Mobile, AL

The city of Mobile and the other communities within the Mobile Bay Metro Area (Baldwin County, Mobile County, Alabama) have the opportunity to capture many more economic projects if, as area businesses and residents, we continue to stand together "as one!"

We must all participate in the promotion of our area, whether it's in a small way or a big way. You can contribute with only a smile to a weary traveler visiting our area (they might be moving here or relocating their business) or keeping the trash picked up around your home. Landscaping, mowing the lawn, or volunteering to assist with your educational talents are certainly other ways to place your positive mark upon our metropolitan bay area.

Also, even more small and large businesses should consider banding together, promoting our area through worthwhile local civic, economic and marketing projects. It is through these ongoing positive efforts and promotional projects which will continue to keep us progressive, in contention for even more economic opportunities and, certainly, noticed by outsiders looking in. These outsiders just might want to jump right in with us, so they can also experience the economic flurry of opportunities. Our local assets and opportunities to compete surround each of us every day. So open your eyes widely, see the possibilities and potential, and the next time you look into a mirror, realize that you are looking at one of our greatest assets!

It could be raining economic projects' money in the Mobile Bay Metro Area, so here are some recent newsworthy articles (links below) for your reading. Let these articles stoke your embers of creativity and professionalism, and turn them into your flames of positive ideas and possibilities!

Please send me your comments, opinions and suggestions.

http://blog.al.com/live/2009/10/forbes_columnist_gives_mobile.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/28/realestate/commercial/28alabama.html?_r=2&ref=business

http://www.baldwincountynow.com/articles/2009/10/29/local_news/doc4ae87e66ae3dc680435966.txt

http://www.wkrg.com/alabama/article/auto-plant-in-bay-minette/379896/Sep-24-2009_1-48-pm/

http://www.wkrg.com/alabama/article/big-economic-honor-for-mobile1/100846/Jun-12-2009_8-50-pm/

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Al Cheney is a native of southern Alabama and a graduate from the College of Business and Management Studies, University of South Alabama. Al Cheney has maintained an active real estate broker's license for thirty-six years and president of his company, Realty Leaders Corporation. Of course, most people know Al Cheney as a Certified Residential Real Property Appraiser and FHA Approved Appraiser with over 30 years experience. Al Cheney also has past experiences and professional involvement with advertising, graphics, photography, marketing and writing.

Imagine owning a home with 4/2 beds and bathrooms. Many of the people in the world find it difficult to pay for a one bedroom home let alone a 4-bedroom home with two baths. The fact is since the economy has hit rock bottom many people now can own this kind of home and all they have to do is to look in the Mobile foreclosures listings. Right now, you can buy a four bedroom home with two baths for as little as $50,900.00, and pay as little as 4.61 percent interest rates on that loan. Mobile foreclosures are easy to find. The Internet is saturated with foreclosed listings, Bank Foreclosures, federal and government homes, HUD homes, and so forth. At this time, the unemployment rate in Mobile, Alabama is 7.3 percent, which compared to national average that is 6.9 percent. Mobile, Alabama is the third most famous city in the United States and is the seat of Mobile County. In 2006 more than 190 thousand people were living in the area but since then the number has increased. Mobile Alabama provides the only saltwater port into Alabama foreclosures and it is located on the Mobile Bay. The city’s origin made it the Capital of the Colonial French Louisiana in the 1700s. More than 300 years later, Mobile expanded and now they have a record of officially flying six flags, which include Britain, France, Spain, and the Republic of Alabama’s Confederacy, as well as the United States. The economy over the past five years has undergone major expansions. There is several local and national in addition to international corporations there that has funneled more than nine billion dollars into Mobile. This brings it to a GMP rate of over 20 billion and it has the potential of going well over 200 billion. Thus, Mobile then is one of the top 10 most prosperous cities in the United States. Job growth in Mobile has exceeded to 22 percent in the last five years and it is projected to increase to over 32 percent within the next three years. This is mostly because of the ThyssenKrupp Steel Plant and the State Dock growth. There was a notable surge of average wages at 30 percent, but this was due to the Katrina disaster. Since then things have improved for Mobile residents, which means that the job place is lucrative. Thus, moving to Mobile, Alabama may be a good idea right now. So be sure to look on the Mobile foreclosures list to find a home.

