The Judy Niemeyer Team Blog » mobile eastern shore al real estate

Mobile Eastern Shore Real Estate for Sale: 22627 Alice Lane

Morgan — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:28:58 +0000

Mobile Eastern Shore Real Estate for Sale:

22627 Alice Lane, Fairhope AL 36532

MLS# 144468

Home located in the great neighborhood of Flying Creek which is gated and minutes to Mobile and Fairhope. This home is totally private and move in ready. Fresh paint throughout and new carpet. The master bath has a tile shower and garden tub. The master bedroom and 2^nd bedroom is on the main level. There is an incredible basement area with rec room & media room; there is also a guest suite. Outside there is a sprinkler and a well.

Learn more about 22627 Alice Lane and other Mobile Eastern Shore real estate by visiting JudySells.com.

Search all Mobile Eastern Shore real estate and homes for sale.

Mobile Eastern Shore AL Real Estate Podcast

Morgan — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:29:00 +0000

This month’s edition covers Mobile Eastern Shore AL real estate market activity and then we’ll discuss the new changes in FHA lending.

Features special guest Terri Murphy of US Learning.

Program length: approximately 7 minutes

download podcast mp3 file | subscribe to podcast feed

To learn more about the current Mobile Eastern Shore AL real estate market, please call me at 866-560-7474 or visit JudySells.com.

Mobile/Eastern Shore AL Real Estate: Home Sweet Condo?

Morgan — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:17:00 +0000

One of the most fundamental questions when considering purchasing Mobile/Eastern Shore AL real estate is whether to purchase a single family home or a condo. Although there are many factors to consider, the answer really lies in the buyer’s preference and lifestyle.

A condo might be a good fit for those in search of a more urban, low-maintenance lifestyle. Condos typically resemble apartments with several units in the same building or complex sharing amenities (although they can also be duplexes, free-standing buildings, etc.). Although there are monthly maintenance fees involved with condo ownership, that also means that the owners are not responsible for any maintenance outside their own four walls. Because condos are a shared community, ownership is often limited to a specific space.

For many home-buyers, single-family homes offer more privacy and control. When purchasing a single-family home, the buyer owns the entire building as well as the land on which it sits. Likewise, this means the maintenance of the structure and the land is the owner’s sole responsibility.

If you would like to learn more about owning Mobile/Eastern Shore AL real estate, please call me at 866-560-7474 or visit JudySells.com. Find Your Perfect Eastern Shore AL Home!

Mobile Eastern Shore AL Real Estate Market: Should You Rent Your Unsold Home?

Morgan — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:32:46 +0000

With Mobile Eastern Shore AL real estate sales slowing a bit for the summer, many sellers are left wondering if they may be better off renting their home out for the time being until market activity picks back up. If you have already purchased another home, this option is especially attractive as it allows you to cut down on the expense of paying two mortgages while you wait for your home to sell.

Below are some items to think about, courtesy of BankRate.com, before deciding to become a landlord:

Mortgage payments must be made regardless of if the property is inhabited.
Costly repairs and maintenance work cannot be delayed if they inconvenience the tenant.
Disputes with tenants could require legal representation and legal fees.
There are many costs involved in renting a home – it is recommended that landlords budget 25-30% of the rent to be used for maintenance, repairs, or emergency. This should be a key factor when deciding how much rent to charge in order to break even.

In addition to extra tax advantages (on top of the regular deductions of mortgage interest and taxes), renting out your property might also allow you to continue to build equity in your old home at the expense of the renter. You might even be able to make a profit from the rent, if your expenses are low enough!

If you are interested in buying or selling Mobile Eastern Shore AL real estate, please call me 866-560-7474 or visit JudySells.com. Request a relocation package!

Mobile/Eastern Shore AL Real Estate Tip: What Is Universal Design?

Morgan — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 01:27:16 +0000

You may have heard buzz around the term “universal design” in recent years, but do you know what it is or how it affects the Mobile/Eastern Shore AL real estate and construction markets?

According to Lowes.com, universal design is the creation of products and environments meant to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialization. The intent is to simplify life for everyone by making products, communications and the built environment more usable by as many people as possible at little or no extra cost. Universal Design benefits people of all ages and abilities.

