Come on in!!!!!

Welcome To The Arbors!!!!

"Our HPH home buying experience"

My husband and I began our search for a new home last November. We knew that we desired a neighborhood that offered classic style and unique elements. When we visited The Arbors for the first time we were greeted by Ellen, the sales consultant for the properties. We were treated with respect and we immediately felt like this was a place we could call home.
Since our purchase was made in June of 2009, we have really enjoyed the quiet, down home atmosphere, coupled with the large lots and sidewalks. We feel like we have the best of both worlds and we would recommend this area to anyone who desires privacy and convenience.

Victor, Kimberly, and Baby Michael

KINGSLEY SOLD

Lot 110 HAS SOLD!!! No more Kingsleys left! Come out and visit The Arbors!

 

SOLD

1 out of 3 contracts this week!

Leeds to get upscale outlet mall

This is a rendering of The Shops of Grand River, a planned $127 million outlet mall in Leeds.

Developers line up retailers for $127 million Leeds outlet mall

Daniel Corp. and two partners are ready to build a $127 million outlet mall in Leeds that's meant to rival upscale centers in vacation destinations, and they already have lined up nearly three dozen retailers for the center.

The team plans to open the mall in time for the holiday shopping season of 2010, moving ahead with the project at a time when other developers are retrenching. Its design and layout are similar to outlet centers in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and Destin, Fla.


"This is the type of large center you would usually see built in a resort location," Daniel President Chris Brown said. "We feel like we have a captive audience with the Barber Motorsports Park and the Bass Pro Shops, both of which draw people from miles away."

The mall, a centerpiece of the 6,500-acre Grand River development, will eventually have 500,000 square feet of shops and restaurants. The Shops of Grand River, as it will be called, will start with 330,000 square feet and expand as retailers are added to an initial line-up that includes Tommy Hilfiger, Banana Republic and others.

The outlet mall will be the equivalent size of 10 football fields when complete.

Daniel, USS Real Estate and the Retirement Systems of Alabama are working together on Grand River, after collaborating on Hoover's Ross Bridge development. Both the pension fund and USS Real Estate are investors, helping to clear the way for the project in a difficult time for financing.

RSA chief David Bronner admitted that the pension fund does not normally invest in retail. RSA also is providing financing, while USS Real Estate has put up land as collateral.

"I feel comfortable with the level of collateral and the two other players that are involved," he said.

'Fabulous opportunity'

Bronner said he believes the location next to the Barber Motorsports Park and Bass Pro Shops will generate traffic for the center. More than 73,000 vehicles pass daily by the interchange on Interstate 20 and other roadways.

"That location is probably the only reason we would do it," he said. "I just think it's a fabulous opportunity."

Daniel officials have previously given few specifics about the retail project, which was proposed in 2007. The developer is accelerating efforts after a consortium set up by St. Clair County, Leeds and Moody moved to issue bonds so developers can pay for work to get the site ready.

Daniel officials said the mall will create the equivalent of 650 full-time jobs and have a $170 million net economic impact on Leeds and surrounding areas in the first 25 years. Around $32 million is expected to be generated for Leeds City Schools, officials said.

"We see Grand River as a real opportunity to drive economic growth for the area, in much the same way that Ross Bridge has for Hoover or Mercedes and Honda have for the state of Alabama," said Daniel's Brown.

Daniel Chief Executive Charlie Tickle said the timing is right to move ahead with the project.

"The buying habits of America have changed," Tickle said. "Discount buying is on the rise, and we believe shoppers are going to look for better places to do their discount buying."


35 commitments

The Shops of Grand River already has commitments from 35 retailers including Gap, Banana Republic, Tommy Hilfiger, Brooks Brothers, Jones New York, Gymboree, Carters, OshKosh and VF Outlet, according to Doug Neil, one of the Daniel developers heading the project. Another 30 retailers are in negotiations to take spots, and 100 more are on Daniel's list of prospects. All are national chains.

