WHEN I THINK OF A LIBRARY I THINK OF BOOKS. Now I like to read, so this is not a bad thought. But when I think of the HOOVER LIBRARY, I think of much, much more. The Hoover Library is part of the Jefferson County library system, so they not only have all the books you will see on the shelves, but they can get you any book within the Jefferson County system.  They also have video tapes, so you can check out movies for FREE.  Free is a really good price. During the summer the Hoover Library has a great children's reading program and they have entertainment on a regular basis so you have activities you can bring your children to for free - to keep them from being too bored.  During the year, they have weekly age appropriate storytelling so your preschoolers can get to enjoy reading at an e... 08/09/2008

Here is how the month of June looked for Birmingham Alabama Real Estate. As we have always stated that as a homeowner, potential resident, potential seller, or as a real estate consultant, we think it is always important to know the stats about what is happening with Hoover AL Real Estate. For this report we wanted to focus in on Ross Bridge Real Estate in Hoover, Alabama. June 2008 Listed Properties For June there were 33 Newly Listed Ross Bridge Homes for Sale. The Average Price was $309,346. The Median Price was $308,840. June 2008 Sold Properties For June there were 17 Sold homes in Ross Bridge AL Real Estate in Hoover, Alabama. The Average Price was $377,126. The Median Price was $332,440 with 110 Average Days on Market, at 98% of list price. Currently active as of 6/11/08 Current... 08/07/2008

Here is how the First quarter looked for Birmingham Alabama Real Estate. As we have always stated that as a homeowner, potential resident, potential seller, or as a real estate consultant, we think it is always important to know the stats about what is happening with Hoover AL Real Estate. For this report we wanted to focus in on The Preserve Real Estate in Hoover, Alabama. Third QuarterThFirst quarter 2008 Listed Properties For the First quarter there were 26 Newly Listed The Preserve Homes for Sale. The Average Price was $559,900 and The Median Price was $555,279. First Quarter 2008 Sold Properties For the First quarter there was 1 Sold homes in The Preserve AL Real Estate in Hoover, Alabama. The Average Price was $551,549. The Median Price was $551,549 with 0 Average Days on Market,... 08/07/2008

My Husband and I went window shopping today in Hoover, Alabama.  Not the kind where you walk down the street and look at new clothes through the store window, but shopping FOR windows. My house was built in 1986 in Hoover, Alabama, and several of the windows are loosing their seals, not opening or closing well, and one has a crack.  So, we have decided it is time to replace them. What does loosing its seal mean?  We have double pane windows.  That means we have two panes of glass with argon gas in between.  This gas adds additional insulation so the heat stays out - or in - depending on what time of year it is.  When the seal begins to deteriorate, moisture will form on the inside of the window and it will eventually scar the window so it appears foggy.  At first it resembles a dirty wi... 08/07/2008

 TAX CREDIT EQUALS MONEY IN YOUR POCKET New housing bill gives First Time Home Buyers a TAX CREDIT of 10% of the purchase price for a home they purchase.  This means if you buy a home in Hoover, Alabama that costs $75,000 or more, you will receive a $7500 tax credit.   The maximum you can receive is $7500, but even if you pay a lot more than that, $7500 is still a nice little sum.  And, get this, a 1st Time Homebuyer is defined as someone who hasn't owned a house in the last 3 years. What a great time to Buy A Home in Hoover, Alabama.  The new housing bill does a lot of things but the biggest and best for first time home buyers is this tax credit.  Now, you will have to pay the credit back over the next 15 years, but it is the equivalent of an interest free loan. If you were waiting for... 08/04/2008

Grilling Vegetables Two things are for sure in the summer here is Hoover, Alabama - Hot Muggy Days and Bar-B-Que. Grilling Out is a great way to get together with family and friends, and football season is right around the corner which is grilling out on the road (or from your tailgate).  Alabama is famous for Bar-B-Que, especially pork.  That is one of the things I really miss when I travel is GOOD Bar-B-Que, and the ribs, Oh My Gosh!!!  I received an e-mail yesterday asking me to vote for the best bar-b-que ribs in Birmingham and it was really HARD because we have so many great rib places (I would have to say Dreamland is my favorite). My son invited us over for "ribs" a few weeks ago and they were really good - I was SO proud!  With the Bar-B-Que comes all the fixins like the beans a... 08/02/2008

Here is how the first quarter looked for Birmingham Alabama Real Estate. As we have always stated that as a homeowner, potential resident, potential seller, or as a real estate consultant, we think it is always important to know the stats about what is happening with Hoover AL Real Estate. For this report we wanted to focus in on Brook Highland Real Estate in Hoover, Alabama. Second Quarter 2008 Listed Properties For the second quarter there were 37 Newly Listed Homes for Sale. The Average Price was $355,097 and The Median Price was $319,900. Second Quarter 2008 Sold Properties For the second quarter there were 12 Sold homes in Brook Highland AL Real Estate in Hoover, Alabama. The Average Price was $398,270. The Median Price was $330,775 with 72 Average Days on Market, at 95% of list pr... 08/02/2008

