Real Estate Information

Nobody wants to be in a situation where a house must be sold quickly, but sometimes circumstances beyond our control occur and suddenly there is a mad rush to get a house on the market and sold pronto. If you find yourself in that situation, don’t despair! I am here to tell you that you CAN sell a house quickly and for the best possible price. The following tips will help you get your house ready inexpensively, and before you know it you will receive an offer and be on the move!

1. HIRE A PROFESSIONAL REALTOR: Seriously. You will be so glad you did! Find a Realtor with a track record of sales that lets you know that she can sell a house quickly. One way to be sure you find the right Realtor is to check TESTIMONIALS. If a Realtor has a lot of happy clients, there is a good chance you will be happy too! Now is not the time to hire someone because she’s the friend of a friend, or he went to the same college as you. Do your research and find someone who will truly make this process as stress free as possible for you while successfully marketing and selling your home.
    
2. RENT A STORAGE UNIT: You don’t have a lot of time to declutter your home, so you need to be smart about it. Shoving extraneous items in your closets is not a solution because potential buyers walking through your home will be looking in said closets. A better option is a storage unit that can house anything that you need to get out of the house while it is on the market. The best rule of thumb is that if you don’t use something daily, store it. Keep in mind that if you rent a portable storage unit, you can have your things transported to your new home once you have moved.
   
3. USE A PROFESSIONAL STAGER AND PHOTOGRAPHER:  It’s always important that potential buyers get a stellar first impression of your home, but even more vital when you are in a hurry to sell. Experienced home stagers are able to look at your house and see it from a buyer’s perspective. They know how to emphasize the positive and down play the negative. Equally important are your listing photos. The more photos you have, the more likely your property will be viewed online. If hiring a professional photographer is not in the budget, then do your homework and be sure to take the best photos possible. Real Estate Photography Tips
    
4. TAKE THE “YOU” OUT OF YOUR HOME: Potential buyers want to look at a home and imagine it as their own. It’s hard to do that if they are surrounded by your family photos and personal treasures. Let’s face it, your little one’s art project may be a “Mona Lisa” to you, but might just be distracting to a buyer.  Keep it simple with the art…you want them to see the house and how it could be their home.
    
5. BRING ON THE LIGHT: A poorly lit home comes across drab and dreary. Who wants that? Brighten things up with both natural and artificial light. When your house is going to be shown, make sure window coverings are open and turn on lights in all part of the house. Consider new paint if any of your rooms are dark colors. A fresh coat of a light, neutral shade will not only make a room feel brighter, but bigger as well.
    
6. MAKE SMALL HOME IMPROVEMENTS: Now is not the time to start a major renovation. Focus on small improvements in rooms like the kitchen and bathroom, where return on investment is most likely to occur. Small, inexpensive touches such as a new shower curtain or new hand towels can give a room a boost. And if you have old, run down appliances, spending a little money to get shiny new ones will be well worthwhile!
   
7. SPRUCE UP CURB APPEAL: First impressions matter…A LOT. When a potential buyer pulls up to your house, it is vital that they like what they see on the outside, or they might not ever make it inside. Make sure your yard is tidy by mowing and edging the lawn, trimming up shrubs and putting down new mulch.  Use a pressure washer to clean the exterior of your home along with your driveway and sidewalks. Put a fresh coat of paint on your front door and create a welcoming aesthetic on your front porch with some pretty flowers. Remember…you can’t sell your house if people don’t see it. A lovely exterior indicates an equally lovely interior.
    
8. SHARE, SHARE, SHARE: Take part in promoting your home. Your Realtor will take care of listing it, but you can use your own social media to get the word out too! Don’t be shy. Send your listing to as many people as you can. You never know who might know someone, who knows someone, who knows someone that is looking for a home where you live!

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

Photo Credits: forbes.com, interiorfun.com, diynetwork.com

Montgomery AL Home For Sale:

700 S Marquette Dr, Montgomery AL 36109

MLS# 490842 | 3 Bedrooms | 2 Baths | 1,550 Square Feet | Mayfair

Pride of Ownership Abounds!

