What Does Toni Have To Say?

The numbers are in for September 2008.

Russet Woods and Southwood are neighborhoods conveniently located near I-459 and South Shades Crest Rd. in Hoover Alabama.  Students attend Hoover High, Bumpus Middle School and either South Shades Crest or Deer Valley Elementary.

There were 4 homes that sold in these Hoover Alabama neighborhoods in the month of Septmeber.  Prices ranged from $230,000 to $265,000. Click here for details on the homes sold. The home at 1701 Russet Crest Circle had a beautiful outdoor pool with an outdoor kitchen and entertainment area.

If you would like information about homes sold in YOUR neighborhood, let me know at www.ToniBird.com.

I was out in the backyard watering my garden today and was noticing how many of the plants are starting to look weary now that fall is here.  I guess some of the mornings have been a little cool and the sun is going down sooner so it is more difficult for them to flourish.

My roses love the cool weather and have a new resurgence of blooms.  I love the spring and fall for this reason. 

One plant that still looks beautiful in the hydrangea.  The leaves are a dark green and are a healthy looking backdrop to some of the other plants whose leaves are turning. Some hydrandeas are shade loving and other prefer the sun.  I have three different hydrangea plants and they are all a tad different - but beautiful.  I have them planted in my backyard and they get moring sun and very heavy afternoon shade.

One thing I like is that the blooms turn from blue to a green color and then finally to bronze color in the fall.  One of my plant's blooms has a tad of red in it right now. The flowers can be picked for a dry flower arrangement in the winter. The flowers actually stay on the plant all winter long - even after the leaves die off.

I have never had to trim my plants back because they are a small variety and they make a nice shaped bush on their own.  I usually wait until spring to cut the flower heads off, but some people prune them back as soon as the flowers "die".  Different plants need to be pruned differently to ensure you have the best flowers for the coming year.  Click here for some pruning instructions.

Hydrangeas make a wonderful plant to brighten up a dull corner of the backyard or to anchor the corner of the house.  Whether you have a small yard or big, they are definitely a plant to use when thinking curb appeal!

 Plants are a big part of any landscape.  If you are looking for a new home in Hoover Alabama with a great yard, I can help.  Take a look at what is available for sale on my website at www.ToniBird.com and when you see the house for you, give me a call.

Last year we had a terrible water shortage and people were doing all kinds of creative things just to be able to water their plants.  Now that the drought has passed, are we back to old habits?

Well, if you have noticed it didn't rain much in September and October is not much better!  But the bigger picture is what are we doing to conserve water and energy in an effort to help the environment?

My hot water heater is in the attic and the master bedroom shower is on the first floor. I know I used to fill up a bucket of water while I was waiting for the hot water to get to the shower.  We've thought about moving the hot water heater but it just isn't practical. I stopped filling the bucket - that means 2 buckets of water per day are going down the drain -wasted.  I think I need to find that old bucket.

Did you know that 40% of the water used in a home goes right down the toilet?  They came out with low flush toilets a few years ago, but all the "hard matter" didn't go down the drain so you ended up flushing more than once and it didn't really save anything. There is a toilet out now called a dual flusher. Dual-flush toilets which are used extensively in Austrailia let you choose whether you need a big or little flush. This simple choice can save 6000 gallons of water per year for a family of 4 (according to the EPA and Sterling).  They cost a little more, but not much.

You can also get low flow shower and sink faucets to save additional water.  Regular shower heads also have a valve inside to help regulate the water.

 We can all do little things to cut down on water use.  This helps save us money AND helps the environment as well.

We all know the presidential election is right around the corner.  It is extremely important that EVERY person vote. November 4th is the big day to go to the polls.  But, you can't just show up and expect to vote - unless you have registered.  That registration deadline is October 24th. If you have already registered you don't have to register again, but if you have never voted before or have moved then you need to get it done.

If you are not going to be in town on November 4th, you can vote by using an absentee ballot.  The last day to make application for an absentee ballot is October 30th, so plan ahead.  The last day to turn in the absentee ballot (or postmark the ballot) in November 3rd.  If your boss calls you on the 3rd and says you have to go out of town the next day on business, say no- I have to vote.

If you would like more information about the requirements for voting, or to see where your voting place is, check out this website.  The website also includes a voters registration application that you can download, print and mail in.

Your vote IS important!

I've written before about saving up to buy a house in Hoover, Alabama.  The down payment on FHA loans went up from 3% to 3.5% on October 1st, so for an FHA at least, you have to save a little more to get into that home.  This means that if you want to buy a $100,000 house, you will need $3500 for your down payment.

There are many ways to save for that house.  One idea is to save your loose change.  You can get a big jar and at the end of the day, just empty your pockets. You can use the money to go to Atlantic City - or save for that down payment.  Keep the jar on your dresser and you can watch it grow. Another way is to use a piggy bank.  I had one years ago where once you put the money in, you couldn't get it out unless you broke the pig.  I gave one to my friend in high school. It was huge and she could hardly lift it because it was so heavy.

This may not sound like much of a plan, but check out this story - a man bought a car using loose change he had saved.  Not some old beat up car either.  He bought a 2008 Dodge Ram pickup NEW.

