The Judy Niemeyer Team Blog

In addition to chasing away the winter blues, spring also brings with it exciting times for gardeners who anticipate floral beauty and healthy plants for the grounds of their Mobile Eastern Shore real estate. To fulfill your gardening hopes, however, you need to prioritize your time in order to tend to all the tasks necessary for blooms and blossoms.

• Prune

For early blooming shrubs such as forsythia and viburnum, prune them as soon as blooms have passed. Early spring is also an ideal time to prune your roses.

• Deadhead

Remove spent flowers from bulbs, but leave the rest of the plant as is for the time being.

• Weed

Pull weeds from your beds and borders before they have a chance to take hold and spread.

• Compost

Tend to your compost if it has been neglected over the winter. If you do not have a compost bin, spring is a great time to start one.

• Prepare tools

Spring is a good time to prepare your tools for the oncoming gardening season and to make any necessary repairs or new purchases. You will be happy you have done so when summer sets in.
Continue Reading »

Tags: gardening tips, mobile eastern shore real estate, spring gardening tips

Mobile Eastern Shore Homes For Sale:

18423 Point Clear Court, Fairhope AL 36532

MLS# 174233

Totally renovated in 2007, exquisite home in Point Clear Court.  This home boasts, great privacy, an open floor plan, with both a master and a guest room on the first level.  Outside you will enjoy the beautiful saline pool with hot tub and immaculate grounds.  The double garage has a pool path and could easily be converted into a guest house.  This property is a must show, tremendous quality. 

Learn more about 18423 Point Clear Court and other Mobile Eastern Shore homes for sale by visiting JudySells.com.

Search all Mobile Eastern Shore homes for sale.

Tags: 18423 point clear, mobile eastern shore homes for sale

Once the appraiser has applied the three approaches to the appraisal of your Mobile Eastern Shore real estate, he/she must decide which of them is the most reliable and most closely follows the actions of the market. For residential properties, the Sales Comparison Analysis is typically the most reliable. For commercial or industrial properties, all three techniques (or portions of one or more) may be reliable. The appraiser reconciles the various aspects of each technique into what he or she believes produces a credible and supportable opinion of value. The result is the Final Value Estimate, which, depending on the needs of the client, may be expressed as a single number or a range of value.

What If It’s Low?

If the appraisal of your Mobile Eastern Shore real estate comes in low, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t complete the transaction. Your options to rectify the situation included the following:

• You can make up the difference in cash.
• The seller can lower the price.
•  The seller can carry a second mortgage for the difference.
•  You can order a second appraisal
• You can supply a list of comparable sales and ask for a review of the appraisal.

What Does It Include?

Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, your lender must furnish you with a copy of the appraisal of your Mobile Eastern Shore real estate if you request one in writing. Appraisals are very detailed reports, but they should include the following:

• Details about the subject property, along with side-by-side comparisons of three similar properties.
• An evaluation of the overall real estate market in the area.
• Statements about issues the appraiser feels are harmful to the property’s value, such as poor access to the property.
• An estimate of the average sales time for the property.
• What type of area the home is in (a development, stand alone acreage, etc.).

Do remember that an appraisal of your Mobile Eastern Shore real estate is not a home inspection and cannot be considered a guarantee that the property is in good condition. Appraisers make notes about obvious problems, but they do not perform tasks done by certified home inspectors.

Ins and Outs of Mobile Eastern Shore Real Estate Appraisals – Part 1

Tags: appraisal, getting a low appraisal, home selling tips, low appraisals

Mobile Eastern Shore Real Estate For Sale:

14425 Scenic Highway 98, Fairhope AL 36532

MLS# 174753

Exceptional Point Clear bay front home with a 743 sq ft carriage house.  The main house has 6 bedrooms.  The Master suite is on the first level and includes his and her separate bathrooms; a claw foot tub; air jet and built-ins.  The ensuite office overlooks the bay.  This wonderful home boosts heart pine floors & doors, a 573’ porch, large rooms.  Bring your boat and enjoy the large wharf and boat lift.  Enjoy this exceptional home with your family and friends!

Learn more about 14425 Scenic Highway 98 and other Mobile Eastern Shore real estate for sale by visiting JudySells.com.

Search all Mobile Eastern Shore real estate for sale.