Here is how the first quarter looked for Birmingham Alabama Real Estate. As we have always stated that as a homeowner, potential resident, potential seller, or as a real estate consultant, we think it is always important to know the stats about what is happening with Hoover AL Real Estate. For this report we wanted to focus in on Brook Highland Real Estate in Hoover, Alabama. First Quarter 2008 Listed Properties For the first quarter there were 43Newly Listed Homes for Sale. The Average Price was $371,671 and The Median Price was $352,200. First Quarter 2008 Sold Properties For the first quarter there were 17 Sold homes in Brook Highland AL Real Estate in Hoover, Alabama. The Average Price was $385,350. The Median Price was $352,500 with 75 Average Days on Market, at 96% of list price.... 08/02/2008

When looking at buying A Home, one of the biggest yes or no items in the buyer's mind is the BATHROOM.  I have seen people turn down great backyards, super dens and even updated kitchens with the latest bells and whistles because the bathroom is too small, or the tile is the wrong color. Buyers should know that fixing up the bathroom is NOT that hard.  If the room is too small, many times you can take in a nearby closet space or take out part of another room.  These are easy fixes that a contractor can do fairly easily and don't add square footage (and additional cost) to the house.  Wallpaper, well it is not permanent!  It CAN be taken down and a fresh coat of paint will really make a HUGE difference. That outdated colored tile can be replaced - or painted.  Don't just slather on regul... 08/01/2008

Next week the kids will be going back to school in Hoover, Alabama.  Many of the counties and cities in Alabama will be participating in the "Sales Tax Holiday" which starts at midnight on Friday morning, 8/1/08, and runs through midnight Sunday night.  This Tax Holiday means there is no sales tax on items purchased for school such as clothes and school supplies.  There are limits on some items such as $100 per clothing item (so those $149 tennis shoes will have tax on them) and $50 per school supply item.  There are tax breaks on computers as well, but there are certain rules.  Click here to find out more specifics. Not all taxes are waived.  For instance the 1% tax charged by Jefferson County for education will still be charged - imagine that!  But considering most sales tax in this a... 07/31/2008

It's that time of year in Hoover, Alabama where baby birds are leaving the nest.  There is a lot of squawking and parents are stressed.  I could be talking about Back To School, but that is a topic for another day.    I looked out the window and saw a baby bird that was on the ground and could not fly.  Suddenly, one of the neighborhood kids who had been playing nearby appeared and lifted the baby bird to a tree limb while his brothers looked on.  I was so surprised and happy that these boys, who are normally very rough, were being so careful with the baby bird.   Video games are SO POPULAR these days. If you talk to the parents of any boy and most girls, you will hear the woes of how hard it is to pry your children away from the TV set and the video controller.  Today's youth spend les... 07/30/2008

It's time to look at June market statistics for Birmingham AL Real Estate. As we have always stated that as a homeowner, potential resident, potential seller, or as a real estate consultant, we think it is always important to know the stats about what is happening with Hoover AL Real Estate June 2008 Listed Properties For the month of June there were 275 Newly Listed Hoover Homes for Sale. The Average Price was $314,671. The Median Price was $269,900. June 2008 Sold Properties For the month of June there were 148 Sold homes in Hoover AL Real Estate. The Average Price was $303,112. The Median Price was $266,800, with 82 Average Days on Market at 97% of list price Currently Active as of 7/9/08 Currently there are 1207 Active Hoover Homes for Sale with an Average Price of $382,150. The Me... 07/26/2008

Every day when I turn on the radio, or look at the news on msn, I see bad news about the economy and the housing market.  Some of this bad news is not really true - it's just stuff that sells.  Everybody I talk to has this terrible picture of the housing market right now and a lot of what they think is just NOT TRUE. Home Sales in Hoover Alabama are good. I put two houses on the market last week and one of them already has a contract on it.  In fact we had a second offer that we turned down and an agent called today and her client wants to write a backup offer (that way they can be first in line if the current contract falls through). If the housing market were as bad as people say, this would NOT be happening. Granted your house has to be "Perfect" and Priced Right but it can sell in t... 07/24/2008