So if he could buy a New car, that down payment doesn't seem so out of reach!

Start saving TODAY.  When you're ready to buy a house, let me know.  I'd love to hear how YOU got YOUR Down Payment to Buy A Home.

I have a contract on one of the Homes I have For Sale in Birmingham Alabama.  When the buyer made his offer, the lender had given him a pre-approval letter.  He pays his bills on time and has a great credit score.  He was really excited about buying his first home!!

We were supposed to close on the 19^th, but with all the changes in the economy and underwriting practices, and the fact that FHA was changing its rules effective October 1^st, we were told everything was backed up, so we moved our closing date to the 30^th.  Well, on the evening of the 29^th we find out the buyer IS NOT approved.  Why???? Seems the buyer has co-signed a note so his sister can buy a car.

Sister's credit is not good enough to buy her dream car so her brother co-signs for her.  Now, that debt counts against the brother as if HE had made the loan on the car.   He can not buy a house because he was helping his sister out.

Before you co-sign for ANYBODY, remember, the lender wants a co-signor because they don't believe the person will pay them back. If the other person doesn't make their payments, they are coming after YOU to make the payments so that payment counts as if it is yours on your credit report.  It is great to be supportive of a family member, but it has to make sense for you.

If you are thinking about buying a home in Hoover, Alabama or the greater Birmingham area, sit down with a lender and look at your total financial picture.  If they point out something in your credit or spending habits that looks like a problem, get it fixed immediately.

Everyone can own a home.

The other day I was showing a house and my client and I walked out onto this wonderful deck that overlooked a nice wooded back yard.  A cool breeze was blowing and we were talking about how great it would be to sit out on the deck and eat dinner.  We were talking about the bar-be-cue and how much we loved to grill out.

When we turned to go back into the house we notice a big circle on the chimney approximately 3' in diameter about 4' off the ground.  Upon closer examination, it was melted vinyl. I had experienced the same thing about 5 years ago on a house made from EIFS construction, where the grill had melted the siding on the house.

According to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA), nearly 80 percent of households own some sort of an outdoor bar-be-cue appliance and nearly 60 percent use them year round. I know here in Hoover, Alabama we use the grill for summer picnics, regularly during football season and even on those rare occasions when it snows. But firing up a grill with an open flame presents a clear and present fire danger, especially in confined spaces.

The U.S. Fire Administration's National Fire Data Center estimates that barbecuing accounts for more than 6,000 fires, 170 injuries, a half dozen fatalities and $35 million in property loss each year.  Wow!

There are some simple rules to follow - like don't get too close to the building, make sure you have plenty of ventilation, don't grill under an overhang, don't move the grill while you are cooking, keep children away from the grill, etc.  If you would like to read more about grilling safety, check out my July Newsletter (I know it's not July anymore, but the tips still apply).

Many homeowners these days are installing outdoor kitchens.  The gas and charcoal grills are built in to a stationary counter top. The outdoor kitchen also includes a sink, refrigerator (mostly a minifridge), and sometimes an ice maker.

If you would like to find a New Home that has a perfect place for a grill and that back yard bar-be-cue, you can look for homes on my website at www.ToniBird.com/search.asp?  Call me and we can go looking together!

The last week has been wonderful.  Evening temperatures have been down in the 50's on some nights.  The cooler temperatures are causing the leaves to start turning, although we are going to need to see the 40's before we get the real vibrant colors. I've had my windows open to let in the cool air. Even though it's in the 80's this afternoon, I know the long hot summer is on its way out.

My husband and I were walking Maggie this morning and she likes the cool weather, too.  She has a brisk step and her tongue doesn't hang down nearly as far.  I'm looking forward to some long walks in the woods in a couple of weeks. 

But as we were walking through the neighborhood, I noticed how tired the flower beds looked.  Those summer flowers looked pretty beat up, as heat and humidity has really taken its toll.  My Lantana hanging baskets are still looking good, and the orange begonias are festive, but most of the beds are on their last leg. 

Now is the time to take advantage of the glorious weather in autumn by spending  time in your garden. The cooler, more comfortable temperatures mean you can refresh plants, add fall color and prepare and plan for the year ahead. 

My roses, which like the cooler weather are starting to put out new buds for their fall showing!! Mums are everywhere this time of year.  They are great for flower pots, but if you plant them in the ground, they will come back next year.  I have some purple ones in the backyard that have been in my yard for three years. Other fall choices include, sedum, orange or yellow begonias and black eyed susans which will help add color and fill in empty areas to keep your garden lush all season long.

I have a hard time pulling up the summer flowers until they have totally croaked, but it is best to just pull them up now.  As in the spring, fall gardening begins with soil preparation.  Pull up vegetable plants, flowers and old vines, and then apply an inch or two of compost in the garden. Add a thick blanket of mulch to conserve soil moisture and deter weeds.  You can then plant lettuce, spinach and other cool weather vegetables.  Herbs such as chives, parsley, cilantro, rosemary and sage like the cool temps as well.  And the happy flower of all times the pansy!!  I like to plant my tulip bulbs first which will come up in the spring and then cover them with 3 colors of pansies.  I haven't decided on the colors yet.  There are so many to choose from. A couple of years ago I chose purple, blue and white pansies and had pink tulips planted underneath.  The show in the spring was fantastic.