Tags: 14425 scenic highway 98, Mobile Eastern Shore real estate for sale

Tired of paying the steep costs of hotel, cottage, or condo rentals for vacation stays? Think you’ve found the location of your dreams? Are you able to handle a second mortgage payment? Want an investment that includes a mortgage interest tax deduction? If your answer to these queries is yes, then you may well be ready to purchase a vacation home.

Increased home availability, lower prices, greatly reduced interest rates, and probable “end of the season” bargains make this an excellent time for you to explore adding a second home to your real estate holdings. Add to that the opportunities to make a safe long-term investment, defray mortgage costs by offering short-term rentals, and ensure a yearly getaway spot that’s sure to please, and you have a long list of reasons to explore the possibility of owning and enjoying a vacation home.

As with any large purchase or major decision, there are, of course, many factors which must be considered. Items to think about include the following:

1. Expenses: Be aware that, unlike the mortgage on your Mobile Eastern Shore real estate, you will need at least a 15% down payment. Know, too, that in addition to your regular monthly mortgage cost, you will also have to factor in expenses for insurance (perhaps even required flood insurance), furniture, utilities, condo, club, or community fees, taxes, property management fees, travel costs, and maintenance expenses.

2. Frequency of use: If you will be occupying the property only for a few weeks each year, is it really worth it to buy rather than rent? Is this the place in which you’ll want to vacation every year?
Continue Reading »

Tags: home buying tips, mobile eastern shore real estate, second home, vacation home

Mobile Eastern Shore Homes For Sale:

7225 Sibley Street, Fairhope AL 36532

MLS# 174147

A true southern estate on three acres in the heart of Montrose. This gorgeous home features 12 foot ceilings and lots of windows for natural light. Kitchen has a 5 Star 6 burner gas range and SubZero refrigerator. The master suite has its own fireplace and separate his and hers bathrooms. Step outside into the shaded lawn to enjoy the outdoor kitchen, and heated Gunite pool w/ fountain and jacuzzi.

Learn more about 7225 Sibley Street and other Mobile Eastern Shore homes for sale by visiting Judysells.com.

Search all Mobile Eastern Shore homes for sale.

Tags: 7225 sibley, mobile eastern shore homes for sale

The idea of purchasing your first home is an exciting one, but to novices the process may appear to be a daunting one. Fear not, however! There are numerous government agencies and programs available to help you purchase your Mobile Eastern Shore real estate. Listed below are online sites which provide a wide variety of resources for your assistance.

1. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers explanations and logical steps to home buying. Access this site to:

• determine how much you can afford to pay
• understand your rights
• learn about home buying programs
• find a home and a loan suited to your needs
• learn about price negotiations, inspections, insurance, and closing costs

2. FHAHomeLoans.com will provide you with

• a description of available programs
• qualification requirements
• an application to download

3. HUD.gov supplies information about

• available state programs
• HUD homes
• buying Mobile Eastern Shore real estate with bad credit
• counseling agencies
• types of loans
  Continue Reading »

Tags: first-time buyers, home buying tips, loan options, mobile eastern shore real estate, mortgage options

Overall, Mobile Eastern Shore rental property provides more tax benefits than almost any other investment. The deductions listed below are the most common, but you are urged to consult with your accountant and/or the IRS regarding your personal situation.

• MORTGAGE INTEREST: This can be a fairly large deduction if you are carrying a mortgage on your rental property. Other interest deductions can be for loans for improving the property and interest on credit cards for goods or services used in a rental-related activity. (Note: It is much easier to maintain records if you keep your personal credit card(s) separate from a business credit card.)
• DEPRECIATION: The actual cost of rental property is not fully deductible in the year in which it is purchased. Residential rental property must be depreciated over 27.5 years.
• HOME OFFICE: If certain requirements are met, you may deduct your home office expenses from your taxable income. This deduction applies not only to space devoted to office work, but also to a workshop or any other home workspace you use for your rental business. A portion of a workshop used in connection with your Mobile Eastern Shore rental property may also be deducted.
• REPAIRS: Usually the costs of repairs to rental property are fully deductible in the year in which they are incurred if they are ordinary, necessary, and reasonable in number. Examples of deductible repairs include repainting, fixing gutters, leaks, or floors, plastering, and replacing broken windows.
  Continue Reading »

Tags: mobile eastern shore, reantal property, rental property tax deductions, tax deductions