The Birmingham real estate industry has done a fantastic job of letting consumers know they will need some cash when they purchase a home. Typically, it’s the down payment that’s mentioned. Seldom are closing costs and earnest money brought up they end up a major surprise for home buyers.

Between the two of those huge chunks of money are other cash outlays you’ll need to consider.

If you need to sell your current home in the Birmingham area, getting your house ready for the market requires work — cleaning, de-cluttering, repairs, and maybe some paint. The exterior of your home may need some attention as well. It is the first thing that potential home buyers will see when they look at your home. You have no doubt heard about curb appeal – you may even have some ideas on how you might go about adding some to your home to help it sell quicker and for top dollar. The problem is that when one is not just selling a home but also purchasing another, money can be tight. Here is a list of three low-cost tips that you can use to boost your home’s curb appeal.

What’s the number one reason that so few millennials are getting into the housing market? It’s all about that stubborn student loan debt they racked up.

In fact, a recent study by the Federal Reserve claims that the 12 million millennials in their 30s with student loan debt, owe more than those in their 20s. The average student loan balance for the former sits at slightly more than $34,000 and most of you are, or were, grad students, according to U.S. News and World Report.

In all the excitement of choosing your lot, your appliance package, and all the other extras that go into building and buying a new home, but something important may fall through the cracks: your new home’s future resale value. Sure, it seems a bit early to be thinking of selling when you haven’t even moved into the home, but you should be thinking about just that.

5 ways to beat the Birmingham heat and not break the bank?

Summer in Birmingham has two temperatures: hot and about to rain or hot and humid after the rain. The AC is always running and the power bill is always higher. According to a 2015 study Alabama in the sixth most energy expensive state in the country. This is in a large part from our A/C energy consumption in the summer. There are things that you can do to not only save money but to avoid a surprise A/C repair on a 100-degree Birmingham day.

In the Birmingham metro area, we are lucky enough to get to use our decks and patios more than most of the country. If you love entertaining outdoors during these glorious warm months, you should give your decks and patios special attention every season. Seasonal maintenance is a must for a long lasting, safe and sturdy, beautifully inviting deck or patio.

If you have lived in Alabama for any length of time, you know that drought and wildfires are nothing rare. 2016 was a particularly bad year of drought which created conditions perfect for accidental wildfires, even in an area like Hoover. There were near misses of fires in Hoover including the fire in the median of Interstate 459 when a flat tire caused a spark that set the dry grass ablaze.

Summer is just around the corner and there is plenty to do in the Birmingham Area to keep the kids and adults busy. Perhaps a lack of time off or finances won’t allow for a beach or mountain get away or maybe you just don’t want to travel. A vacation in your own backyard can prove to be a great break. Just put a little time into planning it and spin it by labeling it staycation and your little ones will be having fun in no time. Take the time to do something you don’t do on a normal weekend. Consider letting each family member make a suggestion or two and then try to pick an idea from each individual. No matter what plans your family decides on just make it special and spend time together doing things you wouldn't normally do and summer will be fun and full of memories.

Great news, residence of Vestavia Hills, Alabama…

Your forwarded thinking City Council has committed $190,000 to build a pedestrian bridge that will connect Wald Park and the Library in the Forest. Interesting fact: Once complete, this is a step towards improving the walkability of Vestavia Hills. Walkability is one of the many factors that has given rise to Homewood’s property values, Vestavia’s oldest neighboring city. The pedestrian bridge will not only connect Wald Park to the Library in the Forest, but it will also connect the Vestavia Civic Center, Vestavia West Elementary and the residents of neighboring homes to the Library in the Forest.