Upcoming Events in Fairhope
The City of Fairhope has posted an events calendar for upcoming activities that are open to the public through the rest of the Spring. Events include a Historic Home tour, an artwalk, and a polo event at the Point between Grand Hotel and Iberiabank with a shrimp boil.
Below is a sampling of some approaching events. To view the full calendar, visit the City of Fairhope’s events page here.
Fairhope Hisotoric Homes Tour
Sunday, April 29, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Please join us for the annual Fairhope Historic Homes Tour. Sunday April 29, 2012 1-4 pm. All proceeds go to promote historical preservation in the Fairhope Community.
Cost $10 in advance / $15 day of event
For additional information call 251-929-3944
First Friday Smart Walks
Friday, May 4, 7:15 a.m., Fairhope Library
First Friday Smart Walks is now in their 4th year of being organized by the nonprofit Smart Coast in collaboration with the city of Fairhope and many local merchants. Fairhope citizens are invited to come join the students and their parents on these fun walks. The last walk of the school year will be held on Friday, May 4th. Meet at Fairhope Library at 7:15am.
New Watershed Pictures!
Here are a few of our latest pictures from the Watershed construction progress. The third photo is of the Colony at the Grand vegetable garden. Residents are welcome to turn the soil, weed, or just pick. a garden club was also formed for Lakewood members who chose to participate, and our residents, who are also Lakewood members, to experience the planning and planting of a garden. The final result will be a grand meal at the Lakewood Club featuring the garden produce! Visit here for more information on The Watershed.
CELEBRATE SPRING! COME TO BEAUTIFUL FAIRHOPE, ALABAMA!
60th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival in Fairhope – March 16, 17, 18th.
“Over 230 exhibitors from throughout the nation will bring their best works to show and sell at this prestigious juried show. Live entertainment will be going on throughout the three-day event and unique cuisine will be served up in the food court. It all takes place on the streets of beautiful downtown Fairhope, Alabama.”
For more information about the Festival, visit the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce site here!
ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, March 16
10:00 - Fairhope Elementary School 3rd Grade Chorus
11:00 – Fairhope High School Jazz Band
12:00 – Capt. Lee Linblom
1:30 – Mark R. Kent
2:30 – Sara Stearman
4:00 – Faulkner State College “Sun Chief Sound”
SATURDAY, March 17
10:00 – Jubilee Music Show Choir & Children’s Chorus
11:00 – Singer-Songwriter Christina Cecrle
12:00 – 2011 Dogwood Trail Court Introductions
12:30 – Eastern Shore Twirlers
1:15 – Martha Umphrey
2:00 – Baklava Belly Dance & The Gypsy Chicks
3:30 – 6:20 Jazz Lab
SUNDAY, March 18
10:00 – Seminole String Band
11:30 – Jon Miller Band
1:00 – Zuri Dancers
2:00 – Southern Edge Dance Studio
3:00 – First Baptist Fairhope Choruses
Low mortgage rates and incredible pricing have helped the state of Alabama see a 17.6% increase in January’s home sales when compared to a year go, marking the first positive sales growth in January year over year since 2006! According to the Alabama Center for Real Estate (ACRE), January is the 7th month in a row that reported increased home sales when compared to one year previous.
Below is an excerpt from the ACRE report on AL.com:
“The good news is that January’s report continues the market momentum ushered in by the December report that showed Alabama’s 2011 residential sales ended 2.0 percent ahead of the prior year. The year-end figures reflect the first positive annual residential sales growth in Alabama since 2005.
In January, Alabama residential sales outperformed the US market which showed an increase of .7 percent from the prior year (January 2011), according to the National Association of Realtors.”
New Watershed Pictures!
Here are a couple of recent shots of the Watershed progress, we have windows! This is the view from the golf course.
According to recent reports from the housing index generated by the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo, the most affordable time to purchase a home in the last two decades is now. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Index looks at the percentage of new and existing homes on the market that could have been purchased by families who are earning the national median income of $64.200. The recent index found this figure to be 75.9%, the highest in the 20-year history of this index.
The drop in homes prices and the record low mortgage rates have created this “perfect storm” of buyer favorability in the real estate market. This, obviously, comes as no surprise to buyers though. The inventory of available new homes and existing homes for sale has been shrinking while building contracts are on the rise, suggesting that the market is poised for a successful future.
Watershed Lots Being Built
Here are a couple of gorgeous shots of one of the latest Watershed lots under construction. We love these views, enjoy!
A Few new Views from Watershed
Below are some shots of the newly designed Watershed site here at the Colony at the Grand. The unique homes at Watershed sit along the picturesque third hole of the golf course. There are only 4 building sites remaining, so don’t hesitate to talk to our friendly sales team today for more information!
Entrance to Watershed
Homesite view of the course
Second view of the course from the homesite
This week the Alabama Center for Real Estate (ACRE) took a look back at homes sales in Baldwin County throughout 2011 and made a few predictions for 2012. Overall, Baldwin County had a positive year compared to much of the country, despite a struggling market. One of the most positive stats from the report showed that the total number of transactions jumped 18.5% in 2011 compared to 2010. Total sales volume also closed over $1.9 billion, which is a 17% increase over 2010.
So how will Baldwin County’s residential sales do in 2012? ACRE’s has predicted even further volume and transaction growth throughout the year. The inventory will shrink as the foreclosure sales pick up, increasing demand and hopefully pushing prices upward. The current affordability of homes will most likely convince many families who have been renting for the last couple of years to jump back into home ownership. As long as the banks recognize that there is once again a growing market of people who are willing to take on new debt, the strict lending requirements may start to loosen as the industry shows steady growth.
Overall, the outlook for Baldwin County is as positive as it is anywhere else in the country, let alone the region. If ACRE’s predictions for 2012 are as accurate as they were for 2011, Baldwin County should certainly be looking at another positive year. To read more about ACRE’s outlook, click here.
The Alabama Center for Real Estate reported this week that Baldwin County leads Alabama’s mid-size YTD residential sale growth with a 21% increase over last year. Cherokee County and Lee County followed with 18% and 17% growths respectively.
This news piggy backs on recent statistics that shows Alabama’s overall November growth increasing 12% since November 2010. A boost in sales from new home buyers and investors have lifted November to its first year-over-year growth is 2 years. YTD, Alabama has increased 1.6% over 2010, and it currently is on the cusp of being the first year since 2005 where residential sales had positive annual growth.
