Dothan Area Real Estate-Homes on the Market

Just wanted to let you know a break down of the price and number of homes on the market.

$50,000-100,000--135 homes
$101,000-200,000--421 homes
$201,000-300,000--211 homes
$301,000-and up--157 homes

Total homes--973

There are plenty of choices out there!

Happy House Hunting!

Michelle

Dothan Real Estate Choices

How many single-family homes do you think are on the market at the time of this post? I better hurry and tell you because the number changes by the minute, it is 973! Wow!!! This is the number on the Dothan area Multiple Listing Service. The business term is "mls". Here's how it works. Every real estate office and realtor in the Dothan Association of Realtors (DAR) has access to this service. The MLS allows me to look at information on ANY houses, duplexes, townhouses, land, commercial, modular homes, etc. It's my favorite website! Don't get excited about me sharing the address because it's just for Realtors. Sorry! But don't be "down in the mouth" (frown) is what my granny use to say, because this is a great service I can give you. You won't have to fret on the computer or Google anything if you don't want too, you can CALL ME! (My cell is 334-333-1609. You know I have to advertise! lol) We can look find you a home based on the square footage, price, number of bedrooms or baths, street, subdivision, school zone, city, county, amount of acreage, and then you can even get into the specifics in the home. It's real easy!

I cannot lie--I love the MLS and I love house hunting! All aspects of the business are great, but those are my favorites! It's fun to walk into "THE" house and my clients faces light up because they know they are in "THEIR" new home! I've been on that side of the fence and I know what it feels like. It's a great feeling! This side of the fence is fun because I have a chance to help people with one of the biggest decisions they will ever make in their lifetime. Oh, what a responsibility. It is one I take very serious!

If you or anyone you know is getting ready to purchase a home please give them my number. I would love to assist anyone in this great house hunting process! If they aren't ready to talk in person or over the phone, I would be glad to work through email. If you like email, I can send you homes to look over directly from the MLS. I am telling you-it's the best thing since sliced bread. lol Buying real estate can be hair raising and it can be fun. I want to make the process FUN!

Michelle
Call me @ 334-333-1609

Dothan Are You Ready To Be TAX-FREE?

Just think, it's just a few more hours until much in Dothan stores will be TAX-FREE!!! I hope everyone will be very careful driving and don't forget to be nice. We all know these days are coming so there is no reason to get in a hurry or mad because you do have an option-stay home. Only happy, money spending people need to be out! lol Just kidding, as my 12 year old says. It will be lots of fun going to get those school supplies and school clothes. Make sure you check the paper for sales and map out your route before you leave home. Gas has gone down a little bit, but conservation is always smart and a well planned day of shopping beams efficiency. You can save money and gas! That's being a bargain shopper! Don't you just love a good deal?

You can start at midnight!

Happy shopping!

Michelle

Dothan Cultural Offerings

Sunday's Dothan Eagle is always jam packed full of stuff. This week it had the Fall edition of Wiregrass Arts & Entertainment magazine. The Cultural Arts Center publishes this magazine. If you didn't receive one you should try to get a hold of one to read about all the exciting events coming up this 2008-2009 season. Dothan is so rich in the arts and I never really knew it until I got older. You know in my 30's! lol In this Fall season it talks about the 29th season of Music South, ballroom dance competitions, SEACT schedule, and the Wiregrass Youth Symphony Orchestra Program. This little mag has tons of advertisements from churches, doctors, dance studios, stores, and Realtors. Wow! Never really thought about advertising there, but I'll grant you I will now.

Dothan has such a rich heritage in the arts and its growing by leaps and bounds. For more info check out their website at www.theculturalartscenter.com.

I encourage you to spread your wings and enjoy the arts.

Michelle

Realtor Open Houses

Today was a great day to go and look at houses. You see Tuesday is the day most Realtors have "Open House" for all Realtors or each office goes on "caravan". Caravan is when all the Realtors at the office go and look at listings within their office. These 2 events happen each week. Century 21 Key Realty goes on caravan our own listings the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month. It's a great time to get our office excited about our house inventory. Usually after we caravan we go to other Realtors open houses. The more we can see, the more knowledgeable we can talk about the home of your dreams. Real estate is so much fun!

