Moving to Mountain Brook, AL: Are the Schools Worth It?If you're buying your first home near Birmingham, Mountain Brook probably came up fast. It's one of the most talked-about suburbs in the area. And a big reason why? The schools.Let's break down what you're actually getting — and whether it's worth the price tag.What Makes Mountain Brook Schools Stand OutMountain Brook City Schools is its own district. That means it's funded by the city — not shared with anyone else. The schools here rank among the best in Alabama year after year.You've got Mountain Brook Elementary, Crestline Elementary, Brookwood Forest, and Cherokee Bend Elementary all feeding into Mountain Brook High School. Parents love the academics. Kids love the sports and the arts. It's not just about test scores. It's about... 05/01/2026

Every seller and their agent should be open to answering questions about a listing. However, when a buyer has expressed that they are really interested in the property, there may come a time when a fine line is drawn between inquiring and negotiating.Answering potential buyer questions is good business, but when does it become negotiating without an actual offer to present to the seller? Examples of inquiries might include: Is the home on a septic or sewer system (just in case the MLS is clear)? Does this home have a heat pump? I see the home has an attached garage, but when we visited, we could not find how to access from inside the house. Is there access from inside the house? Have there been any issues with water intrusion in the basement garage? Is the seller willing to pay closing ... 12/29/2023

Investors This is For YouThis 3 bedroom tenant occupied property has relatively recent upgrades: A/C replaced 2017, electrical panels 2018, furnace, water heater and roof all replaced in 2014. The house is quite spacious with room to roam without feeling cramped. Property is ideal for investors looking for a buy and hold property. There is a long term tenant in place (ask about renewal) so you can start with this tenant occupied property or add to your current inventory of rental properties. Explore your options. Property is professionally managed by property management company. PROPERTY IS SOLD AS-IS.Check out full details here.. 03/29/2022

Dividing A Home While Divorcing In Birmingham – We Buy Houses Birmingham    Anyone who has gone through a divorce can tell you how stressful and complicated process is. If you own a home together in Birmingham, you probably wonder how you can sell it and share the proceeds. At Chase Pays Cash LLC, we understand how complicated the process can be and that you cannot split the house in half as with other assets. We buy houses Birmingham regardless of your marital status. Call us and let us help you reduce the stress of your divorce and the house-selling process.  Real Estate In A Divorce Can Be Complicated, But We Can Help - We Buy Houses Birmingham For Cash Real estate in divorces can be tricky. In most divorces, parties are often expected to split all their assets in half, but you canno... 03/16/2022

So I’m sitting in bed watching Late Late Show with James Corden and he’s playing this game that resembles Hollywood Squares via Zoom.  There were 15 players, I believe, and not a single one was a celebrity.  They were just regular folks like you and me.  As they each introduced themselves, I see and hear this young lady say, my name is Chastity and I’m from Birmingham, AL.  Say what?  I’m audibly saying “yes, REPRESENT!”I know you know what I do next.  I raced to Facebook to look her up.  I know she’s playing the game, but I want to connect with her to support my homegirl.  I find her and send a friend request and we connected today.  But here’s the best part:  Chastity Webb is a loan officer at Wells Fargo and now I have a new referral partner for my buyer clients.  I look forward to w... 07/10/2020

Dream Buyer ClientLord knows I'm grateful to still be in this business of real estate (13 years and counting) and grateful for the clients that have allowed me to serve them.  Granted there are some that I've had to turn away for various reasons:  overloaded, not compatible, difficult or high maintenance.  There are some that I've even had to fire.  Again, for various reasons.  But then there are the dream clients that made the process painless from start to finish.  As a real estate agent, you just gotta love that.What Makes a Buyer a Dream Client?There are a laundry list of attributes that make up a dream client. I've only identified a few below so if you're an agent, please feel free to contribute in the comments your idea of a dream client.  They understand the importance of getting... 11/19/2019

 Contingent Sales Market Report for Fairfield, AL A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post titled "Who Wants to Live in Fairfield, AL" and I provided a chart with the number of homes sales in Fairfield for the 6 month period ending July 31, 2018.  Well, that wasn't the end of the story of who wants to live in Fairfield and here's why:  There are currently (as of August 29, 2018) a number of homes under contingency contract which simply means that buyers have made offers on these homes and the sellers have accepted the offer.  However, it will not become a finalized contract until certain conditions (contingencies) have been met.  For example, the offer may be contingent upon the buyer conducting a home inspection.  If there are repair needs based on the home inspection, it could be continge... 08/30/2018

