May 14: 80’s Concert with the Cast of The Wedding Singer

Still living in the 80’s? Don’t worry, we are too, especially with this fantastic musical event that will turn any boring ‘ol Tuesday evening into a magical flashback. Join the Red Mountain Theatre Company as they perform a cabaret concert featuring your favorite 80’s classics.

Tuesday, May 14 at 7:30 pm

RMTC Cabaret Theatre

301 19^th Street North

Birmingham, AL

For additional information and to purchase tickets, click here.

May 18: Spring Scramble 2013

Lace up those sneakers and run for not only your health, but to help the Children’s Center for Weight Management. The UAB Pediatrics Residency Program, through their Community, Outreach and Advocacy Program (Coat of Arms), hosts the 7^th Annual Spring Scramble 5K.

May 18 at 8 am

The Trak Shak

2839 18^th Street South

Homewood, AL 35209

For additional information and to register, click here.

May 18: Do Dah Day

This Saturday spend time with your family and friends at one of Birmingham’s oldest events! The Do Dah Day was first started in 1979 by a small group of friends. Today it’s one of the city’s most cherished springtime events raising money for a variety of animal organizations such as the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and the Friends of Cats and Dogs Foundation. This event is the perfect excuse to bring your favorite pooch and enjoy an afternoon of live music, food and drinks, kids activities and even a parade full of puppies!

Saturday, May 18 at 11:00 am

Caldwell Park

26^th Street South & Highland Avenue

Birmingham, AL

For additional information, click here.

May 19: Wonderful Wetlands Hike

Celebrate American Wetlands Month by exploring Ruffner’s wetlands! Venture over to the Ruffner Mountain Nature Center and spend the day observing life both in and out of the wetlands. Enjoy the local wildlife of green tree frogs, spotted newts and a variety of beautiful birds.

Sunday, May 19 from 2-4 pm

Ruffner Mountain Nature Center

1214 81st Street South

Birmingham, AL

For additional information and to make a reservation, click here.

May 19: 22^nd Annual Arty Party

Enjoy a variety of delicious hors d’oeuvres, wine and live art auction at the annual Arty Party, benefiting the Birmingham AIDS Outreach. This annual event will feature artist Carol Misner. There will also be cash bar and plenty of local, regional and national art to bid on during both silent and live auctions.

May 19 at 3 pm

B&A Warehouse

1531 1^st Avenue South

Birmingham, AL

For additional information and to purchase tickets, click here.

May 24-27: Memorial Day Weekend at The Zoo

Here’s a fantastic excuse to spend the day playing with some furry creatures. The Birmingham Zoo will celebrate Memorial Day weekend by offering all active, disabled and retired military personnel and their dependents the chance to enjoy free admission with proof of military I.D.

Friday, May 24 from 9-7 pm

Saturday, May 25 from 9-7 pm

Sunday, May 26 from 9-7 pm

Monday, May 27 from 9-7 pm

Birmingham Zoo

2630 Cahaba Road

Birmingham, AL

For additional information and to purchase tickets, click here.

Since February 2012, new home sales have grown 24.8% and 18% year-to-date—outperforming the nation which saw an increase of 12.3% in February 2013 from 2012. Across the state, 60% of all Alabama metro areas saw an increase in new home sales this past February, as compared to a year prior in 2012. New home sales in five of the major metro markets represented almost 70% of all statewide new home sales transactions.

Prices also showed signs of positive changes for the Birmingham real estate market. The average sold price in March was up 10% from last year with a 6.4% increase in the median sold price.

Birmingham’s city offerings have lead to an overall growing population. The tight-knit urban neighborhoods offer lots of shopping and entertainment options within walking distance of themselves. Statewide, new construction inventory is up 6% since last February 2012 and home builders in the state are continually increasing production to match demand. New housing starts were up 7.7% in February 2013, compared to the month prior, and 12.4% since 2012.

