Inform | Influence | Empower

Website Search:

News

Celebrating Excellence: Congratulating Our New SRES® Designees!

07/17/2026

At HAAR, we are committed to providing our community with the highest level of expertise and specialized care. That is why we are incredibly proud to announce our newest group of REALTORS® who have officially earned the Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES®) designation!
By completing this comprehensive course, these dedicated professionals have gained specialized knowledge to expertly guide homebuyers and sellers aged 50 and older through major financial and lifestyle transitions. From navigating relocating and refinancing to managing the emotional and financial complexities of downsizing, our new SRES® designees are uniquely equipped to serve the mature market with patience, understanding, and unmatched expertise.
Please join us in celebrating the hard work and dedication of these outstanding agents:

Our Newest SRES® Designees

Joshua Click

James Cooper

Kelsey Davis

Deborah Duclerc

Cindy Dufrene

Sallye Elliott

Lahoma Hendrix

Blake Landry

Kathy Mann

LePage Owens

Robert Owens

Belinda Reaves

Shannon Roscoe

Sara Runyans

Jennifer Savage

Lisa Simunaci

Richard VanValkenburgh

Carol West

Linda Williams

Pamela Wyatt

Thank you all for your commitment to elevating your education and better serving our community. We look forward to seeing the incredible impact you will continue to make!
Read More

Huntsville approves creation of tax increment financing district

07/16/2026

originally posted at huntsvilleal.gov

The City of Huntsville approved the creation of a tax increment financing (TIF) district designed to fund a major expansion at the Von Braun Center (VBC) and other infrastructure projects in the downtown area.
Known as TIF 9, it does not create a new tax. TIF districts capture revenue stemming from future growth in property tax revenue generated by new development within the district. Property tax rates are not increased and funding for schools is not reduced.
TIF 9 will provide approximately $200 million for capital improvements at the VBC and $20 million for four other projects. By law, the infrastructure projects will be implemented within five years.
  • Von Braun Center: Construction of more than 100,000 square feet of new event and exhibit space similar in size to South Hall, along with new meeting rooms, conference and exhibit space, upgraded parking and other improvements
  • North Huntsville Beltline Greenway: Design and construction, including right-of-way acquisition along with amenities such as lighting, landscape, hardscape and safety equipment.
  • New Mill Creek Park (Choice Neighborhood Redevelopment): Design and construction of a new public park as part of the Mill Creek project, enclosing a drainage channel, installing park equipment and adding landscaping and lighting.
  • Lowe Avenue: Road and pedestrian upgrades to support increased traffic and the relocation of Huntsville Junior High School.
  • Renovations to former federal courthouse: Interior and ADA improvements to the historic Holmes Avenue building for future use by the Madison County Commission.
The TIF district covers almost 3,700 acres centered around the downtown area.
The City of Huntsville has used TIF districts since 2000 to help finance public infrastructure and redevelopment projects.
Read More

Office Exclusive Listings & Pre-Marketing Guidance

07/16/2026

NAR has issued guidance on office exclusive listings and pre-marketing. Please review or download the guide below. 
Download the PDF
Read More

From Report to Resolution: Mastering Repair Negotiation (3 CE) 

07/16/2026

From Report to Resolution: Mastering Repair Negotiation (3 CE) Date: Thursday, September 24th 9:00 am […]

Read More

Understanding your Greatest Tool in Real Estate: The Contract (3 CE)

07/16/2026

Understanding your Greatest Tool in Real Estate: The Contract (3 CE) Date: Monday, September 14th […]

Read More

Beyond the Basics: Estate & Divorce Challenges in Real Estate (3 CE)

07/16/2026

Beyond the Basics: Estate & Divorce Challenges in Real Estate Date: Friday, September 11th 9:00 […]

Read More

Welcome Tiffany! A Casual Meet & Greet

07/15/2026

Join us as we give Tiffany a warm North Alabama welcome! Stop by Furniture Factory […]

Read More

June 2026 Fast Stats

07/15/2026

COMBINED
ATHENS
DEKALB
ETOWAH - CHEROKEE
HUNTSVILLE_Madison County Fast Stats
JACKSON
MARSHALL
MORGAN

Welcome to the June 2026 Fast Stats report! Summer is in full swing, bringing a dynamic wave of activity across our regional housing markets. Across the Combined Market, we saw a surge in home sales, climbing to 1,525 homes sold compared to 1,256 in June 2025. Meanwhile, regional inventory stayed competitive, keeping buyers and sellers highly engaged.

