You do not have to spend a lot of money have professionals remodel and decorate your home to attract buyers.  Consider these relatively inexpensive ways to add value to your Mobile AL home now:

• Have your home inspected.  Things like deteriorating roofs, pest problems, or outdated electrical systems will not be immediately visible, but will negatively impact your home’s value when you try to sell it.  Fix anything that needs repair now, however small, to prevent making larger repairs down the road.
• Schedule an interior designer to help you assess what improvements should be made.  Ask about ideas for paint colors and furniture placement.  Many interior designers offer an hourly fee that is less than $100, so shop around before hiring.  This one hour consultation should give you enough information to make the changes on your own.
• A fresh coat of paint will do wonders and is one of the most cost-effective improvements you can make.  Choose colors that will have appeal to most people to increase your home’s value.
• Refer to magazines, books, tv shows, websites, or your realtor for remodeling and decorating tips.  Do-it-yourself projects are cost-effective as long as you have a clear idea of what needs to be done and have done your homework on the topic.  While it’s better to leave larger projects to the professionals, simple improvements can be made if you have the information to do it right.
• Improve energy efficiency.  Not only will making these changes save you money now, but it will make your home more marketable when it’s time to sell.

For more tips on improving your home’s value visit hgtv.com.

And for more information on buying or selling real estate in Mobile AL, contact Barbara Reeves today.

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With the launch of a new real estate website, Alabama realtors are urging potential homebuyers to make the move to buy this year.  The Mobile Area Association of Realtors has provided homebuyers a new tool via the ThingsAreReallyMovingHere.com website this week.  This site is meant to educate about the “good values and low interest rates” in the current Alabama real estate market.  Mayor Sam Jones reported that the housing market in Mobile AL is doing better than other cities of similar size in the Southeast region, with sales moving up.  With this positive outlook and great tools to help the homebuyer decide, now is the time to buy Mobile AL real estate.

For more information on real estate in Mobile or West Mobile AL contact your local realtor Barbara Reeves today.

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The planned ecological park in Foley AL is on its way to completion.  Although this Gulf Coast AL Graham Creek Preserve may be a few years from being the park that was envisioned in the multi-million dollar land purchase, a canoe launch has been finished.  The canoe launch is on the 483-acre tract and is tentatively scheduled to be opened by October; this launch is decked in benches on both sides of the landing area and the part that enters the water is a type of plastic material, according to a recent report from Baldwin County Now online.   The city had anticipated the opening of this canoe launch to be by January 2010, but if a road and a parking lot are completed it can open up as soon as October of this year.  Other developments for the Graham Creek Nature Preserve include roads, a pavilion, and hiking trails.

For more information on real estate in Baldwin and Mobile Counties, including Mobile, West Mobile, Daphne, Spanish Fort, and Fairhope AL contact your local agent Barbara Reeves today.

A new advertising and public relations idea in Mobile AL is designed to encourage guests of Carnival Cruise Lines to visit area attractions as well as enjoy their time cruising the Gulf seas.  This new ‘arrive early’ campaign which advises Carnival Cruise passengers to ‘vacation before your vacation,’ was announced this week by Mobile officials.  The current cruise ship, the Holiday, will soon be replaced by the larger Fantasy cruise ship and Mayor Sam Jones, the Mobile Bay Convention, and the Visitors Bureau are enthusiastic about promoting more tourism via the Cruise lines.  Though Carnival Cruise tourists generally only vacation on the cruise ship, Mobile and the Gulf Coast of AL has more to offer in beautiful beaches, shopping, and other entertainment choices.

For more information on real estate in Mobile and West Mobile AL or other Gulf Coast properties, contact your local realtor Barbara Reeves today.

According to a recent report on the Baldwin County real estate market, existing home sales in Alabama’s gulf coast have been increasing during the first half of this year.  During the first six months of 2008 the sales of existing homes totaled 1,452, while this year it increased to 1,479 over the same time period.  Another positive indicator of Gulf Coast Home sales is the monthly report on Baldwin County Multiple listing service which revealed that coastal area dollar sales in June increased to $83.4 million from May’s $78.6 million—a 6 percent rise.

For more information on Gulf Coast Homes, including Mobile, West Mobile, Fairhope, Spanish Fort, and Daphne AL contact your local agent Barbara Reeves today.

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According to a recent survey conducted by the University of Alabama, business leaders are expressing more confidence in the state’s economy.   The survey was based on about 250 business leaders’ responses that represented a variety of businesses statewide.  Results offered an optimistic look as the Alabama business leader’s confidence index went from 32 from the second quarter to 46.  Mobile County business leaders gave a similar rating with a business confidence index of 45.8.

With the economy continuing to do well in Alabama now is a great time to find your new home in the beautiful Gulf Coast.  For more information on real estate in Mobile, West Mobile, Fairhope, Spanish Fort, and Daphne AL contact your local realtor Barbara Reeves today.

This August construction is expected to start on a new hotel in downtown Mobile AL.  The project is estimated to cost $9 million and will include 81 rooms.  Though it is being developed by the same people that brought the newly opened Hampton Inn and Suites to Royal Street downtown, this project is more ambitious; this new four-story Candlewood Suites hotel seeks to accommodate those guests that wish to have an extended-stay in the area, especially business traveler.  Featured highlights of the hotel include a pool, courtyard and fire pit, and a kitchen in each room.

The presence of more hotels in the downtown Mobile AL area will allow more business into the area as larger conventions and other events will have their visitors accommodated in the nearby vicinity.

Whether you want to vacation or live year round in the beautiful Gulf Coast area of Alabama, contact your local realtor Barbara Reeves for more information on homes and condos available in your favorite areas.

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This week, Forbes Magazine cited Mobile AL in the top 10 cities for recession recovery.  While many cities will be feeling the effects of the recession for a number of years, Mobile Alabama is bouncing back, with economists predicting growth this year.  The Forbes study’s rankings offer data concerning projected gross domestic product of metropolitan areas across the nation, unemployment figures, home prices, incomes and affordability.

Read more about the findings of this Forbes study at forbes.com.

Now is a great time to look into Mobile AL living and real estate.  For more information about Mobile or West Mobile AL real estate as well as Fairhope, Daphne, and Spanish Fort, AL contact your local realtor Barbara Reeves today.

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Automated beach parking may be coming to the Gulf Shores of AL as early as late June this year.  Starting under a trial basis, the city’s main public beach will be using a pay-to-park system that will eliminate the need for parking attendants.  The automated system will allow visitors at Gulf Place to pay the $5 parking fee to a machine, without an attendant needed; this move is estimated to save the city hundreds of thousands of dollars over the next five years.  In addition to saving the city money, it will help to alleviate the traffic jam situations at the lot’s entrance when the beach is in its peak tourist season.  Community officials estimate that they will need 6 machines to cover the area, costing about $10,000 per machine and an additional $1,250 to post signs explaining to visitors how to use them.

For information on available real estate on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, including Mobile, West Mobile, Fairhope, Daphne, and Spanish Fort AL, contact your local realtor Barbara Reeves today.

The Atlanta-based Ryla Inc. has selected a site for their new regional headquarters in Saraland, according to a recent article at wkrg.com.  Ryla Inc. is a corporate data center and regional call center and this move will add more than 1,200 new jobs to the area.  The company expects to hire about 400 employees by early summer.  A growing business, Ryla Inc. had outgrown their Georgia location and is happy to bring in over a thousand jobs to the Mobile AL area.

For more information on buying or selling real estate in the Mobile or West Mobile AL area contact local agent Barbara Reeves today.