The Southeast Affected By The Devastating Tornados of April 27, 2011

The Southeast Affected By The Devastating Tornados of April 27, 2011

I've lived in the South my entire life, and while tornados are somewhat common, nothing can prepare you for the devastation that occurs after such a storm. My Facebook page has been inundated with pictures, messages of comfort, and calls to action regarding the destruction of the storms. I have never seen so many people find so many ways to pull together as they have now.

http://www.amandachapmanblog.com/2011/04/tornado-day-after.html - Touching photos from one tornado.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/28/alabama-tornado-photos-2011-storm_n_854879.html#s271054&title=Severe_Weather_Alabama - Slideshow of damage throughout the area.

http://www.twitvid.com/4W6PU - What do you do when one of these is coming your way?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/42791059#42791059 - Amateur video of Tuscaloosa Tornado

I knew it was going to be a rough storm, but you just don't know how bad until it is all over. Our large duct fabrication shop in the back of our building was almost completely flooded. Me, my brother, and several of our construction workers spent several hours pushing out the water with large brooms and squeegees. A piece of metal roofing came loose for a while dumping buckets of water into the hallway of our office. Thankfully, these turned out to be minor inconveniences, and aside from some roofing patchwork yesterday, our building has not sustained any damage. To the South of us and to the West of us is a different story completely.

My sister works as a volunteer wilderness first responder. She spent yesterday moving debris and sorting donated items to give out to those who have had their lives destroyed. As soon as I leave the office today, my brother and I are loading up a truck full of tools and supplies and if they allow us to get through to the affected areas. We are now getting hygiene kits, food, and water collected so we can deliver it to those in need. The rumor now is that unless you are police, National Guard, or an EMT, they don't want you down there. My dad is surveying the areas now as one of our local church leaders. As soon as he gives the word, we're going to mobilize work crews to go help. Some who have gone down and just want to help are already being turned away, simply because they lack the training and ability and might get in the way more than help. Please pray they'll let us in!

Areas such as Moulton, Phil Campbell, Hackleburg, Harvest, Athens, Madison, Tuscaloosa, Cullman and many other places have lost many homes, lives, and property. The death toll is probably over 300 and is climbing continually. It would be more, but many families have not been notified just yet. One EMT, while searching for survivors, found a child's carseat turned over upside down. Sadly, there was a lifeless baby strapped inside. Nothing can prepare you for moments like that.

Huntsville and Madison County has been left without electricity, and probably will be that way for several days. Finding gasoline has been difficult. Local radio stations have been allowing people to call in with information on what is open, what stations have gas, and any immediate needs they might have. One family called in looking for a place with electricity that would allow their son to come do his breathing treatments. Radio stations, hospitals, and TV stations have been running on generators. Two large towers holding main power lines from Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant have been taken out. Without these two towers being repaired soon, it's likely the entire area, and hundreds of thousands of people, may remain without electricity for a couple of weeks.

A friend of mine found who lives in Rogersville, Alabama, found some medical bills and a check with addresses from Houston Mississippi. That is almost 150 miles away! She is doing her best to find the owners and make sure it gets back to them. A Facebook page has been set up attempting to re-connect tornado victims with their lost documents and photos. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pictures-and-Documents-found-after-the-April-27-2011-Tornadoes/162443980482277 What an amazing display of love for your neighbor! It's moments like this that give me faith in humanity. Maybe we aren't so terrible after all!

So many are willing to donate their time, money, talents, homes, and anything else to assist these poor people.

President Obama just stepped off Air Force One in Tuscaloosa, AL. Not sure what he can do for us that we can't do for ourselves. As Hank Williams Jr. said, "A country boy can survive." Thankfully, our area of the country is never lacking in survival skills. We will be alright. An F5 tornado is just a bump in the road.

In the end, the people of Alabama will rebuild. We have done it before, and we may have to do it again. We also take care of each other. One of the saddest things was when we went down to help clean up after Katrina, we went as Weekend Warriors armed with work gloves and chain saws helping to cut trees off of the roofs of houses as volunteers. It wasn't the devastation that saddened me, it was the fact that we came from 9 hours away to clean up, while the neighbors all stood around and watched. Apathy and inaction will only bring out the worst in a society. It's good to know the people of Alabama are willing to reach out to their neighbors. When times are hard, we are willing, able, and ready!

Please pray for us and donate to worthy causes who are helping with the relief.

http://www.whnt.com/weather/stormcentral/whnt-resources-shelters-places-taking-donations-20110428,0,2148460.story

http://blog.al.com/wire/2011/04/alabama_tornadoes_links_to_rep.html

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/04/29/survivors-picking-pieces-deadly-twisters-kill-27/

http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20110429/NEWS/110429784/1011/NEWS?Title=Left-in-ruins

http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20110429/NEWS/110429777/1011/NEWS?Title=Hackleburg-residents-ready-to-rebuild

http://www.facebook.com/ALTornadoAnimals

Joshua B. Pettus

President/Broker

Home Grown Real Estate

600 Ford Road

Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35661

256-272-1050

256-541-0491

jbpettus@homegrownrealestate.net

Buying Basics - What Every Homebuyer in North Alabama Needs To Know

Buying Basics - What Every Homebuyer in North Alabama Needs To Know Right Now

Regardless of what the news is saying, as a homebuyer in today's market, you need to understand that every market is different. I generally work in two extremely different housing markets (the Shoals and Huntsville), and in order to sell houses in both of those markets, I have to understand the trends and the tripping hazards of each. Every single real estate market in the U.S. has it's own ups and downs, and can be completely independent of the trends of the rest of the country as a whole. After selling real estate for North Alabama for six years, hopefully this blog post can give you some insights on what trends we are seeing in the local market of North Alabama.

We're not out of the housing crisis quite yet, but that doesn't mean buyers need to be going all "Chicken Little" on us by worrying about the sky falling anytime soon. If you're now in a position to responsibly buy a house, you'll be hard pressed to find a better time to buy than now. Home prices have gone down in parts of North Alabama, more so in the Shoals than in the Huntsville market. Interest rates have risen just a tiny bit in the last couple of months, but we're still at less than 5%... which is an amazing rate! What I'm trying to say is that if you have a steady income, good credit, a decent amount of down payment money, and want to buy a house... then buy a house! Don't fall into the fears that the media is feeding you everyday. There is no reason to sit by until prices and interest rates go up.

