Angie Raetz

Just in case you might have missed it, I am informing you that Kiplinger has named Huntsville, AL as #1 BEST CITY!

Please click on the link below to read the complete article. Things are only getting better for Huntsville, AL!

http://www.kiplinger.com/magazine/archives/2009/07/best-cities-2009-where-the-jobs-are.html

I am seeing the market getting stronger. If you are thinking of buying, now is a great time. Interest rates are starting to creep up. Call me and buy while they are still low!

"As banks pull back on risk taking across the nation, consumer-loan balances in places like Huntsville, Ala., are rising. In Huntsville, a metropolitan area of 376,000 that is home to many government contractors, borrowing increased 13.2% per household in last year's fourth quarter, compared with the year-earlier period, according to data provided to The Wall Street Journal by Moody's Economy.com and Equifax Inc.

Huntsville's increase was the largest among 207 U.S. metropolitan areas tracked by the two data-gathering firms. Similar-size cities such as McAllen and Brownsville, Texas; Yakima, Wash; Provo, Utah, and Lafayette, La., also saw consumer-loan balances rise by more than 8% year-over-year." -By DAN FITZPATRICK

Good News for Huntsville, AL!!!!!!!!!!

Please follow the below link for the great news!!!!!!!!!

Huntsville Named the Country's Leading Metro for Consumer Lending Growth

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123837422461168013.html

I feel we are very lucky to be living in Huntsville, AL. We have had so many positive articles written about Huntsville, AL. We have had articles written from The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, BusinessWeek, U.S. News and so many more.

Articles on Huntsville, AL:

Affordable Places To Weather The Downturn

http://www.forbes.com/2008/11/12/cheap-cities-affordable-forbeslife-cx_hc_1112realestate.html

Best Place to Raise Your Kids: Huntsville, Alabama

Best City for Job Hunting

http://www.smartmoney.com/spending/economy/five-best-cities-for-job-hunting/?page=6

The list just keeps going on.

http://www.huntsvillealabamausa.com/news/nat_recog.html

Please call or email me for all your real estate needs or wants :<)!

Angie Raetz

REALTOR®

Cell: 256-503-2981

angieraetz@knology.net

Crye-Leike Realtors®

8498 Madison Blvd.
Suite A
Madison, AL 35758
Office: (256) 258-0930 Ext. 3501

Office fax: (256) 258-0936

Please visit my websites

www.AngieRaetz.com

www.4SothebyPlace.com

Below are websites that might interest relating to Madison City speed limits.

Madison Speed Limit Survey:

www.madisonal.gov/docs/speedstudy_09.pdf

Video Explanation of Madison City Speed Limit Survey:

www.video.yahoo.com/watch/4588656/12283278

Email address to respond to the Madison Speed Limit Survey:

speedlimits@nyms.net

Tips To Help Sell Your Home

• Price Your Home to SELL!! - I know that you would like to get as much money out of your home as possible BUT you need to be realistic. There is a large inventory out there which includes foreclosed homes.
• Get Educated on Your Competition- Check online, print ads, open houses and/or get a CMA form your Realtor.
• Staging - In this market you have to present your home in the best shape ever. Make sure your home is clean and free of clutter. Rent a POD & pack up because you will have to eventually. Hire an expert because it's very hard to be critical of your own home and they have the training, tricks & knowledge to make your home shine.
• Open House!- Even in the age of online real estate shopping, the old-fashioned open house is still a key part of the home-selling process. To protect yourself from theft, lock up your valuables and prescription drugs. Most important, plan to be away from the property during the open house. The presence of homeowners makes it more difficult for buyers to visualize themselves living there.
• Do the Repairs - Most buyers will not have the extra money now to fix or update homes due to being required to have larger down payments. As a result, prospective buyers are more likely to walk away from homes with any repairs or outdated features.