Happy Thanksgiving To All My ActiveRain Friends Today I'm thankful for a couple of days off and more importantly my ActiveRain friends.  What ever you are doing and where ever you are stay safe and eat lots of Turkey!!     Gobble Gobble!!!   If you need a knowledgeable real estate professional in Madison or Huntsville Alabama area, why don't you let me Google that for you! I also know outstanding agents in all states and Canada should you need help relocating to a new area. 11/27/2013

Listing Your Huntsville Alabama Home For Sale During The Holidays Listing your Huntsville Alabama Home For Sale  Listing your Huntsville Alabama home for sale during the holidays or any location for that matter can be a difficult decision.  Most are of the opinion that people are busy with other things during the holidays, agents use this time as vacation time and are not always available, the weather is not optimal depending on where you live or home owners seem under duress to sell.  And for these reasons the offers received tend to be well under market value or list price.  Because the holiday season does tend to be slower with fewer showings there is some sense to taking your home of the market until after the holidays reducing market time  and then re-listing the home in the spring... 11/25/2013

Jones Valley Huntsville Alabama Homes For Sale Homes For Sale South Huntsville including Jones Valley and Surrounding area Jones Valley There's really nothing else quite like Jones Valley in the Huntsville Alabama area. Located in Southeast Huntsville Alabama the prominent feature in Jones Valley is, of course, Jones Farm, purchased by brothers Carl and Edwin Jones in the late 1930's and continues as the largest, in city, working farm in the Unites States.  Jones Farm is surrounded by moderate to very upscale homes currently priced from the mid $!50's for a fixer upper to well over $1,000,000.  Homes styles are a mix of moderate single family homes, town homes and estate sized homes.  A new area, the subject of an upcoming post, LENDON, currently under construction will add a variety of... 11/24/2013

Town Homes For Sale Bell Tower Of Huntsville Alabama   Bell Tower of Huntsville Alabama   Town Homes For Sale Bell Tower Of Huntsville Alabama...great location south of I-565 along Zierdt Rd. Bell Tower town homes are close to the Redstone Arsenal just a couple minutes away from Martin Rd. Gate 7.  Madison and Huntsville Alabama while rush hour traffic can sometimes be a challenge generally it's easy going to the Arsenal.  Read more here:  Bell Tower Huntsville Alabama blog post for more information. The real estate market here in the Huntsville area is slowly getting better and favoring sellers.  Of course, real estate is local and therefore not all communities respond the same so even in the same geographic area there different activity levels from one community to another responding ... 11/21/2013

Huntsville Alabama Friendship Bridge   Located in Big Spring Park, downtown Huntsville Alabama is the well known "Friendship Bridge" the "Red Bridge".  Major General Mikio Kimata donated the "Friendship Bridge" along with 60 cherry trees as a thank you to the city of Huntsville for its hospitality during his attending the Redstone Arsenal's Ordinance Guided Missile Program.   Big Spring Park is a great place to stroll and see some of the other gifts of thanks to the city.  With the Von Braun Center across the street and the Davidson Center for the Arts there's always something to do. If you're visiting Huntsville to have a look around before relocating and purchasing a home, here's a link to search all available Homes For sale in Huntsville, Madison and Northern Alabama.    If you need ... 11/20/2013

Lake Forest Community Of Huntsville Alabama Homes For Sale Daily updated list of Lake Forest homes for sale:  LAKE FOREST HOMES FOR SALE The previous link will show the variety of home styles available to meet most style of architecture preference. Or if you would like me to help you find your Dream Home try: My Dream Home Finder Lake Forest  A unique community made up of smaller distinct neighborhoods with different home styles.  Lake Forest is located about a minute west of the Redstone Arsenal's Gate 7 in Huntsville Alabama  Lake Forest is a great location for residents working at the Redstone Arsenal, Madison City and many of the local high tech companies supporting NASA and the space program.  A well funded Home Owners Association keeps the community perfectly manicured, with dues ... 11/19/2013

