Here in Huntsville Alabama there is a GREEN housing effort on the way.

With skyrocketing energy bills, it's no surprise that "green building" is taking hold in residential construction as a way to try to curb that cost, as well as promote more efficient use of resources.
Jason Reid, regulatory affairs director with the Home Builders Association of Alabama (HBAA), agrees markets forces are really " ...shaping the debate when it comes to energy efficiency and green building." Builders requested a green program so the association partnered with the state Department of Economic and Community Affairs and Southface Energy Institute to provide the EnergyKey program. As the only statewide energy efficient/green building program, it already has 100 certified builders with several of them in the Huntsville area.

What about your city, is it going GREEN - forest Green?
This post is brought to your by HUNTSVILLE PR - Huntsville Alabama real estate

If you are a realtor or a real estate webmaster or SEO you know the important of backlinks, particularly FREE back links.
Well, free backlinks come a dime a dozen, so when the oppportunity knocks your should take it.
This site www.realout.com is a free real estate backlink directory. Post your real estate links for free. If you would like your links on every page of the directory a small fee of around $10.00 will surfice.
As for me i have a site www.huntsvillepr.com that is open for THREE WAY links.
Give these sites a try, you will not regret it!

Excerpt from the Huntsville Times

Residents satisfied new owner will honor contracts
A federal bankruptcy judge Thursday approved ACTS Retirement Life Communities of Pennsylvania's $27.25 million bid to buy Huntsville retirement community Carlton Cove.
Nonprofit Carlton Cove opened in 2003 but was not able to keep up its debt payments and declared bankruptcy in August 2006. The 43-acre south Huntsville facility was about $70 million in debt when it filed for bankruptcy.

Carlton Cove's lawyers, residents and board of directors decided last year to bring in a real estate firm to market the facility. ACTS of West Point, Pa., was among five bidders in an auction Tuesday.

The agreement is expected to close next month, and Andy Setlow, Carlton Cove's residents committee chairman, said residents are "very satisfied" with the outcome.
"We conducted extensive due diligence on all of the bidders," Setlow said, "and we agreed the successful bidder's was the best bid. We expect we will have that total revitalization we've been looking for since the beginning of this process."

ACTS is the country's largest operator of continuing care retirement communities, with operations in five states, including Florida and Georgia, according to a company fact sheet. An ACTS spokesman confirmed the purchase, but said confidentiality agreements barred the company from commenting for a few more days.

more on the story

More on Carton Cove

The latest review of Huntsville Homes sale from the Huntsville Times. Not encouraging but tolerable.

Building permitsalso have droppedby 43 percent
Existing home sales in the Huntsville area dropped more than 24 percent during the first three months of 2008.

During the first quarter, 999 homes sold in the Huntsville market, down from 1,321 for the same period last year, according to the North Alabama Multiple Listing Service for Madison, Limestone, Jackson, Marshall and Morgan counties.

March saw the largest drop, with home sales plunging 27.3 percent, from 542 in March 2007 to 394 this year. Tommy Adams, owner and broker at Rise Real Estate, blamed the drop on several factors, including tighter mortgage lending guidelines, higher gas prices and the deflated housing market elsewhere. "People coming here can't sell their houses back home," said Adams, who has been selling homes in the Huntsville market for more than 30 years, including the late 1970s, when mortgage interest rates were 18 percent.

Find out more on the Huntsville home sales story here

Whether you live in Huntsville Alabama or any other city in the United States and of the age of at list 18 you would know how important it is to maintain a good credit score. A good credit score ( 700 and above) can have a great impact on the amount of interest you will spend on a Alabama home mortgage.

Because of FICO new rules you can now contest discrepancies on your credit report from late payments and creditors mistakes.
Although the average credit scores normally fall within the range of 600 to 800, for Alabama it is 676. If your credit score falls within that range, you should still double check your credit score be visiting creditreport.com or annualcreditreport.com. A slight difference in credit score can make a huge difference in a car loan or home loan.