Having said all of that, here are a few of my personal insights that may help you as you jump head first into today's market in North Alabama:

• Inventories are relatively high, and houses are taking a little longer to sell. Everyone should already know this, but what you may not know is that many sellers aren't quite as desperate to sell as the media has made us to believe. Don't assume that every seller is going to accept your low ball offers. Unless this individual is trying to avoid foreclosure or bankruptcy, they might opt to keep their house on the market a little longer until someone gives them the price they want. Every seller's situation is different, and may be selling for very different reasons.
• Financing is key in today's market. Banks and mortgage companies are being tough on our homebuyers out there, and are turning down lots of people for loans these days. This shouldn't discourage you from trying, but before you go house hunting, talk to a mortgage company or bank first. Sellers know that banks are being tight with their money, and want to know you have access to funds if you're going to bring them an offer. Get a pre-approval letter before you start looking. This will not only solidify your offer, but can also tell you what price range you should be looking in for a home.
• In today's market, it's important to know what kind of seller you're working with. There are basically two different kinds of sellers out there today in North Alabama. Seller #1 is the seller that can afford to sit and wait on the right offer to come along. Seller #2 is the seller that is broke and trying to avoid foreclosure. Seller #3 is a bank trying to get rid of foreclosure inventory. The houses owned by these three different types of sellers are going to look different, the sellers are going to negotiate differently, and it could be more or less difficult to get to the closing table depending on who the seller is. Make sure you have an agent that understands this as well. If not, I'd be glad to help!
• Buying bank-owned foreclosures is great...if you have the money, time, and skills to fix it up! It's enticing to see inexpensive foreclosed homes all over our market in Florence, Muscle Shoals, Huntsville, Madison, Athens, Decatur, and the rest of North Alabama. You should know that just because the price tag is low doesn't mean that it's a great deal. You need to have the expertise necessary to know about structural, mechanical, electrical, and other problems you might be buying along with it. Have you planned on what it's going to take to replace flooring, paint, roofing, appliances, or plumbing fixtures? Unless you're skilled in home repair, or are ready to hire someone who is, most bank-owned, foreclosed homes may not be the right choice for you and your family. You should also note that many of these homes also have a one year right-of-redemption attached to it, which means if the previous owner comes up with enough money to pay his/her debts, plus any necessary improvement costs, they could possibly swipe the home out from under you. This is a rare scenario, but it can and does happen. I've seen it.

Please let me know if you are thinking about buying a home. I'd love to counsel with you as you make this life-altering decision. Many real estate agents are struggling to pay their bills in this tough market, but make sure you choose one that has the foresight and the knowledge necessary to help you make the best decisions. I can guide you through the complicated, yet satisfying process of buying a home in our beautiful North Alabama.

Joshua B. Pettus

President/Broker

Home Grown Real Estate

256-272-1050 - The Shoals

256-541-0491 - Huntsville

jbpettus@homegrownrealestate.net

Trowbridge's - An Americana Experience Unique to the Shoals

Trowbridge's - An Americana Experience Unique to the Shoals

Trowbridge's Ice Cream & Sandwich

316 N Court St
Florence, AL 35630-4738
(256) 764-1503

Yesterday, after trudging through a long session of online continuing education classes, I treated myself to lunch at Trowbridge's. If you've ever been in or around the Shoals Area, then chances are you've either eaten here or have heard all about it. My earliest memories of this place are from when my now-deceased mother used to take us here after a day of going to the doctor or shopping.

Walking into the restaurant in Downtown Florence is like walking back in time. It is small, but filled with history. Trowbridge's is Florence's oldest business in it's original downtown location. This restaurant began in 1918, and entering inside you can see the history of Florence and the Shoals right in front of you. The walls are lined with pictures and posters all telling stories about our wonderful part of the world. My favorites are the pictures of the construction of Wilson Dam, and another of Franklin D. Roosevelt arriving into the area by train for a visit. After all these years, in my recollection, very little has changed. The floor, the chairs, the booths, the menu. A couple of new flavors of ice cream have been added over the years, but as long as I can remember, it has always looked, felt, and tasted exactly the same. I love it when things stay exactly the same.

What's strange, is that as many times as I've been there, I've always gotten the exact same thing. That's because I know what I like, and that's what I want when I go. Their hot dogs have the perfect mixture of chili and mustard that seems to create this unique flavor that I've never been able to duplicate.

Their ice cream is hand-dipped, and my favorite is Cherry Vanilla with real chunks of cherries. Most go for their Orange Pineapple with small bits of pineapple inside, which was my mom's favorite. Add a Coke and a bag of potato chips, and it's perfect!

Being somewhat of an amateur local history buff, Trowbridge's is one of my favorite places in our little town. If you've never been, then it is definitely worth your time to check out. If you haven't been in a while, come back home for a day and go.

Joshua B. Pettus

President/Broker

Home Grown Real Estate

jbpettus@homegrownrealestate.net

http://www.homegrownrealestate.net

256.541.0491

Killen, Alabama House for Sale - 1886 County Road 103 - $137,900

1886 County Road 103, Killen, AL - Recently Reduced to $137,900

Miraculous changes can occur sometimes in real estate. The house we've got listed on 1886 County Road 103 is one of those occurances. Remodeled, revamped, redone, and revitalized, this remarkable home now feels as if it were built last year, instead of in the 1950's. Two years ago, my brother bought the home, added 900 square feet, added a brick exterior, added a new roof, and completely changed my way of looking at a home. I began to look at every house as what it's potential is, instead of what it looks like currently.

View of the back. You can see the nice patio and the extra parking space in the back.

I wish I had "before" pictures to show you... this transformation is so dramatic that you'd think that Ty Pennington was filming monologues for Extreme Make-Over: Home Edition over in the living room!

Living Room with a view into the office on the left with built-in shelves.

The reason why this young family is moving? A decision to go to Auburn was made and so the house they put so much blood, sweat, and tears into has to go. Fortunately for you, all the hard work has been done, leaving a house with features normally seen in more expensive homes.

Gigantic kitchen new cabinets (and lots of them), and tons of countertop space. Chefs out there... be jealous!

One interesting feature of this home is that it has a tankless water heater. These are high dollar water heaters that heat the water as it is used, which means there is less energy spent constantly heating a tank-full of water, and you NEVER RUN OUT OF HOT WATER! These water heaters are becoming more and more sought after in today's energy concious world. Ever wanted to take an endless shower? You can here!

The music room at the front entry.

One great thing about this home is there is plenty of room for privacy. I know sometimes I need a place away from all the commotion and noise, and most homes with open floor plans today don't provide much of that. This home home remedies that by providing an office room where you can study, read, work, or surf the internet, a master bedroom that is tucked away from the noise of the rest of the house, and two other bedrooms that have a bit of a buffer zone between them and the kitchen. It is a welcome alternative to what you see in today's eye-pleasing, yet less practical homes. This house is not only beautiful on the inside, it's also more usable than most popular floor plans of today.

Large Master Bedroom with walk-in closet big enough for any wardrobe and a private master bath.

This house is located in a great spot for those that are looking for a country setting, but quick access to the "civilization". Not too far away from Brooks High School, grocery stores, the post office, the library, and only a 15 minute drive into Florence!

If you're currently in the market to buy a home, you really owe it to yourself to come check out 1886 County Road 103 in Killen, AL.

The Details:

1886 County Road 103 Killen, AL 35645

1,760 Square Feet, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths

0.70 acre lot, Additional 3 acres available separately.

$137,900

Joshua B. Pettus

President/Broker

Home Grown Real Estate

JBPettus@homegrownrealestate.net

http://www.homegrownrealestate.net/

Want to see more homes? Click HERE!

Testimonials: A Well Needed Pat On The Back

When you run a real estate company practically on your own, it can be easy to lose motivation. We all know that we haven't seen the easiest real estate market out there, and making money has been tough for just about every industry out there these days... except the government, of course.

Starting a real estate company while the economy is entering into a recession could be viewed by some people as grounds for one to be entered into the nuthouse... straight jacket and all. We knew it was going to be an uphill battle, but we didn't know how steep that hill was going to get. Now that we feel that things are on the way back to normalcy, I can't help but feel like I've gotten advanced degrees from the school of hard knocks. Its been a bumpy ride, and I would be lying if I told you that I never said I wanted to pack it all up and go get a real job. No one wants to hire washed up real estate agents anyway. :)

In light of economic catastrophes and housing bubble bursts, I can see how what doesn't kill you will only make you stronger. I've had the opportunity to do business with some wonderful folks during this whole experiment we've called "Home Grown Real Estate". I've come to the knowledge that if I can provide service that surpasses my competitors, then I will always be able to stay in business. I may not have the same amount of resources as the big wigs out there, but I'm convinced that I can do things smarter, faster, and better. I have no idea what 2010 has in store for me, but I hope to double what I did last year. That's right... double!

