Birmingham Alabama Fall Parade of Homes

It starts this weekend! The Fall Parade of Homes has arrived! The largest home extravaganza is beginning September 29-30 and will also be the next two Saturdays and Sundays on October 6-7 and October 13-14, 2007.

This year promises to be the largest ever with 222 homes and 2 remodeled homes on display. There will be homes showing ranging from a starter home for the first time home buyer to high end luxury homes for those looking to make a move upward.

I have been going since before I was in involved in real estate, and personally just love to look at homes and see the new trends in architecture, home technology, and dream build.

Join the parade and check out some amazing homes!

For more information, visit the Fall Parade of Homes website.

To hear the Rick and Bubba radio ad, listen here

Mountain Brook Alabama Real Estate Guide and Community Tour

Local developer, Robert Jemison, developed Mountain Brook in 1929 to be mostly residential. It was later developed in 1942.

Mountain Brook has its own school system with four elementary schools: Mountain Brook Elementary, Cherokee Bend Elementary, Brookwood Forest Elementary, and Crestline Elementary, one junior high school: Mountain Brook Junior High, and one high school: Mountain Brook High School.

There are three shopping villages in Mountain Brook. These were part of the original plan developed by Warren H. Manning, a Boston-based landscape architect who had developed plans calling for three shopping villages called "English Village", "Mountain Brook Village" and "Crestline Village.

You can find out more about Mountain Brook by checking out: Mountain Brook on Wikipedia, Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce, Mountain Brook web site.

To see the full version of the tour visit Mountain Brook Real Estate Guide and Community Tour

Calming the Fears of the Home Buying Process: Addressing People

First of all, we admit it, home buying and selling is scary. You know it, we know it, and we admit it. The big question is, what are we scared of?

What are we scared of?

We have found that there are about three things that probably scare you most about buying a home.

Our hope over the next few days is that we will be able to give you some behind-the-scenes secrets that will help you deal with the 3 things that scare you most about buying a home.
So what are these three things? We have identified them as:

1. Cost

2. Commitment

3. People. (We tried, but we couldn't come up with three c's.)

Third, we want to address people. Who can you trust in this home buying process? This is a big investment we're talking about. And it seems that everyone is out to make as much money as possible OFF of you!

There are sellers, real estate consultants, lenders, builders, movers, and attorneys, all of whom may be strangers, and have a vested interest when you buy a home. It's easy to be afraid that they will take you to the cleaners. (To see more about these people please see, Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Eighth is the Pest Control Operator and Who Are All These Other People? and all the links at the end of it.)

The behind-the-scenes secret is to check their references. Really. Many lenders and real estate consultants operate on a referral basis - in which they ask clients to refer them to others they know are buying a home. Those who offer "lifetime relationships" and other services (like Free Reports and seminars on buying or selling homes) are already striving to meet your needs.

In reality, they are NOT all out to get you - because in the long run, the BEST business strategy is to make sure that you get what you need and want in a home.

Buying a home must up there at the top of all frightening experiences, but, the reality is, is that many of us will buy a home and do it again during our lifetime.

By giving you a these "behind-the-scenes" secrets, we hope to help you deal with the 3 things that scare you most about buying a home.

Calming the Fears of the Home Buying Process: Addressing Cost

First of all, we admit it, home buying and selling is scary. You know it, we know it, and we admit it. The big question is, what are we scared of?

What are we scared of?

We have found that there are about three things that probably scare you most about buying a home.

Our hope over the next few days is that we will be able to give you some behind-the-scenes secrets that will help you deal with the 3 things that scare you most about buying a home.
So what are these three things? We have identified them as, first, cost, second, commitment, and, third, people. (We tried, but we couldn't come up with three c's.)

First, we want to address cost. This could quite possibly be the greatest fear that people have about buying a home. Will I be able to afford it? It keeps us awake at night - we calculate and recalculate how many lunches we will have to pack instead of going out with the gang, just so we might be able to make the mortgage payment.

Now, let's look at the behind-the-scenes secret to dealing with the fear of cost. The secret is working with a great lender, getting pre-approved BEFORE you start looking at homes, and being realistic about what you are willing and able to spend. The lender will give you are range of loan options available, and if asked, will give you a realistic projection of what you can REALLY afford considering your budget and lifestyle. (By the way, this means you need to ask.) What a relief this should be! This is why it is so important to locate a lender who is knowledgeable and trustworthy.

Buying a home must up there at the top of all frightening experiences, but, the reality is, is that many of us will buy a home and do it again during our lifetime.

By giving you a these "behind-the-scenes" secrets, we hope to help you deal with the 3 things that scare you most about buying a home.

Calming the Fears of the Home Buying Process: Addressing Commitment

First of all, we admit it, home buying and selling is scary. You know it, we know it, and we admit it. The big question is, what are we scared of?

What are we scared of?

We have found that there are about three things that probably scare you most about buying a home.


Our hope over the next few days is that we will be able to give you some behind-the-scenes secrets that will help you deal with the 3 things that scare you most about buying a home.
So what are these three things? We have identified them as, first, cost, second, commitment, and, third, people. (We tried, but we couldn't come up with three c's.)


Second, we want to address commitment. We all know that women like to stereotype men as having a fear of commitment – but when it comes to buying a home, we’re all susceptible. Buying a home usually means committing money and time (at least a year – usually more like 5-10 years) to being in one spot.

The behind-the-scenes secret to dealing with the fear of commitment is in buying a home that will resell easily – that has features that other people will want. If you do this you will know that upon having, or just wanting, to sell your home you will have less problems.


Buying a home must up there at the top of all frightening experiences, but, the reality is, is that many of us will buy a home and do it again during our lifetime.


By giving you a these "behind-the-scenes" secrets, we hope to help you deal with the 3 things that scare you most about buying a home.

Birmingham Hoover Alabama: More Good Reasons to Live Here

I was reading an article from Realtor Magazine and found out more reasons why Birmingham Alabama is a great place to live.

In today's market, a lot of buyers are looking for a bargain. It looks like, according to economists from Fiserv (FISV), Lending Solutions, Moody's(MCO) Economy.com, and BusinessWeek, that Birmingham and Hoover offer buyers just that.

First, though, let's define what a bargain is, according to these economists. They define a bargain as a place where homes are affordable, price appreciation is probable, and the economy is strong.

