Weekly Update

March 28, 2025 - #496

Good afternoon,



Welcome to our latest update and HOPEFULLY your brackets are in better shape than mine!! We appreciate each of your readership(s) and OF COURSE thanks for each of the referrals that you send our way. Before we move on to the update, if you had any house related questions that you don’t readily know the answer for or who to talk to, give us a call. Talked with several past clients about some property tax questions, more tax document questions (remember that’s in ONLY two and a half weeks) and learned some MORE about a handy man subscription service (more to come … SOON!!) Whether you have questions, or small repairs like a fence, a big repair, or small renovation, like redoing a closet or bathroom, or need more square footage etc. feel free to reach out – we’ve got some GREAT folks for you to talk to! Now, back to the update… this week, rates bounced around and went slightly higher this week– the results of which you can see just above the trivia question. Before you scroll down to the rates and trivia, as usual, there is LOTS GOING ON, SO LET’S GET STARTED!

BEST OF VESTAVIA

Gang, it’s that time of year again. Vestavia Hills Magazine opened voting in their Best of the Best 2024 this week. There’s TONS of worthy individuals and companies in there for all sorts of categories, but as the THREE-TIME defending champ, we were nominated for Best Mortgage Group and we again NEED your help. So, if you like to vote for a winner, click on the link below, then go to Shopping & Services… then Best Mortgage Group… then, click on Method Mortgage…. And submit your ballot to vote for #THESMARTESTWAYHOME. We would greatly appreciate your vote because as Ricky Bobby said, “if you ain’t first… you’re last.” 

You CAN vote for Method Mortgage EACH and EVERY day from each of your email addresses… if you choose.

Click below to start your ballots! 

OUT OF THE WORLD CRAZY STORY

Gang, NASA “ACCIDENTLY” ended up running an experiment about the long-term effects of being in outer space or living in a zero-gravity environment on the human body. Last week, previously stranded astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, AKA Butch & Suni, returned to mother earth after nine months of unplanned time in space. I’m sure they were excited to make it home, as were these dolphins.

Imagine signing up for an eight-day trip and ending up being stranded for nine-months? That's exactly what happened to Butch & Suni. Their short mission aboard the International Space Station turned into an extended stay due to a spacecraft “kerfuffle*” (*technical aerospace engineering word.) While in space, their bodies had some surprising reactions to life in zero gravity.​

In a weightless environment, bones can lose density, muscles may weaken, and body fluids shift upwards, leading a "puffy face" look. Interestingly, astronauts often return to Earth a tad taller, as their spines elongate without gravity's compression. Your vision, following time in space, can experience some temporary blurriness.​

In order to try to combat these effects, Butch & Suni stuck to a daily exercise routine, which was pretty rigorous, and also monitored their health. Upon their return, they underwent comprehensive medical evaluations and participated in recovery programs to help their bodies readjust to Earth's gravity. Their experience offers invaluable insights into the challenges of long-duration space travel, bringing us one step closer to understanding more about what it takes for humans to thrive in space.

You can check out the video of them returning from space via splash down by clicking on the video to the LEFT BELOW OR read more about their health changes documented in the Wall Street Journal by clicking below on the right.

TECHNOLOGY MEETS GRANDMA

This week I had a reminder about the need to pass the trigger lead bill after a client has had 3 days of calls from random banks and mortgage companies because credit bureaus sold his data… which we can’t control nor did the client consent to. This client received OVER FIVE DOZEN unwanted calls AND unsolicited mail offers from unrecognized organizations. The moral of the story is to go ahead and complete the optoutprescreen.com, now, before you need you need a loan. But perhaps there is now another option - our editors are all in for this one.



What if you could turn those PERSISTENT callers over to an AI “Helper” and not just field the unwanted calls BUT potentially tie up the caller so they can’t harass others…

Well gang, imagine a sweet, chatty grandma who loves discussing knitting patterns and her recipes. Now, picture her keeping those callers tied up in endless, meandering conversations. Meet "Daisy," the AI-powered granny developed by British telecom company O2 to combat fraudsters. Daisy engages scammers with delightful confusion, asking if they prefer tea and sharing tales of her cat, Fluffy, all while they attempt to deceive her. Her dallying definitely frustrated the scammers, wasting their time and preventing them from targeting real victims. In one instance, Daisy kept a scammer on the line for nearly an hour as she fumbled to find her glasses and locate the Internet Explorer icon. Rather than the iRobot-post-apocalyptic-AI-technology we sometimes see stories about, THIS is the kind of artificial intelligence I think we can all get behind. Click below to read more.

