What Does Toni Have To Say?

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.

Try an Island Before you Buy.

The other day, a client and I were looking at Homes for Sale in Hoover Alabama.  She was very interested in having a kitchen with a LOT of counter space.  Because I like to prepare meals with lots of ingredients, I want lots of space in MY Hoover, Alabama kitchen, so I could totally understand where she was coming from.

We saw some kitchens that had islands in them.  Some islands were attached to the floor and others were on legs. Some had tops that matched the other counter tops and others had tops made with a contrasting material. Most of the islands competmented the kitchen, but some made the kitchen seem too small...

Ever thought about adding an island to your kitchen?  This may seem like a really good idea, but is your kitchen big enough?  An island can limit the number of people working in the kitchen, can limit the traffic flow (only one person can get by at a time) and make for really cramped quarters.

It is a good idea to try out an island before purchasing one.  You can make a full scale model out of cardboard or plywood and leave it up for a couple of weeks before you decide to buy.  Try out all the appliances and make sure the doors open and close and that you don't hurt yourself trying to get hot things out of the oven.

You can have your sink, dishwasher or stove in the island, but make sure you research the plumbing and electrical lines beforehand. Here in Hoover Alabama many homes for sale have basements. If you are over an unfinished basement it's not too hard, but other foundations can make it a lot more costly - nothing is ever impossible, everything has a price.

If you don't have space for an island, you may want to look at buying an Island Trolley that is rolled into place when you need it.  They are great for extra cutting space and storage.

If you just have to have more space in the kitchen, you may need a different house.  I can help you find a new home with great counter space.  Take a look at homes for sale in Hoover Alabama and the Greater Birmingham area on my website at www.ToniBird.com.  Call me when you are ready for a personal tour.

When getting your home ready to sell in Hoover Alabama, you want it to look warm and inviting.  Just like curb appeal on the outside - you want your home to appeal to the buyer on an emotional level on the inside.  Now I'm not talking about putting out tons of stuff so the house looks cluttered, and putting every family photo you own on the walls, but all blank walls make a house look sterile. 

 Mirrors can make a room look bigger.  It's important to pay attention to what people see when they look in the mirror.  If your mirror is reflecting a bathroom or messy kitchen, perhaps you should rethink that placement.  The size of the mirror needs to be appropriate for the wall.

 Do you have a blank wall that you just don't know what to do with?  Paintings and mirrors are great but sometimes you just need something different.  I like to see some things with texture.

  Iron work is very popular these days.  Iron pieces come in all shapes and sizes and there are several shops in Hoover Alabama that sell very attractive pieces.  I've seen some that resemble gates, some that hold candles or flowers and the list goes on.  We received a cross as a wedding present and it hangs in the foyer just inside the front door.

 Trivets come in all shapes and sizes and make great wall decorations - especially in the kitchen.  So take a look at those trivets that you may have stashed away in the drawer.

 Add a Shelf to the wall and display different items such as pitchers, flower pots, even trophies and or model cars (especially great for a kid's room).  Shelves offer the opportunity for seasonal variety because it is easy to leave the shelf alone and change out the items you have on display.

 Plates make great decorations and can add new color to a room.  Do you have some old plates that grandma had years ago?  Or perhaps you have a colorful platter that caught your eye and it is just too pretty to sit in the cabinet. Some "craftman style" homes have a plate shelf about eye level in the Dining Room and are a great place to display plates.  Plate hangers are pretty easy to find.  Liven up that dead space in the Kitchen between the top of the cabinet and the ceiling.  Old fashioned side boards and baker's racks are prefect for displaying plates but also those built-in bookshelves in the den.  Click here for some new ideas on displaying plates.

 You'd be surprised how may things you have around the house that can make decorations (and for very little money).

 If you'd like to talk to someone about selling your home, give me a call.  I'll be happy to give you some pointers on getting your house ready for sale.  You can reach me at 205-821-3312

Interest Rates are really low right now, and we've been talking about 30 and 15 year Fixed Rate Loans. If you look at the different loan programs that lenders are offering, you will also hear about Adjustable Rate Loans.  Adjustable Rate Loans typically have a lower rate than the fixed rate initially and can look really attractive (and can help you afford a more expensive house).  Sounds like a great deal, but you need to really look at the total picture before getting into an adjustabel rate loan.