Now why is the Birmingham Area among these areas? For starters, the median home price is $164,900. Also, the affordability ratio is 2.9. (This is formulated by dividing the median home price by the median family income, and lower is better.) The forecast 2 year change in home prices is 9.2%, and the forecast 5 year employment growth is 1.6%. These are all great statistics!

To see the other reasons why we have been spoken about so much here recently can read Birmingham Alabama Strong Housing Market and Strong Economy andHoover Alabama Job Market: One of the Nation's Strongest . To learn more about Hoover check out the Hoover Alabama Real Estate Guide and Community Tour

Their top pics are listed below along with the median home price and the forecast 2 year change in home prices:
Austin-Round Rock, Texas: $186,600, 5.4 percent
Baton Rouge, La.: $174,700, 7.7 percent
Birmingham-Hoover, Ala.: $164,900, 9.2 percent
Corpus Christi, Texas: $130,000, 10.3 percent
Durham, N.C.: $180,100, 6.1 percent
Gulfport-Biloxi, Miss.: $154,200, 10.8 percent
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas: $154,900, 6.4 percent
Mobile, Ala.: $140,400, 8.1 percent
Montgomery, Ala.: $150,100, 7.8 percent
San Antonio: $154,300, 6.4 percent

Did you notice that Alabama has three areas in the list? WOW! Looks like Alabama is a great place to work and live.

To read the entire articles from where this information came you can read Where to Find the Top Home Bargains, Where Are All the Real Estate Deals?, and Best and Worst Bargain Real Estate Markets

Calming the Fears of the Home Buying Process

First of all, we admit it, home buying and selling is scary. You know it, we know it, and we admit it. The big question is, what are we scared of?

What are we scared of?

We have found that there are about three things that probably scare you most about buying a home.

Our hope over the next few days is that we will be able to give you some behind-the-scenes secrets that will help you deal with the 3 things that scare you most about buying a home.
So what are these three things? We have identified them as, first, cost, second, commitment, and, third, people. (We tried, but we couldn't come up with three c's.)

Buying a home must up there at the top of all frightening experiences, but, the reality is, is that many of us will buy a home and do it again during our lifetime.

By giving you a these "behind-the-scenes" secrets, we hope to help you deal with the 3 things that scare you most about buying a home.

Birmingham Alabama Strong Housing Market and Strong Economy

I was reading a short article in the Birmingham News this week by Roy Williams and found out that we are becoming a bigger blip on the radar, and for good reasons.

Ed Finn was in town this week as a keynote speaker in a UAB and Merrill Lynch Lecture Series. Now, of you are like me you are asking, and? who is Ed Finn? Ed Finn is the editor of Barron's magazine and the editorial director of SmartMoney magazine. So, he probably knows a little bit about what he is talking about.

So, what did Ed Finn say other than Birmingham has one of the strongest economies and housing markets in the country. He also stated, "The entire state of Alabama is doing well, Alabama and Birmingham are benefiting from a growth in high-paying jobs..."

Finn also noted that Birmingham, as well as, Huntsville and Montgomery, have very undervalued housing markets compared to many other big cities across the nation. Also, Finn stated, "When CEO's look for cities to move in, they want places where houses are affordable."

It looks like Birmingham and Alabama is a great place to live and a great place to work.

Figure Our How Much Home You Can Afford

If you listen to any ad for a mortgage company or real estate company or if you just talk to a loan office or real estate agent, you will hear them suggest that if you are renting and have cash for a down payment, then you can afford to buy a home.

There is a dilemma though, what if you don't rent? And if you do rent, how will you know what price range should you start your home search in?

We want to take you step-by-step through a process that can help you come up with a price range for your home search.

Let us put out a disclaimer though, you should always speak with a mortgage lender, to determine EXACTLY what you can afford. This formula will just give you an idea of where to start.

Step One: (Annual salary ÷ 12)
Take your annual salary and divide by 12. For example, if your annual salary is $75,000, divide this by 12 and you'll see that your monthly income is $6,250.

Step Two: (Monthly salary x percent you want to spend)
Most brokers and financial planners will recommend that you spend anywhere between 25% and 36% of your monthly income on household expenses. For this example we will use 36%, which would be at the high end of the range. $6,250 x .36 = $2,250.

Step Three: (Calculate your debt)
Add up your currently monthly debt. Make sure you include things like your car loan, insurance, school loans, credit cards, and any other personal debt you may have. All of this added together gives you your total debt. Just a guess, but let's say that these add up to a monthly payment of $750.

Step Four: (Amount you want to spend - total debt)
Now, take that total debt and subtract it from the amount that you were willing to spend per month to get your maximum monthly payment. $2,250 - $750 = $1,500

Step Five: (Monthly payment x12)
Multiply that house payment by 12 months, and you have $18,000 to spend each year.

Step Six: (Annual payment ÷ interest rate)
Divide this annual amount by the current interest rate (We're using 10%, because it's a nice round number, and a good average). So, $18,000 ÷ .10 leaves you with $180,000 available for a mortgage!

Step 7: (Mortgage + Down payment)
Now, take the amount that you have calculated that you can afford to pay for a mortgage, add the amount of cash that you have on hand to make a down payment, and you get your purchase price!

So, using the current example: The mortgage was $180,000 plus you have $20,000 on hand for a down payment, then you can afford to purchase a home for $200,000.

Now, did that REALLY seem like brain surgery to you?

Please remember though, this is a quick and easy estimate only! You should work with a mortgage lender so that you know EXACTLY how much you can afford.

Hoover Alabama Job Market: One of the Nation's Strongest

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job market in the Hoover-Birmingham metro area is one of the nations strongest. In July, the unemployment rate for the area was 3.6%. This score ranked Hoover-Birmingham area 6th out of 49 major metropolitan areas with at least one million people. (The leader was Richmond at 3.2%.)

Larry Holt, the director of research for the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce said that, "It helps to have a very healthy economy and each of our job sectors in Birmingham is performing well... And the fact our housing market and economy throughout Alabama is holding up is a plus."

Roy Williams, a writer for the Birmingham News, noted that the reason for such a strong showing was due to the area having a diverse economy ranging from banking, to health care, to retailing, and to government.

