Madison County home sales drop in April 2026; builder confidence on the rise

The April 13, 2026 weekly report from the Huntsville Area Association of Realtors (HAAR), for the week ending April 4, reported that new single-family home listings in Madison County decreased by 8.7% year-over-year. That’s a significant decrease from the three-month average: an increase of 4.1% year-over-year.  Madison County pending sales increased by 10.2% year-over-year last […]

TARCOG opens headquarters in MidCity

“Out of the valley to the top of the mountain.” With those words in his invocation, James Lucas aptly described the new headquarters for the Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments (TARCOG). Lucas, the organization’s board president, helped lead Thursday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour of the new $8 million office building. He was among […]

Huntsville’s Community Development helps residents build a better life

“We do it house by house, day by day …” That’s the game plan for Huntsville’s Community Development Department – a change from days gone by. Years ago, the city would cite home owners whose houses would have shingles or siding missing, Mayor Tommy Battle said. “The folks who lived there, seniors or low income, […]

Huntsville named ‘Best Place to Live in 2026’

When a report about Huntsville begins “3, 2, 1…Take off to an excellent life in Rocket City!”, you know it’s good. In fact, this list by livability.com is to the moon. Citing affordability and quality of life, the national publication has ranked Huntsville the nation’s most livable small to mid-size city. “Livability.com is very engaged […]

Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville directs $19M into North Alabama, calls for strategic giving in 2026

The Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville highlighted its growing impact across North Alabama during its second annual State of the Community Foundation event at the Jackson Center on Thursday, March 26.  Melissa Thompson, CEO and president of the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville, said the foundation continues to manage a growing pool of charitable assets. […]

Real Estate Update: Madison County home sales, median prices continued to rise in Feb.

According to the March 9 weekly report from the Huntsville Area Association of Realtors (HAAR), as of the week ending Feb. 26, 2026, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate dropped to 5.98%. Freddie Mac says this was the first time in three and a half years that mortgage rates dipped below 6%.  Lower mortgage rates […]

Ridgeline President Marsh honored with Alabama Women in Construction Award

As a dance teacher, Lauren Marsh made sure her students had the correct timing and steps. Now, as the president and co-founder of one of the state’s top construction companies, she makes sure the work is done in time and by following the right steps. For her work with Ridgeline Construction Roofing & Exteriors, Marsh […]

Huntsville Housing Market, Child Care Costs and Affordability Trends: Why the Rocket City Is Balancing Growth Better Than Most

As Americans approach Tax Day this year, many are thinking about more than their tax returns.  A recent taxpayer survey from WalletHub found that 78 percent of Americans said they were more concerned about affordability than taxes. Rising housing costs, child care expenses and everyday living costs have reshaped how households across the country evaluate […]

Front Row launches residential pre-leasing, targets June 2026 move-ins

Essex Capital and Ascend Property Group announced the launch of pre-leasing for The Residences at Front Row on Feb. 24, marking a major milestone in the $220 million mixed-use development rising in downtown Huntsville.   With the official website now live, prospective tenants received their first opportunity to explore floor plans and secure units within the […]

State, Local Leaders Break Ground on Affordable Housing Development in Athens

ATHENS, Ala. — State and local officials broke ground at The Grove at South Jefferson in Athens, a first-of-its-kind affordable housing development supporting North Ala. workforce growth, on Fri., Feb. 20, 2026.  The Grove at South Jefferson is an historic public-private partnership set to offer affordable multifamily apartments in response to increasing workforce demands and […]