Huntsville, AL

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 of reviews on contractors. When seeking general information about a future purchase click on the following link: Home Buying, or if selling a home you might try this link Home Selling for some great general information.

Recently a customer asked about a home that sounded too good to be true...at least to her. When she gave me the address I finished her sentence with the name of the subdivision...and yes I was familiar with that home even though it's not in my area, but it is in Alabama. The customer was drawn to the home because in the public remarks the home was claimed to have appraised four years ago in 2008 for $800,000 and yet now it was listed well below $200,000...if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! I already knew the home she was inquiring about required approximately $250,000 in structural repair and an additional $150,000 of cosmetic work due to vandalism from loclal teenagers breaking into the home and partying. The home is only four years old and never occupied. So in the matter of a few minutes I was able to explain what she was in for if this home was pursued. Happily she is not pursuing that home, but is allowing me, Broker of @Homes Birmingham to show her others. I'm also Associate Broker of @Homes Realty Group Huntsville. If you want an office that puts your needs above all others why not give me, Nick T Pappas, a call at (256) 230-5933 or send me an email at nick@nickTpappas.com. You may also try my personal website for all Northern Alabama Homes for sale.

It's hard to believe this home is only four or five years old when you look through these photos. Sometime you'll hear somebody say that a house is done settling, however this house still seems to be undecided about that. Inspections done over two year intervals show significant changes...I don't think it got the "settling is done" memo.

Don't slip through the cracks...call an agent familiar with the area that you want to purchase or build your dream house.

If you need a knowledgeable real estate professional in Madison or Huntsville Alabama area, why don't you let me Google that for you! I also know outstanding agents in all states and Canada should you need help relocating to a new area.

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 available to them, however, the process of each is much the same as with a standard (if there is such an animal) straight forward home purchase...at least in the beginning.

LEASE PURCHASE:

With a lease purchase the buyer has his/her financing in order and for whatever personal circumstance is unable to actually close on the purchase of the home until some future date, usually a year out, but totally negotiable. Depending on the terms, buyer and seller are able to negotiate, the buyer is usually required to put down a significant down payment (usually not refundable depending on terms of the contract) and pay rent or lease money during the agreed lease period until the future closing date. A portion of the lease money can sometimes be negotiated to apply towards the purchase price of the home. This transaction often works well for the buyer and seller who may have missed an opportunity because of timing.

LEASE OPTION:

In the lease option method of purchasing a home the buyer is also putting down a significant down payment or option money paying for the "option" to purchase the home at a future agreed date. The buyer rents or leases the home for the predetermined lease period and typically is not allowed to apply any of the lease money towards the purchase of the home. At the end of the lease the buyer does not have to exercise his/her right to purchase the home and may walk away at the end of the lease period. However, "option" money is not refundable and it's understood that the seller will retain it. The buyer is only buying the option to purchase the house.

If you need a knowledgeable real estate professional in Madison or Huntsville Alabama area, why don't you let me Google that for you! I also know outstanding agents in all states and Canada should you need help relocating to a new area.

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 Huntsville Alabama where I've spent a lot of time.

The movie is a docudrama inspirational work about a Michigan coach and special ed teacher who takes his special ed class to space camp in 1989...based on a true story.

I wanted to let everyone know that you will have another opportunity to see this movie as it will air again on

The Hallmark Channel.

February 4, 2012 at 8:00p.m. and 10:00p.m.
February 5, 2012 from 2:00pm to 4:00p.m.
February 12, 2012 from 4:00p.m. to 6:00p.m.

Enjoy the trailer and if you get a chance to watch I think you'll enjoy it.

If you need a knowledgeable real estate professional in Madison or Huntsville Alabama area, why don't you let me Google that for you! I also know outstanding agents in all states and Canada should you need help relocating to a new area.

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 knock on doors before 8:00 am or after sunset. Homes with "No Solicitation" signs in the yard would be off limits (which I have on my own door).

This new ordinance would not affect Girl Scouts, religious groups, political candidates, student fundraisers and charitable groups (what is left?). This is just a proposal and will be discussed in a special work session later this month.

I believe they are proposing this due to a recent increase in home burglarlies~some of which, neighbors or homeowners had stated that a sales person had recently been to their home soliciting. I am not sure how this will play out. But in the meantime, my "No Soliciting" sign on our door will stay put.

How would you feel if this was happening in your neighborhood?

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 class will get a free trip to SPACE CAMP®. The class' teacher will receive a $500 gift card for classroom supplies. Teachers can register for the contest online. The deadline to register for the contest is Feb. 15.

The contest runs from Feb. 15 until Feb. 23. The winning name will be chosen in early March.

For those of you who may not know about SPACE CAMP®…It is a wonderful program that has been here for years. SPACE CAMP® was founded in 1982 as the U.S. Space & Rocket Center® museum’s education program to promote the study of math, science, and technology. This educational program couples classroom instruction with hands-on activities and teaches teamwork, decision-making, and leadership. Rocket scientist Dr. Wernher von Braun, while leading the team of scientists and engineers at the Marshall Space Flight Center that sent astronauts to the moon, inspired these programs that have challenged and educated youngsters from all 50 states and over 40 countries and territories. SPACE CAMP®has become known as one of the premier math/science/technology educational programs in the United States.

Camps are available for fourth grade through high school-age students. Additional programs are available for trainees who are blind or visually impaired, and for the deaf or hard of hearing. "Space Is Special" is a program for special education students.

SPACE CAMP® programs are also available for adults, and special camps have been designed for educators and for corporate groups. Additional Space Camp Family Programs are available for children as young as 7 years.

If you watched ABC’s Hallmark Hall Of Fame Series movie A Smile As Big As The Moon, you got to see a lot of what SPACE CAMP® is all about. The Movie is about a special education teacher’s dream of helping his students attend SPACE CAMP®.

Although I am a “transplant” here in Huntsville, I am so VERY proud to call Huntsville home. My Children are getting a spectacular education along with all of these added bonuses of living in such a technology driven City. Now, time to go help my daughter think of names (shhhhhh.)