When fully built, Neil said the center will have space for around 120 stores and restaurants, including four stand-alone sites away from the mall. At least one hotel operator has expressed an interest in a stand-alone site, he said.

"Our tenant mix will be consistent with other upscale, successful factory outlet centers," Neil said.

Neil said the design of the Shops of Grand River borrows elements from so-called "lifestyle centers" such as The Summit in Birmingham and the pedestrian-friendly nature of traditional malls. It will be built in a "racetrack style" meaning the parking will encircle the shops and shoppers will walk between clusters of stores and courtyards.

"Today's outlet centers are about providing the upscale look and feel the public has come to expect with the value component outlet malls are known for," he said.

Development of the rest of the Grand River project will flow from the outlet mall, Brown said.

"Grand River is going to be a huge project that takes many years to complete," he said. "This is the first step."

The development of new schools will help drive the development of thousands of homes planned for the Grand River project. Around 700 acres have been slated for commercial development, including more retail and offices.

Tom Howard, head of Southeast development for USS Real Estate, said the company has taken the unusual step of investing in the outlet mall because of its significance in the overall Grand River development.

"We're excited not only about it, but for what it means to the Grand River project," he said. "This is a major opportunity that will play out over a long period of time."

Hoar Construction is the general contractor on the retail center, which is being designed by CMH Architects Inc.

Posted by Michael Tomberlin -- Birmingham News August 09, 2009 6:20 AM

U.S. Home prices rise for first time in three years!!!

Home prices posted their first monthly gain in three years in May, a gauge of values in 20 major U.S. cities showed, reinforcing signs of stabilization in a market hammered by the worst slump since the 1930s. The S&P/Case-Shiller home-price index rose 0.5 percent from April, the first monthly gain since July 2006 and biggest since May of that year, the group said today in New York. The measure was down 17.1 percent from May 2008, less than forecast and the smallest year-over-year drop in nine months. Price declines may keep moderating as demand steadies and distressed properties account for a smaller share of transactions.

New home sales up 11% in June

Sales of newly constructed single-family homes spiked 11% in June to an annualized rate of 384,000 homes, according to a report released Monday. The gain over May was much greater than expected. A consensus of housing industry analysts had forecast seasonally adjusted sales of 352,000, according to Breifing.com.

In June, they began building single-family housing units at an annualized rate of 470,000, a 14.4% jump over May. By the end of the month, the inventory of new homes had dropped to 281,000, an 8.8-month supply at current rates of sale. Last month, there were enough homes on the market to last 10.2 months at that rate.

BUILDER BLITZ 2009- HPH teams up with Habitat for Humanity

The 2009 Builder Blitz for Habitat for Humaity was last week and HPH participated for the fourth year in a row. Ten homes were built in a week by ten different builders and presented to an owner who has qualified through the habitat program and contributed over 300 hours to Habitat and helping build "sweat equity" working on projects building other homes.

Our owner this year is LaTania Tate and her daughter Scarlet. The dedication was Friday afternoon where each owner is presented with a Hammer, a Bible and the keys to their new home. It is a moving ceremony and all the owners were very grateful. This organization provides a great resource to provide affordable housing to deserving owners who have to prove themselves and earn the priviledge of owning a home. This was a great event and one we should feel proud of our contriibution.

Come visit us at new model!!!

6 HOMES REMAINING!

Come check out our homes at The Arbors! Whether you want to build or buy NOW, come see why The Arbors has everyone buzzing about!

3% off price for building the home of your dreams!

Check out all of the great things going on at The Arbors! Take advantage of building the home of your dream

Street signs and lots of homes sold!

April and May have already been extremely busy months for The Arbors! We only have one Vintage II house, so don't forget to stop by and see it! Our model has officially moved across the street. I will be posting pictures of the new model and street signs. Only a couple more homes left in inventory! Swing by and come see our new beautiful STREET SIGNS!!!!!!!!!!

