Moody’s Economy.com has elevated Huntsville, AL to the NUMBER 1 city for job growth prospects! It was previously rated #2 in Moody’s! For the full story, CLICK HERE! This should help more industry “re-look” at moving this way – as well as help Real Estate! Yea Huntsville!
REAL ESTATE RENTAL WARNING
Please be aware – if you know ANYONE looking to rent, tell them to be VERY CAREFUL doing it over Craig’s List. There is a scam going on!
I have a listing in Blossomwood area in Huntsville, AL; a for sale – not a rental. I do not post my listings on Craig’s List anymore. HOWEVER, an agent called me as her client saw my listing on Craig’s List for rent. I told her it was a “for sale” and I didn’t post on Craig’s List – must have been an error. She sent me the listing – it was MY LISTING.
After talking to my Broker, I learned this scam has been going on for awhile! These scammers will “copy” listing information and pictures from various MLS sites and post as rentals on Craig’s list. Then, when contacted via email, they will email back what appears to be a “form letter” asking you to fill out the attached application if you are interested in the property! Then, if approved, they will show you the property! What better way to get your personal information and use it!!
I emailed the “real estate” person with the rental information and told her I wanted to know how she got my listing and who was she. The reason I knew it was a form letter was because she didn’t ackowledge anything in my email – just thanked me for the interest in the property and asking me to fill out the application. I also emailed Craig’s List – and to date, have gotten no response.
Real Estate Tips for Selling Your Home
In our Real Estate market, or in ANY Real Estate Market, looks mean a lot! One way to get your home ready to sell is to highlight it’s best features. The “easiest” way to do that is “declutter”. Every single room! While you don’t want your house to look empty, you do want to make it look more spacious, so removing knicknacks, personal photos and pieces of furniture to open up the rooms is a great way to “accentuate the positive”.
Kitchens should have cleared countertops and closets should look spacious – not crammed. If this is hard to do with the cabinet space or storage space you have, you should consider renting a storage unit until the home has sold.
In living, dining and family rooms, furniture should not look “crammed” and knicknacks should be reduced. It’s so much easier for buyers to imagine themselves in a house when it’s owners and their family members are not displayed in pictures everywhere!
BRAC TO HUNTSVILLE
The Huntsville, AL Chamber of Commerce released it’s latest newsletter and there was a great article in it regarding BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) that is bringing thousands of jobs to Huntsville/Madison County.
The newsletter states that according to Redstone Arsenal Garrison Commander Col. Robert Pastorelli, 51% (2,407) of the positions scheduled to move because of the 2005 BRAC decision that is bringing nearly 4700 direct jobs to Redstone have been transferred. Of these 2,407 jobs already transferred, 85% of those positions have been filled with workers outside of this area.
It also goes on to state that Air Force Brig Gen. Terry Feehan (Missile Defense Agency’s Deputy Program Manager for Ballistic Missile Defense System) said that MDA will realign 2,248 government and contractor positions from the National Capital Region to Huntsville. These workers will “focus on development, test, integration, and fielding of MDA projects.” Feehan stated that Huntsville “will remain a growth area for MDA and by 2012, the majority of all MDA activities will be performed in Huntsville.”
The Chamber also states that there is a new organization that has been formed from the BRAC decisions: Redstone Test Center, which came from the merger of the Army Aviation Technical Test Center at Ft. Rucker and the Redstone Technical Test Center at the arsenal. According to the Chamber, this new organization will be responsible for rotary wing air platform development and acquisition, as well as test and evaluation.
Finally, the newsletter states that BRAC is also bringing to Redstone Arsenal the Army Material Command headed by the Army’s first female four-star General: General Ann E. Dunwoody. AMC plans to have 500 employees here by the end of this fiscal year – with 370 already in place.
WHAT EXCITING NEWS FOR HUNTSVILLE, MADISON, MADISON COUNTY — AND REDSTONE ARSENAL!!
HUNTSVILLE, AL REAL ESTATE NEWS
Great news for Huntsville/Madison County in Real Estate! Home sales for the month of November hit the highest level on record to 526! Home sales rose by 19% in November from October and up by 89.2% from November 2008! It’s great to be in Huntsville/Madison County! For the rest of the story from the Huntsville Area Association of Realtors, click on THIS PRESS RELEASE.
HUNTSVILLE, AL A SMART CITY
Did everyone know Huntsville, AL was listed in Forbes as number 9 in the 10 smartest cities in the world?? What an awesome “title”. CLICK HERE to read the full story – and click on the “In Pictures” so you can see all 10 cities!
NASA’s Ares Rocket Receives Recognition
NASA’s Ares Rocket topped the list of Time magazine’s Best Invention of 2009! This recognition came on the heels of the Ares I-X test flight in October. The Ares Rocket is under development at the Marshall Space Flight Center here in Huntsville.
Sen. Richard Shelby said that this recognition is a well-deserved recognition for NASA and its engineers.
To quote Senator Shelby: “This is hard-earned and well-deserved recognition for NASA and its legion of talented scientists and engineers that are developing the Ares rocket. This honor underscores the great progress and critical importance of the Ares rocket to the Constellation program. As the White House and Congress deliberate the future of American space flight, I will continue to fight to see that this successful program is continued for the future of human space flight.”
CLICK HERE to see the complete Time magazine article.
GREAT NEWS FOR HOMEBUYERS!
Great news for homebuyers! It appears the bill I posted below, on October 29, has passed with most of the same details listed in post below! Check out this link at http://www.msnbc.msn.com:80/id/33522046/ns/business-real_estate/ to read all about it!
HOME BUYER TAX CREDIT
FINGERS CROSSED!!!! There is a plan in the Senate to extend the current $8000 tax credit – AS WELL as some additional offerings! The primary points are as follows:
1. The plan would be to extend the credit, now ready to expire on November 30, 2009, to home purchases UNDER CONTRACT to April 30, 2010, with borrowers allowed another 60 DAYS to close the sale!
2. The plan would also allow homebuyers who buy a new home to qualify for a $6500 tax credit if they have lived in their PRIOR residence for at least 5 years! This would encourage existing homeowners to buy and sell!
3. The income levels would change, too, if this plan is approved. Currently, the income levels are up to $75,000 for individuals and up to $150,000 for couples. The proposal is for up to $125,000 for individuals and upt to $250,000 for couples!
This is AWESOME – and I hope it passes so that the real estate market will continue to stabilize!
To read the full article in Bloomberg, please CLICK HERE.
Small Businesses in Huntsville, AL
Did you know that Huntsville, Alabama is the NUMBER 1 “mid size place” to launch a small business? According to CNN Money, it is! To see the whole article, CLICK HERE!
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN HUNTSVILLE!