The number of residents in downtown Birmingham has increased by 23% over the last decade. Since 2012 even office space has increased and various city improvements have been initiated such as the new stadium for minor league baseball team, Birmingham Barons, as well as the green space by the rail corridor.

Sources: Birmingham Association of Realtors, Alabama Center for Real Estate (ACRE), US Census Bureau

This past month, Birmingham made the list as one of the 274 metros newly listed in March. The addition of the 200+ metropolitan areas creates a net gain of 15 markets across all 50 states and DC, from the month prior. In February, Birmingham metro area reported a rise 2.8% increase in residential sales and in January it experienced a 10.5% gain in new home sales. This is a 14.3% increase from new home sales in 2012.

“The Birmingham housing market has experienced a steady increase in the number of new homes under construction with decreasing inventory of finished unoccupied homes. These numbers prove that we have reached a stead recover,” said Matt Morrow, Executive Vice President of the Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders (GBAHB).

NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe reports that “with just over 75% of the 361 metro covered by the IMI now seen as improving, the housing market is on considerably more solid footing than it was at this time last year.”

This listing is published monthly by the NAHB and features metropolitan areas that have shown improvements in economic health. The IMI tracks housing markets in the country, showing improvements in economic health. The index measure three sets of monthly data, gathered independently, to get a mark on the top improving Metropolitan Statistical Areas.

For more information, visit: nahb.org/imi

If you’re selling a home, in order to purchase your new home at Ross Bridge, you can add the price of materials and labor—used for home improvements such as plumbing, wiring or a new roof—to the basis of your home, thus reducing the tax owed on the sale of your home.

Don’t forget about the best tax deduction of all! If you just purchased a wonderful new home here at Ross Bridge, you can deduct your real estate taxes, qualifying mortgage interest, and any mortgage interest premiums.

When you purchased your new home, chance are you are paying some type of Private Mortgage Insurance, if your down payment was less than 20%. As long as your mortgage originated after January 1, 2007, your PMI can be deducted from your tax return, assuming of course that you have a PMI.

If you paid mortgage points on your home purchase or home refinance, those points may be eligible for deduction on your tax return too. These points are generally referred to as origination fees and are charged by the lender to originate the loan. The points are often a percentage-based fee and can usually be deducted in their entirety when paid the same year.

Love working at your desk in your pajamas? If your primary office is your home, you might be able to deduct your home office. It should be calculated as a percentage of your mortgage, utilities and repair bills in proportion to your office space in your home.

For more information, check out Realtor.com and the IRS website for specifics. (IRS LINK: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p530.pdf)

The new season is all about renewal and rebirth, life and growth. To help ensure you kick off spring the proper way, we’ve prepared a list of ways that our beautiful Birmingham new homes community ensures you fully delight in the joys of the new season.

It starts with renewal

Schedule a session of pampering at our luxury resort spa. Nothing says renewal and relaxation like an afternoon spent with one of our spa treatments or in one of our relaxation lounges and steam rooms. To really prepare for the warm weather, we recommend adding in a refreshing facial, body exfoliation or pedicure.

Embrace the green

What better way to embrace the joys of the new warm weather season then with a round of golf! Get outside and fully rejoice in the blooming buds and spring green trees that make our Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail golf course the ideal place to practice your swing.

Get moving

If you made a pack this New Years to get healthy, then get moving! Take your run from the treadmill to the trails. Looking for something with a little less impact? Embrace our nature trails with a brisk stroll or power walk and breath in the fresh air for a rejuvenating experience that’s sure to keep you on the right course for a healthy and happy 2013.

Compared to last February 2012, residential sales this past month improved by 12.6 percent overall in Alabama, outperforming the overall US market which rose 10.2 percent. This growth affirms that a healthy recovery is underway in the housing market, specifically in Alabama.

