A possible new convention could be headed to Huntsville if the stars align. This time around the convention will be the 2013 Social Media Tourism Symposium. The event planners currently have a facebook competition to determine where the event will be held. Huntsville currently had the lead in the preliminary voting, but now they have pit city against city in a tournament style. Huntsville will be put up against flatland's own Indianapolis. Didn't even know they had a major tech center there?
Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau President and CEO Judy Ryals says an estimated $180,000 could come into the local economy. While this is not a big number, it does provide more exposure and evidence for Huntsville to be one of the leading tech centers in the nation.
To Vote for Huntsville in the Social Media Tourism Symposium Event on Facebook!!
The economy of Madison County is continuing to expand as 6 new companies opened: Alphaport Inc,
Genocent, IDAir, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Transomic Technologies, and Usfalcon. Combining these with the expanding counties the total employment growth of new and expanding companies are 1,346 jobs and $236,077,749 worth of investment.
The REPORT for all counties in Alabama including new and expanding companies.
Today's Tidbit: Growth occurs when employees create new companies because they can believe they can do better. It occurs when conventions come into the city and visitors realize what a great place they're coming to. It happens when word of mouth spreads from visitors and our own local populace when they visit other places in the nation. Growth in the Huntsville Alabama Metro Area doesn't just happen. It happens because we have great quality of life, people willing to take a chance and start new businesses, and local people who have a vision to create, imagine, and build.
Huntsville Metro Area Homes
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
A Few Events for Spring 2013 in Huntsville, Alabama
With the city waking up from the Winter doldrums, there are many events on tap for the Spring. Our team usually hits the field with so many events to visit. Some below are charged admission and some are free. If you do not see something you know of that is happening during Spring be sure to add it to the comments section below for others to see!
Huntsville Museum of Art: Rock and Roll Photography
3/01/2013 - 03/31/2013
Phone for information: (256) 535-4350
The Heart of Dixie Orchid Society's annual show & sale
Wednesday, March 20 and Thursday, March 21 from 9 AM - 5 PM in the Huntsville Botanical Garden's Boeing Education Room.
More information at 256-230-5932
Easter Egg Hunt at Fleet Feet Sports:
Thursday, March 21, 2013, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM. Fleet Feet 2722 Carl T Jones Dr SE Huntsville, AL 35802
American Freedom Festival Concert
At VBC Arena
March 22, 7.30PM
Phone: (256) 533-1953
Local Artist Market:
Local Artists will be selling their creations to the public.
Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment.
Saturday, March 23, 2013, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
US Space & Rocket Center Easter Egg & Meteorite Hunt:
Registration is required by March 19. Check in at Shuttle Park (the gate near the Space Shuttle; not the Davidson Center)
AGE GROUPS:
2-3 years old/ CHECK IN AT 10 a.m.
4-6 years old/ CHECK IN AT 10:30 a.m.
7-8 years old/ CHECK IN AT 11 a.m.
ADMISSION: Admission to Egg and Meteorite Hunt is $5 per child.
Saturday, March 23, 2013, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
US Space & Rocket Center Easter Egg & Meteorite Hunt Page
An Evening w/ Garrison Keeler
At Von Braun Center Mark C. Smith Concert Hall.
Sunday, March 24, 2013, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Broadway Theater League
Huntsville Botanical Gardens - Spring Festival of Flowers
Sunday March 31, 2013 - Tuesday April 30, 2013
Spring Plant Sale:
Members sale: April 18, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.;
Public Sale: April 19 & 20, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; April 21. 12-5 p.m.
FREE Walking Tour of Historic Huntsville
4/06/2013, 10:00 AM
Address: Depart from Alabama Constitution Village on Gates Street Huntsville, AL 35801
Phone: (256) 533-5723
Panoply Arts Festival
4/26/2013 - 04/28/2013
Fri. 5-9 PM, Sat. 10 AM-9 PM & Sun. Noon-8
Address: Big Spring Park, Downtown Huntsville, AL 35801
Phone: (256) 519-2787
Today's Tidbit: If you don't see any event that interests you here, you can go online, talk to friends and family or just walk around the neighborhood to find new activities or events, somewhere along the line something will peak your interest and remember to enjoy the new season!
Huntsville Metro Area Homes
Huntsville Museum of Art: Rock and Roll Photography
3/01/2013 - 03/31/2013
Phone for information: (256) 535-4350
The Heart of Dixie Orchid Society's annual show & sale
Wednesday, March 20 and Thursday, March 21 from 9 AM - 5 PM in the Huntsville Botanical Garden's Boeing Education Room.
More information at 256-230-5932
Easter Egg Hunt at Fleet Feet Sports:
Thursday, March 21, 2013, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM. Fleet Feet 2722 Carl T Jones Dr SE Huntsville, AL 35802
American Freedom Festival Concert
At VBC Arena
March 22, 7.30PM
Phone: (256) 533-1953
Local Artist Market:
Local Artists will be selling their creations to the public.
Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment.
Saturday, March 23, 2013, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
US Space & Rocket Center Easter Egg & Meteorite Hunt:
Registration is required by March 19. Check in at Shuttle Park (the gate near the Space Shuttle; not the Davidson Center)
AGE GROUPS:
2-3 years old/ CHECK IN AT 10 a.m.
4-6 years old/ CHECK IN AT 10:30 a.m.
7-8 years old/ CHECK IN AT 11 a.m.
ADMISSION: Admission to Egg and Meteorite Hunt is $5 per child.
Saturday, March 23, 2013, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
US Space & Rocket Center Easter Egg & Meteorite Hunt Page
An Evening w/ Garrison Keeler
At Von Braun Center Mark C. Smith Concert Hall.
Sunday, March 24, 2013, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Broadway Theater League
Huntsville Botanical Gardens - Spring Festival of Flowers
Sunday March 31, 2013 - Tuesday April 30, 2013
Spring Plant Sale:
Members sale: April 18, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.;
Public Sale: April 19 & 20, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; April 21. 12-5 p.m.
FREE Walking Tour of Historic Huntsville
4/06/2013, 10:00 AM
Address: Depart from Alabama Constitution Village on Gates Street Huntsville, AL 35801
Phone: (256) 533-5723
Panoply Arts Festival
4/26/2013 - 04/28/2013
Fri. 5-9 PM, Sat. 10 AM-9 PM & Sun. Noon-8
Address: Big Spring Park, Downtown Huntsville, AL 35801
Phone: (256) 519-2787
Today's Tidbit: If you don't see any event that interests you here, you can go online, talk to friends and family or just walk around the neighborhood to find new activities or events, somewhere along the line something will peak your interest and remember to enjoy the new season!
Huntsville Metro Area Homes
Friday, March 15, 2013
Finance Side Info on Custom Home Builds?
Something we have not discussed is Custom Built Homes. Good for some, not for all. If you know what you're doing and have good advice you should be fine.
First, Home Construction Loans. These are short term loans for the client to build a home. The client usually puts 20% down on a construction loan. It should be remembered by the client though that this loan is in their name not the builder, and given in a lump sum to be disbursed as construction progresses. In these types of Custom Build scenarios, banks wanting to limit their risk, check out the contractor and their references.
One of our co-workers who specializes in land for new construction says that land can be anywhere between $20K-$200K all depending on the location and size. Factors influencing price can be hill side, mountain top, wooded/forested, flatland, etc.
Although many clients build for themselves and their unique tastes, they should always remember that their tastes are should be tempered in case of emergency and have to sell the home. Resale should always be thought of as a possible future what if. If worse comes to worse always make sure that it can be resold without difficulty. Know what you can afford, do your research, get educated, don't go over your limit. As always for help on who to get for a contractor/builder you can go find reviews or go to the BBB and see what their rating is. Remember when you minimize your own risk, you maximize your future happiness and ease of mind.
Today's Tidbit: Redstone Federal Credit Union will be opening a new Full Service branch on Redstone Arsenal at 5216 Mills Road, south of the new shoppette and near the child development center. Redstone Federal Credit Union President and CEO Joseph H. Newberry states: "This new branch will allow us to provide more convenient service to Redstone Arsenal personnel. The credit union was originally chartered to serve Redstone Arsenal so we have maintained a strong relationship with the arsenal, and are always looking for ways to better serve them."
Huntsville Metro Area Homes
First, Home Construction Loans. These are short term loans for the client to build a home. The client usually puts 20% down on a construction loan. It should be remembered by the client though that this loan is in their name not the builder, and given in a lump sum to be disbursed as construction progresses. In these types of Custom Build scenarios, banks wanting to limit their risk, check out the contractor and their references.
One of our co-workers who specializes in land for new construction says that land can be anywhere between $20K-$200K all depending on the location and size. Factors influencing price can be hill side, mountain top, wooded/forested, flatland, etc.
Although many clients build for themselves and their unique tastes, they should always remember that their tastes are should be tempered in case of emergency and have to sell the home. Resale should always be thought of as a possible future what if. If worse comes to worse always make sure that it can be resold without difficulty. Know what you can afford, do your research, get educated, don't go over your limit. As always for help on who to get for a contractor/builder you can go find reviews or go to the BBB and see what their rating is. Remember when you minimize your own risk, you maximize your future happiness and ease of mind.
Today's Tidbit: Redstone Federal Credit Union will be opening a new Full Service branch on Redstone Arsenal at 5216 Mills Road, south of the new shoppette and near the child development center. Redstone Federal Credit Union President and CEO Joseph H. Newberry states: "This new branch will allow us to provide more convenient service to Redstone Arsenal personnel. The credit union was originally chartered to serve Redstone Arsenal so we have maintained a strong relationship with the arsenal, and are always looking for ways to better serve them."
