News

New ValleyMLS Inspection Addendum: What REALTORS® Need to Know

10/14/2026

Navigating property inspections and repair negotiations just got simpler for North Alabama agents and their clients. ValleyMLS has officially approved and released the new Inspection Addendum, designed to bring greater clarity, structure, and predictability to the transaction timeline.

Available in Dotloop and Paragon beginning November 16, this updated form replaces older versions that often bogged down negotiations with subjective arguments. Whether you represent buyers or sellers, understanding these changes will help you guide your clients smoothly through the contingency period.

ValleyMLS Inspection Addendum Resource HUB

Everything you need to know about the updated inspection and repair-request process launching November 16.

UPCOMING TRAININGS

Wednesday, October 21^st 1 pm
Wednesday, October 28^th 10 am
Tuesday, November 3^rd 10 am
Thursday, November 12^th at 1 pm

REGISTER THROUGH THE DASHBOARD!

HOW THE NEW PROCESS WORKS

The updated addendum creates a well-defined, step-by-step workflow with clear deadlines based on working days:

Inspections: Completed within the timeframe specified in the contract (defaulting to 7 working days from the Confirmation Date if left blank).
Buyer Request: Within 3 working days after the inspection period ends, the buyer delivers an itemized Request for Repairs form along with complete copies of all inspection reports to the seller.
Seller Response: Within 3 working days of receiving the request, the seller must respond in writing, agreeing to all, some, or none of the requested repairs. If the seller fails to respond within this window, they are deemed to have agreed to the requested repairs.
Buyer’s Options: If the seller declines or offers to make only some repairs, the buyer has 2 working days to choose one of three paths:
- Accept the seller’s decision and proceed to closing.
- Submit a new repair request for negotiation.
- Terminate the contract in writing.

For a visual breakdown of these timelines and decision points, agents can review the Inspection Addendum Step-by-Step Flowchart and our Revised Inspection Addendum Comparison and FAQs.

Benefits for Both Buyers and Sellers

For Buyers: The form provides absolute freedom in what can be requested and establishes a much clearer contractual basis to terminate and protect earnest money if an agreement cannot be reached.
For Sellers: Sellers are freed from debating technical classifications and can simply evaluate the repair request as a clear business decision.

Note: While the new form clarifies the contractual right to terminate, current Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC) practice still requires a executed Mutual Release Agreement before brokers can disburse earnest money. However, the added clarity is designed to significantly reduce disputes and streamline that release process.

Protecting Client Data When Using AI

10/14/2026

AI real estate data privacy is critical for both the agent and their clients. As generative AI tools become part of everyday workflows for real estate professionals, artificial intelligence makes it remarkably easy to hand over more information than you intended.

Whether pasting an email into ChatGPT or uploading a contract for a quick summary, giving AI unnecessary client details creates significant data privacy risks.

As originally highlighted by REtechnology, agents need a simple, critical habit alongside proofreading AI responses: checking what they give the AI in the first place. They need an AI real estate data privacy plan.

The golden rule is straightforward: Give an AI tool the minimum information it needs to complete the task.

5 Things Agents Should Never Paste into AI Tools

Before hitting enter on your prompt, pause and remove these five sensitive data categories:

Client Personally Identifiable Information (PII): Names, phone numbers, email addresses, financial details, and ID documents.
Transaction & Contract Documents: Full purchase agreements, disclosures, inspection reports, appraisals, and closing paperwork.
Offers and Negotiation Details: Buyer finances, motivations, maximum budget, or private details about the opposing party.
Property Access Credentials: Lockbox codes, alarm codes, and gate credentials.
Confidential Brokerage Material: Internal communications, business plans, commission terms, and proprietary data.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget attachments! Screenshots, PDFs, and photos often contain signatures, account numbers, and property addresses that aren’t necessary for your AI prompt – or your AI real estate data privacy plan.

The Safe-to-Share Checklist

Before pasting, uploading, or attaching materials, ask yourself these quick questions:

Is this information already public?
Does the AI actually need this exact detail to complete my request?
Can I remove names, addresses, or identifying info first?
Am I permitted by my brokerage policy to share this third-party data?
Do I know how this specific AI tool handles and stores provided data?

By providing just enough context to get the job done, you keep your client’s private information exactly where it belongs—safe and secure.

Related Resources & Links

Access more tech tools and member benefits on the HAAR Portal.
Review national guidance via NAR’s AI & Technology Resources.
Read full articles on REtechnology.