Think this is some “far out” theory just now working its way into the “modern” world? Think again: if you’ve ever walked through an automatic door, you’ve experienced a version of Universal Design. Likewise, a ramp or curb cut is just as welcome to someone with a baby stroller as it is to someone in a wheelchair.

Universal Design has become a hot topic in the Mobile/Eastern Shore AL real estate market as more residents are retiring and making the decision to “age in place,” as opposed to moving into assisted living facilities. As we discussed previously, this aging generation is already driving the design of new products for the home that will affect real estate in the future. Even if you are not part of the “mature” population, however, Universal Design should be important to you. If you are planning to build or renovate, keep in mind the principles of Universal Design and know that it’s more cost effective to add many Universal Design features during the planning stage. There are a number of design features that can be built for little or no cost. Their addition at the beginning saves the need for future retrofits.

Some examples of Universal Design features include:

Lighting
Additional task lighting is needed for “older” eyes.
Added lighting is also advised in areas to increase safety, such as for stairs.
Kitchens
Push/pull lever faucets for those with limited hand strength or dexterity.
Side-by-side refrigerators.
Doors
Leverset entry or interior door hardware.
Wide swing hinges allow use of the entire doorway.
Baths
Roll-in showers.
Add reinforcement into the wall substructure now in the event the addition of grab bars is needed later.

To learn more about trends in the Mobile/Eastern Shore AL real estate market, please call me at 866-560-7474 or visit JudySells.com.

Eastern Shore/Mobile AL Real Estate: How to Tell When A Price Is Too Good To Be True

Morgan — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:21:25 +0000

If you are currently looking to buy Eastern Shore/Mobile AL real estate, you probably have a good idea of the general range you can expect to spend on a home. So you might be surprised when a great-looking home shows up on the MLS with what seems like a shockingly low price tag attached. The extra-low price seems too good to be true and – most of the time – it is.

In many cases, the price you are seeing does not represent the actual asking price of the property. Rather, it is likely a property that is in “pre-foreclosure” and the amount listed actually represents the balance of the defaulted loan, or the amount the current owner is in arrears. Below is an excerpt from an article I found at Inman News that does a great job explaining how these properties end up on MLS search engines, and what you can do to spot them:

Real estate agents, investors and sophisticated buyers will know that it’s impossible to buy a house in Hermosa Beach for $4,712. But first-time home buyers may miss the fine print on sites like Yahoo and Trulia that explains that this is not the home’s listing price — and that the property may not even be for sale.

The practice of mixing pre-foreclosure properties with listings of for-sale properties by major listings sites like Yahoo Real Estate and Trulia is misleading to consumers and damages the credibility of the sites that allow it, according to a company that’s in the business of supplying similar information itself.

Brad Geisen, founder and CEO of Foreclosures.com, singled out Yahoo Real Estate and Trulia — which have partnerships with Foreclosure.com’s rival, RealtyTrac — as sites that are presenting pre-foreclosure data to consumers in a potentially confusing way.

Property searches conducted by Inman News show both sites provide information that could help consumers understand that the pre-foreclosure properties are not “listings,” and that the dollar figures displayed with each are not asking prices. But there does appear to be potential for confusion.

Checking “foreclosures” under “listing type” and entering a maximum value of $100,000 in the “price” field, a Yahoo Real Estate search for properties in Hermosa Beach, Calif., turned up seven properties, accompanied by dollar figures ranging from $4,712 to $100,000. According to Yahoo, the median asking price for 34 homes on the market in Hermosa Beach is $1.29 million.

But click on any of the properties for more details, and you are given a “property description” that reveals — for the first time — that the dollar figures associated with each property in the search results is not the asking price. Although “price” was specified in the query, the numbers may represent “estimated loan balance” or another figure related to the borrower’s indebtedness.

The moral of the story here is two-fold; first, be sure to always read the fine print and don’t trust everything you see on the Internet and, second, always consult with an experienced Realtor who can help you determine the legitimate value of a property and assist you in finding the home of your dreams.