Over the past year and a half, I've been able to collect a few comments from several of my past clients. I post them below so that you can see the quality of work we've been able to do since we've been in business.

"Great company! Home Grown Real Estate has been very willing to help us find a home. Joshua, our agent, told us how to get a loan and where to get one. He also explained how we could get the best loan even when so many places aren't willing to give them. He's shown us house after house, and even though we still haven't found the right one yet, he is still willing to help us. I think most agents would give up by now, but not him! I'm very impressed with this company. Good work, guys!

- J. Brown

Sold our house in three weeks! With Joshua's help, we sold our home (in a stagnant market) in 3 weeks!!! He went above and beyond the call of his profession to make sure that our sale was finalized. He even came by our new home to make sure things were going ok there! His brother, Noble, has a remodeling company that is in with Home Grown. They made all the necessary repairs on the house we were buying before we ever had to move in. It is so nice to have a real estate company that does it all! I can't imagine ever using anyone else for our real estate needs.

-A. Cody

Great buying experience! Joshua Pettus with Home Grown Real Estate provided me with a great home buying experience. As a first time home buyer, the whole process was definitely a learning experience for me - from searching for the right house to all the details dealing with financing, insurance, and closing out on the loan. Josh was always there to provide me with great advice and service. His availability, friendliness, and willingness to help his customer are unmatched!

-K. Glover

Home Grown Real Estate rocks! We are thrilled with our new property which we found and bought with the expert help of Joshua Pettus. Thanks, Joshua! A totally positive experience! Look no further for first rate service in the real estate market in Florence, AL. We live out of town, and Joshua Pettus with Home Grown Real Estate took care of all the details for us to buy our dream property. On the day of closing, all was ready and went smoothly. He is a hard and conscientious worker who gave us the customized service that we required. I have nothing but the highest regard for Joshua and would not hesitate to recommend him.

-L. Tomlin

I've had the pleasure of working with all of these fine individuals, and I am very appreciative of their kind words. If you have any real estate needs during 2010, I can promise you that you'll receive the same high quality service that I have strived to provide all my clients since I got into real estate five years ago. Thank you and may God bless you during this new year!

Joshua B. Pettus

President/Broker

Home Grown Real Estate

jbpettus@homegrownrealestate.net

http://www.homegrownrealestate.net/

256.541.0491 or 256.272.1050

Choose the RIGHT Agent - Not the "Walmart" Agent

Choose the RIGHT Agent - Not the "Walmart" Agent

Personally, I don't mind Walmart. Some totally despise their business strategies of nickel and diming their suppliers while putting "Mom and Pop" stores out of business in the process... however you can't deny the fact that you probably go there a couple of times a week.

And sure, its sad to see the small stores out there leave. These Mom and Pop stores tend to add a sense of personal touch to your shopping and also foster a sense of community. However, if you were the CEO of Walmart, wouldn't you do everything in your power to seize control of as much of the market as you possibly could? Granted, you'll probably miss the personal touches, but that's hardly a large price to pay for cheap prices...right?

OK idea for laundry detergent and groceries... not so great for real estate!

What is a Walmart Agent?

You've seen him (or her). Face plastered all over billboards, seven or eight pages of listings in the real estate magazines, frequent radio ads, and a direct mailout to your home twice a month. They typically tout the fact that they are "multi-gajillion dollar producers" in their ads and love to tell you how many listings they sold last month! Perhaps its not necessarily a specific agent, but a particular Real Estate company that boasts about the fact that the have more listings than anyone else. So, you call their office, speak with one of their many assistants on their team, receive a rehearsed Power Point presentation on why they're so great, sign your name on the dotted line, and get a sign stuck in your yard. So you think, "Great! This guy (or gal or company) is the best out there!"

But in the end, is this Super Walmart Agent really working hard to sell my property?

Chances are, probably not!

Why? Because just like Walmart, these agents and companies rely on the fact that they have TONS of things for sale. They don't generally care what sells, just that something sells. These agents are typically more interested in selling themselves than selling real estate. Chances are that if your listing isn't a very expensive house, your Super Agent won't do much work to sell it.

Do the math... For a $500,000 house, your agent has the potential of bringing in $15,000 into the company (at 3% commission or twice that if he/she finds the buyer). If your house is listed at $120,000 (which is an average selling price in our area), your agent could potentially bring in around $3,600 into the company. Don't forget that the agent also has to share a portion of that commission with their company/broker! To your Super Walmart Agent, that $500,000 house is looking MUCH better. So, of course, it gets all the biggest ads, the video walkthroughs, the open houses, the Tour of Homes, etc. Your listing? Probably gets an out of focus picture or two on the MLS and a crooked For Sale sign. And since they have to cover all those expensive advertising costs, you can forget about them negotiating on that commission amount!

Sad, isn't it? Especially considering this is your most valuable asset that represents years and years of hard work, saving up, fixing up, and growing up.

Real estate is a very personal thing for most folks. People typically feel an emotional attachment to their homes, and each house is extremely unique when compared to the next. You need to make sure that your real estate agent has the time and ability to market your home in such a way that is as unique as your house is. You've got to have someone there that answers your calls personally, that is available outside typical business hours, and is hungry enough to go the extra mile or two to make sure your house sells.

Wait... hungry enough?

Yes! Your agent is paid by commission which is only earned once the house sells. If your agent shows up in a brand new Mercedes Benz, brags about how much their last listing sold for, and loves to tell you what neighborhood they live in, chances are they aren't very hungry to sell your particular home.

What do hungry agents do?

•Hungry agents go out of their way to impress you with good service, not brag.
•Hungry agents are usually available personally everytime you need them.
•Hungry agents may not have as much marketing money, but you can bet that the marketing they do will be done with extreme detail.
•Hungry agents will go out of their way to become your best friend, because they absolutely depend on word of mouth business.
•Hungry agents work extremely hard for their pay.
My clients all know I'm not a "real estate powerhouse" and they don't see my real estate company as a "Real Estate Super Center". I don't plaster my name and face (and my dog's face) all over town, and I definitely don't have a huge portfolio of listings I'm trying to sell. However, my clients know that I work extremely hard, I am completely honest with them at all times, I am always personally available to them should they need me, and I am truly their advocate looking out for their best interests. I have a long list of happy clients whom I call personal friends of mine.

Please understand that when it comes to your home, the "Walmart" mentality isn't the best choice.

And to all you out there trying to decide which real estate agent to use...

I'm hungry!

Choose the RIGHT Agent - Not the "Walmart" Agent

Joshua B. Pettus

President/Broker

Home Grown Real Estate

http://www.homegrownrealestate.net

jbpettus@gmail.com

256.541.0491

$8000 Tax Credits for House Buying - MUST ACT NOW!

$8000 Tax Credits for House Buying - MUST ACT NOW!

