Tom Horn

As everyone knows, the national real estate market has been crazy over the past 12-18 months. Because of the collapse of various national financial institutions and its effect on the economy and the real estate market, property values have taken a nose dive. An increase in foreclosure and short sale activity has also taken its toll on the value of most people’s greatest asset: their home. The Alabama real estate market, like all other areas of the country, has also been affected, with some areas being harder hit than others. I’m happy to say that our neighborhood of Weatherly is holding up better than a lot of other areas. With the exception of some minor foreclosure activity, the median sales prices of homes have held relatively steady over the past 12 months. When many other areas are reporting declines in value, this should be viewed as good news. Birmingham MLS data indicates that there are approximately 24 properties currently listed for sale in Weatherly (Alabaster section). Based on the rate of sales in the past 12 months, this reflects a slight over supply. However with the summer months upon us, and the usual increase in sales during this period, it is anticipated that inventory levels will level off and reach more typical levels.

In 2008 Money Magazine reported that the Birmingham market would be one of the nation’s first markets to rally. It anticipated that the median prices in our market would increase over the next 12 months. In addition it predicted that we would see a 2% rise in values by the end of 2009. With all this being said I encourage everybody to keep their chin up and look ahead to when the market will return to normal.

Mr. Horn recommends getting a market value appraisal before putting your home on the market to sell. All residents of Weatherly qualify for a 10% discount.

Mr. Horn is a resident of Weatherly. He provides real estate appraisal services in both Shelby and Jefferson county Alabama, where he concentrates on residential properties, which includes single family homes, 2-4 family homes, lake homes, condos, vacant land, and manufactured homes. You can learn more about him by visiting his website at www.Appraisal-source.com or calling him at (205) 243-9304.

I'm no expert on the proper technique for handling asbestos when making home renovations and improvements, however I do know of the harm it can cause to your health when it is done improperly and it enters into your body. The presence of asbestos in homes and the associated cost for its containment and/or removal can have a significant impact on the properties market value. I was recently contacted by Jesse Herman of the Mesothelioma Cancer Center about providing information to the real estate industry regarding this problem that does not appear to have gotten alot of recent press despite its known health concerns. The following information is provided to help educate anybody involved in the renovation of older homes that may have asbestos in them. I hope it provides helpful information.

The path to home ownership is a fast paced reality that is renowned to be one of the great American traditions. It is also one that will require additional responsibilities. In many instances, newly bought homes may need to be renovated or repaired. This can be a problem because older homes can still possess obsolete methods of construction that if disturbed, can release toxins into the air.

The state of Alabama is no stranger to asbestos problems. Many industries that utilized electricity, fire and corrosive materials had great use for asbestos. Potential home buyers in Alabama or those remodeling older homes should be aware that homes constructed prior to 1980 can still contain asbestos. Not only are there green alternatives to asbestos, but they can even save you money!

As a real estate worker or homeowner, you should be aware that exposure to asbestos is easily prevented by taking simple precautions. If any suspected asbestos is located, the best thing to do is leave it alone as disturbing it could cause its fibers to become airborne. The frequent inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause a rare, but severe form of asbestos lung cancer known as mesothelioma. Mesothelioma treatment varies and while there have been advancements, there is no known cure.

The amount of asbestos-related incidents in the last few decades has lead to asbestos lawyer firms advocating victim rights around the U.S. The negligence involved with the asbestos scandal has been one of greed and dishonesty. Manufacturers of asbestos were aware of its toxic qualities, but repressed this information from the public.

It is recommended for home owners or remodelers to hire professional inspectors who can determine the legitimacy of danger if any asbestos materials are present. The Alabama Asbestos Professionals can conduct home inspections, take samples of suspect material, assess its condition and advise about what corrections are needed. If removal is deemed necessary, it must be performed by a licensed abatement contractor who is licensed in dealing with hazardous materials. Once the removal is completed, homeowners must seek out eco-friendly options as insulation replacements.

With public initiatives and technology increasing, there are many alternatives to old building materials. These recycled building materials include the use of lcynene, cotton fiber and cellulose. Cotton fiber is made from recycled batted material and treated to be fireproof. Research suggests that the use of recycled building materials can reduce energy costs in the home up to 25 percent annually. Not only will these asbestos alternatives reduce energy costs, they allow a lifestyle that promotes a clean, free of health damaging materials.

Mr. Horn provides real estate appraisal services in the Birmingham, Alabama metro area where he concentrates on residential properties, which includes single family homes, 2-4 family homes, lake homes, condos, vacant land, and manufactured homes. You can learn more about him by visiting his website at www.Appraisal-source.com.

In today’s economy businesses must scrutinize every dollar they spend. Unlike the large corporate giants that spend money hand over fist (albeit government bailout money for some), smaller enterprises must consider the costs and benefits of their marketing budget. One thing I have found is Business Network International (BNI).

