Auburn Alabama Area Real Estate Living

The following report is calculated by the Alabama Center of Real Estate. This report, along with more detailed information, can be found on their website: http://arerec.cba.ua.edu/  Are you considering a move into or out of Lee County Alabama? If you would like to receive these monthly reports, emailed directly to you, along with other local area information, feel free to contact me with a request.  

I CAN HELP no matter where you are in the U.S or Canada! If you are planning on buying or selling a home, give me a call and I will refer you to an associate expert in your area!

Active in Alabama, Mara Hawks, REALTOR with FIRST REALTY of Auburn, AL, #1 Real Estate Team in Lee County, THE LEADER in professional real estate services in Auburn, Opelika & Lee County for over 3 decades! Committed to INTEGRITY, KNOWLEDGE & SERVICE.

CLICK ON CART TO SHOP FOR HOMES IN AUBURN-OPELIKA, ALABAMA    

Disclaimer: All information provided by this author is is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, which may or may not be deemed reliable at the time of researching this article and may be time sensitive.

The legend of Groundhog Day stems from this Scottish verse.  In the late 1800's a man named Phil, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, began predicting whether or not the winter was going to be long, or if spring would arrive early. This was all calculated on the actions of a groundhog emerging from his burrow on the second day of February, and looking for his shadow. If a shadow is seen, it means another six weeks of winter. If there isn't a shadow, it's agreed that spring will arrive soon. Residents of Punxsutawney, PA contend to the accuracy of these predictions, year after year. I've read that this sighting and "official" prediction was mainly a more secretive affair, until 1966, when the actual, groundhog observation event became a more publicized phenomenon and thus an American institution. In the 1980's, this event gathered a crowd of 1000 - 2000 people. By 1997, 35,000 people were recorded as having witnessed this event. And in 2002, the number rose even higher to 38,000 (and it was a chilly 19 degrees Farenheit!). BRRR! I think thos e temps have returned for 2009!

According to the ledger, the Groundhog sees his shadow about 90% of the time.    

[Candlemas Day is observed as a church festival, commemorating the presentation of Jesus in the temple.Candles are blessed and carried throughout the celebration.]

© Copyright 2010 - This posting and the contents written here, except where noted, are the property of Mara Hawks, All Rights Reserved

Active in Alabama, Mara Hawks, REALTOR with FIRST REALTY of Auburn, AL, #1 Real Estate Team in Lee County, THE LEADER in professional real estate services in Auburn, Opelika & Lee County for over 3 decades! Committed to INTEGRITY, KNOWLEDGE & SERVICE.

CLICK ON CART TO SHOP FOR HOMES IN AUBURN-OPELIKA, ALABAMA    

Disclaimer: All information provided by this author is is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, which may or may not be deemed reliable at the time of researching this article and may be time sensitive.

The following report is calculated by the Alabama Center of Real Estate. This report, along with more detailed information, can be found on their website: http://arerec.cba.ua.edu/  Are you considering a move into or out of Lee County Alabama? If you would like to receive these monthly reports, emailed directly to you, along with other local area information, feel free to contact me with a request.   

Active in Alabama, Mara Hawks, REALTOR with FIRST REALTY of Auburn, AL, #1 Real Estate Team in Lee County, THE LEADER in professional real estate services in Auburn, Opelika & Lee County for over 3 decades! Committed to INTEGRITY, KNOWLEDGE & SERVICE.

CLICK ON CART TO SHOP FOR HOMES IN AUBURN-OPELIKA, ALABAMA    

Disclaimer: All information provided by this author is is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, which may or may not be deemed reliable at the time of researching this article and may be time sensitive.

The following report is calculated by the Alabama Center of Real Estate. This report, along with more detailed information, can be found on their website: http://arerec.cba.ua.edu/  Are you considering a move into or out of Lee County Alabama? If you would like to receive these monthly reports, emailed directly to you, along with other local area information, feel free to contact me with a request.   

Active in Alabama, Mara Hawks, REALTOR with FIRST REALTY of Auburn, AL, #1 Real Estate Team in Lee County, THE LEADER in professional real estate services in Auburn, Opelika & Lee County for over 3 decades! Committed to INTEGRITY, KNOWLEDGE & SERVICE.

CLICK ON CART TO SHOP FOR HOMES IN AUBURN-OPELIKA, ALABAMA   

Disclaimer: All information provided by this author is is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, which may or may not be deemed reliable at the time of researching this article and may be time sensitive.

