Entries by Marie Johnson

Real Estate Update: December figures show uptick at end of sluggish year

Reports from the month of December have shown that the residential real estate market has been stronger than most winter seasons, with the local market here in Huntsville/Madison County a bit more brisk than the national norm. According to reports from the Huntsville Area Association of Realtors (HAAR), there were 622 homes sold in December […]

Doing well by doing good: charity and taxes in North Alabama

The winter holiday season has always been a time for communities and individuals to come together and aid those most in need.  Not only is charitable giving a benefit in and of itself, but charitable donations to exempt organizations can also lower the taxable income for your household. Federal tax deductions are generally capped at […]

Real Estate Update: NAR economists cautiously optimistic for 2025

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) hosted its annual Forecast Summit, with NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun heading the online panel and presentation. The first point to take from the discussion is that experts believe mortgage rates will hover around the same level as they are currently throughout 2025. Yun cited the national deficit as […]

Real Estate Update: Recent report shows seasonal slowdown

The Alabama Association of Realtors released its October 2024 Alabama Economic and Real Estate Report.  The report indicated a slowdown in real estate sales across the state, which the report attributed to a combination of high interest rates, which spiked up to 6.72% by late October, and seasonal slowdown typical for fall.  Alabama recorded 4,880 […]

Leidos donates $1.75m to Drake State, advancing opportunities in advanced manufacturing

Leidos has pledged $1.75 million to Drake State Community & Technical College in Huntsville, Alabama. This landmark donation will enhance educational opportunities, providing students with hands-on experience in advanced technical and manufacturing fields. In honor of the gift, Drake State’s upcoming advanced manufacturing facility will be named the Leidos Advanced Training Complex. “At Leidos, we […]

Real Estate Update: NAR projects increased sales, inventory for 2025

National Association of Realtors Chief Economist Lawrence Yun, speaking alongside NAR Deputy Chief Economist Jessica Lautz, discussed projections for the real estate market in 2025 at an NAR event at Boston. “We’ve seen after presidential elections—and it doesn’t matter who wins—that there’s usually a slight boost in home sales,” Yun said. “It removes some uncertainty. […]

Real estate update: Sales uptick both nationally and locally

The September monthly report from the National Association of Realtors showed a jump of 7.4% in pending sales compared to August, with a 2.6% year-over-year increase in contract signings in September.  NAR Chief Economist Chief Economist Lawrence Yun weighed in on these developments, attributing the rise to “the combination of lower mortgage rates in late […]

September real estate monthly report shows inventory gains across Alabama

The Alabama Association of Realtors (AAR) has released its monthly economic report for the month of September, 2024.  The report showed that Alabama has a 4.6 months’ supply of housing inventory. This marks a year-over-year increase of 1.3 months’ supply, and is the highest level in more than five years.  According to the Huntsville Area […]