According to the National Association of REALTORS, February sales were at their highest level since the tax credit period of November 2009. The Alabama metro market has risen 11 percent YTD over last year and statewide residential sales are up 16.4 percent from January with the median selling price for homes rising 8.4 percent from last February.

“Across the nation, most local housing markets have room for sustainable growth, particularly in home construction and sales. As the broader economy heals, expect to see more good news with home prices continuing their recent upward trend, and home sales and housing starts continuing to post strong growth rates,” said Freddie Mac vice president & chief economist, Frank Nothalt.

Sales in the South and West both performed positively in February, compared to February 2012, but all four regions of the US reveal overall annual growth compared to last year. Specifically in the southern regions, sales rose 14.9 percent from February 2012. Of those sales, 22 percent were comprised of nationwide investors, 32 percent represented all-cash sales and 30 percent were made up of first-time home buyers. The average days on market decreased by 5.5 percent in February.

“Job growth in the improving economy and pent-up demand are causing both home sales and rental leasing to rise. Though home prices are rising much faster than rents, historically low mortgage rates are still making home purchases affordable,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. “The only headwinds are limited housing inventory, which varies greatly around the country, and credit conditions that remain too restrictive.”

The Alabama Residential Monthly Report is developed in conjunction with the Alabama Association of REALTORS and local associations. For additional information visit, acre.cba.ua.edu.

Whether you’re looking to start a family, expand your family, or just incorporate a little more leisure into your lifestyle, golf communities are a popular choice for all interests and ages.

Love Golfing?

There are many reasons to consider buying a home in a resort community and if you enjoy golfing than all the more reason to consider buying in Alabama. The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is made up of 468 holes of championship golf—the largest golf course construction ever!

Golf resort communities in Alabama, specifically here at Ross Bridge, offer unbeatable access to one of the 11 different Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail sites across the state. The New York Times calls the Trail “some of the best public golf on Earth.”

Golf Not Your Thing?

That’s ok too. Many resort communities boast a variety of social activities and living amenities. Ross Bridge, for instance, provides residents with events year-round, such as Farmers’ Markets and seasonal festivities. You don’t need to be an avid golf enthusiast to enjoy our signature pool, 12,000-square foot European spa and over five miles of activity trails for hikers, cyclists and bird watchers.

Resort communities are great for young families. Between the grassy lawns, playground, clubhouse, and aquatic center with separate baby pools, it’s almost impossible not to love the golf resort-lifestyle!

Everyday or Every Season?

Perhaps you’re looking for your first home, second home, or maybe just considering a regular vacation spot. A golf resort community can offer a variety of real estate options with you in mind. The first time buyer benefits from the security of a community setting, but prides in the independence of a spacious stand-alone home.

Young families can take advantage of the “front porch-friendly” neighborhoods, playgrounds, kiddie pools, seasonal clubhouse gatherings, and plenty of outdoor space. Older families and retired couples can revel in social activities with friends and neighbors and delight in the spa and golf amenities.

Seasonal and weekend “residents” can take full advantage of the resort appeal with familiar faces and reliable features. Golf resort communities truly capture the essence of life and play, while remembering that the vacation isn’t just about the golf. Although, being so close to the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, it’s ok if it is!

Hoover City Schools is one of three Alabama schools to receive this national distinction. There were 307 total districts selected this year, including two schools from the neighboring communities of Homewood and Vestavia Hills, which was also one of the 66 recipients selected for the 2013 SupportMusic Merit Award.

Schools and districts are selected based on an extensive review conducted by researchers at The Institute for Educational Research and Public Service at The University of Kansas, using details on music program funding, staffing, commitment to standards and access to music instruction in the school.

“This designation recognizes communities for their commitment to music education and strengthens support for these programs. Having widely embraced the evidence indicating that music education yields great things in schools and communities, people are increasingly affirmative, advocating for school music curricula, and championing programs like Best Communities that recognize this commitment to music education,” said Mary Luehrsen, NAAM Foundation Executive Director.