 INDEPENDENCE DAY IN AMERICA inspires a revival of nostalgic images that represent the high ideals that established our country...pictures that endorse the securing and sustaining of FREEDOM in our land. Flags, fireworks, parades and backyard grilling (the radio just announced that 815 hot dogs will be consumed per second on this day), and back to re-telling America's story of INDEPENDENCE...It's truly something to celebrate. It's also something to be so very grateful for and not take for granted any day, ever. We can remember that the price (of fallen soldiers) and the fight (& destruction of land & property) for Independence was for the right to own and govern and preserve THE LAND. This Land Is Your Land, This Land Is My Land...

So WHAT'S UP with Picher, Oklahoma?  THAT'S ALL FOLKS, according to a newsreel this morning, reporting the exit of Picher's last-to-leave resident, 84-yr-old Orval "Hoppy" Ray.  In it's pre-war days, the town of Picher was, one can only imagine, one of those small, industrial mining towns that, postured like others all over America at that time, strengthened the backbone and building up of our country. Today it's named as "one of the nation's largest and most polluted toxic-waste sites."* 

Hoppy Ray was born and raised in the town of Picher, and writes (in his now published memoirs) of the brighter side of the place that he is concerned others have forgotten, reminding all of us that "a person's home should always be loved -- no matter how toxic... the town of "Picher was more than a place to make money. It was a place of patriotism and purpose: The metals they dug out of caves deep in the ground were processed and turned into bullets that armed U.S. soldiers in both world wars."*  When the wars ended, so did, it seems, the world's interest in Picher. According to the report, the last mine shut down in 1970.

I found this story to be very moving, especially today, INDEPENDENCE DAY in America, because in spite of its current state of toxicity, this one, most cheerful resident who has seen it all, chooses to remember and share the ideal...the dream...a wonderful picture and snapshot of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness that the land was used for. Like a fallen soldier, he remembers it's soul.

Picher, OK is not "OK."  Neither are a lot of things in America today, "OK"... but today is a day to remember and re-tell the stories...to honor what has fallen and be glad for the freedom and opportunity that we have to ELEVATE HOPE for a better country, a better world, because WE CAN...because we own the land. This land is your land, this land is my land...this is our home---no matter how toxic. Protecting our freedom and preserving our land, go hand-in-hand.

*CLICK HERE for the full story by CNN's John D. Sutter

© Copyright 2009 - This posting is the property of Mara Hawks, All Rights Reserved.

Active in Alabama, Mara Hawks, REALTOR with FIRST REALTY of Auburn, AL, #1 Real Estate Team in Lee County, THE LEADER in professional real estate services in Auburn, Opelika & Lee County for over 3 decades! Committed to INTEGRITY, KNOWLEDGE & SERVICE.

CLICK ON CART TO SHOP FOR HOMES IN AUBURN-OPELIKA, ALABAMA   

A demolition of a vacant residence was ordered by an Atlanta real estate group, and they handed over the job of inspection and contractual work to a local environmental services company. No address was given. Instead, GPS coordinates were specified, just to be exact. When the hired contractor arrived at the Georgia home he was prepared to demolish, he made a final phone call to the office, describing the house and getting a final confirmation that he was at the correct address. Affirmative. Unfortunately, he was on the wrong side of the road and about 150 yards off... and that was the end of a house of heirlooms and the framework of a history that had animated several generations of a closely-knit family, ever since the house was hand-built by the owner's dad in 1950. OOPS!  Read the full story HERE. Most fortunately, no one was at home!

© Copyright 2009 - This posting is the property of Mara Hawks, All Rights Reserved.

Active in Alabama, Mara Hawks, REALTOR with FIRST REALTY of Auburn, AL, #1 Real Estate Team in Lee County, THE LEADER in professional real estate services in Auburn, Opelika & Lee County for over 3 decades! Committed to INTEGRITY, KNOWLEDGE & SERVICE.

CLICK ON CART TO SHOP FOR HOMES IN AUBURN-OPELIKA, ALABAMA   

Disclaimer: All information provided by this author is is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, which may or may not be deemed reliable at the time of researching this article and may be time sensitive. 

© Copyright 2009 - This posting, photos and the contents written here, except where noted, are the property of Mara Hawks, All Rights Reserved.

