Archive for the ‘Birmingham New Homes’ Category

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Tuesday, December 21st, 2010

As homebuyers are taking more and more advantage of the low rates and prices of many of the homes for sale in Birmingham, it is important to remember that a new home purchase affects and should involve the entire family.. even the children. Below is an entertaining article from Ashley Alway Braatz at Inman News which talks about a realtor’s first-hand account of a family that made the thought of moving into a new home not only acceptable to young children, but downright enjoyable. Families searching for new homes in the Birmingham area can make the transition to a new life as easy as possible simply by involving the kids and showing them how exciting the home buying process can really be.

Visit Inman.com to read Ashley’s original article:

 

Selling Real Estate to Children – by Ashley Alway Braatz I am one of those girls who secretly loves tabloid fodder. Sure, I may roll my eyes while in line at the grocery store, but as soon as I get to the gym I run over to the magazine rack and steal at least four copies of People for the elliptical. And I'm betting I'm not the only one with TMZ in my "Favorites" bar. Some top producers are reading this now and thinking, "Oh! Well, she doesn't have enough to do, obviously!" But that's not it at all. I have come to discover that checking in on Justin Bieber periodically throughout my day has actually helped me understand my buyers better. Because if you haven't already noticed, buyers are doing things differently these days. My aha moment occurred three weeks ago at Fitness Forever. Under celebrity quips of the day, Katie Holmes was quoted about her apparel choices: "Many times, I'll be getting ready for an event and I'll ask her (Suri, age 4) what she thinks. She goes, 'Definitely those,' and she won't let me leave unless I'm wearing what she wants me to wear. She has great taste and I want to make her happy!" Eureka! We should make the children happy. Now I realize that many Realtors already employ this tactic through the use of coloring books, juice boxes and Barbie Dolls in the backseat. But you are getting it wrong…
 

To read the article in its entirety, visit Inman.com for Ashley’s original post:

Posted in Birmingham New Homes, Buying A Home | Comments Off

Tuesday, December 14th, 2010

Home sales in the Birmingham area, as reported by the Birmingham News, saw a 9% rise in November over October. 616 home sales were reported this November, compared to 563 in October.

When compared to the surge of home sales earlier in the year from the federal tax credit incentive, sales now look slow. There are a few bright spots however when you start to dig. For instance, home prices are on the way back up. According to The Birmingham News on AL.com, November's average sale price rose to $178,808 which is up 4.5% from the same time last year. Median sold price also rose to $152,100 which is a 5% increase from last year.

Brian Sparks of Ingram & Associates, the new president-elect of the Realtors group, was quoted as saying "Hopefully, that trend will continue from month to month." A full upswing of the real estate market will occur one day at a time, month over month, instead of a sudden overnight surge. A positive trend month to month on new homes in Birmingham (as well as pre-owned homes) is exactly what the market needs to be doing right now, and what it needs to continue to do for quite some time.

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Monday, August 30th, 2010

CARDBOARD, BUBBLE WRAP, AND NEWSPAPER.

That’s what I’ve been up to my eyeballs in this past week as we’ve slowly been moving in to our new Birmingham home. It feels really good to finally be using some of our own stuff again instead of squatting at other people’s homes — but it doesn’t make moving any less chaotic.

Post image for An Essential Checklist for Moving in to a New<br /> Home

My husband and I have moved seven times in seven years of marriage. Two of those moves have been major transatlantic moves, hauling our small smattering of earthly possessions 6,000 miles each way. Two others have been cross-country moves, trekking a moving truck 1,000 miles each way. This is simply to say that we’ve been through most everything when it comes to moving.

Yet each time, I forget about those basic things you want to have on hand that first week, when I honestly don’t know where anything is. Every move I make, I’m reminded of that feeling of chaos, of helplessness, of not being able to do the most basic of things (drink of water, anyone?) without certain items within arm’s reach.

So here’s my list of those absolutely essential things you want to have on hand from Day 1 of moving into a new golf resort community. These are the things you’ll want to bring in your first load, and will want to locate easily all throughout the moving process.

 

BASIC TO HUMAN SURVIVAL.



Photo by Pascal

• water — If you can drink water straight out of the faucet, consider yourself blessed. If you need some sort of filtering system to make it palatable, bring a Brita pitcher. If your water is laced with arsenic, as it was in our most recent host country, then find out STAT how to find water you can drink without poisoning yourself.

• cups or bottles for drinking water

• sippy cups for your little ones

• dried snacks that don’t require utensils

• basic food stuffs — bread, peanut butter, apples, nuts, crackers, granola, yogurt, and milk do the trick for our family.

