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By: Shannon Schwab


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During the Spring and Summer months, many homeowners get their yard and garden work into full swing. Here are some tips from the Pillar to Post  newsletter for making your yard an inviting outdoor space.

Keep Water Away From the House

Be sure that the ground slopes away from the house all the way around the perimeter. This ensures that any moisture from rain, snow melt, and sprinkler systems will be directed away from the foundation.

The base of shrubs and other plantings should be kept at least 2 feet away from the foundation to avoid potential problems with roots and drainage. In addition, window wells should be kept free of debris and lined with gravel to help water drain out of the well and into the ground.

Do not leave sprinklers on for too long. Excessive water will not do plants and lawns any good, and may cause problems if there are drainage issues in certain areas.

The Right Plant in the Right Place

When a tree is growing very close to the structure, there can be potentially serious problems if the tree grows too tall or too wide for the space. Damage to eaves and roofs can be caused by overgrowth, and there is even a danger of branches or an entire tree falling onto the home. Existing trees should be professionally pruned to lessen the potential for hazard. When planting new trees, homeowners should research potential “candidates” to find how large the tree will eventually grow and what the root pattern spread will be, then make decisions accordingly.

Homeowners should also consider grouping plants that have similar water requirements to avoid over-watering plants that don’t need as much. Not only will plants do better, but water bills will be lower over time as well.

Choose the Right Plants for Maintenance Ease

Some plants end up requiring more maintenance than a homeowner expects. When selecting new planting material, homeowners should seek advice from qualified personnel at a local nursery who will know what plants will do well in their area, as well as their growth habits and maintenance requirements.

Lawns should not be mowed too short or too frequently. Allowing the blades of grass to shade one another helps with water retention and allows grass to grow in more fully. Many newer turf grasses require less mowing than older varieties, and should be considered for new lawn installations. Homeowners can find out more at their local agricultural or extension office.

These are just some of the ways homeowners can increase the enjoyment of their outdoor spaces while ensuring that home and yard are in good shape.

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By: Shannon Schwab


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Once you know how much money you can borrow and have an estimate of your closing costs, you’ll know the price range you can afford. You might already have your “dream home” in mind. Perhaps you want to settle down in a particular neighborhood, or maybe you just need more space for your growing family. Even if you know exactly what you’re looking for, the house hunting process can seem overwhelming — and it takes time.

Some Good House Hunting Tips

• Bring a spouse, family member or friend.
• Take pictures inside and outside of the home.
• Make sure the asking price fits into your budget. You should also consider the cost of taxes and insurance. (Getting pre-approved can prepare you for this).
• Ask about the cost of utilities and other maintenance costs.
• Think of commuting time and fuel or fare costs.
• Compare what you would like to have against what you really need to be happy. (It may help to do a Wants vs. Actual Needs analysis).
• Consider your monthly budget — after you factor in the mortgage payment, utilities, and other routine monthly bills, can you afford the renovations and maintenance that you may need to do, as well as have money left over for unexpected expenses?

What else can you do to make the house hunting process easier?

• List your needs. Know the difference between your wants and your needs and keep track of the homes you see that come closest to meeting your needs. You should take notes after each showing so that you will remember which homes had positive and negative features. After viewing the first four or five homes, they may start “running together” and your notes will help to keep them straight.
• Concentrate on a few neighborhoods. Decide what’s most important to you about the neighborhood you want. This can greatly narrow down your search. There are several hundreds of homes on the market for sale at any given time. If you tried to look at all of the ones that you “might” be interested in, you would never be able to get through them all.
• Find a good Realtor®. If you find a good Realtor®, he or she will have access to many more listings than you can find on your own. Also, they can help you to select the ones that most closely match the features that are important to your family.
• Compare homes. Make sure you think carefully about the positive features, as well as any negative things about each house before you make a decision regarding an offer to purchase.

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By: Shannon Schwab


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If you are a first-time home buyer, you should read these frequently made mistakes provided by REALTOR® Online Magazine through the National Association of REALTORS®, so that you can try to avoid these pitfalls.  If you do, your home buying experience will go more smoothly and you will look forward to buying another home when the time arises.

1. They don’t ask enough questions of their lender and miss out on the best deal. Your lender will have information about the different types of financing options available to you. Don’t forget to utilize this valuable resource.
2. They don’t act quickly enough to make their decision and someone else buys the house. It is one thing to take a certain amount of time to think it over so that you don’t make a “rash decision”, but you need to understand that the clock is still ticking and another buyer may fall in love with the home while you are trying to decide what to do.
3. They don’t find the right real estate professional who is willing to help you through the home buying process. You should contact a REALTOR® that is both knowledgeable about the real estate process, and also one that you feel comfortable working with.
4. They don’t do enough to make their offer look good to a seller. Sometimes buyers are so concerned about saving a buck that they don’t make a “serious” enough offer and the seller may become insulted.
5. They don’t think about resale before they buy. The average first-time buyer only stays in a home for 4 years. You need to look ahead so that you will not lose money in the long run. Although no one can completely predict the future, your REALTOR® can help analyze the market trends for certain areas and advise you on what you might expect when you do decide to resell.

