Plenty of us appreciate a quick day trip to check out neighboring towns. If you’re thinking about it but haven’t been to Athens, I can vouch for my hometown’s charm. Home to almost 22,000 people, there’s more than you might think happening in one of the oldest incorporated cities in Alabama. At one time, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers might have been the biggest name from Athens. Now, it’s inarguably the blockbuster-crossover-appealing East Limestone band Alabama Shakes. Home to its share of sports, music, and other history, Athens is worth an afternoon trip from the Rocket City for its quaint historic district and walkable downtown. Just a half hour’s drive from downtown Huntsville if traffic isn’t bad, Athens is home to Athens State…

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On a recent visit to Athens to see my folks, dad suggested we get lunch. I said I’d recently heard of a newer place called Wildwood Deli, just off the square in downtown Athens, on 113 W Market Street. “The Original Downtown Deli”, Wildwood has been named #9 on a Best Things Alabama top ten list of best delis in the state. The Huntsville metro area may not be known for outstanding sandwiches, but Wildwood Deli is out to change that, one lunch at a time. Rhonda Fisher and her son Matthew, a graduate of Auburn’s Hotel and Restaurant degree program, took over Wildwood earlier this year from its previous owners, who moved in after the closing of Tortillas Blanco several years ago. Matthew has since  moved on to other culinary adventures, but Rhonda remains in…

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Buying a home for the first time is an exciting milestone in life but it can be an overwhelming one too. There are so many different considerations to think about when selecting your new home, that having a good plan from the beginning can help you to find the perfect match for you and your family. Here are the top 10 things to know before diving in to buying a new home!

Buying a home

1. Know What You Want

Knowing what you want out of your new home is the vital starting point for every home buying process. For new buyers, this vitally important since it will be the first time that you’ve made a decision on picking a home before, that you have an idea of what would work best for your personal situation. 

Thinking about the best fit of how many bedrooms, how…

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With a name like Batter Up Cake Bakery, you know there is a sports fan behind the scenes. That would be owner Alyson Pomeroy, who these days wields a spatula instead of a leather mitt, making colorful confections for special celebrations and single-serve treats for customers needing a shot of sugar.

“Sports and baseball have always been part of our family,”  says the Huntsville native and Chicago Cubs fan, who played basketball and softball in college, then watched her children play baseball and softball. It was while brainstorming with other parents when she was dreaming up her business plan that the pun Batter Up hit a home run.

My mother did this when I was younger,”  Pomeroy says of how s he chose a kitchen profession. “She owned a catering…

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As one is looking into a certain area as a potential place to live, they may be interested in learning about the area’s history. The Huntsville/Madison, Alabama area has a very rich history. From being the home of the historic Twickenham district, to becoming an important part of America’s Space Program (NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center) and its Department of Defense Program (housed on Redstone Arsenal Army Base and supported by surrounding Defense Industry contractors.) However, before most of that, there was one man who is responsible for putting Madison, Alabama on the map and, consequently, bringing opportunity to the expansion of the Greater Huntsville/Madison Metro area. That man’s name was James Clemens. Here are four interesting facts about the…

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Summarizing Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment in just one post is kinda like trying to describe the universe to someone who has never seen nor experienced it.

Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment

You may have seen the old Lowe Mill water tower from the Parkway without even realizing that it pinpoints what LM’s website calls the “largest privately-owned arts facility in the United States.”

Even Lowe Mill’s location is a bit quirky to Huntsville. It’s tucked away on 2211 Seminole Drive, away from the usual paths you may take.

Lowe Mill is housed in an old cotton mill that was converted into a huge arts and entertainment venue with rows of studios and shops.

Lowe Mill Exterior

Unique Artistic Variety

Whether you’re into the culinary arts or the fine arts, Lowe…

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First Time Home Buying in 5 Easy Steps

Step 1: Loan Pre Approval

    • Loan Options Include

      • CONV - 3 to 20% down loan programs. Loan down payments of 20% or greater eliminate PMI (Link to blog on PMI)

      • VA - 100% financing, $0 down payment program for eligible veterans

      • FHA - Government backed 3.5% down loan program

      • USDA -100% financing, $0 down payment program eligible in certain rural areas 

      • Portfolio Loan - did you not qualify for a government backed loan but can afford the mortgage? Consider a portfolio loan (Link to blog on Portfolio Loans)

Step 2: Set up your Home Search

    • Click here to search all homes

    • Search Homes based on commute time to work, school,…

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matt curtis real estate logoThe Matt Curtis Real Estate team is excited to announce the launch of our new website for MattCurtisRealEstate.com! We've created this Madison real estate website to provide you with the most valuable tools and real estate information for Madison, Huntsville, and the surrounding areas.  

Stay tuned for more Madison and Limestone County real estate blog entries, and in the meantime, take a look at our Facebook page for real estate tips, news, and information!

At MCRE, we're dedicated to providing our clients with only the very best service. Our team has consistently ranked as one of America's Best Real estate Agents over the past few years and has a strong history of success. With in-depth knowledge of the Madison area real estate market, we're…

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