Huntsville Home Buyer Questions: Consumer Real Estate Tips!!

Huntsville Home Buyer Questions:  Consumer Real Estate Tips!!

Huntsville Real Estate Blog

Whenever I get questions from consumers I always come back and try to share with others.  I had a situation with a potential buyer and a mortgage officer that I wanted to share with you all.  I decided this would be good to share for those interested in buying a home, not only in Huntsville, but any where.  This post will address the subject of debt-to-income ratios.  A common term that many may not be completely familiar with the definition and significance in the home buying process.

Debt-to-Income Ratio

Do you understand the term “debt-to-income ratio”?  Hopefully this will shed more light on this term:

Well, this is a comparison of your gross monthly income (before tax income) with the amount of your monthly debt.  Your monthly costs can include things like your housing, car payments, credit cards, student loans, installment debt, etc.  This total is weighed in ratio with the amount of gross income you receive monthly.  This is a very important aspect of your approval to purchase a new home.  So just in case you’re wondering what’s the big deal?… here is a real life application!

The problem we ran into on a recent transaction was the buyer went to a mortgage professional and got pre-approved for a mortgage for a certain amount.  We look for months for “the perfect house” and we finally find one that seem to fit the bill.  So we go back to the mortgage professional and let them know that we are ready to move forward and make an offer.   To make a long story short, this buyer “forgot” to tell me and the mortgage professional that they went out and got a new car.  However, this showed up on a subsequent credit report that the mortgage professional pulled for the buyers.

Normally I would be really happy for someone to get a new car that they had been wanting… this time the problem is that this new car payment just increased their debt-to-income ratio.  Now they are no longer qualified for this new house that they now love because the car payment raised the debt-to-income ratio to a point that it lowered the amount for which they qualify for the new home. 

The jury is still out on how this situation will end but I think its important to consider the big picture.    The problem is that mortgage guidelines have strict rules that could affect your approval even if you think you are able to afford the car payment and the new house payment.  A home purchase is probably one of the most important decisions that you could make.  It is an asset that could really make a difference in your financial future.  Each situation is different and there is not always an easy answer to this dilemna but I normally advise getting the home purchase out of the way and then make any other purchases as you can afford.  I hope this was helpful. 

If you are considering making some new purchases including a new house, give our team a call and let us help you develop a plan to accomplish your goals.

 

Kimberly Grant
Realtor, Exit Leon Crawford Realty
Search Huntsville Homes for Sale

Huntsville Home Sales: March 2008

Huntsville Alabama Real Estate Blog: March 2008 Huntsville Homes Sales

Its been another great month in the Huntsville area in the real estate market.  There were 170 homes sold this month.  Average selling price of homes in the Huntsville area was $204,375.  The median selling price for March 2008 was $149,900.   As of last month, the average days on the market for the Huntsville Alabama real estate market was 114 days!!  That is just FANTASTIC!!!

Below is a breakdown of the home sales in Huntsville for March 2008 by property type.  By far, existing homes were the largest category of sales in the Huntsville area. 

Here you can see the price range of the sales for the Huntsville area.  I think Huntsville is a very unique area in the distribution of prices for homes in our area.  The largest number of sales of Huntsville homes was in the price range of $200,000 and higher.  This was followed closely by the home sales in the range of $99,999 and under.

Currently there are 1328 homes on the market in the Huntsville area.  These include existing homes, new construction, and condos.  Feel free to use any of our resources if you would like to view our local homes for sale, receive a list of foreclosures in our area, or would like an estimate of how much your home could sale for in our current market.  We would be happy to work with you to buy or sell your next Huntsville home.  We would love to hear from you and we are just a phone call or email away!!

    

 

Kimberly Grant
Realtor, Exit Leon Crawford Realty
Search Huntsville Homes for Sale

Huntsville Pilgrimage Home Tour

Huntsville Pilgrimage Home Tour

In case you are looking for a good activity for the weekend coming up, here is one that might interest you.  If you love homes like I do then I might have just the activity for you.  I may be biased but I happen to think that Huntsville has some of the most beautiful homes in the world.  If you don’t believe me just check out some of those gorgeous homes in the historic district.   

If you have not had a chance to see some of these homes before, NOW’S YOUR CHANCE.  On Saturday May 3, 2008 the Huntsville Home Pilgrimage Home Tour is back.  It will be from 10am to 4pm.  Tickets are $15 and $20.  They can be purchased from places like Belk, Railroad Station Antique Mall, and Harrison Brothers.  Box lunches will also be available at the Church of the Nativity downtown. 