An economics researcher from the University of Alabama, Ahmad Ijaz, stated that, "I think the job market in the area will continue to remain relatively strong through the fall..."
Alabama as a whole ranked well too. It ranked 10th nationally with a rate of 3.7% in July. Some counties that strongly helped that ranking were Shelby County at 2.6%, Blount County at 3.1%, Chilton County at 3.4%, and St. Clair County at 3.5%.

The Hoover-Birmingham metropolitan area just gives one more reason for Alabama being a great place to live.

* Information gathered from "Birmingham, Hoover area one of U.S. Strongest" by Roy Williams in the Money section of the Birmingham News

Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Eighth is the Pest Control Operator and Who Are All These Other People?

Something many of us do not know or realize is how many people are actually involved in the home buying process. It can be a bit overwhelming too.

You are out looking for your dream home, you find it, then, all of a sudden.... PEOPLE ARE EVERYWHERE!!!

There are a number of people involved in the home buying process. We need to realize and understand that these professionals base their careers on helping you find your dream homes and purchase it.

Today is the final installment of this series where we will be sharing some insights into what they are actually doing for you. Our hope is that this relieves some of the tension of having all these people around and helps you understand what they are doing for you.

The congregation we will be discussing will be the real estate consultant, lender, attorney, appraiser, surveyor, home inspector, and pest control. Truth is, you may not encounter them all. If you do, though, we want you to be prepared.

Today, on this final installment, we will be talking about the Pest Control Operator. Some lenders require that you have the home checked for wood-destroying pests - termites and ants are the typical villains. These professionals poke around the attic, basement, walls, and grounds to ensure that these pests aren't squatters in your dream home. While some of these may be found by a home inspector, they may not. This would probably be something you would want done if you were purchasing a home in an area that was prone to these wood-destroying pests. From personal experience, most of my buyers thus far have relied solely on the home inspectors report and only gone this extra route if something makes them feel as though they might want to have it checked out. Remember, it is your home. You will want to choose how you want it inspected.

As a service we will be offering links in each post to the others. This way you are just one click away from learning about each person and their role. The introductory post was Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Who Are All These People? First, we discussed the Real Estate Consultant in Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: First is the Real Estate Consultant and Who Are All These Other People? Second, we talked about Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Second is the Lender and Who Are All These Other People? Third, we took a look the Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Third is the Attorney and Who Are All These Other People? Fourth, Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Fourth is the Title Company and Who Are All These Other People? Fifth, Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Proces: Fifth is the Appraiser and Who Are All These Other People? Sixth, Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Sixth is the Surveyor and Who Are All These Other People? Seventh, Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Seventh is the Home Inspector and Who Are All These Other People?

Please understand by talking about the Birmingham Alabama Real Estate market, we are also talking about all of the greater Birmingham area including, but not limited to, Hoover Real Estate, Homewood Real Estate, Trussville Real Estate, Vestavia Real Estate, Mountain Brook Real Estate, and any other areas surrounding them.

Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Seventh is the Home Inspector and Who Are All These Other People?

Something many of us do not know or realize is how many people are actually involved in the home buying process. It can be a bit overwhelming too.
You are out looking for your dream home, you find it, then, all of a sudden.... PEOPLE ARE EVERYWHERE!!!

There are a number of people involved in the home buying process. We need to realize and understand that these professionals base their careers on helping you find your dream homes and purchase it.

Over the next few days, we will be sharing some insights into what they are actually doing for you. Our hope is that this relieves some of the tension of having all these people around and helps you understand what they are doing for you.

The congregation we will be discussing will be the real estate consultant, lender, attorney, appraiser, surveyor, home inspector, and pest control. Truth is, you may not encounter them all. If you do, though, we want you to be prepared.

Today, we will be talking about the Home Inspector. The Home Inspector checks the working condition of electrical, mechanical, structural, and plumbing systems in the home. Upon completion of the home inspection the inspection company should give you a copy of the home inspection report within a day or two. You will need to be sure that your buyer's agent gets a copy as well. Upon previewing the home inspection report, you will need to decide whether or not you want to proceed with the purchase of the home. If you do so choose to proceed with the purchase of the home, you will need to communicate with your buyer's agent what you want the seller's to fix if anything at all so that they can communicate it back with the seller's and their agent.

As a service we will be offering links in each post to the others. This way you are just one click away from learning about each person and their role. The introductory post was Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Who Are All These People? First, we discussed the Real Estate Consultant in Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: First is the Real Estate Consultant and Who Are All These Other People? Second, we talked about Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Second is the Lender and Who Are All These Other People? Third, we took a look the Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Third is the Attorney and Who Are All These Other People? Fourth, Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Fourth is the Title Company and Who Are All These Other People? Fifth, Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Proces: Fifth is the Appraiser and Who Are All These Other People? Sixth, Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Sixth is the Surveyor and Who Are All These Other People?

Please understand by talking about the Birmingham Alabama Real Estate market, we are also talking about all of the greater Birmingham area including, but not limited to, Hoover Real Estate, Homewood Real Estate, Trussville Real Estate, Vestavia Real Estate, Mountain Brook Real Estate, and any other areas surrounding them.

Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Sixth is the Surveyor and Who Are All These Other People?

Something many of us do not know or realize is how many people are actually involved in the home buying process. It can be a bit overwhelming too.
You are out looking for your dream home, you find it, then, all of a sudden.... PEOPLE ARE EVERYWHERE!!!

There are a number of people involved in the home buying process. We need to realize and understand that these professionals base their careers on helping you find your dream homes and purchase it.

Over the next few days, we will be sharing some insights into what they are actually doing for you. Our hope is that this relieves some of the tension of having all these people around and helps you understand what they are doing for you.

The congregation we will be discussing will be the real estate consultant, lender, attorney, appraiser, surveyor, home inspector, and pest control. Truth is, you may not encounter them all. If you do, though, we want you to be prepared.

Today, we will be talking about the surveyor. The Surveyor checks the boundaries of the property to ensure that the home is ONLY on it's property - and the ONLY home on it's property. I know, there is not a lot to say about them, but this is what they do.

As a service we will be offering links in each post to the others. This way you are just one click away from learning about each person and their role. The introductory post was Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Who Are All These People? First, we discussed the Real Estate Consultant in Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: First is the Real Estate Consultant and Who Are All These Other People? Second, we talked about Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Second is the Lender and Who Are All These Other People? Third, we took a look the Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Third is the Attorney and Who Are All These Other People? Fourth, Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Fourth is the Title Company and Who Are All These Other People? Fifth, Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Proces: Fifth is the Appraiser and Who Are All These Other People?