If you have a bad credit score or discrepancies on your Huntsville credit report, you will need to contact the company claiming your credit problem or your creditor - as well as one or all of the three major credit bureaus; Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion

Weichert, Realtors - The Executive Group will host a free real estate career seminar each Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the company's office at 2304 S. Memorial Parkway. Call 533-7210.

March 28
OSBO will hold a special networking event for Realtors and builders/contractors at The Heritage Club from 2 to 5 p.m. Sponsorships and display tables are available to market to this specialized audience. The cost of sponsorship is $250. Setup will begin at 9:30 a.m.; lunch for sponsors served at noon. RSVP and walk-in registration is from 1:30 to 2 p.m. and the presentation will be 2 to 5. Visit www.osbo.org. For information about sponsorship or attending, contact Jim Campbell at jcampbell@osbo.org. .

April 5
Madison County Real Estate Investors Association will host "Flipping for Massive Profit." This all-day seminar at the Von Braun Center East Hall, beginning at 9 a.m., will feature A&Es "Flip This House" star Paul Esajian. Preregistration is required; lunch will be provided. Cost is $39.95 for REIA members; $49.95 for nonmembers. Visit www.FlipThisHouseHuntsville.com or call 829-2304.

April 29
Gulas Group will present a two-session "DNA Selling Process" class through April 10 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. This class for salespeople wanting to improve their sales will be presented at BizTech, 515 Sparkman Drive. Ted Gulas, sales development expert, author and speaker who specializes in developing sales teams across Alabama, will be the instructor. A book is included. Cost is $895. To register, call 464-9046 or 205-870-7080 or visit www.gulasgroup.com/event-calendar.shtml.

If you are in the real estate business, you understand clearly the need and the great benefit in owning more than one real estate domain name or website.
With more than one website you have the flexibility to do linking across all your websites and increase your backlinks whicn, in turn, will increase your PAGE RANK and ultimately your website traffic.
Here are some REAL ESTATE domain NAME for SALE:
ehuntsvillerealestate.com - domain name
www.gilescountyhomes.com - PR 2 website site
www.pulaskihomes.net - PR 2 website
www.huntsvillealabamarealestate.us - PR 2 website
www.huntsvillealabamarealestate.tv - PR 2 website
www.dothanrealtors.com - PR 2 website
www.pulaskitennessee.net - PR 2 website
www.huntsvillehomes.tv - PR2 website
www.realestatealabama.biz - domain name
www.alabamarentals.org - website with about 30 backlinks
CONTACT ME: LINKS@HUNTSVILLEPR.COM

I would like to hear from the real estate agents, SEO's and others that have been blogging on Active rain for some time. Have you seen any visible effect on your PAGE RANK, website traffic - in fact your overal business.
What are the best way to blog on Active rain to draw traffic to your site. Is blogging to increase traffic from a COPY and marketing standpoint different than blogging to increase Ranking, or are they both mutually dependent?
I have been blogging for the past 4 months or so and i have manage to increase my ranking for keyword HUNTSVILLE ALABAMA REAL ESTATE to around # FOUR position in Google. Of course, i have down other things such as social media and article submission, but i am interested in hearing the effects on blogging on your real estate business.

If you are a residence of Huntsville Alabama or your home is located in Madison county area chances are you are not stridently affected by the mortgage fiasco that now holds the financial markets in a blizzard.

However, if you own one of the one in 1,758 homes, or 0.06 percent of the North Alabama homes that are in foreclosure or facing foreclosure, there might be some solution to your problem.
Talk to your mortgage credit or loan company and renegotiate the loan. Banks do no want your house; they want your money. Ask for an extension of the loan or a month or two grace- period.

If you have bad credit or little credit some Huntsville mortgage lenders or banks are issuing FHA loans for customers with credit glitches that result in lower credit scores. In addition, the interest is affordable given that interest rates are gyrating around 6 percent and construction cost easing, NOW is the time to purchase a home, refinance or to renegotiate you Alabama mortgage loans.