Homebuyers starting to return to the market

Thanks to record low mortgage rates and declining home prices, 55 million families-or half of all U.S. households-can afford today's $200,000 median-priced new home, according to figures released by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

Based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau comparing home prices, mortgage rates and minimum income needed to purchase a median-priced home in February 2007 and February 2009, a typical family today can purchase a house with $20,000 less in household income and save nearly $500 per month on their principal, interest, taxes and insurance. The number of households that can afford to purchase a home today is 55.4 million, compared with 38.4 million two years ago, according to figures compiled by NAHB.

Entering the crucial spring home buying season, there are other signs that buyers are starting to return to the market. Single-family permits were up 11 percent in February, new and existing home sales also posted gains and the huge inventory backlog is being slowly whittled down.

Birmingham Magazine- April 2009

By Mary Ellen Stancill

With all the national news of ups and downs in U.S. housing markets, we bet you’ve wondered: What’s really happening right here, in our own Birmingham area housing market these days? Whether you’re looking to buy, sell or just want to know what your home is worth, we have answers for you. Three area Realtors® give their expert insight into our markets and offer tips for buying and selling a home this spring.

Selling a home
In 2009, you probably won’t see buyers in bidding wars over your house and a $100,000 profit in two years’ time is just not in the cards, but “People are out there looking,” says LAH Realtor® Susan Billingsley. “Every market is different and the Birmingham market has really held its own.”

When thinking about selling your home, evaluate the price, condition and location of your home—in that order. “Price is the biggest consideration when putting your home on the market,” says LAH Realtor® Blair Moss, “and how you price it from the beginning is important.” With more houses on the market, your house should be priced to sell. “A lot of people want to price [their home] high, just to see what happens, and then it doesn’t sell and sits on the market, and everybody wonders what’s wrong with that property … You want to have the best-priced house on the street and the best value on the street,” Moss says.

To improve the condition of your home, good old fashioned elbow grease and spending a little money (in order to make more money) are in order. While the location of your house can’t change, Moss and Billingsley offer tips for getting your home in tip-top, selling condition. You might have to spend a little time and a few hundred dollars to get your house ready for buyers, but it could mean the difference in making $5,000 to $10,000 more on your home.

• Neutralize your house so other people can visualize their own furniture in the space.
• Paint tired rooms. This is the cheapest, easiest way to make a home look crisp and clean. Use neutral paint. You might like your home to look like a crayon box but most others do not.
• Get a pre-inspection to identify unforeseen issues and reduce the surprises. This allows you to have problems fixed before a potential buyer ever sets foot in the door.
• Service your HVAC unit and keep good records. Know the age of your heater, air conditioner and other appliances.
• Reduce clutter. Buy storage bins for toiletries or laundry room items. Clean out the refrigerator and even move large pieces of furniture to a storage unit to make rooms feel larger, if necessary.
• Make your bed everyday. You never know when a potential buyer will stop by.
• If you have pets, do your best to conceal that you have them. Clean their beds and litter boxes regularly.
• Conceal odors from pets or cooking. The house should smell fresh, not stale. Use scented candles or even place dryer sheets in closets or other hidden places throughout the house. Pour Pine Sol down the sinks and toilets for a cleaner smell.
• Clean gutters, cut grass, trim bushes and keep flower beds neat. Plant flowers in planters and window boxes. Remember, curb appeal and that first impression are of the utmost importance.
• Hire a professional cleaning service to deep clean your home or do it yourself. Remember, potential buyers will look inside drawers, closets and even appliances.
• Get a home warranty during the listing period. That way, if something breaks it’s covered and the warranty can be transferred to the purchaser.

Buying a home
Over the last couple of years, the Birmingham market has shifted from a seller’s market to a buyer’s market. “The interest rate is at an all-time low and the market seems to have leveled out,” says RealtySouth Realtor® Ann Kirkwood. “Furthermore, we may have available the best selection of great homes for sale that we have seen in this area at one time.” There has been a drop in average sales price ($198,367 in 2006, $194,858 in 2007 and $179,771 in 2008) and an increase in inventory with homes staying on the market for longer periods of time. All signs indicate that this is a great time to buy a home.