REAL ESTATE TO BEHOLD

This week, it’s the artist formerly known as AEA for several of the school systems here in Birmingham and so our Real Estate to behold section will take on a SPRING BREAK theme.

First up, you buy this to get away from YOUR school to go to … a school! A former school building with 46,475+/- sqft on 16 acres, in Bristol, TN, offers a unique investment opportunity. Originally built in 1940, the property has been vacant for just over a year. Its prime location, off U.S. Highway 421, provides easy access to downtown Bristol, Hard Rock Casino, South Holston Lake, and Bristol Motor Speedway. The site has flexible zoning, making it ideal for redevelopment, of apartments, senior living, self-storage, a nonprofit headquarters, or a mixed-use development. The property includes large classrooms, a gymnasium, auditorium, cafeteria, track & fields, and multipurpose spaces. There’s ample parking and room for expansion. Priced at $476,300, this property offers great potential for transformation in a growing market. Click below to see more.

If going back to school isn’t the vibe, how about a pristine volcanic island in beautiful FIJI! (PS I’d like you to re-read that with some Bob-Barker-Showcase-Showdown-trip-reveal-energy.) That’s exactly what a California couple sought as they created luxurious beach retreat, offering an exclusive escape with unparalleled natural beauty and privacy. The island, a 75-acre parcel in the Yasawa Islands archipelago, had been deserted until the Walkers discovered it during a holiday. After purchasing a leasehold, they spent five years building a modern, eco-friendly home on the island, which includes a 5,500-square-foot main house with open-plan living spaces, ocean and jungle views, and unique global design elements. The project involved creating island infrastructure, including power, water systems, and backup generators. 

The Walkers faced MAJOR challenges getting materials and ensuring the home could withstand local weather conditions, including Cat 5 cyclones. Despite these obstacles, they created an amazing retreat that integrates nature and design, with features like volcanic swimming holes and manta ray mating grounds. 

Now ready to move on, the Walkers are selling the island for $15 million with an 85-year lease. The property, originally residential, now holds a tourism lease and is marketed as a high-end vacation rental, with potential earnings of $100,000 a week. It offers a rare experience of privacy, luxury, and off-grid living, making it an exclusive offering for private tourists. Click below to read more.

If you’re not into warmer climates and wanted to hit the slopes… check out this stunning ski-in, ski-out mansion in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, which has just sold for a record-breaking $17.45 million, setting a new benchmark for luxury in the mountain town. This nearly 10,000-square-foot, seven-bedroom home boasts a chef’s kitchen, two-story gym with a climbing wall, and over 3,000 square feet of terraces, complete with a heated pool and rooftop deck with a gas fireplace. Built in 2007, the home features a stone-and-wood facade and modern mountain design, located just five miles from downtown Steamboat. The property was originally listed for $24 million and sold for less after being under contract in January. This sale marks the highest price ever for a single-family home in Steamboat Springs, a town that has seen a surge in home values, with prices rising by 90% since 2019. Click below to see more.

THE ECONOMY AND REAL ESTATE

This week's BREAKING ECONOMIC NEWS was that we saw a RISE in existing-home sales across the U.S. compared to January with a 4.2% month over month increase. That put us at an annual rate of 4.26 million home sales. This increase shows that there seem to be more buyers entering the market, encouraged by stable mortgage rates as the inventory of homes improves. Speaking of inventory, the number of homes for sale also grew by 5.1% from the previous month and to 1.24 million units, which is a 17% increase compared to February 2024.

Home prices continued to appreciate, with the median existing-home price reaching $398,400, up 3.8% from a year earlier. This growth in home values contributes to increased equity for homeowners, for projects, OR to turn into a downpayment for their next house.