Music plays a key role in student achievement, which has social benefits and a lasting impact on the local community. This distinction reveals Hoover’s continued support for the arts and providing its community with a focus on music learning that starts at an early age.

“The designation reveals the elements of music programs so educators, administrators, teachers and students can see what they have, what they need, what they have accomplished, and what work needs to be done to strengthen their music education now and for the future,” Luehrsen said.

The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit organization with the mission of advancing active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs from the international music products industry. For more information about the NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org.

Although typically one of the slower parts of the year, January has kept up the momentum of the improving housing market with average home values seeing an increase of 0.7% compared to the month before according to Zillow.com. At an average of $158,100 the average home value is improved by just over 6% compared to January of last year.

This is great news as it continues the 15-month streak of rising home values in the United States and brings hope for the new year. Alabama home sales are predicted to see a 6 percent increase according to ABRE Analytics which is an Alabama real estate research group formed by the Alabama Center for Real Estate (ACRE) and Tom Brander, a well known real estate publisher. The organization predicts Birmingham home sales will see an 8 percent jump compared to 2012.

Lawrence Yun, a chief economist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR) was reported by Realtor.org to state that the key to the 2013 housing market is the diminishing housing inventory across the nation. Yun believes the improving job market combined with the fact that we are in a buyer’s market will cause a spike in demand. He believes it’s why we have seen, and will continue to see favorable price increases.

According to Realtor.org the NAR is predicting 5 million existing-home sales in total for 2013. However, home sales will take a back seat to rising home prices due to the low inventory and ever increasing demand, which is great news for sellers and the general health of the housing market. The NAR predicts home prices to jump nearly 6 percent.

Other experts agree with this observation with USA Today predicting a 6 percent increase in home prices as well. Other forecasts are more conservative, but still positive. After surveying a sample of just over 100 real estate experts, CoreLogic predicts an increase of just over 3 percent, almost half what Realtor.org and USA Today have projected.

Although the exact numbers vary, it seems analysts across the board are predicting continued improvement and rising prices in the housing market for 2013. Daniel Silver, an economist for JP Morgan was reported by Bloomberg to warn potential homebuyers who are waiting for the market to hit the low point to buy now. A market that once heavily favored buyers is steadily tipping toward the sellers favor.

The trend continues this year with January home sales beating out January 2012 by a significant margin of 15%, another great indicator that the market in Birmingham is continuing the steady uphill growth observed this past year.

The performance of new home sales in the state received a promising boost in 2012 as Alabama new home sales were up 7.2% over 2011 according to data found by the Alabama Center for Real Estate (ACRE). Out of all the metro areas in the state of Alabama, 80% saw an increase in new home sales in 2012 compared to the sales in 2011.

Alabama new homebuilders continue to increase production to keep up with steadily rising demands of new homebuyers. The ACRE states that the new construction inventory is up by 7.3% in the state from last December.

Another promising sign of new home growth is the 19.3% increase in Alabama building permits from December 2011 to December 2012. Permits overall were up 8.4% in 2012 over 2011 which indicates the confidence builders have in the continued demand of new homes for sale in Alabama.

The entire metro area is seeing increased sales with the strongest markets being in the southern region including Hoover, Alabama homes. The state of Alabama saw a 6% increase in home sales in 2012 over 2011 and the Nation as a whole is predicted to see an 8% increase in home sales.

Out of the 25 local housing markets in the State 18 were reported to have year-over-year sales growths for 2012, which is great news for both consumers and the real estate community in Alabama as demand and value continue to rise. The home inventory for this past December has seen an 8% decrease from a year ago indicating an increase in demand.

After seeing a steady drop in home prices since 2006, when the average price of a home in the Birmingham real estate market was almost at the $200,000 mark, the market is now seeing a steady increase. The average price of a Birmingham home for sale in 2012 was up to $181,797.00. With metrics pointing toward steady growth, many experts are optimistic about the coming year.