By now you've probably heard that the government is offering up to $8,000 in tax credit to First-Time Homebuyers. You may not have heard that there is also a $6,500 tax credit available to folks who have owned a home for at least 5 years and are buying another one! There are some great opportunities out there if you are thinking of buying your first home, or are ready to move up to your next one!


Interest rates are still at RECORD LOWS, which means that you can now buy more house with your money! Did you know that lately most interest rates have been less than 5%? Many companies have been hovering around 4.75% lately. So, let's look at our scenario:

• Lots of HUNGRY SELLERS out there just waiting to sell their homes to you at discounted prices
• Interest Rates around 4.75%
• Free Tax Credit money available at up to $8,000 for first-time homebuyers and $6,500 for qualifying homeowners
• Tons of FORECLOSED and BANK OWNED homes on the market that are currently being sold below market value

What does all this mean?

With a deadline on the tax credit for April 30, 2010, it means that you NEED to act now if you're thinking about buying. Who knows when interest rates will go back up? Take the opportunity to call me today and I'll explain how to get started. Call me at 256.541.0491 today!

Here is a chart addressing all of the rules and stipulations of the home buyer credits put together by the National Association of Realtors:

Want to start your search today?

http://www.homegrownrealestate.net/listings/listings.htm

Joshua B. Pettus

President/Broker

Home Grown Real Estate

256.541.0491

http://www.homegrownrealestate.net

http://homegrownrealestate.blogspot.com

The Sound of the Shoals - Part 3 - The Birth of Rock and Roll and Rhythm and Blues

The Sound of the Shoals - Part 3 - The Birth of Rock and Roll and Rhythm and Blues

Part Three of our series that explains why Muscle Shoals, Alabama is considered the "Hit Recording Capital of the World."

The next generation of Shoals area music began when the legendary Sam Phillips began working as a broadcast engineer at WLAY radio in Muscle Shoals. He eventually relocated to Memphis, and on July 5, 1954, Phillips discovered a talent that could only be explained as "a white man who could sing with a black man's soul." Elvis Presley auditioned for Sam Phillips one day while working in his Sun Records studio in Memphis. He quickly signed Presley with his record label, and introduced the world to the man who would one day be known as the "King of Rock and Roll." With Elvis Presley's new found fame at Sun Records, Phillips was able to bring in more talented musicians. Sam Phillips went on to discover other legendary artists, such as Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Charlie Rich. Sam's keen eye for potential and raw talent allowed him to forever shape the history of music as we now it today.


Rick Hall was listening when the song "A Fallen Star" became a regional hit in 1957. The song, written by James Joiner and sung by Bobby Denton (who is currently the Alabama State Senate's longest serving member), helped Hall to decide to make the short move from Hamilton, Alabama, in search of a job with Joiner. Rick Hall later formed the group the Fairlanes with his friend, Billy Sherrill and performed at many venues throughout the Shoals. In 1958, the two partnered with Tom Stafford who owned SPAR recording to form a recording team with which they could now work freely. This studio, known as Florence Alabama Music Enterprises, or Fame, seemed to be doomed to destruction from the beginning. They set up shop in a small room above a drugstore. They stapled egg cartons to the walls of their studio for sound proofing, found old carpet for the floors, and used drapes for decoration. Hall said:

"I moved in, I slept there, ate in restaurants, I began to write songs, bring in
the troops, would be songwriters... anybody that thought about music. I
brought them in and signed them up playing the guitar, sat up all night with
them to write songs and try to put them together."

It seemed that everywhere they turned there were conflicts in personality. The men at Fame recorded demos for bands looking to get into the music scene of Nashville or Memphis. Hall's obsession to succeed many times collided with Stafford's visionary ideas. The recording alliance crumbled at their feet and Hall was left as the sole proprietor of Fame. Linda Hall, Rick's wife recalled:

"Sherrill went to Nashville to work for Sam Phillips. He sold Rick the
name of Fame and the publishing company for a dollar."

Left alone to pick up the pieces of his broken friendship and his shattered publishing company, Rick was still determined to succeed in the music industry. "I couldn't get anything going in Nashville. It left me no alternative but to try to get something going in Muscle Shoals." He was determined to prove that Muscle Shoals could have a thriving recording industry.

Hall rented a small tobacco barn on Wilson Dam Highway and in 1961 he made his first hit on his own, "You Better Move On," sung by Arthur Alexander, a local bellhop. This was the very first rhythm and blues song recorded in the Shoals area. It was also the first hit recorded by Hall's newly formed rhythm section comprising of David Briggs, Terry Thompson, Jerry Carrigan, and Norbert Putnam. The future of the Muscle Shoals music scene seemed very promising. After seeing the future that was waiting for them in the music industry, Hall's house band eventually left Muscle Shoals to pursue new opportunities for them in Nashville. They were replaced by Jimmy Johnson, Spooner Oldham, Albert Lowe, and Roger Hawkins as resident musicians at Fame.



--------
Tune in to our next entry to find out how a hospital orderly records one of the most beloved songs of all time in Muscle Shoals, and how a session band who forms their own studio could help solidify what exactly is the sound of Muscle Shoals.

The Sound of the Shoals - Part 3 - The Birth of Rock and Roll and Rhythm and Blues

Joshua B. Pettus

President/Broker
Home Grown Real Estate

jbpettus@gmail.com

http://www.homegrownrealestate.net/

http://homegrownrealestate.blogspot.com/

- and the new -

http://www.northalabamahomeblog.com/

The Sound of the Shoals - Part 2 - Beginnings

The Sound of the Shoals - Part 2 - Beginnings

On the banks of the Tennessee River in the northwest corner of Alabama, four small, thriving cities are joined together by a history that many of its own citizens have never explored. Many of the people in the area are completely unaware of the internation significance that this area, known as the Shoals Area, has had in the music industry throughout the world. Muscle Shoals, Alabama, the second largest of the four, has a unique place in music history that earned this nearly forgotten part of the country the title of "Hit Recording Capital of the World."

Traces of the Past

The former Muscle Shoals Sound studio sits peering across the Tennessee River beside a small, forgotten park in Sheffield, Alabama. This massive studio, its legacy, and its music are all that is left of the Muscle Shoals Sound. This once famous studio was sold a few years ago to a local movie and video production company, but its days as a recording studio have made their mark on the history of music forever.

On the other side of town, located at 3614 Jackson Highway, the original Muscle Shoals Sound studio building still buzzes with music. Several years ago, this historic building was faithfully restored to look, feel, and sound exactly as it did back in the 60's and 70's. Even though it is no longer owned by the original owners, the current owners still use the name Muscle Shoals Sound and allow the public to tour the studio. Many famous songs were recorded here by many of the world's most beloved musicians. This building is currently listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

In the neighboring city of Muscle Shoals, Fame Recording Studios sits in the corner of the busiest intersection of town on Avalon Avenue. Fame and its owner Rick Hall still stay busy in the recording business, but the fame of Fame Studios has since diminished from its glory days filled with the company of famous celebrities and musicians. The recording industry of the Shoals area has diminished and has been left with what many may think is a bleak future. However, a small number of musicians, singers, and songwriters occasionally come out of the area and achieve national renown. While this new generation appears promising, there still has not been the same level of success that once created a booming recording industry that rivaled regional recording centers like Nashville and Memphis.

