Archive for October, 2010

Oct 29 2010

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Mobile Eastern Shore Real Estate Podcast – October 2010

Filed under Buyers,Real Estate

Judy Niemeyer of Ashurst and Niemeyer presents:

podcast


This month’s edition covers Mobile Eastern Shore real estate market activity and then we’ll share the top home buyer tips for getting best deal!

Features special guest Terri Murphy of US Learning.

Program length: approximately 7 1/2 minutes

download podcast mp3 file | subscribe to podcast feed

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Oct 25 2010

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Mobile Eastern Shore Homes For Sale: 917 Sea Cliff Drive

917 sea cliff drMobile Easten Shore Homes For Sale:

917 Sea Cliff Drive, Fairhope AL 36532

MLS: 169433

Welcome home to this incredible French Country home with magnificent views of Mobile Bay.  You will love the pristine lines and quality of construction of this home.  The main home and the guest house all both made of Texas limestone and solid stone.  This home boast and open floor plan, views of the bay, a split bedroom design.  Outside you can enjoy the fabulous deck with built in seating, a private courtyard and lovely trees.

Learn more about 917 Sea Cliff Drive and other Mobile Eastern Shore homes for sale by visiting JudySells.com.

Search all Mobile Eastern Shore homes for sale.

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Oct 21 2010

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Design Trends For Mobile Eastern Shore Real Estate

Every few years home buyers’ demand change. The 2010 design trends reflect the current move toward family togetherness, casual living, and energy efficiency. Potential purchasers of Mobile Eastern Shore real estate are looking for smaller, cost-effective homes which provide both functional and flexible spaces to match their current lifestyle. First-time buyers cannot afford McMansions, empty nesters are looking to downsize, and families are into low maintenance, energy savings, and open spaces,

The age of formality and overindulgent features has gone by. Buyers of Mobile Eastern Shore real estate are giving up formal dining and living rooms and passing on libraries, parlors, and studies, opting instead for casual great rooms in which to entertain and enjoy family togetherness. Features currently in demand include the following:

  • bathSTORAGE SPACE: A double car garage is a must since most homeowners use half of it for storage. Ditto for walk-in closets, a basement or attic, storage space  under stairs, and pantries.
  • ROOMS: The kitchen (with an island), family room, and master bedroom remain the three most important rooms, and they will most likely increase in size. Living and dining rooms, however, will tend to disappear. Another growing trend is a first floor master bedroom suite, a feature especially desired by seniors.
  • TECHNOLOGY READINESS: The majority of buyers want cable/satellite readiness and high speed internet access. Also valued are homes wired for surround sound, an HD feed, and in-wall speakers.
  • ENERGY EFFICIENCY: In addition to energy-saving appliances, potential buyers are looking for Mobile Eastern Shore real estate that has high-efficiency insulation and windows. Also popular are built-in recycling bins and tankless water heaters. In addition, stone and brick exteriors are preferred.
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Oct 18 2010

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Mobile Eastern Shore Real Estate For Sale: 15030 Van Wezel Lane

15030 Van Wezel lnMobile Eastern Shore Real Estate For Sale:

15030 Van Wezel Lane, Magnolia Springs AL 36555

MLS# 168563

Beautiful River Estate on 2.5 acres with over 300 feet on sought after Magnolia River. This home features an open floor plan, 3 master suites with sitting areas, 600 sq ft of open air porch, barn with RV cover, dock with boat lift and a mature landscape. One of a kind piece of property.

Learn more about 15030 Van Wezel Lane and other Mobile Eastern Shore real estate for sale by visiting JudySells.com.

Search all Mobile Eastern Shore real estate for sale.

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Oct 15 2010

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Refinancing The Mortgage On Your Mobile Eastern Shore Home

Filed under Real Estate,Residential

Why would you refinance your Mobile Eastern Shore home mortgage at this time?  For many Refinancing reasons.  now can allow you to:

  1. Lock in a lower interest rate
  2. Reduce your monthly mortgage payment
  3. Extend (or reduce) your repayment time
  4. Help you pay off high interest debts
  5. Free up money for investments, home repairs, or making your home more energy efficient

dollarbillSince interest rates hover around all-time lows, anyone carrying a higher rate interest loan or an ARM will benefit from refinancing; just a .5 or 1 point drop in rate constitutes worthwhile savings. Even if the ARM on your Mobile Eastern Shore home is lower than the current rate, when rates rise again, your costs will certainly go up, perhaps dramatically. Refinancing to a fixed-rate mortgage now allows you to lock in a low rate for the duration of your loan. Do be aware, though, that lenders generally charge a risk premium for fixed mortgages.

If you as a Mobile Eastern Shore home owner want to shorten the length of time required to pay off your loan, you may want to consider refinancing to a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage with even lower interest rates. This move will increase your monthly payment, but you may save hundreds of thousands of dollars in the long run.
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Oct 11 2010

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Mobile Eastern Shore Homes For Sale: 12562 Country Road 1

12652 country road 1Mobile Eastern Shore Homes For Sale:

12562 Country Road 1, Fairhope AL 36532

MLS# 163642

This home has it all, the best location, an incredible price, fabulous quality and magnificent views of Mobile bay.  You will not want to miss this one it even has public access to the bay for easy unloading of your boat.  This home would make a perfect weekend retreat or a permanent home.  It is across the street from the bay.

