I appreciate anything that is a bargain...that's one of the reasons why I love to shop at TJ Maxx!  Free stuff is even better, especially with our economy in the slumps and most people cutting back on spending.  So, if you are looking for something to do that's FREE, here is a list of things to see and do in Florence Alabama and the Shoals area that won't cost you a penny:   Go for a hike: Shoal Creek Preserve (Florence), Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge (Florence), Cane Creek Canyon National Preserve (Tuscumbia), the TVA trails (Muscle Shoals) and Rock Spring Nature Trail (Cherokee) Picnic and play at the parks:  Deibert Park and River Heritage Park (Florence), Riverfront Park(Sheffield), Killen Park(Killen), Spring Park (Tuscumbia), Joe Wheeler State Park (Rogersville)...and there ar... 03/01/2009

First-time homebuyers...are you ready??  With the signing of the economic stimulus legislation (officially known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) by President Obama, if you are considering buying your first home in 2009, you have just received a nice bonus!  Here is my understanding of the main things you need to know about the first time homebuyer tax credit: 1.  Applies to homes purchased on or after Jan. 1, 2009 and before Dec. 1, 2009. 2.  Credit amount = 10% of the purchase price or $8000, whichever is less. 3.  Must be a first-time homebuyer (defined as not having owned a principal residence in the previous 3 yrs.) 4.  Applies to any single family residence that will be used as a principal residence. 5.  Full amount of credit available for individuals with modified a... 02/22/2009

"Low Rates Boost Housing", a recent article in the Florence, AL local newspaper, the Times Daily, noted that it's a perfect time for for buyers to buy and for sellers to sell...at least in our area.  If you can buy right now, the interest rates are great!  If you are thinking about selling, don't wait.  The homes in the Shoals area are NOT declining in market value.  As long as the property is priced right, it should sell.    Deidre Berry ~ Florence, AL RealtorThe search for Florence AL homes for sale starts HERE!     02/19/2009

Now that we are a couple of weeks into the New Year, how are you doing on your New Year's resolutions?  We all have probably made them and possibly have already broken some.  I usually only think of my own resolutions, but I just read this article from RISMedia that suggests a few great resolutions for buyers and sellers.  The author, Robert Jenson, CEO of The Jenson Group located in Las Vegas states: "While tricks of the trade abound to give buyers and sellers a leg up on the competition, there are also a number of basic pitfalls buyers and sellers should be sure to avoid lest they commence their real estate venture on shaky ground." With this in mind, Jenson offers these New Year's Real Estate Resolutions to help buyers and sellers avoid common blunders and get the deal done:      (Re... 01/20/2009

It almost felt spring-like today in Florence, Alabama!  I know I shouldn't even be complaining about our cold temperatures here because they don't even compare to those in the North.  But it's all relative, right?  We were at 7 degrees one morning last week...brrrr!!!!  This time of year would normally average somewhere in the 30's.  For those that think it never gets cold in the South, think again :) This picture shows what my husband called "frozen fog" on our crepe myrtle tree.  He may be pulling my leg...I've never heard of it (have you?), but I thought it looked really neat!                         Deidre Berry ~ Florence, AL Realtor The search for Florence, AL homes for sale starts HERE! 01/18/2009

Here are a few of the sights you might see around Florence, AL and the Shoals area during the Christmas season.  I know there are many more...so email me if you want to be included next year!     Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and especially good will, peace,and many blessings for the New Year!     Deidre BerryEmail:  deidre@HomesOfTheShoals.comWeb:  http://HomesOfTheShoals.comThe search for Florence, AL homes for sale starts HERE! 12/23/2008

This was emailed to me by a friend and I thought it would be a fun to pass on.  Great idea for a family game at Christmas!  Delete my answers, fill in your own, and share...A Christmas Quiz for You1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both2. Real tree or artificial? I have an artificial one, but I would rather have a real one!3. When do you put up the tree? Beginning of December4. When do you take the tree down? By the New Year5. Do you like eggnog? Love it!6. Favorite gift received as a child? Barbie airplane (anyone remember those?)7. Hardest person to buy for?  My husband...only because he can't wait for Christmas and buys himself anything that might have been a good gift.8. Easiest person to buy for? My girls 9. Do you have a nativity scene? No10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Both11. Wo... 12/12/2008

