Localism: Huntsville, AL

Bridge Street Town Centre What's happening? Huntsville Alabama

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 22:12:00 -0600

Bridge Street Town Centre - What's Happening?

There can be little doubt that the Bridge Street Town Centre development has made a significant impact on city/neighborhood life in Huntsville Alabama. We have done several posts (Westin Residences, Connors, Monaco Theater, etc) on the various businesses located at Bridge Street and since Bridge Street has impacted local family life to such a great degree, especially ours, we want to keep you, our readers, updated.

Since we last updated our readers on the Bridge Street Development there has been a lot of discussion in the public domain about where Bridge Street's final phases of development are headed. We have learned that as part of the 2nd phase of commercial development, we can expect Huntsville's first Sports Authority retail store in addition to several other major retail outlets.

According to a recent Huntsville Times business article we should expect along with the Sports Authority addition, "more than 150,000 square feet of big-box and specialty stores and 790 additional parking spaces" as part of their next phase of commercial development.

Nonetheless another recent announcement indicates, that Huntsville won't have to wait on an official phase II development for the opening of Bridge Street's next addition to our community. Recently Bridge Street officials made public through the Huntsville Times the scheduled opening of ‘The Station‘ during this upcoming summer of 2009.

"The Station, a 28,000-square-foot family entertainment center, will have a full-service restaurant and bar, live entertainment, 12 lanes of bowling, an arcade, billiards, VIP area, trivia TV games, and roller-ball." The owner and planned occupant Mike Dooley said, "Our family-oriented entertainment center will be unlike anything in the market and will certainly complement the strong tenant mix currently at Bridge Street Town Centre." My teenage daughter and friends are excited about this news!

There is no word on the details of a proposed phase III development, where an expanded residential community is planned, similar to the Village of Providence development, but we are excited to hear about these recent developments and will keep our readers posted on any further development.

In a nutshell, that's whats happening in Bridge Street Town Center!

To view all of the exciting amenities currently offered, click here: http://www.bridgestreethuntsville.com

Search for Huntsville Alabama Homes in the Bridge Street area.

Where distances are measured in Footsteps. Village of Providence, Huntsville Alabama

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:28:17 -0600

Where distances are measured in footsteps, not drive times. That is the well deserved saying, when you live in the Village of Providence. Their slogan, Big City Life-Small Town Living, could not be more true. This is a lifestyle community, at its finest. A true pedestrian family neighborhood.

First, let's talk location. Perfect! Village of Providence is strategically placed between Madison and Huntsville, just minutes from Research Park.

Schools: Award winning Providence K-8, a Center of Excellence for Environmental Studies within Huntsville's school program, is adjacent to the Village within walking distance! Check out their online video introduction. The neighborhood is also serviced by Columbia High School, recently named as an International Baccalaureate School and the first school within the Huntsville school system to offer this diploma. IB Students take rigorous courses in math, science, history, English, electives and foreign language.

What is your lifestyle? The Village of Providence has a home for everyone. From Luxury Neo Classical homes and Town-homes to sophisticated lofts, you can find it here! Prices begin in the low $300's. Village of Providence Homes

A well rounded neighborhood, where age is just a number. Whether you are single, married, have children, or retired, you are going to fall in love, each time you step outside your door.

"Enjoy a home where distances are measured in footsteps not drive times. Where your front door is steps from your favorite restaurant; a walk in one of the many green spaces, park, or trails; a stroll to the doctor's office or the dentist or the neighborhood barbershop, as well as a variety of shopping opportunities. The Village of Providence is designed for anyone seeking the comforts and conveniences of a modern neighborhood with the values and traditions of yesterday." Click here for the current Huntsville Homes for Sale in the Village of Providence.

Children, imagine this: Going on walks, throwing rocks in the creek, visiting a neighborhood park, hang out at the playground or skipping to the Meeting house for a swim in the Olympic sized pool or Kiddie pool. Riding bikes in the Alley's. How about a game of kickball? Gather sticks at the green-way and hang out in the neighbors backyard, roasting marshmallows over the fire-pit!

The neighborhood offers many activities year round for the kids. How about a Christmas get together with Santa at the Meeting house? Did you know the Easter Bunny visits as well? At Halloween, it's all about Pumpkins and Porches, where the kids play games on the front porches for prizes. Movies in the Park! Swim night at the pool with a movie playing! The big hit for Halloween this year was watching a Charlie Brown movie at the park while sipping hot chocolate!

For the animal lovers, Village of Providence even offers a "Dog Park".

Adults can always find an activity brewing at the Meeting House. Just a few Meeting House activities are a Crafts and hobby group, Bunco, Poker, Dominoes, or how about a game of Bridge? These are ongoing! Adult "mingles" are offered at the Meeting house on a regular basis. Dine with neighbors, with several different hosts and homes! Golf outings are planned.

Living at the Village of Providence is a lifestyle, with everyone in mind. Big City Life-Small Town Living!

If you would like a tour of the Village of Providence, I would love to show you!

Is There a Way To Fix My Bad Credit?

