About Lauderdale County, AL

In years past, it has been recommended that buyers get "pre-qualified" by a lender for a mortgage loan. This usually means that you spend a few minutes on the phone giving financial information to a lender so you can find out your maximum mortgage amount. Getting pre-qualified is helpful because you know the price range of homes you can afford. However, the process doesn't guarantee that your mortgage application will be accepted and unknown problems often surface after you have made an offer on a house.

If you want to be in the strongest negotiating position possible, get PRE-APPROVED! This happens when you provide the same paperwork needed for a formal loan application and the lender has checked and verified all of your information, such as credit, employment, debt/income ratio and verifying down payment funds. You are actually APPROVED for a loan. Once you have made an offer on a house, you will formally apply for the mortgage. Certain facts may have to be rechecked depending on how much time has passed since the pre-approval.

Being pre-approved certainly can't hurt...in fact, in today's real estate market, it's almost a must! First, you may be better able to bargain with the seller if you are pre-approved. Second, when a seller receives an offer from a pre-approved buyer, they know that the buyer can secure a loan. If there are other offers, who do you think the seller will be more likely to take seriously? Why take the chance on someone that is not pre-approved?

So, if you are serious about buying a home, talk with your mortgage lender now! GET PRE-APPROVED! When you are ready, I'll be glad to help you find homes for sale in Florence, AL and the surrounding area that will fit your needs and budget. Just give me a call or email anytime!

Deidre Berry
Email: deidre@HomesOfTheShoals.com
Web: http://HomesOfTheShoals.com

The search for Florence, AL homes for sale starts HERE!

It's amazing how many people are thinking about or wanting to relocate to the Florence, AL area. Just over the past month I have talked with potential buyers from Texas, Florida, Ohio and Tennessee, and showed homes to buyers from Texas, Illinois and Delaware. Over the past year, I have personally helped clients buy homes in the Shoals area who moved from Michigan, Tennessee and Wisconsin. And this doesn't even count the buyers moving from within the state!

Now this may not seem unusual for those in BIG cities, but for our smaller area, I find it really interesting that we are getting so many people moving here from out of state. I should include myself in that group....we moved from Ohio! (More about why we chose to move in another post.)

So what's the draw?

Or as those that were born in the area and have lived here all their lives ask... "Why did you move HERE?"

There seems to be a general consensus among those that have moved. Here are their reasons, in no particular order:

1. Reasonable housing prices - more house for your money!
2. Low property taxes
3. Low crime
4. Friendly people
5. Family/church oriented community
6. Temperate change of seasons

If you are considering moving to the Florence, Alabama area, come and visit us. I think we will win you over and you'll soon be part of the group that has found the best kept secret in Alabama!

Deidre Berry
Email: deidre@HomesOfTheShoals.com
Web: http://HomesOfTheShoals.com

The search for Florence, AL homes for sale starts here!

It's been a long time (high school days) since I have been to one of those haunted houses that pop up around this time of year. My husband had been talking about wanting to go...so on the spur of the moment last night we decided to try one out!

Graystone Manor in Killen, AL has been rated as one of the best and scariest haunted attractions in the South. I have to admit...I screamed (and laughed because of my screaming) through the whole thing! It was much better than the ones I remember from high school. This is the Manor's second year of business and it seems to be pretty popular if the crowds waiting to get in are an indication. It was built in an old flea market and takes advantages of twists and turns through different rooms and even several trips outside to the "graveyard" area. There are about 30 live actors and over 40 mechanical robots (very realistic in the dark!). For some cool pictures of the Manor, go to http://graystonemanor.net.

The attraction is located just east of Florence, AL on Hwy. 72, opposite Brooks High School in Killen, AL. It is open Thurs.-Sat. from 7 p.m. - 11 p.m. During the week of Halloween it will be open every night. Ticket prices are $13.50 for weeknights and $15.00 for Fri. and Sat. There is also a fast pass option for $20. We took advantage of the fast pass and went to the head of the line!

If you are ready to be scared, don't miss it!

Deidre Berry
Email: deidre@HomesOfTheShoals.com
Web: http://HomesOfTheShoals.com


Search for Florence, AL homes for sale here!

When looking for a new home, we all want to know about the area where we might be moving, right? We want to know about the neighborhoods and if they meet our needs. We want to know about the crime statistics and about the schools.

"What's the neighborhood like?" is a question I am asked frequently as a real estate agent in Florence, Alabama - especially from out of town clients. As much as I would like to answer that question...guess what? I can't. I have no way of knowing why you are asking and federal law (The Fair Housing Act) prohibits me - and all Realtors - from discriminating in any way based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or handicap.

There are a few things that you can do to find out about neighborhoods in Florence, Alabama and the Shoals area. Here are some suggestions:

> Go out for a drive! Take a look at the neighborhood during different times of day. Talk to the people that live in the neighborhood.


> You can find demographic information online at the United States Census site, or ZIPskinny which provides information by city or zip code.


> Sex offenders are listed by city and zip code at the Alabama Dept. of Public Safety website.


> For school information, search the Alabama Dept. of Education website or go to School Data Direct to search by school or district.


> The local police are there to help - contact them and ask about crime in a particular neighborhood. The Florence, AL Police Dept. Annual Report for 2007 charts the crime statistics for Florence.


> For more information about the Florence, AL area and other helpful links, go to my website.

So, I may not be able to answer the question, but now you have some resources that might help!

Deidre Berry
Email: deidre@HomesOfTheShoals.com
Web: http://HomesOfTheShoals.com

Search for Florence, AL homes for sale

The idea for this post came from Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate. Thank you!

My goal is to keep you, the consumer, updated on the real estate market trends in Florence, AL and the Shoals area. Each month I will be spotlighting the previous month's sales history and giving you a comparison with the prior year.

September did show a slight decrease in the number of homes sold. Properties are staying on the market a little longer, some buyers are finding it harder to be approved for a mortgage and the media has everyone thinking that the sky is going to fall! However, don't believe everything you hear! The Shoals area market overall is holding steady.

To get started, Aug. and Sept. 2008 statistics are shown below. The best comparisons are the same months by year (example: compare Aug. 2007 with Aug. 2008). Comparing consecutive months may be misleading due to variations depending on the time of year, current events, etc.

Florence, AL Home Sales (including the Shoals area)
Aug. & Sept. 2008

All information taken from the Shoals Area MLS as of Friday, Oct. 3, 2008.
Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

In the Times Daily on Sept. 28, 2008, an article titled "Shoals Avoiding Crisis" quoted Joan Baltes, an economics professor at Northwest Shoals Community College, as saying:

"In the state of Alabama, we're not comparatively in that economic decline." She goes on to say, "Our housing market never got overinflated like in other sections of the United States. What goes up, must come down." Baltes gives credit to local real estate agents for not trying to manipulate the local market and keeping homes reasonably priced.

Come back next month for a look at October's home sales!

Deidre Berry
Email: deidre@HomesOfTheShoals.com
Web: http://HomesOfTheShoals.com

Florence AL Homes for Sale