Real Estate Mortgage Rates for Lenders in the Huntsville Metro Area

Here are the latest Real Estate Mortgage numbers for the Huntsville Metro Area.  Still not to bad so that clients will still get a good deal from mortgage lenders.

INSTITUTION	Conv. 30-year fixed Rate/points	Conv. 15-year fixed Rate/points	5-Year ARM Rate/points	Yearly cap Lifetime cap	FHA Rate/pnts 30yr	VA Rate/pnts 30yr	Last Update
REDSTONE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION	3.375/0	2.75/0	2.250/0	2/5	NA/NA	NA/NA	27-Dec-2012 9:15:58 AM
First Bank Mortgage Partners	3.25/0	2.5/0	2.375/0	2/5	2.875/0	2.875/0	27-Dec-2012 8:24:31 AM
First Commercial/Synovus	3.250/0	2.625/0	2.375/0	2/5	2.875/0	3.000/0	26-Dec-2012 2:50:25 PM
South Bank	3.000/0	2.375/0	2.375/0	2/5	2.75/0	2.75/0	26-Dec-2012 1:37:37 PM
Progress Bank	3.125/0	2.5/0	2.375/0	2/5	3.125/0	3.125/0	26-Dec-2012 9:44:32 AM
WELLS FARGO HOME MORTGAGE	3.125/0	2.25/0	1.625/0	2/5	2.875/0	2.875/0	24-Dec-2012 3:14:18 PM

Today's Tidbit:  What are you doing for New Years?  About.com is showing what the area offers for New Year's Eve.  More events can be found here at Our Valley Events.  Whatever you do, just make sure you do it safely and be careful out there, but have a great New Years!

Huntsville Metro Area Homes

2012 Christmas Holiday Travel & Thoughts

Today's post will just be a short one.  Thursday and Friday will be the busiest time for people as they leave on their journey towards their Christmas destination to loved ones and holiday destinations.

There are thoughts to be left with as people come in and out of the Huntsville Metro Area:

Be patient this holiday season, everyone's just trying to get to their destination.  We will have enough delays with highway and airline  travel, we don't need to be impatient with each other.

Remember that there are many people who are worse off than we are.  Either through sickness, personal tragedy, or unemployment.  We must be grateful with our families for what we have and pray for those who need help around us.

Lastly, we must be careful with our own health.  This may be the season for having fun, but we cannot over exert ourselves.

This is a time of stress and a time for fun for many.  Let's just try to make it a little less stressful and a lot more fun.

Today's Tidbit: A quote from one of the world's greatest writers: 

"How poor are they that have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees?" 
William Shakespeare 

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And Now a Message from the Federal Reserve

The Federal Reserve decided to make an appearance today to announce something that they haven't before.  The group put an actual number on when interest rates will begin to rise.  That number which triggers everything is the Unemployment Rate at 6.5%.

Now to get the Unemployment Rate at 6.5% there are two things that need to happen: 1) The current path we're on showing a decline in the unemployment rate is being caused by many people abandoning the workforce.  Meaning less people being counted in that rate.  So just a few more additional millions without jobs will push that number to the target of 6.5.  Or 2) The economic engine starts and actually begins to run and sector growth improves to begin hiring of several hundreds of thousands of people.  This is the least likely option right now due to a) stalemate in Washington D.C., b) economic worries in the private sector about over-regulation from previous government bodies, c) lack of reserve funds by small business to hire, and d) lack of consumer faith in wanting to separate themselves from their money leading to lack of revenue stream to companies.

Officials have said they don't expect to see the Unemployment Rate hit 6.5% until after 2015, so until then interest rates will be low across the board.

Today's Tidbit:

With cities undergoing innovation and rebuilding over the old, we must keep in mind the historical districts which make up a piece of the heart of a city.  Often times the new owners pays tens of thousands just to keep them up to code with the city historical commission.  Remember, pieces of a city's past shouldn't be forgotten.  There's much history hidden within each house and neighborhood.

Huntsville Metro Area Homes

Weather Influence and Past Impact on Huntsville Metro Real Estate

The Huntsville Alabama Real Estate Market is like a magnet for major weather events.  From tornado outbreaks through floods and to the winter variety, Huntsville has managed to deal with more than its fair share of problems that weather has thrown its way.

