Judy Sells The Shoals

For decades, gas stoves have been the preferred choice for both professional and amateur chefs alike and it’s easy to understand why. Gas stoves allow for quick control of the heat which allows for quick adjustments when cooking. But recently possible bans on gas stoves have dominated national news as unhealthy. Regardless of whether induction stovetops are healthier or not, there are great reasons to make the switch. What is an Induction Range? In simple terms, an induction electric range is powered by an electromagnetic field. This allows the range to have the same degree of temperature as a gas powered stove with a similar level of control. Making the Switch The first thing to realize is that you’ll pay more for an induction stove than a gas range. The increase in cost may be as much as double the price and the installation will require special wiring and circuitry. But this increase in upfront costs will start to pay off very quickly. First, homeowners can take advantage of a feder...

A brand-new home! Who hasn’t dreamed of creating the perfect home from scratch and moving into a space that no one has ever lived in before. There’s something special about a fresh home, but remember, new doesn’t mean perfect. And it certainly does not mean that there won’t be imperfections, small or large, to contend with. One of the most important things to understand up front is what does your warranty cover? A builder’s warranty covers typical defects and other problems, but the fine print outlines timelines, procedures, and limitations. A thorough reading prior to closing will clarify how to handle any issues that arise when you move in. When you are ready to move in, your checklist will differ from a typical resale home. First, always have an independent home inspection, just as you would if you purchased a used home. Alert the builder immediately of anything that the inspection uncovers. During the final walk-through, you will also want to make sure the home was completed correc...

Having good credit is essential for a number of aspects of your life, ranging from the interest rate on a car loan or credit card to background checks for employment. Poor credit can be incredibly expensive, costing you thousands of dollars in higher interest rates over the course of a home loan. Fortunately, with proper care and attention paid to your finances, it is possible to maintain a good credit rating. Here are six factors that could damage your credit score: 1. Not paying your bills on time  - Bills not paid within 30 days can be reported to the credit bureaus. 2. Utilizing all of your available credit on credit cards  - It is important to not max out your credit cards without a plan to pay them off. 3. Not having a diverse mix of credit  - Having different types of credit, such as car loans and revolving credit, could help improve your score. 4. Applying for too much credit  - Multiple applications for credit cards in a short period of time can be a bad sig...

  One of the best things a homebuyer can hear is, “we have ‘clear to close.’” It’s one of the biggest milestones in the mortgage lending process and means the underwriter has cleared the application to move forward to document signing and close of escrow. While a critical stage for the sale, this is not the final step in closing on a new home. There are several things that can still affect the transfer of title. After the underwriter clears the file, the buyer will receive the closing disclosure. This is provided at least 3 days before the closing date and provides the final fees and costs. There shouldn’t be any surprises in the document, but the buyer must review and make sure the terms are acceptable. The close date will also be finalized at this time. Any discrepancy in the terms of the document and buyer’s expectations can still throw a wrench in the closing. Another step after “clear to close” is the final property walk-through. The buyers and their agent will walk through th...

Sellers all over the country are confused and worried they may have missed the best time to sell their home. Prices are dropping, mortgage rates are rising, and the pace has slowed but the impact on any individual seller is unclear. While the days of any home selling for any price are behind us, the current housing market is still strong. The biggest hurdle for sellers is to avoid the feeling that they missed their chance to get top dollar. Yet, many times the seller intends to buy again also; so while they may sell their home a little lower, they will also buy the new home a little lower as well. ABCs of Success The ABCs to a successful sale are not complicated. They are the basics of home selling, but if followed, it will ensure a timely and profitable home sale. A) Appreciation –  When sellers hear this term, they normally think of the value of the home. During a challenging market, this kind of appreciation is to appreciate every buyer who wants to come by and every offer you r...

