
• Do you feel secure in your home?  Criminals prey on the elderly. It is a sad, but true fact.  Elderly homeowners are often targets for scams and break-ins. Home security systems are helpful, but living somewhere that has 24-hour security, such as a manned gate-house and resident only access can provide you the security you need to be able to relax and enjoy retirement.
   
• Is your current home set up property for limited mobility? As people age, getting around can get more challenging.  People are living longer, more active lives these days, but that doesn’t mean that you will always want to climb the stairs to your bedroom. And what if you must use a wheelchair at some point? Are your doorways and hallways wide enough? Will you have easy access to a bathroom and shower? Homes in retirement communities are built with these things in mind and often offer the best of both worlds…activities to keep you busy and entertained and accommodations for any physical needs you might have in the future.
  
• Is your current home in a convenient location? There are many things to consider about location.  Are you close to a hospital and drug store? Can you easily get to shopping and entertainment venues? Are your grandchildren close by? Maybe you are living in a fantastic school district, which was great when your kids were growing up, but doesn’t really serve you now. If that’s the case, take advantage of the resale value that will give you and sell so that you can find a home that is more conveniently located for you.

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home (or both), let me Sandra Nickel and my Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all  your real estate needs! Call us today at 334-834-1500 and check out https://homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com for more information.

Photo Credits: massagemag.com, nhbr.com, homeaccessproducts.com, designerservicesltd.com

3215 Montezuma Road, Montgomery, AL 36106

MLS# 543639

4 Bedrooms | 2 Baths | 2,144 Square Feet | Cloverdale/Idlewild

Sellers say this is not a house, it's a "HOME" and once you see it, I think you will agree! Set back off the street on a lovely tree covered lot, this brick cottage is cozy and welcoming. Cool off on the front porch with your favorite libation or spend chilly evenings on the swing by the fire pit out back. Morning coffee is perfect on the private side deck just off the kitchen/breakfast room. Living room opens to formal dining room. Kitchen has breakfast bar and space for a small table. Three bedrooms and a guest bath downstairs, and current owners added a staircase and primary suite upstairs with a sitting area, walk-in closet, and adorable modern bath with lots of reclaimed antique features. Electric car gate allows access to rear parking and 2 car carport (perfect for covered backyard entertaining!) Backyard features another seating area under the pines, and a detached storage/workshop building. This Midtown Montgomery location all within walking distance to spring concerts in the park, shopping, dining, and entertainment.

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor, Billy Young, Sandra Nickel Hat Team

1943 Ridge Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36106

MLS# 542598

3 Bedrooms | 2 Baths | 1,820 Square Feet | Old Cloverdale

Classic style and simple elegance! This Old Cloverdale home nestled just south of Cloverdale park draws your eye with custom landscaping and charming wrought iron porch balustrade. Inside large rooms flow effortlessly from living room into party-sized dining room, and big open eat-in kitchen with quartz countertops. Off the living room is a cozy sunroom/study with a wall of built-in bookshelves and lots of natural light. Rear central hallway large enough to hold pieces of furniture. Three ample bedrooms and two baths round out the interior. Out back you will find a deck, screened porch, and lush landscaping. there is also a detached 2 car carport with a heated and cooled studio on the second floor! Night-scape lighting and underground sprinkler system in front and back yards. Midtown Montgomery walking distance to shopping, dining, and entertainment.

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor, Billy Young, Sandra Nickel Hat Team

Making your home more energy efficient is a cost-effective way to not only save money but to also improve the performance of your home. The most effective strategy for improving your home’s energy efficiency is to focus on the “shell” of the house…the walls, attic, windows and doors. Next, improve the energy efficiency of systems such as heating, cooling, lighting and appliances. Last, but not least, consider clean energy generation such as solar or geothermal.

The first step toward energy efficiency is to make sure that your walls and attic are well insulated. 

High quality insulation slows the rate that heat flows out of the house in the winter or into the house in the summer. That means it takes less energy to heat or cool your house. If your walls have no insulation, it will certainly pay off to get blown-in insulation which will also improve the comfort of your home. If you have an unfinished attic, it is worthwhile upgrading its insulation. It is a good idea to use an Energy Auditor to make sure that the insulation is installed properly.

The next step is to upgrade or replace windows.

If your windows are old or leaky, it is time to replace them with energy efficient models. If you live in an architecturally controlled historic district and have ‘antique’ windows, increase their efficiency by using weather stripping and storm windows. While it’s not usually cost-effective to replace windows just to save energy, if you are going to replace them anyway, the additional cost of Energy Star-rated replacement windows is very modest and is a comfort improving upgrade that is worth the cost. 

Another way to save some energy in your home is to plant shade trees and shrubs around your house.  