Huntsville Metro Area Homes
Thursday, March 14, 2013
A Helpful Tool in Your Search for a Home in Huntsville, Alabama
Often times we need more information on properties, their surroundings as well as other factors. For years now our group has used Huntsville's GIS Interactive Maps as an additional tool to help ourselves and clients. It not only allows you to zoom into street level, but it also allows you to overlay different types of informational maps. A great example would be to overlay warning sirens over subdivisions in Madison County. To do this you click "More" in the top right hand corner, scroll down and check "warning sirens" then scroll up and hit "subdivisions in Madison County". As you can see in that list that there are several different overlays that you can use for your own information gathering. Also to the right of it is a "basemap" which will change how it looks including aerial and topographical maps.
I encourage you to play around with it for a bit and see what else you can find. Its uses can stretch over a wide variety of life.
Today's Tidbit: Remember to check for verification on this such as everything else, because we have a found a few errors in the past. But most of the time its fairly accurate.
Huntsville Metro Area Homes
I encourage you to play around with it for a bit and see what else you can find. Its uses can stretch over a wide variety of life.
Today's Tidbit: Remember to check for verification on this such as everything else, because we have a found a few errors in the past. But most of the time its fairly accurate.
Huntsville Metro Area Homes
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Huntsville Alabama's New Waffle House and Army Contract
The Huntsville Historic Preservation Commission gave approval to the demolishing of the old Sonic drive-in and construction of a Waffle House on the edge of Old Town Historic District. Mark Russell of the city council hopes that Waffle House will consider toning down their bright yellow signage to something that would fit in with Old Town's historic neighborhood. Waffle House representative Joe Hoffman repudiated the request by saying that the company did not have to change its trademark because it fits with the historical guidelines of Old Town. Without taking the advice under some consideration and immediately saying no gives a stance of arrogance by Joe Hoffman. Sometimes its best to be graceful and not brutish when moving into someone else's neighborhood.
Alatech Inc and I3 (Integration Innovation Inc) both won contracts from the US Army to provide support to the U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence in Fort Sill, Okla. and the development of training materials. This contract is valued at 248 million dollars and looks to last through March of 2014.
Today's Tidbit: Remember the Huntsville Historic Preservation Commission has authorization on all changes to me made to properties as well as sets guidelines for properties within the Historical Districts of Huntsville Alabama.
Huntsville Metro Area Homes
Alatech Inc and I3 (Integration Innovation Inc) both won contracts from the US Army to provide support to the U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence in Fort Sill, Okla. and the development of training materials. This contract is valued at 248 million dollars and looks to last through March of 2014.
Today's Tidbit: Remember the Huntsville Historic Preservation Commission has authorization on all changes to me made to properties as well as sets guidelines for properties within the Historical Districts of Huntsville Alabama.
Huntsville Metro Area Homes
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Huntsville Alabama Real Estate and Business Round Up
For lack of a better headline, that's what we came up with. We are going to be talking about business, Alabama's growth in Huntsville and Madison County, and a tip on how to find known sinkholes seeing how that is in the news.
First let's begin with business, local company Raytheon gave 30 thousand dollars to the non-profit organization Free-2-Teach. Free 2 Teach ensures that students and teachers have supplies for the classroom in Huntsville and Madison County. Raytheon considers this an investment in the tech and sciences of the future.
NASA has narrowed down choices for a 350 million dollar contract for engineering services and products at Marshall Space Flight Center. The two Huntsville companies are Teledyne Brown and Raytheon.
Released by al.com, most areas of the Huntsville Metro Area is scheduled for heavy growth. Here are short snippets of the findings:
South Huntsville is getting attention for a possible new Grissom High School as well as a regional branch library of the Huntsville Madison County Library in which would have between 30 and 40 thousand square feet. But still eyes in the area are still looking at how to enhance the riverside along the Tennesee River with shops and restaurants.
West Huntsville, the newest and fastest growth in Metro Huntsville. In the ten years from 2000 to 2010, this area which has been creeping like kudzu into Limestone County has achieved a growth rate of over 80%. As land gets annexed & the homes built, people are coming in droves for the easy commute both to Redstone Arsenal as well as Huntsville International Airport. With the south side of West Huntsville connecting to the Tennessee River and the other areas seeing empty land, the growth is scheduled to continue at a rapid pace.
East Huntsville has been one the fastest growing area of Metro Huntsville. The wonderful area full of greenery and new beginning for Huntsville residents has seen six new subdivisions rise up. Goldman-Schiffman opened up in 2011 to handle the overflow from the jam packed Hampton Cove Elementary. The population of East Huntsville has climbed by over 70% from 2000 to 2010.
