Huntsville Area Association of Realtors

REMINDER! As previously communicated to members, Friday’s ARPAC Luau has been cancelled. Be on the lookout for announcements from HAAR on how you can support ARPAC by participating in events, purchasing items, or bidding in silent auctions.



Please contact [email protected] to become a Major Investor before the December 6th deadline.

🔑 Before closing: Remind your clients to transfer utilities to their new home and schedule the final walkthrough. Accompany them during the walkthrough, and help them address any concerns with the appraisal if it impacts financing. Finally, confirm clear-to-close with the lender! ✅💼

Standing Against Domestic Violence is a presentation on recognizing, preventing and healing from domestic violence. We will accept donations to be divided among our partner organizations. Join us Tuesday, September 24th at 11-1 p.m. at HAAR in Standing Against Domestic Violence.

🔍 Review inspection concerns, negotiate repairs, stay on top of deadlines, and ensure the settlement process is smooth. 🏡

September is REALTOR® Safety Month!

Every September, HAAR joins National Association of REALTORS® to observe Realtor Safety Month, highlighting safety tips you can share with your colleagues and practice year-round.

Be Authentic and Personable: Share your story and passion for real estate to build trust and turn clients into lasting connections 🤝.

Engage in Your Local Community: Attend local events and be visible to organically meet potential clients while showing commitment to the area 🏡.

Thoughtfully Leverage Social Media: Create value-driven content and engage with your followers to connect and showcase your expertise 📱.

Prioritize Consistent Communication: Follow up after meetings and keep in touch with clients to build trust and stay top-of-mind 📧.

Be a Connector, Not Just a Seller: Build a network of trusted professionals to offer clients valuable resources beyond the sale 🔗.

Engage with Industry Peers: Network with other real estate professionals to open doors for new opportunities and benefit your clients.🔑

💡Alabama Realtors

Securing the best deal with expert negotiations and local insight 🏡. Guiding buyers to explore all options, from inspections to lenders 🔍. Advocating throughout the entire home-buying journey.🔑

📢 Mark your calendars! Join us for the next HAAR member Happy Hour on Thursday, September 5th, at Burritt on the Mountain from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. 🍹✨

💼 Prepare the buyer for a multiple offer situation and craft negotiation strategies. ✍️ Write an offer with a strong chance of acceptance, considering optional contingencies and their pros and cons. 💵 Share info on available purchasing incentives and discuss financing options.

🗳 HUNTSVILLE VOTERS in Districts 1 & 5! Mark Your Calendars for Tuesday, August 27th! 🗳

Key reminders:

✅Confirm your registration status and polling location at alabamavotes.gov
✅ Bring a valid photo ID to vote
✅Polls are open from 7 AM to 7 PM

Huntsville's progress depends on engaged citizens like you. Let's show up in force and make our voices heard! Share this post to spread the word, and let's get out the vote, Huntsville!

🗳 HUNTSVILLE VOTERS in Districts 1 & 5! Mark Your Calendars for Tuesday, August 27th! 🗳

Your voice matters in shaping the future of our city! On Tuesday, August 27th, Huntsville will hold its city elections, and we need every eligible voter to participate.

Here's why your vote is crucial:
✅Local elections directly impact our daily lives - from schools and parks to public safety and infrastructure.

✅Every vote counts in city elections, where margins can be razor-thin.

✅ This is your chance to influence Huntsville's direction for years to come.

📄 Explain contract contingencies and include protective clauses in the purchase offer.

📋 Ensure the buyer understands all required state and federal disclosure forms.

🎯 Prioritize negotiation goals, develop a strategy, and use tactics like an escalation clause to stay competitive.

HAAR proudly endorses Carlos Mathews once again for Huntsville City Schools, District 5, on August 27th.
Carlos Mathews has served with distinction, respect and reliability for Huntsville City Schools. His focus has remained the same since his time in office: teacher training, removing inequalities, student safety, reading proficiency in grades K – 2, a strategic vision for public input, partnerships on trade programs, support for guidance counselors, and accountability at the board.

Great buyer’s agents understand the value of building long-term relationships with clients and consistently delivering world-class service. 🏡 They ensure buyers are pre-approved, know market trends, and communicate effectively to make the home-buying process smooth and successful. 💼 By prioritizing relationships and staying informed, they set themselves apart and earn clients for life. 🤝

💡 Alabama Realtors

🎯 Guide the buyer in narrowing down options to top choices. 💰 Assist in securing the best property at the best price, and recommend learning about the neighborhood before making an offer. 📊 Prepare a comparative market analysis and help craft the most competitive offer in the current market.

HAAR is proud to endorse Chaundra Jones for Huntsville City Schools, District 1.

Chaundra has made an impact on the lives of community students, parents, teachers and administrators through her tireless efforts for years. As a foster parent, she has an abiding knowledge of the unique challenges of any one child. As the President of the first DOJ Desegregation Advisory Committee, providing useful on-the-ground knowledge to a federal entity that needed all the knowledge that it could get.

Jones is deeply connected to the neighborhoods in District 1 on the granular level, focusing on the root causes of student development and achievement.

Chaundra Jones is capable, caring and centered on students. She is an experienced and involved advocate whose skills are needed on the school board.

The Huntsville Area Association of REALTORS® is proud to continue to partner with the Jackson Center for our major events.