It will be a good chance to view some of the history of Huntsville and see some beautiful old homes at the same time.  If you are worried about the weather, most of the walk will be shaded through the streets where the homes are located.  I invite you to check it out!!  If you go, be sure to send me some great photos and I’ll be sure to include them in my Huntsville Real Estate Blog!!
 

 

Kimberly Grant
Realtor, Exit Leon Crawford Realty
Search Huntsville Homes for Sale

Huntsville Alabama Activities & Events

Huntsville Alabama Activites & Events: Always Plenty to Do!!!

Huntsville/Madison AL Real Estate Blog

Are you looking for fun things to do around the Huntsville area?  I always keep my eyes open for new ideas to share with the readers of my real estate blog.  Yes, sometimes I veer away from topics of Huntsville real estate but I believe that the great city of Huntsville is more than just houses being bought and sold.  Therefore, I try to share things about our city because I have found that to be an important consideration when planning a move to a new city. 

I came across some upcoming Huntsville events and OF COURSE I wanted to share it with you.  One of the great things I love about our city is the diversity of culture and enrichment activities in our area. 

 

Do you want to get your feet moving this week.  If so, the Kinesthetic Cue Dance Club is hosting a FREE Salsa Social.  You can learn with no experience or partner necessary.  It will be held at 8006 Old Madison Pike from 8:00pm to 10:00pm on April 29^th.
On May 1^st, the Huntsville Museum of Art is hosting the “Art After Hours” event.  It will be held from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.  There will be free refreshments, free wine, an artist’s marketplace, a raffle, and a museum clearance sale.  The event is free to museum members and there is a request of $5.00 donation for guests.

Use those new salsa skills at a party on May 2^nd at the Princess Theatre in Decatur.  There will be hors d’oeuvres and wine tasting.  Reservations are $65 and proceeds benefit the cinema.

If you would rather enjoy the weather and beauty of Huntsville, there will be an outdoor concert with the Rocket City Brass on May 2^nd.  It begins at 7:00pm at the Huntsville Botanical Garden.

How about a night at the symphony?  The Huntsville Symphony Orchestra has another installment of the Pop Three series entitled Fantasies and Fairy Tales – Star Wars to Disney.  It will be in the Von Braun Center Concert Hall on Saturday May 10^th starting at 7:30pm.  Joseph Lee is the conductor and the featured vocalist is soprano Jodi Benson who is known for the voice of Ariel in the Little Mermaid!  This is definitely on my to-do list!

Now that you know about these great events you have no excuse that you have “nothing to do” in the upcoming week.  These should both prove to be wonderful events for family and friends.  As always, if you attend any of these fun events in the Huntsville and Madison County area please come back to my real estate blog to comment or share photos with us all!!

 

Kimberly Grant
Associate Broker, Exit Leon Crawford Realty
Search Huntsville Homes for Sale

www.KimberlyGrant.info

Homes for Sale Huntsville Alabama

Homes for Sale Huntsville Alabama 
Submitted by: Kimberly Grant, Huntsville Real Estate Agent
Huntsville/Madison AL Real Estate Blog

August 2007 has almost come and gone.  We are currently over half way through the month.  I decided to take a quick look to see how we are doing this year in Huntsville Alabama.  Can you believe from January 1, 2007 to August 15, 2007 that there have been 1,996 homes sold in Huntsville Alabama?  The homes sold in Huntsville this year so far amount to over $371 million!

AREA

# OF SALES

TOTAL SALES ($)

AVG SALES PRICE

% OF LIST PRICE

AVG DOM

CURRENT # HOMES FOR SALE

As you can see, the average sales prices and average days on the market (DOM) vary depending on the area of Huntsville.  Currently there are a number of Huntsville homes for sale in our area.  Each area of the city have a number of homes on the market that may be the one for you if you are in the market for a new home.

If you are interested in viewing pictures and descriptions of Huntsville homes for sale, you can Search Huntsville MLS here and now! 

Thinking of building your own home, you can also search for Huntsville land for sale too!

 

Kimberly Grant
Realtor, Exit Leon Crawford Realty 
View Huntsville Foreclosures

Huntsville Real Estate Market Report

Huntsville June Real Estate Summary and Current Market Conditions 
Submitted by: Kimberly Grant, Huntsville Real Estate Agent

WOW is all I can say!!  It seems like just yesterday I was posting a farewell to May and giving a big hello to June.  Now June has come and gone and we are into July and the year is half over.  I can hardly believe it. 