Earliest History

Years before this rural area of North Alabama was known for its chart-topping hits, it was settled by the Cherokee, Shawnee, and Chickasaw tribes of the Native Americans. These early settlers found rich soil and a large supply of mussels hidden in what is now known as the Tennessee River. White settlers eventually moved into the area and found hidden beneath the shoals of the river the same mussels that the Native Americans had encountered years before them. Because of this distinguishing quality of the region, they eventually named the city Mussel Shoals. Later, a careless mapmaker misspelled the city's name, and it has been known as Muscle Shoals ever since.

The Native Americans who first lived in the Shoals Area knew the Tennessee River as the Singing River. "It started with water rushing over rocky shoals, stated Terry Pace and Robert Palmer, music historians for the Times Daily. It was a "sound the American Indians living along the banks of the Tennessee River said 'sang' to them in the beautiful voice of a woman." The Singing River was an appropriate name for a place that would one day become a dominating force in the music industry.

W.C. Handy - The Father of the Blues

The music and recording history of the Shoals Area dates back much farther than the two nearly forgotten music studios. William Christopher "W.C." Handy, known by many as the Father of the Blues," grew up in Florence and was attracted to the local music scene. He studied music in Florence for eleven years in the public school for black students, and, at age eighteen, Handy left home to pursue a career in music. In 1909, W.C Handy moved to Memphis, where he immediately won renown. His famous song, "Memphis Blues," was the first popular song written to include a jazz break, the basis for Handy's later claim that he invented jazz. He later moved to St. Louis, Missouri where he recorded another hit song, "St. Louis Blues." Handy died March 28, 1958, but his influence is still seen and heard in contemporary jazz and blues music. In the Shoals Area, we still celebrate his life with the week-long W.C. Handy Festival that takes place every year in July.

The Sound of the Shoals - Part 2 - Beginnings

Stay tuned for my next post that discusses the history behind the Fame and Muscle Shoals Sound studios!

Please feel free to discuss below!!!

Joshua B. Pettus

President/Broker

Home Grown Real Estate

jbpettus@gmail.com

256.541.0491

http://www.homegrownrealestate.net/

http://homegrownrealestate.blogspot.com/

and introducing the all-new

http://www.northalabamahomeblog.com/

The Sound of the Shoals - Part 1 - Intro

The Sound of the Shoals - Part 1 - Intro

A few days ago I received an interesting tip. I was encouraged to begin using my Home Grown Real Estate blog to post about our local area. At first I thought it was a little silly to do so, but then I realized that I absolutely love our local history. I enjoy studying about the things that happened here, and I love telling people about it. I know my wife probably gets tired of hearing all the same stories over and over, but I just love telling them! I decided that the most interesting thing that I could write about would be the history of the recording industry of the Shoals Area.

The Sound of the Shoals

Why? Well, its interesting! So many people here have very little knowledge of the huge influence our little corner of the world had (and still has) on music. Sure, people here tend to have a general knowledge that some music was recorded here, but what exactly happened here that was so significant? Was it really as important as they claim it was?

Simply put, YES!

While at UNA, I had the assignment of writing a research paper on "something important that has happened in the history of our area." I love music, so naturally I wanted to choose something that I could take interest in, and could enjoy learning and writing about. So, I chose to write about the history of our recording industry.

What you'll be reading for the next few posts will be modified excerpts from that research paper. I've lost the Works Cited page, so even though I have notes of my sources within the paper, I no longer know exactly where they all came from. Sorry about that! It was never my intention to plagiarize or to not give credit where credit was due.

One source I did use just happens to be on Google Books is Music Fell on Alabama by C. S. Fuqua. This may be found HERE. It was an excellent read, and a major source for this paper. Another great source that got the whole process started was a story that aired on NPR back in September 2003. It discussed how the Muscle Shoals Sound studio was up for sale at the time, and had some great interviews that talked about the history of the recording industry here. That story can be heard HERE.

I hope you enjoy this series, and I hope it opens your eyes to the fact that there was more that happened here than what you've been told your entire life growing up.

And so now I present to you

-The Sound of the Shoals-

Please feel free to discuss any interesting stories you know below in the comments.

Thanks!

Joshua B. Pettus
President/Broker
Home Grown Real Estate
jbpettus@gmail.com
256.541.0491
http://www.homegrownrealestate.net/
http://homegrownrealestate.blogspot.com/

and introducing the all-new http://www.northalabamahomeblog.com/

Intro to Home Grown Real Estate - Who Are We?

Here is a video introducing our company:

I hope to be able to do more video blogs here and will post them as I make them. Let me know what you think! Thanks!

Joshua B. Pettus

President/Broker

Home Grown Real Estate

http://www.homegrownrealestate.net

jbpettus@gmail.com

256.764.5458

Real Estate Competition Contraceptives and Why They're Bad for Business

The other day I posted on a friend's Facebook page that he ought to think about a career in real estate. He has seen excellent success in his current position, and I felt as though real estate sales might be a great fit for him and his personality. A few minutes later, another realtor friend of his chimed in and stated that there are already too many real estate agents out there... likely to save her from having to compete with one more agent out there. Sometimes within the culture of real estate agents, there exists a thought that competition in the market is bad, and so they'll try to scare anyone they can away from becoming their competition by various methods. Agents do this in several ways, but always with the same end... to limit the threat of competition. Sometimes its done by high entry fees to Multiple Listing Services or Boards of Realtors, or by limiting who has access to the properties in the area, or by snide remarks or scare tactics such as the aforementioned individual used on my friend. These are what my dad has termed "competition contraceptives." And of course, that means exactly what you think it means. Anything that is meant to stifle the growth of competition in the market.

I wish I could change that mentality. Competition in and of itself is actually a good thing, for both the consumer and the agent. Competition in the market weeds out manipulative and monopolistic companies and agents. Competition becomes the breeding ground for innovation and better service. Competition can create solutions to market problems, and competition can help get us out of the slump we are currently in today. I'm convinced that competition makes us strive to be better.

The rest of my blog post today will simply be a list of gripes of things I've personally seen in the Shoals area and throughout North Alabama, why they are bad for business, and what solutions (if any) I would recommend.

Competition Contraceptive #1

Marking Your Territory and Locking Others Out

I started selling real estate in Huntsville, Alabama. Their MLS, known as the North Alabama Multiple Listing Service, provides real estate agents access to properties across all of North Alabama.... all of North Alabama except the Shoals area. Cooperating Boards of Realtors in the NALMLS are Athens Limestone, Etowah/Cherokee, Huntsville Metro, Jackson County, Marshall County, and Morgan County. The Shoals Area Association of Realtors has their own MLS system, found at SearchtheShoals.com. A couple of years ago, the Shoals area decided to use the same MLS system, however declined to participate as a cooperating association with the NALMLS. Around this same time, murmurings of BRAC began to circle around, which was supposed to bring thousands of high paying jobs to North Alabama. Our local governments in the Shoals began to spend several loads of money advertising the area to potential BRAC move-ins. Many people make the commute from the Shoals to Huntsville everyday, so an overflow of move-ins to the Shoals seemed likely. The problem? We didn't really see any influx. Most BRAC move-ins seem to use real estate agents from the Huntsville area in order to help find houses to buy. Unfortunately for us over here in the Shoals, none of those Realtors have access to our houses here. That means that the Shoals isn't even being considered as an option to folks coming into the area. A potential homebuyer might have stumbled across homes in the Shoals that they may have liked while searching on the MLS, but under our current setup, that is highly unlikely. Many agents here would prefer to keep it that way in order to protect their interest in the local real estate market. However, in doing this, we may have missed out on a great opportunity to rejuvenate the real estate market of the Shoals with folks that could have been brought in through BRAC.