At These Prices, Anyone Can Buy a HomeOne thing is for sure about Fairfield, Alabama:  It's still a very affordable place to live.  Currently there are 27 homes on the market in Fairfield.  If you're an investor, there is something for you for as little as $7,000.  As a former real estate investor, I'd say $7000 was a pretty darn good deal.On the higher end of the price spectrum, there is a beautiful full brick home on the market for $199,900.  That's quite a spread right?  From $7,000 to $199,900 makes Fairfield an idea location to buy a home at a price that fits any budget.Check this out and see for yourself.My job as a Keller Williams Real Estate agent is to help qualified buyers find homes that meet their criteria including financing conditions.  Did you know that there are lenders ... 08/28/2018

Who Wants to Live in Fairfield, Alabama?People are always curious about the home sales in Fairfield, Alabama so I thought I'd have a little show and tell. As of January 31, 2017, it looks like a total of 8 people (that we know of) desire to live in Fairfield, Alabama just based on the contingent, pending and sold homes as indicated in the MLS.This does not include home-buyers that are checking out the other 35+ Fairfield, AL homes that are currently listed for sale in the MLS.These homes are a combination of older and newer homes ranging from 1920 to 1994.  Whether you like older or newer homes, it looks like Fairfield may be an option that you'll want to investigate and an option for your next home purchase.A good thing about Fairfield is that home-ownership is very much within your re... 02/02/2017

Real Estate is LocalReal estate is local.  That's the #1 reason that I blog about real estate.  As a Metropolitan Birmingham, AL Realtor® everything I write about relates to what I know about the local real estate market.  With so much information on the Internet, local home buyers and sellers need to know that what they read on the Internet about real estate conditions in other states may not (most likely does not) apply to the Birmingham real estate market.I don't necessarily have to indicate a specific area in the Metro Birmingham area such as a local city or neighborhood, just know that I'm writing about what I know as a local real estate expert.  A home buyer or seller can spend hours and even days researching information about real estate conditions.  However, oftentimes they can'... 01/11/2017

Boy oh Boy Do I Wish That Crystal Ball ExistedThis year I am going to have a particularly strong interest in promoting the real estate market in Fairfield, AL.  The locals know that Fairfield has suffered tremendously at the hands of the past administration, but with the election of our new Mayor Edward May, and the following Councilpersons, I'm predicting a tremendous increasing in homeownership in Fairfield.  I'm looking forward to the City's fruitful efforts to making the City of Fairfield an attractive option for home owners.District 1………….Councilman Barakas TaylorDistrict 2………….Councilwoman Susan ParksDistrict 3………….Councilwoman Cynthia McDowellDistrict 4………….Councilman John HackettDistrict 5………….Councilman Herman CarnesDistrict 6………….Councilman Willie Hardley Council President Edd... 01/08/2017

Home Prices in Fairfield ALReal estate market data for Fairfield AL provided by Charita Hughley Cadenhead of Keller Williams Realty, Gardendale, AL Forest Hills, Glen Oaks and Cambridge Home Prices Below is just a sampling of the home prices in Fairfield, AL housing market.  As you can see, the affordability factor encompasses a wide range to accommodate every budget.  The statistics below do not include foreclosures but I can tell you that whether you're looking for a home to own and live in or you're looking for an investment property in a community that cares, Fairfield, AL is the place to begin your search. If the thought of buying a home in Fairfield or selling your existing Fairfield home has crossed your mind, don't wait another minute to contact me with questions.  There's no pr... 01/07/2017

What's Really Important?Many times sellers go to great extremes to make a house look nice before putting it on the market.  They may update kitchens and baths, paint, lay new carpet and other such visually appealing changes.  But what about the maintenance issues that relate to the functionality of the home.  A good looking home decor isn't what a good home inspector is going to be looking for.  A home inspection is going to be looking for how well systems in the home were maintained and for any defects that you would want to know about before buying a home.While the visual appeal will draw in buyers, home sellers have to go one step further in keeping the buyer INterested and that's by making sure to pay attention to what's under the hood (so to speak).  It's fun to give a home a facel... 01/06/2017