The Northern Edge of Huntsville Metro consists of New Market, Meridianville, Hazel Green, and Riverton have seen slow and steady growth as new subdivisions come into existence and traffic roads continue to get more dense. This area has the best opportunity for larger uninhibited growth due to more easily developed land, possible large lot sizes, and the reinvestment in local roads and through-ways.
Today's Tidbit: You can see sinkholes in the Huntsville area by going to the Huntsville city GIS site and going to their interactive maps. From there click on the more button on the right and scroll down to where is says USGS Sinkholes. Light purple/mauve outlined areas will pop up showing where sinkholes are as stated by the USGS.
Huntsville Metro Area Homes
First let's begin with business, local company Raytheon gave 30 thousand dollars to the non-profit organization Free-2-Teach. Free 2 Teach ensures that students and teachers have supplies for the classroom in Huntsville and Madison County. Raytheon considers this an investment in the tech and sciences of the future.
NASA has narrowed down choices for a 350 million dollar contract for engineering services and products at Marshall Space Flight Center. The two Huntsville companies are Teledyne Brown and Raytheon.
Released by al.com, most areas of the Huntsville Metro Area is scheduled for heavy growth. Here are short snippets of the findings:
South Huntsville is getting attention for a possible new Grissom High School as well as a regional branch library of the Huntsville Madison County Library in which would have between 30 and 40 thousand square feet. But still eyes in the area are still looking at how to enhance the riverside along the Tennesee River with shops and restaurants.
West Huntsville, the newest and fastest growth in Metro Huntsville. In the ten years from 2000 to 2010, this area which has been creeping like kudzu into Limestone County has achieved a growth rate of over 80%. As land gets annexed & the homes built, people are coming in droves for the easy commute both to Redstone Arsenal as well as Huntsville International Airport. With the south side of West Huntsville connecting to the Tennessee River and the other areas seeing empty land, the growth is scheduled to continue at a rapid pace.
East Huntsville has been one the fastest growing area of Metro Huntsville. The wonderful area full of greenery and new beginning for Huntsville residents has seen six new subdivisions rise up. Goldman-Schiffman opened up in 2011 to handle the overflow from the jam packed Hampton Cove Elementary. The population of East Huntsville has climbed by over 70% from 2000 to 2010.
The Northern Edge of Huntsville Metro consists of New Market, Meridianville, Hazel Green, and Riverton have seen slow and steady growth as new subdivisions come into existence and traffic roads continue to get more dense. This area has the best opportunity for larger uninhibited growth due to more easily developed land, possible large lot sizes, and the reinvestment in local roads and through-ways.
Today's Tidbit: You can see sinkholes in the Huntsville area by going to the Huntsville city GIS site and going to their interactive maps. From there click on the more button on the right and scroll down to where is says USGS Sinkholes. Light purple/mauve outlined areas will pop up showing where sinkholes are as stated by the USGS.
Huntsville Metro Area Homes
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
North Alabama Economic News and Reinforcing National Real Estate Numbers
Short bits for today...
On the east side of Decatur there's been a proposal to build a 1.3 Billion dollar retail center which has a possibility to bring in over 4 thousand jobs. The location has been placed at the intersection of I-565 and I-65 Interchange. The Decatur city council vote of approval give the mayor the ability to continue negotiations with the developer.
Local groups comprised of academic, industry, and non-profit groups are trying to put together a presentation to have the North Alabama / Huntsville Metro Area acquire new factory otherwise known as smart manufacturing centers. The industry sector is ready to put money into the project, but are waiting to get the question answered of what will their return on investment will they get.
S&P/Case Shiller has released a new report showing national price increase by 0.2%, after Dec had a price increase of 0.9%. For the final quarter home prices jumped 2%.
Today's Tidbit: A fantastic article on the passing of former US Surgeon General C. Everett Koop.
Huntsville Metro Area Homes
On the east side of Decatur there's been a proposal to build a 1.3 Billion dollar retail center which has a possibility to bring in over 4 thousand jobs. The location has been placed at the intersection of I-565 and I-65 Interchange. The Decatur city council vote of approval give the mayor the ability to continue negotiations with the developer.
Local groups comprised of academic, industry, and non-profit groups are trying to put together a presentation to have the North Alabama / Huntsville Metro Area acquire new factory otherwise known as smart manufacturing centers. The industry sector is ready to put money into the project, but are waiting to get the question answered of what will their return on investment will they get.
S&P/Case Shiller has released a new report showing national price increase by 0.2%, after Dec had a price increase of 0.9%. For the final quarter home prices jumped 2%.
Today's Tidbit: A fantastic article on the passing of former US Surgeon General C. Everett Koop.
Huntsville Metro Area Homes
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