Montgomery 5 Year Appreciation

To piggyback on my last post that the Montgomery housing market is strong, healthy and a good investment, I wanted to share with you the appreciation rates for the last 5 years.







As you can see, Montgomeryreal estate is experiencing strong, steady grow.
If you are considering investing in the local housing market, take a look at our new site: www.investinmontgomeryalabama.com. There's lots of good info there.

When the world zigs, Montgomery zags!

Montgomery is a funny market. Whenever the rest of the world is zigging, Montgomery real estate zags. And if you don't believe it, just consider this:

The Saturday MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER quoted a Friday U.S. Commerce Department report that nationwide sales of new single-family homes dropped by 10.5 percent in Feburary--the largest decline in almost 9 years.

Meanwhile...back in Montgomery...new home sales ROSE 14 percent. And new home prices were up from $139,018 to $161,375. Clearly, there is no bubble bursting here. On the contrary, the Montgomery market is healthy AND still undervalued by most all indices.

AUM economist Keivan Deravi observes that the overall economy will continue to protect Montgomery's housing market.

So sleep well tonight knowing that your investment in your home is secure...and growing.

If you're thinking about investing in real estate--perhaps as a way to fund college for a child--the timing could not be better. We have a lot of good information about the climate for investing at our new site: www.InvestInMontgomeryAlabama.com. Give it a look.

A More Level Playing Field

Mid-town Montgomery's February home sales reflect the more level playing field for buyers and sellers that is forecast for 2006 by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.
Home sales in Mid-town this past February are down by 13 compared to February 2005 sales and pending sales are down by 7. However, inventory remains stable with 247 new homes on the market.



These statistics mean buyers have more choices and should take advantage of buyer representation to assist them in negotiating the best possible terms.

Sellers should price their homes for the realities of this new market. An overpriced home will sit on the market, taking longer to sell and ultimately at a lower price.

Interested in the current value of your home? Click here. Your report will be emailed to you.

Money-Saving Tips For Your Home

According to the Alliance to Save Energy, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency, American consumers and businesses spend some $21 billion annually, on lighting alone, and could cut their costs in half with energy-efficient light bulbs and fixtures while improving the environment. Installing efficient lighting in American homes and businesses would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 140 million tons each year--as much as eliminating all the carbon dioxide produced by the state of New Jersey! Isn't that amazing?

I found a website (sponsored by the EPA and the DOE) that shows how to save money on energy bills by incorporating their energy efficiency suggestions. It's http://hes.lbl.gov.

Whatever stage you are at with your housing needs, I would like to meet you and get to know you and your family. That way you won't be working with a stranger it comes time to make important real estate decisions. Remember, I am here to help! You can give me a call at 800-428-5239 or visit my website, www.HatTeam.com.

What Is Your Home Really Worth?

A new website claims to give the numbers in Montgomery and beyond. Wherever you live in Montgomery, from Midtown to, Lake Jordan, to McLemore, if you plan to buy or sell a home, one of the most important pieces of information you will need is the home's current value in reasonably accurate terms.

Well, Zillow.com is a new national website that purports to be able to tell you that so that you - uh - won't need a Realtor like me. Well, I just read a good post on this by my friend Margaret Rome in Baltimore, Maryland and want to share it with you. It really says it all: "In the last few days, a new Web site launched with great fanfare but spotty performance. When CNN included a story about it on their evening news, the site couldn’t keep up with the hits. Why all the fuss? Zillow promises to give homebuyers and sellers up to date and complete information about the value of their home and comparables in their area.

Some have suggested this will make real estate agents obsolete because people will be able to price their own homes to be competitive. The early returns are that the site’s information is incomplete and sometimes wrong, which makes the suggested price ranges they give hard to justify. In some cases, the range is optimistically high, and for others, I’ve negotiated sales higher than their top amount. The site depends on public records for its data. But public records will not show factors, like recent additions and improvements or the condition of the interior, that affect price. Public records can also be wrong; a friend of mine checked her house and said she wants that fireplace she’s supposed to have, but will not give up the second bathroom they didn’t count. If the information about a house is wrong, how valid is the price estimate? In time, the site will undoubtedly improve, but for now – caution.

There is no question about real estate agents becoming an endangered species because of this or any other site. Price is only one factor in buying or selling your home, and getting to the settlement table means avoiding traps and overcoming obstacles. A top agent will be experienced at: negotiating the terms of your contract, making sure only qualified buyers troop through your home, meeting and dealing with appraisers, and working with home inspectors and title companies to be sure you are protected from start to finish.

Buying or selling a home is an emotionally-charged transaction. Now more than ever it pays to have an experienced professional on your side. Embrace the benefits of new technology, but don’t fall into the trap of believing it will replace market knowledge and personal service.
The end of real estate agents? Not any time soon. Margaret"

Visit Margaret Rome's Blog here.

We are glad to provide you with a complete, accurate home evaluaton. Click here for your no-obligation report.