Small businesses brace as Corporate Transparency Act showdown comes to a head in downtown Huntsville courts

/in , , , , , , , , , /by

In 2021, the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) was introduced with the aim of bolstering transparency in entity structures and ownership to combat financial crimes.  However, as the January 1, 2024 effective date looms, businesses are scrambling to understand and comply with its provisions. Initially overlooked by accounting professionals, the Corporate Transparency Act, which will require […]

Read more

NAR says to expect 6% average for 2024 as mortgage rates decrease

/in , , , , , , /by

The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate continued to decrease this week, with the current average at time of printing down from 7.61% to 7.41%.  As a result, demand for mortgages have begun creeping back upwards, with applications nationwide up 2% over the week. However, this still represents a 20% decrease from the same time last […]

Read more

Alabama’s Holiday cyber crisis: How worried should shoppers be?

/in , , , , , , , , , /by

Cyber security has become a pressing concern for many states across the US, and Alabama is no exception. With an ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats, the state faces significant risks that can have detrimental effects on its economic well-being, but how serious are these risks?  A recent article published early in November from VPNPro.com aimed […]

Read more

Q3 Real Estate Economic Report Shows Inventory at Pre-Pandemic Levels

/in , , , , , , /by

The Huntsville Area Association of Realtors (HAAR), in partnership with the UAH College of Business, has released its Q3 Economic Report for 2023, which covers the Huntsville-Madison County real estate market.  Of the statistics compiled by the Report, one of the most significant is the housing inventory. Inventory has risen 20% compared to Q3 2022, […]

Read more

State of the County Address tackles pains of population growth, outlines infrastructure plan

/in , , , , , , , , , /by

The Von Braun Center kicked off a busy holiday season this past Tuesday, November 07, while hosting the State of the County Address. Sponsored by the Huntsville Hospital Health System and the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Madison County Commission, Mac McCutcheon, gave an address that tackled population growth, budgeting, and quality […]

Read more

New Executive Director poised to lead the South Huntsville Main Business Association into new era

/in , , , , , , , /by

Change has been a key word throughout South Huntsville. Changes to Memorial Parkway, to various key developments in the area, and to dining and retail options have brought a certain revitalization to the area. Alongside these new developments, the South Huntsville Main Business Association recently welcomed Madison Roberts as their new Executive Director with the […]

Read more

Local, national real estate markets buck under interest rates

/in , , , , , , , /by

Housing affordability continues to be a major concern across the United States. ATTOM Data Solution’s Q3 2023 US Home Affordability Report shows that median single-family and condo unit prices in Q3 were less affordable than historic averages in 99% of counties nationwide.  Moreover, with interest rates hovering around 8%, ‘major home expenses’ now take up […]

Read more

Sales prices dip as Huntsville plans affordable housing director

/in , , , , , , /by

The Huntsville Area Association of Realtors (HAAR) has released its monthly report for the month of September.  The study shows that the average sales price for single family homes decreased from $371,000 to $370,000. However, the median figure for single family homes decreased down to $304,000, which is considerably lower than the national median of […]

Read more

New large-scale music festival approved; promises increased economic development and revenue

/in , , , , , , , , , /by

Music fans rejoice! A large-scale festival featuring internationally acclaimed artists is coming to Huntsville. At the Huntsville City Council meeting on Thursday, October 12, the Council voted unanimously to allow Mayor Tommy Battle to enter into a three-year partnership agreement with C3 Presents LLC, to produce a two-day festival in John Hunt Park. Mayor Battle […]

Read more

Real Estate Update: Pending Sales Pick Up, Despite National Trend

/in , , , , , , /by

The Huntsville Area Association of Realtors (HAAR) has released statistics for the Huntsville/Madison County market that shows that our local real estate market is defying national trends in terms of pending sales.  Nationally, pending sales have been dropping. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), pending home sales have declined by an average of […]

Read more