MLS Power Hour: New Inspection Addendum

10/13/2026

MLS Power Hour: New Inspection Addendum Join us for MLS Power Hour to learn about […]

MLS Power Hour: New Inspection Addendum

10/13/2026

MLS Power Hour: New Inspection Addendum Join us for MLS Power Hour to learn about […]

MLS Power Hour: New Inspection Addendum

10/13/2026

MLS Power Hour: New Inspection Addendum Join us for MLS Power Hour to learn about […]

MLS Power Hour: New Inspection Addendum

10/13/2026

MLS Power Hour: New Inspection Addendum Join us for MLS Power Hour to learn about […]

Weekly Real Estate Market Update: Madison County

10/13/2026

As we move through the autumn season, the Madison County housing market continues to show steady shifts in inventory, pricing, and buyer opportunities. Local REALTORS® navigating the North Alabama region will find key insights from the latest ValleyMLS.com Weekly and Monthly Market Activity Reports to help guide their clients through current conditions.

Single-Family Housing Trends: Steady Demand and Rising Inventory

Single-family homes in Madison County experienced notable upward adjustments in supply and activity heading into October:

Inventory Growth: The inventory of single-family homes for sale increased by 10.8% year-over-year to 2,314 active properties for the week ending October 3, 2026.
New Listings: Weekly new listings rose by 13.7% to 208 properties compared to the same period last year.
Pending Sales: Pending sales held steady with a 0.9% increase, bringing the weekly count to 113.
Pricing and Pace: For the full month of September, the median sales price for single-family homes ticked up 3.0% year-over-year to $332,202. Days on market until sale dropped significantly by 21.2% down to 41 days, while the percent of list price received remained strong and flat at 98.6%.
Months Supply: Months supply of inventory increased by 5.1% to 4.1 months, giving buyers a bit more breathing room while maintaining a balanced market.

REALTOR® Tip: With inventory climbing, proper pricing and professional presentation remain critical to capturing motivated buyers within that 41-day average market window.

For more detailed neighborhood statistics, tools, and local MLS data, visit ValleyMLS.com or connect with your HAAR member resources today.

Huntsville City Council Update: Zoning, Infrastructure, and Local Developments for REALTORS®

10/13/2026

Staying on top of municipal developments is essential for local real estate professionals guiding clients through the Rocket City market. The Huntsville City Council’s regular meeting on October 8, 2026, brought forward several key items regarding infrastructure investments, zoning adjustments, and public hearings that directly impact our industry.

Here is what Huntsville Area Association of REALTORS® members need to know about recent municipal actions.

Upcoming Public Hearings & Zoning Adjustments

Navigating property zoning and land use is a daily part of advocacy and client representation. Several items on the October agenda set the stage for upcoming public discussions:

Dogwood Flat Rezoning: A resolution was approved to set a public hearing for November 19, 2026, regarding the rezoning of 126.70 acres located south of Huntsville Brownsferry Road and west of Dogwood Flat Road. The proposed change shifts the land from a Highway Business C-4 District to a Commercial Industrial Park District.
Right-of-Way Vacations: A public hearing was scheduled for November 5, 2026, concerning the vacation of a right-of-way between Lots 1 and 2 on Arrowhead Drive.
Nuisance Abatements: Ongoing community development efforts addressed junk public nuisances, with new resolutions setting hearings for properties on Bermuda Road and Harvey Street, alongside grass and weed nuisance considerations on O’Fallon Road.

For more details on municipal meetings and local advocacy efforts, visit the City of Huntsville Official Website and check out industry resources provided by the Alabama Association of Realtors.

Infrastructure and Engineering Investments

Infrastructure growth continues to shape residential and commercial corridors across North and West Huntsville. The council advanced several major engineering and transit initiatives:

Northern Bypass & Access Improvements: The council authorized agreements and change orders with Grayson Carter & Son, Inc. and Wiregrass Construction Company for ongoing work along the Huntsville Northern Bypass and Memorial Parkway.
East Limestone and Greenbrier Enhancements: Engineering design agreements were approved with Kimley-Horn & Associates for East Limestone Road and Holladay Boulevard along US-72, as well as with SAIN Associates for Greenbrier Parkway interchange improvements at Exit 3.
Greenways and Transit: BARGE Design Solutions secured the engineering design contract for North Huntsville Greenway Segment C, while PROS, LLC was awarded the construction agreement for the City of Huntsville Transit Station Renovation.