Competition Contraceptive #2

High Cost Barriers to Entry

A few weeks ago, I received a lead from my Facebook page of an individual who wanted me to sell his home in Cullman, Alabama. As a hungry real estate agent, I was excited to respond to the lead and go sell the house. After a little bit of research I found that the NALMLS (from Huntsville) had a few homes in Cullman, but I quickly realized that the real estate agents there must be using a different system. I called their local board of Realtors and found out that Cullman County has their own MLS system. Not only do they have their own MLS, but they also charged around $1500 to join it. They also charge another $250/quarter to maintain membership, plus you have to buy a high tech lockbox and key set that costs $500 just to get access to their houses. After you add all that up, there was no possible way I could've made profit selling that one house. Thus, I was forced to decline this individual's business. I guess I did exactly what the local agents wanted me to do... I had to give it up, which meant that one of their local Realtors would get the business. That's great for them, but being holed-up like pre-war Japan didn't do well for the Japanese, and I doubt it will help Cullman County. Knowing there could be competition brought in by outside agents would force those agents there in Cullman County to strive to do better, to find ways to serve their market in greater ways, and to outdo any of those "outsiders" that might come in if they aren't offering enough of what the consumer really wants.

Competition Contraceptive #3

This Is the Way We've Always Done It, So You Can't Do It Any Other Way

Now, that's an innovation killer if I've ever seen one! Unfortunately, there have been many agents that have made a slow transition into the technical age. While many have embraced technology and can handle it like a champ, some have been slow to fully utilize the wonders of the internet, mobile smart phones, and social networking. Sorry to break it to ya, but gone are the days of advertising in the local newspaper and real estate magazines. Who has the money to do that anyway? For $160 or more per page of advertising, it really doesn't make sense to advertise that way anyway. Not only is it expensive, your ad probably shows up on page 82 a month after you've given them an ad. This means that new listings are actually old listings, or they might already have a contract, or a price change. While magazines and newspapers may do well to get your name out there, they're a terrible way to communicate with home buyers and sellers when compared to the internet.

Another issue that comes up all the time is the fact that many pictures of houses on the MLS are TERRIBLE. Not only are many of them not very good, but so many only post one or two pictures. When working with buyers, its so much easier to help them buy a house when they can see all the great features of the house, and read complete information about it. When all the buyers have to go on is a crooked, out of focus picture of the front of the house, they quickly pass it buy for one who looks more appealing. If your house is currently on the market, ask your agent to see the listing. You deserve an agent that will present your home in the best way possible... it could mean that your house actually sells as opposed to sitting on the market for months and months.

Competition Contraceptive #4

Unprofessional Jerkface Attitude

You'll have to ask my wife where the phrase "jerkface" comes from. It's used quite often at my house... mostly aimed at me. :) Working with other agents, you get to meet all different types of people. I've been able to make friends with many different folks, and have been able to create meaningful professional relationships with a lot of them over the past several years. Unfortunately, occasionally you come across a bad egg who is territorial, cranky, diva-like, or downright rude. My brother once tried to call a listing agent to set up an appointment to show one of her listings. After several failed attempts to get in touch with the agent while out showing properties to his clients, he decided to speak with the homeowner to see if they would give them permission to see the house. The homeowner was very kind and happy to let them in, since he was extremely anxious to sell his home. A few hours later, my brother received a phone call from the listing agent, who was very mad. After chewing him out for a few minutes about how he shouldn't have shown the house without her knowing, she finally said, "That's just not kosher, Noble!"...and then hung up the phone. Any normal agent would've been ecstatic that one of their listings was being shown and potential buyers were viewing the house. This agent, in a pathetic attempt to bully my brother, ended up losing the respect of his clients. His phone was on speakerphone mode, and they heard the entire conversation. They could not believe the unprofessionalism shown by this agent. They were so disgusted that they decided right then that they didn't want that house.

It's been my experience that 95% of all real estate agents are wonderful, hard working, honest,upstanding people, and I hope you never have to deal with the 5% that aren't. It's sad that individuals such as these have made it so that many people do not trust real estate agents. Bullying and cattiness only frustrates fellow agents, and will probably make you look dumb in the process.

So, there you have it... do you agree? disagree? Have any more gripes or complaints? Feel free to post your responses here. Good night all!

Joshua B. Pettus
President/Broker
Home Grown Real Estate
256.541.0491
jbpettus@homegrownrealestate.net
http://www.homegrownrealestate.net/

Q&A - How To Become a Real Estate Agent

I've been asked this question a lot lately, and I've had to explain the process of how to become a real estate agent several times the last few days. Apparently, lots of people want to know, so I figured that a great blog post would be to explain the entire process.

Q: How do you become a real estate agent?

A: Ok, first off, let's start with the preliminary requirements. You've got to at least meet these requirements before even starting the process:

1. Be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident;
2. Be at least 19 years old;
3. Show proof of bona fide residency in any state in the U.S.;
4. Show proof of high school graduation or GED;
5. Not have been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude;
6. Not have had a real estate application or license rejected or revoked in any statewithin the past two years.

If you meet these requirements, the first thing you've got to do is seek out a real estate school. There is a 60-hour pre-license course that you must go through. You can attend this class at any of the various real estate schools throughout Alabama. These classes are offered in either live classes, online, or on video. After you've gone through the course, you must pass the course exam at the end. After passing the exam, you'll receive a certificate of completion and will be able to take the Alabama State Real Estate License Exam. And, yes, you'll actually have to pass the test.

I remember taking the exam. It wasn't quite as bad as I expected. I do remember studying a lot before taking it. You should certainly study as much as you can. Some people don't take it seriously the first time, and miss a passing grade by only a few points. Remember, it costs you money every time you take it, so its worth it to put your best effort in it and pass it the first time.

After passing the license exam, you'll receive a temporary license, and will be able to practice real estate at that point. You'll need to attend a 30-hour post license course within 6 months of receiving your temporary license in order for it to be converted to to permanent status.

Throughout that process, you'll need to find and commit to a real estate company. It may be best to interview a few different brokers in order to find the place where you feel will best serve your interests, and will offer you the support you need. At Home Grown Real Estate, we offer training to all our new agents through mentors who will offer you one-on-one support helping guide you through your first year of working in real estate.

There are also other things you'll need to consider when looking to be a licensed real estate agent. In order to work with most companies, you'll need to join the local Board of Realtors, along with the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which will allow you access to all of the property listings in your area.

After all is said and done, you should expect to spend around $1000 to get started and going in the real estate business. You should also have money set aside for advertising, signs, a camera, measuring tape, flashlight, and any other additional expenses or equipment you might need along the way.

You should remember that being a real estate agent is really like starting your own company. While you will work under a broker at a company, you will be considered an independent contractor. This, in and of itself, has many benefits, including tax benefits, the ability to set your own schedule, to handle your own advertising and marketing, to choose what you specialize in and how you run your business. You can work full-time or part-time. As long as you stay within the confines of the law, and follow the broad guidelines of your own broker, you can pretty much do what you want with your business. It can be a very rewarding career move that gives you opportunities to help other people manage their most valuable assets.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jbpettus@gmail.com or call me at 256.541.0491.