Though the temperatures might argue otherwise, the holiday season is quickly approaching, and it's time to begin planning for decorations and activities to draw folks downtown. In recent years Downtown Mobile has been woefully unadorned for the holidays, but an energetic group of Royal Street businesses have decided to make downtown THE place to visit to see fun and fancy decorations. See the story below for details on how you can participate.

In the meantime, enjoy the fabulous fall temperatures... take a walk at lunch to see the new plantings...come down for the countless events... contribute to the great street scene the defines downtown!

For obvious reasons we love announcing new businesses that have located or moved downtown, but we especially love it when the business is an entirely new enterprise. That's the case with Boom Buggy, a pedicab operation that will carry passengers through the streets of Downtown Mobile during the day and night. The buggies will begin operation in about two weeks and will not charge a fee...instead, the passenger will tip the driver (or pedaller as the case may be). June Reddix-Stennis bought two of the cabs from a manufacturer in England and plans to begin operation the first week of November.

In other development news:

• If you grew up along the Alabama Gulf Coast you probably visited the Gulf Gate Lodge at the beach a time or two. You'll soon have a chance to relive those moments in an entirely different setting...Downtown Mobile! The son of the original proprietors will be bring the Gulf Coast seafood classics to 161 Dauphin Street as soon as renovations are complete.
• BP has moved its offices from mid-town Mobile in the Bel Air Mall area to the RSA tower. The 20 employees are occupying offices on the 20th floor of the tower.
• The Birmingham law office of Maynard Cooper & Gayle has opened an office in downtown. Headed up by local attorney Jay Watkins, the Port City office is located at 3 South Royal Street, above Serda's Coffee

• Fine Dining and Catering just opened its doors at the corner of Jackson and St. Francis streets last week. The establishment is currently open for lunch Monday - Friday and dinner on Friday & Saturday evenings. The menu, which changes daily, features a soul food centered menu.
  
  
  
  In other news:

  • Haven't decided on a Halloween costume yet? If you have a yellow hard hat, a red checkered shirt, overalls and a tool belt, you could be Bob the Builder...and you could get into the Gulf Coast Exploreum for all the permanent exhibits as well as the Bob the Builder exhibit free on October 31st. The costume promotion is open to all ages.
  • The Mediterranean Sandwich Co. at 274 Dauphin Street is now open and offers a great $5 lunch during the week and late night on the weekends.

  
  Some Upcoming Live Entertainment:

  • Alabama Music Box:
    • Tornado River - Thursday, October 22
    • Entropy, SubjectMatters, Super Nice Bros. - Friday, October 23
    • TKO Indie Dance Party: Necrovita, Zombie Photography show by: Brett Moroun - Saturday, October 24
    • Or The Whale, Muskrat Hannah, Heath & Melody of El Cantador - Monday, October 26
    • Rise Up Howling Warewold, Heat Lightning Record Release Show - Thursday, October 30
    • Halloween Party music by DJ Charles III - Saturday, October 31
    • DooDoo Fest Night 1: An Albatross, Dark Meat, Cockfight - Tuesday, November 3
    • DooDoo Fest Night 2: Thomas Function, Yussuf Jerusalem, CCUSA & the HHR, Wizzard Sleeve - Wednesday, November 4
    • DooDoo Fest Night 3: Pinehill Haints, The Coathangers, The Underground Railroad to Candyland - Thursday, November 5
    • SoAl Film Fest After Party with Mob Towne Revival, Blueyes Soul - Friday, November 6
    • Today the Moon Tomorrow the Sun, Shotgun Lover - Saturday, November 7
    • Lucero "Ramblin' Roadsho and Memphis Revue" all ages - Tuesday, November 10
    • Tea Lights - Wednesday, November 11
    • Pygmy Shrews - Thursday, November 12
    • Bamboo Shoots, Too Far From Amsterdam, Kadesh & the Perfect Strangers - Friday, November 13
    • Captured! By Robots, Kid Midi - Saturday, November 14
    • Awesome New Republic, Bryan Scary and the Shredding Tears, Rosewood Thieves - Monday, November 16
  • The Battle House Hotel:
    • John Anthony (in the Tavern)- Every Monday through Saturday
    • Loose Cannons (Joe Cain Cafe) - Every Wednesday
    • Bay City Brass (Joe Cain Cafe) - Every Sunday
  • The Blind Mule:
    • Muskrat Hannah, Sugarcane Jane - Friday, October 23
    • The Curtis Jaywalkers - Saturday, October 24
    • You & What Army? Improv Comedy - Friday, October 30
    • The Sunshine Factory, TBA - Saturday, October 31
    • Free Show: A Bridge To Burn, Delirium Trigger - Friday, November 6
    • Phil Lee - Saturday, November 7
    • Come Up For Air - Friday, November 13
    • Muskrat Hannah, Whiskey Comatose, Renee Arozqueta, Spide, Octopus - Saturday, November 14
  • Grand Central:
    • Last Episode - Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24
    • Top of the Orange - Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31
    • Silver Tongue Devil - Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7
    • The Ugli Stick - Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14
  • Serda's:
    • Seeking Sui - Friday, October 23
    • Jon Cowart Music - Saturday, October 24
    • Lil Greenwood - Friday, October 30
    • Bruce Innes - Saturday, October 31
    • Elements of a Difference - Friday, November 6
    • Gentry Dodd - Saturday, November 7
    • The Curtis Jaywalkers - Friday, November 13
    • Scott Chism & the Better Half - Saturday, November 14
  • Soul Kitchen:
    • Once: Pearl Jam & Nirvana Tribute Bands - Friday, October 23
    • The Uglistick - Saturday, October 24
    • Galactic with Molotov Circus Side Show - Saturday, October 31
    • Jessie James and Push Play - Wednesday, November 4
    • Tim Reynolds and TR3 - Thursday, November 5
    • BoomBox - Friday, November 6
    • The Velcro Pygmies - Saturday, November 7
    • Perpetual Groove - Friday, November 13
  • Veets:
    • Jodyoke - Every Tuesday
  Doug Previto & the Family Jewels - Every Wednesday through Sunday

