This short sale happened pretty quickly. From listing to closing day was just under 54 days.

The negotiator was literally unavailable so I was told by the CSRs that the offer had been rejected. But here’s the kicker: one CSR revealed that GMAC’s latest estimate of value was actually less than the offer. You heard me right. The offer was for more than GMAC’s estimate of value.

Call me crazy, but rejection of the offer defied logic to the nth degree. My response:

“You mean to tell me that GMAC’s estimate of value is lower than the offer and yet the offer is being rejected? In other words, I need to focus my efforts on the remote possibility of finding the one unwitting investor that would be willing to offer $5000 more than the list price?” (GMAC actually was shooting for a net of $5000 greater than their estimate of value).

Enter GMAC executives. Armed with the email addresses of 8 GMAC execs, I sent a mass email to them all on 11/7/11. The very same day, I got a response from one of the execs. Two days after that I received a call letting me know that the offer was back in the hands of the investors and that I would have an answer by the close of business day on 11/8/11.

On 11/8/2011, they kept their promise. I got a response of “APPROVED.” Got the approval letter on 11/11/11 and after jumping over some other hurdles, we finally closed today.

Another Birmingham Alabama Successful Short Sale.

The seller’s happy. The buyer’s happy. And I’m happy.

On October 24, 2011, Lake Ridge Lot #5 will be auctioned. Physical address of lot is 185 Sweetbay, Maylene, AL 35114. This will be an incredible opportunity for the cash buyer.

Auction Location: Embassy Suites Birmingham Hoover
2960 John Hawkns Parkway, Hoover, AL 35244

Monday, October 24, 2011, 7:00 pm

Contact Charita Cadenhead (205_ 321-1200) for registration and bidding information. 185 Sweetbay Auction Information.

3938 Caylan Cove
Birmingham, AL 35215
USA

Price: $95,900
Main Features:
Residential Rental,2 Bedrooms,2 Bathrooms,1 Unit

More Info for 3938 Caylan Cove.

Description:
Cute and cozy corner lot garden home. Just 8 years old. Tasteful warm colors throughout. Beautiful corner lot located in Heather Pointe! Just minutes from everything! Spacious 2 bedroom 2 bath with a very open floor plan! Great Room features fireplace and trey ceiling! Kitchen has tons of counter space and cabinets! Master suite is gracious and features a huge walk in closet, large shower, his and her sinks AND a garden tub! Home sits on a great level corner lot with patio and privacy fenced back yard! Seller to paint walls neutral color.

Since the beginning of Bham WIiRE’s existence, our motto has been “You’ve Got Options” and now, I am glad to say that you have even more options.

I’ve recently become an Accredited Consutant in Real Estate® (ACRE®). As such, you’ve got more choices than you’ve ever had before as it relates to the approach that you use to sell your home and how you pay for the services that you received from an ACRE®.

We’ve always understood that you’re just trying to save money in real estate agent commissions and I understand that many agents have resented you for that. At the risk of being an outcast in my industry, I must say that I’ve always understood the need and desire of For Sale by Owners to save on commission. Who doesn’t want to save money? I can’t think of a soul. The real dilemma for you has been “the all or nothing” approach offered by Realtors® and real estate agents alike. You know what I mean: the approach whereby the real estate agent is fully in charge of every aspect of the process and you pay a designated commission upon the sale of the home.

For many years, if you were unsuccessful at selling your homes, you may have ultimately listed with an agent and given that one and only “all or nothing option”. As an ACRE, I can offer you more choices in ways that are important to you be allowing you to choose from a menu of services. And the best part about that is that you get to pay for only the services that you desire.

Now before you get too excited, trust me when I say that I am not talking about taking a single penny from you just for sticking your listing in the MLS. There are enough companies that offer that service and not much, if anything, else.

Make no mistake, I am a Realtor® and I take that very seriously. My experience and training has prepared me to:

1. be an advocate for you
2. offer you and sound counsel and guidance
3. offer you the representation unmatched by an untrained person attempting to sell their home and most importantly
4. manage and troubleshoot the pitfalls known widely throughout the world that is real estate.

I’ve been trained to do far more than that and as a practicing Realtor®, my experience counts for far more than you think. Sure you’ll save money, given your options, but that is not synonymous with discounting. There are even real estate agents that don’t thing that consulting services have a chance in this industry. But think about it, those are the same agents who didn’t believe that FSBO websites would proliferate the way that they have. Those are the agents who are all to comfortable with the “way that things have always been done.” And it’s quite possible that those are the agents who fear change.

One thing I know about you already without having met you is that you don’t fear the unknown. Heck if you did, you wouldn’t be trying to sell your own home. Am I right?

Thirty minutes of your time. That’s all I ask. Contact me today at 205-321-1200 and let’s talk about those options that you never knew you had.

Charita Cadenhead, Your Metropolitan Birmingham, Alabama Real Estate Broker of Choice

Got a question about Metropolitan Birmingham real estate? Just ask Charita. Need a good Realtor(R) to help you find a new home or sell the one you already own? Just shoot me an email. In need of a rental property? Subscribe to be notified whenever we list a new rental or home for sale.