To track regional economic growth drivers that support these infrastructure projects, review data and insights from the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber.

Community Recognitions and Board Appointments

In addition to infrastructure and zoning, the council recognized community milestones and updated local advisory boards:

Community Planning Month: The administration issued a formal proclamation declaring October as Community Planning month.
WLRH Recognition: Councilmember Kling sponsored a resolution recognizing WLRH 89.3 FM—Alabama’s first full-service public radio station—for 50 years of broadcasting service.
Advisory Appointments: Nominations were advanced for local boards, including the appointment of Sasha Gillis to the Animal Services Advisory Committee and reappointments to the Huntsville Tennis Center Board of Control.

2027 REALTOR® Gala & Installation

10/09/2026

Join the Huntsville Area Association of REALTORS® for the 2027 REALTOR® Gala & Installation on […]

Fashion Fair Fundraiser Presented by Women’s Council of REALTORS® Huntsville

10/07/2026

Join the Women’s Council of REALTORS® Huntsville for an evening of fashion, connection and community […]

Website Search:

New ValleyMLS Inspection Addendum: What REALTORS® Need to Know

Navigating property inspections and repair negotiations just got simpler for North Alabama agents and their clients. ValleyMLS has officially approved and released the new Inspection Addendum, designed to bring greater clarity, structure, and predictability to the transaction timeline.

ValleyMLS Inspection Addendum Resource HUB

Everything you need to know about the updated inspection and repair-request process launching November 16.

UPCOMING TRAININGS

Wednesday, October 21st 1 pm

Wednesday, October 28th 10 am

Tuesday, November 3rd 10 am

Thursday, November 12th at 1 pm

REGISTER THROUGH THE DASHBOARD!

HOW THE NEW PROCESS WORKS

The updated addendum creates a well-defined, step-by-step workflow with clear deadlines based on working days:

Inspections: Completed within the timeframe specified in the contract (defaulting to 7 working days from the Confirmation Date if left blank).

Buyer Request: Within 3 working days after the inspection period ends, the buyer delivers an itemized Request for Repairs form along with complete copies of all inspection reports to the seller.

Seller Response: Within 3 working days of receiving the request, the seller must respond in writing, agreeing to all, some, or none of the requested repairs. If the seller fails to respond within this window, they are deemed to have agreed to the requested repairs.

Buyer’s Options: If the seller declines or offers to make only some repairs, the buyer has 2 working days to choose one of three paths:

Accept the seller’s decision and proceed to closing.

Submit a new repair request for negotiation.

Terminate the contract in writing.

For a visual breakdown of these timelines and decision points, agents can review the Inspection Addendum Step-by-Step Flowchart and our Revised Inspection Addendum Comparison and FAQs.

Benefits for Both Buyers and Sellers

For Buyers: The form provides absolute freedom in what can be requested and establishes a much clearer contractual basis to terminate and protect earnest money if an agreement cannot be reached.

For Sellers: Sellers are freed from debating technical classifications and can simply evaluate the repair request as a clear business decision.

Protecting Client Data When Using AI

AI real estate data privacy is critical for both the agent and their clients. As generative AI tools become part of everyday workflows for real estate professionals, artificial intelligence makes it remarkably easy to hand over more information than you intended.

Whether pasting an email into ChatGPT or uploading a contract for a quick summary, giving AI unnecessary client details creates significant data privacy risks.

As originally highlighted by REtechnology, agents need a simple, critical habit alongside proofreading AI responses: checking what they give the AI in the first place. They need an AI real estate data privacy plan.

The golden rule is straightforward: Give an AI tool the minimum information it needs to complete the task.

5 Things Agents Should Never Paste into AI Tools

Before hitting enter on your prompt, pause and remove these five sensitive data categories:

Client Personally Identifiable Information (PII): Names, phone numbers, email addresses, financial details, and ID documents.

Transaction & Contract Documents: Full purchase agreements, disclosures, inspection reports, appraisals, and closing paperwork.

Offers and Negotiation Details: Buyer finances, motivations, maximum budget, or private details about the opposing party.

Property Access Credentials: Lockbox codes, alarm codes, and gate credentials.

