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Displaying blog entries 1871-1880 of 1998

Montgomery Real Estate Podcast - Sept 2008

Thursday, September 18, 2008
by The Hat Team
The Montgomery Real Estate Podcast




This month's edition covers Montgomery real estate market activity and then we will examine the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 recently passed by Congress.

Features special guest Terri Murphy of US Learning.


Program length: approximately 7 1/2 minutes

download podcast mp3 file | subscribe to podcast feed

Excerpt from the show:

"With the passing of the Stimulus bill according to NAR, the increase in FHA loan limits will help an additional 138,000 Americans and will allow nearly 200,000 homeowners to refinance and potentially keep their home."

For more information on Montgomery real estate, visit HatTeam.com or give us a call, 800-428-5238.

 

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Montgomery Real Estate For Sale: 120 N Capital Pkwy

Wednesday, September 17, 2008
by The Hat Team
Montgomery real estate for sale
120 N. Capital Pkwy Montgomery AL 36107
MLS 257860

Classic Capitol Heights Bungalow
Looking for the charm of a lovely historic neighborhood but wary of old house issues? Well, we've got you covered with this classic Capitol Heights bungalow in Montgomery. This cozy home has new EVERYTHING from the wiring and plumbing to the fixtures and roof. You'll love the brand new kitchen and bath with custom touches everywhere. Refinished hardwood floors throughout, graceful arches, and antique mantle are other extras that will cause you to fall in love with this gem.
For more information on this 120 N Capital Pkwy or other Montgomery real estate, visit HatTeam.com or give us a call, 800-428-5239.
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Montgomery real Estate For Sale: 3124 Woodley Terrace

Wednesday, September 17, 2008
by The Hat Team
Montgomery real estate for sale:
3124 Woodley Terrace, Montgomery AL 36106
MLS 255546

3124 woodley

Fixer Upper in Woodley Terrace
Bring your hammer and get ready to whip this property in shape. Sold strictly "as is" Click on photo for Smooth Move inspection. This should give you a good idea of the work that needs to be done. Upgraded electrical, fairly new heat pump (06), water heater (07).
For more information on this property or other Montgomery real estate, visit HatTeam.com or give us a call, 800-428-5238.

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Montgomery Real Estate: Prices Too Good To Be True

Thursday, September 11, 2008
by The Hat Team
If you are currently looking to buy Montgomery real estate, you probably have a good idea of the general range you can expect to spend on a home. So you might be surprised when a great-looking home shows up on the MLS with what seems like a shockingly low price tag attached. The extra-low price seems too good to be true and – most of the time – it is. 
 
foreclosureIn many cases, the price you are seeing does not represent the actual asking price of the property. Rather, it is likely a property that is in “pre-foreclosure” and the amount listed actually represents the balance of the defaulted loan, or the amount the current owner is in arrears. Below is an excerpt from an article I found at Inman News that does a great job explaining how these properties end up on MLS search engines, and what you can do to spot them:
 
Real estate agents, investors and sophisticated buyers will know that it's impossible to buy a house in Hermosa Beach for $4,712. But first-time home buyers may miss the fine print on sites like Yahoo and Trulia that explains that this is not the home's listing price -- and that the property may not even be for sale.

The practice of mixing pre-foreclosure properties with listings of for-sale properties by major listings sites like Yahoo Real Estate and Trulia is misleading to consumers and damages the credibility of the sites that allow it, according to a company that's in the business of supplying similar information itself.

Brad Geisen, founder and CEO of Foreclosures.com, singled out Yahoo Real Estate and Trulia -- which have partnerships with Foreclosure.com's rival, RealtyTrac -- as sites that are presenting pre-foreclosure data to consumers in a potentially confusing way.

Property searches conducted by Inman News show both sites provide information that could help consumers understand that the pre-foreclosure properties are not "listings," and that the dollar figures displayed with each are not asking prices. But there does appear to be potential for confusion.

Checking "foreclosures" under "listing type" and entering a maximum value of $100,000 in the "price" field, a Yahoo Real Estate search for properties in Hermosa Beach, Calif., turned up seven properties, accompanied by dollar figures ranging from $4,712 to $100,000. According to Yahoo, the median asking price for 34 homes on the market in Hermosa Beach is $1.29 million.

But click on any of the properties for more details, and you are given a "property description" that reveals -- for the first time -- that the dollar figures associated with each property in the search results is not the asking price. Although "price" was specified in the query, the numbers may represent "estimated loan balance" or another figure related to the borrower's indebtedness.