Joshua B. Pettus

President/Broker

Home Grown Real Estate

256.541.0491

jbpettus@homegrownrealestate.net

http://www.homegrownrealestate.net/

Press Release: New Broker at Home Grown Real Estate

The following press release will be printed in a coming edition of the Courier Journal. We're excited about this news! This change was planned from the beginning, and means that we've grown to a point where we needed to do this. Thanks to all who have worked with us this past year and have helped us get to where we are today!

Press Release:

Home Grown Real Estate has announced that Joshua Pettus will be the company's new broker. Joshua has been working in real estate for over five years. He has extensive experience working with all types of real estate buyers and sellers in North Alabama and is an active real estate blogger. Joshua is also an experienced Construction Sales Consultant and helps property owners build on their existing lots or remodel their current homes. Home Grown Real Estate is an innovative and locally owned real estate company in the Shoals that works alongside the construction and remodeling company, Harmony Building. Noble Pettus, former broker of Home Grown Real Estate, has decided to step down in order to focus solely on his position as President of Harmony Building, where demand for construction and remodeling projects has increased exponentially.

Thanks to all!

Joshua B. Pettus

President/Broker

Home Grown Real Estate

256.541.0491

jbpettus@gmail.com

http://www.homegrownrealestate.net

BRAND NEW LISTING - 134 Creekside Dr. Florence, AL

Just thought I'd let you all know of our latest project that we just finished working on, 134 Creekside Drive in Florence, Alabama. It has 2239 square feet, 3 Bedrooms, 3 baths, priced to sell at $173,500. Instead of blabbing about it, I'm just going to upload the pictures and a link to the listing. Let us know what you think!

To see the full listing and the rest of the 23 photos, click the link below:
http://searchtheshoals.net/MuscleShoalsReports/ListitLib/report_builder.aspx



Joshua B. Pettus
President/Associate Broker
Home Grown Real Estate
256.541.0491
jbpettus@gmail.com
http://www.homegrownrealestate.net/

Q&A - Neighbor's Fence on My Property

Debbie from Green Hill asks:

"Joshua, that's a great idea - sharing your knowledge with all of us. I do have a question. Twenty years ago we had our land surveyed before we built on it and one corner of our land has an ancient barbed wire fence that belongs to our neighbors. I have heard that an existing fence line can be used to take possession of that land. They are all nice people and have been family friends forever, but eventually it will be their grandkids or great-grandkids dealing with ours.. Is there a polite way to get them to take the fence down. It hasn't been used at all since before we moved here. I don't want to cause any problems with our neighbors. Thanks for any help you can give me."

This is a great question, and one that comes up more often than many people realize. The law that you are referring to is what is known as "adverse possession" and dates back to medieval England. Let me give you a quick definition of what adverse possession is, and then let's talk about how to deal with it.

Wikipedia defines adverse possession as, "the process by which title to another's real property is acquired without compensation, by holding the property in a manner that conflicts with the true owner's rights for a specified period."¹ According to Alabama Common Law, an individual may claim ownership of a property after 20 years of continuous, open, and notorious use of the property. In Alabama Code §6-5-200, you may acquire ownership of property after 10 years of possession if you also have some sort of recorded deed, if you've had the taxes listed in your name for ten years, or if you've inherited property from someone who has done those things for 10 years.

Why is this law in place? Basically, it protects your property rights from being taken away from some "long, lost heir" of someone who owned your property before you. Anyone could come to you and claim that you are living on their great-great grandfather's land from years ago, and they are the true owner of that land.

There are certain requirements to be able to claim adverse possession. You can't be sneaky about your possession. It has to be open and hostile. That means that you have to use it as if its your own, and that its obvious to the public that you are in possession of it. Putting up fences, planting a garden, clearing the land, or building a house are all ways this can be shown. It also has to be continuous. In order for a person to claim adverse possession, it also has to be brought before a judge for them to receive title to that property.

Let me tell you a story first, and then I'll talk a little more about your specific situation and how best to resolve it. My great grandparents bought the farm that I grew up on in the early 1900's. That land has literally been in my family for over a hundred years. A few years ago, my dad was looking over the property boundaries of our family farm and realized that there was a little over an acre of land that we have used, cultivated, and farmed for over a hundred years, that in reality is owned by the man who owns the land next to us. No one ever noticed the mistake before, and it had been this way for many, many years. My father could have gone to a judge here in Lauderdale County, claimed adverse possession, and could have rightfully received title to this land. He knew, however, that unless he repaired the mistake, his children would have to deal with the mess of what to do with the land. So, instead of claiming adverse possession, he called up the neighbor, told him about the mistake, and arranged a deal with him to pay for the land and thereby receive a clean and clear title of the parcel in question. A happy neighbor was worth more to him than the price he paid for the land.

Some neighbors aren't always so nice. Hopefully in your situation, they will be helpful and understanding of the problem. My advice is that this is best handled now, while you have a good relationship with the neighbors. If it were me in this situation, I would approach them, tell them (nicely, of course) about your concern, and how you would like to work out the problem now so that future generations will be able to avoid conflict. I would get a new survey done. You might ask them if they would be willing to split the cost of the survey, and mutually agree that both sides will accept the surveyor's lines. (This could save potential conflict if they try to claim that you hired the surveyor and that you had him fudge the property lines in your favor.)

Next, I would speak with them to see what both of you are willing to do to resolve the problem. Since the fence is old, they may be OK with taking it down. If you are OK with the fence staying on your property, you might speak with an attorney about drawing up an agreement that states that you both understand and recognize that their fence is on your property, and that you give them permission to keep it there. If you give them written permission, then they cannot claim adverse possession. Keep in mind to always use kindness and understanding throughout the entire process. You have to remember that you're going to be their neighbors for a long time, and conflicts like these can make or break a friendship.

Since I am not an attorney, I obviously can't give you any legal advice. It is always wise to consult an attorney first before taking any action.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by emailing me at jbpettus@gmail.com or you may leave a comment here at our blog, or you may also contact us through Facebook.

Thanks!

Joshua B. Pettus

President/Associate Broker

Home Grown Real Estate

256.541.0491

jbpettus@gmail.com

http://www.homegrownrealestate.net/

What Do You Want To Know About Real Estate?

I've been thinking about my blog and how to make it better. For the past several months I have chattered away about various topics that I find interesting personally, however I haven't really made this a good place for feedback, comments, suggestions, or interaction. So, I pose a question to you all out there.

What Do You Want To Know About Real Estate?

Feel free to hit me with the hard questions. It can be about real estate law, contracts, negotiation, sales numbers, local trends, hot spots for real estate in our area... pretty much anything you want to learn. I'm open to it all. I'll try to take your questions and then turn them into blog entries. If I don't know the answer to some of them, I'll either make one up that sounds believable, or I'll find someone who knows. I'm interested to see where this takes us.

You can either submit your suggestions in the comments below this post, or you may email them to me, or you can even post them up on our Facebook page.

Thanks everyone for your participation.

Joshua B. Pettus

Home Grown Real Estate

President/Associate Broker

jbpettus@gmail.com

http://www.homegrownrealestate.net/

Shoals Area Real Estate Statistics for 2007-2009

Here's a little report that very few people actually get to see... its the sales and inventory history of the entire Shoals Area MLS. It is only viewable to real estate company brokers, but ought to be public knowledge. Thought you guys might find this interesting! Yes, we have been affected by the economic downturn, but things are still moving along nicely. No need to put away your For Sale signs. Hang in there, and we'll make it!

