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Tuscaloosa County, AL Real Estate News

By Homes For Heroes
(Affiliates nationwide for Hero Rewards)
Cindy and Chris have over 29 years combined experience in the Tuscaloosa real estate market. Both families have military service backgrounds. On April 27, 2011, we saw firsthand the dedication and selflessness of our first responders when Tuscaloosa was directly impacted by a multi vortex EF4 tornado. We feel that all military, first responders, health care professionals and teachers are true heroes and we are honored to give back.
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By Homes For Heroes
(Affiliates nationwide for Hero Rewards)
      Homes for Heroes would like to introduce our new Affiliate, Jason Moon! “After the devastating tornadoes that hit Tuscaloosa, Alabama last year, which is where I live and work, I have been searching for a way to show the many heroes that stepped up to help with relief efforts how much they are appreciated, such as the countless firefighters, EMTs, and National Guard soldiers. Also, Tuscaloosa is home to three higher learning institutions and more than thirty elementary and high schools, with many teachers and professors giving of themselves daily to teach our students. When I found Homes for Heroes, I knew that it was a perfect program for me to give back to my community and my country, especially the heroes that serve it every day. I am looking forward to working with all my loca...
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By Beth Spradley, Selling Homes & Investments in Florida and Alabama
(Beth Spradley, LLC)
University of Alabama Homecoming 2012 Information Are you ready for Gameday in Tuscaloosa?  Did your tickets arrive last week?  If you are headed to Dallas when the Tide meets Michigan during Labor Day weekend, let me know!  I will be there, too. The University of Alabama Homecoming Committee for 2012 has a Facebook page.  Visit for all the information on Homecoming with the Crimson Tide.  Don't forget to visit the Capital Real Estate tent on the UA Quad. Have you thought about where to stay?  I'll be in my house right across from Bryant-Denny Stadium.  You might need one in Tuscaloosa, too!
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By Beth Spradley, Selling Homes & Investments in Florida and Alabama
(Beth Spradley, LLC)
University of Alabama for Retirement- Life In Alabama Series Ready to retire?  Have you considered The University of Alabama and Tuscaloosa for housing and entertainment?   One of our treasures is the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)   For those who choose The University of Alabama for retirement, OLLI is a national program.  OLLI is a member based and member led.  The Fall 2012 schedule just came out!  In the past, I have taken courses on antiques, cooking, and wine appreciation.  I enhanced my knowledge of historic homes in Tuscaloosa by touring historic places with knowledgable guides.  This fall, I have some choices to make...Antebellum Alabama?  Investing during Retirement (key topic for living at The University of Alabama during retirement)? Sign Language?  Folk Arts and C...
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By Beth Spradley, Selling Homes & Investments in Florida and Alabama
(Beth Spradley, LLC)
Sorority Recruitment at The University of Alabama: The Housing Side I have the wonderful privilege of working with sorority women at The University of Alabama.  Parents have so many questions about the process, so I have combined my two loves on my other blog.  You can read about chapter house functions and sorority recruitment at The University of Alabama, as well as find two guides to the process.
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By Beth Spradley, Selling Homes & Investments in Florida and Alabama
(Beth Spradley, LLC)
Tuscaloosa Real Estate FAQ: I am moving, do you know an agent in xxxx? Absolutely!  And, if I don't I will help you find one with the same care that I took to help you buy or sell your Tuscaloosa home. Where do people move from when they leave Tuscaloosa?  According to Forbes, here is the list: Maricopa County, Arizona San Diego County, California Bay, Hillsborough, and Miami-Dade Counties, Florida Dekalb County, Georgia Orleans Parish, Louisiana Hinds County, Mississippi Hamilton County, Tennessee Dallas, Harris, Tarrant, Travis Counties, Texas   To talk about your new home away from Tuscaloosa, please contact me via email, text, or phone.   
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By Beth Spradley, Selling Homes & Investments in Florida and Alabama
(Beth Spradley, LLC)
Tuscaloosa Real Estate FAQ:  Which Tuscaloosa school district is best?  This is a question that I hear from many home buyers who are relocating to Tuscaloosa and West Alabama.  I am certainly not an education expert,  I sell Tuscaloosa homes and West Alabama real estate.  Anyone you ask will tell you their opinion or what they have heard or have a different situation than your family.  It is best to get facts straight from the source before you purchase your home in Alabama, so here are resources for Tuscaloosa schools and West Alabama school districts.   Great Schools Education Bug- for a list of private schools in Alabama by city Tuscaloosa County Schools Tuscaloosa City Schools Fayette County Greene County Schools Hale County Schools Pickens County Schools Wilcox County Schools  
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By Beth Spradley, Selling Homes & Investments in Florida and Alabama
(Beth Spradley, LLC)
Tuscaloosa Real Estate Market Report gives you a snapshot of how the Tuscaloosa and West Alabama real estate market is doing.   How are we doing in Tuscaloosa?   Tuscaloosa made NAHB/First American Title Insurance Company’s list of improving markets for July 2012! What does that mean for you? It is time to buy. It is also good news for Tuscaloosa real estate sellers.  An improving market means a little more interest in the housing market from buyers and, hopefully, fewer days on market for you.  With the USDA 100% financing program available for the Cities of Northport and Tuscaloosa for the next 10 months, it is a great idea to go ahead and buy real estate in Tuscaloosa and West Alabama.   Right now, West Alabama homes average 99 days on the market, which is just over three months.  Th...
