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Home sales in the residential Birmingham area have risen substantially from July to August, to the tune of about 18 percent. Over the year thus far, there have also been significant rises in sales from 2011, totaling a 14 percent increase in residential sales. The news comes as particularly positive following a decrease in sales in July where numbers were down 4 percent from July 2011, marking the first month of 2012 that posted lower numbers than the previous year. Luckily, t did not mark the beginning of a trend for the remainder of 2012.

The Birmingham movers have also noticed signs that the local real estate market is picking up and heading towards a better place than it has been the past few years, as well as throughout the rest of the state of Alabama. In fact, 72% of local housing markets have shown growth from 2011, and the median sale price for Birmingham homes has gone up 13 percent.

According to recent RealtyTrac reports, foreclosure filings in the state of Alabama have declined slightly for the month of July. Throughout the state, there were 1,765 properties that filed for foreclosure, which breaks down to one in every 1,231 homes. That’s down 1 percent from June 2012 and down an additional 1.5 percent from July 2011. In regards to the rest of the states in the country, Alabama ranks 24 among foreclosure filings.

For the Birmingham movers, the rate of foreclosures dropping is certainly a move in the right direction. For the country, foreclosures are down about 10 percent from a year ago. California leads the nation in foreclosure filings, followed by Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Illinois. We are anxious to see what the rest of 2012 holds in terms of real estate health and market movement.

In the Birmingham metropolitan area, the July numbers showed a decline in home sales, a twist from the past 6 months that had positive sales and steadily increasing movement in the market. The 4 percent drop in July was the first time that the numbers had failed to beat sales in 2011.

The Birmingham movers feel a number of factors are at play. Aside from a sluggish and dragging job market, the economic state of Alaama is also relying on the upcoming election–which has stalled some consumer activity as the fate of the nation is still uncertain. However, those who are optimistic in the Birmingham area say that the lower sales aren’t a trend, and they also aren’t necessarily bad. In fact, the decline in sales is directly correlated with a drop in available inventory. A 16% drop in houses on the market combined with foreclosures and other real estate drawbacks had a contribution to the decline, and time will tell as we receive August statistics how the state of the market is holding up.

In keeping with May’s real estate trends, June was another successful month for real estate in Birmingham. In fact, metro Birmingham home sales climbed 13 percent in June, making it the 3rd month in a row for double digit year by year growth. The 13 percent increase is the result of comparing June 2011 to June 2012. In addition, average prices rose up 5 percent from a year ago, and the median price is also up 7 percent.

The Birmingham movers have also learned that mid-year data shows price gains by about 2 percent and a total sales increase of 17 percent. While the first half of the year is encouraging that the market may be heading in the right direction, only time will tell what the rest of 2012 has to bring the Birmingham real estate industry.

A few years ago, Rachel L. Swarns of the New York Times wrote about the multicultural history of Michelle Obama and her roots in the South. Now, Swarns has turned her article into a full on book about Obama, entitled: American Tapestry: The Story of the Black, White and Multiracial Ancestors of Michelle Obama. Swarns spent much of her time researching in the South, including the Birmingham Public Library where she looked for Dolphus Shields, a Birmingham resident and Obama’s biracial maternal great-grandfather. Shields was a founding member of Trinity Baptist Church.

The Birmingham movers are excited to read Swarns’ new book and see what she has to say about Obama’s heritage and of course mentions of Birmingham.

According to the Alabama Center for Real Estate at the University of Alabama, real state sales for residential properties is up 14% in the state of Alabama for the month of May. The percentage comes from comparing May 2011 to May 2012.

Similarly, home prices are up as well. The average selling price was $149,543–up 2 percent from May 2011. The median price also rose 2.4 percent bringing this year’s number to $127,143.

The Birmingham movers are hopeful that these signs point to a positive trend and that the Alabama real estate market may be improving. We will be sure to keep you posted on emerging trends in the local real estate and also any predictions that come from real estate industry professionals.

According to Alabama news, there are plans underway to build a new 350-home community in Pratt City. The goal is to rebuild community where nearby disaster struck due to tornadoes. This project is something new for the area, the first housing development planned that will encompass an entire community rather than just suburban housing. The Birmingham movers think that the Pratt City development would be a nice new change for the area.

The new neighborhoods would be equipped with amenities such as streetlights, sidewalks, a park, and other elements that are common in planned communities. The houses within the development will be priced between $140,000-$200,000. The agenda will be presented to officials who have to approve the project. The date to present is at the beginning of the fiscal year, July 1.

The film “42,” which is based on Jackie Robinson’s 1947 rookie season when Robinson broke the color barrier as the first black major league baseball player in the MLB’s modern era. However, Birmingham only serves as the setting– not the actual location in the film. For example, the Tutwiler doubled as the Ben Franklin Hotel of Philadelphia. Rickwood Field will be the film location for scenes taking place at a variety of fields across the country.

The Birmingham movers have learned filming will also take place in Chattanooga, TN and also Georgia cities Macon and Atlanta. The film is set to open in April 2013 to commemorate the 66th Anniversary of Robinson’s professional debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

The Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. system, aptly called MERS is under debate as a potentially illegal means of obtaining real estate documents. MERS is a program that manages the document aspects of sales–and it is causing difficulty for those looking to track titles and to maintain county fees. The Birmingham movers know that we are not alone in the robo-signing mortgage problem.Here, a number of homeowners and counties are filing lawsuits against MERS.

The claims against MERS say that the process is confusing, deceptive and damages the integrity of Alabama land records. Check out more on the issue here.

Stirling Properties, which is based in Covington, Louisiana, has recently opened up shop in Birmingham, Alabama. The company adds Alabama to its Southern state portfolio, with existing offices throughout Louisiana and also in Jackson, Mississippi. The company has a steadily growing bevy of properties, both commercially owned and leased.

Here at the Birmingham movers, we see the incoming of realty companies as a sign that the commercial real estate in our city might be picking up significantly. Naturally, we are thrilled at the idea of new businesses and moves to keep us Birmingham commercial movers busy!