When Tornado Outbreaks happen around the Huntsville Metro Area they are usually confined to several spots that get hit time and time again.  In the past few decades ( 1974, 1989, 1995, 2010, and 2011 ), these tornadoes have managed to touch down and do a varying extent of damage.  Places like Anderson Hills subdivision in Harvest, along the Tennessee River between Decatur and Huntsville, and Airport Road have seen considerable damage when tornadoes ripped through their areas.  Many homeowners insurance will cover damage from tornadoes.  However when ALFA tried backing out of paying their clients due to the mass enormity of the break out in April 2011 which hit many different states and cities, the media raked the company over the coals in what left ALFA in a horrible PR situation.


Every now and again flooding becomes a major issue in the Huntsville area.  Areas affected are usually Aldridge Creek, Downtown Huntsville by the Von Braun Center on Monroe Street, and the low lying areas in deep South Huntsville near Redstone Arsenal.  To help people to know if they need flood insurance or want to find out about the area's flood capabilities there are Flood Studies released by the City of Huntsville. The City of Huntsville has also put out an interactive map which overlays flood prone areas for 100 year flood zones, 500 year flood zones, etc.


Blizzards, Ice Storms and your basic snowfall are actually more common than flooding.  There have been many times in the past decades where the conditions became just right for a breakout of the cold flurries to come and build up.  The years of 1963, 1993, 1996, 2010, and 2011 immediately spring to mind.  These years several inches of snow fell causing the city to be shut down for a minimum of a few days.  This can be done due to the lack of snow clearing equipment in this southern city as well as the drivers high lack of experience in driving in hazardous conditions.

Today's Tidbit:

When severe weather is in the area, don't shrug it off.  The least you can do is be aware of the situation.  It could help you in the long run if an emergency breaks out.

Huntsville Metro Area Homes

Relocating to Huntsville Alabama and how to navigate the real estate market

Relocation is never an easy process.  There is so much to think about and so much to do.  There's finding a new home, selling the current home, packing up the family, moving the family, unpacking, finding schools & universities, finding entertainment areas, other recreation & fitness areas, grocery stores, etc...

These can be a real stressful headache if not planned out in advance or taken a step at a time.

Relocating to the Huntsville Metro Area has some benefits.  The people are friendly and willing to help newcomers, good schools and universities are plentiful, many shopping districts large and small, and a wide variety of recreation space in terms of parks, sports, and other entertainment recreation.  Almost every person can find their individual niche within the community.

In-depth information can be found with the wonderful services of the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce who always do a great job of putting together booklets such as 2012 Guide to Huntsville/Madison County:  A Smart Place to Live, to Work and to Play.

Today's Tidbit:
Relocating to the Huntsville Metro Area is common, as seen in the multiple Base Re-Alignment and Closure movements which had people moving from both St. Louis and Washington D.C. Metro Areas in the past two BRAC movements.  It is also seen in the corporate moves of major tech and aerospace companies like Boeing, Raytheon, and Northrop Grummon. 

Huntsville Metro Area Homes

The Carol Jacobs Real Estate Team takes a Night Out in Huntsville

On Friday and Saturday nights the The Carol Jacobs Team went out to support local university The University of Alabama in Huntsville as it took on Team USA Under-18 Team in ice hockey at the Von Braun Center Arena.  Team USA is comprised of the most talented ice hockey athletes headed to the top universities.  UAH lost on Friday 6-2 and tied Saturday 1-1.  Next week UAH takes on Finlandia University.

After Saturday's game, the team took a walk through the Tinsel Trail over across the way at Big Spring Park.  Decorated trees filled with lights and pictures, as well as other ornaments sponsored by businesses, corporations and families.  If you get the opportunity take the small walk.  Its behind the Art Museum and small ice skating rink.  Included sponsors of trees included our very own Keller Williams, UAH Alumni Association, UA Alumni Association Chapter Madison County, Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce, The Greater Huntsville Humane Society, Downtown 47, and more.

Photo Courtesy of Sarah Cole/al.com

Today's Tidbit:
Take the opportunity to go out and interact with others.  Not only does this provide a good feeling of meeting others and networking, but it also allows you to see events and places you wouldn't normally go.

Huntsville Metro Area Homes