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By Beth Spradley, Selling Homes & Investments in Florida and Alabama
(Beth Spradley, LLC)
  University of Alabama Housing- The Life In Alabama Series covers for students at the University of Alabama.  I'll post later to talk about GameDay Housing for football games.  In fact, I have another blog dedicated to those two topics at www.uagamedayhouse.com       Search for Homes and Rentals around University of Alabama Graduate Student Housing:  If you are looking a bit further out, search all Tuscaloosa homes for sale   University of Alabama Housing Facts   UA has enough on-campus housing for 7,700 students. But more than 75 percent of its 31,747 students live off campus. (Source:  Tuscaloosa News, January 15, 2012).  At this publishing, residential condos and homes in Tuscaloosa AL and residential homes within two miles of the University of Alabama range in price from $24,000 to...
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By Beth Spradley, Selling Homes & Investments in Florida and Alabama
(Beth Spradley, LLC)
Real Estate in Coker Alabama- The Life In Alabama Series covers real estate in Coker AL and real estate in Buhl AL.  Coker is a town in West Tuscaloosa County.  Buhl is an unincorporated area.       Search for Homes in Coker Alabama           Coker, AL Coker has a population of 808 people. Homes in Coker Alabama range from those constructed in the 20th century to homes completed in the past year. At this publishing, residential homes in Coker AL and residential homes in West Tuscaloosa County range in price from $33,000 to $269,900. Coker is the home to several farms that provide organic beef and vegetables and Community Supported Agriculture.  There are some pick-your-own opportunities, that are great for children, as well as road side stands. Katie Farms Snow's Bend Farm       What ki...
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By Beth Spradley, Selling Homes & Investments in Florida and Alabama
(Beth Spradley, LLC)
Kiddie Condo Loan in Tuscaloosa AL Or a house.  Do not let the name fool you. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) allows parents to buy a home that their child can live in during their college years. Search for homes within two miles of The University of Alabama. The Benefits of the Kiddie Condo Loan in Tuscaloosa AL: Rent can be collected from the child’s roommates. The down payment is 3.5%. Parents receive the benefits of an owner-occupied loan program, such as low down payment (3.5%) and low interest rates (owner-occupied rates, not second home or investor rates, which are higher).  The parents are acting as a "non-occupied" cosigner. The child can build credit with mortgage payments. The Requirements of the Kiddie Condo Loan in Tuscaloosa AL: Condominiums must meet a certain ow...
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By Beth Spradley, Selling Homes & Investments in Florida and Alabama
(Beth Spradley, LLC)
So many people indicate their interest in purchasing a home...then, when they go to the loan officer, they find out that their credit issues are really hurting them.  Home ownership comes with responsibility.  A first step is making sure that your financial house is in order.  I want everyone who wants to do so to be able to take advantage of the USDA program and city grant program information that I sent out earlier this week.   I am thinking about putting together a Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University for my contacts who have expressed an interest in buying a home, but need some help with their finances.  Would anyone be interested? Please feel free to also pass this on to family and friends.   Below is a link to the curriculum and the membership price:   http://www.daveramsey.com/...
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By Beth Spradley, Selling Homes & Investments in Florida and Alabama
(Beth Spradley, LLC)
Several people have asked me about the USDA Loan and $5,000 Tuscaloosa City Grant Programs for buying a home.  The USDA has extended its home loan program to Tuscaloosa and Northport for the next 12 months to help rebuild the city.  Income limit of around $74,450 for families of one person to four.  For those who have asked, your email will be to you tomorrow morning.  If you want the information, just let me know by comment, message or text.  It is best delivered by email since it has a document attachment and some links.
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By Beth Spradley, Selling Homes & Investments in Florida and Alabama
(Beth Spradley, LLC)
Minimize Stress when Buying or Selling a Home In Tuscaloosa AL by adding these simple tips to your to-do list. Did you know that moving, death, and divorce top most people's list of stressful events?  here are some things you can do to minimize stress when you are ready to make a move: Consider how long it will take from the time you make an offer on a property until the transaction actually closes.  Once an offer is received and accepted, it may take anywhere form 30-45 days to obtain financing, perform a title search, and get an appraisal.  When you are pre-approved for a conventional loan, you can shorten the timeline.  However, other loan types, such as VA or FHA may take longer. Decide whether you want to move yourself or have professional movers handle the job.  If you hire a movi...
