North Alabama Home Blog

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

Mon, 17 May 2010 12:10:07 -0400

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 with 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!

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

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:42:04 -0500

$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

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

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 2 - Beginnings

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:53:47 -0500

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/

3 Bedroom 2 Bath Home for Sale in Killen, Alabama

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:02:00 -0500

3 Bedroom 2 Bath Home for Sale in Killen, Alabama

Not sure if this is the one? Search other great properties in North Alabama!

This beautiful home, located in the beautiful Oakwood Estates neighborhood in Center Star, Alabama, is perfect for anyone looking for a nice country setting with the comfort and security of an established and growing neighborhood. This home has 2,300 square feet of living space, three large bedrooms, and two bathrooms.

Video Walkthrough of 15 Oakview Circle, Killen, AL

3 Bedroom 2 Bath Home for Sale

Family Room - Large room with two ceiling fans, storage closet, and laminate hardwood flooring. Big enough for any size family!

Kitchen - Gigantic eat-in kitchen with vinyl tile, tons of cabinet and counter-top space, and enough room for any size dining room table! Also has an island for extra food prep room and storage.

Living room - Features a fireplace, new ceiling fan, and carpet. Large enough for your family!

Master bedroom - 18' x 13' with vaulted ceiling, private bathroom, ceiling fan, and two closets.

Bedroom 2 - 13' x 11' with 2 closets, ceiling fan and enough room for two beds.

Bedroom 3 - 18' x 13' with one large walk-in closet, ceiling fan, and could easily fit 3 beds!

3 Bedroom 2 Bath Home for Sale

MLS#: 367762 ListPrice: $138,999 Status: Active Address:

15 Oakview Circle

KILLEN, AL 35645

Area: (06) Lauderdale County Waterfront?: N Bedrooms: 3 ApproxSF: 2,300 Baths Full/Half: 2/0 Year Built: 1988 SqFt Upper: 0 Age: 21 years SqFt Bsm Unf: 0 Roof Age: 6 SqFt Main: 2,300 Subdiv: OAKVIEW SqFt Bsm Fin: 0 Possession: At Closing AssocFee: $0 HVAC Age: 19 ParcelID: 17-05-22-0-001-112-000 LotDim: 75 X 187.81 Acres: 0.320000 Elem: BROOKS Middle: BROOKS High: BROOKS

REDUCED FOR QUICK SALE! Feels like home! 2300 Sq. Ft. 3 Huge Bedrooms, 2 Full Baths, Tons of Living Space. Large den has two ceiling fans, laminate wood flooring. Gigantic kitchen has plenty of cabinet and countertop space, room for a large kitchen table and vaulted ceiling. New carpet and paint throughout. Large living room has fan and fireplace. 3 Large bedrooms all with tons of closet space. Master bedroom has vaulted ceiling and private full bath. Nice sized private, fenced back yard. COME AND SEE!

Thinking of BUYING property soon in North Alabama?

3 Bedroom 2 Bath Home for Sale

Joshua B. Pettus

President/Broker

Home Grown Real Estate

jbpettus@gmail.com

http://www.homegrownrealestate.net

How much is your house worth RIGHT NOW?

The Sound of the Shoals - Part 1 - Intro

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:40:58 -0500

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/