The LivingInGreaterBirmingham Team launches the Hoover Real Estate Channel! In our efforts to provide meaningful and useful information to those either buying or selling Real Estate in Birmingham Alabama, we know it is important to know about the areas in which you are looking. Located in both Jefferson and Shelby Counties. Hoover, Alabama sits, ever expanding as a growing community. Named after William H. Hoover, a local business owner, Hoover was incorporated in 1967 and has grown ever since. For instance, Hoover now is home for the Birmingham Barons, Birmingham Alabama's minor league Baseball team at Region's Park and The Hoover Galleria, one of the largest shopping centers and multi-use complexes in the South East at over 2 million square feet. Below we embeded the first video for t... 07/18/2008

Here is how the month of May looked for Birmingham Alabama Real Estate. As we have always stated that as a homeowner, potential resident, potential seller, or as a real estate consultant, we think it is always important to know the stats about what is happening with Hoover AL Real Estate. For this report we wanted to focus in on Bluff Park Real Estate in Hoover, Alabama. May 2008 Listed Properties For May there were 7 Newly Listed Bluff Park Homes for Sale. The Average Price was $241,057 and The Median Price was $239,900 May 2008 Sold Properties For May there were 7 Sold homes in Bluff Park AL Real Estate in Hoover, Alabama. The Average Price was $181,786. The Median Price was $185,000 with 53 Average Days on Market, at 97% of list price. Currently active as of 6/1/08 Currently there ar... 07/18/2008

In today's Real Estate market with the use of the internet, many home buyers choose homes off the web, then go "window shopping" and drive by the houses for sale before they ever contact their realtor about making an appointment.  Will your house be crossed off the list before those prospective buyers ever get a chance to see the inside?  How your house looks from the curb creates an emotional desire to own your home and a desire to take the next step. How do you have great curb appeal?  With lots of attention to detail.  Your house should stand out on the block (in a good way of course). Detail #1  New Paint  There's nothing like a fresh coat of paint to give your home that great first impression.  But make sure it is a quality job - don't just slather some new paint over the old.  Cle... 07/13/2008

Here is how the month of May looked for Birmingham Alabama Real Estate. As we have always stated that as a homeowner, potential resident, potential seller, or as a real estate consultant, we think it is always important to know the stats about what is happening with Hoover AL Real Estate. For this report we wanted to focus in on Green Valley Real Estate in Hoover, Alabama. May 2008 Listed Properties For May there were 5 Newly Listed Green Valley Homes for Sale. The Average Price was $266,210 and The Median Price was $265,000. May 2008 Sold Properties For May there were 3 Sold homes in Green Valley AL Real Estate in Hoover, Alabama. The Average Price was $225,967. The Median Price was $223,000 with 78 Average Days on Market, at 97% of list price. Currently active as of 6/1/08 Currently ... 07/12/2008

Here is how the month of May looked for Birmingham Alabama Real Estate. As we have always stated that as a homeowner, potential resident, potential seller, or as a real estate consultant, we think it is always important to know the stats about what is happening with Hoover AL Real Estate. For this report we wanted to focus in on Greystone Real Estate in Hoover, Alabama. May 2008 Listed Properties For May there were 29 Newly Listed Greystone Homes for Sale. The Average Price was $653,352. The Median Price was $564,900. May 2008 Sold Properties For May there were 13 Sold homes in Greystone AL Real Estate in Hoover, Alabama. The Average Price was $457,169. The Median Price was $365,000 with 109 Average Days on Market, at 95% of list price. Currently active as of 6/1/08 Currently there are... 07/12/2008

Here is how the month of May looked for Birmingham Alabama Real Estate. As we have always stated that as a homeowner, potential resident, potential seller, or as a real estate consultant, we think it is always important to know the stats about what is happening with Hoover AL Real Estate. For this report we wanted to focus in on Ross Bridge Real Estate in Hoover, Alabama. May 2008 Listed Properties For May there were 23 Newly Listed Ross Bridge Homes for Sale. The Average Price was $438,603. The Median Price was $350.980. May 2008 Sold Properties For May there were 18 Sold homes in Ross Bridge AL Real Estate in Hoover, Alabama. The Average Price was $422,817. The Median Price was $380.695 with 204Average Days on Market, at 96% of list price. Currently active as of 6/11/08 Currently the... 07/12/2008

Here is what the month of May looked like for Birmingham Alabama Real Estate. As we have always stated that as a homeowner, potential resident, potential seller, or as a real estate consultant, we think it is always important to know the stats about what is happening with Hoover AL Real Estate. For this report we wanted to focus in on Trace Crossings Real Estate in Hoover, Alabama. May 2008 Listed Properties For the May there were 14 Newly Listed Trace Crossings Homes for Sale. The Average Price was $609,900. The Median Price was $569,900. May 2008 Sold Properties For the May there were 5 Sold homes in Trace Crossings AL Real Estate in Hoover, Alabama. The Average Price was $601,460. The Median Price was $569,900, with 82 Average Days on Market, at 98% of list price. Currently active a... 07/12/2008