After a very dry couple of years, Florence Alabama and the Shoals area has finally had a decent amount of rain!  According to the National Weather Service, Florence had almost 4.5" of rain over Tuesday and Wednesday...and it's still raining.  From what I heard on the news earlier today, that's more rain over a couple of days than we have had since the rains from Hurricane Ivan in 2004.  The creeks and rivers around the area have been pretty low, so hopefully this will help fill them up a little.  Here is a Times Daily article about the weather in Florence, AL over the last few days:  "Mixed Bag of Weather". On top of that, we may be in for some snow later this evening.  Yes, it does snow in Alabama.  Usually it's just a light dusting that doesn't stick around very long...but just the th... 12/11/2008

Two recent newspaper articles back up what many Florence AL real estate agents have been saying over the last few months: 1) Our housing market has not been affected as much as the rest of the country, and 2) the homes in Florence and the Shoals are still very affordable.  See the articles below for the scoop!  Shoals Bucking The Trend - Economic picture rosier than mostBy: Michelle Rupe EubanksStaff WriterWrapping up third-quarter figures and heading into the last quarter of the year, housing and revenue numbers for the Shoals indicate that the economic woes being experienced elsewhere in the country have yet to take as strong a hold locally.  Read more...   Financial Report - Shoals housing still most affordable The housing market in the Shoals remains the most affordable in the state... 11/27/2008

Fall is my favorite time of year.  The crisp air, the vivid colors, the renewed energy...I wish it would last longer! I almost missed the leaves changing this year in Florence.  My family and I had left for a week's vacation on Oct. 31st, and nothing much had happened.  Because of the low rainfall in the Shoals this year, I thought we might not see all of the colors.   I was wrong!  We got back and in just that week's time the trees had transformed.  If you haven't seen Florence, Alabama and the Shoals area in the fall, here is bit of the beautiful scenery you're missing...    Make a Smilebox slideshow   Deidre BerryEmail:  deidre@HomesOfTheShoals.comWeb:  http://HomesOfTheShoals.com   The search for Florence, AL homes for sale starts HERE! 11/12/2008

Here are the statistics for the Florence, Alabama real estate market in Oct. 2008 as compared to Oct. 2007.    Florence, AL Home Sales (including the Shoals area)Oct. 2008   Oct. 2008 Oct. 2007 Monthly Sales 121 159 Avg. List Price $119,825 $133,718 Avg. Sale Price $114,647 $126,439 % Diff. (Sale/List) 95.68% 94.56% Current Inventory 1195 1033 Months of Inv. 9.88 6.50 All information taken from the Shoals Area MLS as of Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008.  Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Although the housing market in Florence and the Shoals is still stable, there is a downward trend in the number of homes sold and the average listing/sales price.  The months of inventory available is at it's highest point since January.  We are entering a period where home sales normally slow do... 11/08/2008

In years past, it has been recommended that buyers get "pre-qualified" by a lender for a mortgage loan.  This usually means that you spend a few minutes on the phone giving financial information to a lender so you can find out your maximum mortgage amount.  Getting pre-qualified is helpful because you know the price range of homes you can afford.  However, the process doesn't guarantee that your mortgage application will be accepted and unknown problems often surface after you have made an offer on a house. If you want to be in the strongest negotiating position possible, get PRE-APPROVED!  This happens when you provide the same paperwork needed for a formal loan application and the lender has checked and verified all of your information, such as credit, employment, debt/income ratio an... 10/28/2008

It's amazing how many people are thinking about or wanting to relocate to the Florence, AL area.  Just over the past month I have talked with potential buyers from Texas, Florida, Ohio and Tennessee, and showed homes to buyers from Texas, Illinois and Delaware.  Over the past year, I have personally helped clients buy homes in the Shoals area who moved from Michigan, Tennessee and Wisconsin.  And this doesn't even count the buyers moving from within the state!  Now this may not seem unusual for those in BIG cities, but for our smaller area, I find it really interesting that we are getting so many people moving here from out of state.   I should include myself in that group....we moved from Ohio!  (More about why we chose to move in another post.)     So what's the draw?  Or as those tha... 10/22/2008