Visit Alabama mortgage for a list of mortgage companies that operate in Alabama and the daily mortgage rates.

Also study the Huntsville real estate market. Visit sites like www.besthomesofhuntsville.com or www.huntsvillepr.com for Huntsville Alabama real estate market news

In a large part, Huntsville Alabama real estate market has weathered the mortgage foreclosures storms that are now raking and riving the nation. Even in other parts of Alabama, like in Jefferson County, whose financial center is Birmingham, the situation is dire. The county is now considering on filing bankruptcy to settle a financial crisis surrounding $3.2 billion of sewer debt.

In the Huntsville / Madison county area, however, housing prices have steadily appreciated, but not with a balloon effect like in other parts of the country, such as in California, which tellingly suffered, and is still suffering from the real estate crisis. In the last quarter of 2007 one of every 194 homes, or 0.52 percent, in the U.S. was facing foreclosure, according to real estate industry figures. In Madison County, it was one of every 1,758 homes, or 0.06 percent.

Huntsville in a strong housing market means sound Huntsville mortgage loans are available and Huntsville mortgage lenders attest that good loans are available for houses in Huntsville area. With the anticipation of the BRAC Huntsville effect, the increase in business from Huntsville Research Park (the second largest of its kind in the nation), and industrial development like the Toyota car manufacturing plant housing demand has remained strong and consistent.

These factors have created a buyer's market. Mortgage loans are readily available for those who qualify. Rates are low (ranging from an average of 5.7 to 6.5 percent in Alabama) to help the economy and housing market improve in general, and Huntsville real estate professionals are urging prospective buyers that now is the right time to buy.

"I don't think we should be concerned with the activity we are experiencing in this area," says Lofton, manager of New South Federal Savings Bank in Huntsville. "I think we are still in a buyer's market, but we all know that can turn around quickly. I think building a home now would be smart and timely."
The primary factor in any loan is your credit score. A good credit score (700 and up) will likely qualify you for a conforming loan and a lower interest rate with better options. New technology and a host of financial options make it easier for people with good credit to apply and receive an Alabama mortgage fast. Software allows them to enter a loan amount, house price and credit score into a manifold of programs that can qualify you for a loan. An immense portfolio of loan products is readily available.

If you are thinking about a home in Huntsville Alabama, but you are worried about your credit score, some Huntsville banks are issuing FHA loans for customers with credit glitches that result in lower credit scores. In addition, the interest is affordable given that interest rates are gyrating around 6 percent and construction cost easing, NOW is the time to purchase your dream home.
Most Alabama mortgage loans are underwritten in conjunction with the Alabama Housing Finance Authority and many banks offer 100 percent financing – no down payment - and a 30-year fixed rate mortgage. People in a low- to medium-income bracket can qualify for these loans, making it feasible for them to own a home.

If you live in Huntsville or are considering relocating to the area, now is the right time to purchase your Huntsville home. For more information on Huntsville Alabama real estate market visit http://www.huntsvillepr.com/ or Visit http://www.alabamasmortgage.com/ for more Alabama mortgage information