Buying a new home is exciting and confusing. There are a lot of steps to buying a home, and people have questions. These are the most common questions home buyers have, and the answers. 1.  How do I get started? –  The first step is to speak with a lender and get a pre-approval. This will tell you, and potential sellers, how much you can afford. 2.  How long does it take to close on a home?  – Typically, it takes about 30-45 days once contracts are signed to complete the lending, appraisal, and inspection processes. 3.  What does my agent do?  – A buyer’s agent will negotiate terms and manage the closing process from start to finish. 4.  How much do I pay for a buyer’s agent?  – Nothing. The seller’s agent gives the buyer’s agent a portion of their commission from the seller. 5.  What credit score do I need to qualify?  – A 620 FICO score or higher is required for most home loan programs. Talk to a lender for other options for lower scor...

Homebuyers have had a rough time lately. First, the frenzied housing market stymied so many offers and caused frustration due to lack of inventory. Now that the pace and prices are starting to drop, interest rates have ticked up to alarming levels. While some buyers are postponing their purchase, those still in the market are starting to consider more creative financing, including an ARM (Adjustable-Rate Mortgage). What is an ARM? Unlike a 30-fixed mortgage, as the name suggests, the interest rate of an ARM can change over the course of the loan. The interest rate is based on an index, such as the one year T-Bill. Additionally, the timing of adjustment is fixed in the loan documents, so the borrower knows how to plan for changes. For example, a 5/1 ARM means that the initial interest rate is fixed for the first five years and then can adjust once a year for the remaining 25. Likewise, a 7/1 ARM has a fixed period of 7 years. There are also built-in protections to ensure that the adjust...

The most important aspect of listing your home for sales is the asking price. Unlike many other items we purchase, home prices are based on what a willing and able buyer would pay for the property. Sounds complicated, right? This is why real estate agents bring comps ( short for comparable properties) information with them to the discussion. Yet are you using the right comps to successfully sell your home? The idea is to gather information about comparable properties that have sold recently that are similar to your own. The goal is to compare apples to apples. In other words, the properties should be as close to the subject home as possible. This includes things like: ·  Location – how far is the property from yours. ·  Size – square footage is an important aspect of value. ·  Number of bedrooms/bathrooms – even if the square footage is close, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms can have a large effect on price. · Style, view, street, yard – even the exact same floorplan...

The question of moving for a new job is not uncommon. In the past few years, more and more companies are moving their entire operations out of high-tax states to those more business-friendly. Possible work-from-home options further complicate the decision to move with your company. So, should you move when your company does? Things to Consider Before You Move for Your Company ·  Career Growth –  One of the biggest reasons to stay with your job through a move is career growth and advancement. Speak with your manager or HR professional about what kind of career path is available before you decide. ·  Better Location –  Companies moving out-of-state often move to a more desirable location. If the new area appeals to you, then using a corporate relocation package can be a cost-effective way to move to a better location. ·  Personal Relationships –  Moving away from family and friends may be too high a price to pay to stay with your company. Aging parents or the...

  World events and government spending has led to soaring inflation. The Federal Reserve has only one tool in its arsenal to curb and reduce this trend – raising interest rates. While contemporary home buyers are accustomed to interest rates in the 2-4%, older homeowners remember being excited to get one as low as 8%. As yet, we have no indication such a drastic increase is necessary, home mortgage interest rates are creeping up and potential home buyers may be asking if they should still try to buy a home. One of the first things to consider is affordability. A higher interest rate will impact the amount of the loan each buyer can qualify for, potentially reducing their spending power. Yet, home prices are also beginning to soften, so it’s possible that this correction will reduce any possible impact from rising rates. Secondly, home ownership has been a strong hedge against inflation historically. Buying a home locks in the cost of the largest budgetary portion of your expenses –...

 “I’m so sorry, they went with another offer.” It’s a shocking thing to hear; you’ve already moved into that dream home in your mind. It’s common to start second guessing yourself, even condemning yourself for not offering more money or better terms, but the truth is sometimes it just doesn’t work out. The next step is to figure out how to move on. • Go Ahead and Mourn – It’s perfectly reasonable to mourn the loss of the “perfect” home. • Take a Break – This might not be as easy as it sounds if you need to move, but even a short weekend off to regroup and refresh will allow you to continue the search. • Understand What Went Wrong – It may be that you did nothing wrong and the seller got an all-cash offer 20% over asking, but it’s still a good idea to talk with your agent about your offer, make sure you truly offered a fair price with reasonable terms and if not, make adjustments next time. • List What You Liked About the Home – Make a list of the features you liked about ...