Virtual Tour

Welcome to this wonderful move-in ready home in Mayfair! Pride of ownership shows throughout this immaculately maintained home. The unexpected huge updated kitchen that opens into the cozy family room/den is a nice surprise and makes this ranch feel a lot more open. The formal living room/dining room and three bedrooms have hard wood floors. The laundry room is conveniently located in the master bedroom. The 4th bedroom is off the den and currently being used for storage. Relax in the evenings on the large covered back patio and don't miss the garden that's already planted! Located just minutes from I-85, downtown and just down the road from the VA Hospital. Check it out today!

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

There was a time when there were three mortgage loan types available to home buyers. You could get a Fixed-Rate Conventional Mortgage, an FHA Loan or a VA Loan. But times, they are a changing.  Now there is a vast array of mortgage loan types to be had!  Let’s learn about some of them, and the differences between them.

We will start with the Most Popular:

FIXED-RATE MORTGAGES - These loans come in 5-year, 10-year, 15-year, 20-year, 30-year, 40-year, and even 50-year timeframes and they are all completely amortized.

FHA LOANS - FHA Mortgage Loan types are insured by the government through mortgage insurance that is funded into the loan. This is an ideal loan type for first-time buyers because it has minimal down payment requirements and does not rely on credit scores for approval.

VA LOANS - VA loans are government loans available to veterans who have served in the Armed Forces for the United States. They are also available to spouses of deceased veterans in some cases.  The requirements depend upon the years of service and whether or not the veteran was honorably discharged or not. The primary benefit of a VA Loan is that the borrower does not have to come up with a down payment. The loan is guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, but funded by a conventional lender.

USDA LOANS - USDA Loans are offered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture for eligible home buyers who want to buy a rural property.  They often come with no down payment required and can sometimes be more affordable than an FHA loan.

INTEREST-ONLY MORTGAGE TYPES – This name is a bit misleading, as these loans are not truly interest-only in terms of the borrower only paying interest on the loan.  The reality of the interest-only mortgage is that it offers an option to make an interest-only payment. This option is only available for a set period of time.  However, there are some junior mortgages that are interest-only and necessitate a balloon payment in the amount of the original loan balance at maturity.

Now, let’s take a look at HYBRID LOANS:

ADJUSTABLE-RATE MORTGAGE TYPES -  There are various types of adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMS). They can fluctuate monthly, semi-annually, annually, or remain fixed for a set amount of time before they adjust.

OPTION ARM MORTGAGE TYPES – These types of loans are complicated. Like your standard ARM, the interest rate on them will fluctuate periodically, but in these loans, the borrowers can choose from various payment options and index rates.  WARNING: The minimum payment option can be dangerous as it can result in negative amortization.

COMBO/PIGGYBACK MORTGAGE LOAN TYPES – This is a type of financing that consists of TWO loans: a first mortgage and a second mortgage. They can be adjustable-rate, fixed-rate or a combination of both.  This is option is used by borrowers when the down payment is less than 20% in order to avoid paying private mortgage insurance.

MORTGAGE BUYDOWNS – A mortgage buy down is a choice for borrowers who want to pay a lower interest rate in the beginning of their loan.  Basically, fees are paid to lower the rate, thus the name buydown. Buyers, sellers, or lenders can buy down the interest rate for the borrower.

Finally, Specialty Mortgage Loan Types:

BRIDGE LOANS – Bridge loans are used when a seller’s home has not yet sold and the seller wants to borrow equity to buy another home.  The seller’s existing home is used as collateral for the bridge loan.

STREAMLINED-K MORTGAGE LOANS – FHA has a program that provides money to a borrower to make home improvements by rolling the funds into one loan. This is similar to the 203(K) Loan Program, but involves less paper work and is easier to get than a 203(K).

EQUITY MORTGAGE LOAN TYPES – Equity loans are second, or junior to the existing first mortgage. Borrowers take out equity loans to get access to cash. The loans can be adjustable, fixed, or a line of credit that allows the borrower to obtain funds on an as needed basis.

SHAERED APPRECIATION MORTGAGES – These are rare in the United States, but shared appreciation mortgages allow home buyers to share part of their property’s value gains with an investor or lender. The guaranteed return to the lender means that the borrower will get a lower interest rate and lower monthly payment on the loan.

