Americans Migrating West & Southeast

United Van Lines has released its 2006 Migration Study. A strong mobility pattern continued in 2006 as many Americans packed up their belongings and headed to the West and Southeast parts of the country, while the Central Northeast region of the country experienced an increase in residents departing. The statistics are among the findings of United Van Line’s 30th annual “migration” study that tracks where its customers, over the last 12 months, moved from and the most popular destinations. The findings were announced by Carl Walter, vice president of United Van Lines, the nation’s largest household goods mover.

The report shows Alabama (57.5%) experienced its fourth year as a high-inbound location. Many Americans have learned what Alabamans have know all along. Alabama is a great place to live!

If you are interested in Montgomery AL real estate, vist my website to view all real estate listings, get new listing alerts, and learn what makes Montgomery special.

Midtown Montgomery Housing Market Expected to Rise in 2007

"After bottoming in the fourth quarter of 2006, existing-home sales are expected to rise through 2007 and into 2008, while new home sales should turnaround by summer, according to the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors." Is this an accurate forecast for Midtown Montgomery? Let's take a look.

The number of sold single family homes in Midtown Montgomery (Midtown consists of neighborhoods south of I-85 between Exits1 and 6) in December was down 25 percent compared to December 2005. The number of pending listings remained unchanged. December 2005 saw market times of 83 days compared to this December's 103 days, a 24 percent increase.

The average sales price in December increased 16 percent to a price of $148,942.

Now, let's take a look at the year end statistics for Midtown. Sales in 2006 were down from 2005 by 10 percent. A better stat than December's 25 percent, indicating the fourth quarter was not as strong as the beginning of the year.

Market times actually decreased in 2006 from 100 days on the market to 83 days on the market. This is a dramatic and very positive difference from the December figure.
2006 appreciation is 16 percent (same as December), with the average price being $151,018 compared to $129,851 in 2005.


Montgomery remains a strong market and avoided the price decreases experienced throughout much of the country. Based on buyer activity early in January (calls, walk-ins, open house attendance, etc.), 2007 will be a very strong year.

Wondering what prices are doing in your neighborhood? Visit MontgomeryHomeInfo.com. A market evaluation will be emailed to you.

Information is provided by the Montgomery Area Association of Realtors and is deemed accurate but not guaranteed.

Infill Housing in Midtown Montgomery

We are proud to present the January/February 2007 edition of Midtown Living, featuring articles concerning:

• Infill Housing in Midtown
• What's Ahead for 2007
• Predicting Midtown's Future
• Heater Safety Inspections & Guarantees by Hans Heating & Air
• Homes For Sale in Midtown
• and more...

Midtown Montgomery Housing Report

David Lereah, National Association of Realtors chief economist, said a fairly steady pace of home sales can be expected for the next two months. "It's important to focus on where the housing market is now - it appears to be stabilizing, and comparisons with an unsustainable boom mask the fact that home sales remain historically high - they'll stay that way through 2007." he said. "In addition, a temporary correction in prices distracts from the fact that it is primarily the number of homes sales that affects the economy, and the number for this year will be the third highest on record." How do local home sales stack up to this prediction?

The number of sold single family homes in Midtown Montgomery (Midtown consists of neighborhoods south of I-85 between Exits1 and 6) for November is down 11 percent compared to November 2005. The number of pending listings are, also, down by 29 percent. November 2005 saw market times of 115 days compared to this November's 85 days, a 26 percent decrease. A decrease in market times is very unusual in a slower market and is an indication the Midtown market will remain strong. The average sales price has decreased by $1,390 or 1 percent.

When thinking about selling your home, be sure to give us a call. We have the market knowledge and expertise needed to help you price your home correctly thus assuring a successful sale and putting the most money in your pocket.

Information is provided by the Montgomery Area Association of Realtors and is deemed accurate but not guaranteed.

Interest Rates Continue To Fall

Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey reports the average interest rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage to be 6.08 percent for the week ending Dec. 7. This is down from the previous week's 6.14 percent and the lowest rate this year since mid-January.

"Continued signs of slowing in the housing market and weakness in the manufacturing sector helped keep mortgage rates down this week," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist.

Is a new home on your wish list this holiday season? The falling interest rates can help make your wish a reality. Visit MontgomeryAlabamaHomeSearch to view all Montgomery real estate listings. And give us a call. We have the expertise, knowledge and experience to make your new home a reality!

Midtown Montgomery Home Sales Coast Into 2007?

Existing home sales are expected to coast into 2007 at roughly the same level as 2006, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Even though existing home sales are expected to fall 8.6 percent this year, 2006 remains the third-best year on record. What are Midtown Montgomery sales doing?