If you have an older home with poor insulation and windows, good landscaping can help, especially if planted on the house’s west side. Deciduous trees are the best way to go for this purpose. During the summer, the foliage will block the infrared radiation that would warm the house, while in the winter the bare branches will let the radiation through.

Replacing an older furnace with a new high-efficiency system may seem like a huge expense, but in the long run it will save energy and money.

If your furnace was built before 1992 and has a standing pilot, it likely wastes 35% of the fuel it uses, and it’s probably near the end of its service life  ACEEE (American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy) recommends you replace it with a condensing furnace with annual efficiency of at least 90%.

You can improve the efficiency of your hot water system by turning down the temperature of your water heater to the “warm” setting (120 degrees F).  Additionally, you can insulate your hot water lines so that they don’t cool off as quickly between uses. And using low-flow fixtures in your showers and baths will help as well.

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) use ¾ of the energy used with incandescent light bulbs, so it is well worth changing them. You may not realize that the cost of electricity used to run a light bulb is more than the cost of the bulb itself. A CFL may be a little more expensive than the traditional light bulb, but it lasts for 10,000 hours and uses only 27 watts to generate as much light as 100-watt incandescent bulb. Over the long haul, you will save money by investing in CFLs.

You can save money with an energy efficient home in many ways, including the tax benefits that are available to you. Federal tax incentives are out there for energy efficiency upgrades to existing homes.

Creating an energy efficient home may require a financial investment, but it will be a money-saver in the long run!

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home (or both), let me Sandra Nickel and my Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all  your real estate needs! Call us today at 334-834-1500 and check out https://homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com for more information.

Photo credits: medium.com, feri.org, bpihomeowner.org, kids.niehs.nih.gov

It’s the thick of summer and with the heat and humidity, chances are you have been spending a lot of time at home trying to stay cool and dry. If you are feeling a bit stir-crazy and you want to get out, there are plenty of fun events and activities going on in Montgomery for you and your family to enjoy!

Here is a list of events and things to do in Montgomery for the rest of the summer:

• The Flip Sports Card & Collectibles Trade Show Montgomery

Saturday, July 22, 2023 – 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Entry Fee: $6

Alcazar Shriners
555 Eastern Blvd.
Montgomery, AL

• Family friendly fun
• Free giveaways for kids
• Lots of free parking
• Concessions on site
• Card & Collectible supplies for sale

"THE FLIP" is a trade show and marketplace for collectors of Sports Cards, Non-sports & Trading Card Games (TCGS), Pokemon, MTG, Comics, Video Games, Funko Pops, Currency & Coins, Sports Memorabilia, Autographs, Jerseys, Action Figures, Toys, Die Cast, Nascar/F1, UFC, Wrestling and more! The selection of items will vary in each category.

• Alabama Shakespeare Festival – Cabaret

Alabama Shakespeare Festival
1 Festival Drive
Montgomery, AL

One of the most famous American musicals of all time — from the creators of Chicago — Cabaret takes us to 1929 Berlin during the twilight of the Jazz Age as the Nazis are ascending to power. This groundbreaking musical focuses on the nightlife at the seedy Kit Kat Klub and revolves around American writer Clifford Bradshaw and the English cabaret performer Sally Bowles. Based on the writings of Christopher Isherwood and the winner of Tony Awards and Oscars, Cabaret will offer our audiences a transformative theatrical experience unlike anything they’ve ever witnessed.

Click HERE for dates, times and tickets!

• A Little Princess

Cloverdale Playhouse
960 Cloverdale Road
Montgomery, AL

(334) 262-1530

We are thrilled to bring this enchanting story from one of children’s literature’s most beloved authors, Frances Hodgson Burnett, to the River Region. This adaptation by John Vreeke, with underscoring by Will Severin and George David Weiss, will charm audiences both young and old. Tickets are on sale now for this family-friendly show that will remind everyone to have a little empathy and extend a little kindness to anyone you meet.

Click HERE to purchase tickets.

• YA Summer Movie (PG-13)

July 27, 2023 – 2:30 PM

Juliette Hampton Morgan Memorial Library
245 High Street
Montgomery, AL

Up for one last hoorah before school starts. Then what better way to learn about teamwork than with the world’s greatest heroes? Join us in YA for a special screening of a group of superhero’s avenging the earth from alien invaders. Grab your popcorn and enjoy your favorite heroes learning lessons on the importance of teamwork, respect, and lots of action!

• Trek Montgomery – Bikes, Breakfast, and Buddies

Saturday, August 5 – 8 am to 11am

Trek Bicycle Montgomery
6820 Eastchase Lane
Montgomery, AL

FACT: Breakfast is better with bikes and friends! Join us on the first Saturday of the month as we roll from the shop through Pike Road. Wheels up on this 28-mile ride at 8:00AM. Helmets are required and lights highly recommended. Bring your appetite and enjoy a free breakfast afterwards!!