Sometimes an ounce of prevention can go a long way. Don’t let these first-time home buyer mistakes cost you the home of your dreams.

Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online by permission of the National Association of REALTORS®.

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By: Shannon Schwab


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Pre-approval gives you a good idea of the type of mortgage you will qualify for and the price range of homes you can afford.You’ll need to decide how much money to borrow when you submit your loan application to the lender. The amount of your mortgage will be based on the purchase price of your house, your down payment, and other factors. It’s important to do your homework before the application process; that’s why we recommend getting pre-approved. Getting pre-approved helps you…

• Know how much you can borrow.
• Confirm your ability to qualify for a mortgage based on your credit, financial, and employment information.
• Strengthen your position to make an offer on a house. If two similar offers are made on a home at the same time, the seller may be more willing to accept the offer from a pre-approved buyer than from a buyer that still needs to check about obtaining financing.

To get pre-approved, you’ll need to work with a mortgage lender. The lender will review your credit, financial, and employment information after you fill out an application. Based on your individual circumstances, you may be asked to provide proof of income, like recent pay stubs. A fee might also be involved to cover application costs.

If you qualify for a loan, you’ll receive a letter that says your mortgage is approved for a certain amount of money and for a certain amount of time. Being pre-approved does not mean you have to use that lender, although a different lender may offer different terms.

Pre-qualification is not the same as pre-approval.

A pre-qualification is a free test run of the loan application process that usually takes a few minutes. The mortgage lender uses your credit, financial, and employment information to come up with an estimate of the mortgage amount you can afford. Pre-qualification can usually be done over the phone and the information is usually not verified at this point. A pre-approval may require a complete application, along with an application fee. Usually, a pre-approval is your bank’s guarantee of the amount they will lend you toward a home, providing that all of the requirements for the loan are met.

Getting pre-approved is an important step and should be done at the beginning of the home buying process- even before looking at homes. After all, you want to make sure that you are comfortable with the monthly payment for the loan, and you also wouldn’t want to waste your time looking at homes that you could not afford. This may also make your offer look more serious to a seller when you have taken the necessary steps to get pre-approved prior to making your offer to purchase. For all of these reasons, many REALTORS® will require a pre-approval letter even before showing properties. If this happens, do not be offended- they are really looking out for your interests when doing so.

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By: Shannon Schwab


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Older homes can be charming but you should be aware of special issues with them so you’re not surprised once you own the home. Older homes were built at a time when technology was different. Things that were safe 50 years ago may not be safe anymore and they may be in need of upgrading. If you are considering purchasing an older home. There are some special factors that you should consider beyond just price and location. Older homes may have a variety of hidden problems lurking and if they are not found early, they could come back to haunt you later!

Specific Questions to Ask

• The foundation. Look to see if the roof line and porches are parallel or sagging. Are the steps pulling away from the foundation? Are doors hard to close and windows hard to open? Any of these problems could indicate the building’s foundation is failing.
• Lead paint. Older homes often have lead paint – make sure your home inspector looks for this. Your Realtor^® should also provide you with information regarding lead paint, which can be a health hazard. Any home built prior to 1978 will need to have a Lead Based Paint Disclosure provided by the seller.
• Electrical wiring. Has the wiring been updated? Are there three-prong outlets with working ground prongs? Does the home have a circuit breaker box or a fuse box? Do the lights flicker? A home inspection should catch many of the electrical problems found in older homes.
• Be sure to discuss any special issues with your home inspector if you’re considering buying an older home.

Hire a Professional Home Inspector

Hiring a professional home inspector can be one of the most important things you can do to make sure your home is in good condition. An independent authorized inspector can uncover defects with the house that could cost you a lot of money down the road.

If the home inspector finds a serious problem, like the roof needing to be replaced, you’ll know up front and you may be able to negotiate with the seller for the cost of the repair or replacement. If you don’t find out until after you own the house, the problem (and cost) are yours alone.

When getting a home professionally inspected, you may also want to think about testing for environmental hazards like lead paint, asbestos, mold, and radon. If you are unfamiliar with the different companies in your area, your real estate agent can also be a good source of information related to locating home inspectors.

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By: Shannon Schwab


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There are many things to think about before you dive into a home purchase. Buying a home is a complicated process; it’s the largest financial commitment most people will ever make, and it can get expensive even after the purchase when it comes to maintenance and renovations. Here are some of the many things that you will want to consider when you are thinking about buying a home.