📊 Market Breakdown by County

🔹 Huntsville & Madison County

The Huntsville powerhouse continues to accelerate, showing a remarkable jump in activity from last summer.

  • Homes Sold: 824 (up from 635 in June 2025)

  • Median Sale Price: $348k (up from $345k in June 2025)

  • Homes on Market: 2,706

  • Average Days on Market: 42 days

  • Pending Sales This Month: 1,201

🔹 Athens-Limestone

Strong buyer demand drove higher volume in the Athens-Limestone area this month.

  • Homes Sold: 236 (up from 183 in June 2025)

  • Median Sale Price: $327k (up from $322k in June 2025)

  • Homes on Market: 1,052

  • Average Days on Market: 51 days

  • Pending Sales This Month: 435

🔹 Morgan-Lawrence

Prices dipped slightly year-over-year, but home sales held solid and inventory tightened up.

  • Homes Sold: 163 (up from 159 in June 2025)

  • Median Sale Price: $260k (down from $265k in June 2025)

  • Homes on Market: 476 (down from 578 in June 2025)

  • Average Days on Market: 50 days

  • Pending Sales This Month: 225

🔹 Marshall County

Volume remained perfectly stable year-over-year, while homes commanded slightly higher prices.

  • Homes Sold: 100 (identical to 100 in June 2025)

  • Median Sale Price: $280k (up from $273k in June 2025)

  • Homes on Market: 515

  • Average Days on Market: 49 days

  • Pending Sales This Month: 148

🔹 Etowah-Cherokee

Activity picked up pace as homes moved quicker off the market compared to the regional average drop.

  • Homes Sold: 107 (up from 93 in June 2025)

  • Median Sale Price: $240k (down from $246k in June 2025)

  • Homes on Market: 430

  • Average Days on Market: 62 days

  • Pending Sales This Month: 129

🔹 DeKalb County

DeKalb saw steady transaction growth, but the market experienced a noticeably longer closing pace.

  • Homes Sold: 43 (up from 40 in June 2025)

  • Median Sale Price: $235k (down from $246k in June 2025)

  • Homes on Market: 208

  • Average Days on Market: 67 days (up from 43 in June 2025)

  • Pending Sales This Month: 46

🔹 Jackson County

A sharp decline in median price paired with a prolonged timeline for average days on market points to a unique window of opportunity for buyers looking to negotiate.

  • Homes Sold: 24 (up from 21 in June 2025)

  • Median Sale Price: $230k (down from $287k in June 2025)

  • Homes on Market: 143

  • Average Days on Market: 115 days (up from 65 in June 2025)

  • Pending Sales This Month: 42

💡 What This Means For Buyers & Sellers

  • For Buyers: Areas like Jackson, DeKalb, and Etowah-Cherokee are seeing softer median prices or longer days on market compared to last year. This gives you extra room to breathe and negotiate.

  • For Sellers: In fast-moving metros like Huntsville/Madison County and Athens-Limestone, properties are still turning over quickly (around 42-51 days) with a solid backlog of pending sales waiting in the wings.

ValleyMLS.com Market Stats include statistics from the following cities/counties: Athens, Limestone County, Dekalb County, Etowah County, Cherokee County, Huntsville, Madison County, Jackson County, Marshall County, Morgan County, Lawrence County

Read More

Reminder: SentriLock Access Credentials Must Not Be Shared

07/14/2026

ValleyMLS in conjunction with your local association, would like to remind all Participants and Subscribers that your SentriLock credentials—including your SentriKey® app access and PIN—are issued exclusively for your individual use and may not be shared with anyone, including another ValleyMLS member.
Each licensed agent is required to use their own SentriLock credentials to access listed properties. Sharing your access with another ValleyMLS subscriber, regardless of the reason, is a violation of the ValleyMLS Lockbox Rules and Policies.