The Jackson Center has an incredible space, and an even more amazing staff, for events of any size. Take a look at the short video below for the Jackson Center's capabilities - as if you weren't already aware.



For event inquiries, please contact Jamie Jones at [email protected].

Jackson Center Jackson Center

🏠 Elevate your real estate marketing game with these 5 best practices!

🌟 Start by creating a solid social media policy to keep everything in check.

🛡️ Protect your accounts with strong security measures and archive your activities for easy access later.

📅 Finally, batch and schedule your posts to stay efficient and focused.

💡 Alabama Realtors

📋 Gather and share crucial information on available homes while adhering to fair housing laws.

🏡 Check zoning and building restrictions, and help navigate public property and tax info.

✅ Compare properties to the buyer’s wish list, ensuring they stay focused on their needs.

HAAR endorses Kim Lewis for Huntsville City Council, District 5.

Lewis has served our community in several ways – at the Chamber of Commerce, Huntsville Utilities, Research Park, Crestwood, HEALS, UAH, Calhoun and more. In speaking about her plans, she stresses delegation, management and finding creative ways to ensure attainable housing in the area benefits those who need it before out-of-town investors.
Lewis talks about strengthening the relationships between the city council and schools to bring up school report cards and giving resources to the system. She also focuses on lifting up Huntsville as a whole in addition to the needs of District 5.

Kim’s skills have enriched the Huntsville Community at large and would serve as an effective City Council member.

🏡 In today's market, homebuyers are gaining some negotiation power, so sellers should be ready to negotiate.

💰 From sale price adjustments to covering closing costs, both buyers and sellers have options to consider.

🛠️ Buyers can request repairs or even ask for appliances, while sellers can sweeten the deal by offering perks like home warranties.

🔑 Whether you're buying or selling, having a savvy agent on your side is key to navigating these negotiations smoothly.

💡 Alabama Realtors

🏠 Reach out to homeowners in target areas to explore potential listings.

📧 Set up automated MLS alerts for properties matching discussed criteria and arrange tours of neighborhoods, schools, and key points of interest.

🗺️ Share resources on local amenities and inform about any factors that might impact property value.

HAAR is proud to endorse Devyn Keith for City Council in upcoming city elections on August 27th.

To put it simply, no one will fight for north Huntsville and District 1 harder than Devyn Keith. Over eight years in office, the Councilman has exceeded expectations, focused on the needs of our communities, and delivered results for the entire city. In the face of criticism that his plans have been too ambitious, he works hard to achieve the community’s goals.

💻 Social media is a powerful tool for real estate marketing, but remember to follow ethical guidelines and laws.

🛑 Treat posts like advertisements and ensure agent identification is clear.

🤝 Always credit the listing agent and present listings truthfully without misleading details.

🔍 Protect client privacy, avoid negative posts about other agents, and keep qualifications up to date.

🏠 Adhere to the Fair Housing Act by avoiding discriminatory practices in targeting ads or selecting images.

📅 Regularly review and update your online profiles to stay compliant.

💡 Alabama Realtors

📝 As the NAR Settlement practice changes go into effect Saturday, ValleyMLS and the Huntsville Area Association of REALTORS® are committed to bringing you the resources you need to effectively serve consumers.

We hope you'll take the time to watch our latest On-Demand Training video. We invite brokers to use the video for office training to start getting agents educated on the terms of the NAR Settlement, state and local forms, and how they can communicate their value to clients.

Navigating the NAR Settlement Navigating the NAR Settlement

💡 Highlight the importance of quick access to new listings in the local MLS, as they may appear later on other sites. 🤝 Collaborate on properties discovered through connections and assist with unlisted ones. 🏡 Network with agents to find properties not yet in the MLS and preview them if necessary.

Congratulations to our 2024 Good Neighbor Award Winner, Kristina Bass! Kristina is a champion for people and pets alike in our community. She’s played a major role in our local Make-a-Wish foundation and in building a public playground in New Market. She’s expanded the conversation and served as a major advocate for mental health awareness, which is often forgotten when we take stock of our own health. Kristina is also a champion of our four-legged friends, donating a portion of each closing to her clients’ chosen animal shelter. Putting her money where her mouth is, she has also fostered countless pets who have had a hard time getting adopted. Please join us in thanking Kristina Bass for all she does in our community!

⚡Another recognition for Huntsville Utilities and the reliable and efficient service they provide our neighborhoods! Thank you, Huntsville Utilities!

Congratulations to our 2024 Affiliate of the Year, Emily Santiago! Emily is an active and dedicated member of HAAR, consistently demonstrating exceptional service to her clients, her team, and the Realtor community. We are fortunate to work with this year’s winner, who not only excels in her professional duties but actively contributes to the betterment of our region.

Congratulations to our 2024 REALTOR® of the Year, Sarah Lauren Kattos! Sarah Lauren knows how much real estate and client success depends on REALTOR® professionalism and education. She’s played a major role in HAAR’s New Member Orientation for years, ensuring those entering the industry do so with a leg-up. She’s led more than 100 trainings, classes, and orientation sessions at HAAR, massively boosting professionalism in the North Alabama REALTOR® community for years to come. Sarah Lauren is an authority on local history, and has advocated for Huntsville in critical ways that have promoted not only the Rocket City, by our entire region to those moving to – or thinking about moving to – North Alabama. Please join us in congratulating and thanking Sarah Lauren Kattos!