Sandra Nickel

Montgomery AL foreclosure homes continued to rise during the first quarter of 2009 with 211 new Montgomery AL foreclosure filings in April compared to 201 filings in March, according to RealtyTrac.com.

Montgomery AL Foreclosure Activity and Home Price Index

Montgomery AL foreclosure activity is based on the total number of properties that receive foreclosure filings - default notice, foreclosure auction notice or repossession notice - each month. Home price appreciation is based on month-over-month percentage change of the Home Price Index. The Home Price Index is calculated from home sales records.

Montgomery AL Foreclosure Geographical Comparison

The Montgomery AL foreclosure rate is .06% lower than the National rate, but .10% higher than the state of Alabama's rate.

Montgomery AL Foreclosure Rate Month-By-Month

Montgomery AL pre-foreclosure activity for March and April is an indication that the foreclosure crisis in Montgomery AL is not over with many more Montgomery families in distress situations.

Are you or someone you know behind on your mortgage payments and facing a Montgomery AL foreclosure? You do have options. A short sale may be the answer to saving you, your family and your home. Give us a call for a private consultation.

Get the value of your Montgomey AL home.

Pending home sales rose with many first-time buyers taking advantage of historically good housing affordability conditions, according to the National Association of Realtors^®

The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in March, increased 3.2 percent to 84.6 from a level of 82.0 in February, and is 1.1 percent higher than March 2008 when it was 83.7.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said it should take a few months for the market to gain momentum. "This increase could be the leading edge of first-time buyers responding to very favorable affordability conditions and an $8,000 tax credit, which increases buying power even more in areas where special programs allow buyers to use it as a downpayment," he said. "We need several months of sustained growth to demonstrate a recovery in housing, which is necessary for the overall economy to turn around." Let's take a look at the March sales statistics to see how the Montgomery AL real estate market looks:

Montgomery AL real estate sales statistics for April show pending sales increased by 12% in 2009 compared to April 2008, the average sales price increased by 1% to $124,291 while sold listings were up 6% from 2008. Market times showed a decrease of 2 days or 2% from 2008.

For the latest Montgomery AL real estate market conditions in your area, please call me at 800-HAT-LADY or visit HomesForSaleInMontgomeryAlabama.com.

Information is provided by the Montgomery Area Association of Realtors and is deemed accurate but not guaranteed.

Spring is here! If you are thinking of selling your Montgomery home this spring, now is the time to start getting ready to sell. Below are 5 things to do before putting the ‘For Sale' sign in the yard:

1. Have a pre-sale home inspection. Be proactive by arranging for a pre-sale home inspection. An inspector will be able to give you a good indication of the trouble areas that will stand out to potential buyers, and you'll be able to make repairs before open houses begin.

2. Organize and clean. Pare down clutter and pack up your least-used items, such as large blenders and other kitchen tools, out-of-season clothes, toys, and exercise equipment. Store items off-site or in boxes neatly arranged in the garage or basement. Clean the windows, carpets, walls, lighting fixtures, and baseboards to make the house shine.

3. Get replacement estimates. Do you have big-ticket items that are worn our or will need to be replaced soon, such your roof or carpeting? Get estimates on how much it would cost to replace them, even if you don't plan to do it yourself. The figures will help buyers determine if they can afford the home, and will be handy when negotiations begin.

4. Find your warranties. Gather up the warranties, guarantees, and user manuals for the furnace, washer and dryer, dishwasher, and any other items that will remain with the house.

5. Spruce up the curb appeal. Pretend you're a buyer and stand outside of your home. As you approach the front door, what is your impression of the property? Do the lawn and bushes look neatly manicured? Is the address clearly visible? Are pretty flowers or plants framing the entrance? Is the walkway free from cracks and impediments?

Learn more about selling your Montgomery home at HatTeam.com.

What is your Montgomeryhome worth?

www.REALTOR.org/realtormag Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® . Copyright 2003. All rights reserved.

The Federal Housing Administration is a primary source of mortgage financing for millions of America's families and plays a key role in helping bring stability to the housing market. This is the message that the National Association of Realtors^® delivered to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee today.