The FIXED RATE LOAN is based on what the current rate is and your loan repayment amount is set at the same amount for the life of the loan (most commonly 15 year or 30 year repayment).  The payment includes an amount that pays down the principal (the amount you borrowed) and the interest that accrued on that principal balance. The more payments you make, the less you owe on the loan so each month the amount you apply to principal increases and the amount you pay in interest decreases. But the PAYMENT remains the same. Usually added to your monthly payment is an amount for taxes and insurance which can go up each year based on whether the tax assessor or the insurance company raises the amount due to them, but your monthly payment amount remains the same. 

With an ADJUSTABLE RATE LOAN, the payments can adjust or change over the life of the loan.  There are two components, first the frequency (how often it changes) and 2nd, the amount of change.   Typically, the rate will change on a yearly basis (a One Year ARM will change every year).  Some loans have a set rate for the first few years - perhaps fixed for 5 years then it will adjust every year after that. So, if you started out with an interest rate of 5.5% and your loan is a 5/1 ARM, it will be fixed for 5 years at the 5.5% rate and then on the 5th year anniversary of your 1st payment, your payment will change and continue to change every year after that.

What will it change to?  That depends to what "index" your loan is tied to.  What is an index?  There are several different types of money rates in the open market.  These rates change every day. Their numbers are published and they are pretty easy to track. Some commonly tied to mortgages are the T-Bill, the FNMA Security Rate, the 7th District Cost of Finds. Once you know your index you also need to know your margin.  The margin is the amount OVER the index you will pay.  So, if your margin is 2%, then your new payment rate will be the index rate plus 2%.  So, if today the 7^th District Cost of Funds rate is 6%, your new rate will be 8%.  If you started out at 5.5% and then it's time for your rate to change and it goes to 8% - Wow that is a huge adjustment in your payment.  Say you had a 100,000 loan at 5.5%, your loan payment (not taxes and insurance) would be about $568. At 8% the amount would be $734.  That would be an increase of $168 per month.  Not to mention the fact that taxes and insurance go up on a regular basis.

In the news we've heard that people's payments have been going up on their adjustable rate mortgages - this has contributed to people losing their homes to foreclosure.  Adjustable rate mortgages are nothing new.  In fact the same thing happened back in the 80's when rates went up and people couldn't afford their payments.

Many people rationalize that they KNOW their salary will go up later so they'll be able to afford it.  That is not always the case and you might want to buy a new car or furniture.  The safest way to go is with a fixed rate - even if it is a little higher to begin with.

If you would like any additional information about Buying a Home in Hoover, AL, I'd be happy to help you.  Contact me at www.ToniBird.com.

I woke up this morning and heard an incredible amount of chatter in the back yard.  There was so much noise I had to look.  There, on top of the shed were two cardinals and one was feeding the other.  They were both good sized birds, but on closer examination, one was a baby - just a little smaller that its mother.   Female Cardinals make a lot of noise anyway, but this one was teaching her baby how to fly and they were talking back and forth.  The baby could fly from the shed to the fence and back, but was really struggling.  After a couple of "laps" they landed on the feeder for a treat.

 Later in the day I looked out and saw a juvenile male cardinal.  He was red like a cardinal, but didn't have the tuft on top of his head.  He had a little wisp, like a cowlick that wouldn't lie down.  I tried desperately to get his picture, but he was too far away for a good shot.

We are all so busy these days, but it is nice to stop and watch the birds and other creatures in the backyard.  This was such a treat and made me smile for the whole day.

Making a bird friendly yard here in Hoover Alabama is not too hard; you need trees, shrubs, water and food. There are hundreds of birds that visit each week, sometime flocks are migrating and are there for only a day. Bird food is on my regular grocery list and of course I have worked on my backyard over time, but the rewards are great.

A bird friendly backyard can be a great selling point if your house is on the market. If you would like tips to get your house ready to sell here in Hoover Alabama, let me know, I'd be happy to talk to you. Give me a call at 821-3312 or shoot me an e-mail at Toni@ToniBird.com.

I hope you get to see lots of birds in YOUR backyard!

Yesterday the government decided to help out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac which allowed the financial markets to feel "more secure", thus causing interest rates to go down.  With interest rates going lower, Now is a Great Time to Buy A Home in Hoover Alabama or anywhere for that matter!

Well you may be asking - What does that mean?