(Click for larger image.)

When I get a chance, I'll post Huntsville's statistics!

Joshua B. Pettus
President/Associate Broker
Home Grown Real Estate
256.541.0491

JBPettus@gmail.com

http://www.homegrownrealestate.net/

Special Limited Time Offer - Bundle Our Services and SAVE!!!

Hmm... where have I heard that before?

Hey guys! The summer is winding down, and even though it doesn't feel like it yet, Fall is fast approaching. We've had a great summer here at Home Grown Real Estate, and it seems like the market is just getting better and better! In order to keep some of that momentum going, we're offering everyone a special deal!!!

So here goes... listen up to all those who need to sell some property, or know someone who does!

We're offering a HUGE reduction in our commission rate to those who use us to both make repairs and have us sell their home, too! You know there are probably things you need to have done anyway. Let us do it, and it will get you a MASSIVE reduction in the cost of commission. We are willing to go down from our regular commission rate by 1% of the sales price of your home. That could potentially save you thousands of dollars! Where most agents are charging 6% of the sales price, if you have us come and make some repairs, you'll only pay 5%! Not only that, but our repairs will ensure that you have a house that is definitely ready to be on the market, and will stand out from the rest!

Sounds like a Win-Win deal to me! Don't forget to mention this blog post in order to take advantage of the special offer! Tell your friends!!!

Joshua B. Pettus

President/Associate Broker

Home Grown Real Estate

256.541.0491
JBPettus@gmail.com
http://www.homegrownrealestate.net/

Why Choose to Be Home Grown? Part 4

Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, I've seen what it takes to start and maintain a successful business. I remember my dad waking up early and coming home late most every day just to make sure everything in his company was as it should be. There were stressful times, but thankfully there were also many happy times as well. Becoming a real estate agent is exactly like starting up your own business. Even though you'll work under a broker, you are President and CEO of your own little business. You'll also be the accountant, the marketing guru, the salesperson, the graphics designer, the manager, the secretary, and the legal counsel. You'll have to somehow do it all. Of course, you'll have the help of a broker once you get started, but many times brokers are busy trying to solve other agents' problems, and may not always have the time to be one-on-one with you training you how to get your new career started.

At Home Grown Real Estate, we've come up with a unique idea... a Mentor program! As you'll read from the following paragraphs taken from our Recruiting Packet, you'll be able to see how this can be a lifesaver for the new agent, and a financial help to the agent who brought them on board to the company. Hope you enjoy!

New Agents

Being a new agent can be a frightening experience. The training received with the 60-Hour license course is excellent for passing the real estate license exam but does very little in preparing you to actually succeed with a career in real estate sales. For most of us, starting out was a lot like being hired in as a professional basketball player for the NBA, after reading the rule book, but never playing the game, never practicing, and never watching anyone play. An estimated 40-80% of all first year real estate agents drop out of the business. Only 10% of all agents who survive to their third year actually make it to their fourth. It’s no wonder! Most real estate firms toss their agents into the game without giving them any sort of specialized training or education. They were basically set up to fail before they even got started.
At Home Grown Real Estate, we have a better idea. We believe that we are all better off if everyone is successful. First of all, our commission structure is set up to give incentive to our agents to go out and recruit others. If those agents are successful, then the recruiting agent makes some extra cash! So, automatically there is a desire among all of us that everyone succeeds in real estate. Also, as a new agent, the agent who recruits you to the company will become your mentor. They will work closely with you, help you learn how to fill out the paperwork, how to set up your advertising, how to best find clients, etc. You will start out having someone there who will help you get your business started the right way. If you’re serious about your success as an agent, you owe it to yourself to have someone there at your side that can help you every step of the way.

The mentor program lasts for a year. You may stay with it longer if you and your mentor agree. While on the mentor program, you will receive 65% of your commission, the company will receive 30%, and the mentor will receive 5%. This gives the mentor an added bonus for helping you be successful along the way.

If you'd like more info on our new agent program or want to come to work with us, please email us at homegrownrealestate@gmail.com .

Joshua B. Pettus

President/Associate Broker

Home Grown Real Estate

256.541.0491

JBPettus@gmail.com

http://www.homegrownrealestate.net/

Why Choose To Be Home Grown? Part 3

Continuing from my blog posts from the past couple of days, today I thought I'd talk about another value that we feel is important here at Home Grown Real Estate... Innovation. I remember my old band director in high school used to tell us, if you're not moving forward, you're moving backwards. He used to say that making music is like riding a bicycle up hill. While you are pedaling, you're moving forward, but if you ever stop, you immediately begin to go back downhill. I think real estate is the same way. We have seen in recent times how markets shift and how paradigms have changed in a very short amount of time. Ideas and tactics that were highly successful two years ago no longer work.

When most people think of innovation, they think of innovation in technology. It seems to be the big thing these days to just buy a gadget or gizmo that does this or that, and does it faster and easier than before, and then they brag to the public that they are innovative. If you're going to say you're different, I believe you've got to actually be different. After reading the book Blue Ocean Strategy (you can find my thoughts and ideas on that book here: http://homegrownrealestate.blogspot.com/2009_02_01_archive.html ), I came to realize that very little has changed in the world of real estate companies. I began to think about ways to offer more services to my clients at better prices than my competitors. The logical thing to me seemed to play off of our strengths. We are good at fixing up houses, so we decided to offer that service alongside our real estate services. You have no idea how many opportunities this has given us just by offering remodeling or repair services. Its so easy to say, "I'd be glad to get you a price to have that repaired." So far I've never had anyone say no. This is just one of the ways I feel that we will offer valuable services to the public, and give our agents another way to earn money.

I could ramble on and on, but I'll save you from all of that. Needless to say, I think we have something significant here. I'll go ahead and paste below the part of our Recruiting Packet that describes how we want to create a culture of innovation.

· Value # 3 - We are Innovative.

At Home Grown Real Estate, we believe that to stay afloat in the real estate market of today, you have to be willing and able to adapt, improve, and constantly be looking for new ideas to serve our clients and customers. We are always looking for new ways to connect with our clients using traditional advertising, email, texting, blogs, or even social networking websites. We believe that technology should enhance our abilities, not replace them. Also, as an agent with our company, you will also work with our sister company, Harmony Building and Construction, as a Construction Sales Consultant. As you work with clients, you will have the ability to offer construction service-- from small repairs, to remodeling, to home building. You will receive commission for each of these sales you make and can use this as an additional source of income. We understand that the more services you can provide, the better off you’ll be in the market place. This also allows you to be more negotiable with pricing and still be able to remain profitable.

You’ll also be able to participate in our commission share program that will allow you to help recruit fellow agents to the company. Each time one of your recruits makes a sale, you’ll receive a percentage of the company’s portion of their commission checks. Also, if you recruit a brand new agent, you’ll have the opportunity to serve as a designated mentor for that individual. As a mentor, you will be able to help them get started and keep them motivated so that they can become a successful agent, as well. Of course, you will receive extra compensation for helping out as a mentor.

Part #1 - http://homegrownrealestate.blogspot.com/2009/08/why-choose-to-be-home-grown.html

Part #2 - http://homegrownrealestate.blogspot.com/2009/08/why-choose-to-be-home-grown-part-2.html

Joshua B. Pettus
President/Associate Broker
Home Grown Real Estate
256.541.0491
JBPettus@gmail.com
http://www.homegrownrealestate.net/