The moral of the story here is two-fold; first, be sure to always read the fine print and don’t trust everything you see on the Internet and, second, always consult with an experienced Realtor who can help you determine the legitimate value of a property and assist you in finding the home of your dreams.

If you are ready to learn more about Montgomery real estate, please call me at 732-775-2774 or visit HatTeam.com. 
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How To Sell Your Montgomery Home NOW!

Friday, September 5, 2008
by The Hat Team
As most owners of Montgomery real estate have realized by now, this is not the ideal time to try to sell a house. With a struggling economy and negative media surrounding the housing market, more and more homes are staying on the market for longer and longer as fewer buyers are out making offers. So what should you do if you are in a situation where you need to sell your home now? The Wall Street Journal offers the following tips that I hope you’ll find helpful:
 
1. DON'T WAIT AROUND.
Even in the better housing areas, it's taking a long time to sell houses; so, don't try to sit out the market. That's what hundreds of other timid sellers are doing, each of them hoping -- somehow, some way -- that hanging on the sidelines will improve prices and, ultimately improve the chances of a successful sale. It won't. If you want your place sold, the best way to make sure that happens is to put it up for sale.
 
2. FIX IT UP AND CLEAN IT UP.
Buyers are taking your house out on a date. It has to make a good impression.
You don’t have to (and shouldn’t!) spend a lot of money, but ensure everything is in good working order.  As you get closer to the date that the house is actually on the market, start moving out by decluttering – buyers don’t want to see a house filled to the rafters with other people's things.
 
3. PRICE IT CHEAPLY.
Don't fight the market by trying to price your house at bubble-era levels or by factoring in all those improvements you made. In today’s market, your best bet is to set a realistic, salable price on day one. Don't let the house hang around on the market as you gradually lower the price. Forget what you think the house should be worth or what it was worth three years ago. That's not what it's worth today.
 
4. HIRE A TOP REAL-ESTATE AGENT.
Get the best listing agent you can find. When everything was selling before it even hit the market, of course, you didn't need the best.  Sellers of higher-end properties may be able to negotiate a lower commission percentage, but this is no time to quibble over a couple of percentage points. Also, offer the agent a big bonus if he or she sells the house in 30 days or at your asking price. Offer other agents bonuses if they bring in the ultimate buyer.
 
5. PROMOTE. PROMOTE. PROMOTE.
The agent should pay the usual marketing costs, but you should be prepared to pony up for extras, especially if you insist on more expensive or untraditional promotions.
Make sure your house is on the leading real-estate Web sites; Trulia, Zillow, Cyberhomes, Eppraisal and Realtor.com are some of the top ones.
Beyond that, get really creative. Advertise in corporate newsletters and intranet listings. Check in with local relocation firms that help transferring corporate executives find new homes. List the house on eBay. Put it on Craigslist. Put it in your church bulletin.
 
6. PLAY THE BANKER.
As bad as things are, there's one big factor in your favor: the tight credit market. If you have no mortgage you have to pay off, your strongest selling point might be your ability to finance all or a substantial part of a buyer's purchase.
You're a lot more flexible than a bank that has the Federal Reserve looking over its shoulders, so you might even be able to charge a higher interest rate than a commercial lender as well as command a higher sale price.
 
7. TAKE THE OFFER.
If any qualified buyer comes in with a reasonable offer, be prepared to accept it.
Negotiate, of course, but recognize that the buyer has a lot more clout than you do. Your house, as wonderful as you think it is, is worth only as much as someone is willing to pay for it.
 
If you are considering selling your Montgomery real estate, let my experience work for you! Please call me at 800-428-5239, visit HatTeam.com, or request a complimentary market valuation of your home.
 
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Montgomery Home For Sale: 1122 Lawrence Street

Friday, September 5, 2008
by The Hat Team
Montgomery Home for Sale
1122 Lawrence St. Montgomery, AL 36104

Take a look at this sweet bungalow cottage in the Historic Garden District of Montgomery. Many of the original architectural elements remain such as the beautiful hardwood floors, built in cabinetry, deep moldings and high ceilings. This Montgomery home has just had a facelift and is ready for the new owner. You will be amazed when you enter the house at how nice and spacious this home is. This one is priced to sell so don't wait too long to see it.
Learn more about this Montgomery home and other Montgomery real estate by visiting our website, HatTeam.com or give us a call for more personalized service, 800-428-5239.