The below chart shows recent sold properties in the City of Mobile, for the past six months of HUD properties that sold during the first two weeks, with the percentages of List/Sold and List/Net.

Purchase Price	Net Price	List Price	% List/Sold	%List/Net
$90,101	$82,893	$100,000	90.10%	82.89%
$38,000	$34,960	48,000	79.17%	72.83%
$72,000	$66,240	$72,000	100.00%	92.00%
$73,000	$67,160	$76,000	96.05%	88.37%
$35,127	$32,327	$45,000	78.06%	71.84%
$85,000	$78,250	$95,000	89.47%	82.37%
$150,100	$138,092	$159,000	94.40%	86.85%
$89,000	$82,750	$108,900	81.73%	75.99%
$32,000	$29,440	$31,000	103.23%	94.97%
$35,000	$33,250	$40,000	87.50%	83.13%
$53,000	$48,760	$53,000	100.00%	92.00%
$106,000	$97,520	$106,000	100.00%	92.00%
$91,000	$84,950	$108,000	84.26%	78.66%
$83,000	$77,350	$90,000	92.22%	85.94%
$21,000	$19,950	$23,000	91.30%	86.74%
$130,000	$119,600	$145,000	89.66%	82.48%
$90,000	$85,000	$100,000	90.00%	85.00%

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This Blog by: Julie Martin, CRB, e-PRO, Broker/Realtor, Port City Realty, Mobile, AL;

877-880-8110 toll free; 251-665-4665 my cell; julie@portcityrealty.com.

Search all the listings in Mobile County & Baldwin County any time for free with no sign in requirement from PortCityRealty.com.

Current Foreclosure List and Information
Current Waterfront List and Information
Current Mobile Condo List and Information

Below you will find a table that contains the Market Activity report for 10-07-09 activity in the Mobile AL Real Estate market according to the Mobile Association of Realtors MLS system.

This information is derived daily directly from the local MLS System. For more free Mobile AL real estate information, reports, and statistics, please visit http://www.GulfRegionProperties.com or http://www.AlabamaBestHomes.com. Please e-mail me or call 251-215-9382 if you would like additional information on any of the listings shown.

Mobile AL Real Estate Market Snapshot 10/07/2009

Single Family Homes and Condominiums

New Listings	10
Price Reductions	13
Price Increases	2
Back on Market	1
Pending Transactions	10
Sold Transactions	5
Withdrawn from the Market	7
Expired Transactions	1
NET LOSS (LISTINGS)	12

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