Each year, the Parade of Homes tour is set for Spring here in Birmingham.  Hundreds of homes, both new and resale homes, are entered into the tour.  This year's Parade Tour is currently running through April 25, 2010. During the first few days, traffic is a bit heavier throughout most of the new neighborhoods as cars and onlookers come through to notice the homes, the architecture, the development and the amenities of the area. One of the first thing potential buyers will see is a home's curb appeal.  Even if you don't have a green thumb, weeding, cutting the yard, trimming back bushes and dressing up flower beds can add value to your home.  Take a good look at your landscaping and see if you need to replant any dying trees, remove weeds, and clean up excess debris or trash.  Even if yo... 04/25/2010

When seniors decide to embark upon on a new chapter in their lives, sometimes it's not by choice.  It may be due to economic reasons, death of a spouse, or the inability to maintain a large home.  Whatever the case may be, staging for seniors requires a professional who is familiar with not only client sensitivity, but with their client's lifestyle and functionality of their new living space. Staged living or interior redesign for active seniors will be appreciated as many older Americans choose to live in resort style communities and to downsize their living accommodations.  Deciding what items to keep and what items to donate or discard can be a daunting decision, especially if they have lived in one home for more than 10 years.  All the mementos, pictures and personal accessories tha... 04/14/2010

    WE'VE JUST HELPED ANOTHER HOMEOWNER SELL THEIR HOME.  JOIN THE CELEBRATION AND RECEIVE A 25% DISCOUNT ON ALL OUR STAGING AND INTERIOR REDESIGN SERVICES. THIS OFFER IS AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME THROUGH APRIL 15, 2010. DID YOU KNOW THAT PROFESSIONAL HOME STAGING CAN BE CONSIDERED AN ELIGIBLE ADVERTISING EXPENSE UNDER  IRS TAX RULES?   We are a full service home staging real estate merchandising company offering stage to sell real estate staging and interior redesign services  Save 25% on all Staging and Interior Redesign Services This offer ends April 15, 2010 THE STAGEHAND HOME STAGING AND REDESIGN SERVICES WWW.THESTAGEHAND.INFO 1-888-STGE NOW!                                                                                                    04/06/2010

Smokers pay more for health insurance premiums because they are considered a high risk for heart disease, strokes and heart attacks.  Smokers also pay more for homeowners insurance because of the risks they pose for potential home fire hazards. They can even pay more for auto insurance because smoking is considered a distraction that can lead to auto accidents, not to mention, that they have been targeted as speeders within the auto insurance industry. And if those reasons alone aren't enough to make you quit, aside from the immediate health benefits, when it comes to selling a home, smoking puts sellers at a modest monetary loss from the start.  If you are a moderate smoker who smokes in your home and in your car, smoke has permeated not only into your home's walls, flooring, ceiling,... 04/04/2010

  1st Quarter 2010 Market Statistics for Homes Sold in Bluff Park, Hoover AL Single Family Residences   Units Sold:  15 Average List Price:   $206,386 Average Sold Price:  $195,898 Average Days on Market:   79         If you would like updated information or details for this or any community in or around Birmingham, Jefferson or Shelby Counties, please feel free to call or send me an email.  I would love to hear from you!     Public comments are disabled on this blog to prevent spam.  I would love to hear from you.....please call or email me! Courtesy of Ann Allen, e-Pro, SRES, ASP 205.902.4868 Keller Williams One Chase Corporation Drive, Suite 150 Hoover, AL  35244   © 2010 Ann Allen, All rights reserved   Photo taken by Ann Allen, and may not be reproduced without express written perm... 04/03/2010

    1st Quarter 2010 Market Statistics for Homes Sold in Riverchase, Hoover AL Single Family Residences   Units Sold:  6 Average List Price:    $284,266 Average Sold Price:   $268,500 Average Days on Market:   103         If you would like updated information or details for this or any community in or around Birmingham, Jefferson or Shelby Counties, please feel free to call or send me an email.  I would love to hear from you!     Public comments are disabled on this blog to prevent spam.  I would love to hear from you.....please call or email me! Courtesy of Ann Allen, e-Pro, SRES, ASP 205.902.4868 Keller Williams One Chase Corporation Drive, Suite 150 Hoover, AL  35244   © 2010 Ann Allen, All rights reserved   Photo taken by Ann Allen, and may not be reproduced without express written ... 04/02/2010