Here we are ready to recap our Huntsville statistics for the month of June as of today July 5, 2007.  I am very excited to report that there were 320 homes sold in Huntsville during June!!!  This was the majority of the 617 homes sold in Madison County last month.  There are some parts of the country that are really experiencing sluggish market conditions right now but Huntsville has kept a steady pace.  We are above the 299 homes sold last month and we have also seen an increase from the 309 homes sold this month last year.

Huntsville saw an increase in the number of homes sold in each area of the city in the last month.  The sold homes of Huntsville can be broken down into the following areas:

• Northwest Huntsville: 61 sold homes
• Northeast Huntsville: 31 sold homes
• Southwest Huntsville: 96 sold homes
• Southeast Huntsville: 75 sold homes
• East Huntsville: 57 sold homes 

The average number of days on the market for Huntsville for the month of June was 67 days.  This is slightly lower than last month when the average time on the market was running at about 73 days.  The average price of sold homes in Huntsville for June was $203,731 and the median price was $162,000.

I am excited as we prepare for another summer season in Huntsville.  The Huntsville real estate market is very dynamic and it is being watched by observers across the country.  I think we live in one of the best cities in the nation for a number of reasons and the current state of our real estate market is one of them.

Currently there are about 1,100 Huntsville Homes for Sale.  If you are interested in buying, selling, or investing in Huntsville real estate, please feel free to utilize any of the following links:

• Find out how much your home is worth: Free Market Evaluation  
• Thinking of trying to sell your own home: Huntsville FSBO 
• Find out how much you can afford: Mortgage Calculators 
• Find out about great home deals: Huntsville Foreclosures

As always, you are welcome to contact me with any questions or if you need assistance with your real estate needs.  Just give me a call and experience Exceptional Service GUARANTEED!

Kimberly Grant
Realtor, Exit Leon Crawford Realty
Mailto:KimberlyGrant@exitrealtyhsv.com

Tips on Saving Water

Huntsville Home Owners — Tips to Save Water
Submitted by: Kimberly Grant, Huntsville Real Estate Agent
Huntsville/Madison AL Real Estate Blog

As many of you know, in the midst of drought and all that is going on in our area, Huntsville Utilities has been encouraging local residents to try to be conservative in our water and utility usage.  We have been getting an increase in rain lately but we are still far below where we should be at this point in the year.  Huntsville Utilities has been encouraging Huntsville residents to conserve water so that our water usage will not have to be restricted.  I have been encouraging you to try to save in any way you can.  I tried to find a way to see how I can help spread the word about water conservation.  I have found these tips on how we can save water during the drought.

INSIDE WATER SAVING TIPS

1. Check all toilets for leaks. Leaks into the overflow pipe and through the flush valve are the most common and wasteful.
2. Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers.
3. Don’t let water run continuously while shaving or washing your face. Brush your teeth first while waiting for water to get hot, then wash or shave after filling the basin.
4. Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other such waste in the trash rather than the toilet.
5. Install energy efficient shower heads. You will save on energy, water and sewer bills if the new shower head reduces the flow to less than two gallons per minute.
6. Install aerators with flow restrictors on faucets. New replacement faucets should have aerators and flow restrictors built-in.
7. Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded or properly set the water level for the size of the load you are washing.
8. Hand wash dishes wisely. Wash dishes in soapy water in one sink and rinse in clear water in the other sink.
9. Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting the tap run every time you want a cool glass of water.
10. Insulate water pipes. You will get hot water faster plus avoid wasting water while it heats up.

OUTSIDE WATER SAVING TIPS

1. Don’t over water your lawn. Generally, lawns only need watering every 5 to 7 days in the summer and every 10 to 14 days in the winter.
2. Water lawns during the early morning hours when temperatures and wind speed are the lowest. This reduces loss from evaporation.
3. Position sprinklers so that the water lands on the lawn and shrubs, not on the street, driveway or sidewalk.
4. Install sprinklers that are the most water-efficient for each use. Micro and drip irrigation and soaker hoses are examples of water-efficient methods of irrigation.
5. Regularly check sprinkler systems and timing devices to be sure they are operating properly.
6. Avoid overfertilizing the lawn. The application of fertilizers increases the need for water. Apply fertilizers that contain slow-release, water-insoluble forms of nitrogen.
7. Mulch to retain moisture in the soil. Mulching also helps to control weeds that compete with plants for water.
8. Raise the lawn mower blade to at least three inches. A lawn cut higher encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and holds soil moisture better than a closely clipped lawn.
9. Use a broom to clean driveway or sidewalks. Using a hose to clean a driveway can waste hundreds of gallons of water.
10. Outfit the hose with a shut-off nozzle which can be adjusted down to a fine spray so that water flows only as needed. When finished, turn it off at the faucet instead of at the nozzle to avoid leaks.
11. Use hose washers between spigots and water hoses to avoid leaks.
12. Do not leave sprinklers or hoses unattended.
13. Check all hoses, connectors and spigots regularly.