How long will it take to sell my Huntsville Alabama home? Recently I published a post about 3 key factors for selling your home: Pricing Your Home Right, Accessibility And Exposure To Sell Your Home.  There are other factors such as location and curb appeal that will affect the amount of time your home spends on the market and the eventual selling price.  Here are a few more points for you to consider and what you can expect when listing your home for sale. Usually when I speak to someone who wants to sell their Huntsville Alabama home, they have an immediate need. The same is true for home buyers. When they are ready, no time is fast enough for finding a home! How long do you think it should take to sell a home? How long do you feel the buying process should take? Many home buyers and ... 11/17/2013

Pricing Your Home Right, Accessibility And Exposure To Sell Your Home Pricing Your Home Right When listing your Huntsville Alabama home for sale, pricing your home right, Accessibility and exposure are all key factors in getting it sold for the most money and in the shortest time.  Trying to sell your home but not getting the foot traffic and interest you expected? Chances are your home is not priced correctly or not available at the right hours. Pricing to sell is a very individual process and may not always be about current market rates and comparable properties. However some simple principles listed below can help you to get your home sold quickly. Oftentimes home prices are set too high from the get-go, resulting in more days on the market and lowered enthusiasm when response from b... 11/17/2013

Chicago Lake Front All The Way From Huntsville AlabamaChicagoThis post has absolutely nothing to do with Huntsville Alabama real estate, but my good friend Steve up in Chicago Illinois sent me a couple of photos of his view of Lake Michigan from his lake front condo.  Not only has he managed to make me miss all my friends in Chi-Town even more than I thought possible including Chicago itself and all there is to do there.  The beaches, canals, the Chicago River, Deep Dish Pizza, Italian beefs, Marie's, Greek Town, China Town, way too many restaurants to list, Lincoln Park, the museums, The Art Institute, Grant Park, Second City, Old Town, University of Chicago, The Bean, Montrose Harbor, Foster Avenue Beach, Wrigley Field, Soldier Field, Rush Street, Oak Park and all those Frank Lloyd Wr... 11/15/2013

Happy Veterans Day And Thank You To All Serving In Our Military   While the end of World War I is officialy June 28th, 1919, the fighting actually came to a halt at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month some 7 months earlier.   Today is Veterns Day, take time to think about all you have and thank a Vet.    If you need a knowledgeable real estate professional in Madison or Huntsville Alabama area, why don't you let me Google that for you! I also know outstanding agents in all states and Canada should you need help relocating to a new area. 11/11/2013

Charrito's Bar & Grill Mexican Restaurant The Village Of Providence AL Visit Charrito's FaceBook page. Being a local Real Estate agent in Huntsville, I'm always on the go and have the opportunity to sample many of the fine restaurants that Huntsville and Madison Alabama have to offer.  Charrito's Bar & Grill is a new Mexican Restaurant in the Village of Providence I'm happy to endorse. There's a new Mexican restaurant in the Village of Providence; Charrito's Bar & Grill.  It's a very convenient location especially for me since my office is also here in the Village of Providence.  I've taken friends, clients and business associates to Charrito's many times and have stopped by on my own when I want good Mexican cuisine and quickly.  The wait staff has always been very friendly, accommodat... 11/10/2013

@Homes Realty-It's Not A Job It's An Adventure & It's Not My B-Day I didn't think I had anything to write about today! First, let me be clear that it's not my Birthday...maybe...maybe not!  There are some in my office who've tried to get it out of me and I've made a career out of keeping the actual day a secret from them...mostly because I don't like to celebrate it.  However, some of the agents in my office are dedicated and have decided that even if they don't know the actual day...they can still celebrate: My thanks to all the usual suspects!     If you need a knowledgeable real estate professional in Madison or Huntsville Alabama area, why don't you let me Google that for you! I also know outstanding agents in all states and Canada should you need help relocating to a new area. 11/08/2013

Getting Ready For The Holidays In Huntsville Alabama Well it's November now and the holidays are fast approaching so here's a small list of things to think about while getting ready for the holidays in Huntsville Alabama. It is never too early to begin preparing your home for holiday gatherings. Be sure to think about how many guests you will be having well in advance so you can prepare enough seating and clean and organize the rooms that need attention. Keep in mind that kids really do enjoy their own special place perhaps as much as the grown-ups enjoy them having their own space. Keep your decorations simple, but festive to create a welcoming atmosphere in your home. Take care to plan out the meal and serving dishes well in advance. If you are taking the time to create lovely and del... 11/03/2013