If you are in the real estate market either as a commercial property investor or you are just looking for a home in Alabama, Huntsville offers a rich choice of properties at fantastic prices: from enticing 3 bedroom homes to prestigious, sophisticated mansions; from secluded vacation retreats to exquisite condos and townhouses with graceful curb appeal.
Come to Huntsville and witness for yourself the amazing real estate growth that the city has engendered. While the prices of homes have fallen as much as 23.4 percent nationally and 16.9 percent in Alabama, for January 2007, in comparison with the year before, Huntsville homes sales has been steady. Thanks to the Base Realignment and Closures ( BRAC ) that is expected to draw over 5000 jobs to the Huntsville Alabama area in the next couple of years, mainly from scientist and army personnel from Virginia and Georgia.
In addition, significance attaches to the fact that while the national foreclosure rate is about 5.5 percent, the highest figure in the U.S. in 20 years, Huntsville is cruising at a sustainable rate of 0.25 percent.
In 2007 Huntsville total home sale volume was $985,972,253 a boost of 5.1% over 2006. The average sales price of $212,494 was a handsome increase of 4.6% over 2006. The median sales price of a home sold in Alabama during the fourth quarter of 2007 was $130,260. Huntsville, however, has experience dramatic changes towards more luxurious, higher priced homes. Through November 2007, the average price of a home was $196,549. “Those figures don't include another roughly 500 generally higher-end homes a year sold by builders not included the Realtors' multiple listing service”, according the Huntsville Realtor Association.
In Huntsville, the variance we’re observing today is that the price ranges of new homes five years ago, was in the region of $80,000 to $400,000. Now that range is an amazing $125,000 to $2 million.
Huntsville corporate housing market has also been blessed by the influx, primarily due to the boon from the city’s Research Park, the second largest of its kind in the Nation. Exquisite properties are being developed in the south of Huntsville mainly in the eastern section which is more tranquil, surrounded by gorgeous scenery and with a fantastic view of the city. Real estate properties in The Ledges, The Hampton Cove, masterpiece homes nestled at the foot-hills of Monte Sano Mountain, just a few miles from all the amenities of the city, are just some of the sophisticated properties in the area.
The Huntsville commercial property and office market remained upbeat and on the move in 2007 with an “overall vacancy rate of 7.36 percent, which is well below the national average of 12.5 percent," according to Bart Smith, a managing broker with Graham & Co. in Huntsville, Birmingham-based company that publishes an annual report tracking the local office, industrial and retail markets.
If you are thinking of Alabama, think of Huntsville. With a low crime rate, low unemployment percentages, the distinction of being rated as one of the top best places to raise children and with remarkable real estate properties at attractive prices, Huntsville is the place to call home.
For more information on Huntsville Alabama real estate market visit: www.huntsvillepr.com

Michael Taylor is the broker/owner of Rebate Real Estate in Indianapolis Indiana. You can visit his Indianapolis Real Estate site to learn more about the Indianapolis real estate market. Michael Taylor and Rebate Real Estate specialize in Indianapolis New Homes and also Carmel Real Estate.

The greatest real estate agent in the world is a contest that was thought up by Eric Bramlett out of Austin Texas in which a group of real estate agents and real estate webmasters from around world compete for the keyword greatest real estate agent in the world. The rules are pretty simple: use any domain under your control (blog, website, forum) to rank the highest in Google on May 1st 2008. The contest hub is the blog section at Real Estate Webmasters where one can find all sorts of updates, entries, and general information about the greatest real estate agent in the world contest.

The greatest real estate agent in the world contest is a friendly SEO contest to test and share SEO skills and tactics among real estate agents and webmasters. The winner will of course getting bragging rights, will be dubbed the greatest real estate agent in the world according to Google, and as a very nice added bonus Morgan Carey has offered a free real estate website with a custom IDX and hosting for a year which totals over $4,000 in value. What makes the contest so intriguing is that everyone must share either what they did to gain the rankings they did or what they learned from others who we able to gain rankings.

Do I Need To Be an SEO Expert to Take Part?
No way. That is the point of the competition, just to have fun and learn from yourself and others and probably create a few friends along the way. Seasoned veterans and newbies alike can and should participate is this exercise. In fact, it could be argued that the newbies stand much more to gain as far as knowledge goes and will benefit the most from this competition even if they dont win.

Sounds Fun How Do I Join?
There is no entry form of need to announce your submission to the greatest real estate agent in the world competition, all that you need to do post a blog and start getting links to it. If you are so inclined and want to make a splash, a post at Real Estate Webmasters blog section will easily let everyone know that you are in the competition.