But before you set out, Kirkwood gives these tips to buyers:

• Meet with a lender and get a preapproval letter before you even begin to look. Many lenders have become more stringent with lending, so credit that would have worked a year ago may no longer be accepted.
• Get a copy of your credit report and make sure there is nothing unexpected or incorrect on the report.
• Find a good agent who can give wise counsel and provide all the data on the home you are considering.
• Do a market analysis on the neighborhood to find out the length of time a house has been on the market, the last price paid for the property, etc. These facts will contribute to the determination of a reasonable offer.
• With good credit scores and good debt to income ratios, you should be able to find around a 5 percent interest rate—an all-time low.
• Do not expect to buy a home for less than its market value. “We are not seeing appreciation of past years, but we are not seeing depreciation on most homes either,” Kirkwood says. “Though there is a lower rate of appreciation, most home values are about the same as they were last year or the year before.”

Moody, AL...FIND OUT MORE THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE!

Moody, Alabama (AL) - Sperling's BestPlaces

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First-time homebuyers want to buy!!!!!!!!!!

More than three-quarters (78 percent) of potential first-time homebuyers say that now is a good time to buy a home, despite widespread concern about the economy, according to a Century 21 First-time Homebuyer Survey. Out of the 1,000 prospective U.S. first-time homebuyers surveyed in early March, 68 percent think now is a better time to buy than six months ago.

Prices are the driving motivation for potential first-time homebuyers with more than eight of ten first-time home buyers (85 percent) saying they consider current home prices affordable and 73 percent citing that taking advantage of current prices is a major factor in their decision to buy.

SO MUCH CHANGING AT THE ARBORS...

We have moved our model across the street to lot 121A. I also want to welcome Tom Becker to The Arbors!!! He will be my new partner for The Arbors and Beaver Creek in Odenville! Please come visit our new model and office. We've been busy doing what we like best...SELLING HOMES!

Existing Home Sales Up 5.1% in February

Monday, March 23, 2009

Existing Home Sales Up 5.1% in February

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The number of existing homes sold in February unexpectedly rose last month, an industry trade organization said Monday.

According to the National Association of Realtors, the number of homes sold rose 5.1% to a seasonally-adjusted rate of 4.72 million units in February up from 4.49 million annualized units.

The jump in sales was much better than what economists had predicted, who were expecting existing home sales to fall to 4.45 million units. The data helped boost stocks broadly, pushing the Dow Jones Industrial Average up nearly 300 points.

As it has been for the past couple months, existing home sales were stronger in the West than the rest of the nation -- primarily in the struggling housing market of California. Existing home sales in the region were up 2.6% from a month ago to 1.2 million annualized units, and are up 30.4% from a year ago.

In the Northeast, sales rose 15.6% to an annualized rate of 740,000 units and are down 14.9% from a year ago. In the Midwest, sales were basically flat -- up 1% -- to 1.04 million units.

In the Southern market, existing home sales rose 6.1% to an annualized rate of 1.74 million units, according to the trade organization.

Albany

LOW MONTHLY PAYMENTS!!!

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE REAL DEAL APRIL 16-20!!!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE REAL DEAL- THE ARBORS WILL BE PARTICIPATING!!! AS WE GET MORE INFORMATION, WE WILL POST!

Birmingham-area home sales jump 28% in February

Birmingham-area homes sales rose 28 percent in February over the previous month, according the Birmingham Association of Realtors.

Compiled with data from the Birmingham Area Multiple Listing Service, the area saw 725 homes sold last month, up 28 percent from January.

Inventory of homes for sale is still headed in the right direction. Inventory totaled 10,475 in February, compared to 11,919 a year ago.

For the month, the southern portion of the city had the most sales, with a total of 310 sold. That was followed by the eastern portion with 215, the western portion with 147 and the northern portion with 53.

Albany- Ask agent how to get 3.75% for first year!

