One of the most credible forecasters of housing value trends has released some very valuable data that bodes well for potential Gulf Shores buyers. According to a recent story in Realty Times, the national PMI index, for the first time in a year it has determined that "overall risk has decreased" in the 384 metropolitan markets. The PMI Index predicts where home values are headed by examining local employment, household income, economic growth and demographic changes.  The PMI Risk index is produced quarterly by the private mortgage insurance organization PMI Group. PMI's risk index was one of the first predictors of the housing crash, so its quarterly findings are considered very credible by mortgage experts.  According to the most recent index released last week, home values are incre... 02/27/2010

"Panoramic Views of Alabama Beaches, the Blue-Green Gulf of Mexico Waters and Little Lagoon. Things to Enjoy at the SANIBEL CONDOMINIUMS in Gulf Shores, Alabama!" February 22nd, 2010 | Author: Cheney Appraisal Services The Sanibel Condominiums are located at 1524 West Beach Boulevard, Gulf Shores, Alabama 36542. The directions are U. S. Highway 59 from Foley, Alabama, traveling south by car, entering Gulf Shores, Alabama, and ending at West Beach Boulevard. Then, take a right onto West Beach Boulevard (Highway 182) and travel west about 2+ miles. The Sanibel Condominiums complex is located on the right (near Little Lagoon). The Sanibel Condominiums project, 17 stories, was built in 2007 according to available multiple listing service (mls) records. There are 108 units which have access ... 02/24/2010

                                                 "The Gulf Tower" Condominiums are located at 1051 West Beach Boulevard, Gulf Shores, Alabama 36542-6225. The directions are U. S. Highway 59 from Foley, Alabama, traveling south by car, entering Gulf Shores, Alabama, and ending at West Beach Boulevard. Then, take a right onto West Beach Boulevard (Highway 182) and travel about 1.4+- miles. "The Gulf Tower" Condominiums complex is located on the left (beachside with blue-green Gulf waters). "The Gulf Tower" Condominiums project was built in 1984 according to available records. There are 49 units which have access to the general grounds, open & underneath parking spaces, exercise room, private balcony patios, barbeque grills, beach walkway, a beachside outdoor swimming pool, elevators, a w... 02/21/2010

There's a lot more to soak up at Gulf Shores than the sun.and sea  For a chance to gain an indepth knowledge of the natural wonders of the area, The Estuarium, a public aquarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, offers interactive exhibits that unlock the four ecosystems of the Mobile Estuary system. A short drive away on Dauphin Island via State Road 182 and the Mobile Bay Ferry, the Estuarium has, in the words of a local real estate sage, "all there is to sea!" The ecosystems are the habitant of local marine and plant life:  The Delta The Mobile-Tensaw Delta is one the most important bottomland hardwood habitats in our country. The enormous fresh water marshes & forests of this delta are responsible for many of the Bay ecosystems and protect the urban areas from terrible flooding. Mobile... 02/18/2010

  The Hangout in Gulf Shores Alabama has announced a 3 day music fest event that will feature over 60 acts. Some of the headliner bands include the Black Crowes, Allison Kraus and the Zac Brown Band! 3 day passes are onsale at Http://www.HangOutMusicFest.com for $159.00. Children 10 and under are free with an adult ticket. Prickett Properties has a 20% off discount for Music Fest guests when booking on our website Http://www.GoToTheGulfCoast.com Use promo code Spring2 to receive 20% off select properties. Here is a direct link to view all of our properties that are included in this promotion  http://www.gotothegulfcoast.com/specials.cfm 1-800-210-7914   02/17/2010

The beauty of Alabama's Gulf Coastline attracts thousands of visitors each year but like any beach area, you must respect the forces of nature and proceed carefully while enjoying the water.  You can just be swimming along when suddenly you are pulled into a rip current.  A rip current is defined by a strong current or stream of water that knocks you off balance and carries you AWAY from the shore. What should you do if you are caught in a rip current?  STAY CALM and DO NOT fight the current. Even strong swimmers cannot swim against these currents. Escape the current by swimming in a direction parallel to the shore line...when you are free of the current, swim AT AN ANGLE to the shore. If at any time you feel you will not be able to reach the shore, immediately face the shore, wave you... 02/15/2010

Family fishing trips are very popular in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores during the months from March to October.  Over 100 seasoned captains operate charter fishing fleets along the coast. You and your family can enjoy a wonderful Orange Beach or Gulf Shores fishing trip without having a care in the world. Many of the deep sea fishing charters offer educational information about the fish you will be catching. Consider it Finding Nemo - Live!  This provides a wonderful experience for your children! The charters last a minimum of six hours, because it takes that much time to get far enough offshore to where you can get the best fishing. Some of the longer charters can be 8 hours or full day trip.  Gulf coast fishing charters are available for novice or experienced fishermen.  On board the ... 02/11/2010