So if you are a real estate agent from anywhere in the world and would a shot a being the greatest real estate agent in the world:, head over to Real Estate Webmasters, read the rules, post a blog, and start getting some quality links.

Bookmark you Alabama real estate pages and see your traffic grow.

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In April this year, many real estate agents across America found their Google rankings had suddenly slipped causing an outcry on SEO forums across the internet. The main cause of the furore was Google's decision to manually punish estate agents using a web design and hosting company called Advanced Access.

The company has over 30,000 real estate agents on its books and as part of the "benefit" of using their services, agents receive reciprocal links from other companies on their network.As we explained in our Introduction to Link Building, Google only wants to count "editorial citations" when passing authority. From Google's point of view, the fact that 30,000 agents were using the same company for their web hosting gave them an unfair advantage over their competitors, so Matt Cutts manually went in and scrubbed the value of these links.Google did not do this algorithmically, so all reciprocal links are not worthless (although they have been significantly devalued recently), but it demonstrates their intentions.

Jennings Public Relations & Advertising (JPRA) recently generated $1 million in online sales leads using social media and viral public relations tactics for the Metropolitan, a new downtown Kansas City condo development. Download a free copy of the Metropolitan's case study: http://jenningspr.net/metropolitan.html According to Phillip Gesue, director of acquisitions and development of Time Equities, Inc., an online initiative was a critical component of the Metropolitan's overall marketing strategy.

"We wanted to drive online traffic to the Web site and increase search engine rankings to ensure that potential buyers discovered the Metropolitan and all of its amenities, said Gesue." JPRA, a public relations and social media firm, created a series of three campaigns with compelling human interest stories, featuring current condo residents and illustrated the luxuries of living and working downtown.

Valerie Jennings, CEO and president of JPRA, explained that the success of the campaigns were a result of solid content, Web 2.0 technology and search engine optimization. "We researched the market and online community, listened to current and new buyers and created a series of stories. True social media is not about companies, it is about consumers. That is why this content resonated with prospective buyers," said Jennings. Watch Jennings speak about the future of social media and viral PR: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed2S_8Z4ET0

Marketing your Alabama real estate? Keep moving! This is the RIGHT time to push forward. When the markets are slow and some of your competitors are naturally droping off the market - you push ever harder.

Here is some vital data from redfin and Trulia

The company’s analysts pored through sales data and found that, among other things, listings that make their debuts on Fridays draw 7.7 percent more visitors than those introduced on Thursdays

“There’s no doubt that a lot of brokers are feeling some pain right now,” said Pete Flint, chief executive of Trulia, a real estate search service based in San Francisco. “They’re spending less on advertising than they were, but they’re spending a significantly larger portion online, because it’s cheaper, and it’s where the audience is.”

If sometimes get that "blank" feeling when trying to come up with description words for your Alabama real estate like i have, please check out these site with real estate description words. These words sure help my clients in selling Huntsville Alabama real estate fast

REindex report:
The states with the most real estate searches in the last half of 2007 were: Massachusetts, Florida, Texas, New York, California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Minnesota, and Alabama. The REindex Top Ten Report is not an indicator of a positive or negative real estate market for any state, but it is an indicator of Internet search interest. "Missouri and Alabama are surprises in the list this time," notes Coker. "When you understand the economic development going on around Mobile, the Alabama inclusion makes sense. Missouri takes a little more research."

The Internet is continuing to transform the real estate business. Buyers are searching online at record levels and sellers are becoming more aware of the necessity of having a web presence.

In fact, last year over 80% of home buyers search online for their new home. It is becoming clear that soon marketing a home on just one web site will not be enough.

The best online real estate leads are the ones where buyers are able to actually find a home they like, not fill out forms and hope someone emails them.

If you are looking to benefit from online exposure in your Alabama real estate business visit www.huntsvillepr.com

real estate education and marketing

As always i keep browsing the net daily to find great real estate resources which i can share with you. I stumbled upon this awesone site for real estate investors - http://www.creonline.com/ . Give them a try