REVERSE MORTGAGE – This type of mortgage is for people over the age of 62 who have enough equity in their homes.  Instead of making monthly payments to the lender, the lender makes monthly payments to the borrower for the duration of their residence in the home. Reverse mortgages can be done with either fixed or adjustable interest rates. Please get advice from a trusted advisor before considering a reverse mortgage!

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

Montgomery AL Home For Sale

3163 Malone Dr, Montgomery AL 36106

MLS# 488633 | 3Bedrooms | 2.5 Baths | 1,734 Square Feet | Hillwood West

Lock it and Leave it!

Virtual Tour

If you want low-to-no maintenance in a move-in ready townhome, this might just be your next purchase! This elegant brick two story townhome is convenient to everything in Midtown Montgomery! It’s a classic Hillwood design, with spacious living room, dining room, and big kitchen overlooking sunny breakfast room. The rear covered porch overlooks a small courtyard with a grassy area for small pets. The second floor has a large master bedroom with two walk-in closets and a split bath. Another ample guest bedroom with full bath is on the second floor as well. The convenient rear access parking pad means no on-street parking.

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

Get ready to spring forward this weekend!  Daylight Saving Time is upon us again and this Sunday, March 14 at 2 AM it will be time to move our clocks ahead one hour.  While losing an hour of sleep is never fun, it does come with a perk…the end to dark winter nights as evenings see more light.  This springtime clock change continues the long tradition started by Benjamin Franklin to conserve energy.

With today’s technology, many of our clocks change themselves (our phones, cable boxes etc.), but nonetheless, don’t forget to SPRING FORWARD this weekend!

Montgomery AL Home For Sale

3132 Lexington Rd, Montgomery AL 36106

MLS# 490562 | 3 Bedrooms | 3 Baths | 2,084 Square Feet | Cloverdale/Idlewild

Delightful Enclosed Front Porch & Brick Patio

Virtual Tour

Check out this Midtown Montgomery Cloverdale Idlewild spacious 3 bedroom, 3 bath home waiting on its new owner! The enclosed front porch serves as a foyer as you enter the living room. There are hardwood floors throughout, built-ins in the breakfast room, den/family room and master closets. And a lovely brick patio overlooks the back yard. Just three blocks from Cloverdale Bottom Park.

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

Under normal circumstances, spring is the busiest season for residential real estate with many people choosing to list their houses.  Spring of last year was far from “normal” and we’re not quite there this year either. We do know more people are looking to buy homes right now than there are homes available for sale; making this spring a prime time to put your house on the market.

Let’s look at what it means for you if you are thinking about selling your house.

Housing inventory declined 39.6% on a national level in 2020, making it the lowest housing inventory year on record, according to Realtor.com. In addition to the record low inventory, there has been a boom in buyer demand, thus creating a situation where home prices continue to rise.

With so few homes available for sale, buyers will be sure to notice when you put your home on the market.  And it is such a competitive market, that it is more likely you will find yourself getting multiple offers for your home. Per the Realtors Confidence Index Survey from NAR, the average home for sale is receiving 3.7 offers today, up from 2.3 offers just one year ago. That alone should make the idea of putting your home on the market very enticing!

This seller’s market gives you a HUGE advantage!

Another advantage of selling now is that when you get that great price for your house, you can use your equity toward a down payment on a new home.

But where will you go to buy a house if there are so few available?

Because there is so much demand for housing, homeowners are not sure what to do. While a house in good condition can get top dollar and sell quickly, there is a fear that once they sell, there might not be another house available in this market that they can afford.

Options for Home Buyers

There are options out there for people ready to sell and buy a new home. One thing to think about is new construction. When the supply of new homes for sale is below 6.5 months (how long it will take to sell existing inventory), builders take advantage of the opportunity and build more homes.  In December, the supply of new homes was 3.3 months. With such a low supply, builders are excited to start building to fulfill the needs of home buyers.

If you are looking to move up to a bigger or more luxurious home, you will find that there are more available at the higher end of the market, so now is a great time to find your dream “move-up” home! Or perhaps you are an empty nester near retirement and you are ready to downsize to a smaller, one level home and a 55+ community is the right move for you.  Selling now means getting top price for your house and the profit you make can get you into the right home that fulfills your needs and desires.