Tamala Prickett with Prickett Properties LLC proudly announces the addition of the "Laguna Key Taj Mahal" to its vacation rental program.  The Laguna Key Taj Mahal in Gulf Shores Alabama is a fabulous gulf front beach house vacation vental. The Laguna Key Taj Mahal features 3 floors with 6 bedrooms and 6 1/2 baths. The main floor has a chef's kitchen with viking and subzero appliances along with a formal dining room, additional breakfast room and two gulf front porches. The main floor also hosts a large living room, study and the Master Suite. The Master Bedroom has a King Size bed and master bath with steam shower and jetted tub. The upstairs area has 4 bedrooms each with their own bathroom and all queen size beds. Two of the bedrooms are gulf front with their own porch access. There i... 02/06/2010

Ever been surprised by higher-than-expected closing costs when you bought a home? Or heard horror stories about it?  Help is on the way via Housing and Urban Development (HUD), with the recent release of a proposed mortgage reform package to assist consumers in understanding the terms of loans they are considering. This proposal will replace the 30-year old Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA). HUD is requiring that mortgage brokers and lenders provide consumers with a standard Good Faith Estimate.  A good amount of mortgage problems we see today are directly related to the fact that few people fully understand the home buying process. The proposed Good Faith Estimate (GFE) will clearly state some of the important aspects of a loan including: •  The interest rate and monthly pa... 01/30/2010

Many people come to Gulf Shores looking for a second home with two things in mind. Those two things are, to be nearby water and have the advantage of playing golf all year round. A potential buyer will often explore the waterfront sites in Florida and than they will realize that Alabama also has a coastline. In fact ,Alabama has an amazing 32 miles of shoreline, the shortest among the five states that front the Gulf of Mexico. There are many housing options along the white beaches of Gulf Shores including condos and houses that are on the beach, as well as properties inland along golf courses, bays and waterways. Gulf Shores draws a lot of part-time residents who are from Southern states, as well as, the Midwest, Canada and California. One of the best advantages of Gulf Shores is that y... 01/24/2010

Next time you visit the amazing beaches of Gulf Shores keep in mind that our hard working city officials are moving ahead with plans to make the coastline of Gulf Shores a better and safer destination. This will be accomplished by adding lifeguards and increase the area that they now patrol. At one point, city officials had stated there may be plans developed to regulate the use of personal watercraft and put limitations on where tents and chairs can be set up.  The impetus for the ban was a run away jet ski that landed on the beach in summer, 2009.  The city has argued that a ban was necessary for safety reasons but businesses fear the impact on tourism if such a law were enacted. According to a report by the Press-Register, Mayor Robert Craft has stated that the city has decided not t... 01/14/2010

The history of Gulf Shores is as amazing as its white sandy shores and emerald waters. There are many historic forts and military museums nearby Gulf Shores that are a testament to the battles, past and present, that Gulf Shores has been involved in to protect our shoreline. On December 14, 1819, Alabama became the 22nd state. "Alabama" was the name of a Native American tribe that lived in the area. Originally, a river in Alabama was named after the tribe and shortly after the name of the state was finalized. Located 22 miles west of Gulf Shores is Fort Morgan, which is one of America's National Historical Landmarks. Fort Morgan survived four wars: the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II. The Fort Morgan area is now designated as a museum with several of its ... 01/14/2010

If you enjoy fishing you should consider a trip on a winter Bull Redfish charter on the Alabama Gulf Coast.  Don't miss one of the most exciting sport fishing trips known to man. Winter Redfish are known to be explosive and exciting to catch just off the beach. The winter months, are the perfect time to catch Bull Redfish.  They are very interesting looking fish with a golden color and usually have a large black spot, or some even have multiple spots on their tail.  The Bull Redfish can be large.  They average over 30 inches in length and weigh between 15 and 40 pounds each.  They can be difficult to catch due to their size but there are many folks who are up for the challenge. A Gulf shores fishing trip will also give you an opportunity to catch the amazing beauty of Gulf Shores. One t... 12/29/2009

