Arriving Late to a Party is Fashionable.  But Arriving Late For a Showing Appointment is Disrespectful As real estate agents we struggle with time management.  Well maybe not struggle, but working with many people during the course of the day is akin to being a juggler.  We work by appointment so that we can give our buyers and sellers our utmost attention for the time we spend with them.   This dedicated and well planned attention can be thrown off track  when one scheduled appointment starts late and runs late and thus setting the stage for the remainder of the day. I'm On My WayI know it's unreasonable to expect every appointment to arrive on time.  It can get particularly trying when the person we're suppose to be meeting calls at the appointed time to say that they are on their way... 04/22/2010

4/20/10 Foreclosure update for Birmingham Alabama real estate. On today's list there are 35 foreclosures in the following areas/cities: Gardendale, Grayson Valley, Pinson, Center Point, Birmingham, Leeds, Moody, Odenville, Eastlake, Mountain Brook, Irondale, Altadena, Hoover, Highland Lakes, Columbiana, Helena, Alabaster, Calera, Bessemer, Central Park, Ensley, Fairfield, Midfield and Adamsville. To schedule a showing or want more information on any of these Birmingham Alabama Foreclosures please contact Realtor Gusty Gulas with RealtySouth in Birmingham Alabama. You can call me at 205-218-7560 or email me at gusty1305@gmail.com. You can also find me on Facebook and Twitter.  24 New Listings: http://bhammls.net/BAARReports/ListitLib/show_report.aspx?ID=US12565078 11 New Price Changes: h... 04/20/2010

Birmingham, Alabama Realtor Leads - (800) 900-2807 Even through this Real Estate downward spin, we are still seeing an increased number of families relocating to cities such as: San Diego, Austin, Birmingham, etc… Still the #1 drive is jobs, and that cannot be disputed. Although another big reason for relocation that started in 2008, was due to great foreclosure prices. Cities such as Scottsdale, and Birmingham have both seem dramatic drops in real estate prices, which is driving the people to purchase real etate in those cities. If you are not working with families whom want to purchase foreclosed homes, you are leaving a huge chunk of money on the table. One of the top discussions right now on RealTown and ActiveRain is in regards to boosting your business with foreclosures. Call us ... 04/15/2010

  MOTHER'S WONDERLAND TEA Benefiting UAB & Samford Nursing Schools Saturday, April 17th 2010 1:00-4:00 WYNFREY HOTEL     Don't be late.....it's a very important date!   Come join in the fun while helping raise money for these schools!  There will be a Teacup Raffle and Silent Auction.  Tickets for the raffle may be purchased in advance or at the event, and winners will be drawn randomly during the tea party.  Silent auction items will be available for bidding until posted end times when the highest bidders will be determined.  Click here for more details.   A table for 8 may be purchased for $280 and individual tickets are $35 each.   Corporate and personal sponsorships are available and will be acknowledged on all print media and other publicity. Bronze Sponsorship  $250 Silver Sponsor... 04/13/2010

  BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS   2010 SPRING PLANT SALE     Do you love flowers and gardening?  I sure do and I've been anxiously waiting for the Birmingham Botanical Gardens Spring Plant Sale!    This is an extremely popular event, with more than 7,000 shoppers expected to enjoy choosing from a selection of over 85,000 plants.    The Spring Plant Sale will be located in the former Bruno's Supermarket at Colonial Brookwood Village.       Public Sale Hours: Friday, April 16th - 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM Saturday, April 17th - 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Sunday, April 18th - 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM   Want to get a sneak preview?  Tickets to the Brio Preview Party can be purchased in advance for $45 each or $50 at the door.  This party will be Thursday, April 15th from 5:00-6:30 PM at the Brio Tuscan Grill an... 04/11/2010

  1st Quarter 2010 Market Statistics for Homes Sold in Highland Lakes, Shelby County AL Single Family Residences   Units Sold:  11 Average List Price:    $466,081 Average Sold Price:   $428,354 Average Days on Market:  184 At this time there are 87 homes for sale in Highland Lakes (per Birmingham MLS)       If you would like updated information or details for this or any community in or around Birmingham, Jefferson or Shelby Counties, please feel free to call or send me an email.  I would love to hear from you!     Public comments are disabled on this blog to prevent spam.  I would love to hear from you.....please call or email me! Courtesy of Ann Allen, e-PRO®, SRES, ASP 205.902.4868 Keller Williams One Chase Corporation Drive, Suite 150 Hoover, AL  35244   © 2010 Ann Allen, All rights... 04/08/2010