I hope these tips have been helpful for you.  During the time of water conservation, Huntsville’s Director of Landscape Management has asked for Huntsville residents to reduce lawn watering times by at least five minutes per day.  It is estimated if just 10,000 households in our area will reduce sprinkler systems by only five minutes per day it could save 4.5 million gallons of water per day.  Just implementing a couple of changes can make such a big difference.  Don’t think that you are just one person because everyone making small changes can equate to big changes for all of us.  We can all work together to help us make it through these hot, dry days!

 

Kimberly Grant
Realtor, Exit Leon Crawford Realty
Search Huntsville Homes for Sale

Selected Huntsville and Madison July 4th Events

Huntsville / Madison July 4 Events

July 4th Holiday in Huntsville and Madison Alabama
Submitted by: Kimberly Grant, Huntsville Real Estate Agent
Huntsville Real Estate Blog

4TH OF JULY IN MADISON

The city of Madison is celebrating its 150th birthday with a special event. Bring your blankets & enjoy free inflatable rides for the children with hulu hoop & sack race contests, free SnoCones, popcorn, cotton candy, drinks & water will be available. Attention cooks: enter your best apple pie in the Apple Pie Contest beginning at 2 PM. Start Date: July 4 Hours: 1-5 PM Admission: No admission charged The fireworks display has been canceled due to the drought Location: Dublin Park

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EXCHANGE CLUB 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION
Bring a folding chair or blanket & enjoy food & drink vendors, children’s area, sound stage, skydivers, “giveakidaflagtowave” & other activities. Start Date: July 4 Hours: Gates open at 6 PM, program at 7:30 PM Admission: $10 per car There will be a shuttle from the parking area to the viewing area for those who need a ride. Location: Ditto Landing

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HOMECOMING-MADISON http://www.madisonis150.com/
Everyone is welcomed back to Madison to celebrate our town’s birthday. Former residents, alumni of Bob Jonees High School, friends & relatives of residents are invited to come home again. Fireworks at Dublin Park, community picnic & best of potluck dishes contest. Start Date: July 4 Hours: 9 PM Admission: No admission charged Location: City of Madison & Dublin Park

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THURSDAY EVENING CONCERTS AT THE LIBRARY http://www.hpl.lib.al.us/
Join the music that formed an important part of our cultural heritage. Performing a variety of salsa, merengue, boleros & other Latin styles is “Soft Note Latin Combo.” Start Date: July 5 Hours: 6 PM Admission: No admission charged Location: Huntsville Public Library, 915 Monroe Street

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THURSDAY NIGHTS AT THE MUSEUM www.spacecamp.com/museum
Meet Major Jill “Raggz” Long. She will speak informally with a question & answer period. There will be hors d’ oeuvres and a chance to explore the Museum. Start Date: July 5 Hours: 6 PM Admission: Admission charged Location: U.S. Space & Rocket Center, One Tranquility Base

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BURRITT KIDS’ CAMP: STOP BUGGING ME! http://www.burrittonthemountain.org/
Hands-on experiences & close-up investigations will allow your child to become familiar with some of the flying, crawling creatures that many people fear-INSECTS! Start Date: July 5 End Date: July 6 Hours: 9 AM-1:30 PM Admission: Admission charged For ages 5 & 6 Location: Burritt on the Mountain, 3101 Burritt Drive

I hope you and your family get the opportunity to participate in some of the wonderful activities that are planned around our city.  During the holiday, please take a moment to remember those that are giving their lives to defend our country and may be separated from their family for extended periods of time.  Remember, rocket and missle type fireworks have been banned due to the drought.  Be careful when using fireworks because the dry grass can ignite into fire very quickly.  I hope you and your family have a happy and safe Independence Day 2007!!