Overall, these trends a positive outlook for homeowners and the real estate market, with increased activity and growing home values benefiting both buyers and sellers.  

The number of existing home sales is INCREASING and so our editors thought that would be the best way to close out this update --- with some advice and to talk thru a KEY piece of the house hunting puzzle, BUT FOR SELLERS! Timing can be everything, but when should you list your house? They wanted to close out with a recent article from Keeping Current Matters titled, The Best Week to List Your House is Almost here – Are you Ready? Keep reading below.

If selling your Birmingham house is on your to-do list this year, the time to start prepping is now. That’s because experts say the best week to list your house is coming up fast.



A recent Realtor.com study analyzed years of housing market trends (excluding 2020 since it was an outlier) and found that April 13–19 is expected to be the ideal window to put your house on the market this year:

“. . . we’ve identified April 13-19 as the best week to list for sellers . . . a seller listing a well-priced, move-in ready home is likely to find success. Because spring is generally the high season for real estate activity and buyers are more plentiful earlier rather than later in the year, listing earlier in the spring raises a seller’s odds of a successful sale.”

What Makes This Week Stand Out?

As the quote mentions, spring is almost always a strong season for sellers. But this particular week could give you an even bigger advantage this year. Realtor.com goes on to say what listing during this sweet spot could mean for you:



• More buyers looking at your home since demand is high this time of year.
• A faster sale since serious buyers are eager to move before summer.
• A better chance of selling for top dollar. According to the study, you could get an average of $4,800 more this week (and $27,000 more than you would earlier in the year).

If You Want Your House on the Market for that Window, Act Now

With just a few weeks left before this prime listing window, you'll need to make a plan to work smart and act fast. That’s where working with a great real estate agent comes in. They can help you:

• Figure out exactly what you need to do to get your house ready.
• Prioritize the tasks that’ll make the biggest impact in the shortest time.
• Decide if there are any quick fixes or small upgrades that could help you attract buyers.

Assuming your house is already in good shape, your focus should be on quick, high-impact updates. As Investopedia explains:

“You won’t have time for any major renovations, so focus on quick repairs to address things that could deter potential buyers.”

Here are a few examples of small projects that can make a big difference according to Redfin:

What If You’re Not Ready Just Yet?

Don’t worry – it’s okay if you don’t think you’ll be ready for this week. Just because April 13–19 is projected to be the ideal week by Realtor.com, that doesn’t mean it’s the only good time to sell. Even if you need a bit more time to get your home list ready, there’s still plenty of opportunity this homebuying season. 

Bottom Line

If you’ve been waiting for the right time to sell, this could be it. But timing isn’t the only thing that matters – how well you prep and price your home is just as important.

What’s one thing you’d need to do before you’d feel ready to list? Let’s connect and figure out the best plan to make it happen.

RATES:

Pricing and rates remain erratic and volatile. Confirm rates & pricing directly with your loan officer.

Check out the trivia below and remember, there is a drawing to enter to win a gift card. This is your chance to enter for a chance to win the gift card awarded every other month. This trivia question is for the March and April drawing/card.

TRIVIA QUESTION

Yesterday started the Sweet Sixteen, or the second weekend of March Madness. ESPN proudly announced that there were NO more perfect brackets. According to this article here, Gregg Nigi made it thru 49 games (perfect thru the sweet 16) of the 63 games with a perfect bracket in 2019, the longest ever.   Most folks employ some SKILLED analysis and some random dumb luck. BUT if you were to use a coin to choose the outcome of every game, the odds of a perfect bracket are 1 in 147.5 quintillion, or around 20 times the number of grains of sand here on planet Earth. How many zeroes are there in One Quintillion?

A: Nine

B: Twelve

C: Fifteen

D: Eighteen

E: Twenty-One

F: Twenty-two

Click here to EMAIL ME YOUR ANSWER.

Have a great rest of the weekend. Stay safe out there. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call. You can contact me by email. Please, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. Thanks to many of you, we are continuing to expand our readership, so if you have a friend or client that you think may benefit from this newsletter, please feel free to forward it to them! If you got this from a friend, click here to sign up to receive it.