• nonbreakable plates, bowls, and utensils — It’s nice to not worry about storing your regular dishes somewhere where kids can’t accidentally knock them over (and with boxes everywhere, chances are high). Picnicware is great for this.

• napkins

 

SO THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY FUNCTION.



Photo by Linus Bohman

• flashlights

• keys

• cell phones

• a designated spot for flashlights, keys, and cell phones – Amidst the chaos, these things are easily lost. Claim one counter or shelf as the place for all of these things.

• light bulbs

• toilet paper

• money

 

CLEANING SUPPLIES.



Photo by Barret Anspach

• paper towels and/or cloth rags

• all-purpose cleaner*

• glass cleaner*

• floor cleaner*

* Shameless plug — I’ve got homemade recipes for these — and tons more — in my ebook

• bucket

• sponges

• broom

• dustpan

• basic towels for the kitchen

 

IN ORDER TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN YOUR NEW HOME.



Photo by Andy

• bedding for the kids — pillows, blankets, and some sort of pallet (a mattress on the floor, a sleeping bag, whatever). Include their “thing” they have to sleep with, such as a blankie or stuffed animal. It would be a long night without those in our home.

• curtains for the kids’ room — If your kids wake at sunrise, do your best to outfit their room with curtains as soon as possible.

• jammies for the kids

• change of clothes for the kids — Actually, you might want several changes on hand, if you think they may get messy throughout the day.

• favorite toys and books for the kids — Just a few of their best-loved items to keep them occupied and happy.

• nightlights for the kids — If they need them

• bedding for the adults

• jammies for the adults

• one hand towel per bathroom

• one bath towel per person

• basic toiletries — toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap, and the like

I can’t say we’ve remembered all of this ahead of time for this current move of ours, but we’ve done fairly well. If you’ve got a move on the horizon, perhaps this list will get you going for those first few days of “survival mode” in your new Hoover Alabama home.

by Written by Tsh Oxenreider

MORE INFORMATION

Posted in Alabama Home Sales, Birmingham New Homes, Buying A Home, Moving Tips, New Homes Alabama | Comments Off

Monday, July 26th, 2010

Here’s some local chatter about the Ross Bridge community from a local blog…

Q: [I’m] thinking of moving to Ross Bridge. Can anyone tell me more about Ross Bridge in Hoover? It seems like a really pretty place. Will we be too far from stores, etc.? Is the drive to UAB really only 20-25 minutes?

A: It's not bad at all. In fact, 25-minutes feels a bit long to me. Essentially, it's a straight shot up Lakeshore Drive (there's no lake, so go figure) to I-65, then five minutes to the UAB exit. Along the way, there's plenty of shopping, movies, chain restaurants, etc. It's not the entertainment and restaurant district, mind you. But it's pretty convenient area to live from what I know.

Q: I am the wife of the original poster of the question. I'm struggling with the decision of where to buy a house. We like the development at Ross Bridge very much. We hear there is a good community base for newcomers as well. We just worry that we will have to drive 20-min to everything.

A1: my friends that live in Ross Bridge love it. It is a family oriented community. You will get new construction in Ross Bridge for what you will pay for a house built in 1945 in Homewood. The new construction in Homewood begins at 450k plus. There are about 10 new construction houses available in Homewood, but they are in the 550-700k+ range.

A2: Ross Bridge is quite lovely. I would buy there.

A3: A very good friend of mine is one of the primary homebuilders there and his firm has a tremendous reputation. Even in this soft market, Ross Bridge continues to sell very strongly. IMHO, it would be hard to lose out there…

Q: How far is Ross Bridge from the airport? Is it centrally located so you can reach shopping easily? We would probably look at new construction or fairly new houses.

A1: I will reply here on two of your questions as a public service – I will then PM you with the name of the builder.

First – How far is Ross Bridge from the airport? According to Google Maps it is 17.9 miles and approximately 30-minutes. 30-minutes would be right during the mid-day hours and it would stretch to about 45 during rush hours.

Second – Is it centrally located so you can reach shopping easily? Like most cities with population of over 1 million, the 'centrally located' neighborhoods were built decades ago, and this is certainly the case here. To find a home within ten minutes of downtown, you are going to buy one that is between 20-80 years old…but for the most part, they are grand homes – in Homewood, Vestavia and Mountain Brook…BUT – they will be more expensive.

Ross Bridge is exceptionally attractive and selling strongly in a weak market because:

1) It is located in Hoover, which has good government services and schools.
2) It is located in a beautiful valley so from an aesthetic standpoint, it is very, very strong.
3) The homebuilders selected for the development have great reputations.

