Kim Bush - The Neighborhood Expert

Our neighborhood of the month for March is Halcyon Summit. Located right off Interstate 85 in the middle of Taylor Road, this little hidden gem is worth looking at. Developed by Lowder New Homes in the early nineties, the neighborhood was completed in the early 2000's. Besides being perfectly located, the style and design of the homes will suit the needs of many homebuyers. There are common areas which include a stocked pond for the residents to enjoy.

Homes in Halcyon Summit are between 1600 and 2050 square feet. Many plans have a two-car garage and some have four bedrooms. My listing has four bedroom, two bathroom and 1,801 square feet. It also has a two-car garage, an eat-in-kitchen and a formal dining room. The fourth bedroom could easily funciton as an office or study but the huge closet would make it an ideal guest room. With soaring ceilings and many windows, the great room is flooded with light without sacrificing privacy.

The appeal of living so close East Chase shopping center and being right off the Interstate is sure to be an important feature for many people. You could be in downtown Montgomery in less than 20 minutes. There are many other stores, restaurants and activities a short drive away as well. The main post office is just down the street along with Eastdale Mall, discount stores, paharmacies, the list is endless. Take a tour of my listing and you'll see what I mean!

Being a Realtor makes it very hard to choose a favorite neighborhood. So, I decided that I should feature one neighborhood every month. This month, I chose Green Acres because of its location and value for the money. Green Acres is located off Vaughn Road and between Perry Hill Road and the Eastern Bypass in Montgomery, AL. The homes in this neighborhood were built in the late sixties and early seventies. The floor plans are very unique with many homes having formal rooms and family rooms. The lots are generous, which was typical of the era. Most of the lots have mature trees as well.

Green Acres is close to almost everything and could easily be the midpoint of the county. You could easily get to anywhere in the city in fifteen minutes or less. Just to name a few, it is close to Baptist South, Eastdale Mall, many shopping centers, restaurants, schools, houses of worship and preschools. Vaughn Road Elementary is right across the street from one of the main entrances to Green Acres.

Perhaps, my favorite reason for featuring Green Acres is its proximity to Chappy's Deli on Perry Hill Road. This is the place to go if you want a sample of Southern Hospitality. They make the best omelettes in town and they have options for creating your own. The pancakes are huge and fluffy and they serve Alaga syrup products. You can get New York-style lunch options and some of the best "sweet tea" ever, which can only be made properly in the South anyway. Chappy's will even fill your catering orders faster than any other deli in town. They support the March of Dime with an annual "Breakfast for Babies". They also support and sponsor many other charitable causes as well as the arts.

I just happen to have a beautiful home listed at 4435 Slauson Circle in Green Acres so I guess that makes me partial. This home has so many things in it, that I couldn't possibly describe them all. But if you visit it for yourself!

For several month now, there have been many commercials, radio spots and magazine ads telling consumers that now is the time to purchase a home. We, as Realtors, tried to make everyone aware of the $8,000 tax credit and the original deadline of November 30, 2009. Then we got the news that the tax credit would be extended and even expanded to offer move-up buyers a credit of $6,500 as well. Now with the second deadline fast approaching, we are trying to get potential buyers to see that time truly is of the essence.

We've had yet another change to the FHA guidelines that will seriouly impact many potential buyers. Last year, for example, in the Montgomery, AL metro area the average home sale was around $140,000 according to the Alabama Cent er for Real Estate located in Tuscaloosa at The University of Alabama. This leads me to believe that 90% or more of those buyers were financed with an FHA loan. With the new guidelines, lenders will be required to collect a mortgage insurance premium (MIP) of 2.25% instead of the previous 1.75% at closing. In real numbers, that means that $140,000 home that used to have an MIP of around $2,500 will now have an MIP of about $3,150. A significant increase even if it can be financed into the final loan amount. This change is scheduled to take effect on April 5, 2010, almost one month before the tax credit expires.

The other big change will the amount of concessions the seller is allowed to pay. Now, sellers will only be able to contribute 3% back to the buyer to used toward closing costs. This is cut in half from the 6% that so many buyers wanted and needed previously. This means more buyers will have to bring more money to the closing table. Up until now, our market in Montgomery, AL and the River Region has been stable. I wonder if this will throw us into the turmoil we've seen and heard about in so many other markets. I've done my best to educate those that I've come in contact with so they can prepare themselves. Especially with the talk of requiring buyers with credit scores below 600 to put up to 10% down on a home.

As we begin this journey into a change, change and more change, we can be certain of one thing. Now is the time to buy!

When you put your home on the market, you only get one chance to make a good first impression. Before you have your agent put that sign in the yard, you might want to take an honest look at your home. This must include every aspect of your home, from the exterior to the interior. Ask a good friend that will speak openly to help you. If you need to declutter, start as soon as you can so that you will be able to capture your prospective buyers' attention when they walk through the door.

First, you will need to walk across the street and look at your home the way a potential buyer will see it. With today's technology, the first time people see your home could be on the internet. When you imagine a camera angle, is there anything that stands out? Do your shutters need paint? Is your landscaping neatly done? If your entrance needs to be spruced up, add some colorful annuals in bright pots or planters. Perk up your beds with some fresh mulch or pine straw. Clean the gutters and make sure all of them are in good working order. If necessary, clean your windows so that they sparkle from the outside and let in maximum light on the inside. Check your back yard for any holes or potential dangers that might injure someone as they walk through. Remember, buyers will want to see all of your home when they are looking.

Once your work is done outside, step inside and take an inventory of every room. Remove any unused items from each room and if you like have a yard sale! It will also be a good time to let your neighbors know you'll be moving. Pack up anything you're not using on a daily basis and be sure to label the boxes so that when you do move, unpacking will go much smoother. Dust, wipe down and polish every surface in your home and then move on to the floors. Clean your grout, carpets and rugs so they look spotless. Use a non-stipping floor cleaner on your wood floors to make them shine. When your done, all these small chores will help you enjoy the last memories in your home before you hand the keys off to the next residents!