It was really good today because we went out to Setter's Point and a home on Fuller Road. The host realtor had Olive Garden lunch for everyone who came by to view the home. Let me tell you it was really gooooooood! We then went a view a couple in Setter's Point. The last viewing had wonderful desserts and good southern sweet tea.

Needless to say, those were some gorgeous homes. One was "pre-loved" and the other 2 were new construction. They were beautiful! If you are looking for a home on the southeast side of town with the Rehobeth school zone please give me a call. I'd love to show you any of the homes I viewed or another homes out that way.

I also saw 3 homes in Chapelwood very nice and 1 home on Agutha which was immaculate. Please let me know if I can assist you with any real estate needs.

See I finally got around to some a true real state blog! I just love Dothan and I love real estate!

Michelle

Yes We Can Dothan!

Yes We Can! Dothan

Better Schools.

Better Dothan.

Tonight I went to a "Community Conversation" meeting at Beverlye Middle School. This is a new initiative designed to engage Dothan citizns in creating a unified voice and vision for Dothan City Schools. My interest was peaked because I want to be able to tell my clients, who move from other cities and states, about our school system. Knowledge is invaluable in the real estate business.

They will be conducting about 40 of these meetings all over the Dothan. Anyone and everyone is encouraged to attend. Tonight we had parents, grandparents, administration, teachers, elected officials, and business professionals attended the conversation. Many people talked and gave their opinions and suggestions about ways to make our school system what it should be. Questions were asked and our answers were all written down and they will be taken and compiled to form the community agreement. These will be our thoughts and dreams for what we as a community want for our children.

A couple of the main points I took away from this "community conversation" consisted of a hindrance being the perception people have about our schools. Another point that continued to surface was the fact that for a school to be successful hinged on parental involvement. Many times we assume when we hear something unpleasant about a school, we think it stays that way forever. What a wrong and warped thought! Investigate our school system for yourself and go and observe with your own eyes. Don't depend on someone elses opinion. All children are unique and what works better for one doesn't for another. Check it out for yourself.

I urge you to go to a "community conversation". Input is vital for the success of this initiative. Mobile participated in this initiative and went from one of the lowest schools in the state to be in the top 3 school systems. Don't be fooled, this is not a quick fix, but a total mind change and unifying program.

The following is the info needed about this initiative:

Yes We Can! Dothan

www.yeswecandothan.com

Virginia Christian, Operations Manager

545 West Main Street, Suite 109

Dothan, Alabama 36301

334-836-0217 ext. 109

fax: 866-596-8618

virginia.christian@yeswecan.org

Check it out!

Michelle

Watch Out Dothan-Tax-Free Weekend Is Here!

TAX-FREE Yippee! Tax-free day starts on Friday, August 1 and goes through Sunday,August 3. This is a great time to buy all those school supplies and school clothes. I had so much fun last year buying during this time! I just felt like I was getting a great deal! You know human nature tells us we have to get a good deal. Last year, I found one store that would hold my items until the weekend and that way I got first pick and really didn't have to get in the crowd. It was nice. It wasn't charged until the tax-free day.

Save your bucks this weekend so you will have plenty to spend. Of course, I like any other human doesn't like to pay 9%, but I have seen the tax money put to use and I enjoy it every morning on my way to work/school at the new intersection/stoplight right down from my house. Makes it a whole lot easier to get to where I need to be. Anyway, this is a great time to save that change.

You can go to the following website for a detailed list of exempt and non-exempt items: www.revenue.alabama.gov/salestax/SalesTaxHol.htm When you get there click on "Sales Tax Holiday Quick Reference Sheet of Exempt Items" and it will get you started on your list.

I'm sure stores will start having sales, so just beware and plot your plan of action for the weekend. Don't forget to refuel at one of the numerous eating establishments in Dothan.

Happy Tax-Free Holidays!

Michelle

National Night Out-Dothan

The Dothan Police Department will join forces with other organizations for the 25th Annual National Night Out. Bring your family and friends for a FREE event of fun, games, and fellowship. Multiple musical artist will perform and lots of fun for the children. Food will be available for purchase with all proceeds to benefit the Child Advocacy Center. Different agencies will conduct demonstration and Captain America, McGruff, Aqua Duck will all join the fun. This is a wonderful night for our community to come together and have a good time.

Here's the info:

August 5, 2008
4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Dothan Civic Center
126 North Saint Andrews Street

Hope to see you there!