I will PM you with the name of the builder. I played golf with him yesterday and another man came up and raved about his new house at Ross Bridge…

On the other hand, just because Ross Bridge is not centrally located does not mean you cannot "reach shopping easily". From Ross Bridge:

1) Hit the Galleria in 12-13 minutes – on I-65 South.
2) Hit Brookwood Village in about 8-9 minutes – straight down Lakeshore. No turns…
3) Hit the Summit in about 15 – I-65 to I-459.

Will PM you with builder name. He is sometimes has 'waiting lists' – he is that good.

A2: That's a good response…The only think I would add is that Ross Bridge is also very close to Wildwood, which offers everyday shopping with a Lowe's, Wal-Mart, groceries, shoes, apparel, movie theaters, etc.

A3: Great point…all the day-to-day basics are five minutes away and plenty of them for that matter. It's the higher-end shopping that takes a little longer but still very, very reasonable travel times.

I just love that valley…playing golf on the Ross Bridge Course has so many stunning views…it’s the most expensive on the Trail and jammed. [It’s] that popular.

A4: Bravo did Ross Bridge so much justice with his post. And all I have to add is that it's better than Greystone!

A5:  Well, I think we've done pretty much all we can do except put in an offer for you. No matter how much we rave about Ross Bridge, the decision is ultimately yours.

Posted in Alabama Home Sales, Birmingham New Homes, Buying A Home, New Homes Alabama | Comments Off

Tuesday, June 29th, 2010

Alabama home sales rose in May, despite a dip in the national numbers.

Homes sold across the state totaled 4,082 last month, a 6.5 percent rise from April and a 23 percent jump from May 2009, the Alabama Center for Real Estate at the University of Alabama said today.

So far this year, state home sales are tracking 15 percent ahead of 2009.

The median selling price was $127,454, an 8 percent increase from April, while the average selling price of $148,049 was a 6 percent improvement. Compared to the year-ago period, however, both prices were essentially flat.

In metro Birmingham, 1,120 homes were sold in May, rising 5.6 percent from April and 17 percent from a year ago.

Earlier today, the National Association of Realtors said sales of previously occupied homes dipped 2.2 percent from April to May, suggesting that the boost from federal tax credits for home buyers is waning.

To obtain the credits, contracts had to be written by April 30, but closings are not required until June 30. That means some areas may continue to feel the effects of the incentives.

By Dawn Kent, Birmingham News
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Posted in Alabama Home Sales, Birmingham New Homes, Buying A Home, New Homes Alabama | Comments Off

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

If you're like most first-time home buyers, you've probably listened to friends', family's and coworkers' advice, many of whom are encouraging you to buy a home. However, you may still wonder if buying a home is the right thing to do. Relax. Having reservations is normal. The more you know about why you should buy a home, the less scary the entire process will appear to you. Here are eight good reasons why you should buy a home.

Pride of Ownership

Pride of ownership is the number one reason why people yearn to own their home. It means you can paint the walls any color you desire, turn up the volume on your CD player, attach permanent fixtures and decorate your home according to your own taste. Home ownership gives you and your family a sense of stability and security. It's making an investment in your future.

Appreciation

Although real estate moves in cycles, sometimes up, sometimes down, over the years, real estate has consistently appreciated. The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight tracks the movements of single family home values across the country. Its House Price Index breaks down the changes by region and metropolitan area. Many people view their home investment as a hedge against inflation.

Mortgage Interest Deductions

Home ownership is a superb tax shelter and our tax rates favor homeowners. As long as your mortgage balance is smaller than the price of your home, mortgage interest is fully deductible on your tax return. Interest is the largest component of your mortgage payment.

Property Tax Deductions

IRS Publication 530 contains tax information for first-time home buyers. Real estate property taxes paid for a first home and a vacation home are fully deductible for income tax purposes. While property taxes are collected at the local level, by counties, cities and towns, the rate is capped by the state government, meaning that the local government cannot exceed the maximum. This also means that rates will vary by location, so do your research first to find the lowest rates in the state. Remember, though, that property taxes are the primary means of generating revenue for local use, with much of it going towards education, roads and often emergency services.

Some of the highest state taxes in the country are located in the Northeast, such as New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Lowest rates belong to the Southern states which include Arkansas, Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama and Louisiana. Again, for more information on your particular state, go to the official government page found here. Most states do have property tax relief programs in place for those who are struggling to keep up.

Again, programs vary from state to state, so it's worth looking into if you think you may qualify for assistance, credit or a rebate. Read the article, "State Tax – How much will I have to pay if I move to another state?" for more state tax information.