Don't forget to "Spring Forward"

. Life is luck, make it. Mother Teresa (1910–1997), Macedonian missionary, Nobel Peace Prize winner Salestime reminder... Daylight Saving Time begins (in the U.S.) this Sunday, March 8 at 2 am and ends November 1 at 2 am. Be sure to confirm times for all meetings early next week. (any prospects or customers who might appreciate a reminder?) Sales rapport builder... It was Benjamin Franklin who originated the idea of DST in 1784 while in Paris. It's purpose was to get more value from daylight and conserve energy

HPH Homes on YouTube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziDOcM9zvb8

Check this link out!

Remember...ONLY 5 MORE DAYS OF GUARANTEED 4.5%

Is it worth the chance....6 DAYS LEFT!!!

Don't gamble on this chance to get a rate of 4.5% 30 year fixed!!!!

The Price is Right- 7 days left for 4.5%

"come on down" because The Arbors is where the PRICE IS RIGHT!

Only 7 more days for guaranteed 4.5% FHA 30 year fixed!!!! Don't miss out on this great opportunity to get a 4.5% loan through Elite Home Mortgage! We'll still pay $2,000 in closing costs!!! Contracts have to be written NOT closed by 2/28/09!!! Only non-contingent buyers! So if you or ANYONE you know that needs to buy a house, As we've seen Bob Barker' show always says:

"come on down" because The Arbors is where the PRICE IS RIGHT!



*ask agent for more details!
(205) 640-5202

Payments starting in the $950/ a month!!!! Remember, if your also a first time home buyer, you can also receive a $8,000 tax credit!!!!!!

Homes range from $159,900-$218,900

Meet your Neighbor- Bobby Breed

This posting came from the Leeds News:

Bobby Breed took office Monday, Feb. 9. as the new police chief of Moody. He said that he became interested in having a career as a police officer when he was just 16 years old, but he said that after taking courses in law enforcement as a college student at Jeff State, he made the decision to go to the police academy.

In those classes, Breed said that police work was described as something new and exciting from day to day and he realized that a job as a police officer would present him with many opportunities to help people, which is what he truly wanted to do. “I always wanted to make a difference, even if it was just with one person,” he said.

As he began his career as a police officer, he continued to go to school, earning his bachelor’s degree in English and criminal justice from UAB. After serving for 21 years as a police officer for Birmingham, Breed decided to retire, and he took on a job in banking and management at AmSouth bank. He later decided to go back to school to become more knowledgeable about his job in banking, and he received his master’s degree from Baker College in business.

After nine years, Breed decided to return to his familiar roots of being a police officer and for seven years he worked at Samford University, where he served as the police chief before accepting the position in Moody.

Breed said that he has continued in this field because he and his fellow police officers have been able to make a difference. “We were able to help those less fortunate and those really in need of help and that’s what I liked about that,” he said. Breed added that a memorable experience for him happened when he was leaving Samford University and a student let him know that something he did had made a difference in her life. “That really took me full circle. That was what my goal was all of those years as a police officer.”

Breed and his wife Rosaland have been living in Moody for seven years, and he said that he has no plans of ever living anywhere else. “It reminds me of when I was growing up as a young teenager in the western part of Birmingham. I have not been in a restaurant yet where people did not know each other,” he said, adding that he likes that atmosphere. “It’s a good place to live, it’s a good place to work and it’s a good place to raise your children,” he said.

Breed and his wife have been together since 1967 and they have one daughter, Amy. He added that his son-in-law, Jason, is also a police officer. He has three grandchildren, which he said that he adores. “They are, without a doubt, the love of our lives and we spend as much time as we can with them.”

Some of Breed’s hobbies include going to the mountains, trout fishing and cross stitching with his wife. He also enjoys playing the drums, which he has been doing for most of his life, and he plays on Sundays at Church of the Highlands, where he has attended church for three years.

As police chief of Moody, Breed said, “One of my goals is to open up lines of communication in this department and be sure that every officer and supervisor knows that their opinions, their suggestions and their thoughts matter and that they are going to be heard...We’ve all got to work together.”

Moody is cleaning up!!!