  1st Quarter 2010 Market Statistics for Homes Sold in Caldwell Crossings, Hoover AL (Single Family Residences)   Units Sold:  4 Average List Price:   $351,175 Average Sold Price:  $330,625 Average Days on Market: 105         If you would like updated information or details for this or any community in or around Birmingham, Jefferson or Shelby Counties, please feel free to call or send me an email.  I would love to hear from you!     Public comments are disabled on this blog to prevent spam.  I would love to hear from you.....please call or email me! Courtesy of Ann Allen, e-Pro, SRES, ASP 205.902.4868 Keller Williams One Chase Corporation Drive, Suite 150 Hoover, AL  35244   © 2010 Ann Allen, All rights reserved   Photo taken by Ann Allen, and may not be reproduced without express writ... 04/01/2010

Shades Mountain Park Hoover AL is a multi-field little league baseball facility located near the heart of the community that features 9 fields on 14 acres with playground, picnic, concessions, practice and hitting areas, bleacher seating and parking.  This facility draws players from such schools as Bluff Park, South Shades Crest, Deer Valley, Trace Crossings and others.  Currently, the neighborhoods of Lake Crest, Lake Cyrus, Trace Crossings, Russett Woods, Bluff Park and others are represented in the league.   Shades Mountain Park, located just across the Preserve subdivision on Al Seier Road north of John Hawkins Parkway, is a community managed 100% by volunteer parents that help with everything from fund-raising to coaching to field maintenance to creating a facility that, in my opi... 04/01/2010

For those of us that live in the South, we are on our back decks as soon as the weather permits - family barbecues are a way of living here in the south. . . and grilling time has just begun!   If your deck is showing signs of splitting, fading or graying - it's time to clean and reseal the wood to keep it protected and prevent further damage.  Replace all damaged and rotting wood.  Apply a deck cleaning solution with a pump sprayer according to the manufacturer's directions.  Let sit to penetrate the wood and power wash the deck solution, excess dirt, grime, discoloration, and pollen off the deck.  Let the wood dry at least 24-48 hours before applying a wood stain or sealant.  Apply using a pump spray, brush or roller brush, depending on the product chosen.  There are several newer pro... 03/31/2010

IF YOU'RE SELLING YOUR HOME, most likely your appliances will convey with the sale of the home.  Most often, these are overlooked when preparing your home for sale and while it's on the market.  We think about cleaning the exterior and making them sparkle on the outside,  but if the kitchen appliances are staying with the home, chances are potential buyers are going to look inside.  This means the dishwasher should be clean and free of any food debris on the interior, especially around the door areas where it most often collects.  Depending on the type of dishwasher you have this can be removed with either damp cleaning cloth or with a solution of bleach and water. Run your dishwasher empty with 2 tablespoons of bleach (not recommended for stainless steel . For stainless steel run thro... 03/31/2010

We've just helped another homeowner receive a contract on their home in record time!  We staged this home located at 1304 Buckhead Way in Vestavia, Alabama in late September, and in early February, it went under contract and is ready to close any day!   Join the celebration and receive a 25% discount on all our home staging and interior redesign services for you or for your clients.  This includes our written and verbal consultation only services. This offer is available for a limited time only, so don't miss out! We are Birmingham's Leading Real Estate Staging and Merchandising Services!   Save 25% on all our staging and interior redesign services! Call us now! 888-784-3669   March 2010 Early Spring SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER now that the bulbs are beginning to emerge and the fo... 03/26/2010

Acquiring a home in the Hoover AL Country Club Highlands community currently represents a great value for those seeking a mature area with larger lots and convenience to shopping and downtown.  With the announcement last week that Hoover Country Club was commencing a comprehensive renovation plan, this area just got even better in terms of value, even for homes not on the course itself.  See Birmingham News for link to the article this past week.  Given the golf course's dominant presence in this area, the Country Club Highlands community should benefit nicely from the upgraded course in coming years as the economy continues to recover.  Improved landscaping on the greens and fairways and the addition of water hazards will help the entire area, especially the homes bordering (or with a ... 03/21/2010

2024 Waterford Place, Hoover AL GREAT LOCATION - BEAUTIFULLY UPDATED CONDO Overview Maps Photos Features Description $120,000 CondominiumFor Sale Main Features 2 Bedrooms2 Bathrooms Location 2024 Waterford PlaceHoover, AL 35244 Ann Allen Keller Williams Realty(205) 902-4868Ann@AnnAllenTeam.comhttp://www.AnnAllenTeam.com Listed by: Keller Williams Hoover See more Hoover, AL real estate for sale         Public comments are disabled on this blog to prevent spam.  I would love to hear from you.....please call or email me!     Courtesy of Ann Allen, e-PRO®, SRES, ASP 205.902.4868 Keller Williams One Chase Corporation Drive, Suite 150 Hoover, AL  35244   © 2010 Ann Allen, All rights reserved   Photos taken by Ann Allen, and may not be reproduced without express written permission of Ann Alle... 03/06/2010