• Decide how much home you can afford. Generally, you can afford a home equal in value to between two and three times your gross income.
• Develop a wish list of what you’d like your home to have. Be sure to write these down! Then prioritize the features on your list.
• Select three or four neighborhoods you’d like to live in. Consider items such as commuting times, schools, recreational facilities, area expansion plans, and safety.
• Determine if you have enough saved to cover your down payment and closing costs. Closing costs, including taxes, attorney’s fee, and transfer fees vary from area to area and not all sellers are willing to pay your costs. You should check with your mortgage lender to determine the exact amount of closing costs that will be required for the type of loan that you will be getting.
• Get your credit in order. Obtain a copy of your credit report. Check it for unpaid balances, collections accounts and fraud. You need to be able to explain these things to the lender and in some cases pay them off before you can qualify for a loan.
• Determine how large a mortgage for which you can qualify. Explore different loan options and decide what’s best for you.
• Organize all the documentation a lender will need to pre-approve you for a loan. Talk to your lender for details on this step.
• Do research to determine if you qualify for any special mortgage or down payment-assistance programs. Active and former military personnel often qualify for these programs.
• Calculate the costs of home ownership, including property taxes, insurance, maintenance, and association fees, if applicable. Be sure you can afford these expenses before diving into making an offer and buying a home. This will help you avoid becoming “house poor.”
• Find an experienced REALTOR® who can help you through the process.

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By: Shannon Schwab


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Buying a home is the largest purchase most people will ever make. Homeownership has great benefits. However, it also comes with certain responsibilities. Are you ready for homeownership? Here are a few points you should consider before buying a home.Look at your current position and answer these questions:

• Do you have a reliable source of income that is stable prior to applying for a loan? The bank wants to make sure you can pay back what you borrow, so be prepared for this.
• Does your credit history show that you are ready for home ownership? What does this mean? Make sure you are paying and will continue to be able to pay all your obligations including credit cards, car loans and other loans. If you have any obligations in collections, pay them off.
• Is your total debt manageable? Also, will you be able to afford the cost of home ownership including utilities, repairs and renovations that you wish to perform while you live in the home?
• Do you have cash money available to pay for closing costs and your down payment?
• Do you have adequate savings to cover an unexpected loss of income or an emergency?

Once you fully understand your current situation, it’s important to look at the pros and cons of home ownership to make the best decision for you and your family.  Feel free to contact a CENTURY 21 Key Realty agent today to help you decide if now is the right time to buy a home.

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By: Shannon Schwab


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The Federal first-time home buyer credit expired on April 30th but Century 21 has found a way to roll out more savings for our sellers. Introducing the Connect 2 the 1 Sweepstakes. In the sweepstakes, sellers who list their homes with Century 21 are entered in a drawing to win one of 21 grand prizes each worth $8,000 in cash.

Who couldn’t use an extra $8,000 especially when you are moving out of your old home. You could use the cash for anything from renovations or improvements on your new home, savings for college or take a summer vacation.

To be eligible, you must list your home for sale with Century 21 no later than June 30, 2010. See Century 21’s official rules for details or call (334) 793-6990 to speak to a Century 21 agent today!

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By: Charles Woodall
Associate Broker

http://www.dothanhomesearch.com

For only the second time since the summer of 2008, home sales in the Dothan real estate market topped the 100 mark for the month. Dothan MLS data shows that 104 homes sold during the month of March, which is nearly 21% over March 2009 numbers, and almost double the number sold just two months ago during January. 

Fig. 1 – Monthly number of homes sold in Dothan over the last 12 months

With the number of pending sales continuing to hold well above the 200 mark (223 as of today), it certainly looks as if April and May will continue the upward trend in home sales we are seeing around the Dothan area.

Got a specific question about the market? Email me at charles(at)dothanhomesearch(dot)com. I’ll be happy to answer it for you!

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By: Judy Spears
Broker Associate, CRS, ABR, GRI, CNHS

http://www.judyspears.com

The number of new home construction permits issued in the City of Dothan hit an 18–month high in March, more than tripling the number of starts from March, 2009. There were 26 new construction permits issued last month, which is the most since August of 2008. 

The number of new construction homes on the market fell slightly in March, but remained above the 200 mark for the second month in a row. According to data from the Dothan MLS (deemed reliable but not guaranteed), 14 new construction homes sold during March, at an average of $109.82 per square foot and an average market time of 209 days. The median selling price was just over $245,000.

If you have an interest in building or purchasing a new construction home, give me a call or use the contact form. As a Certified New Homes Specialist (CNHS), I have extensive training in the new home market and would be happy to consult with you on your real estate needs.

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