Another thing to think about if you’re on the fence about selling your home is forbearance. If you have benefited from not having to make full (or any) mortgage payments over the past year, it may be time to get out now!  This administration could retract forbearance at any time, thus helping supply; but higher payments or balloon payments could be on the horizon since forbearance is not forgiveness.

Whether you passed on selling your house last year due to the pandemic, or you just recently started thinking about selling, with inventory so low, it’s time to act now!

Getting your house on the market and ready to sell may seem like a big task, but  Sandra Nickel and her Hat Team of Professionals are ready and waiting to assist you with every step of the house selling process. Give them a call today at 334-834-1500!

Montgomery AL Real Estate

2462 Capstone Dr, Montgomery AL 36106

MLS# 490419 | 4 Bedrooms | 3 Baths | 2,654 Square Feet | Vaughn Meadows

Virtual Tour

This Vaughn Meadows home in Midtown Montgomery has lots of room to spread out! The kitchen has been updated with quartz countertops and family-sized breakfast room has a built-in desk and window seat. The plus-sized great room has wall of built-ins for books and collectibles and a real fireplace. The first floor has a spacious master bedroom and two guest bedrooms while the second floor features a large additional master bedroom with en suite bath, walk-in closet, and loads of storage! Upstairs would also make a wonderful game room/ home theatre, or craft room. A rear patio overlooks a large swimming pool and big, deep back yard. A detached garage/workshop area is out back as well.

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

Montgomery is a spectacular city! Its warm, Southern hospitality, high quality of life, and low cost of living make it an ideal place to work and live. While it is a mid-sized city, it has a small-town feel, giving you the best of both worlds!

You will find everything you want from a big city in Midtown Montgomery; from world-class arts and theater, to excellent health care facilities, to a bustling restaurant and retail area, and while every city has its own unique history, Montgomery is home to some of the most memorable events in American history. There are many family-friendly museums, monuments, and historical sites that celebrate African American history. One particular street is said by locals to be one of the most historic in America!  At one end of Dexter Ave., you will find a large fountain, at another the Alabama State Capitol, and in between, is the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. served as pastor in the late 1950s.  This street is also where Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus. Montgomery is the city where the modern civil rights movement took off, and its rich history makes it an interesting and inspiring place to live.

Midtown Montgomery is home to approximately 193,000 residents. It includes established neighborhoods with charming, historic homes, the city’s two largest business parks, Baptist Hospital, two of the largest private schools in Montgomery: Montgomery Academy (enrollment 858) and Trinity Presbyterian School (enrollment 980), Huntingdon College (enrollment 1,000) and Alabama State University (enrollment 5,600). Midtown Montgomery is convenient to Interstate 85 and Vaughn Road, two highly traveled Montgomery thoroughfares between east Montgomery and downtown. 

If you are a foodie, Montgomery will not disappoint! The people here love their food so much, the Minor League Baseball team is named, wait for it…the Montgomery Biscuits! And living in Midtown provides convenient access to some of the best restaurants in town. There are no shortage of delectable dining experiences in and around Midtown. Cahawba House, a cozy breakfast/lunch spot known for its biscuits, Derk's Filet and Vine, a restaurant and market all in one, and Bibb Street Pizza Company are just a few of the many casual dining options. For fine dining, head to the downtown entertainment district to try Central, a locally owned, and regionally sourced fine dining establishment.

One of the best things about Midtown Montgomery are the neighborhoods. Beautiful, historic homes from Bungalow and Cottage style architecture, to Craftsman style, Tudor and Neoclassical Revivals, sit among mature trees and exquisite gardens; some of them walk-in ready and others a fixer-uppers dream.

Find more information about Midtown Montgomery neighborhoods HERE.

Learn more about life in Midtown HERE.

If you are interested in purchasing a historic home in Montgomery, Sandra Nickel and her Hat Team are the Real Estate Professionals for you!  Sandra and her team are experts when it comes to finding the perfect quaint cottage, bungalow, or mansion in historic Montgomery neighborhoods for their clients. Give them a call today at 334-834-1500 or send them an email HERE and before you know it, you will be living the dream in Midtown Montgomery!

Photo credits: ulc.org, newsweek.com, wtvy.com, watchtheyard.com, central129coosa.com, homesforsalemontgomeryalabama.com