  2024 Waterford Place in Hoover AL.....$120,000 GREAT LOCATION!  Walking distance to Riverchase Galleria!   2 Bedroom, 2 Bath Condo in a quiet neighborhood with lots of trees     You will love this quiet, wooded neighborhood that is so close to great shopping and dining that you could walk if you wanted to.  This condo is an upstairs unit and has been updated with hardwoods in the living/dining room and halls, new carpet in the bedrooms, lighting, refrigerator and oven (all less than two years old).  An open floor plan, the living/dining room features a wood burning fireplace.  Condo has a security system.  A covered deck overlooks a private back yard with lots of trees.  The master bedroom is large enough for a king size bed and the master bath has a walk-in closet and tile shower.  A... 02/20/2010

One of the great things about Hoover Alabama is its convenient location.  Depending on where you are in town, it is 10-15 miles to downtown Birmingham City Center Business District and UAB.  We also have the Galleria Shopping Center and the newer Patton Creek Shopping Center located at the intersection of I-65 and I-459. The Summit Shopping Center is located at the corner of US HWY 280 and I-459.  One of the things that aids the convenience is the number of highways.  Highways are great, however, they can create a lot of noise.   If you live near a highway there are some things you can do. To improve the noise INSIDE your house (especially in older homes), you can upgrade your windows.  Windows have a STC rating.  The higher the STC rating, the more noise resistant.  Now would be a good... 02/17/2010

Homebuilder Rusty Fowler Finishes Another Home in The Preserve   Another ecstatic Hoover, Alabama, homeowner has just moved into their new home in The Preserve. At the corner of Restoration Drive and Fameflower Street is the newest home in this fabulous community which features turn of the century architecture, wide front porches and upscale amenities.   Rusty Fowler began building homes in Lake Crest in 2004, and continued a successful homebuilding career here in Hoover before being invited to join the select group of builders in The Preserve in 2007.  Throughout 2009, when many stopped construction, homebuilder Rusty Fowler could be found on the job site in The Preserve overseeing the construction of several custom homes.    Rusty's wife Vicki is responsible for the interior design an... 02/13/2010

It's finally here, SNOW!  The flakes started falling abut 10:30 A.M. and were coming down good until 3:00.  The last snow day we had was a NON-EVENT - very disappointing.  But today it is just a tad below freezing and the flakes are falling and sticking to the trees and grass.  Here are some pictures to enjoy. I love the way the snow accentuates the shapes of the branches.  So this Hoover Alabama snow is NOTHING compared to what the folks in Washington and Pennsylvania have had, but it sure is beautiful! 02/12/2010

Home Sales Hoover Alabama January 2010   What was the real estate market like in Hoover Alabama in January 2010?  Well, Home sales were better in Hoover than they were in other parts of Birmingham.   We saw 57 home sales in Hoover, Alabama in January.  This was down from the 63 that sold in December, but up considerably from the 46 that sold this time last year. Prices ranged from $89,000 for a 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath, condo in Patton Creek to $757,239 for a presale new construction in the Preserve.  The Birmingham Home and Garden Inspiration Home that was designed by local architect, Tim Barron, also sold in the Preserve for a purchase price of $717,500.  Five homes sold in Trace Crossing, 5 homes sold in Lake Cyrus and 12 sold in Ross Bridge. The average sales price was $285,356 and the med... 02/11/2010

As your Hoover AL Realtor, I want to give a brief overview of why I'm your best choice as agent in this area.  You see, I don't believe that because you may have a brother or mother in the real estate business "obligates" you to USE someone in this business.  While I also work for buyers and sellers in other parts of the greater Birmingham metro area, as a Hoover AL Realtor, not only do I live here and work here, my wife works here, my kids go to school and play sports here and I shop here to name some MINOR reasons to consider me.  I say MINOR because that simply isn't enough.  Just knowing somebody or knowing somebody that lives in an area and seems likable is a poor reason unless they can really help you execute a great real estate deal!     Your main reason for selecting me as your ... 01/29/2010

Home Buyer Tax Credit - Who Can Qualify   I've spoken to several people lately about the Home Buyer Tax Credit.  Most people think it is ONLY for first time home buyers, and that WAS the case up until 11/6/2009 when they expanded it to include people who currently own a house and want a new one. A Tax Credit of up to $6500 is available for homeowners who have owned and resided in a home for 5 consecutive years out of the last eight.  This repeat buyer Tax Credit is good if you buy a new house by 4/30/2010 (if the new house is under contract by 4/30/2010, you have until 6/30/2010 to close). If you own more than one house when you buy the new house you don't qualify. So, if you have lived in your current house for the last 5 years, you qualify for the Tax Credit. You can buy the new house... 01/29/2010