Tommy vs. Loretta - Round 2 - I’m not sure how I’ll vote in August, but I’m glad to see some competition for Huntsville’s race for Mayor. With at least two competitors in the race we’ll have an opportunity to talk about the issues facing Huntsville and how each candidate plans to attack them. (The issues that is, not each other.) Whoever wins will have had to develop a platform of ideas and an action plan to address major concerns. I’m looking forward to the discussion. If you’d like to vote early, Channel 19 has a pole ready to go. Click here to vote. 02/20/2012

Starter Home South Huntsville Alabama 35803 Sold, Nick T Pappas I just got back from a really smooth closing (don't we all love those) and thought I'd post a photo of my clients new home.  This is his first home and what a great deal he got.  We looked at several homes in his price range, but they all had one issue or another that kept us looking until we found this one...and when I saw it I knew it was the one...I think my client did too.  It does need updating and that's why he got such a great deal, but it has great bones in a quiet neighborhood of south Huntsville Alabama with views of the mountains (Dawn Fabiszak out in Colorado calls them hills) and an easy reach to the Redstone Arsenal, Downtown Huntsville and Madison.  Robert Trent Jones Golf is just over the mountain (hill) and... 02/17/2012

Kudos to the Huntsville City School Board for stepping out and bringing in a goal oriented, results driven superintendent. Dr. Wardynski has wasted no time in identifying significant deficiencies in the way our system is managed. His reliance on outside “unbiased” consultants has allowed us to see our system in a way that the local entrenched administrators keep hidden from us for years. As a Realtor® I know that one of the most important things a transferring family is concerned about is the state of our schools. A school system that if financially and educationally fit can be a tremendous boost to the local economy.  You can’t expect substantial improvement by continuing to do the same things that have resulted in these deficiencies. My hope is that the board will not succumb to local... 02/17/2012

As a member of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce, I receive their newsletter and am always excited when I read articles that contain wonderful economic news for North Alabama!  One of these press releases is below! "NASA Awards Huntsville Operations Support Center Services Contract    NASA has selected COLSA Corp. of Huntsville, Ala., for its Huntsville Operations Support Center (HOSC) contract. The estimated value of the contract, including all options, is approximately $94.6 million. COLSA will provide engineering, operations and maintenance, system development services and tools for the International Space Station and other program and project mission services. The HOSC services contract has a potential period of performance of five years and is a small business set-a... 02/16/2012

New Construction, Do You Really Know Your Builder/Contractor?  Don't Slip Through The Cracks, Call A Realtor First When deciding to build a new home in Madison or Huntsville Alabama why not call someone most familiar with the area...a respected and knowledgeable Realtor.  This post is not meant to scare you, but it is written to get you to inform yourself about the contractor you've selected to build your new home.  You can always perform an Internet search about potential contractors in the area you want to build.  A great site to check out is by the National Association of Homebuilders and one of the better sites I've found is Homeowners Against Deficient Dwellings, a wealth of information from Mandatory Binding Arbitration to Toxic Mold.  You can search local chapters and find lists ... 02/04/2012

Home Buying Lease Purchase Or Lease Option What's The Difference There are two optiions of buying and selling residential property in Madison or Huntsville Alabama that I want customers to know about or if you simply need more information as a SELLER or BUYER you might try those links to my website...I'm always available for your questions.  I've posted about this real estate topic before, but because of all the calls I'm getting from customers wanting to know if the seller of a certain property might also be willing to offer a lease purchase or lease option I feel it's worth repeating.   Most callers do not know the difference between a lease purchase or lease option and depending on their finances or individual circumstances one or the other form of purchasing a home may not be availa... 02/04/2012

Smile As Big As The Moon Huntsville Alabama This movie may not have a lot to do with real estate in Alabama at first glance, but much of the space program, NASA and supporting contractors actually have impacted Huntsville Alabama real estate bringing many people here for jobs in the space industry, but that's not what this post is about.  It's about an inspirational move "Smile as Big as the Moon". Last Sunday night I watched a movie "Smile As Big As The Moon" that was in part filmed in Wilmington NC and here in Huntsville Alabama.  I don't think I've ever done a movie "Review"...this is not one of those times either.  I enjoyed the movie because part of it was filmed at Space Camp, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center and the Davidson Center for Space Exploration all located here in Huntsv... 02/03/2012

