With roughly 1000 active home listings between Spanish Fort, Daphne and Fairhope, the Eastern Shore real estate inventory is excellent! This is the time to buy in this charming area, and your local agent Barbara S. Reeves is the one to assist you!

In November, 26 homes sold in Daphne for an average price of $173,103 or $84.29/ square foot. At 134 average days on the market, Daphne homes are among the slowest moving. There are 46 homes pending sale with an average of $235,226 or $93.81/ square foot.

Spanish Fort, with 140 homes on the market, saw just 5 homes sold in November, with the average sales price of $246,880 or $113.81/ square foot. Sixteen homes are pending sale with an average price of $276,700 or $118.82/ square foot. 

Down the highway in Fairhope, there are 411 homes active on the market, averaging $448,646 ($186.96/ sq foot). These homes have been on the market an an average of 176 days. Those 13 homes which sold in November did so after 92 days on the market. The average sales price of $182,115 ($94.07/ sq foot) is much lower than the average list price, not uncommon in the current housing environment.

photo credit: Suat Eman from freedigitalphotos.net

The Baldwin County Planning and Zoning Commission voted last week to recommend the County Commission to rezone 10 acres of land from outdoor recreation to a multiple family district.  The land is located at Gulf Highlands’ site where a residential development is planned.  The change was due, in part, to making the area more consistent as all the surrounding area was already zoned for multi-family development.  However, the site will not be developed and the Press Register reported that it may be to the benefit of the owners as this move could potentially increase the land value for tax purposes.

For more information on this beachfront zoning in Baldwin County AL, visit the Press Register online.

For more information on real estate in Baldwin County AL including Fairhope, Daphne, and Spanish Fort AL contact Barbara Reeves today.

Compared with July home sales in Daphne, September showed an increase in the number of transactions. 35 homes sold in September 2009, with the average sales price jumping from $204,421 to $253,199.  The average price per square foot rose from $92.43/sq ft to $97.98. Unfortunately, the average time on the market increased again from 118 up to 147 days .  There are 49 Daphne homes with pending contracts, averaging $95.45 per square foot, down from $103.28 in July. Those with currently listed homes are more optimistic, with the average price per foot at $113.87.

In Spanish Fort, there were 11 home sales in September. The average sales price decreased again from $277,989 (July) to $263,323. Price per square foot followed suit.  The sales that averaged $107.82 in July averaged $103.66 in September. Days on the market for these sold homes dropped from 134 in July to 116 in September. The inventory of homes available in Spanish Fort is 130, with an average list price of $349,074 or $120/square foot.

Down the highway in Fairhope, 16 homes sold in the month of September. Average sales price climbed a bit to $270,831 or $135.98/square foot. The days on the market for September home sales has dropped a bit to 142 from July’s 149.  While this is still longer than anyone would like to see, it is a vast improvement over the Spring, when activity was much more sluggish.  Fairhope has 30 pending contracts, averaging $124.56/ square foot. The 408 active home listings average $466,389 and $182.65 per square foot and they’ve been on the market an aveage of 162 days.  Barbara Reeves, REALTOR, is an expert in these communities and is able to assist you in taking advantage of this market to find your dream home. Visit her at http://www.barbarasellsdaphne.com.

Compared with June home sales in Daphne, July showed a significant decrease in the number of transactions. 27 homes sold in July 2009, compared with 38 in June. Average sales price decreased from $236,074 to $204,421, while the average price per square foot went from $98.15 to $92.43/sq ft. Fortunately, the average time on the market decreased from 145 days to 118.  There are 51 Daphne homes with pending contracts, averaging $103.28 per square foot.

In Spanish Fort, a mere 12 sales in June dropped to 9 in July. The average sales price decreased from  $305,800 to $277,989. Price per square foot, however, made a modest gain. The sales that averaged $106.16 in June climbed to $107.82 in July! Days on the market increased by only 7 days from 89 to 134 in July.

Down the highway in Fairhope, 15 transactions in June grew to 19 in July. Average sales price retreated to March numbers at $249,136. This translates to a price per foot of $103.19. The good news in Fairhope is that the days on the market for July home sales has receded to 149 from June’s 178.  While this is still longer than anyone would like to see, it is a vast improvement over the Spring.  Fairhope has 40 pending contracts, averaging $122.15/ square foot. The active home listings average $456,282 and $172.77 per square foot.  Barbara Reeves, REALTOR, is an expert in these communities and is able to assist you in taking advantage of this market to find your dream home. Visit her at http://www.barbarasellsdaphne.com.

Compared with March home sales in Daphne, June showed a significant increase in the number of transactions. 38 homes sold in June 2009, compared with 18 in March. Average sales price increased from $210, 433 to $236,074, while the average price per square foot went from $90.58 in March to $98.15/sq ft. Unfortunately, the average time on the market increased from 91 days to 145, a nearly 50% increase.

Similarly, in Spanish Fort, a mere 8 sales in March grew to 12 in June. The average sales price increased from $212,612 to $305,800 and price per square foot followed suit. The sales that averaged $83.75/ sq ft in March went to $106.16 in June! Days on the market increased by only 7 days from 82 to 89.

