price point. You can use these situations to your advantage when negotiating the purchase price. Often times you will see incentives such as offers to pay portions of the closing costs. If that is not your concern, try a different angle. Negotiate upgrades or amenities into the contract price. One thIt's not just the weather cooling in the Birmingham, Alabama area! Home sales in Jefferson and Shelby Counties in Alabama have slowed down in comparison to last years volume. When comparing home sales from October 2005 to home sales in October 2006, the volume of homes sold in Jefferson County in October decreased by 13%.

What is more interesting is the month to month increase or decrease in home sales which reflect the current Birmingham real estate market conditions. Shelby County Alabama has experienced a 9% slowdown in home sales from September 2006 through October 2006 with Jefferson County experiencing a slightly higher decrease during the same period.

What Does This Mean to the Home Buyer?

Simple. As a home buyer in Birmingham, Alabama, you have the ability to scrutinize each home for sale to ensure you are purchasing the right home for you. Armed with the knowledge that there are sellers eagerly awaiting your offer can give you better negotiating power and flexibility.

Let me give you an example. In new construction developments, most builders want to sell their homes without having to make extended interest payments waiting for the right price point. You can use these situations to your advantage when negotiating the purchase price. Often times you will see incentives such as offers to pay portions of the closing costs. If that is not your concern, try a different angle. Negotiate upgrades or amenities into the contract price. One thi

ober decreased by 13%.

What is more interesting is the month to month increase or decrease in home sales which reflect the current Birmingham real estate market conditions. Shelby County Alabama has experienced a 9% slowdown in home sales from September 2006 through October 2006 with Jefferson County experiencing a slightly higher decrease during the same period.

What Does This Mean to the Home Buyer?

Simple. As a home buyer in Birmingham, Alabama, you have the ability to scrutinize each home for sale to ensure you are purchasing the right home for you. Armed with the knowledge that there are sellers eagerly awaiting your offer can give you better negotiating power and flexibility.

Let me give you an example. In new construction developments, most builders want to sell their homes without having to make extended interest payments waiting for the right price point. You can use these situations to your advantage when negotiating the purchase price. Often times you will see incentives such as offers to pay portions of the closing costs. If that is not your concern, try a different angle. Negotiate upgrades or amenities into the contract price. One th

ounty experiencing a slightly higher decrease during the same period.

What Does This Mean to the Home Buyer?

Simple. As a home buyer in Birmingham, Alabama, you have the ability to scrutinize each home for sale to ensure you are purchasing the right home for you. Armed with the knowledge that there are sellers eagerly awaiting your offer can give you better negotiating power and flexibility.

Let me give you an example. In new construction developments, most builders want to sell their homes without having to make extended interest payments waiting for the right price point. You can use these situations to your advantage when negotiating the purchase price. Often times you will see incentives such as offers to pay portions of the closing costs. If that is not your concern, try a different angle. Negotiate upgrades or amenities into the contract price. One th

th the knowledge that there are sellers eagerly awaiting your offer can give you better negotiating power and flexibility.

Let me give you an example. In new construction developments, most builders want to sell their homes without having to make extended interest payments waiting for the right price point. You can use these situations to your advantage when negotiating the purchase price. Often times you will see incentives such as offers to pay portions of the closing costs. If that is not your concern, try a different angle. Negotiate upgrades or amenities into the contract price. One th

price point. You can use these situations to your advantage when negotiating the purchase price. Often times you will see incentives such as offers to pay portions of the closing costs. If that is not your concern, try a different angle. Negotiate upgrades or amenities into the contract price. One thing to remember is to keep your demands realistic. A good real estate agent can be a great asset when negotiating in this manner.

Selling in a Buyer's Market

In a buyer's market like the one currently in Birmingham, Alabama, in order to market and sell your home in an effective and timely manner, you need a professional. I am not saying it cannot be done without a real estate agent, just that a professional real estate agent with the experience and know how will be able to successfully market your home during these market conditions.

Here is another example. In a popular neighborhood, a home owner decides to sell their home themselves. The "For Sale By Owner" sign is placed in the yard. The sign remains where it was planted for three months. Their neighbor, in basically the same house, lists their home for sale with a professional Realtor®. An open house, magazine advertisement, directional signs, and MLS submission later, the home is sold. The original sellers have abandoned their "For Sale by Owner" sign for the sign of a different realty company than their neighbors. No open house, no advertisements, no directional signs, just listed in the MLS. Today