It's been a long time (high school days) since I have been to one of those haunted houses that pop up around this time of year.  My husband had been talking about wanting to go...so on the spur of the moment last night we decided to try one out!      Graystone Manor in Killen, AL has been rated as one of the best and scariest haunted attractions in the South.  I have to admit...I screamed (and laughed because of my screaming) through the whole thing!  It was much better than the ones I remember from high school.  This is the Manor's second year of business and it seems to be pretty popular if the crowds waiting to get in are an indication.  It was built in an old flea market and takes advantages of twists and turns through different rooms and even several trips outside to the "graveyard... 10/17/2008

When looking for a new home, we all want to know about the area where we might be moving, right?  We want to know about the neighborhoods and if they meet our needs.  We want to know about the crime statistics and about the schools.  "What's the neighborhood like?" is a question I am asked frequently as a real estate agent in Florence, Alabama - especially from out of town clients.  As much as I would like to answer that question...guess what?  I can't.  I have no way of knowing why you are asking and federal law (The Fair Housing Act) prohibits me - and all Realtors - from discriminating in any way based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or handicap.  There are a few things that you can do to find out about neighborhoods in Florence, Alabama and the Shoal... 10/09/2008

My goal is to keep you, the consumer, updated on the real estate market trends in Florence, AL and the Shoals area.  Each month I will be spotlighting the previous month's sales history and giving you a comparison with the prior year.   September did show a slight decrease in the number of homes sold.  Properties are staying on the market a little longer, some buyers are finding it harder to be approved for a mortgage and the media has everyone thinking that the sky is going to fall!  However, don't believe everything you hear!  The Shoals area market overall is holding steady. To get started, Aug. and Sept. 2008 statistics are shown below.  The best comparisons are the same months by year (example: compare Aug. 2007 with Aug. 2008).  Comparing consecutive months may be misleading due t... 10/06/2008

Collin Raye was in Florence this past Thursday evening for a performance to raise funds for Brooks Elementary, a local school in Killen.  For those of you that did not see him, you missed quite a treat!  I have to admit that I almost didn't go...it was a school night (kids had to study for tests), I had a closing late in the day (not complaining about that!), the day had been hectic, no one had eaten dinner...you know how it goes.  But my girls got some studying done and I found a little more energy, so the whole family decided to grab some fast food and head to the Florence Coliseum - and I'm glad we did. Florence doesn't usually have a lot of "big" concerts.  At $20/person, I thought this was a good deal.  There are not many times that you'll get to see a well-known country artist at ... 10/04/2008

As mentioned in my previous post "It's Not All Gloom and Doom", the real estate market in Florence Alabama and the Shoals area has seen very gradual and modest growth.  Here is a look back over the last 5 years at the real estate market in the Shoals (including Florence).  Statistics were taken from the Shoals Area MLS. Year Avg. Sold Price Total Homes Sold 2003 $107,409 1291 2004 $114,038 1448 2005 $115,788 1654 2006 $121,472 1671 2007 $132,088 1802 As of Sept. 25, 2008, the average sold price is $133,500 and there have been 1215 homes sold in the Shoals area.  Deidre BerryEmail:  deidre@HomesOfTheShoals.comWeb:  http://HomesOfTheShoals.com Homes for Sale in Florence, AL 09/27/2008

Guess what?  The real estate market isn't bad everywhere.  The media reminds me of my 13 & 14 yr. old daughters who tend to exaggerate with statements like "EVERYONE got a bad grade on the test" (like that's going to excuse their bad grade!) or "ALL of my friends have a cell phone" (my girls are going to have to wait a little longer).  The media needs to take a look at some of the real estate markets that are actually doing well...like real estate in Florence, Alabama.  We have seen very gradual and modest growth in the Florence, AL real estate market over the last few years.  Yes, it's now taking a little longer for homes to sell and we have seen more foreclosures, but overall things are good!  Of course, we didn't have the dramatic spike in prices that many areas of the country had be... 09/24/2008

What a great week for Florence, Alabama and the Shoals area!  We had the privilege of hosting the Alabama Assoc. of Realtors 2008 convention at the Marriott Shoals Hotel & Convention Center last week, Sept. 16-19.  This was the first time that the convention had been in Florence, and to make it extra special, the new president for AAR is a local...Joe Rhodes.  I attended several of the CEU classes and would highly recommend Dick Betts and Anne Powell.  By the end of Thurs. evening, my brain was on overload!  But after listening to them, I'm fired up and ready to put some new practices in place...like blogging!  Now I just have to take the rest of the information and apply it... Judging from the comments of out-of-town agents, Florence made a good impression.  I think many were surprised... 09/22/2008