The number of sold single family homes in Midtown Montgomery (Midtown consists of neighborhoods south of I-85 between Exits1 and 6) for October is down 19 percent compared to October 2005. The number of pending listings are, also, down by 7 percent. October 2005 saw market times of 98 days compared to this October's 72 days, a 27 percent decrease. A decrease in market times is very unusual in a slower market and is an indication the Midtown market will remain strong. The average sales price has increased by $7,892 or 6 percent.

Home prices are continuing to rise, which is good news for Midtown sellers. But, there is more competition for ready, willing and able buyers. Homes must be priced right and in excellent condition to attract today's buyer. Give us a call if you are thinking of selling your home. We have the knowledge, experience and expertise needed to get sellers the highest possible price for their homes.

If you would like to view all Midtown real estate listings, visit MontgomeryAlabamaHomeSearch.

Information is provided by the Montgomery Area Association of Realtors and is deemed accurate but not guaranteed.

Learn About Mold Inspections

Join us for the Montgomery Real Estate Podcast. This month's edition covers Montgomery Real Estate market trends and information buyers need to know concerning mold inspections and air quality.

Features special guest Terri Murphy of US Learning.

Download podcast mp3 file subscribe to podcast feed.

Give us a call if you are interested in selling your home or visit our website, www.HatTeam.com.

Should You Try to Sell Your Home During the Holiday Season?

A common misconception is that trying to sell a home during the holidays is a bad idea. If you are serious about selling, it can be an excellent time to list. During the holidays buyers are more serious. They have a different motivation like using vacation time to search for property. They're doing that because they have to buy, rather than want to buy. Remember Thanksgiving and Christmas is one day a piece not two months.

10 reasons why you should list your home during the holidays

1. Most November and December buyers are particularly serious and very likely facing some sort of deadline.
2. January is the biggest transfer month of the year and job transferees use the holidays to house hunt.
3. Many people want to buy before the end of the year for financial and tax reasons. Investors usually want to close escrow by year-end for tax purposes.
4. Most sellers wait until spring or summer to list their home. This means that during the winter months your property will have far less competition versus any other time of the year.
5. Homes show well when decorated for the holidays creating a sense of family and people are much more emotionally drawn to the house, emotion sells.
6. Many people take vacation around the holidays allowing more time to look for a home.
7. Remodeling, decorating, appliance installation and other services are more available and at less of a premium.
8. There is plenty of mortgage money available for buyers.
9. Lenders aren't as busy and can process loans faster.
10. Showings will be fewer and less intrusive, but more likely to be fruitful with motivated, qualified buyers.

Give us a call if you are interested in selling your home or visit our website, www.HatTeam.com.

10 Mistakes To Avoid When Flipping Property

Your goal may be to build wealth quickly by buying and selling properties. But the reality is that flipping properties is a tough business. Here are 10 mistakes that could turn a flip into a flop.

1. Liar loans. "Lying on a mortgage application is a federal crime," says Joseph Falk of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers. "It includes bank fraud, wire fraud and mail fraud and potentially a host of state offenses. This can result in jail time."

2. Overpaying. No matter how promising the property, the bottom line is trump.

3. Lacking cash. Desperation makes investors do crazy things. When you act in haste, you're more likely to make poor decisions.

4. Quitting your day job. A steady source of cash staves off desperation.

5. Hiring unlicensed contractors. Not only do they present an insurance risk, but worse yet, often they don’t get the job done.

6. Buying sight unseen. You can bet it will be uglier than the seller said it was.

7. Buying property far, far away. Even the tiniest repair can mushroom into a crisis.

8. Buying too many properties too fast. Too much money, too little time.

9. Underestimating remodeling costs. There’s no such thing as a cheap and easy fix.

10. Having a poor exit strategy. Running out of cash and living on credit cards doesn’t work.
Source: USA Today, Noelle Knox (10/23/2006)

If you are thinking of buying Montgomery investment property, visit our website, InvestInMontgomeryAlabama.com.

Midtown Montgomery Real Estate Prices Continue To Rise

Home sales appear to be bottoming out with lower home prices attracting buyers in many areas of the country, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Is this happening with Midtown Montgomery real estate?

The number of sold single family homes in Midtown Montgomery (Midtown consists of neighborhoods south of I-85 between Exits 1 and 6) for September is down 6 percent compared to September 2005. The number of pending listings are, also, down by 15 percent. Whereas, last month (August) there was a 14 percent increase.

During this same time period, there has been a dramatic decrease in market times. September 2005 saw market times of 109 days compared to this September's 90 days, a 17 percent decrease.

The average sales price has decreased by $13,523 or 9 percent. This is the first decrease in the average sales price this year. We have seen a steady increase in prices each month until now. This month's decrease may be an indication that the market is leveling off. Or, it could be a more normal fall market for Midtown when prices soften a bit compared to the previous spring.

It would be easy for buyers to overpay for a Midtown Montgomery home in the current market. We have the experience, market knowledge and negotiation skills needed to get you the best possible deal.

Contact us if you are in the market to buy a home. Also, visit