The 2014 Summer has lived up to expectations so far and the beach has been busier than ever, literally.  It was projected last year that previous attendance and occupancy records would again fall to the heavy traffic of vacationing families from all over this part of the United States.  Figures for the Spring quarter are indicative of this projection being again accurate, just as they were from last year, and the year before, and the year before that.  The beach is again proving to be a favorite destination as a drive-to vacation spot for families everywhere.

Events and holidays this year have been driving guests to the white-sandy beaches and emerald green waters of the beautiful Gulf of Mexico.  The first large-scale convergence to the Alabama Gulf

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Selling in the Fall or Winter.

Fall and its typically cooler temperatures and lower humidity brings a new season of house hunting to South Alabama.  Everywhere from Spanish Fort to Orange Beach will notice a pick up in appointments during this time of year.  Everything starts with the all-important first look;  curb appeal may be the most important factor in selling anything from a house to condominium.

Seller's should understand that the first time a prospective buyer walks through the door, it's really the second showing.  The reason I say this is simple.  Most all buyers in today's market begin their search for property using their computer.  If they're serious about the real estate their viewing, they've already seen it;  possibly many times. 

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According to CoreLogic, home prices rose 3.3% statewide compared to 2012.  This trend continued across the state with a few exceptions during the month of September.  Prices fell in mobile along with four other metro areas that include Tuscaloosa, Huntsville, Aurburn-Opelika and Dothan.  
Distressed sales and foreclosures are dragging prices down in these areas, with the exception of Aurburn.  In Mobile, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa and Dothan home prices would have increased if these short sales and foreclosures would have been excluded from the analysis.  
The Auburn-Opelika market was the only market that prices would have still fallen even without the effect of the distressed property sales.  This perplexing state is a question mark as to the reason.  In…

The Mobile based automation company whose most lucrative products are sold by most of the larger cable providers in the country including, but not limited to Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Rogers.  Catalysts for the recent growth over the past two years are the result of the demand for its devices, which control everything from lighting to thermostats.  
Once thought of as a product for the ultra wealthy, from high tech gadgets on the walls of higher end homes.  Today automation technology’s growth has become apparent in all homes.  Major companies like Bright house and Comcast provide services that are integrated with CentraLite devices.  
The company was recently named by Inc. magazine, as one of the top job producers in the state of Alabama.  The number…

According to CoreLogic, home prices rose 3.3% statewide compared to 2012. This trend continued across the state with a few exceptions during the month of September. Prices fell in Mobile along with four other metro areas that include Tuscaloosa, Huntsville, Aurburn-Opelika and Dothan.

Distressed sales and foreclosures are dragging prices down in these areas, with the exception of Aurburn. In Mobile, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa and Dothan home prices would have increased if these short sales and foreclosures would have been excluded from the analysis.

According to Grayson Glaze, the executive director of the Alabama Center for Real Estate, he is optimistic regarding the home prices. He states “overall fundamentals in that market remain resilient,” with the

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The family firm of Walcot Adams Verneuille was chosen as the group to redesign the community park, Clay Adams didn't take it lightly.  Adam's was part of the wellspring community action and fundraising established almost twenty years ago.  The park sprawls over 2 acres and is located on Church st. in downtown Fairhope, AL.

Over the past several years, the coastal air has not been kind to the equipment and the three playground area's need to be replaced with modern equipment.  The patrons who attend the park generally come in from either Daphne or Thomas Hospital because the Fairhope equipment hands out splinters than no one wants.

To pay for the renovation, Fairhope has been granted access to leftover funds in the amount of $429,000 from the BP oil

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In 2009, Austal USA, located on Mobile's waterfront, set a goal to create 4,000 jobs for its U.S. base of operations.  The goal is on pace for realization by the end of 2013 according to representatives from the Australian ship builder.  When met, this will make Austal the largest private sector employer in Mobile County. "Our game plan is to level our to support both of our programs going forward," said president Craig Perciavalle, discussing the two different classes of ships currently being assembled at the sprawling facility on the waters of Mobile Bay. The employment figures are approximately five times higher than the 800 of the initial year in 2009.  Austal made a commitment to double its workforce in a two year window to facilitate the…

The Highlands of Spanish Fort is a large development project spanning over 11,000 acres between Spanish Fort and Bay Minette, AL.  The land is separated in to 54 tracts and being development in conjunction with the city of Spanish Fort.  The tracts are comprised of residential, commercial, multi family, a village center, school sites, institutional sites, parks and municipal services.  The city council members approved an amended conceptual master plan and standards for design back in August at the most recent public hearing.

"We've definitely seen an increase in queries from regional to national developers and local home builders within the last six months," said Bill Schroeder, developing partner of Rock Creek Capital, which owns the land.  The Rock

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After three straight years of increases in the numbers of visitors and the economical benefits associated, Baldwin County is obviously gaining in popularity.  More people are visiting and spending more while they're here.

Over five million people visited the Alabama Gulf Coast in 2012 and spent $2.9 billion while visiting Baldwin County.  That's an increase of over 4 million visitors and over $100 million since 2011;  this year (2013) is slated to break these number and establish new record marks.

It's estimated the coastal cities of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, AL will generate an estimated $343 million in rentals this year, an increase  from $323 million in 2012 and $280 million in 2011.  These numbers were based from the Gulf Shores and Orange

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Spanish Fort, AL Siren System

Spanish Fort, AL will be the first city in Baldwin County to install a siren system to act as an early warning alert system with the tornado portion beginning very soon.  "We'll probably go to bid on the tornado sirens in the next two months," said the mayor.  It is amazing to me that we'll be the first city in Baldwin County to have it."  The mayor explained the positioning of the sirens as being distributed from Mobile, East in to Spanish Fort in five locations.

"They go from one end of the city to the other," McMilan said.  "We're working with our grant-writing team and with Bruce Renkert to decide on a plan."  Renkert works as the building and zoning official in Spanish Fort.  Another important detail was the mayor

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