BNI in its simplest form is referral marketing. Chapters are established with only one representative from each profession (the more professions represented the more members and more referrals being passed). Each person within the group becomes a part of your sales force. They learn about what you do and who you are looking for so that when they are conducting their business during the week they can be on the lookout for people needing your services, and likewise for you. When you are conducting your business you pass along your fellow member’s business card. The key philosophy of BNI is “givers gain”. What this means is that if you concentrate on giving referrals to your BNI members, referrals will eventually come back to you. If you have not tried BNI please check it out. Guests are allowed to visit a group two times to decide if the chapter is a good fit for them. One must always remember though, the key to anything worthwhile: you get out of it what you put into it.

If you are still unsure of exactly what BNI is, please take a look at this video. One creative BNI member has set to music what BNI is all about.

Mr. Horn provides real estate appraisal services in the Birmingham, Alabama metro area where he concentrates on residential properties, which includes single family homes, 2-4 family homes, lake homes, condos, vacant land, and manufactured homes. You can learn more about him by visiting his website at www.Appraisal-source.com.

It’s an unfortunate but true fact: property values are declining. With the number of foreclosure properties and short sales entering the market, property values have declined in most areas. In the past a foreclosure sale, or other similar sale where the price is lower than normal, would not have been given much consideration because it was not typical in the market. However, because of the sheer number of these types of transactions, as well as the number of properties being offered for sale (i.e.-competitive listings), they must be considered.

Prior to the decline, property values increased a great deal because of the real estate boom. This resulted in higher assessments and higher property taxes. What we have left now are the high taxes and low market value of residential real estate. One way of making this work for you is to get your county assessments lowered to more accurately reflect the property’s true value and likewise lower your property taxes. This process varies by county so it is recommended that you check with your county to find out their procedure.

The first step is to get an independent appraisal of your home so that you can see how it compares with what the county assessor has it valued at. It is important that the appraiser have the right credentials. This includes proper education, state certification, experience, and familiarity with the market area the property is located in.

After the appraisal is completed you will need to file the appeal with the county you are located in. Depending on how complicated this procedure is you may want to have a real estate attorney do this for you. In addition to the filing, they can argue your case to the county and prove to them that you house is indeed not worth as much as the say it is. You may also be asked to respond to questions the board may have. With a professional appraisal and a convincing argument it is possible your assessment and taxes will be lowered.

This may seem to be a daunting task at first but if you do your homework correctly, it could pay off by saving you thousands of dollars in property taxes.

Mr. Horn provides real estate appraisal services in the Birmingham, Alabama metro area where he concentrates on residential properties, which includes single family homes, 2-4 family homes, lake homes, condos, vacant land, and manufactured homes. You can learn more about him by visiting his website at www.Appraisal-source.com.

Lenders, attorneys, consumers; have you ever regretted hiring an appraiser after the fact? Did they tell you they met certain qualifications and later you found out they didn’t? Let’s face it; every profession has members that are more qualified than others. By being more knowledgeable about the qualifications of the appraiser you choose you can save yourself from a headache before it’s too late.

According to their website, the Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) states the following:

“The ASC's mission is to ensure that real estate appraisers, who perform appraisals in real estate transactions that could expose the United States government to financial loss, are sufficiently trained and tested to assure competency and independent judgment according to uniform high professional standards and ethics”.

By logging onto the ASC website you can search to see if the appraiser you want to use is AQB compliant. According to the ASC website this means that “the appraiser met the Appraiser Qualifications Board’s Real Property Appraiser Qualifications criteria ("AQB criteria") on education, experience, and examination, when obtaining and/or maintaining the credential”. If the appraiser is not AQB compliant this could indicate two things: “A “no” in the column typically means the appraiser was not required to demonstrate the hours of experience set forth in the AQB criteria for the credential level. It, however, may also mean the appraiser failed to demonstrate the hours of education or continuing education set forth in AQB criteria”. This site can help identify those appraisers who have not provided proof.

The quality of work provided and/or integrity of the mortgage transaction can be increased when you know that the appraiser you want to use has demonstrated his competency by providing his credentials to the Appraiser Qualifications Board.

Appraisers can be retained for various reasons. They can provide appraisals for home purchases, refinances, construction loans, marketing (FSBO), PMI reduction, estate planning, and litigation. You can check to see if they have met the requirements set forth by the Appraiser Qualifications Board by clicking the following link.

http://www.asc.gov/content/category1/nr_intro.aspx?id=10

In addition, ask for references from past clients. You can only make informed decisions when you have all the facts.

Mr. Horn provides real estate appraisal services in the Birmingham, Alabama metro area where he concentrates on residential properties, which includes single family homes, 2-4 family homes, lake homes, condos, vacant land, and manufactured homes. You can learn more about him by visiting his website at www.Appraisal-source.com.