Please remember:

Your SentriLock access is assigned specifically to you and is intended to provide a secure, auditable record of property access.
Do not provide your PIN, login credentials, or access to your SentriKey app to another individual.
Do not issue SentriConnect® access to another ValleyMLS subscriber. Subscribers must use their own SentriLock credentials to enter a property.
Never allow another person to enter a property using your credentials while representing that they are you.
Maintaining the integrity of the SentriLock system is essential for protecting property owners, cooperating brokers, and the security of listed properties.

As outlined in the ValleyMLS Lockbox Rules:

Agreement Holders shall not issue SentriConnect® to an agent who is a ValleyMLS subscriber. All agents must obtain and use their own key.
Electronic keys may not be loaned to other agents under any circumstances.
PINs and passwords must not be disclosed or shared with any third party.
Violations of the ValleyMLS Lockbox Rules may result in disciplinary action, including fines of up to $15,000 and/or termination of lockbox services.
We appreciate your cooperation in helping maintain the security and integrity of the lockbox system. If you have questions regarding the proper use of SentriLock or SentriConnect®, please contact your local association or the ValleyMLS office.
Read More

Member Guide: Managing Your Dues & Fees

07/13/2026

Keeping your business running smoothly shouldn’t involve guesswork. Whether you are an agent clearing your individual invoices or a broker managing an entire office, navigating your HAAR dashboard is simple.

Use this quick, step-by-step guide to easily process your payments and keep your account in good standing.

How to Pay your MLS dues

  • Log In: Go to the HAAR Dashboard and sign in using your MLS ID and password (remember, passwords are case-sensitive).

  • Locate Member Services: On the right side of the screen under the Member Services panel, click the “Pay MLS Dues / Invoices” icon.

  • Select Your Invoice: Find your open invoice and check the “Pay Now” box next to it.

  • Complete Payment: Scroll down to the bottom of the page, click “Choose Payment Options,” and follow the prompts to finalize your transaction.

Download a Step-by-Step Guide

How to Pay Your HAAR / Association Dues

  • Log In: Navigate to the HAAR Dashboard and enter your case-sensitive MLS ID and password.

  • Locate Member Services: On the right side of the screen under the Member Services panel, click the “Pay HAAR/Association Dues/Invoices” icon.

  • Select Your Invoice: Check the “Pay Now” box next to the outstanding dues line item.

  • Navigate to Payment: Scroll down to the bottom of the section and click “Choose Payment Options”.

  • Adjust Contributions (Optional): If you would like to adjust your ARPAC contribution before checking out, click “Modify”, enter your desired investment amount, and follow the remaining prompts to pay.

Download a Step-by-Step Guide

Broker Instructions: Tracking & Paying Office Fees

Brokers can quickly audit which agents have outstanding balances or easily settle office-wide ValleyMLS fees directly from the platform.

  • Log In: Access the HAAR Dashboard using your administrative credentials.

  • Enter the Invoicing Portal: Look to the right under Member Services and click the “Pay MLS Dues / Invoices” icon.

  • Open the Navigation Menu: Click the three-dash menu icon located on the blue header bar.

  • Select Personal Services: Choose “Personal Services” from the header options.

  • View Office Accounts: From the dropdown menu, select “Brokers: Pay Your Offices MLS Fees”.

  • Choose Your Roster: Click on your designated office name.

  • Review Unpaid Balances: The next screen opens a complete breakdown displaying the agent names, specific invoice numbers, and the total amounts currently owed.

  • Process Payments: If you are paying on behalf of an agent, check the box to the right of their name, scroll down to “Choose Payment Options,” and follow the on-screen prompts.

Download a Step-by-Step Guide
Read More

Next Page »