• Family Day Out

Saturday, August 5 – 10:30 am to 12:30 pm

1445 New Park Drive
Montgomery, AL

Get ready to party with us at the Back to School Bash! This event is the perfect way to kick off the school year with a bang. There will be inflatables, access to the open splash pad, food vendors, and more! Bring your friends and family and enjoy a day of fun and excitement. Don't forget to wear something you don't mind getting wet and bring a towel!

We can't wait to see you there!

Purchase tickets HERE

• AMC Summer Movie Camp for Kids

AMC CLASSIC
2399 Cobbs Ford Road
Prattsville, AL

Are you looking for a great way to escape the heat and watch some of the best kid-approved films this summer? Well, look no further, AMC Summer Movie Camp®, sponsored by the upcoming animated features, RUBY GILLMAN, TEENAGE KRAKEN and TROLLS BAND TOGETHER, has you covered. 

Beginning May 27th, AMC Theatres is inviting moviegoers to beat the heat with a series of family-friendly classics returning to the silver screen, with ticket prices as low as $3 on Wednesdays and $5 on Saturdays. See the movies you and your whole family can enjoy throughout the summer months.

• Sixth Annual HOG Days of Summer BBQ & Music Festival

August 26, 2023 – 2:00 PM

Union Station
210 Water Street
Montgomery, AL

Downtown Montgomery's Best Music & Food Event, Hog Days of Summer, returns on August 26th at Union Station! Come join us for great music from our all-star lineup of bands, award winning BBQ from BBQ partners from around the Southeast, and activities for the whole family. Proceeds go towards helping River Region families fight pediatric cancer.

Click HERE for more information.

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home (or both), let me, Sandra Nickel and my Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs! Call us today at 334-834-1500 and check out https://homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com for more information.

Photo Credits: aarp.com, broadwayworld.com, allevents.in, eventbrite.com, amctheatres.com, experiencemontgomeryal.org

Chances are, if you are getting ready to sell your home, you are also preparing to purchase a new home. So, the last thing you want to do is spend more money on your current property.  However, you certainly want to get the best price possible when selling it, and per the National Association of Realtors, for every $100 invested in staging, the potential return is $400. As you can see, it will pay off in the end to stage your home to entice potential buyers.

Some people will hire a certified staging professional to get the job done. While it might seem easier than doing it yourself, it is not the only way to get that SOLD sign planted in your front yard.

Here are some simple, yet effective home-staging hacks that won’t break the bank:

Roll Out a Welcome Mat

Sounds simple, right?  It is!  First impressions mean everything when selling your home.  Also, prospective buyers tend to linger by the front door before the real estate agent opens the home for viewing, so an inviting entrance is crucial. A new welcome mat can cost as little as $15.  Purchase a modern mat that compliments the style of your home.  To further enhance the entryway, add a little green with some fresh plants. An enticing entrance will make buyers want to see more!

Mount Mirrors in Strategic Spots

Every home has spaces like a dim hallway or small space that lacks natural light. To spruce up these areas, hang a few mirrors. They add extra light to rooms that look dark and create an illusion of space. They will pack an extra punch if placed next to or directly across from a window because they will pull in more sun.  For a more decorative look, create a collage of several mini mirrors in different shapes and sizes rather than just slapping one large mirror on the wall. You can find inexpensive mirrors at craft stores and discount home stores.

Set Tables and Serving Areas for Entertaining

A home filled with friends, food and laughter is a happy one! Paint a picture of what entertaining in your home will be like for potential buyers. Keep it simple, but aesthetically pleasing. Lay out cloth napkins, wine glasses and solid plates in the dining room. Use matching mugs and bowls in the kitchen to produce the feel of family meals.

Replace Personal Photos with Artwork

Over the years, you have turned your house into a home by decorating it with family portraits and personal mementos. But potential buyers are going to want to be able to envision themselves living there and that is hard to do with your family members present in the form of pictures in every room. So, get a head start on packing up your house by putting your pictures away and replacing them with artwork that compliments the style of the home.  You can find inexpensive art at discount stores, or you can print beautiful landscape photos to put in frames.

Make the Bathroom Look Elegant with White Linens

Spruce up your bathroom with crisp, fresh, all-white linens. White towels, bathmats, and shower curtains give the room an instant update. They inspire the feeling of a luxury spa without spending a lot of money. Take it a step further by including some "spa like" displays. Simple additions like an orchid, candles and special soaps will go a long way.

