Hoover, AL

Hoover, Alabama is a fabulous place to live. Many home sites have fabulous views. The fall leaves are beautiful this year and every trip to the grocery store is filled with color!

Home sales in the Hoover, Alabama area were down in October 2008 with 58 homes sold. This was the lowest number since January '08 (with 52 sales). Part of this is a seasonal slow down and part is a reflection of the poor economic news that hit at the end of September.

In the Hoover Alabama area, the average salesprice was $283,763 with prices ranging from $104,900 for a 4 Bedroom 2.5 Bath at the Vestavia Knoll, to $769,900 for a 4 bedroom 2.5 Bath in the Lake Trace section of Trace Crossings. Currently, there are 1029 homes on the market which means there are a lot of fabulous homes to choose from.

Activity has picked up after the election and the end of the year sales should drastically improve. If you've been thinking about buying a new home, this is the time. Rates are low and if you act quickly, you could be in that home of your dreams before Christmas. Shop on the internet at www.ToniBird.com/search.asp?

I know where I will be this weekend - the third annual Moss Rock Festival at The Preserve in Hoover, Alabama. I have been every year so far and I'm really looking forward to it. The weather should be beautiful and it will be great to walk around the large park outside the Town Hall and take in all the sites.

The events start at 10:00 A.M and run through 5:00 both Saturday and Sunday and the event is FREE. Parking is easy - just go to the Hoover Met (now called Regions Park) and a shuttle bus will take you directly to the artist's displays. There will be bands playing, food to eat and lots of booths with artist's works on display. There will even be cake on display in the town hall - last year there was one shaped like a raccoon! The theme is eco friendly so there will also be opportunities to learn about environmental issues. To get more information about this year's festival, go to www.mossrockfestival.com.

For the last two years my favorite artist is a guy who makes tables out of cement with leaf imprints. I would love to have one for my back yard. I thought it would be great to place the table between two Adirondack chairs. Well this year for my birthday, my son gave me two chairs, so now the table is a MUST. I hope he comes back.

The Preserve is a Traditional Neighborhood Development with new homes resembling those built at the turn of the century. When finished with the artist's work, you may wan to stroll the neighborhood and look at some of the architecture. If you are interested in looking at any of the Houses for Sale, let me know, I'd be happy to give you a personal tour.

What a morning! Temperatures in the 30's here in Hoover Alabama are absolutely exhilarating. These are the kind of temperatures we need to have the fall colors at their best.

Maggie and I went for our morning walk around 7:30. There was FROST everywhere. The sun was starting to shine, but hadn't hit many of the roofs yet so the frost was covering them as well.

I saw a few houses though that didn't have frost on their roof, or had frost on only parts of the roof. This house in the picture only had frost in one square above the front door. Those houses look more warm and inviting BUT, that is not necessarily a good thing. Often that is an indication that you are loosing heat through the attic. If your roof is toasty warm so the frost doesn't stick, then you are heating the underside of the roof and shingles. This is a great time to check your insulation and add more to keep from having your heating costs go through the roof.

Insulation is measured with an R Value. Here in the Hoover, Alabama area, you should have an R-49 rating in the attic for the most energy efficiency. Click here for more info on types of insulation and insulation tips.

When buying a new home here in Hoover Alabama you should ask the builder for the specs on the house to make sure the insulation value is what it should be. Also when buying a new or previously owned home, your home inspector can look at the insulation in the attic and let you know if the house needs more.

According to the weather channel, the temps should be in the 30's again tomorrow morning. So before the sun starts to shine on the roof, venture out and give your house a visual insulation check. That might point out some problem spots in your roof. Adding insulation in the attic is the #1 way to save on your energy costs.

Next Tuesday, November 4^th is the Big Day. Election Day. No matter which of the 6 (yes 6) presidential candidates you want to see leading this great country, it is imperative that YOU go to cast your vote.

Every vote counts. I find it really irritating that the news channels will predict a winner with only 60, 50 sometimes 30% of the vote in. It makes you wonder if your vote even matters. But remember there were 5 big decisions made in this country by only one vote:

-made English the language of America instead of German (1776)
-approved American independence from England (1776)
-gave Thomas Jefferson the presidency (1800)
-admitted Texas (1845) and California (1850) into the Union

So yes, your vote IS important.

If you will not be in town on November 4^th, you can vote absentee. There are other reasons for voting absentee. Do any of these apply to you?

- You will be out of the county or the state, or the municipality for municipal elections, on election day.

- You have a physical illness or infirmity which prevents your attendance at the polls.

- You work a shift which has at least ten (10) hours that coincide with the polling hours at your regular polling place.

- You are enrolled as a student at an educational institution located outside the county of your personal residence, attendance at which prevents your attendance at the polls.

