Category: Site News

  • Translating Alabama-speak

    Translating Alabama-speak

    If you are new to central Alabama, Welcome! We hope you enjoy this translation guide for local phrases; it might just come in handy when you are talking with native Alabamians. 1. “Who are you for?” Your new Alabama neighbors are likely to be friendly; they may even show up with fresh cut flowers or…

  • This Old House, Our New Office: One Wall

    This Old House, Our New Office: One Wall

    We are having a great time renovating the little brown house on 2nd Street in Old Town Helena… once again, we are hoping the Nunnally House will shine as an honor to its past and a wink to its future. As our banner says, we are making progress! Our contractor, Miracle Bill, has continued to…

  • This Old House, Our New Office: Termites and Beyond

    This Old House, Our New Office: Termites and Beyond

    What’s going on with that little brown house on 2nd Street in Old Town Helena? You know, the one that sat on the market for 1500 days, a little saggy, a lot crumbly, and almost forgotten… it has now been properly adopted and will soon be the home of our Real Estate office, Arcara Residential.…

  • This Old House, Our New Office: Chapter 1.

    This Old House, Our New Office: Chapter 1.

    It was just meant to be. For years, the sweet, neglected little bungalow style house beckoned to Greg Arcara every time he drove through Old Town Helena. Not on Main Street, but right down there on 2nd Street, sitting quietly under the shade of an overgrown tree; the For Sale sign perched in the yard…

  • Birmingham Area Homebuilders may be Poised for Comeback

    Birmingham Area Homebuilders may be Poised for Comeback

    The following article by Dawn Kent was in the Birmingham News on February 3, 2011. Metro Birmingham homebuilders could be poised for a comeback in 2011, after a steep market downturn left most of the industry battered. During a two-week period in January, more than 50 building permits were issued for speculative single-family homes in…

  • 7 Ways to Prevent Water Damage

    Gary Davis  from Farmer’s Insurance  shared the following tips about preventing household water damage. Did you know? –  Ninety percent of household damage is the result of water damage and flooding.  Broken water pipes are a major contributor to that figure. Electronic items are destroyed. Rugs, curtains and clothes are ruined. Electric shock risk is dramatically…

  • 8 Worst First-Time Home Buyer Mistakes 2010

    This very current article by Amy Fontinelle describes eight mistakes commonly  made by first time home buyers: Aug 3, 2010 Are you gearing up to buy your first place? Shopping for a home is exciting, exhausting and a little bit scary. In the end, your aim is to end up with a home you love at a…

  • Why Smart Homebuyers Hire Home Inspectors

    From our hero, Dave Ramsey: Home inspections are an indispensable part of the home-buying process. Buying a home without one is the same as buying a car without even kicking the tires. Any good real estate agent will recommend you include a home inspection clause when you make an offer on a house. That usually…

  • Easy Ways to Increase Home Value

    Courtesy of our hero, Dave Ramsey: Set yourself up to reap the most value when you sell When it comes time to sell your house, one of the worst mistakes you can make is to think your home’s appearance won’t affect its value. Take some time to spruce it up so you can sell it…

  • Our First Realtor Open House was a Huge Success!

    Arcara Residential’s first Realtor open house was a HUGE success today.  The attendance was better than we had anticipated with about 100 realtors in attendance.  A fabulous Chinese Buffet was served and the attendance was so great we had to pick up more food.  Each agent received a fortune cookie after lunch to open with a total of $700…