4/7/10 Foreclosure report for Birmingham Alabama area homes. Today there are 50 foreclosure homes available in the following cities/areas: Fultondale, Gardendale, Pinson, Birmingham, Center Point, Roebuck, Odenville, Roebuck, Eastlake, Norwood, Irondale, Vestavia Hills, Hoover, Trace Crossings, Chelsea, Pelham, Alabaster, Montevallo, Bessemer, Pleasant Grove, Hueytown, McCalla, West End, Ensley, Wylam, Dolomite, Adamsville and Graysville. To schedule a showing or want more information on any of these Birmingham Alabama Foreclosures please contact Realtor Gusty Gulas with RealtySouth in Birmingham Alabama. You can call me at 205-218-7560 or email me at gusty1305@gmail.com. You can also find me on Facebook and Twitter.  14 New Listings: http://bhammls.net/BAARReports/ListitLib/show_report... 04/07/2010

1st Quarter 2010 Market Statistics for Homes Sold in Bluff Park, Hoover AL Single Family Residences Units Sold:   6 Average List Price:  $364,683 Average Sold Price: $344,150 Average Days on Market:  94 At this time there are 35 homes for sale in Brook Highland (per Birmingham MLS)       If you would like updated information or details for this or any community in or around Birmingham, Jefferson or Shelby Counties, please feel free to call or send me an email.  I would love to hear from you!     Public comments are disabled on this blog to prevent spam.  I would love to hear from you.....please call or email me! Courtesy of Ann Allen, e-Pro, SRES, ASP 205.902.4868 Keller Williams One Chase Corporation Drive, Suite 150 Hoover, AL  35244   © 2010 Ann Allen, All rights reserved   Photo ta... 04/06/2010

4/6/10 Foreclosure update for Birmingham Alabama Homes. Today there are 45 updates of foreclosures in the Birmingham area. There are foreclosures in the following cities/areas: Fultondale, Gardendale, Pinson, Roebuck, Birmingham, Trussville, Leeds, Moody, Eastlake, Crestwood, Highland Park, Mountain Brook, Hoover, Russet Woods, Oak Mountain, Eagle Point, Greystone, Chelsea, Helena, Pelham, Weatherly, Calera, Pleasant Grove, Bessemer, McCalla, Ensley, and Forestdale. To schedule a showing or want more information on any of these Birmingham Alabama Foreclosures please contact Realtor Gusty Gulas with RealtySouth in Birmingham Alabama. You can call me at 205-218-7560 or email me at gusty1305@gmail.com. You can also find me on Facebook and Twitter.  21 New Listings: http://bhammls.net/BAARR... 04/06/2010

  Hunting Easter Eggs At Trinity Medical Center! Birmingham AL     Since we have been spending all week at the hospital we have gotten to know a bunch of people in the waiting room.  One of the new friends we have met is Laura.  Her daddy is in the SICU also and she never leaves, spending every night since March 25th on an air mattress in the waiting room.  She lives in Fort Payne, which is a good two hour drive from here.  This weekend some of her family came down and today the kids have had a good time looking for Easter eggs!   HAPPY EASTER!       The hospital has a roof garden that is just off the SICU and CCU and it really is a nice place to enjoy being outdoors........it was the perfect place for the kids to hide eggs!  They found most of them, but there are still a half dozen or ... 04/04/2010

Some buyers believe that having a contractor walk through a property with them is the same as having a home inspection.  More specifically, some buyers feel that to have a trusted contractor family member or contractor friend, is far more reliable than hiring a home inspector.  WHAT A HOME INSPECTION IS "NOT"In each case where I have been the real estate agent, the contractor friend simply walks through the property with the buyer and perhaps points out potential problems that are obvious on the surface during a walk through (a post is missing from the deck rails, a hole needs patching behind the door, deteriorating soffit, etc).  Unlike a home inspector, the contractor never goes on the roof on in the crawlspace to examine its condition.  Oftentimes during the walk through with the buy... 03/22/2010

Zero Down Home Loans in Birmingham, AL still available...for now As the title suggests, Zero Down Home Loans in Birmingham, AL are still available...for now. It is rumored that the ever popular USDA Mortgage program is in jeopardy of running out of funds in the latter part of April. This program has been very successful and because of its popularity, the funds set aside by the USDA are running low.  The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) program for Rural Development has been a key factor for helping home owners obtain a Zero Down Home Loan in Birmingham AL.     Zero Down Home Loans in Birmingham, AL are slowly becoming a thing of the past due to the sub-prime market melt down. However, the USDA Rural Development program offers 100% financing (no money down) and also require... 03/16/2010

BTW, H2G stands for Honest to Goodness.  I gotta give credit where credit is due.  H2G contractors remind me of Two Men and a Truck.  When I first started working with H2G in 2007, that's pretty much what they were:  Two Men and a Truck. Today, H2G Husbands is doing a bang up job of branding the company and developing a reputation around Birmingham as a reliable and trustworthy contractors.  Several months ago, I recommended that Joe Lockette, founder of H2G Husbands  join Facebook.  I had no idea at the time, how powerful of a presence Joe would be.  Talk about maximizing social media.  Thus far, Joe and H2G Husbands have: Created a recognizable brand Made television, radio, social and print media work for them Established the $25 Husband as a permanent service that started out as a sh... 03/15/2010

