Mobile Alabama Real Estate Blog

I have been working on a complete change over of my website www.PortCityRealty.com and while working on the community link page thought it might be some good information to post on localism.com. Also, if anyone that has time to look at the new site and make comments, either here or on the feed back form on the bottom of the site, I would appreciate comments. I am changing from homes.com to point2agent.com after about 10 years with homes.com. It's a major undertaking but I think I am going to like the new site much better, and I'm hoping the search engines can find it. They never could find the homes.com site.

Beautiful home built in 1999 on a deep water canal just off the bend in Halls Mill Creek right before it reaches Dog River. Just minutes by boat to Mobile Bay and The Gulf of Mexico.

Rare opportunity to own a really nice waterfront home in a great area for only $367,900! This home has a very versatile floor plan. It could have anywhere from three to five bedrooms. Downstairs has a master bedroom that overlooks the water, with a door that leads to the back patio. The master bath has a double vanity, a garden tub, a separate shower and two walk in closets. Downstairs you will also find a 12x9 office that has a closet and could be a bedroom and a 9x7 room that has a closet and could be a bedroom, sewing room, playroom, office, etc. Downstairs there is also a large family room that overlooks the water, a fabulous kitchen with lots of custom cabinets, and a large dining area that overlook the water. The foyer is a nice room by itself - with enough space for a piano. Upstairs there is a balcony with a view of the family room and the foyer and two bedrooms that are 12x13 plus they both have another 3.5x6 foot bay area. There is plenty of storage space, including three walk-in closets, four hall closets and a huge walk-in attic space.The house also has a great vac-u-flo system. Off the double garage is a 168 s.f. vented workshop. And I haven't even told you about the water yet. This house is surround by other very nice houses and is located on a deep canal, just off Halls Mill Creek, which leads to Dog River, Mobile Bay, the Gulf of Mexico and beyond. The property has a bulkhead and a boathouse with a boat lift and a deck that runs along the water. The property has very good elevation and the house has never flooded. During Katrina the water didn't even get up past the pickett fence in the back yard!

We made another good "TOP" list! Mobile ranks #6! Not only that, but Alabama has 4 of the top 20 Metropolitan Areas With the Highest Rates of House Price Appriciation - according to the Federal Housing Finace Agency News Release. This is page 31 of the report.  If someone can tell me how to upload a PDF to this blog I will upload the entire report for anyone that wants to see it.

*Top 20 Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Divisions With Highest Rates of           

House Price Appreciation

Percent Change in House Prices with MSA Rankings

Period Ended September 30, 2008

(Estimates use all-transactions HPI which includes purchase and refinance mortgages

MSA                       National 
                                                                    Ranking**/1-Yr./Qtr./5-Yr.

Austin-Round Rock, TX 1 /5.62/ 1.69 /35.32

Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC 2 /5.48 /2.00/ 38.97

Rapid City, SD 3 /5.43 /0.74 /29.67

Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA 4 /5.18/ -1.64/ 43.28

Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 5 /5.17/ 1.49 /27.10

Mobile, AL 6/ 4.97/ 2.49 /41.92

Grand Junction, CO 7/ 4.67/ 1.21/ 66.11

Logan, UT-ID 8 /4.55 /1.11/ 34.25

Greenville-Mouldin-Easley, SC 9/ 4.55 /-0.61 /22.63

Decatur, AL 10 /4.21 /-0.48 /22.97

Spartanburg, SC 11/ 4.12 / 2.20 /16.64

Huntsville, AL 12 /4.12 /0.51 /31.51

Kennewick-Pasco-Richland, WA 13 /4.11 /0.80 /20.05

Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA 14 /3.93 /0.69 /32.41

Raleigh-Cary, NC 15 /3.84 /0.41 /27.81

Florence, SC 16 /3.74 /-0.30 /22.86

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC 17 /3.68 /1.87 /20.38

Macon, GA 18 /3.47 /3.64 /21.51

Lubbock, TX 19 /3.20 /0.62 /18.91

Tuscaloosa, AL 20 /3.14/ -0.14 /28.42

*For composition of metropolitan statistical areas and divisions see http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/20bulletins/fy2008/b08-01.pdf or see FHFA HPI FAQ #7 for more information.

**Note: Rankings based on annual percentage change for all MSAs containing at least 15,000 transactions over the last 10 years.

It's a fabulous party and everyone is invited. If you have never visited Mobile during Mardi Gras you really should come.

It's a really fun tradition. And when I say tradition it really has a lot of tradition involved every year that would not be obvious to visitors. From driving downtown along the same route, to parking in the same area each year to standing in the same spot.

   I have friends who watch all the parades under the same oak tree every year, and have for years (I'm sure 20+) Now on Joe Cain Day (the Sunday before Mardi Gras), the Monday before Mardi Gras and on Mardi Gras Day they watch the parade in front of the motel that they stay in first. But then it's to the tree they go to watch the parade two more times (coming and going). You can always find them. They are always in the same place. My daughter texted me last night from the oak tree.  There is now a second generation headed to the same oak tree each year.

  I have other friends that begin each evening parade at the same bar and then watch the parade on the same corner outside the bar.   Others meet in front of other hotels, at the parks, and in front of designated office buildings or parking lots. All around downtown, the crowds are so much more organized than they look like. The riders on the floats know where to look for their friends.

              Other Mardi Gras traditions:

               Mardi Gras hats!  There are some very original Mardi Gras hats out there.

               Decorating the motel room.  - It's the first thing that is done when the regulars check into
               their rooms. Many of the rooms are more decorated than anything you would do at home
               for Christmas.

               The annual poker game.

               Roaming the streets between and after the parades

               Visiting with friends that you only see once a year at parades and/or balls

               Introducing a new child or grandchild to the festivities, that include corn dogs and moon pies
               and Mardi Gras beads.

               Actually eating the annual corn dog. Some people actually eat the moon pies.

                For a lot of great Mardi Gras in the City of Mobile has great information
                                               http://cityofmobile.org/mardigras.php.