Fort Morgan Alabama is a quiet, serene and family-oriented beach destination. Fort Morgan is adjacent to the better known Gulf Shores Alabama, but worlds away from the crowds.   Fort Morgan is unique in that the beach is on one side and the mobile bay is on the other. Fort Morgan is home to the only public boat launches for the Gulf Shores and Fort Morgan area. A lot of people stay in the Fort Morgan area for this reason alone.  All of our Fort Morgan rentals have boat trailer parking available. Prickett Properties can also recommend several private deep fishing charter excursions. The Mobile Bay Ferry also runs from the historic Fort Morgan site to Dauphin Island each day. This is a great day trip to take during your stay in Fort Morgan. You can start off by touring Fort Morgan then ho... 12/21/2009

Are you currently living in an urban area and feeling like you need a break from the fast paced lifestyle? Or perhaps you don't even realize you need to get away. Imagine what it would it be like to be away from the noise, overcrowding and all of the non-stop movement, traffic, noise and stress. If this sounds like the life you are living, consider an experience that you would love to call "home." This lovely life changing experience is called Gulf Shores, Alabama. Take a walk along white sandy beaches and witness the amazing emerald green waters that make up the shoreline of Gulf Shores, Alabama. All of this can turn an ordinary day into an unforeseen PLEASURE. Put Gulf Shores at the top of your list to call home. Perhaps you haven't realized that \if you are one of the many people who... 12/19/2009

With Winter upon us, many golfers start thinking about where to play since their local courses are closed for the season. There are many options available to play golf but none are as good as playing in Gulf Shores, Alabama. With tremendous all year round golf, great southern hospitality, and a lot of value for your dollar there is no destination that is equivalent. Warmed by the Gulf breezes, Gulf Shores is by far one of the best year-round golf destinations. Although, the temperature may drop somewhat during the winter months, it always warms up enough during the day to play golf. Some of the greatest names in golf course design, including Arnold Palmer, Bruce Devlin, Jerry Pate, Earl Stone and Robert Von Hagge have been involved in the strategy, design and development of the amazing ... 12/16/2009

We are very excited about the new office we are opening in Gulf Shores. We have signed a lease at 632 Gulf Shores Pkwy #204! This office is on Hwy. 59 across from The Original Oyster House Restaurant. We will be Port City Realty and we will also be opening Gulf Realty Partners. We have been open in Mobile County since 2001 and we have been listing and selling Baldwin County properties since 2001. We are members of both the Mobile MLS and the Baldwin MLS. We have always enjoy working in Baldwin County so we are very excited to finally have an office in Gulf Shores. We will be looking for just a few agents to join us. We only want experienced agents who have their own websites & blogs and have the ability to to communicate effectively on line with the technology that is available today. W... 12/12/2009

Just west of Gulf Shores, you will find Fort Morgan, which is famous for being an important historical site of the American Civil War battle of Mobile Bay. Fort Morgan is famously named after Daniel Morgan, a significant hero of the American Civil War. While you are in Gulf Shores experience American history at its best with a visit to historic Fort Morgan. Discover the river bank that American Civil War troops utilized as a camp site. Catch a glimpse of the guardian of Mobile Bay with its cannons. Of course, you could even explore the 90 mile Mobile Civil War Trail that takes you to Mobile. During the Battle of Mobile Bay, Union land forces besieged Fort Morgan. While this battle took place, Admiral Farragut is remembered by many for his famous order, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ah... 12/01/2009

Did you know the Alabama Gulf Shores is considered one of the best beach wedding destinations? With the incredible soft white sand as your aisle, the warmth of the sun above you and the emerald green water nearby, all of this becomes an amazing backdrop for your special day. Destination weddings often maximize romance and minimize family pressures at a reasonable cost.  Nature provides the beautiful setting, so you can make the event as simple or sophisticated as you‘d like.  Since most couples live out of the area, wedding planner firms local to Orange Beach or Gulf Shores can coordinate the event for you by phone or email. When you step off the plane in time for the big event, the cake, the photographer, the set up on the beach await you. When your guests come, beautiful beach condos ... 11/10/2009

WASHINGTON - Nov. 5, 2009 - The $8,000, first-time homebuyer tax credit has not yet been extended beyond its Nov. 30 end date, but it's very close to gaining a longer life.The extension was added as an amendment to an existing bill, HR 3548, that extends unemployment benefits. The U.S. Senate passed that bill on Wednesday and, after debate, the U.S. House passed HR 3548 this afternoon. It now needs only President Obama's signature to become law, and the White House has indicated it will sign it, perhaps as early as tomorrow. Until the president signs the bill, however, it is not law.In addition to extending the tax credit for first-time homebuyers under the current rules, the bill adds a smaller tax credit for move-up homebuyers who have lived in the house for five of the past seven yea... 11/05/2009