Please understand by talking about the Birmingham Alabama Real Estate market, we are also talking about all of the greater Birmingham area including, but not limited to, Hoover Real Estate, Homewood Real Estate, Trussville Real Estate, Vestavia Real Estate, Mountain Brook Real Estate, and any other areas surrounding them.

Hoover Alabama Real Estate Market Statistics August 2007 vs August 2006: Now and Then

I think it's important as a Real Estate Consultant, as a resident, or a future home buyer or seller in the Hoover Alabama Area to know the stats.

With so much media coverage about "the state of the real estate market" being broadcast, I want to start doing a now and then segment to show how the market has changed from one year to the next.

August 2006
Listed Properties: 206
Average Price: $359,536
Price Range: $140,500 -$1,399,000

August 2007
Listed Properties: 211
Average Price: $374,588
Price Range: $129,900 -$1,550,000

August 2006
Sold Properties: 157
Average Price: $347,784
Price Range: $130,000 -$1,011,525
Average Days on Market: 69

August 2007
Sold Properties: 156
Average Price: $328,863
Price Range: $134,900 - $1,421,000
Average Days on Market: 79

If you would like to be contacted as soon as homes become available in the Hoover area just let me know, or if you would like to see statistics about other areas, don't hesitate to ask.You can find all the Birmingham Alabama Real Estate stats on Greater Birmingham Real Estate Resources, on Your Guide To Living In Greater Birmingham, or on Birmingham Alabama Real Estate blog via ActiveRain.

*Note these stats are accurate as of 9/15/07 according to the Birmingham MLS. They are subject to change as agents submit listed and sold properties into the MLS.

Mountain Brook Alabama Real Estate Market Statistics August 2006 vs. August 2007: Now and Then

I think it's important as a Real Estate Consultant, as a resident, or a future home buyer or seller in the Mountain Brook Area to know the stats.

With so much media coverage about "the state of the real estate market" being broadcast, I want to start doing a now and then segment to show how the market has changed from one year to the next.

August 2006
Listed Properties: 40
Average Price: $599,756
Price Range: $269,900 - $1,300,000

August 2007
Listed Properties: 54
Average Price: $902,086
Price Range: $285,000 - $3,495,000

August 2006
Sold Properties: 27
Average Price: $910,629
Price Range: $380,000 - $2,200,000
Average Days on Market: 79

August 2007
Sold Properties: 18
Average Price: $661,893
Price Range: $354,000 - $1,200,000
Average Days on Market: 86

If you would like to be contacted as soon as homes become available in the Mountain Brook area just let me know, or if you would like to see statistics about other areas, don't hesitate to ask.You can find all the Birmingham Alabama Real Estate stats on Greater Birmingham Real Estate Resources, on Your Guide To Living In Greater Birmingham, or on Birmingham Alabama Real Estate blog via ActiveRain.

*Note these stats are accurate as of 9/13/07 according to the Birmingham MLS. They are subject to change as agents submit listed and sold properties into the MLS.

Trussville Alabama Real Estate Market Statistics August 2007 vs August 2006: Now and Then

I think it's important as a Real Estate Consultant, as a resident, or a future home buyer or seller in the Trussville Alabama Area to know the stats.

With so much media coverage about "the state of the real estate market" being broadcast, I want to start doing a now and then segment to show how the market has changed from one year to the next.

August 2006
Listed Properties: 87
Average Price: $268,386
Price Range: $24,000 - $873,000

August 2007
Listed Properties: 83
Average Price: $289,031
Price Range: $109,900 -$850,000

August 2006
Sold Properties: 60
Average Price: $255,378
Price Range: $72,200-$739,900
Average Days on Market: 88

August 2007
Sold Properties: 41
Average Price: $304,103
Price Range: $82,500-$750,000
Average Days on Market: 106

If you would like to be contacted as soon as homes become available in the Trussville area just let me know, or if you would like to see statistics about other areas, don't hesitate to ask.You can find all the Birmingham Alabama Real Estate stats on Greater Birmingham Real Estate Resources, on Your Guide To Living In Greater Birmingham, or on Birmingham Alabama Real Estate blog via ActiveRain.

*Note these stats are accurate as of 9/15/07 according to the Birmingham MLS. They are subject to change as agents submit listed and sold properties into the MLS.

Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Proces: Fifth is the Appraiser and Who Are All These Other People?

Something many of us do not know or realize is how many people are actually involved in the home buying process. It can be a bit overwhelming too.

You are out looking for your dream home, you find it, then, all of a sudden.... PEOPLE ARE EVERYWHERE!!!

There are a number of people involved in the home buying process. We need to realize and understand that these professionals base their careers on helping you find your dream homes and purchase it.

Over the next few days, we will be sharing some insights into what they are actually doing for you. Our hope is that this relieves some of the tension of having all these people around and helps you understand what they are doing for you.

The congregation we will be discussing will be the real estate consultant, lender, attorney, appraiser, surveyor, home inspector, and pest control. Truth is, you may not encounter them all. If you do, though, we want you to be prepared.

Today, we will be talking about the appraiser. The Appraiser, who is usually state-certified, is frequently involved in the pricing of the home, before you even begin your search. They examine the appearance, condition, size, and quality of the home - then estimate the home's value based on other sales in the neighborhood or area. They are usually found by the mortgage company or lender to verify that the amount of the loan fits the actual value of the house.

As a service we will be offering links in each post to the others. This way you are just one click away from learning about each person and their role. The introductory post was Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Who Are All These People? First, we discussed the Real Estate Consultant in Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: First is the Real Estate Consultant and Who Are All These Other People? Second, we talked about Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Second is the Lender and Who Are All These Other People? Third, we took a look the Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Third is the Attorney and Who Are All These Other People? Fourth, Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Fourth is the Title Company and Who Are All These Other People?

Please understand by talking about the Birmingham Alabama Real Estate market, we are also talking about all of the greater Birmingham area including, but not limited to, Hoover Real Estate, Homewood Real Estate, Trussville Real Estate, Vestavia Real Estate, Mountain Brook Real Estate, and any other areas surrounding them.

Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Proces: Fourth is the Title Company and Who Are All These Other People?

Something many of us do not know or realize is how many people are actually involved in the home buying process. It can be a bit overwhelming too.

You are out looking for your dream home, you find it, then, all of a sudden.... PEOPLE ARE EVERYWHERE!!!

There are a number of people involved in the home buying process. We need to realize and understand that these professionals base their careers on helping you find your dream homes and purchase it.

Over the next few days, we will be sharing some insights into what they are actually doing for you. Our hope is that this relieves some of the tension of having all these people around and helps you understand what they are doing for you.

The congregation we will be discussing will be the real estate consultant, lender, attorney, appraiser, surveyor, home inspector, and pest control. Truth is, you may not encounter them all. If you do, though, we want you to be prepared.

Today, we will be talking about the Title Company. The Title Company can act as the escrow agent (and hold your deposit). They also examine the title, insure the title, and issue a title report - verifying that you can become the rightful owner of the property. One of the important roles of the Title Company is to verify that the sellers can sell the property and that they can transfer it free and clear to you.

As a service we will be offering links in each post to the others. This way you are just one click away from learning about each person and their role. The introductory post was Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Who Are All These People? First, we discussed the Real Estate Consultant in Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: First is the Real Estate Consultant and Who Are All These Other People? Second, we talked about Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Second is the Lender and Who Are All These Other People? Third, we took a look the Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Third is the Attorney and Who Are All These Other People?

Please understand by talking about the Birmingham Alabama Real Estate market, we are also talking about all of the greater Birmingham area including, but not limited to, Hoover Real Estate, Homewood Real Estate, Trussville Real Estate, Vestavia Real Estate, Mountain Brook Real Estate, and any other areas surrounding them.

Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Proces: Third is the Attorney and Who Are All These Other People?

Something many of us do not know or realize is how many people are actually involved in the home buying process. It can be a bit overwhelming too.

You are out looking for your dream home, you find it, then, all of a sudden.... PEOPLE ARE EVERYWHERE!!!

There are a number of people involved in the home buying process. We need to realize and understand that these professionals base their careers on helping you find your dream homes and purchase it.

Over the next few days, we will be sharing some insights into what they are actually doing for you. Our hope is that this relieves some of the tension of having all these people around and helps you understand what they are doing for you.

The congregation we will be discussing will be the real estate consultant, lender, attorney, appraiser, surveyor, home inspector, and pest control. Truth is, you may not encounter them all. If you do, though, we want you to be prepared.

Today, we will be talking about the attorney. There may be several Attorneys involved in the purchase of a home, one for the seller, one for you the buyer, and one for the title insurance company. The role of YOUR attorney is to make sure that you avoid any pitfalls in your purchase contract. Personally, I have never dealt with an attorney representing either the buyer or seller. Who I have encountered is the closing attorney. You need to know that the closing attorney does not represent you, the buyer, or the seller. They represent the lender and are just there to make sure they are taken care of.

As a service we will be offering links in each post to the others. This way you are just one click away from learning about each person and their role. The introductory post was Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Who Are All These People? First, we discussed the Real Estate Consultant in Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: First is the Real Estate Consultant and Who Are All These Other People? Second, we talked about Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Second is the Lender and Who Are All These Other People?

Please understand by talking about the Birmingham Alabama Real Estate market, we are also talking about all of the greater Birmingham area including, but not limited to, Hoover Real Estate, Homewood Real Estate, Trussville Real Estate, Vestavia Real Estate, Mountain Brook Real Estate, and any other areas surrounding them.

Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Second is the Lender and Who Are All These Other People?

Something many of us do not know or realize is how many people are actually involved in the home buying process. It can be a bit overwhelming too.

You are out looking for your dream home, you find it, then, all of a sudden.... PEOPLE ARE EVERYWHERE!!!

There are a number of people involved in the home buying process. We need to realize and understand that these professionals base their careers on helping you find your dream homes and purchase it.

Over the next few days, we will be sharing some insights into what they are actually doing for you. Our hope is that this relieves some of the tension of having all these people around and helps you understand what they are doing for you.

The congregation we will be discussing will be the real estate consultant, lender, attorney, appraiser, surveyor, home inspector, and pest control. Truth is, you may not encounter them all. If you do, though, we want you to be prepared.

Today we will be discussing the lender. This is the person who works with you to get your loan. This person may also be a mortgage loan officer, banker, or broker. The job of the lender is to take your application for a loan, and verify your income, employment and credit history. For this reason, it is important to find someone you can trust. You will be revealing a lot about yourself, your finances, and your financial goals. They will need to be able to discuss these things with you and help you choose the best program for you.

As a service we will be offering links in each post to the others. This way you are just one click away from learning about each person and their role. The introductory post was Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Who Are All These People? First, we discussed the Real Estate Consultant in Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: First is the Real Estate Consultant and Who Are All These Other People?

Please understand by talking about the Birmingham Alabama Real Estate market, we are also talking about all of the greater Birmingham area including, but not limited to, Hoover Real Estate, Homewood Real Estate, Trussville Real Estate, Vestavia Real Estate, Mountain Brook Real Estate, and any other areas surrounding them.

Vestavia Alabama Real Estate Market Statistics August 2006 vs. August 2007: Now and Then

I think it's important as a Real Estate Consultant, as a resident, or a future home buyer or seller in the Vestavia Area to know the stats.

With so much media coverage about "the state of the real estate market" being broadcast, I want to start doing a now and then segment to show how the market has changed from one year to the next.

August 2006
Listed Properties: 84
Average Price: $506,518
Price Range: $129,000-$1,675,000

August 2007
Listed Properties: 68
Average Price: $451,410
Price Range: $185,000-$1,350,000

August 2006
Sold Properties: 44
Average Price: $456,547
Price Range: $195,000- $1,344,000
Average Days on Market: 115

August 2007
Sold Properties: 52
Average Price: $409,348
Price Range: $180,000 - $945,000
Average Days on Market:80

If you would like to be contacted as soon as homes become available in the Vestavia area just let me know, or if you would like to see statistics about other areas, don't hesitate to ask.You can find all the Birmingham Alabama Real Estate stats on Greater Birmingham Real Estate Resources, on Your Guide To Living In Greater Birmingham, or on Birmingham Alabama Real Estate blog via ActiveRain.