Brilliant Dance Video Showcasing Huntsville AL Congratulations to the clever folks who made this video as part of the I Charleston series.   11/02/2013

Winterizing your Huntsville Alabama Home My little corner of the world is Northern Alabama, more specifically, Huntsville Alabama.  And while this area doesn't see the low temperatures that the northern states do it does get cold and even snows...we are not talking blizzards.  Anyway, below are a few tips that will save you a few dollars in utility bills and make for a more comfortable indoors winter season.  Autumn is now in full swing, such as it is in Huntsville Alabama which means it’s a good time to start winterizing your home. Begin by interviewing for a reliable heating and air conditioning company and getting your furnace inspected and cleaned if necessary. Changing the filters on your furnace every month is recommended, for better energy efficiency. You may also want to conside... 11/01/2013

Legacy Preserve Huntsville Alabama Homes For Sale & Recently Sold Home Daily updated list of Legacy Preserve Huntsville Alabama Homes For Sale Another beautiful Legacy Preserve home just closed and my clients...the new owners couldn't be happier.  This Legacy Preserve home in the Mountain Cove area of Huntsville Alabama is new construction and offered over 4,800 square feet of comfort with 5 bedrooms and 5 baths, great deck and patio with gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains and valley behind the home.  Much of the area is bordered by a land trust and won't be built on ensuring peaceful living with a somewhat secluded feel and yet Legacy Preserve is only 5 minutes away from the Huntsville Medical District, dining, shopping and recreation.  Read more About Legacy Preserve and do y... 10/23/2013

Government Shutdown And Purchasing A Home In Huntsville and Madison AL You say the shutdown doesn't affect you and you still want to buy a home then search here:  Huntsville and Madison AL homes for sale Like D.C. and the Northern Virginia area, Huntsville and Madison AL has a lot of government workers who have been impacted by the shutdown.  However, there does seem to be some good news out there Are you in the process of purchasing your home and are worried about the government shutdown, recent news from Freddie Mac may have you a little more optimistic these days. The announcement, effective October 8, 2013, allows lenders to use signed federal tax returns as income verification rather than a tax transcript for loans, loan modifications, and certain other home loan programs.  Dave Lo... 10/12/2013

Home For Sale With A View In Huntsville Alabama Soon To Be Listed Search Huntsville Alabama East North East homes for sale Huntsville Alabama The home owner is still putting the finishing touches on this soon to be listed home for sale in Huntsville Alabama.  Chase Shadow is the subdivision where this home for sale is located in East Huntsville Alabama.  Just follow Hwy 72 east over Chapman Mountain to Shield's Road-right and you are in the area.  This area is known for its views of the mountains (most of my Colorado friends call them hills) and quick access to downtown Huntsville Alabama or the Redstone Arsenal...both just a 10 minute trip. This is a great starter home a 1,352 square feet offering 3 bedrooms and 2 baths in a quiet neighborhood with outstanding views. The yard is fenced... 10/11/2013

Julie Ellsworth A Fine Artist You Should Know In Huntsville Alabama Julie Ellsworth I've known Julie and her husband Chris for a few years now going back to when I helped them with the purchase of their new home here in Huntsville Alabama.  It was a real stroke of luck meeting Julie, becoming friends and learning that she's a fine artist.  I've been wanting to give clients something special as a closing gift and I had an idea that Julie could help .  I give gift certificates to many clients, but there are some that would appreciate a painting of their home more than others and that's where Julie comes in.   Julie has done several paintings of clients homes for me and from the giving of the very first painting I've received nothing but thanks, big smiles and a few tears (of happiness).  ... 10/07/2013

Ditto Landing Huntsville AlabamaSearch Northern Alabama Homes For SaleHere are a few links to various points of interest around Ditto Landing and Huntsville Alabama.In the early 1800's James Ditto established a trading post and ferry across the Tennessee River and what is now known as Ditto Landing.  The ferry was used by Andrew Jackson and Davy Crockett, just to do a little name dropping.  This was one of the first inland ports and very important to the cotton shipping trade until the advent of the railroads.  The area later became known as Whitesburg, named after a salt trader, James White, but Ditto Landing is still the name used and where locals head for a little fun on the water.Ditto Landing is only 20 minutes south of Downtown Huntsville Alabama off of Hobbs Island Rd. so it is v... 10/02/2013