 

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Midtown Montgomery Real Estate Sales Statistics - July 2008

Thursday, August 28, 2008
by The Hat Team

Existing-home sales rose from the first quarter in 13 states, largely from buyers responding to discounted home prices, according to the latest quarterly survey by the National Association of Realtors®. Nearly one-quarter of metropolitan areas showed rising home prices in the second quarter from a year ago, with greatly mixed conditions continuing around the country.

In the second quarter, 35 out of 150 metropolitan statistical areas1 showed gains in median existing single-family home prices from the second quarter of last year, while 115 had price declines. NAR’s track of metro area home prices dates back to 1979.
NAR President Richard Gaylord, a broker with RE/MAX Real Estate Specialists in Long Beach, Calif., said foreclosures are distorting the price data. “In many areas with large concentrations of foreclosure sales, homes are being purchased below replacement cost values,” Gaylord said. “Many buyers with long-term expectations are getting exceptional value in the current market. Once the inventory is drawn down, price pressure will return because the costs of construction are rising – today’s buyers are very well positioned to build wealth over time.” National Association of Realtors®.

Let’s take a look at the sales statistics for July 2008 to see how the Montgomery AL real estate market looks:

In Midtown Montgomery, pending sales decreased 18% in June 2008, compared against June 2007.  Likewise, the number of sold listings dropped 21%.  The average sales price decreased 9% to $131,446, and homes remained on the market for an average of 7 fewer days this June.

Midtown
Montgomery
Pending
Sales
Sold
Listings
Average
Market Times
Average
Sales Price
July 2008
38
37
104
$142,820
July 2007
72
56
133
$149,412

Again, as Gaylord said and as these statistics show, real estate prices are declining in some areas, even within the same city For the latest Midtown Montgomery real estate market conditions in your area, please call me at 800-HAT-LADY or visit HomesForSaleInMontgomeryAlabama.com.
 
Information is provided by the Montgomery Area Association of Realtors and is deemed accurate but not guaranteed. 
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Montgomery Real Estate Podcast-August 2008

Thursday, August 21, 2008
by The Hat Team

The Montgomery Real Estate Podcast




This month's edition covers Montgomery real estate market activity and then we will discuss today's Short Sale programs.

Features special guest Terri Murphy of US Learning.

download podcast mp3 file  |  subscribe to podcast feed

Also read:

Montgomery Real Estate: Short Sale Tips
Montgomery AL Real Estate Podcast
Montgomery AL Real Estate Podcast

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Montgomery Homes for Sale: 2031 Fernway Drive

Wednesday, August 20, 2008
by The Hat Team

Montgomery Homes For Sale
2031 Fernway Drive, Montgomery AL 36111

Mediterranean Style Home with a Pool!
Love to entertain? Don't miss this awesome Mediterranean style Montgomery home in desirable McGehee Estates. Unique u-shape design's focal point is private salt water pool and cabana. Formal living room and dining rooms boast tall ceilings, open feel, unique windows, built-in bookcases, and fireplace. Cook's delight kitchen has lots of pantry space and a built-in Sub-zero refrigerator. Wonderful master suite has private sitting area, great views of the pool area, separate his/hers bath areas and walk-in closets. Office/exercise room off master with access to pool and cabana area. 4 car garage out back, greenhouse, and great outdoor living room.
For more information on 2031 Fernway Drive or other Montgomery homes for sale, visit HatTeam.com or give us a call at 800-428-5239.
Please take advantage of our complimentary Montgomery home search.
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Positive News For Alabama Real Estate Market

Monday, August 18, 2008
by The Hat Team

We hear so much doom and gloom these days, I wanted to share with you information from one of our most trusted lenders, John Herzog CMB, Vice President/Regional Manager:

Last week was a very good week for interest rates and this week has begun on a positive note. It would appear with lenders applying better credit standards and underwriting guidelines that we are regaining the confidence of mortgage investors from abroad as well as domestically.

I am very encouraged that we have seen the bottom of the housing slump in Alabama and in fact we are at the beginning of leading the nation back to stability in the real estate markets.

Some areas of the country will continue to decline for months to come, but for the vast majority of America, and especially Alabama, activity and new loan applications are on the increase. Stay positive and have a great week.

If you are ready to take advantage of the bottom of the real estate slump and buy a Montgomery home while prices and interest rates are low, visit HatTeam.com or give us a call at 800-428-5239.

Search all Montgomery homes for sale.

 

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