*Note these stats are accurate as of 9/11/07 according to the Birmingham MLS. They are subject to change as agents submit listed and sold properties into the MLS.

Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: First is the Real Estate Consulant and Who Are All These Other People?

Something many of us do not know or realize is how many people are actually involved in the home buying process. It can be a bit overwhelming too.

You are out looking for your dream home, you find it, then, all of a sudden.... PEOPLE ARE EVERYWHERE!!!

There are a number of people involved in the home buying process. We need to realize and understand that these professionals base their careers on helping you find your dream homes and purchase it.

Over the next few days, we will be sharing some insights into what they are actually doing for you. Our hope is that this relieves some of the tension of having all these people around and helps you understand what they are doing for you.

The congregation we will be discussing will be the real estate consultant, lender, attorney, appraiser, surveyor, home inspector, and pest control. Truth is, you may not encounter them all. If you do, though, we want you to be prepared.

Today we will be discussing the real estate consultant. The real estate consultant is the first person that you will probably become involved with when you begin your search for a home. We use this term to include real estate agents, sales persons, brokers, Realtors, Listing agents, and Buyer's agents, all of whom must be licensed to serve you. Agents and sales persons work for a broker.

Those licensed to sell may represent either buyers or sellers. However, the listing agents typically represent only sellers and buyer's agents represent only the buyers - so as to avoid potential conflicts of interest. Only those that are members of the National Association of Realtors may use the designation "Realtor".

As a service we will be offering links in each post to the others. This way you are just one click away from learning about each person and their role. The introductory post was Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Who Are All These People?

Please understand by talking about the Birmingham Alabama Real Estate market, we are also talking about all of the greater Birmingham area including, but not limited to, Hoover Real Estate, Homewood Real Estate, Trussville Real Estate, Vestavia Real Estate, Mountain Brook Real Estate, and any other areas surrounding them.

Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Proces: Who Are All These People?

Something many of us do not know or realize is how many people are actually involved in the home buying process. It can be a bit overwhelming too.

You are out looking for your dream home, you find it, then, all of a sudden.... PEOPLE ARE EVERYWHERE!!!

There are a number of people involved in the home buying process. We need to realize and understand that these professionals base their careers on helping you find your dream homes and purchase it.

Over the next few days, we will be sharing some insights into what they are actually doing for you. Our hope is that this relieves some of the tension of having all these people around and helps you understand what they are doing for you.

The congregation we will be discussing will be the real estate consultant, lender, attorney, appraiser, surveyor, home inspector, and pest control. Truth is, you may not encounter them all. If you do, though, we want you to be prepared.

As a service we will be offering links in each post to the others. This way you are just one click away from learning about each person and their role.

Please understand by talking about the Birmingham Alabama Real Estate market, we are also talking about all of the greater Birmingham area including, but not limited to, Hoover Real Estate, Homewood Real Estate, Trussville Real Estate, Vestavia Real Estate, Mountain Brook Real Estate, and any other areas surrounding them.

Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Making It Easier: The Fifth Simple Thing

Five days ago we began discussing the five simple things you can do to know to make the home buying process easier.Fourdays ago, we looked at the first simple thing you can do: getting pre-approved. Three days ago, we discussed the second thing you need to know, find a great real estate consultant. Two days ago we pondered the age old saying, look before you leap. Yesterday, we moved on to the fourth thing, be prepared. And now, the fifth thing.

The fifth simple thing you can do to make the home buying process easier in Birmingham Alabama is be reasonable.

I know this is easier said than done, but it is true. We need to realize that no home will be without flaws. No home is perfect! In older homes it's these flaws that lend character. Either way, it will take SOME work to personalize any home, and these things you do to personalize will transform your house into a home.

Today will be the last day we are going to be discussing these simple things we can do to make the home buying process easier. You can see below that we included links to each post in each post. Our goal in sharing this information with you is that it will simplify and ease this process for both you and your family.

To see the original post Five Simple Things You Need To Know To Make The Home Buying Process Easier in Birmingham Alabama, check out that link. To get more information about the first simple step check out Making the Home Buyer Process Easier in Birmingham Alabama: The First Simple Thing. and to read about the second simple thing go see Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: making It Easier: The Second Simple Thing. The third simple thing about the Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Making It Easier: The Third Simple Thing can be found here. Fourth, Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Making It Easier: The Fourth Simple Thing can be linked to from here.

Also understand by talking about Birmingham Alabama Real Estate, we are talking about all of the greater Birmingham area including, but not limited to, Hoover Real Estate, Homewood Real Estate, Trussville Real Estate, Vestavia Real Estate, Mountain Brook Real Estate, and any other areas surrounding them.

Preparing yourself with these 5 simple things: loan approval, a great broker, getting to know the neighborhood, protecting yourself, and being reasonable - will help make the home buying process easier for you and your family.

Homewood Alabama Real Estate Market Statistics August 2007 vs August 2006: Now and Then

I think it's important as a Real Estate Consultant, as a resident, or a future home buyer or seller in the Homewood Area to know the stats.

With so much media coverage about "the state of the real estate market" being broadcast, I want to start doing a now and then segment to show how the market has changed from one year to the next.

August 2006
Just Listed Properties: 69
Average Price: $362,703
Price Range: $50,000 - $1,900,000

August 2007
Just Listed Properties: 64
Average Price: $352,310
Price Range: $169,500 - $799,000
Average Days on Market


August 2006
Sold Properties: 31
Average Price: $392,582
Price Range: $189,900-$1,225,000
Average Days on Market: 71

August 2007
Sold Properties: 35
Average Price: $330,455
Price Range: $147,000 - $755,000
Average Days on Market: 102

If you would like to be contacted as soon as homes become available in the Homewood area just let me know, or if you would like to see statistics about other areas, don't hesitate to ask.You can find all the Birmingham Alabama Real Estate stats on Greater Birmingham Real Estate Resources, on Your Guide To Living In Greater Birmingham, or on Birmingham Alabama Real Estate blog via ActiveRain.

*Note these stats are accurate as of 9/907 according to the Birmingham MLS. They are subject to change as agents submit listed and sold properties into the MLS.

Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Making It Easier: The Fourth Simple Thing

Four days ago we began discussing the five simple things you can do to know to make the home buying process easier. Three days ago, we looked at the first simple thing you can do: getting pre-approved. Two days ago, we discussed the second thing you need to know, find a great real estate consultant. Yesterday we pondered the age old saying, look before you leap. Today, we are moving on to the fourth thing.