Active in Alabama, Mara Hawks, REALTOR with FIRST REALTY of Auburn, AL, #1 Real Estate Team in Lee County, THE LEADER in professional real estate services in Auburn, Opelika & Lee County for over 3 decades! Committed to INTEGRITY, KNOWLEDGE & SERVICE.

CLICK ON CART TO SHOP FOR HOMES IN AUBURN-OPELIKA, ALABAMA

Disclaimer: All information provided by this author is strictly an opinion, is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, which may or may not be deemed reliable at the time of researching this article and may be time sensitive.

The sun is setting on this ST PATRICK'S DAY. It began with the making of traditional Irish Soda Bread and bringing it to the office along with some Irish Breakfast Tea. My recipe for the Irish soda bread tastes like a creamy, caraway scone...real butter is encouraged, and the tea was the perfect beverage that hour of the day.

The traditional Irish Blessing is offered with the bread.

This afternoon I was back at my computer, and happened to come across a really cool photograph of a St. Patrick's Day parade in Belfast, Ireland. The photo was very interesting (and very cute!) and slightly confusing, as the young paraders were all wearing curly, purple wigs, orange shirts and yellow coveralls...a few were carrying yokes with milk buckets hanging off of them, and some were carrying large, paper-machie mushrooms, painted in oranges, reds and blues. My first thought was: 'Are we color blind?'  I don't understand the lack of green, and I'd love to learn the story behind this colorful St. Patrick's Day parade that lacked GREEN! I was entirely enthused about sharing the photo find. It was posted by the Associated Press. For the first time ever, I actually went through the process of writing to them for permission to use this photo for a blog post---and, of course, promising to credit AP and anything else they wanted.

After several emails back and forth, mainly reassuring them of my intent, I was told I could post it for one month for $75 or for a year for $150, and then it would have to be removed. NO LUCK! I was more worried that I might forget to remove it in a year, and then I'd worry all year about forgetting. I just couldn't afford it financially or psychologically, if you know what I mean. I was not happy to have my fun spoiled. I really wanted to share it with YOU! So...a little leprechaun sketched it out and did somewhat of a rendering of the photo. I hope it gives you an idea of the St. Patrick's Day Parade today, in Belfast, Ireland----with colors like you'd never expect at a parade on this day---like the one in Chicago!

WISHING YOU LUCK FOR A HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY!

 © Copyright 2009 - This posting and the contents written here, except where noted, are the property of Mara Hawks, All Rights Reserved

Active in Alabama, Mara Hawks, REALTOR with FIRST REALTY of Auburn, AL, #1 Real Estate Team in Lee County, THE LEADER in professional real estate services in Auburn, Opelika & Lee County for over 3 decades! Committed to INTEGRITY, KNOWLEDGE & SERVICE.

CLICK ON CART TO SHOP FOR HOMES IN AUBURN-OPELIKA, ALABAMA

Disclaimer: All information provided by this author is strictly an opinion, is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, which may or may not be deemed reliable at the time of researching this article and may be time sensitive.

"I am not bound to win, but I'm bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I'm bound to live up to what LIGHT I have." Abraham Lincoln

When I was very young, I fell in love with the legacy of Abraham Lincoln after reading a biography in a Best In Children's Books series. I grew up in ILLINOIS, the Land of Lincoln, and on a school trip in eighth grade to Springfield, I was fascinated to see the historical home where he had lived and raised his family and prepared for the presidency. Sometimes people forget that he was born in Kentucky, in a small cabin, before his family migrated north. He taught himself to read by using the family bible. This fact is as impressive to me today as it was when I first learned about it in the biography written for children. Throughout his life, he continued to seek knowledge and improve his education and studied law. He had great strength and at one time was even a rail splitter (he was also a land surveyor). I think that's how the Lincoln Logs toy came about. He also had a flair for storytelling, and of course, is well remembered for his expression and nobility in one of the noblest speeches ever made in our country, the Gettysburg Address, the speech given in 1863 at the dedication of the soldier's cemetey there. He had an amazing, I think, ability to hold his ground in a very rough society, and he did so with sincerity, wisdom and patience. In the midst of so much strife, he persevered and managed his course, sometimes very alone. As a REALTOR, I have found much strength in this man's example, especially this past year.  His ultimate strength was his character. His testament and legacy inspire me to this day.

So today, on your birthday, Mr. Lincoln, TOP HATS OFF to you, for your remarkable political skill, for your noble vision, and for your deep compassion for humanity.

