List Birmingham - August 2021

List Birmingham - August 2021

M E L V I N ’ S M O N T H L Y M O M E N T S

AUGUST 2021

205-223-6192 WWW.MELVIN.LISTBIRMINGHAM.COM

HOW IS THE REAL ESTATE MARKET?

Facts (statistics) really are stubborn things! As the chart indicates, we are clearly in a seller’s market! The comparison of the first six months of last year (with a shutdown in the middle of that period) and the first six months of this year provide some surprising insights. Despite the shortage of inventory, the actual number of houses sold in these markets increased. Days on market are down considerably in nearly every market. The contract-to-list price is over 100% in all but two hyper- local markets. Overall, market appreciation is consistent with national trends although there are a few surprises by neighborhood. If you have questions about the market, do not hesitate to contact me.

Birmingham Area Real Estate Sales Statistics First 6 Months Comparison 2020 vs. 2021

Jan. 1 - June 30, 2020

Jan. 1 - June 30, 2021

Area

Avg Sales $

Days on Market

Sales to List $

Price Increase

Avg Sales $

Days on Market

Number Sold

Sales to List $

Number Sold

Edgewood Elem.

80 31 98.75% $530,358 95 53 36 98.61% $485,400 59 57 48 95.82% $321,029 53

22 100.97% $594,447 12.08% 13 100.24% $579,710 19.43% 14 100.45% $339,836 5.86%

Shades Cahaba Elem.

Hall Kent Elem.

Homewood

190 38 98.50% $470,104 207 18 100.55% $525,390 12.46%

Crestline Elem. Mt. Brook Elem.

59 30 98.38% $866,529 69 46 38 98.46% $876,994 64 35 34 98.64% $608,558 47 48 29 98.69% $560,879 52

6 103.50% $1,099,219 26.85% 33 101.47% $1,211,287 38.12% 10 103.40% $728,674 19.74% 21 100.04% $735,680 31.17%

Cherokee Bend Elem. Brookwood For. Elem.

Mt. Brook East Elem. West Elem.

188 33 98.50% $743,025 232 18 102.14% $1,014,505 36.54%

76 36 97.62% $528,092 69

19 100.17% $589,794 11.68%

79 23 98.53% $395,715 105 26 99.97% $433,866 9.64%

Dolly Ridge Elem. Cahaba Heights Elem. Liberty Park Elem.

70 35 97.89% $520,378 79 54 28 99.94% $446,610 83 66 29 98.70% $576,303 66

34 101.01% $596,789 14.68% 19 100.14% $452,783 1.38% 13 100.00% $696,837 20.92%

Vestavia

345 30 98.41% $492,684 402 23 100.27% $539,727 9.55%

Spain Park High

260 51 98.38% $402,727 301 25 99.57% $467,948 16.19%

Hoover High Oak Mountain

628 25 99.90% $386,019 748 10 101.61% $442,134 14.54% 239 33 98.04% $402,373 248 12 101.11% $428,881 6.59%

-Melvin Upchurch

Forest Park Crestwood

54 22 99.38% $427,346 56

40 100.82% $465,965 9.04%

113 24 99.03% $287,435 134 16 101.68% $324,475 12.89%

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DOUBLE YOUR VEGETABLES IN DAYS!

HOW TO REGROW YOUR STORE-BOUGHT VEGGIES WITH FOOD SCRAPS

Getaway 5

If you usually toss your vegetable scraps straight into the trash can or compost bin, stop now! Bok choy, green onion, celery, romaine lettuce, and many other vegetables are easy to regrow right in your kitchen with a bit of water and sunlight. This trick will save you money on produce and prevent extra trips to the grocery store. What can I regrow? The list of vegetables you can regrow is almost endless: basil, romaine lettuce, carrots (although you’ll only create more tops), green onions, green garlic, celery, cilantro, bok choy, lemongrass, ginger, sweet potatoes, onions, leeks, rosemary, and lemon balm (to name a few). Some people even regrow fruit by planting pineapple stalks, kiwi seeds, or lemon seeds. Visit EmpressofDirt. net for a list of 39 fruits and vegetables to start with and tips for which part of each plant to use. How do I get started? To regrow most vegetables, all you need is a small glass container, water, sunlight, and time. To regrow bok choy, for example, place the end of the bunch cut side-up in an inch or two of water and set it in a sunny spot. Soon, new leaves will start to poke out of the chopped end! You can continue growing the vegetable until you have enough for your next recipe. Then, keep snipping off pieces to enjoy as long as you’d like. Once the roots are a few inches long, you can plant your re-grown vegetables in soil or compost them knowing they’ve done double duty. If you want a more detailed guide to the regrowing process, pick up “Regrow Your Veggies: Growing Vegetables from Roots, Cuttings, and Scraps” by Melissa Raupach and Felix Lill.