The fourth simple thing you can do to make the home buying process easier in Birmingham Alabama is be prepared.

How do I get prepared? You get prepared by making sure your contract has reasonable contingencies included to protect you as a buyer. Some of these reasonable contingencies can be things like -- approval by a home inspector, obtain financing, and title clearance.

For those of us that see real estate as a long-term investment, make sure that you buy homeowner's insurance, and upgrade it as the value of your new home and its contents increase. Actually let me add, everyone should obtain homeowner's insurance regardless of it being long term or short term.

It is the old cub scout motto: Be prepared. It is good enough advice for us all.

Tomorrow will be the last day we are going to be discussing the rest of these. You can see below that we included links to each post in each post. Our goal in sharing this information with you is that it will simplify and ease this process for both you and your family.

To see the original post Five Simple Things You Need To Know To Make The Home Buying Process Easier in Birmingham Alabama, check out that link. To get more information about the first simple step check out Making the Home Buyer Process Easier in Birmingham Alabama: The First Simple Thing. and to read about the second simple thing go see Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: making It Easier: The Second Simple Thing. The third simple thing about the Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Making It Easier: The Third Simple Thing can be found here.

Also understand by talking about Birmingham Alabama Real Estate, we are talking about all of the greater Birmingham area including, but not limited to, Hoover Real Estate, Homewood Real Estate, Trussville Real Estate, Vestavia Real Estate, Mountain Brook Real Estate, and any other areas surrounding them.

Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Making It Easier: The Third Simple Thing

Three days ago we began discussing the five simple things you can do to know to make the home buying process easier. Two days ago, we looked at the first simple thing you can do: getting pre-approved. Yesterday, we discussed the second thing you need to know, find a great real estate consultant. Today, we are moving on to the third thing.

The third simple thing you can do to make the home buying process easier is to look before you leap.

Now, what does that mean? It means you need to make yourself familiar somewhat with an area before you commit to make that area your home. You can do this by driving around the neighborhood at different times of day, getting out and walking around. If you see some who look friendly you can even stop and chat with a few of your potential neighbors. Remember though, some people like friendly neighbors and others think of them as nosy.

Some other things you can do to look before you leap is drive to the local grocery store, laundry, or anywhere that you will frequent upon your move. If you have kids you might want to visit nearby schools and see for yourself how the kids behave and how the grounds look.

The point is to see if this is really the type of neighborhood you want to live in BEFORE you make an offer.

Tomorrow and over the next couple days we are going to be discussing the rest of these individually. We will include links to each post in each post. Our goal in sharing this information with you is that it will simplify and ease this process for both you and your family.

To see the original post Five Simple Things You Need To Know To Make The Home Buying Process Easier in Birmingham Alabama, check out that link. To get more information about the first simple step check out Making the Home Buyer Process Easier in Birmingham Alabama: The First Simple Thing. and to read about the second simple thing go see Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: making It Easier: The Second Simple Thing.

Also understand by talking about Birmingham Alabama Real Estate, we are talking about all of the greater Birmingham area including, but not limited to, Hoover Real Estate, Homewood Real Estate, Trussville Real Estate, Vestavia Real Estate, Mountain Brook Real Estate, and any other areas surrounding them.

Crestwood Birmingham Alabama Real Estate Market Statistics August 2007

I think it's important as a Real Estate Consultant serving Crestwood Alabama Real Estate, as a resident, or a future home buyer or seller in the Crestwood Area of Birmingham to know the stats.

August 2007
Newly Listed Properties during August: 17
Average Price: $216,735
Price Range: $139,900-$325,000

August 2007
Sold Properties: 9
Average Price: $196,322
Price Range: $113,900-$339,000
Average Days on Market: 71

If you would like to be contacted as soon as homes become available in the Crestwood area of Birmingham just let me know, or if you would like to see statistics about other areas, don't hesitate to ask.

You can find all the Birmingham Alabama Real Estate stats here on Greater Birmingham Real Estate Resources, on Your Guide To Living In Greater Birmingham, or on Birmingham Alabama Real Estate blog via ActiveRain.

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Birmingham Alabama Home Buying Process: Making It Easier: The Second Simple Thing

Two days ago we began discussing the five simple things you can do to know to make the home buying process easier. Yesterday, we looked at the first simple thing you can do: getting pre-approved. Today, want to look at the second thing you need to know.

The second thing you need to do to make the home buying process easier in Birmingham Alabama is to find a great real estate consultant.

This agent is not just any agent though. You are looking for a Buyer's Agent. A Buyer's Agent represents YOU the buyer and not the person selling the home. The agent selling the home represents the seller.

The Buyer's Agent has YOUR best interests at heart. Really good Buyer's Consultants know their markets, and will help you find the best match for your needs and wants.

They can also recommend mortgage brokers with whom they've worked in the past.

And if these reasons aren't good enough, the Buyer's Agent is not paid by you. They are typically paid by the seller so you are getting representation at no cost to you.

Tomorrow and over the next few days we are going to be discussing each of these individually. We will include links to each post in each post. Our goal in sharing this information with you is that it will simplify and ease this process for both you and your family.
To see the original post Five Simple Things You Need To Know To Make The Home Buying Process Easier in Birmingham Alabama, check out that link. To get more information about the first simple step check out Making the Home Buyer Process Easier in Birmingham Alabama: The First Simple Thing.

Also understand by talking about Birmingham Alabama Real Estate, we are talking about all of the greater Birmingham area including, but not limited to, Hoover Real Estate, Homewood Real Estate, Trussville Real Estate, Vestavia Real Estate, Mountain Brook Real Estate, and any other areas surrounding them.

Mountain Brook Alabama Real Estate Market Statistics August 2007

I think it's important as a Real Estate Consultant serving the Mountain Brook Alabama Real Estate market, as a resident, or a future home buyer or seller in the Mountain Brook Area to know the stats.