P.S. It is also the SECOND birthday of my grandson, Lyric...  CHEERS!

© Copyright 2009 - This posting and the contents written here, except where noted, are the property of Mara Hawks, All Rights Reserved. Photo on right is the copyrighted property of the HAWKS Family of Photos and may not be reproduced without permission.

Active in Alabama, Mara Hawks, REALTOR with FIRST REALTY of Auburn, AL, #1 Real Estate Team in Lee County, THE LEADER in professional real estate services in Auburn, Opelika & Lee County for over 3 decades! Committed to INTEGRITY, KNOWLEDGE & SERVICE.

SEARCH FOR HOMES IN AUBURN-OPELIKA, ALABAMA at www.marahawks.com

LAND Development around our National Parks is an issue of growing concern. I was moved by RICHARD WEISSER's blog post yesterday, written on the eve of the 44^th Inauguration of The President of the United States, at a time when we can collect the best of ourselves and our country with the greatest hopes for peace and progress. As a plea to our new President, Richard wrote "Please save our national parks! Our National Parks are treasures that need to be preserved and protected for all time! They are the definition of both our heritage and our culture. In times of distress, the parks are always the victims of budget cuts and loss of personnel. This has led to a degradation of some of the most beautiful and pristine ecosystems on the continent."

At the Auburn Planning Committee Meeting earlier this month, a controversy was sparked by the request for road service use for a gas station in the area of Shell Toomer Parkway. In spite of the fact that this Parkway is the tree-lined, approximately 4-mile, bike/walking path that stretches from South College to the entrance to Chewacla State Park, approval was granted to a development company for three points of access after suing the state's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for its use. In the aftermath of 2008's crashing economy, downturn in the real estate market (unlike anything seen in America since The Great Depression), retail sales plummeting and stores closing their doors, it seems surprising that any development company can chisel away resistance from the Auburn Planning Commission, and proceed with each step of a plan for a shopping center that  claims to be "the largest retail center in the city, generating millions of dollars in tax revenue." According to the Auburn Villager report of January 8^th, the gas station is, so far, ‘the only tenant that has been publicly confirmed.'  Without question, quality and convenient shopping is an essential aspect for overall growth and development in the master plan for Auburn, but should it be at the expense or risk of its State Park?  It seems that we are living in a time when we absolutely cannot afford to think in the "old" ways of if you build it, they will come... no development is so isolated that it doesn't impact the land and life surrounding it. Too often, it is ignorance that destroys what we don't realize, sustains us---THE EARTH---the land itself and its delicate ecosystems.

There is simplicity as much as complexity in making EARTH our HOME. Each one of us is a designated steward for the EARTH. As a REALTOR, I am guided by the NAR Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice: 'Accepting this standard as my own...pledging to observe its spirit in all of my activities...'

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS Code of Ethics The Preamble to the Code of Ethics - Under all is the land. Upon its wise utilization and widely allocated ownership depend the survival and growth of free institutions and of our civilization. REALTORS should recognize that the interests of the nation and its citizens require the highest and best use of the land and the widest distribution of land ownership. They require the creation of adequate housing, the building of functioning cities, the development of productive industries and farms, and the preservation of a healthful environment.

This PREAMBLE speaks to me as a prayer, as well as a plea, not only to our new President for the preservation of our national parks, but for the community leaders in every State across America, to recognize the highest and best use of our land.

WEBSITE for Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

VISIT THIS WEBSITE to learn more about the local group efforts towards preserving the integrity and status of Shell Toomer State Parkway.

Richard Weisser is also the owner and creator of the worlds number one website for the nearby Great Smoky Mountains. His photos have been used in hundreds of publications and products. Interesting, too, is that his photos, published on his Smoky Mountain.com website, was commissioned by Past-President George W. Bush in February 2001 to provide four photographs as backdrops for a major political speech.

© Copyright 2009 - This posting and the contents written here, except where noting and quoting Richard Weisser, with his permission, are the property of Mara Hawks, All Rights Reserved

Active in Alabama, Mara Hawks, REALTOR with FIRST REALTY of Auburn, AL, #1 Real Estate Team in Lee County, THE LEADER in professional real estate services in Auburn, Opelika & Lee County for over 3 decades! Committed to INTEGRITY, KNOWLEDGE & SERVICE.

SEARCH FOR HOMES IN AUBURN-OPELIKA, ALABAMA at www.marahawks.com