So how many of you hate or love when people come knocking on your door only to try to sell you magazine subscriptions, carpet cleaning solutions or anything else that you may or may not care for? The Huntsville City Council would like to have commercial sales people and professional fundraisers to apply to the city for solicitation permits. They would have to provide current background reports including criminal history and ex-convicts and parolees would be automatically disqualified for the permit. Once the background check passed and an application fee paid, the solicitors would be given permits and photo identification tags. The solicitors need to wear to tags in clear view while going on door-to-door sales calls. Other stipulations of the new rule would not allow sales people to kno... 01/31/2012

Being a Mom of a fourth-grader, the news I read today makes me one VERY proud and excited Parent! It was announced today that Fourth-grade students across Alabama are going to be given a chance to be an integral part of space exploration. The Rocket City Space Pioneers announced a contest that will allow fourth-graders to name its moon lander. The students from the Huntsville Center for Technology, who are members of the Rocket City Space Pioneers team, built a full-scale model of a moon lander, which they unveiled on Tuesday. "Every spacecraft needs a name," said Tim Pickens, chief propulsion engineer for Dynetics and the team leader for the Rocket City Space Pioneers. "We want a name that speaks to technology, innovation and a love of Alabama." What is really cool is that the winning ... 01/31/2012

 @Homes Realty Group Newsletter Huntsville and Madison Alabama    How's the Market in Huntsville? With 2011 now in the history books, it’s time to reflect and plan for the future. 2011 marked @Homes Realty Group’s 2nd year of business as an independent brokerage and it was a year of growth! Our Huntsville brokerage business grew in several dimensions during the year with increases in; sales volume, agent head count, and an expanding web-presence into new markets. In Huntsville we grew from 4 agents in 2010 to 8 for 2011, and we foresee similar growth for 2012. We were very pleased to be able to support and assist our agents grow their businesses by 30% on average during 2011.  Read More... This house is overpriced! As a full time Realtor, I hear that quite frequently. Guess what? I typi... 01/31/2012

Alabama And Radon, Madison & Huntsville Alabama, Where To Go For Information Alabama residents needing information about Radon in all areas of the state may contact the Alabama Cooperative Extension System program at this toll-free number:  1(855) ALRADON OR 1(855) 257-2366 Radon is a naturally occurring gas resulting from the breakdown of Uranium in rock, soil and water.   Radon is radioactive and much like carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless and tasteless.  When out doors Radon Gas is relatively harmless, but when allowed to collect inside your home it can be very dangerous to your health.  So dangerous in fact that the Surgeon General lists it as the second highest leading cause of lung cancer with an estimated 21,000 deaths per year. The good news is that Radon Gas can be re-m... 01/27/2012

The Music Man Is Back With The James Gang, Does Anyone Remember This Little Jewel...Alexis I haven't blogged a music post in a long time and since I've been driving my office buddies crazy with lots of music today it's only naturally that I share the craziness. For those who remember The James Gang you're probably familiar with "Funk #49", "Walk Away" or Joe Walsh's "Life's Been Good", but I'm guessing "Alexis" is one that you probably don't remember because it's just a bit more mellow and you're all a little too young, besides I don't think "Alexis" ever went very high up on the charts.  Anyway, I've always liked it and thought you might.  It's a beautiful day here in Huntsville Alabama and the music is perfect for it..."Alexis" almost has an island feel to it...hope you enjoy. If for ... 01/25/2012

Phillips Creek Huntsville Alabama 35806 Homes For Sale $219,900-$253,900 If you are relocating to the Madison or Huntsville Alabama area Phillips Creek is a great little subdivision you might want to check out.  Just north of Blake Bottom Road on the west side of Jeff Road sits the newer Phillips Creek subdivision where homes are in the 1-5 year old range.  Homes currently for sale in this beautiful subdivison are full brick and privacy fenced just waiting for your family.  Legacy Elementary, Monrovia Middle and Sparkman High are the schools that service Phillips Creek and are only minutes away. Phillips Creek is approximately 20 minutes to the Redstone Arsenal and Cummings Research Park and about half that time to University (Hwy 72), Bridge Street Town Centre and the Village of Provid... 01/24/2012

Buying Real Estate, So What If I Have An Agent, Why Won't You Show Me That House? Lately our Real Estate office has received several calls from people asking if we would show a property that interests them, usually we are glad to do this.  The first question we ask of the caller is if they are working with an agent and when the response is...no, then it's a matter of getting a little information from the caller and off to the showing.  However, when the answer is, "...yes, but my agent is busy now...", then we explain the different reasons why we can't or wouldn't show them the property and how it could be construed that we were soliciting the buyer.  Also pointing out the reason they're working with a specific agent is for that agent to show them homes they want to see.  I will admit t... 01/22/2012