Tips for Your Next Affordable

Are you excited to explore the world again? Or maybe you’ve just gotten back from your latest vacation! In either case, the economic challenges of the pandemic might require travelers to plan their trips a little smarter. Here are five tricks to do just that. 1. Consider your budget while choosing your destination. Any destination heavily impacted by tourists is going to be more expensive to visit. So, consider taking a tour through various French countryside towns instead of Paris! Not only could it be more culturally immersing, but it may even be more relaxing and less stressful than visiting a dense area. 2. Sign up for Scott’s Cheap Flights. One of the most important parts of booking an affordable vacation is booking it at the right time. Scott’s Cheap Flights will track all the cheapest flights at an airport of your choice — you’ll get over 50%–75% savings on highly rated airlines. This will get you stress- free travel for a much lower price! 3. Travel in a group. If you travel with friends, your expenses become a lot more manageable. Let’s say you and a partner travel with two other couples — renting a swanky cabin at $200 a night will only cost around $33 per person. Plus, you will create some amazing memories together! 4. Plan your meal budget ahead of time. Looking forward to eating certain dishes? Find local menus and prices to ensure you don’t spend more than you planned. If you want an authentic and homestyle culinary experience, consider signing up for a peer-to-peer dining experience through Traveling Spoon or Bon Appetour, which is tax-free as well! 5. Consider volunteering for vacation. Want to go on a self-discovery trip? Why not cut your expenses in half by volunteering? For example, Habitat for Humanity offers a nine-day Mexico trip for $1,200 with lodging, food, and activities included. You’ll get to build structures and create something permanent for the local community.

Can I do this forever? The short answer is yes and no. Most vegetables can’t thrive forever on water and sunlight alone, so unless you turn your little regrowing operation into a full garden, you’ll still have to visit the farmers market after one or two regrowings. That said, regrowing food can become a lifelong habit that saves you money and helps prevent excess waste. It’s a win-win!

Traveling on a dime is no sweat with the right tools. Best of luck, traveler!

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STICKY BUSINESS Is Painter’s Tape More Useful Than Duct Tape? But the real value behind painter’s tape is that it does the exact thing duct tape can’t: It goes on easily and comes off with no sticky residue left behind. That’s what makes it great for painting, but it also means it is ideal for hanging posters, putting a to-do list on the wall, or sticking a label on a jar of food. Painter’s tape doesn’t have the sheer strength of duct tape, but that’s a feature. A few wraps of painter’s tape will keep that extension cord coiled at just the right length, but the low strength means you can easily tear it when you need the longer cord. This works with cables, hoses, ropes, and straps and is great for keeping a house organized. You can also use painter’s tape to baby-proof outlets, wrap presents, divide a room in half between two feuding kids … the list goes on! What’s your favorite use for tape? Whatever that may be, painter’s tape has you covered.

What’s blue, sticky, and as useful as can be? If a roll of painter’s tape just sprung to mind, then you’re on the right track. Although duct tape has the reputation of being the most useful item in the world, we’re not so sure that’s the case. In fact, we’re not even sure it’s the most useful kind of tape . Blasphemy? Perhaps not. Painter’s tape lacks the adhesive qualities of duct tape as well as the fabric-style backing that gives the silver stuff its fabled strength. But here’s the honest truth about those qualities: They’re only there to let duct tape do things tape was never supposed to do. Long-term repairs? Structural support? Duct tape may be useful in a pinch, but around the house, you’re going to do a lot better with the blue painter’s tape. For one, it comes in a variety of sizes, and if you’re painting, that can be a real godsend. It’s also easy to lay flat, fold, and tuck into nooks and crannies (a quality it receives from the paper-style backing).

EASY FOIL-GRILLED SAUSAGE AND VEGETABLES Inspired by NutmegNanny.com

TAKE A BREAK

Ingredients

Directions

• 4 sausage links of your choice • 1 lb green beans • 1 red bell pepper, diced • 1 yellow bell pepper, diced • 1 red onion, diced • 1 zucchini, diced • 1 yellow summer squash, diced • 3 tbsp olive oil • 2 cloves garlic, grated

1. Preheat your grill to medium heat or your oven to 425 F. 2. In a large bowl, add all of the ingredients and mix well. Divide into four equal portions. 3. Prepare four 16-inch pieces of foil and place a portion in the middle of each section. Wrap each foil piece tightly and avoid holes. 4. Grill each foil packet for 20

• 1 tbsp thyme • 1 tsp oregano

minutes, flipping halfway through. You can also bake each packet for 20 minutes at 425 F.

• 1 tsp basil • 1 tsp salt • 1 tsp crushed red pepper (optional)

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205-223-6192 WWW.MELVIN.LISTBIRMINGHAM.COM 300 UNION HILL DR., STE. 200 BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

INSIDE

1

How Is the Real Estate Market?

2

Want to Save on Your Next Vacation?

Learn How to Double Your Vegetables

3

More Useful Than Duct Tape?!

Easy Foil-Grilled Sausage and Vegetables

4

3 Ways to Make Your Pet’s Golden Years Easier

WAYS TO MAKE YOUR PET’S GOLDEN YEARS EASIER Try These Tips Out Today 3

Last year, actor Ryan Reynolds posted on Instagram for his 13-year- old golden retriever, Bax. “Happy Birthday, Bax,” he wrote. “I’d bake you a cake, but it would kill you. Not because you’re a dog. Everything I bake is poison. If I had to go to war, I’d just bring a toaster oven.” Jokes aside, A-listers love their pets as much as we do! Age is tough on animals, but there are ways to keep them comfortable in their senior years.

Pet Stairs Pet stairs bridge the gap between the floor and the couch and/or bed. Browse sites like Chewy and Build-Basic to learn how to make your own! Raised Food Bowls Raising your pet’s food bowls will make it easier for them to swallow their meals and avoid the discomfort of arthritis. Nap Cushions To keep your pet’s favorite sleeping spots comfortable as they age, repurpose a pillow into a nap cushion.

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