It may come as a shock that many people purchase a home before ever setting foot inside. These buyers may be moving to a new country or city far away, or they may not have the time or resources to visit for a home search before the big move. Not everyone has the option (or the desire) to rent for a few months while they find a permanent home in their new location. Most homebuyers would prefer to purchase a house before they arrive, so they can move their belongings and quickly get settled into their home. There are a few things you can do to make the process more manageable if you've considered buying a house unseen. The first step is to find a realtor in the area that you can trust. Let them know your circumstances and that you'll need them to help vet potential properties for you. They'll be able to provide you with a link to a virtual tour if it's offered, or schedule a meeting where they can walk you through the house via FaceTime or another video-based app. This ...

October is here, which means the leaves are changing colors, the temperature is cooling, and fall has officially arrived. It’s a magical season of the senses—a warm cup of coffee in the crisp morning air, laughter and storytelling around a wood-burning fire, sipping spiced apple cider on a hayride, and picking out the perfect pumpkin for fall décor and carving. If you’re looking for the ultimate fun, fall afternoon for the family and a picturesque pumpkin-picking experience head out to McGee Farm.  Open Weekdays 3-6pm, Saturday 10-6pm, and Sunday 1-5pm thru Halloween, it’s on an inviting family farm 12 miles north of Cox Creek Pkwy. Driving up a gravel road towards the entrance you’re met with hay bales and stretches of farmland and forest—you are truly in the country. Rows of red, yellow, and white mums line the edge of the cornfield, stacked on trucks, and set on straw bales, an ideal backdrop for a family photo. Next to the parking lot the main barn is filled with pumpkins...

For 30 years Martha Ringelstein has humbly and passionately perfected her craft at hand-selecting pretty things to create her store, The Wearhouse. Located off of Cloverdale Rd is an unsuspecting building that is one of Florence, Alabama’s best kept secrets and is the place to go if you want your home (and closet) to look stunning. When you walk through the front door a friendly face immediately greets you, offering help and welcoming you to look around. On the left side of the store are finely crafted dresses, shoes, and purses from markets in L.A., New York, and Atlanta, and to the right of the store it’s like stepping into a home décor magazine, stretching back into a large warehouse lit with twinkling lights hanging off trees, and adorned floor to ceiling with large mirrors and beautiful paintings.  Each piece is perfectly placed for a fun, enjoyable shopping experience that will leave you with decorating ideas and your favorite new piece of furniture.  Those ...

As time marches on it’s hard to imagine life in the 1800’s, but in the Historic District of Downtown Florence located on Walnut Street, Wood Avenue, and stretching into the College district it’s easy to picture the rich culture and history that was cultivated during these times because of the beautifully preserved homes that line the shaded streets of our lovely downtown. When I tour a home on one of these streets I find myself truly wishing that the walls could talk as I think about the original residents who literally laid the foundations for generations of families to enjoy a place to create lasting memories of holidays and celebrations, family dinners and the raising of children. It’s humbling to think that these homes have seen the Civil War and housed great Generals, musicians, authors, and leaders. Each house has a story to tell and by preserving the architectural design of the house we preserve the memories of those who came before us and called Florence h...

Located in the heart of downtown Florence, Alabama is Rivertown Coffee Company, a quaint, friendly coffee shop in the Shoals area. Just this past year they celebrated their 10 year anniversary and established themselves as Florence’s beloved coffee shop. This is the place where anyone, young or old, can take a break, relax, enjoy a drink or meal, and feel right at home. Visiting Rivertown feels like walking down the street to have coffee with a friendly neighbor. Owned by John and Jan Cartwright, they love the residents of the Shoals and are eager to serve and provide high-quality coffee in a comfortable environment. If you blink you might miss the entrance to Rivertown on Seminary Street, just a quick walk from Court Street and Wilson Park, but the modest entrance hosts a coffee shop full of vibrancy, originality, and local charm. Upon entering you are greeted by friendly staff eager to take your order at the counter, which displays the everyday coffee and drink options, daily ...