Tour shows off available houses, raises food for local food bank

Julia Byrd tells her clients the same thing to calm their fears over a nationally troubled housing market.

“The housing market is local,” Byrd said she tells them. “ ... The market is always local.”

Byrd, a realtor with Coldwell Banker Alfred Saliba Realty, is president of the Dothan Association of Realtors. And she knows just because housing markets are struggling nationwide doesn’t mean Dothan’s market is down and out. It may not be the record-setting market of a few years ago, but houses are still selling.

The Dothan Association of Realtors and the Dothan and Wiregrass Area Homebuilders Association are teaming up to host a home tour this weekend, showing potential buyers 80 homes — a mix of new construction and previously-owned homes — that are up for sale. While they’re at it, the groups are collecting non-perishable food for the Wiregrass Area United Way Food Bank at each of the homes on the tour.

“Every home will have a drop box for food,” said Tami Werner, a realtor with James Grant Realty Company.

Mortgage loan specialists will be on hand to assist potential buyers.

“I believe in the numbers, and I give my clients the numbers,” Werner said. “ ... This is all about serving our clients. The only way you’re going to sell a home is to get someone in it.”

William Ciecierski of Ciecierski Remodeling and Construction and a member of the homebuilders’ association said permits for new construction are down slightly for the year so far compared to last year. But, he said, considering the housing crisis going on across the country, the Dothan market still appeals to people who want to be within driving distance of the beaches and close to major cities like Atlanta.

“We’re blessed by this location,” Ciecierski said.

Home construction has slowed down for homes priced in the $250,000 and $300,000 range, Ciecierski said. But anything less than $200,000 is still doing good. Building too much home, Ciecierski said, is the biggest mistake a lot of people make in building a new home. In other words, you don’t want to build a $250,000 home in a neighborhood filled with homes priced around $150,000.

“Don’t overbuild for your neighborhood,” Ciecierski said.

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If you go ...
What: Tour of Homes & Food Drive Against Hunger.
When: Saturday, Oct. 4, and Sunday, Oct. 5, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Sponsors: Dothan Association of Realtors and Dothan and Wiregrass Area Homebuilders Association.
Where: Tour booklets are available at the Dothan Association of Realtors office at the corner of West Main and Holly streets during the week. Books will also be available at the office of Stone Creek Landing, 3517 S. Park Ave., on the tour days.
Other: Those who attend can eat lunch at Stone Creek Landing; attendees are asked to bring non-perishable food items for donation to the Wiregrass Area United Way Food Bank.

Dothan housing market by the numbers ...
39 - Construction permits in July 2008 for single family homes.
32 - Construction permits in August 2008 for single family homes.
20 - Construction permits in August 2007 for single family homes.
225 - Construction permits issued through August 2008.
263 - Construction permits issued through August 2007.
102 - Home sales in August 2008.
103 - Home sales in August 2007.
960 - Total homes listed for sale, July 2008
882 - Total homes listed for sale, July 2007
809 - Home sales for year through August 2008
942 - Home sales for year through August 2007
144 - Average days on market for year through August 2008
119 - Average days on market for year through August 2007
$151,465 - Average selling price for year through August 2008
$153,244 - Average selling price for year through August 2007
Source: Alabama Center for Real Estate, http://www.acre.cba.ua.edu