Kimberly Grant
Realtor, Exit Leon Crawford Realty
Search Huntsville Homes for Sale

Huntsville Utility Savings

My Huntsville Utility Bill Cut in Half!!

Consumer Tip of the Week:  Savings on Your Utility Bill
Submitted by: Kimberly Grant, Huntsville Real Estate Agent
Huntsville Real Estate Blog

As many of you know, in the midst of drought and all that is going on in our area, Huntsville Utilities has been encouraging local residents to try to be conservative in our water and utility usage.  I have been encouraging you to try to save energy and I decided to see what I could do to be more conservative in my daily routine.

Lately, I have been doing a little experiment with my utilitity usage.  I would like to share the results with you!!!  I have been making little changes and in the course of one month I cut my utility usage and ultimately my utility bill IN HALF with just four easy steps.

So here are the easy simple things that I did to save on my utility bill. 

• I set my thermostat on 78 degrees and left it set on auto.  I made myself promise not to touch it!!
• Turn off any lights I’m not using especially in bathroom, closet, etc.  I also stopped leaving my outside lights on all day.
• I unplugged my appliances in the kitchen (except for the stove and refrigerator) and only plugged them in when I needed to use them.
• I put all my major electronics on surge protectors and I turn the surge protector off when they are not in use.  (After a couple of days I got used to the blinking time on the DVD/VCR player.) 

The third one was the hardest for me to remember.  But I just got used to hitting the button on the surge protector after I finished.  Pretty much other than my major appliances, the only thing that I leave plugged in are my computer and my clocks.  THAT’S IT!!  I wish I could take credit for the idea but I actually got it from Oprah.  Until I saw that Oprah show, I really did not realize that electronics continue to draw on your utilities as long as they are plugged in even when they are not on.  But these three things are all that I did and when I log onto Huntsville Utilties website and view my usage it is almost half of my usage from last month.  Consequently, my utility bill is half the amount it was last month. 

I found all of this very interesting.  If you would like more information on the Huntsville Utilities including rates and news, please feel free to utilize the following resources: 

• My Huntsville Utilities
• Huntsville Utilities Customer Service
• Huntsville Utilities News & Info
• Huntsville Utilities Rates

I will continue to try different things and let you know the results.  My next goal is to try the flourescent light bulbs that seem to be growing in popularity now.

I hope this was helpful to you,

Kimberly Grant
Realtor, Exit Leon Crawford Realty
Search Huntsville Homes for Sale

Featured Huntsville and Madison Homes

Featured Huntsville / Madison Homes

Featured Huntsville Madison Homes
Submitted by: Kimberly Grant, Huntsville Real Estate Agent
Huntsville Real Estate Blog

There are so many great homes out there but I found one outstanding home that I wanted to feature on this real estate blog…

2501 Bonnie Oaks Drive ~ $151,999 This is the featured Huntsville Home for this week!!  It is a lovely family home located in the Autumn Ridge Subdivision which makes it VERY convenient to Redstone Arsenal. Here is some additional information about our Home of the week: Directions: South on Memorial Parkway, Right on Hobbs Road, Left on Bell Road, Right on Bonnie Oaks 4 Bedroom / 2 1/2 Bathrooms Isolated Master Corner lot with fenced backyard New roof October 2006 New dishwasher, stove, and disposal remain One yeah home warranty provided by owner School district: Elementary/Middle School – Farley Elementary (K-8); High School – Grissom High School There are currently nine homes for sale in the Autumn Ridge subdivision.  Current available homes are 3 and 4 bedrooms, 2 to 2 1/2 bathrooms, and 1300 to 1945 square feet.  To receive more detailed information on available Autumn Ridge homes for sale or any other Huntsville and Madison homes for sale, request home listings by email NOW!

Feel free to browse our local MLS to search Huntsville and Madison Homes for Sale.  If you or someone you know are interested in buying, selling, or investing in Huntsville real estate, please feel free to utilize any of the following links to resources that may help you:

• Find out how much your home is worth: Complimentary Market Evaluation  
• Thinking of trying to sell your own home: Huntsville and Madison FSBO 
• Find out how much you can afford: Mortgage Calculators 
• Find out about great home deals: Huntsville and Madison Foreclosures

As always, you are welcome to contact me with any questions or if you need assistance with your real estate needs.  Just give me a call and experience Exceptional Service GUARANTEED!

 

Kimberly Grant
Realtor, Exit Leon Crawford Realty
KimberlyGrant.info
Mailto:KimberlyGrant@exitrealtyhsv.com