Confidential Brokerage Material: Internal communications, business plans, commission terms, and proprietary data.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget attachments! Screenshots, PDFs, and photos often contain signatures, account numbers, and property addresses that aren’t necessary for your AI prompt – or your AI real estate data privacy plan.

The Safe-to-Share Checklist

Before pasting, uploading, or attaching materials, ask yourself these quick questions:

Is this information already public?

Does the AI actually need this exact detail to complete my request?

Can I remove names, addresses, or identifying info first?

Am I permitted by my brokerage policy to share this third-party data?

Do I know how this specific AI tool handles and stores provided data?

By providing just enough context to get the job done, you keep your client’s private information exactly where it belongs—safe and secure.

Related Resources & Links

Access more tech tools and member benefits on the HAAR Portal.

Review national guidance via NAR’s AI & Technology Resources.

Read full articles on REtechnology.

MLS Power Hour: New Inspection Addendum

MLS Power Hour: New Inspection Addendum

MLS Power Hour: New Inspection Addendum

MLS Power Hour: New Inspection Addendum

Weekly Real Estate Market Update: Madison County

Single-Family Housing Trends: Steady Demand and Rising Inventory

Single-family homes in Madison County experienced notable upward adjustments in supply and activity heading into October:

Inventory Growth: The inventory of single-family homes for sale increased by 10.8% year-over-year to 2,314 active properties for the week ending October 3, 2026.

New Listings: Weekly new listings rose by 13.7% to 208 properties compared to the same period last year.

Pending Sales: Pending sales held steady with a 0.9% increase, bringing the weekly count to 113.

Pricing and Pace: For the full month of September, the median sales price for single-family homes ticked up 3.0% year-over-year to $332,202. Days on market until sale dropped significantly by 21.2% down to 41 days, while the percent of list price received remained strong and flat at 98.6%.

Months Supply: Months supply of inventory increased by 5.1% to 4.1 months, giving buyers a bit more breathing room while maintaining a balanced market.

REALTOR® Tip: With inventory climbing, proper pricing and professional presentation remain critical to capturing motivated buyers within that 41-day average market window.

Huntsville City Council Update: Zoning, Infrastructure, and Local Developments for REALTORS®

Here is what Huntsville Area Association of REALTORS® members need to know about recent municipal actions.

Upcoming Public Hearings & Zoning Adjustments

Navigating property zoning and land use is a daily part of advocacy and client representation. Several items on the October agenda set the stage for upcoming public discussions:

Right-of-Way Vacations: A public hearing was scheduled for November 5, 2026, concerning the vacation of a right-of-way between Lots 1 and 2 on Arrowhead Drive.

Nuisance Abatements: Ongoing community development efforts addressed junk public nuisances, with new resolutions setting hearings for properties on Bermuda Road and Harvey Street, alongside grass and weed nuisance considerations on O’Fallon Road.

For more details on municipal meetings and local advocacy efforts, visit the City of Huntsville Official Website and check out industry resources provided by the Alabama Association of Realtors.

Infrastructure and Engineering Investments

Infrastructure growth continues to shape residential and commercial corridors across North and West Huntsville. The council advanced several major engineering and transit initiatives:

Northern Bypass & Access Improvements: The council authorized agreements and change orders with Grayson Carter & Son, Inc. and Wiregrass Construction Company for ongoing work along the Huntsville Northern Bypass and Memorial Parkway.

East Limestone and Greenbrier Enhancements: Engineering design agreements were approved with Kimley-Horn & Associates for East Limestone Road and Holladay Boulevard along US-72, as well as with SAIN Associates for Greenbrier Parkway interchange improvements at Exit 3.

Greenways and Transit: BARGE Design Solutions secured the engineering design contract for North Huntsville Greenway Segment C, while PROS, LLC was awarded the construction agreement for the City of Huntsville Transit Station Renovation.

To track regional economic growth drivers that support these infrastructure projects, review data and insights from the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber.

Community Recognitions and Board Appointments

In addition to infrastructure and zoning, the council recognized community milestones and updated local advisory boards:

Community Planning Month: The administration issued a formal proclamation declaring October as Community Planning month.

WLRH Recognition: Councilmember Kling sponsored a resolution recognizing WLRH 89.3 FM—Alabama’s first full-service public radio station—for 50 years of broadcasting service.

Wednesday, October 21^st 1 pm

Wednesday, October 28^th 10 am

Tuesday, November 3^rd 10 am

Thursday, November 12^th at 1 pm