"Without FHA financing, families would be unable to purchase homes and communities would suffer from continued foreclosures and blight," said Lennox Scott, a member of NAR's Real Estate Advisory Board and CEO of John L. Scott Real Estate in Bellevue, Washington. In his testimony, Scott shared NAR's belief in the importance of FHA and concern for the safety and soundness of its programs due to its dramatic growth over a short period of time.

"We believe that FHA has done a good job stepping up to today's market challenges. However, along with the dramatic growth in market share comes greater responsibility and the need for increased infrastructure and staff," Scott said. Over the past 18 months, FHA has handled an increase in volume four times greater than 2007 levels, increasing its market share to over 30 percent.

Of the 325 homes sold in the Montgomery MLS during March, 101 were FHA-financed. And FHA was the loan of choice in 40% of the total non-cash sales. With the Alabama Housing Finance Authority's First Step and Step-Up programs becoming increasingly popular, we anticipate that percentage will continue to grow. Let's take a look at the March sales statistics to see how the Montgomery AL real estate market looks:

Montgomery AL real estate sales statistics for March show pending sales increase by 14% in 2009 compared to March 2008, the average sales price decreased by 9% to $129,037 while sold listings were down 43% from 2008. Market times showed an increase of 19 days or 20% from 2008.

In reviewing the stats above, it is important to remember that foreclosures in the less affluent areas of Midtown have contributed significantly to the decilne in average selling price. When the 7 foreclosures sold in March are removed from the totals, the actual average sale price increases to $135,312.

For the latest Montgomery AL real estate market conditions in your area, please call me at 800-HAT-LADY or visit HomesForSaleInMontgomeryAlabama.com.

Information is provided by the Montgomery Area Association of Realtors and is deemed accurate but not guaranteed.

One man's loss is another man's gain and right now buyer's have everything to gain. It was only a few short years ago that sellers controlled the market and were calling the shots. In order to buy a home, buyers were paying over the asking price, foregoing home inspections and paying all their own closing costs. Montgomery home buyers were jumping through any and all hoops. Now the market has shifted. The strong sellers' market is a thing of the past and it is the sellers who are jumping through hoops. Buyers are calling the shots with offers that include home inspections; requests that closing costs, homeowner association fees and inspection fees be paid by the seller; decorating allowances; home improvement; and prices far below the asking price. So why are Montgomery home buyers hesitating? Fear of a tanking economy, falling home prices and job instability are concerns for many potential home buyers. But if you are financially stable and plan to stay in a home for at least five years, there are 5 top reasons to buy a Montgomery home in 2009: 1. Homes are affordable. According to the National Association of Realtors' housing affordability index, homes were more affordable in December than at any other point since the group started the index in 1970. The affordability index is a measure of the relationship between home prices, mortgage interest rates and family income.

A recent report from Moody's Economy.com predicted that house prices will stabilize by the end of this year. The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight's Web site has a house price calculator that can help. Visit the calculator. 2. There are lots of homes to choose from. The slow down in the housing market has caused homes to stay on the market longer, creating a huge inventory. There was a 9.6-month supply of unsold existing homes in January given that month's sales pace, according to NAR. A large inventory gives buyers more selection, driving down prices. As buyers start to jump back into the market, the inventory will shrink and cause prices to start going back up. The time to get the best deal is before most buyers buy. 3. Builders are offering perks. New home builders are offering price reductions, free upgrades and other perks such as free appliances, homeowners' fees being paid, lower interest rates decorating allowances. Once their inventory shrinks, these perks will go away. 4. Interest rates are at historical lows.
Lenders are not lending as freely, but if you have good credit and the needed down payment, mortgage interest rates are historically low and hovering around 5 percent. 5. There is an $8000 tax credit

If you are a first-time Montgomery home buyer, you will qualify for an $8000 federal tax credit if you buy before December 1, 2009. Unlike the previous tax credit offered in 2008, this does not have to be repaid. Extra money comes in handy when buying a home. Trying to decide if buying a Montgomery home in 2009 is right for you. Visit HatTeam.com or give me a call. I'm glad to review your situation with you.

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