CLIENT FOCUSEDOne of the things that keep me grounded in this business when working with clients is to remember that the real estate transaction is never, EVER about me.  This should be natural but let me tell you about the single most influential source that consistently reinforces my stance on this issue. Several years ago, I was buying furniture.  I had picked out dining room furniture from a local chain furniture store (let's call it store #1).  Prior to the scheduled delivery, I stopped by the same chain store, but in another location (store #2) looking for bedroom furniture.  While at store #2, I saw a dining room suite that I absolutely fell in love with and it was at a great price. Had to have it. HUH?I explained to the salesperson at store #2 that I had already picked out a din... 03/12/2010

  Come Join the Fun at Birmingham's 2nd Annual Rumpshaker 5K at Sloss Furnaces!     What is it?  The Rumpshaker 5K is a run/walk to benefit colon cancer awareness.  Last year (2009) was the inaugural run and about 1,500 participants raised nearly $50,000 for the cause.  This year the event has been moved to Sloss Furnaces to accomodate what is expected to be a larger crowd.  When is it?  Saturday, March 27th 2010.  The 5K begins at 8 am and the 1 Mile Fun Run will start at 9 am.     It's going to be FUN!  You can participate as an individual or team, and there will be awards, food and door prizes.  All ages are invited!     Entry Fees and Deadlines 5K Individuals - $25 if registered by March 12th; $30 for registrations received after the 12th 5K Teams - $20 per runner (5 or more to a te... 03/05/2010

For homebuyers, searching for homes can be great fun or a daunting task.  In the beginning (once the buyer has been pre-approved and we've refined the buyer's search criteria) looking at homes can be an exciting event.  But oftentimes, it's very easy to get caught up in the "viewing" mode. As real estate agents and brokers, our ultimate goal is to help you, the buyer Prepare for what to expect Find a home that has the physical attributes that meets the criteria for you and your family (size, location, amenities, etc) Find a home that is within your price range Assist you in formulating an offer that has a reasonable chance of being accepted Continue to guide you through to the closing For these reasons, it important's for buyers not to get caught up in just looking at homes.  It becomes... 03/04/2010

 If you're looking for investment properties in the Metropolitan Birmingham area (Birmingham, Bessemer, Lipscomb and Centerpoint) click below for our investment property listings: http://bhammls.net/BAARReports/ListitLib/show_report.aspx?ID=CH12138443 For full MLS search, log on to www.bhamwiire.com and for rentals, click here.   03/02/2010

2/24/10 Foreclosure list for Birmingham Homes. On today's list there are 30+ foreclosures that are ready for you to make an offer on. These properties are located in the following cities/areas: Grayson Valley, Center Point, Birmingham, Leeds, Odenville, Woodlawn, Eastlake, Tarrant, Southside, Oak Mountain, Heatherwood, Maylene, Alabaster, Calera, Bessemer, Hueytown, Pleasant Grove, McCalla, West End, Fairfield, and Forestdale. To schedule a showing or want more information on any of these Birmingham Alabama Foreclosures please contact Realtor Gusty Gulas with RealtySouth in Birmingham Alabama. You can call me at 205-218-7560 or email me at gusty1305@gmail.com. You can also find me on Facebook and Twitter. 14 New Listings: http://bhammls.net/BAARReports/ListitLib/show_report.aspx?ID=US12... 02/23/2010

      Birmingham Is Loving A Taste Of Springtime!     What a beautiful few days we have had!  Friday was a great day, with many people taking the afternoon off to enjoy the sun and warmer temperatures.  I know this because I tried to called several folks only to find out they had already started their weekend......and I can't blame them!  The golf courses were full of folks chasing little white balls that afternoon, and some folks were baring their winter white skin for the first time this year to catch a few rays of sun.   According to this morning's paper, the high and low temperatures through 5 PM Saturday were 64 degrees and 29 degrees in Birmingham.  Today it is expected to be even warmer, maybe even reaching 70 degrees in some places!   I didn't take this photo yesterday, but our ... 02/21/2010

  The Machinettes Bring Home Medals for 2nd Place in the Women's Relay at The Mercedes Marathon!   Congratulations ladies!  Here they are displaying their medals.....that's Ann, Stacy, Kelly, Michelle (my daughter!) and Jamie.  Their relay team finished the race in 3 hours, 45 minutes, 23 seconds....only 3 seconds behind the first place team!    To see the relay race results, click this link.   The Mercedes Marathon has become an annual Birmingham tradition, with events for all ages throughout the marathon weekend.  I found a great story about how the marathon got started.  Here is a link to the story of the love and determination of a very sick little boy name Matt and his dad, Paul.           Public comments are disabled on this blog to prevent spam.  I would love to hear from you....... 02/19/2010