Capital Gain Exclusion

As long as you have lived in your home for two of the past five years, you can exclude up to $250,000 for an individual or $500,000 for a married couple of profit from capital gains. You do not have to buy a replacement home or move up. There is no age restriction, and the "over-55" rule does not apply. You can exclude the above thresholds from taxes every 24 months, which means you could sell every two years and pocket your profit–subject to limitation–free from taxation.

Preferential Tax Treatment

If you receive more profit than the allowable exclusion upon sale of your home, that profit will be considered a capital asset as long as you owned your home for more than one year. Capital assets receive preferential tax treatment.

Morgage Reduction Builds Equity

Each month, part of your monthly payment is applied to the principal balance of your loan, which reduces your obligation. The way amortization works, the principal portion of your principal and interest payment increases slightly every month. It is lowest on your first payment and highest on your last payment. On average, each $100,000 of a mortgage will reduce in balance the first year by about $500 in principal, bringing that balance at the end of your first 12 months to $99,500.

Equity Loans

Consumers who carry credit card balances cannot deduct the interest paid, which can cost as much as 18% to 22%. Equity loan interest is often much less and it is deductible. For many home owners, it makes sense to pay off this kind of debt with a home equity loan. Consumers can borrow against a home's equity for a variety of reasons such as home improvement, college, medical or starting a new business. Some state laws restrict home equity loans.

By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Posted in Birmingham New Homes, Buying A Home, New Homes Alabama | Comments Off

Friday, June 4th, 2010

As real estate conditions continue to improve nationwide, a few simple signs give proof that the worst may be behind the Birmingham new homes market. Below, Jeff Clabaugh, with the Birmingham Business Journal writes about current mortgage rates and credit conditions:

The residential real estate industry is counting on low mortgage rates to stimulate sales, but long-term borrowing costs inched up this week, according to Freddie Mac.

Freddie Mac (NYSE: FRE) says a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.79 percent in the week ending June 3, up from 4.78 percent last week, just above the lowest levels of the year.

A 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.2 percent, the lowest since Freddie Mac began tracking 15-year mortgages in 1991.

A one-year adjustable-rate mortgage was unchanged at 3.95 percent, considerably lower than the 4.81 percent one-year ARMS were averaging a year ago.

“There are also signs that credit conditions may be improving,” said Freddie Mac chief economist Frank Nothaft. “The number of homeowners with private mortgage insurance who became current on their mortgages outnumbered those who defaulted for the third month in a row in April, according to the Mortgage Insurance Companies of America.”

Pending sales of existing homes in April rose 6 percent, the third straight monthly increase, reaching the highest levels in six months, the National Association of Realtors reported this week.

The homebuyer tax credit expired at the end of April, leaving low mortgage rates as the main incentive for buyers entering the market.

Posted in Birmingham New Homes, Financial News, Mortgage/Financing News | Comments Off

Monday, May 24th, 2010

Please join BHRA (Basket Hound Rescue of Alabama) and many other vendors on June 5, 2010 from 8:00 am until noon on the green at the Ross Bridge Welcome Center near the Renaissance Ross Bridge Hotel and Spa. Come out and show your support for BHRA, bring your special hound, and enjoy a great morning out! We will even have a few available hounds on hand that day for you to meet!

Ross Bridge, Birmingham Alabama's hottest selling new home community is proud to support man's best friend with their annual Barkit Market. Bring your four-legged best friend and family for a special day at Ross Bridge.

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Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

The new home community of Ross Bridge is once again hosting one of the area's largest community yard sales Saturday, May 8th from 8am to 5pm  on the green in front of the Ross Bridge Welcome Center. The sales will feature 100 vendors selling everything from antiques, children’s clothes, furniture, arts & crafts and so much more.

There will be plenty of great activities for the kids including a bounce house, face painting and supervised crafts

“Hand Made & Home Grown” will provide breakfast, lunch and snack items available for sale.

Hundreds of people enjoyed amazing shopping value at last years event. This year promises to be even bigger. Don't miss it!

Ross Bridge Welcome Center Green

Saturday, May 8th from 8am – 5pm

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Friday, April 2nd, 2010

Once again Ross Bridge will be a feature in this years Parade of Homes. Beginning Friday, April 16th and running through Sunday, April 25th, the new home community of Ross Bridge will showcase 13 homes available for you to tour throughout our distinctive neighborhoods. Hours are 10am to 6pm Monday through Saturday and 1pm to 6pm Sundays.

Come out and discover why Ross Bridge is Birmingham's hottest selling new home community.

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