  Homes for sale in Huntsville AL Posted on January 21, 2012 Huntsville homes for sale January 21st, 2012 4:22 PM  The rental home at 115 BLUEBELLE DRIVE is in a good area of Madison and since it is in an established neighborhood, there shouldn’t be any grief over John’s vehicles. He will need to use discretion but there is not an HOA. Please let me know if you don’t hear back from the listing agent and I will see if I can help.   The link below is to the the listings that you indicated an interest in. You are correct in that Arab would be a long commute. In addition the schools that serve the area are not good making eventual renting or reselling difficult.   http://nalmls.com/NALMLSReports/ListitLib/show_report.aspx?ID=7115259500   154 FORD C... 01/21/2012

Lake Forest Huntsville Alabama 35824 Market Report\ Are you relocating to Madison or Huntsville Alabama and want a great community to raise your family?  Then put Lake Forest Huntsville Alabama on your short list of communities to see.  For complete details and photos of all available homes in Lake Forest that is updated daily...click on Lake Forest Homes for sale. Lake Forest community is a relatively new development with homes ranging from pre-construction to 5 years old. Lake Forest makes for an easy commute to work located next to and on the west side of Redstone Arsenal.  You are also only minutes away from I-565, Madison and downtown Huntsville Alabama. Homes in Lake Forest Huntsville Alabama range in size from 1,700 sf. to over 5,000 square feet offering 3 bedrooms 3 baths to 5 b... 01/17/2012

Homes for sale in Huntsville AL; Market value and research for specific homes for sale in Huntsville AL January 15, 2012 January 14th, 2012 8:19 PM Homes for sale in Huntsville AL; Market value and research for specific homes for sale in Huntsville AL January 15, 2012     The link below is to the active listing and two previous sales of 220 GLEN MEADOWS LANE. The current owners bought the house in 2008 at $145,000 / $89 per square foot.  The agent that listed the property in this sale is in our office. I checked with her about any issues with he house or neighborhood. She said her seller had a job transfer and only lived in the house a couple of months. She liked the house and neighborhood while se was there.   http://nalmls.com/NALMLSReports/ListitLib/show_report.asp... 01/14/2012

Village Of Providence Huntsville Alabama 35806 Market Report October-December 2011  The Village of Providence is a relatively new area of Huntsville Alabama and has undergone a great deal of growth.  It continues to be a vibrant upscale area of Huntsville attracting new business and restaurants testing the market.  Home styles are a good blend of tradition from Georgian and Federal to the very popular Craftsman and Bungalow.  2011 closed out the year with 9 active listings which is fairly normal for the holiday season with sellers knowing that with the holidays buyers that are actively looking are more serious and that sellers have less competition this time of the year.  I believe the two sales and two pending sales show that even in the holiday season buyers are out there especially w... 01/11/2012

Village Of Providence Huntsville Alabama Could This Be Snow?? Village Of Providence Huntsville Alabama Could This Be Snow??  Well, it's certainly the right time of the year for snow being January 7th, but the local temps today are in the upper 50's and 60's so snow is a little unlikely. As you follow the photos down I believe you'll begin to draw your own conclusions.  I came to the @Homes Realy Group real estate office around 8:30 this morning before meeting clients and as I looked down the street I saw a bunch of white stuff on the corner and out into the intersection in front of Grille 29.  I had to check it out and this is what I found. Just a guess, but I'm pretty safe in saying that the Village of Providence was pranked when someone dumped soap, laundry detergent or whatever into ... 01/07/2012

The Cold Causes Water To Act Funny...But Still Pretty Cool!  Village of Providence Huntsville Alabama               It's been a chilly day here in the Village of Providence Huntsville Alabama, in fact it dipped down into the 20's and when the temps go that low it causes water to act funny...strange...and sometimes in beautiful ways.   On the back side of my office building is a four story stairway open (to the elements).  I've decided to start taking the stairway instead of using the elevator since I'm currently out of my usual work out routine.  Earlier today I noticed a little 2 in curly-Q of ice that had formed from one of the railing balusters.  A couple hours later on another trip up the stairs I noticed that little 2 inch piece of ice had grown to about 6 inches and still later it... 01/03/2012