Learn more about 12562 Country Road 1 and other Mobile Easter Shore homes for sale by visiting JudySells.com.

Search all Mobile Easter Shore homes for sale.

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Oct 07 2010

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How To Avoid Mortgage Modification and Foreclosure Scams On Your Mobile Eastern Shore Home

Filed under Real Estate,Sellers

At a time when house foreclosures are on the rise, beleaguered and vulnerable property owners who are at risk of losing their Mobile Eastern Shore homes are increasingly the targets of unscrupulous con-artists offering fast and false solutions.

These individuals/companies contact their unsuspecting prey in person or by mail, phone, or email. They advertise their services in all forms of media and far too often appear legitimate. They promise foreclosure prevention/rescue programs and sometimes seem to have government connections. At-risk owners of a Mobile Eastern Shore home must beware of the following scams as set forth by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency:

  • foreclosure-1Foreclosure “rescue” and refinance fraud. The scam artist offers to act as an intermediary between you and your lender to negotiate a repayment plan or loan modification and may even “guarantee” to save your home from foreclosure. You may be told to make mortgage payments to the scammer directly — along with significant, up-front fees — and be told that the scammer will forward the payments to your lender. In reality, the scammer may pocket your money and leave you in worse shape on your loan. The scam artist also may tell you to stop making payments or stop communicating with your lender. Don’t follow that advice.
  • Bankruptcy scams. You may have heard that filing bankruptcy will stop a foreclosure. This is true — but only temporarily. Filing bankruptcy brings an “automatic stay” into effect that stops any collection and foreclosure while the bankruptcy court administers the case. Eventually, you must start paying your mortgage lender, or the lender will be able to foreclose. Bankruptcy is rarely, if ever, a permanent solution to prevent foreclosure. In addition, bankruptcy will negatively impact your credit score and will remain on your credit report for 10 years.
  • Leaseback/rent-to-buy schemes. In this type of scam, you are asked to transfer the title to your home to the scammer, who will, supposedly, obtain new and better financing and/or allow you to remain in the home as a renter and eventually buy it back. If you do not comply with the terms of the rent-to-buy agreement, you will lose your money and face eviction. The agreement may be very hard to comply with, because it may require, for instance, high up-front and monthly payments that you may not be able to afford. In fact, the scammers may have no intention of ever selling the home back to you. They simply want your home and your money.
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Oct 04 2010

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Mobile Eastern Shore Real Estate For Sale: 650 Norman Lane

650 Norman lnMobile Eastern Shore Real Estate For Sale:

650 Norman Lane, Fairhope AL 36532

MLS# 168814

Townhome located in exclusive Fairfield Pointe Village. This home features open floor plan, kitchen with GE Profile appliances, 5 burner gas range, wet bar with ice maker, wood floors, double balconies and courtyard.

Learn more about 650 Norman Lane and other Mobile Eastern Shore real estate for sale by visiting JudySells.com

Search all Mobile Eastern Shore real estate for sale.

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Oct 01 2010

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Tips for Choosing a Mortgage When You Purchase Mobile Eastern Shore Real Estate?

Filed under Buyers,Real Estate

Choosing between a 15-year mortgage and a 30-year mortgage can be a difficult decision, one which will have a major financial impact on your life. On the one hand, the 30-year mortgage will have lower monthly payments, but you will pay a higher rate of interest. On the other hand, a 15-year mortgage requires higher monthly payments (at a lower interest rate), but your Mobile Eastern Shore real estate will be paid off in half the time.

In order to decide which of the two is better for you, you need to carefully analyze your life situation in the following areas:

1. Current Financial Situation

16219573Can you presently afford to pay the higher monthly payment of a 15-year loan on your Mobile Eastern Shore real estate? In addition to income, factor in other expenses such as credit card debt, car payments, food, clothing, and entertainment. As a guiding principle, your total housing expense should not exceed 40% of your gross monthly income minus taxes. Beware of becoming house poor and having few liquid assets. It is essential that you have a hefty nest egg to rely on I n case you lose your job or are unable to work.

2. Spending Habits

If you choose a 30-year mortgage, what will you do with the money you save each month?

Will you save/invest it? Put it in a retirement or college fund? Can you live on a budget, avoid credit card debt, and save regularly? If so, then the 30-year loan may work well for you. If, however, you can afford the higher payment and will most likely “fritter away” any extra money, you just may be better off borrowing for 15 years.

3. Tax Ramifications

You should certainly check with your accountant regarding the tax benefits and /or disadvantages of each type of mortgage. Because mortgage interest is a major income tax deduction, many people want to keep paying the mortgage on their Mobile Eastern Shore real  estate  for as long as they can.

4. Future Expenses
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