Fall is also a good time to plant trees and perennials that you want to bloom in the spring.  Our temps here in Hoover, Alabama don't get too cold so even though the flowers don't bloom in the fall, the roots have a good chance to grow over the winter months.

If you are thinking about Selling Your Home in Hoover, Alabama, remember that Curb Appeal.  I beautiful fall garden now, or a showy display of bulbs in the spring could be the one thing that makes someone fall in love with YOUR home. 

What Can We Do With Our Homes ?

We keep hearing about Global Warming and the fact that we need to do things to help the environment. We can cut down on the number of miles we drive on I-459 every week, and buy a more fuel efficient car. We can turn the thermostat up (in summer) and run a fan to help cool the house. We can change out light bulbs and get that blue glow going!! But what else is there?

Are you thinking about making home improvements to your Hoover Alabama home? It makes good sense to go green when you make home improvements and renovate your home.  But What does that mean?

Green remodeling, includes designing the home to work with the environment and using construction materials that are made in an unwasteful way. That includes the impact on energy, water, and materials consumption; waste generation; and harmful emissions -- indoors and out -- according to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The council also says a green home is one that uses less energy, water and natural resources; creates less waste, and is healthier for the people who live there.

Consider Design. If you are not using space in your house - such as the Formal Living Room - consider giving it use such as an office or playroom. Using the space you already have for another purpose would be more "green" than adding more space. Just because you have furniture in there doesn't mean you are "using the sapce". Avoid windows that look west to cut energy costs during the summer. If you have west facing windows, replace them with low-E glass, or glass with a solar screen that filters out the heat and sunlight but lets the visible light through.

Consider composition. When choosing a green product, consider the raw materials used to create the product and their origin. Composite decking is a great example. Manufacturers use recovered wood fibers and recycled milk jugs, plastic grocery bags, and water bottles to create their materials. Products using recycled materials help by creating less waste, by keeping materials out of landfills and by reducing the need for raw materials like petroleum (you would be surprised to know all the uses for petroleum).

Consider value. When looking for green products, you may find that going green costs more - this is frustrating.  But look at how long the product is likely to last.  The deck made from composite will cost more than wood, but it's life cycle will be longer and therefore is a better value - for your pocketbook and the environment.

Consider sustainability. Choose products that are going to last a long time in their intended use. For building products that will be used outdoors, look for durable products that can withstand the regional climate over an extended period. Sustainability should also be practiced by the manufacturer and during the production process. Manufacturing processes can use a great deal of energy and resources, as well as release toxic chemicals and gases. Look for sustainable companies that have implemented environmental processes and procedures to reduce emissions and energy, as well as reduce the amount of waste through recycling, reusing and other environmentally responsible practices.

There is so much to learn about building in an environmentally friendly manner.  I know I have so much to learn. You may want to check out this website just to get some ideas. We can all do things to help our world.

I had someone call me the other day about one of my listings.  She said she didn't like her landlord and wanted to buy a house instead.  She told me all the promises the landlord had made that never came to reality and I really wanted to help her find a house.  In talking to her though, I learned she had no money to put down.  There have been a lot of  ZERO DOWN loans being advertised, but the fact is, you can't buy a home with no money in the bank.

Are you thinking about Buying A Home in Hoover Alabama?  If so, you need to pay off your debts and save for a down payment.  People today have so much debt that they are living paycheck to paycheck, and any time there is an emergency they reach for the credit card.  It started out slowly - I'll get a card in case of emergencies. Then before you know it, your cards are reaching their limit and the interest is killing you.  Fact is, it is just too easy to over spend and put it on the card.

But, you CAN get control of your finances and be able to buy the home of your dreams.  It does take some work, but it will really be worth it in the end.

The first step toward paying off your credit cards is to STOP using them.  Here are a few tips:

Carry Cash - give yourself a weekly cash allowance.  If you spend CASH, you'll be more aware of how much you spend. When the money is gone, it's gone - you will spend less.

Use Debit, Not Credit - if you don't want to carry cash, or you have to have plastic to make a purchase, then use the Debit Card.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind - leave the cards at home; if you don't have the cards with you, you can't use them.

Even if you try to cut up the credit cards, daily you are bombarded with credit card offers - Open a new account with 0% for the first 6 months, then next thing you know it's at 21%. It looks tempting - DON'T DO IT.  You can eliminate those credit card offers (and save trees) by calling the OptOut number 1-888-5-OPTOUT.

Once your debt is paid off, you can start saving the amount you had been paying to credit card debt each month.  You'll be surprised how easy it will be to save up for that down payment.  Soon you will be able to Buy A House in Hoover, Alabama or one of the cities in the greater Birmingham area.

If you would like to see the homes that are available for sale in the Hoover, Alabama, you can click on the "Search the MLS" button on my website. If you want to know more about Buying a Home, contact me at www.ToniBird.com.