Tile Flooring for Bathrooms, Living Rooms &  KitchensA New Tile Floor can Increase the Value of Your Home Modern Tile floors create a durable, modern surface that is easy to clean & resistance to water; a new tile floor installation in your kitchen, bathroom and/or living room offers an incredibly enduring surface that’s perfect for the moist and high traffic areas of your home. Tile flooring maintains it's shape while resisting mold and mildew in wet areas of your home like spas, showers, and bathroom floors and walls. Several manufactured tiles are also resistant semi-acidic substances, making them a great choice for resisting food and drink spills in kitchens. Tile flooring is easy to maintain with just semi-regular cleaning using simple, non-abrasive household solutions. For more in... 12/15/2015

Tile Flooring, Backsplashes & Shower Pan RepairsAn undated tile shower can make all the difference in selling a home, while a leaky shower pan with water-damaged framing can potentially kill a real estate deal.Bathrooms are one of the primary focuses of today’s building and remodeling projects. As a result, tiled showers, with their aesthetic and hygienic benefits, are more popular than ever. Tiled showers are luxurious and beautiful.  A plethora of tile colors, designs, and shapes provides endless possibilities and enhances the aesthetics of the entire bathroom.  Tiled showers also allow for flexibility when installing the latest features, such as benches, niches, windows, multiple shower heads, and steam units.  Enjoy the many benefits of a new tile shower, don't let a faulty shower p... 10/30/2015

Congratulations to the Jackson'sThe Jackson's closed on their home last week and I want to extend my gratitude to them as I do everyone that entrust me to help them sell or purchase a home.  I also want to especially thank them for their patience.  They had a few bumps in the road, but they persevered.    09/14/2015

Get It In WritingWhether a buyer or a seller, when buying or selling a home, always rely on the written sales contract which is a promise to perform.  if it isn't written in the contract, then don't be surprised if the other party doesn't keep their verbal promise.This is mostly an issue on the buyer side.  Let's say a buyer is negotiating the purchase of a home and ask for something in particular in the offer.  The seller says yes we'll do it, but let's not put it in the contract. Even though there is a very high likelihood that they'll keep their word, red flags would be popping up like daisies in springtime.Of course, as a Realtor® it's only my job to advise my client not to commit to anything that the other party is not willing to put in writing.  Intentions may be good, but you jus... 09/02/2015

Do I Really Need a Septic Inspection?As affordable as owning a home is these days, bypassing inspections can be a costly mistake.  Homebuyers would much prefer to spend every dime towards the purchase a home than to "waste" money on inspections that turn up no real issues.But What If There Are Issues?Buyers are getting used to the idea that a home inspection is in their best interest, but little attention is given to the septic system.  Many take the attitude that if the home inspection turns out okay, then I'll worry about the septic system later.  Anytime you bypass an inspection, it can be a big mistake.  After closing is not the ideal time to find out that that the septic tank has a leak, is backing up sewage or needs to be replaced.  What comes next can be an expense of a few hundr... 08/03/2015

First Time HomebuyerI want to thank my client, Mrs. Harris so much for her determination, decisiveness and cooperation. She was an absolute a dream client.  She knew from the very beginning which house she wanted and even though we looked at a few, she refused to keep looking because as I said, she knew which house she wanted and two weeks later we closed.  How awesome is that and how awesome is she.Thanks Mrs. Harris and a special thanks to Ms. Smiley for referring her. 07/16/2015

3000 Virginia Drive, Hueytown, AL 35023The seller is motivated.  This house has the space of a traditional home that many of you may remember. While some people want nothing other than an open floor plan, this home boast of a traditional formal living room, separate formal dining room, an eat-in-kitchen, a magnificent size den (I’m not talking about a converted bedroom either).  Tax records indicate 2089 square feet of living space and 2089 square feet space in the garage.It has 3 bedrooms, but the master bedroom is the real prize. It can be home to your king sized bed if that’s your style, PLUS dresser, chest of drawers, two nightstands and an armoire if you wanted to fill the space to capacity and you still might have room to walk around. The master has a full bath with tub and separa... 07/13/2015