If you are ready to learn more about Mobile/Eastern Shore AL real estate, please call me at 866-560-7474 or visit JudySells.com. Search all Mobile Eastern Shore AL real estate.

Re-capturing the American Dream With Mobile/Eastern Shore AL Real Estate

Morgan — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:06:21 +0000

In the past, owning a home has always been perceived as a major component of the “American Dream.” Unfortunately, because of the recent real estate market activity, home-ownership is often seen now as more of a nightmare than a dream. But that doesn’t have to be the case! Even in a slower economy, purchasing Mobile/Eastern Shore AL real estate can still be a step toward achieving your own “American Dream!”

Inman News offers some reasons why home ownership still has benefits and advantages, including:

The opportunity to build equity and create wealth over time.
Protection from rent increases or eviction at the whim of a landlord.
The pleasures of a relatively larger home, suitable for a family, and with a backyard, garage or other auxiliary space.
The freedom — design review boards notwithstanding — to improve, remodel or redecorate to suit one’s own style and budget.
A variety of lucrative income-tax breaks.
Pride of ownership and a greater sense of security and stability.

So, if you are thinking of purchasing Mobile/Eastern Shore AL real estate, now is the time! Don’t let the negative media attention on the market get you down – home ownership is still an attainable goal and a big part of the American Dream.

If you are ready to begin looking at Mobile/Eastern Shore AL real estate, please call me at 866-560-7474 or visit JudySells.com.

Celebrating Independence Day in Mobile/Eastern Shore AL

Morgan — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:44:41 +0000

Happy 4^th of July, Mobile! Although this weekend is a time for fireworks and enjoying time with friends and family, it is also a time to remember what makes our country so great – our freedom. So as you gather with friends and neighbors on Friday, take a moment to thank our military—living and dead, at home and abroad—for the sacrifices they have made for us. Because, as we all know, freedom isn’t free!

Be sure to check out the events and activities happening this holiday weekend in the Mobile/Eastern Shore area.

We’ll return to discussing Mobile/Eastern Shore AL real estate next week; however, if you would like more information about Mobile/Eastern Shore AL real estate, please call me at 866-560-7474 or visit JudySells.com.

Mobile/Eastern Shore AL Real Estate Market: Should You Rent Your Unsold Home?

Morgan — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:53:25 +0000

With Mobile/Eastern Shore AL real estate sales slowing a bit for the summer, many sellers are left wondering if they may be better off renting their home out for the time being until market activity picks back up. If you have already purchased another home, this option is especially attractive as it allows you to cut down on the expense of paying two mortgages while you wait for your home to sell.

Below are some items to think about, courtesy of BankRate.com, before deciding to become a landlord:

Mortgage payments must be made regardless of if the property is inhabited.
Costly repairs and maintenance work cannot be delayed if they inconvenience the tenant.
Disputes with tenants could require legal representation and legal fees.
There are many costs involved in renting a home – it is recommended that landlords budget 25-30% of the rent to be used for maintenance, repairs, or emergency. This should be a key factor when deciding how much rent to charge in order to break even.

If you are interested in buying or selling Mobile/Eastern Shore AL real estate, please call me at 866-560-7474 or visit JudySells.com.

Mobile Eastern Shore AL Real Estate Sales May Rise Modestly Before Marked Increase in Late 2008

Morgan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:45:07 +0000

A modest gain in the level of Mobile/Eastern Shore AL real estate sales is possible over the next couple months, and an improvement is forecast for the second half of this year as more buyers are able to access affordable mortgages, according to the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors^®.

The Pending Home Sales Index,* a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in April, rose 6.3 percent to 88.2 from a reading of 83.0 in March. It’s the highest index since last October, but remains 13.1 percent lower than April 2007 when it stood at 101.5.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said pending sales contracts have picked up notably in areas undergoing significant price drops. “Bargain hunters have entered the market en masse, especially in areas that have experienced double-digit price declines, but it’s unclear if they are investors or owner-occupants,” he said.

This is a great time to consider buying Mobile/Eastern Shore AL real estate. To learn more about the current Mobile/Eastern Shore AL real estate market, please call me at 866-560-7474 or visit JudySells.com.