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 18:42:12 -0600

I constantly speak to people who feel as if there is no way to change there bad credit situation. I understand that its not the persons fault who feels this way. It is the lack of resources presented to the people who have the issues. Now my job as a Credit Specialist is to do just that. Give consumers the knowledge and direction that is required in order to have negative and derogatory information removed from your credit reports legally. The reason I started P.Bradshaw Financial Services was to empower others so they wouldn't have to face the same difficulties I faced throughout my matriculationin college. It was impossible for me to dedicate 100 percent of my time to school when I had to worry about if I would be able to be approved for a school loan or even approved for an off campus apartment. Most college students deal with these same issues but don't have any idea on how to startestablishing good or worthy credit. I have spoke at a number of different colleges and universities in order to educate young people on a subject that seems to be taken for granted in so many ways. I never could understand why a subject that is so important to your financial future isn't being taught in schools across the country. So I literally made it my job to do just that. One of our main goals at P.Bradshaw Financial Services is to travel the country to as many colleges and universities as possible to teach students how to build credit, as well as maintain a high credit score. I want to emcourage people to order all 3 of your credit reports and know what is on them as well why its being reported. Your credit score is one of the most important numbers in your life.

Paul Jarmond

CEO

P.Bradshaw Financial Services

www.pbradshawfinancial.com

Huntsville Home Buyer Education: Free Training and Counseling

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 09:39:58 -0600

Huntsville Home Buyer Education: Free Training and Counseling

Hello All!! I just wanted to share some information with you. Family Services Center provides free training for first time home buyers. If you or someone you know is considering buying a first home, I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity. You do not have to be currently looking to purchase. It can be several months or even several years from now. You can even sign up for individual counseling sessions. I was told that local realtors and mortgage professionals are also welcome to sit in on the sessions.

The training courses consist of two four hour sessions. Topics covered in the class include the following:

How to obtain an affordable mortage loan
The best way to shop for a home
All about loan closings
How to improve your credit score
Homebuyer financial assistance programs

The classes are held monthly so if you are not available this month you can pick a time when you will be able to attend both sessions. If you are a first time homebuyer, I encourage you to attend this free training that is available. The classes are held downtown not far from the Huntsville Public Library at the Family Services Center 600 St. Clair Avenue Building 3. Its on the corner of Pelham and St. Clair.

Please feel free to contact me if you need any additional information regarding the training events.

Submitted by:
Kimberly Grant, Huntsville Real Estate Agent
Cell: 256-479-9664
Email: KimberlyGrant@exitrealtyhsv.com

Associate Broker, Exit Leon Crawford Realty
Search Huntsville Homes for Sale

Huntsville Alabama Housing Market Reports

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:05:57 -0500

Given the recent financial system upheaval, I was anxious to look at September's sales, inventory, and pricing to see if the Huntsville Real Estate Market will show any stress and strain given recent developments. However since these events are so recent, any local effects likely won't become statistically measurable for a few months.

To summarize what September's statistics indicate, let's take a look at unit sales, raw inventory, and current home prices separately and then summarize any conclusions we are able to make:

Unit Home Sales - the Huntsville metro area's September 2008 unit sales were down ~12% when compared to September of a year ago. This year-over-year comparison is not as extensive as we have seen in recent months because data was being compared to a 12 month period where sales in the Huntsville market were at all time highs. Nonetheless, weakening sales numbers are a continuing trend which we have reported on since this time last year. The following unit sales chart illustrates this trend within September's context.

Raw Inventory - This metric is a simple unit measurement of the active listings on the MLS for the Huntsville metro area being discussed. Raw inventory for September 2008 is down ~7% when compared with September 2007. Looking at the following chart you will see that when sales were trending upward in 2006 and 2007 so was raw inventory, and when sales started declining in the later part of 2007, raw inventory began to moderate as well, although at more moderate pace than sales.

Home Prices - Home prices in Huntsville have remained strong when compared to some of the harder hit areas of the nation. In fact, September's 2008 prices are up ~2% compared with September 2007 and pricing continues to be the strong point of our local market as typified in the following price per square foot chart. However for the past2 months prices have been slightly below the moving average and are beginning to tip the moving average lower.

We are headed into a slower seasonal trend for Real Estate Sales in general and given recent events in the financial system, the last quarter of the year (Oct, Nov, Dec) will be of intense interest. Thus, we wish to set a baseline expectation by considering a forward looking absorption rate inventory.

Absorption rate is a metric that best indicates price pressure and is expressed in months of supply. For example; given a stable (won't grow or decline) raw inventory, a 7% sales decline trend with current year-over-year comparisons, and starting with an average monthly unit sales for this period last year yields a forward looking absorption rate inventory as follows:

2467 (current raw inventory) / (340 - (340 * 0.07) ) (projected monthly unit sales) = 7.8 months of supply

This absorption inventory estimate is clearly in buyer market territory, but doesn't represent overly aggressive price pressure in our opinion. Nevertheless, we will be watching the market closely over the next few months as recent financial system events mandate.

As always, these statistics represent the Huntsville metro area in general and different price ranges and locations around the city are experiencing different market conditions, so always involve a professional REALTOR® whenever deciding upon an offer or listing price and they will (should) perform for you a Comparative Market Analysis using your explicit location and price range of interest.