Do Alabama Citizens Really Pay 3rd Highest Monthly Energy Bills?

New report shows that while total energy bills across Alabama are high, the rates we pay for that energy are very low. A recent report published by Tennessee Real Estate specialists, TNRealEstate.com, suggests that citizens in Alabama have the third highest energy bills in the country out of 50 states. Their data was collected by […]

Market Remains Cool Despite Falling Mortgage Rates

The residential real estate market continues its winter slump, even as the feverishly-high mortgage rates of the previous year have begun to come back down to Earth.  According to the Huntsville Area Association of Realtors, pending sales of single-family homes decreased by 1% in the final week of January, while townhouse/condo sales saw a larger […]

Alabama Tops Nation in Economic Stress Report

A new report from HelpAdvisor.com, drawing from census polling data taken in December, has Alabama as the state most affected by inflation-related economic stress.  According to the report, 81% of adults in Alabama reported feeling “moderate to severe stress” caused by rising prices driven by inflation. This makes Alabama the most affected state in the […]

Huntsville Ranked Top 5 Among Country’s Most Prosperous Metros for 2023

The Rocket City appears to be starting off 2023 on the same note that it ended on in 2022. The city, which was already singled out as one of the best places to live, is also predicted to be in the top five of the country’s most prosperous cities in 2023.  This prediction comes from […]

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Announce Major Changes to Mortgage Financing

New mortgage financing policies from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are poised to shake up the housing market for 2023.  Loan Level Price Adjustments (LLPAs) are determined by a number of factors, most prominently the borrower’s credit score and debt-to-income ratio (DTI), among others.  The new policies concerning LLPAs will reduce the cost incurred for […]

Innovate Alabama Opens Second Round of Grant Funding to Benefit Local Entrepreneurs

Innovate Alabama opened applications for the second round of the Innovate Alabama Supplemental Grant Program on Tuesday, Jan. 17. Alabama-based recipients of Phase I and Phase II Federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants are eligible to apply for up to $250,000 in supplemental funding. The program supports Alabama […]

Local Arts Help Propel the Rocket City Economy

One topic that is unlikely to spring to mind when discussing the local economy is the role of community arts and arts-based education. However, this segment of the market not only provides joy and entertainment to many people of the city, but also brings in dollars, which help to stimulate the local economy. Huntsville is […]

Monthly Figures Kick-Off Sluggish Market for the New Year

The Huntsville Area Association of Realtors (HAAR) has released its monthly figures for December of 2022. The report caps off a year defined by the rapid deceleration of the market via inflation and interest rate hikes.  Nationally, pending sales have dropped by 37.8% from December of 2021, as reported by the National Association of Realtors […]

Women’s Foundation of Alabama Names New Chief Operating Officer

The Women’s Foundation of Alabama, the state’s only philanthropic organization focused on the economic advancement of women, announced the growth of its leadership by appointing LaShundra Pinkard as Chief Operating Officer. A key member of the executive management team, Pinkard will partner with the CEO to lead forward-thinking operational strategy and optimize performance across the […]

Applications Live for Second Annual Singing River Trail Launch Tank Business Competition

Building off the tremendous success of the first program, Launch2035 is thrilled to announce the second annual Singing River Trail Launch Tank.  Applicants with big ideas, community solutions, and emerging business endeavors may apply online now. The finale event, which is open to the public, will take place on March 20, 2023 at Athens State […]