August 2007
Newly Listed Properties during August: 51
Average Price: $909,446
Price Range: $285,000-$3,495,000

August 2007
Sold Properties: 15
Average Price: $637,738
Price Range: $354,000-$1,200,000
Average Days on Market: 78

If you would like to be contacted as soon as homes become available in the Mountain Brook area just let me know, or if you would like to see statistics about other areas, don't hesitate to ask.You can find all the Birmingham Alabama Real Estate stats here on Greater Birmingham Real Estate Resources, on Your Guide To Living In Greater Birmingham, or on Birmingham Alabama Real Estate blog via ActiveRain.

Homewood Alabama Real Estate Market Statistics August 2007

I think it's important as a Real Estate Consultant serving the Homewood Alabama Real Estate market, as a resident, or a future home buyer or seller in the Homewood Area to know the stats.

August 2007
Newly Listed Properties during August: 57
Average Price: $358,353
Price Range: $169,500-$799,000

August 2007
Sold Properties: 30
Average Price: $329,967
Price Range: $147,000-$755,000A
verage Days on Market: 104

If you would like to be contacted as soon as homes become available in the Homewood area just let me know, or if you would like to see statistics about other areas, don't hesitate to ask.You can find all the Birmingham Alabama Real Estate stats here on Greater Birmingham Real Estate Resources, on Your Guide To Living In Greater Birmingham, or on Birmingham Alabama Real Estate blog via ActiveRain.

Making the Home Buying Process Easier in Birmingham Alabama: The First Simple Thing

Yesterday we began discussing the five simple things you can do to know to make the home buying process easier. Today, we want to look at the first thing you need to know.

The first thing you need to know is to get pre-approved for your loan. Let me say that one more time in case you missed it. Get pre-approved for your loan!

This is an important step in that before you decide to buy a home you need to know what you can afford. There is nothing worse than finding that "dream home" only to find out that you can't afford it. So, whenever possible try to get "pre-approved" for a loan in the amount you're willing or able to borrow.

The importance of this pre-approval is that when you do finally find that dream home, you will be in a stronger position to buy that home. How amazing it will be to be able to buy that dream home when you find it rather than lose it to another buyer, because you were waiting on the approval.

Tomorrow and over the next few days we are going to be discussing each of these individually. We will include links to each post in each post. Our goal in sharing this information with you is that it will simplify and ease this process for both you and your family.
To see the original post Five Simple Things You Need To Know To Make The Home Buying Process Easier in Birmingham Alabama, check out that link.

Hoover Alabama Real Estate Market Statistics August 2007

I think it's important as a Real Estate Consultant serving Hoover Alabama Real Estate, as a resident, or a future home buyer or seller in the Hoover Area to know the stats.

August 2007
Newly Listed Properties during August: 181
Average Price: $378,037
Price Range: $149,900-$1,550,000

August 2007
Sold Properties: 138
Average Price: $332,024
Price Range: $134,900-$1,421,000
Average Days on Market: 71

If you would like to be contacted as soon as homes become available in the Hoover area just let me know, or if you would like to see statistics about other areas, don't hesitate to ask.You can find all the Birmingham Alabama Real Estate stats here on Greater Birmingham Real Estate Resources, on Your Guide To Living In Greater Birmingham, or on Birmingham Alabama Real Estate blog via ActiveRain.

Five Simple Things You Need to Know to Make the Home Buying Process Easier in Birmingham Alabama

Making the home buying process easier is something we all want to do whether we are the agent, the buyer, or the seller. The great news about it is it's not that hard. For a matter fact we have come up with five simple things you need to do to make the process easier. These are:

1. Get pre-approved
2. Find a great real estate consultant
3. Look before you leap
4. Be prepared
5. Be reasonable

Over the next few days we are going to be discussing each of these individually. We will include links to each post in each post. Our goal is sharing this information with you is that it will simplify and ease this process for both you and your family.

Trussville Alabama Real Estate Market Statistics August 2007

I think it's important as a Real Estate Consultant serving Trussville Alabama Real Estate, as a resident, or a future home buyer or seller in the Trussville Area to know the stats.

August 2007
Newly Listed Properties during August: 74
Average Price: $296,739
Price Range: $119,500-$850,000

August 2007
Sold Properties: 34
Average Price: $298,084
Price Range: $149,900-$529,900
Average Days on Market: 114

If you would like to be contacted as soon as homes become available in the Trussville area just let me know, or if you would like to see statistics about other areas, don't hesitate to ask.You can find all the Birmingham Alabama Real Estate stats here on Greater Birmingham Real Estate Resources, on Your Guide To Living In Greater Birmingham, or on Birmingham Alabama Real Estate blog via ActiveRain

Vestavia Alabama Real Estate Market Statistics August 2007

I think it's important as a Real Estate Consultant serving Vestavia Alabama Real Estate, as a resident, or a future home buyer or seller in the Vestavia Area to know the stats.

August 2007
Newly Listed Properties during August: 66
Average Price: $453,026
Price Range: $185,000-$1,350,000

August 2007
Sold Properties: 45
Average Price: $406,051
Price Range: $180,000-$945,000
Average Days on Market: 84

If you would like to be contacted as soon as homes become available in the Vestavia area just let me know, or if you would like to see statistics about other areas, don't hesitate to ask.You can find all the Birmingham Alabama Real Estate stats here on Greater Birmingham Real Estate Resources, on Your Guide To Living In Greater Birmingham, or on Birmingham Alabama Real Estate blog via ActiveRain.

Getting Our Feet Wet in Birmingham Alabama

Birmingham Alabama, well the whole state, has been in drought conditions this summer. This week though we have had some much needed rain and I think everyone is grateful and has enjoyed it quite a bit. Some of us, like our friend over here, have just wanted to sit out in it and enjoy some time in the rain. Can you tell he is big fan. (I know a bad pun, but it works so well.)

While state totals for the year are still low, we have enjoyed more than 3 1/2 inches of rain this week (that's out of 4 3/4 inches we have had total for the month of August) and a much needed break in temperature away from the hot and steamy 100+ degree days we were having for a while. The average temperature this week has only been about 87 degrees while the rest of the months average was just about 100.

Hopefully we can gain back some of the 17+ inches we are still behind so can drop all of our drought warnings, alerts, and restrictions. For now though, we are going to enjoy the puddles while they last.

I found some interesting statistics about Birmingham Alabama weather.Here you can find average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, and cloudiness month by month. It has the same information for cities across the country on the site. You can also find weather forecasts at AccuWeather and Weather.com.

Here's to getting your feet wet!