In a recent report from the Press Register, Daphne Utilities will need to invest an annual amount of $3 million in its infrastructure over the next three years to meet the growing demands of new customers.  In an effort to pay for this maintenance and the necessary upgrades, the utilities’ board may consider raising rates this year; expected increases include approximately 2 percent for water and 10 percent on sewer.

Some of the projects that have been mentioned thus far for Daphne Utilities in the next three years include an upgrade to solid waste processing that will reduce or completely eliminate odors, the installation of a new screening system, and the installation of new pumps and holding tanks.

The number of customers served by the system has grown by 25 percent in the past six years, making these upgrades a necessary solution to continue to support the current customers as well as those anticipated in the coming years.

For more information on real estate in Daphne AL contact your local realtor Barbara Reeves today.

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.

After a recent Daphne Planning Commission meeting, plans for the Caroline Woods subdivision are looking a little different than they originally planned on.  The original plans were approved in November 2008 as part of the Madison Place subdivision concept, but will now be a separate subdivision; also altered is the number of lots required from 86 lots to 79.  Engineer David Diehl feels that this new plan will fit better into the “Smart Growth” category for Daphne and offers an improved design.
Other information discussed regarding this new Daphne subdivision include the possibility of additional studies on surrounding neighborhoods including a traffic study to determine how it would impact traffic flow, and the recommendation of a privacy fence to be built along the northern edge of the development.

For more on the Caroline Woods subdivision plans in Daphne AL visit Baldwin County Now news online.

For more information on real estate in Daphne AL contact your local agent Barbara Reeves today.

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.

Daphne AL has some new developments in store including a French Settlement subdivision and new computer labs and an auditorium for the Library.

The French Settlement Development will include 155 lots in a subdivision located on County Road 13 in Daphne Alabama.  Although it was approved in its original master plan form in August 2007, a traffic study had to be preformed and they will need a second entrance before they start Phase II.

Additionally, Daphne’s Public Library will see some improvements in the coming months, with a 16-station computer lab in the works.  The lab will be 3,191 square feet and will easily be available for formal classes and regular workshops to be held when complete.  Also to come for the Daphne Public Library is an auditorium and additions to the junior, young adult, and reference areas.

For more information on new developments in Alabama’s Gulf Coast area visit baldwincountynow.com.

For more information on real estate in Daphne, Mobile, West Mobile, Spanish Fort, and Fairhope, Alabama, contact your local realtor Barbara Reeves today.

The first stage of clearing the land by Mobile Bay that runs along the edge of Bayside Academy’s campus is underway; this will make way for the construction of a new Bayside arts center.  The Performing Arts Center is planned to be 12,488 square feet and include an auditorium with a seating capacity of 400.  The area by Mobile Bay near the campus where the arts center will be is currently being cleared of trees and other debris to begin the 14 month process of building.  Hitherto, Bayside Drama students had to make do with the athletic gymnasium which presented many technical and logistical problems, as reported by the Press Register.

The new arts center is last on the list of many improvements done to this Daphne AL school over the past two years.

For more information on real estate in Daphne AL contact your local Gulf Coast Homes realtor Barbara Reeves today.

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

Plans for a 45,600 square foot Publix Super Market are moving forward this year in Daphne Alabama. The new super market will be located at the Magnolia Place shopping center and alterations are now taking place to create a pharmacy lane behind Blockbuster Video, and additional landscaping will brighten up the area in the parking lot with more greenery.  According to a recent article in the Press Register online, Publix has signed a lease with the building’s owner and the grocery store is expected to open in 2010.

For information about available homes in Daphne Alabama or other Gulf Coast AL homes, contact your local realtor Barbara Reeves today.

List prices for Daphne homes on the market and those pending sale were pretty steady compared with January figures. Sold homes, however, dropped from an average of $220,071 (or $99.89/ square foot) to $191,312 in January ($82.13/sq foot). This represents a fifteen percent loss in one month; certainly something that has not and should not become a trend. On the positive side of the ledger, these sold homes spent 99 days on the market as compared with 126 days in January. With the national housing scene as chaotic as it is, Mobile and the Eastern Shore have done relatively well. We’ll keep our eyes on activity in March to see how this Spring shapes up. It is a great time to view the inventory of available homes with prices so low and the selection so good!

Fourteen homes sold in Daphne during January 2009, as compared with 21 in Jan 2008.  There were 41 homes pending sale last month, compared with 45 one year ago. The average sold price was $220,071 and $99.89 per square foot of living space. These homes spent an average of 126 realdays on the market before selling. There are 426 homes currently on the market with an average price of $293,181 ($117.67/ square foot) and a median of $229,900.  The active homes have been listed for an average of 140 days.  The inventory is so high right now and you can view these available homes at www.barbarasellsdaphne.com.