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By Beth Spradley, Selling Homes & Investments in Florida and Alabama
(Beth Spradley, LLC)
Tuscaloosa Real Estate FAQ:  Appraisal- What is it?  My clients and customers asked many similar questions.  Many ask about appraisals, how an appraisal can help them sell their Tuscaloosa home or buy Tuscaloosa real estate.  Here is a short guide to UNDERSTANDING THE APPRAISAL PROCESSBEFORE THE APPRAISAL INSPECTIONWHY IS A REAL ESTATE APPRAISAL NECESSARY?Usually the appraisal is part of a loan application where real estate is being used as collateral or security for a loan.  The lender needs an accurate and unbiased estimate of value, which can be used in the loan application process.WHAT DOES A REAL ESTATE APPRAISER DO?A real estate appraiser values real property (land, houses, buildings, etc.), not personal property (cars, jewelry, boats).  The appraiser determines the physical chara...
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By Beth Spradley, Selling Homes & Investments in Florida and Alabama
(Beth Spradley, LLC)
Useful Tool for Those With College Bound Students by U.S. News and World Report.  Like most parents, you are probably suffering from blurred vision, crossed eyes, and a headache from comparing colleges. The article provides  three free tools for you, the weary parent of the college bound student- net price calculators, a loan calculator, and a comparison of graduation rates.
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By Beth Spradley, Selling Homes & Investments in Florida and Alabama
(Beth Spradley, LLC)
I have no idea.  Tell me about it.  That means tell me about the floor plan, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the square footage, your history with the home, and any improvements that you have made. Why do you want to know the value?  Is it for your own general knowledge?  Are you trying to refinance?  Are you thinking of selling? There are several ways to determine a home's value.  For refinancing and legal purposes, an appraisal by a professional appraiser will be required.  Those vary in cost, up to around $500, depending on the property.  For most other instances, you can contact your real estate professional.  The real estate agent can provide you with a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA).  It will include recent sales in your area and current listings.  It is a good idea to al...
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By Beth Spradley, Selling Homes & Investments in Florida and Alabama
(Beth Spradley, LLC)
Need utilities turned on or off?  Got a problem?  Here is a list of numbers to call:  Tuscaloosa City One Call to City Hall/Information Line:  311- They can assist with Abandoned Vehicles, Animal Control, Building Code Violations, Trash Pickup, and Zoning Violations in the City of Tuscaloosa.    Water & Sewage   Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer  205-248-5500 or 205-349-0230   Buhl-Elrod-Holman Water Authority Sipsey Valley Rd. Tuscaloosa, AL (205) 333-0231   Carroll's Creek Water Authority 14462 Firehouse Road, Northport 205-333-1140   Northport Water & Sewer 3500 McFarland Blvd., Northport 205-339-702   Peterson Water Works Holt Lock and Dam Rd. Tuscaloosa, AL (205) 556-7785   Sand Springs Water Authority 13951 Hwy. 171 Tuscaloosa, AL (205) 339-9807   Electricity Alabama Power Co. 915 Queen Ci...
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By Beth Spradley, Selling Homes & Investments in Florida and Alabama
(Beth Spradley, LLC)
Actually, yes.  It will take time and effort on your part, but it is well worth it.  See below for more information.   Housing Counseling Program     Description The Tuscaloosa Housing Counseling Program offers assistance in many different housing-related matters including pre-purchase counseling, consumer education, money management, and much more.   HOME Program The City of Tuscaloosa provides one-time down-payment assistance in the amount of $5000 for qualified households to assist them in purchasing a home.     Contact 1802 41st Avenue Tuscaloosa, AL  35401 Phone:  205-248-5095   For additional information, call the Housing Counseling Office at 205-248-5095, or email Dora Drake. Qualifications Some of the basic qualifications are (but are not limited to): Must complete the HOME appl...
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By Beth Spradley, Selling Homes & Investments in Florida and Alabama
(Beth Spradley, LLC)
Has anyone noticed that I like to answer a question with a question?    First, I ask my buyers if they want a foreclosure or if they want the best deal.  Ninety nine times out of ten (yes, 10), they want a deal.  We all do.  What a deal consists of is different for everyone.  For some, it means the lowest price.  For some, it means where price, sweat equity, and my buyer's particular choice of amenities (school district, neighborhood, pool, location, etc.) all meet at a particular point to make a particular home work for the buyer's situation.  For many more, it ultimately means lots of cosmetic work in a particular price range.  Whatever it is for you, make sure that you and your agent are on the same page.  You, as a buyer, might not even know which page you are on or in which book!  ...
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