It’s finally ALMOST here.  I’m talking about the 39h Annual 39th Greek Festival to be held next weekend (September 29, 30 & October 1.  My friend Georgia Cosmas called me yesterday to see if I could distribute some flyers for the festival.  Asking was just a formality.  How do you say no to Georgia?  I’ll tell how……. you don’t.

The hub of the 39th Annual Greek Festival will be at the Holy Trinity - Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Catheral located at 307 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35205 (Birmingham’s Southside District near UAB).  The festival will be full of food, fun, dancing, food, arts, crafts, jewelry, food, clothing, and did I mention food.  Below is the mention, but you can also oder take out for 10 or more.  I’ll post that menu later.

Mark your calendar and eat lightly this week because the weekend of September 29th, you little eyes and tummy won’t be able to resist any of this delicious fare:

We know that you many home buyers like yourself are looking for nothing less than full brick homes and if you’re looking for a home Fairfield’s Glen Oak Subdivision, then it’s like you’re just the one I’m talking about. Block after block in Glen Oaks, you’ll find nothing but brick homes and current there are a quite a number of these homes on the market right now (all with either 3 or 4 bedrooms and more than one bath). Actually, there is only one home that has 1 full and 1 half bath, all of the others have at least 2 full baths. Prices range from a low $79,900 t $139,900. Two of the best features (other than the fact that they are brick) of these homes is that they all have garages and full or partially finished basements. If this sounds like what you’ve been looking for then give me a call at 205-321-1200 and we can definitely work towards getting you into any one of these fine homes. You can even start your home search using the MLS on the Bham WIiRE website. You can create a search based on your own criteria right down to finishes on the hardwood floors. But for the very best in search results. Contact Charita Cadenhead, and I’ll guide you through the home buying process with ease.

Two of the most often asked questions by consumers are:

1.Is now a good time to buy a home and
2.Is now a good time to sell a home
Both are excellent questions and both hinge on the same answer which is a question in itself:

Can you afford it? Can you afford to sell? Can you afford to buy?

The answer to the buyer question may be a bit more obvious. Of course you’ll need to be able to afford the monthly mortgage. But what about the cost leading up to obtaining the mortgage? Do you have a down-payment (at least the 3.5% required if financing FHA).

Do you have money for the home inspection? I don’t want to even think about you buying a home and not having it inspected.

Your lender will need to know is the home worth the money you are attempting to borrow. Do you have money for the appraisal? If you don’t, unless you’re paying cash, there will be no home purchase.

So let’s say all of that is a go and yes you have all of that “pre-purchase money” and have managed to go to closing and the deed has been transferred.

You’ve got the mortgage covered, but do you have money to furnish it? Do you money to update the home just the way you’ve dreamed about? We haven’t even talked about routine maintenance yet: interior and exterior upkeep, regular maintenance such as HVAC service contracts, interior and exterior painting. What if you need a new roof in a few years? Are you already planning for it?

Buying a home is about more than just being able to pay the mortgage. It’s a responsibiity to maintain the value of your home through regular maintenance, upkeep and updating. If the day ever comes when you need or want to sell your home, there will be buyers just like you once were, who are looking for a home that has been well maintained. Every detailed will be scrutinized by that familiar buyer’s eye.

When buying a home in Birmingham’s Forest Park, it’s not all just about the house. It’s about unique architecural features that are found in these historic treasures. Forest Park is an official Historic District.

Such features as:

Built-in cabinetry (wall units, bookcases, armoires, etc)

Window seating (where one can sit for hours on end and gaze out the window or enjoy a good book, watch the sun rise and set from the best view in the house).

Living in Forest Park means living among neighborhoods who enjoy walking to local shops and restaurants (Zoe’s, V Richards, not just for the sake of shopping, but for the sheer benefit of slow stroll that allows one to take and enjoy the fine craftsmanship that line both sides of the street on any given block. Forest Park: There’s so much more to living there. Looking to buy a home in Forest Park? Contact me at 205-321-1200. I think I’ve got just the place for you.

We’ll be sitting on the porch awaiting your arrival to view this beautiful home with it’s new hardwood floor in the living room, modern kitchen, 3 spacious bedrooms and 2 full baths.  From the moment you drive into the Sleepy Hollow community, you’ll be greeted with pride of ownership and as you approach 310 Martin Drive, the first thing you’ll notice is the lush, green grass that almost looks like carpet.  It’s been a couple of years since the exterior was painted, but it still looks very fresh.

But wait.  I’ll bet you’re thinking that the exterior is wood siding.  It’s actually a concrete based product which in turn means, added durability.

It’s been a hot one in Birmingham and lucky for the buyers of this home, the current owner has made certain to have the HVAC system serviced twice a year for the optimum in cooling comfort.

I’ll let you finish painting this picture during your visit to the Open House.  So we’ll see you on Sunday.  But here’s a sneak preview.