Michelle

Dothan Movie Theater Closes, But Coming Back

I can actually remember when the Circle West Cinema opened at the big age of 9 years old. I also remember it was much cheaper back then, but that's just part of life. Now let me date myself with my next memory. Go back to 1986, what a year, and the year I graduated from Dothan High School. Prom night was on Friday and we graduated on the next Friday, we had a great week! Our Prom was at the Dothan Civic Center with the dance ending at midnight and then it was off to Circle West Cinemas where our whole class enjoyed a free movie starting at 1:00 a.m. Top Gun (Tom Cruise was really cute back then! lol was the movie and needless to say it was so cool to be with your graduating class and we were the only people in the whole place! We had a great time and then it was off to the Dothan Shoney's for breakfast. I finally hit the bed about 4 a.m. and you know at 17 years old energy was abundant, so we all left for the beach at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday morning for the day. What a whirlwind! Activity like that would probably kill me at this point in my life. lol

Never fear Carmike is opening another theater and the Dothan Pavillion. I haven't heard a date for the opening, but I know it's under construction. I haven't heard about this through the Dothan "grapevine" because I am an eyewitness! I see it everyday! All I have to do is look out my back window and there it is! I'm so excited about the easy access! I sure hope they have the nice stadium seating like Northside Cinema 2 in Dothan. Those are great seats!

Northside Cinemas will be the only theater in Dothan for a while. I hope they enjoy it! From my observation, plenty of people go to the movies and there will be plenty of business for everyone. After the initial newness wears off things will level out once again. Dothanites just love the movies!

Michelle

Dothan Real Estate Agent at Your Service

Helping you buy and sell real estate is not just my job, but I actually have fun doing my job and it doesn't even seem like work. (At least most days.) I plan to use this blog in my business, so please spread the word. Believe me there is nothing like the advertisement of word of mouth. Help me out! I plan to let you know about any of my new listings. I just want to give my clients the best service I can and the more I can get their homes in front of the public the better chance I have to get their home sold in record time.

Home sales in Dothan are truly in a bubble compared to the rest of the country. While a little slow, it has been pretty steady for the most part. The most popular price range has been steadily rising also. Things are a little slow with the summer months and vacations, but the spring was excellent. With this business you save up for the lean times. I enjoy getting to meet and work with new people. If you know someone who needs to sell their home or buy a new home please feel free to give them my name. I look forward to meeting them! Remember I can show you any home in Dothan that is for sale. I can also call For Sale By Owners if you want me to help you with a transaction.

Let me just give a little advertisement for myself. The following is my work info:

Michelle Beasley
Century 21 Key Realty
2275 Montgomery Highway, Suite 2
Dothan, Alabama 36303
Office: 334-793-6990
Toll Free: 800-793-6990
Fax: 334-671-7126

Easiest Ways to Reach Me
Cell: 334-333-1609
michelle@c21keyrealty.com
www.dothandotsofinfo.blogspot.com

Our Company Website is: www.dothanhomesearch.com

I hope to hear from you soon!

Michelle

AFirst Dothan Dots of Info

Hi! I'm Michelle Beasley. I work with Century 21 Key Realty in Dothan, Alabama and I love helping others buy and sell houses! This is my very first time to blog, so be patient. I have lived in Dothan for almost 38 years, give or take a few for the college years and the first few years of marriage. I tried my best not to miss too many happenings in Dothan during those first 7 years of marriage, so we came home quite often! (Probably too often for newly weds.)lol Anyway, I love Dothan and I hope that I can help you learn new things about Dothan, events that are happening, and tell you about real estate in Dothan.

The City of Dothan has so much to offer people. If you like to eat out, shop, sports, children's activities, civic activities, senior activities, church, parks, warm weather, and many other things, this is the place for you. Dothan is a great place to live and raise children. I'm learning as I get older, it's a great place to grow old also. Don't worry I don't have a foot in the grave yet. lol I know my sweet granny lived in assisted living here and truly enjoyed her last years on this earth because of her assisted living home. It was so efficient for my mom since she was the primary caretaker. Granny got to where she didn't like to leave her home for very long at the time because she might miss some excitement and she surely didn't want to be out of the Harmony Home Loop.

I plan to blog about all different aspects of Dothan so keep on coming back and see what you can learn. Everyone needs a little Dothan Dot of Info!

Michelle