Arrange Decorative Scenes

Decorative displays can give a cozy, lived-in ambience to a house. Assembling classy vignettes of colorful vases, lanterns, books, plants, baskets, and other items atop dressers, counters and bookshelves will make a house feel more like a home. Group items in odd numbers and in varying heights and shapes while keeping them in the same color family. You will be amazed at what you can find to use in your house, but if you need to buy some things, you can mix in inexpensive pieces from craft and discount stores. Done properly, these displays will have people feeling like they are looking at rooms right out of home décor magazines…and that is a sure way to impress prospective buyers.

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home (or both), let me, Sandra Nickel and my Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs! Call us today at 334-834-1500 and check out https://homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com for more information.

Photo Credits: thisoldhouse.com, houseandhome.ie, susiedenton.com, professionalstaging.com

Whether you are looking to purchase a home or getting ready to sell one, the process of doing so will go much more smoothly if you have an experienced Realtor to represent your interests.  You might be thinking that you can save money by trying to do it on your own, but the truth is that the time, energy and stress a Realtor will save you is priceless! 

Here are the top five reasons why you should hire a Realtor when buying or selling a house:

1. EXPERTISE

Experienced real estate professionals will know all the ins and outs of buying and selling homes. Real estate has a language of its own, and Realtors will speak it fluently. They are not only familiar with all the forms, reports and disclosures involved, they understand them and can explain them to you. They will work to get you the best deal possible and help you avoid costly mistakes.

2. ACCESS

Realtors can search listings that the public does not have access to. They will know immediately when a house goes on the market; long before you can find it on the internet. Local Realtors will also have a lot of knowledge about different neighborhoods and areas that may appeal to you.

3. NEGOTIATION

Realtors are trained negotiators. It is their job to get you a first-rate deal. With fierce competition for homes and the chance of a bidding war, you are going to want a shrewd and experienced negotiator on your side.

4. CONNECTIONS

They know who’s who in every aspect of a real estate transaction. They can hook you up with a mortgage lender, home inspector, real estate attorney, home stager, etc. And, since the best deal for you benefits them as well, they are going to make sure to recommend the top people in their professions.

5. TIME

While searching for a new house, or getting one ready to sell, chances are you’re still working full time, taking care of a family, and feeling a little stressed about everything you need to do. Slow down, take a deep breath and let your Realtor alleviate that stress a bit. Being a Realtor is a full-time job that you don’t need to add to your to do list.

The bottom line is, you probably can buy or sell a home on your own, but that doesn’t mean you should. Hiring an experienced professional like Sandra Nickel will make your home-buying/selling experience less stressful and more successful.

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home (or both), let me, Sandra Nickel and my Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs! Call us today at 334-834-1500 and check out https://homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com for more information.

Photo Credits: fairfield-park.com, calbizjournal.com, rd.com

Independence Day is just around the corner and many people will celebrate by gathering with family and friends for a cookout or picnic. Make your July 4^th meal a special treat with these creative, patriotic recipes: (click on links for recipes)

PATRIOTIC FRENCH TOAST

Do you have guests coming to stay with you for the holiday?  If so, there’s no better way to start Independence Day than with a patriotic breakfast! Serve up this red, white, and blue French Toast to start the day of with a bang!

GRILLED RED, WHITE & BLUE POTATO SKEWERS

One of the best red, white, and blue side dishes! These grilled red, white, and blue potato skewers with ranch dressing are the perfect patriotic side dish. Garlicky, packed with flavor, and festive yet elegant, they go so well with burgers or hot dogs on the grill! One of the best red, white, and blue side dishes, these Whole30 potato skewers with ranch dressing are just delicious.

STAR SPANGLED SALSA

This festive blueberry, strawberry & jicama salsa is a tasty sweet and savory snack, perfect for the 4^th of July. It will also provide a patriotic aesthetic for your table at your Independence Day celebration!

PATRIOTIC POPSICLES

You know it’s going to be hot outside this summer holiday, so let your guests cool off with these refreshing patriotic popsicles. This recipe is so easy, your little ones will love making them. Kids of all ages will especially enjoy this sweet, frozen treat!

PATRIOTIC CHICKEN DIP

Add some color to your table by turning your favorite, plain chicken dip into a patriotic appetizer. You will be amazed at how easy it is to add festive 4^th of July hues to your dip by simply using crumbs. Serve with crackers or red and blue tortilla chips for a yummy starter dish or snack.

STARS, STRIPES & SHORTCAKE

No celebration is complete without a yummy dessert. These patriotic shortcake parfaits are easy to make and are sure to please the palates of all your guests!

WISHING YOU A SAFE AND HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home (or both), let me, Sandra Nickel and my Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs! Call us today at 334-834-1500 and check out https://homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com for more information.

Photo credits: allrecipes.com, 40aprons.com, twopeasandtheirpod.com, dessertsonadime.com, hungryhappenings.com, luckyleaf.com