- You are a member of, or a spouse or dependent of a member of, the Armed Forces of the United States or are otherwise similarly qualified to vote absentee pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 42 U.S.C. 1973ff.

- You have been appointed as an election officer at a polling place which is not your regular polling place.

You have until this Thursday (October 30^th) to apply for an absentee ballot. If you go to the office of your county's election manager (for a list click here), you can even go and vote right after you fill out the application.

I mentioned the presidential election, but there are other candidates and issues on the ballot as well. To see a copy of the ballot click here and look for the county in which you vote. Knowing what you will see in the voting booth will help you prepare for those important decisions.

If you see something on the ballot that you are not sure about, you don't have to vote for that item in order for your presidential vote to count. But, doing some research (and I don't mean believing outrageous e-mails or inflamatory TV commercials) and voting for the candidate you feel represents your views is what being an American is all about.

Don't forget to vote on November 4^th.

Birmingham Couple Buys Their Dream Home Using Strategies and Tools Taught at a FREE, ALL NEW HOME BUYER CLASS

Birmingham, AL– Buying a home is a complex process. Title Insurance – inspections – negotiations – mortgages. To help ensure that your home purchase is profitable and problem free, six area companies have teamed up to sponsor a home buyer’s class to teach you the secrets of successful home buying.

The class is presented in an information packed 2-hour format and held at the Vestavia Hills Library at 1112 Montgomery Highway in Birmingham. Whether you personally own a home or this is your first time, you will learn new tips and strategies for getting the best buy and the best mortgage.

At the class, you’ll learn:

• How much home can I afford?
• What government programs do I qualify for?
• How many zero down home loan programs do I qualify for?
• What are closing costs?
• What are the important differences between new and resale homes?
• What programs do I qualify for that will pay my closing costs?
• Do I qualify to receive up to $10,000 of Free Government Money?
• Home inspections – do I need one?
• What are the seven steps involved in buying a home?
• Can I see my credit report? Is my credit good enough?
• What’s the best way to find the right home?
• How do mortgages work?
• How to avoid paying thousands more than the home is worth, without even knowing it!
• How can I tap into the Realtor database to find the best homes before anyone else?

There Are More Than 151 Types Of Home Loans!
Do You Know Which One Is Best For You?

You may be able to buy more home than you think. Or maybe you can reduce your monthly payments by 25% or more. Just by taking a few simple steps, you could raise up to $10,000 or more for your downpayment. This means you can have that extra bedroom or two-car garage, just by knowing secrets that few buyers know!

We’ll take the confusion away and replace it with practical, down-to-earth knowledge that you can use now. We’ll make it simple. From getting started to getting moved in, we’ll lead you all the way through the process.

At the class you will receive a FREE Buyers Manual to get you started in the right direction.

This and lots of other information is yours free with absolutely no obligation of any kind.

The class also includes:

• Mortgage and Insurance Information
• Realtor Home Search Information
• Home Inspection Information
• Legal Information

Here's what graduates have said about Other Buyer Classes:

"Very informative. Friendly and well-explained." - Erin T.

"The presenters were knowledgable and interesting. There are a lot of little things to be learned -- take notes and ask questions." - Lisa M.

"Really enjoyed it. Great experience. Learned a lot of little things we may not have thought of." - Neal A.

"Everything that was said was helpful and informative to me. I came into the seminar knowing almost nothing, now I know a lot more than I did. The experience was very good." - Paul P.

"The most helpful thing was having peace of mind knowing more about buying a new home. Very well done and clear." - Joanne K.

"I thought everyone was great and explained everything well. This seminar was full of a lot of useful information." - Penny R.

"Great introductory overview of the home buying process." - Brad M.

"You receive a lot of great information and advice you won't be able to find anywhere else." - Nicole V.

"There was a lot of information given that we had no idea about. Presenters were funny and informative." - Christina V.

"Definitely a must-take class." - Kenny C.

There is NO CHARGE for the Class, and you can bring a guest – but you must pre-register.

Class size is limited, so register early.

Class Presented By:

• Jason Secor and Stephen Wolfe, Real Estate Consultants, LivingInBirmingham.com
• Rob Wood, Insurance Advisor, Standifer Agency
• Robert Freeland, Mortgage Advisor, Foundation Mortgage Group

Class Location:

Vestavia Hills Library

1112 Montgomery Highway

Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35216

View Larger Map

Next Class Time and Date:

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008
6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

To Register, you must call our 24-Hour Free Recorded Message at

1-888-263-9914 code extension 99

24 hours a day, toll free!

If you have any questions, you can press "0" during the recorded message, or you can call us directly at 205-383-3358. Call anytime from 9-6, Monday through Friday.

Call NOW for reservations. Space is limited, so register today.