There may be more houses on the Montgomery market than at any time in its history, and this glut of homes has led to the average price of existing homes in the area dropping about $20,000 in the past two months.

Still, real estate agents said home values in the central Alabama area remain stronger than the national average.

The number of homes on the market have gradually increased over the decades, but the 3,629 homes on the Montgomery market was by far the highest number since the Alabama Real Estate Research and Education Center at the University of Alabama began its tracking of them in 2000.

I have heard it from merchants. I've heard it from car dealers, Realtors and bankers. Sure, Maryland's economy is slowing, they concede. Homes are sitting empty. Store sales are sinking. Loans are going bust.

But the thousands of jobs that the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission is shifting here will not only keep Maryland out of trouble but ensure decent growth even if the country goes into recession.

If only it were so.

Base realignment will limit any pain, true. But the defense jobs moving here are a smaller part of the economy than many believe, and their potential effects have been widely exaggerated.

Jan. 6-Feb. 6, Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana. Festivities begin with the Twelfth Night celebration and feature 43 krewes and 2,000 royalty members in seven colorful parades. Special events for kids and seniors. Lake Charles, LA, 800-456-7952; info@visitlakecharles.org (www.visitlakecharles.org)

Homeowners to receive money after flood damage

The Aldridge Creek water is calm and low today. But that was not the case back in 1999. Torrential rains caused the creek to overflow, destroying several homes in the process.

Thursday night the Huntsville City Council approved a $150,000 settlement. The lawsuit involves 12 families whose homes were flooded in 1999. Some homeowners felt the flood damage could have been prevented. That doesn't sit well with City Council President Glenn Watson, who voted against the settlement.

The Northeast, mainly New Jersey and New York, remains the area with the highest property taxes on homeowners, according to the Tax Foundation.

Further:

Northeast states also have high per capita income; the highest property tax bills, in terms of dollar amounts, are usually found in the areas with the highest incomes.

Rainbow City-based RealtyBid.com, an online real estate auction company, said it saw sharp increases in the number of online listings and sales during the third quarter.

"Our third quarter saw the largest number of homes that have ever been offered for auction on our Web site - well more than 4,000," said Chief Executive Tony Isbell. "That number is a more than 136 percent increase over the third quarter of 2006."

Meanwhile, the number of homes sold through the company's online auction system increased 145 percent during the period.

Small businesses owners---here's your chance to learn how to get press for your business!_____________________________________________________

Once again, The Arts Council (TAC) brings back their popular Annual Publicity Workshop, to be held on Tuesday, 23 October from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the TAC Meeting Room, located next door to the Playhouse in the Von Braun Center, 700 Monroe Street, West (at Clinton Avenue). This informative workshop is designed for any organization who would like pointers on getting publicity coverage from people within the media (an area of particular concern for non-profit groups, but anyone can participate). Learn everything you need to know about maximizing visibility for YOUR organization!

MARIAN ACCARDI Times Business Writer
Publix site on Jeff Road, Alabama 53 to open next Oct. 1

A 70,000-square-foot shopping center - anchored by a 45,600-square-foot Publix Super Market - is scheduled to open next Oct. 1 at Alabama 53 and Jeff Road.

Customers at the Harvest Square shopping center will help pay for road, sewer and other improvements there with an extra penny-per-dollar user fee on purchases. The user fee, on top of Madison County's 5.5 percent sales tax, will boost the total sales tax on purchases at the new center to 6.5 percent.

Former vice chairman of RealtySouth, Henry B. Ray Jr., will be the first real estate executive from Alabama to receive one of the National Association of Realtors' highest honors.

The association will give Ray the Distinguished Service Award at its annual convention in Las Vegas next month.

The award recognizes outstanding contributions and service to the real estate industry, including the association, and the community for at least 25 years. According to a press release, Ray has held at least nine positions for the national association.

New houses keep popping up in the tri-county area, but local builders and real estate agents are noticing a tempered enthusiasm on the part of homebuyers that they hope doesn't translate to a sharper downturn like the one nationwide.

Housing starts across the country dropped by 10.2 percent last month from August, the biggest decline recorded by the federal government in 14 years. The seasonally adjusted annual rate is 1.191 million units.