Mountain Brook Living offers insightful stories about the Mountain Brook real estate market drawing on Mike and Hayden Wald's three decades of experience as two of Mountain Brook's most trusted real estate experts. Get updates on the market, coming soon listings, pricing trends, recently sold listings, staging and listing techniques, marketing strategies, home buying strategies, and much more.

Is the Stock Market Rally Affecting Over-the-Mountain Home Prices?

Tuesday Note: Lessons from helping more than 1,800 families

One question Hayden and I keep coming back to lately: is the stock market rally quietly reshaping the over-the-mountain housing market? We think the answer is yes — and we're seeing it most clearly in Mountain Brook, Vestavia, and parts of North Shelby, especially when a truly special property comes along.

Most homes in our market are still selling within a few percent of asking. That's normal in a competitive market with limited inventory. But almost every week, we see something very different. A trophy property hits the market, and the final number is dramatically higher than expected.

Not 5% over list. Sometimes…

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Are Pools Really a Bad Investment?
Tuesday Note:

Lessons from helping more than 1,800 families
 

For years, homeowners have been told that swimming pools are a poor investment. They're expensive. They're hard to maintain. They'll make your house harder to sell.

But after 40+ combined years of helping families buy and sell over the mountain, Hayden and I think the real lesson is much bigger than pools.

A few years ago, I was showing one of our listings with a beautiful backyard pool. The buyers liked the house, but they told me they planned to factor the cost of filling in the pool into their offer. I told them I'd be happy to write it up — but I suspected someone who was excited about that pool would probably outbid them.

That's exactly what…

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Marketing Case Study: 72 Cross Creek Drive East

2 Offers. 3 Days. $25,000 Over Asking. 

72 Cross Creek Drive East · Mountain Brook 

This wasn't luck. It was strategy.

Beautifully renovated 3 Bedroom, 3.5 Bath home in sought-after Cross Creek neighborhood of Mountain Brook. It's the kind of home that could have sold well through any number of approaches — but "well" and "at the top of its range" are two very different outcomes. Our sellers wanted the second one.  

Here's our strategy, step by step: 

Preparation 

What we did: Before a single photo was taken, we walked the home with the sellers and identified the changes that would meaningfully move a buyer's response — and the ones that wouldn't. Then we brought…

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Five Reasons Why Now Is the Perfect Time for Empty Nesters to Downsize


Strong Seller's Market: The real estate markets in Hoover, Homewood, Mountain Brook, and Vestavia still favor sellers. With limited housing inventory and soaring demand, you can expect competitive offers for your home. Bidding wars for homes in good condition and priced appropriately are still the norm, driving up sale prices. Steady Property Values: Home values in these areas have been on a consistent upward trajectory over the years. If you've owned your home for a while, it has likely gained substantial value. Selling now allows you to capitalize on this equity, especially as experts predict a potential slowdown in price increases. Optimal Downsizing…

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Found the Perfect House? How to Write a Winning Offer and Not Regret it!

 

You've found the perfect house! There's only one problem- you're not alone! Great homes, priced right, attract crowds of buyers in this crazy market. So, what's the secret to writing a successful offer? Experience helping hundreds of buyers successfully write winning contracts has shown us that there are four critical steps to writing an offer with the best chance of winning. Deciding How Much to Offer is the decision that generally carries the most weight with sellers. The strategy we will share here is designed to help you write the appropriate offer that gives you your best chance of winning while minimizing the risk you'll suffer from buyer's remorse after the sellers…

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First 90 Days Update: Over the Mountain Volume is Down, Prices Up

The Over the Mountain real estate market is sending mixed signals, but by historical standards it's still a Seller's market. Sales volume is down 27%. Prices are up 7.8% and Days on Market increased from 3 days during the first 3 months of last year to 4 days, this year.

First 90 Days of 2022

950 homes sold with median days on the market of 3

Average list-to-sales price 101.8%

Average sold price $492,553

First 90 days of 2023

690 homes sold with median days on the market of 5

Average list-to-sales price 99.96%

Average sold price $531,084

During the first 90 days of 2022, 260 more over-the-mountain homes were sold than during the first 90 days of this year.…

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First 60 Days: The Market's Still Strong! 

      

There are interesting comparisons for the over-the-mountain housing market during the first 60 days of 2022 and 2023. The most important finding is that it's still a seller's market despite the increase in mortgage rates.

2022

534 homes sold with median days on the market of 3

Average list-to-sales price 101.2%

Average sold price $484,819

2023

380 homes sold with median days on the market of 5

Average list-to-sales price 99.27%

Average sold price $528,102

During the first 60 days of 2022, 154 more over-the-mountain homes were sold than during the first 60 days of this year. That's a 29% drop in unit volume. However, the average sales price for homes sold this year was 8.9%…

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Beautiful 4 Bedroom, 4 Bath Mountain Brook Home with pool!

3380 Spring  Valley Court

Located on a quiet Mountain Brook street this classic brick home offers a large front porch for sitting, relaxing and taking in the sights and sounds of the neighborhood. Inside find a formal sitting and dining room, spacious living room with brick fireplace and a large bay window that allows for ample sunlight to bathe the space and make the hardwoods shine. Open kitchen features stainless steel appliances and large center island, great for gatherings and entertaining. Generous master bedroom, updated bathrooms, and a bonus room with bath that is the perfect space to serve as a changing room from the pool area. Entertain effortlessly outdoors on the flagstone…

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This handsome Mountain Brook estate is perfectly situated on a spacious lot and features a wealth of curb appeal. A two story foyer and ornamental staircase greet you as you enter this home. Main level features beautiful hardwoods, a formal sitting area, warm wood paneled office space, elegant formal dining room and spacious living area with stone fireplace and built-in shelves. You will love the extra counter space in the open kitchen that boasts a gas cooktop, center island, subway tile and opens to a large informal dining area. Oversized master suite offers a marble fireplace, walk-in closet with built-ins, and private spa like ensuite with glass shower and separate jetted tub. Lower level boasts plenty of versatile space that would be perfect for…

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