Birmingham-Hoover Real Estate

The Russet Woods Hoover AL school rezoning plan, as detailed in the October 6, 2010 Birmingham News has been anticipated for about a year and really should have very little impact on the demand for housing in the area whichever direction the system decides to go.  All Hoover City schools, includi...

The Birmingham AL mortgage market appears to be shifting away from FHA / VA / RD financing to conventional FNMA / FHLMC.  Coupled with a rise in the average list and sold prices, conventional financing represents a larger share of the market.  This is good news for the Birmingham AL mortgage mark...

The Birmingham AL MLS market continues to show softness measured in terms of months-inventory, a relative measure of the balance between supply and demand.  Sales volume for August, 2010 was comparable to July, 2010 but well below August, 2009 (decrease of about 15%).  Taking a look at the chart ...

Barbara Kiviat wrote an article in the September 6th issue of Time Magazine titled "The Case Against Home Ownership" which suggests that the benefits of home ownership are really mythical; it goes on to suggest that homeownership (single family detached) is something the government has "coaxed" A...

Birmingham AL MLS Market statistics for May, 2010 will show continued improvement when final numbers are released in the next week or so.  While numbers are still being finalized, projections for the month of May show the Birmingham AL MLS Market with better balance between supply (inventory leve...

The Birmingham AL MLS market has stabilized with widely-publicized positive news including 19.6% sales growth over April, 2009 and 7% year-to-date sales growth over the same time in 2009.  It is certainly welcome news to all but particularly those of us in the industry that depend on it each mont...

Lake Crest Hoover AL is a 470 home neighborhood that is centrally located and offers quality living in a high growth area of the city.  Featuring a community pool and tennis facility, the subdivision has a lake along with sidewalks, curbs and superior landscaping at all entrances to the developme...

William Johnson, an agent in San Diego, makes some interesting observations and points about the where the real estate market is headed as we approach the expiration of the federal tax credit incentives.  I agree with his overall assessments and believe they apply to the Birmingham real estate ma...

One of the best home renovation financing options for owner-occupants in Birmingham AL is the FHA 203K Renovation Loan.  With a market rate about 1/2% higher than traditional FHA loans, the program allows a buyer to purchase (or refinance) a home that may need significant work with financing that...

The Birmingham AL mortgage market continues to hold steady with increased purchase volumes being offset by decreased refinance activity.  Given March's home sales strength locally, which enjoyed a 14% gain over the prior year (i.e., from March 2009 to March 2010), coupled with continued good news...