Moody, Alabama plans trailer park cleanup for future development ordinance

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

VICTORIA L. COMAN

News staff writer

The city of Moody plans to clean up the remnants of a longtime trailer park that the city owns to prepare it for development of a proposed shopping center.

The City Council has voted to spend up to $6,000 on the work.

Moody Mayor Joe Lee said the city should have debris such as mattresses and couches cleared from the estimated 26-acre site near Interstate 20 by this spring. He also called for the Moody Fire Department to use trailers on the property for fire and rescue practices.

Dave Treadwell, Moody's project coordinator, said the city has received three bids to clean up the site. No company will be awarded the contract until such issues as insurance verification have been worked out, he said.

"We want to get (the land) ready so that when summer comes and the grass starts to grow, we can mow it to keep it looking neat," Treadwell said. He hopes to have the work started in the next week.

The city bought the land, known as The Village at Moody trailer park and the Woodland Village Trailer Park, about three years ago for $2.6 million in hopes of bringing in commercial development on the visible location.

http://www.al.com/birminghamnews/stories/index.ssf?/base/community/1234948560299450.xml&coll=2

The New Stimulus Package Signed Into Law

Get the Breakdown on How This Affects Home Buyers

New $8,000 tax credit could prove useful to many new home sales and marketing professionals.

President Obama signs the $787 billion economic stimulus package into law on Feb. 17. (White House photo by Pete Souza.)

The $787 billion economic stimulus package signed into law on Feb. 17 by President Barack Obama contains elements that will bolster housing and the economy, according to NAHB.

“While we believe that including a more enhanced home buyer tax credit in the final legislation would have been the best way to spur housing demand and move the economy forward, the new law does include several provisions that should help to put housing and the economy on the right track,” said NAHB Chairman Joe Robson.

Breaking Down The New $8,000 Tax Credit

Chief among these is an $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit for qualified home purchases in 2009. To encourage prospective home buyers to get off the fence, the tax credit:

• Does not have to be repaid
  
  
• Is fully refundable
  
  
• Will remain in effect until Dec. 1, 2009 so that consumers can utilize it during the critical summer and fall home-buying months
  
  
• Allows tax credit home buyers to participate in the mortgage revenue bond program
  
  
• Permits state housing finance agencies to help buyers at closing by advancing the credit amount as a loan using tax-exempt bond proceeds

More information on the first-time home buyer tax credit can be found at www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com. To find out more about how this site can be a great resource for new home sales and marketing professionals, read this eNews article.

More Useful Information about the Package

Other important components in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will help small businesses and bolster the housing market. The legislation will:

• Help home borrowers by restoring the higher 2008 FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loan limits through the end of this year (the limit will return to $729,750 from the current $625,500 in the highest cost markets, and will also rise in many other areas because the 2008 maximums were based on a more generous formula and, for most areas, higher median prices)
  
  
• Temporarily allow exchange of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit allocating authority for tax-exempt grants and it appropriates $2 billion in HOME funding for affordable housing projects
  
  
• Provide up to a 10-year deferral of tax due to business debt restructuring
  
  
• Expand the net operating loss carry-back period from two years to five years for small businesses (businesses with average gross receipts of no more than $15 million over the prior three years) for losses arising in tax year 2008
  
  
• Extend the 25C existing home remodeler credit through the end of 2010, increase the credit rate from 10% to 30%, raise the lifetime cap from $500 to $1,500 and expand the set of qualifying property
  
  
• Provide an Alternative Minimum Tax patch for tax year 2009
  
  
• Increase bonus depreciation and Section 179 small business expensing for business investment in 2009

To view a one-page summary of the key housing provisions in the legislation, click here.

The housing sector still faces significant challenges, said Robson, including a severe credit crunch, particularly for acquisition, development and construction lending; skyrocketing foreclosures; and stimulating demand for home buying to stabilize housing markets.

“We look forward to working with Congress and the Administration to build upon the provisions of the new economic stimulus law to address these pressing needs and, ultimately, lead the nation’s economic recovery,” said Robson.

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