Down the highway in Fairhope, 13 March sales grew to 15 in June. Average sales price grew modestly from $246,065 to $263,353. This translates to a price per foot of $109.49 in March decreasing to $106.34 in June. The good news in Fairhope is that the whopping 272 days on the market for March home sales has receded to 175.  While this is still longer than anyone would like to see, it is a vast improvement over the Spring.  Barbara Reeves, REALTOR, is an expert in these communities and is able to assist you in taking advantage of this market to find your dream home. Visit her at http://www.barbarasellsdaphne.com.

image credit: sxc.hu

For the 38th year, the annual National Shrimp Festival comes to the Gulf Shores of Alabama.  This year’s 2009 National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores is expected to attract over 300,000 visitors and some 300 vendors.  Although the Festival isn’t until October, the organization and planning for the event must happen well in advance.  Alabama’s Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce sponsors this free event each year and are enlisting volunteers now to help out in four-hour shifts throughout the event.

For more information on becoming a volunteer, a participant vendor, or a visitor, visit the Shrimp Festival’s website here.

And don’t forget about the Gulf Coast’s Green Market this Saturday.

For more information on real estate in the Gulf Coast AL area, including Mobile, West Mobile, Spanish Fort, Fairhope, and Daphne AL contact your local realtor Barbara Reeves today.

On the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay, the community of Spanish Fort saw 8 homes sold in April for an average price of $222,312 ($111.15/ sq ft). One year ago, there were 13 sold for $238,114 ($104.14/ sq ft). Although values have dropped  some, the declines are minimal compared to most other areas locally and certainly nationwide. Surprisingly, days on the market actually got quicker from 106 in April 2008 to ony 60 days for homes sold last month!

There are 395 single family homes for sale in Daphne, with listings averaging $308,657 and $119.12/ sq ft. These are optimistic list prices, as April saw 19 homes sold for an average price of $204,205 ($90.23/sq ft) and 163 days on the market. Compare this with April 2008, when 29 homes sold for an average of $220,865 and $104.46/ sq ft. and 111 days on the market.   Dapne has one of the largest inventories of lovely homes available in the Mobile Bay area, and Barbara Reeves can help guide you into just the right one for you!

The City of Fairhope has a very large inventory, also, with 392 homes for sale. The average list price is $474,005 ($169.93/ sq ft) and these are averaging 160 days on the market. Twelve homes sold in April 2009 for an average of $185,208 or $99.87/ sq ft. Homes that sold spent 279 days on the market, or nine months! In April 2008, there were fifteen sales averaging $407,150 ($152.57/ sq ft).  This is a drop in value of one third. Higher priced homes are simply staying on the market longer and longer with the more affordable homes selling.  The charm and natural beauty of Fairhope have not diminished one bit, and this is an excellent time to enter the market.

image credit: sxc.hu beach in the morning

According to a recent report issued last week, Baldwin County is the top travel destination in Alabama for 2008.  Baldwin county is known for its pristine sandy beaches and inviting Gulf waters and about a third of the workforce in the county is employed in the tourism industry.  State officials cited that more than 4.53 million people visited Baldwin county last year which is about a quarter of all the people who visited the whole state of Alabama.  Mobile county ranked number 4 on the list with 2,670,000 visitors in 2008.

Although the Gulf coast is facing competition from other resort and vacation spots across the country who have decreased rates to attract more business, Alabama’s Gulf coast remains a great place to vacation with family and friends.

For information on real estate in Baldwin County AL including Fairhope, Spanish Fort, and Daphne AL contact your local agent Barbara Reeves.

New condos in Fairhope Alabama are well on their way to completion with 10 built out of the 48 planned units.  The project by developers Matt Bryne and Todd Boothe, is on 4.8 acres and is being built in phases, including a pool and gazebo after the fourth phase is complete.  Given that some of the condos are priced under $100k, they have been quick moving with three of the built condos preselling.  The development is located in the family-friendly Fairhope on Blueberry Lane.

Many retirees or downsizers choose to purchase a condo on the Gulf Coast when looking for a private, convenient way to live without the hassle of maintaining a house or yard.  For more information on condos and other real estate matters on the Gulf Coast of Alabama including Mobile, West Mobile, Fairhope, Daphne, and Spanish Fort, contact your local realtor Barbara Reeves via email or by clicking the “Talk Live” button on this page.

The U.S. Census Bureau data reported today that Baldwin and Mobile counties were among the 10 fastest-growing counties in Alabama last year.  This will be the third year in a row that both Baldwin and Mobile counties made the top ten list; Baldwin County grew by 2,691, while Mobile County grew by 2,212, as recorded last year.  Bob Higgins, vice president of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, reported to the Press Register that healthy growth in these counties is a good thing for the region.  County officials also attribute the growth in these counties to the development of new jobs, such as ThyssenKrupp AG steel plant in Mobile and the University of South Alabama’s cancer center.  Growth is expected to continue this year with favorable economic conditions in Alabama’s Coastal region.

For information on real estate in Mobile and Baldwin Counties including Mobile, West Mobile, Fairhope, Daphne, and Spanish Fort, contact your local realtor Barbara Reeves via email or by clicking the “Talk Live” button.