When you borrow money for a mortgage, you are getting a loan at the prevailing interest rate.  Let's say the going rate for today is 6%.  The two most common pay back periods are 15 years and 30 years.  The other variable used to figure your mortgage payment is the loan amount (which is the purchase price minus your down payment).

Let's say you found a house that costs $150,000 and you were going to make a 5% downpayment (that is the amount you would pay in cash toward the house). Five percent would be $7500. Subtract $7500 from $150,000 and you get $142,500.  $142,500 is your Loan Amount.

If you were to borrow $142,500 for 30 years at an interest rate of 6%, the payment on your loan would be $854.36 each month.

If interest rates dropped to 5.5%, on a $142,500 loan for 30 years, the payment would be $809.10 each month.

854.36 - 809.10 = $45.26 less in your house payment EACH MONTH.  That's $543 PER YEAR.

What could you DO with that money??  Well, you could use it to buy Christmas presents, or put it in savings for a new car, or it could allow you to qualify for a bigger house.

Since the amount of house you "qualify for" is based on what your monthly payment would be as a portion of your income, than the payment is the beginning point to determine the price of house you can afford.

Let's say you make $17.60 per hour which equals $36,615 per year. Let's also assume for this example that you have no debt because that is an additional step and we want to keep this simple.  Take your yearly salary and convert it to a monthly number (36,615/12=3051 per month). Next Multiply the monthly income number by 28% (3051 X .28 = 854.35). This is the amount of mortgage payment the lender will say you "qualify for".

In our example above, we saw that a $142,500 loan at 6% for 30 years came out to $854.36, so we can say that a person making $36,615 per year can qualify to buy a $150,000 house when the rate is 6%.  When we do the calculations based on 5.5%, we see that $854.35 per month at 5.5% for 30 years will let you qualify for a loan amount of $150,470.  With a downpayment of 5% ($7525) like in the example above, your new house can cost as much as $157,995. That is almost $8,000 more house which can make a big difference!

So, either pay less each month for the house you want, or buy a more expensive house - either way it's a WIN.

If you've been thinking about Buying A House, now would be a good time to talk to a lender.  They will run a credit report on you and let you know what payment you qualify for and ultimately how much house you can afford.

If you have any questions about Buying A House in Hoover Alabama or the greater Birmingham area, I'd be happy to help, let me know at www.ToniBird.com.

Wow, Interest Rates are Great Today.

There is a lender in town who sends me the interest rates on a daily basis.  I really like this becasue it keeps me up to date with what is going on in case someone wants to know.  Well, today the rates dropped BELOW 6%.  His company was showing 5.875 with NO Origination fee on a 30 year fixed rate conventional.

Makes Me Want to Buy A HOUSE !!

They claim it has something to do with the government taking over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  Well, if you are a plain citizen, and NOT a mortgage guru, you probably don't even know who Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are.  Well DOES IT MATTER!  Call Your Lender, Lock in that rate and BUY TODAY.

If you would like to shop for a house - check out my website at www.ToniBird.com.  You will find every home for sale in Birmingham Alabama under Search the MLS. Questions - let me know.

The High School football games are finally here.  All that practice for the football team, band, cheerleaders and mascotts is finally paying off.  Parents and students from all over the county gather to watch their local team fight for victory.

To read what the Birmingham News had to say about the game click here.

I also like to watch the activity off the playing field.  It's amazing to see the cheerleaders fly through the air.  I know I wouldn't be that brave!  Never seen anyone dropped.  Have you watched what they do during halftime?  The cheerleaders go over to the other side and talk with the cheerleaders from the opposing team. Good training for the diplomatic corps - even though we are adversaries, we can find things in common.

I also like to watch the bands.  Most people don't realize, they have "two a day" practices just like the football players.  Think about the effort it takes to play an instrument and move in the right direction and stay with everyone else all while wearing that hot uniform.  And the percussion - they have more instruments out there than the symphony orchestra - all on wheels or being carried by a strong back.  It's quite amazing.  There is also the color guard and the dance team.  I especially like those capes that are one color on one side and a different color on the other and open up like a butterfly.

At last night's game Hoover's band played songs from West Side Story while Homewood's had a patriotic theme.  Both performed well and were very entertaining. The music during the game of course mirrored the excitement on the field as Hoover defeated Homewood 30 to 21.