Homes and Real Estate Magazine April 2023

Lee County Housing Stats for February 2023

Living Room with Stone Wood Burning Fireplace. Formal Dining Room with Detailed Molding and Coffered Ceiling. Kitchen with Granite Countertops, Tile Backsplash, and Stainless Appliances. Breakfast Room. Split Bedroom Floorplan. Master Bedroom with Door to the Back Porch. Master Bath with Tile Shower, Jetted Tub, Double Vanity, and Walk In Closet. 3 Additional Bedrooms. Irrigation System. Covered Back Deck. 2 Car Garage. Floored Attic with Tons of Storage. Fenced Yard. Seller is related to listing

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3202 Pinecrest Drive-

800 Cutler Ridge Court- 4 Bedroom 2.5 Bath Home in Pinecrest Subdivision. Inviting Front Porch. Formal Dining Room. Living Room with Soaring Ceilings and a Wood Burning Fireplace. Kitchen has Granite Countertops, Stainless Appliances, and a Pantry. Breakfast Room. Spacious First Floor Master Bedroom with a Ceiling Fan and Crown Molding. Master Bath with Double Vanity, Garden Tub, and Walk-In Closet. The Second Level Features 3 Additional Bedrooms and a Full Bathroom. Back Patio. Fire Pit. Matching Workshop. Fenced Back Yard. 2 Car Garage. Private Lot.

Spacious 4 Bed, 3.5 Bath Home in a Convenient Location. Covered Front Porch. Formal Living Room.

Master Bedroom on the Main Level. Master Bath with Jetted Tub and Shower. Screened Porch off of the Master Bedroom. Second Story Features another Master Suite with Large Walk In Closet and Private Bath, 2 Additional Bedrooms, and a Bathroom. Back Deck. 2 Car Garage. Storage Building (528 Sq Ft). 3 Bay Workshop (874 sq ft).

Tori Beth Thompson Associate

Stone Martin Builders Opens Model Home in Housing Community

Cannongate features beautiful homes in family-focused neighborhood in Opelika, AL

Opelika, AL (March 14, 2023) - Stone Martin Builders (SMB), one of the largest homebuilders across Alabama and the region, o cially opened the model home for the Cannongate community in Opelika, AL. A ribbon cutting ceremony was recently held with the Opelika Chamber of Commerce for the model home to celebrate this milestone for the community.

e family-focused community that includes parks, playgrounds, and a community pool, is located just 1.5 miles from Opelika’s Downtown at the Tracks. Home buyers can design the home of their dreams by choosing from various home plan designs that feature four to seven bedrooms, two to four bathrooms, and various exterior options.

“Deciding where your family will begin the next chapter of their lives is the most important decision you can make. When you begin designing your home at Cannongate, you can trust our team’s unparalleled cra smanship and dedicated customer service to make the process as easy as possible,” said Frank Plan, CEO of SMB. “We are excited to introduce more family housing options in Opelika that adapts to the unique lifestyles and needs for your home.”

All homes are designed with growing families in mind and are built for their convenience, functionality, a ordability, and entertainment. Stone Martin Builders’ collection of homes includes one and two-story plans, spacious rooms, twocar garages, elegant ooring, granite countertops, energy-e cient appliances, smart home technology, and hybrid spray foam insulation. Residents can customize their home’s exterior with a variety of options to choose from for brick, paint, stone, and doors.

“ e Cannongate neighborhood o ers families quality and accessibility with great schools, employers, and recreational options in the community,” said Sarah Martin Vice President of Sales. “ e Cannongate community is perfect for anyone who prioritizes serenity, beautiful scenery, and convenient access to amenities.”

Cannongate o ers the perfect balance of serene, yet exciting. It is located just o Opelika’s famous Historic District, which is host to several parades and events. Downtown Opelika o ers an abundance of local restaurants, a distillery, two breweries, and local shops. Homes starting at 1,300 square feet up to 4,300 square feet.

About Stone Martin Builders:

Based in the Auburn-Opelika area, Stone Martin Builders is dedicated to developing aspirational communities throughout Alabama and Georgia, including Huntsville, Athens, Prattville, Montgomery, Auburn/Opelika, Dothan, and Columbus, Georgia. Since its establishment in 2006, the company has quickly grown and in 2022 was ranked as one of the 100 largest home builders in the U.S. by Builder Online. More info at https://stonemartinbuilders.com

Real estate investing is a nearly no-fail investment in a college town. Single family, student and short term rentals can be hugely profitable for property owners. When considering a property to invest in its important to consider who is the ideal occupant. “Inside the loop” properties can work amazingly well for students, families or short term rentals! Properties further from campus are typically family rentals.

Did you know that the City of Auburn regulates how a property is occupied? It’s important to know the zoning restrictions on a property you are considering purchasing. The majority of our city falls under the rule of two: “In general, traditional residential neighborhoods allow for no more than two unrelated persons to reside at an address.” This means that a single family home can be occupied by 2 unrelated students.

Short term rentals provide amazing return on investment for their owners. So why isn’t everyone doing it? The answer is: city regulations. The city has cracked down on where short term rentals are allowed. There is an interactive map that can be used to find out if a property is within the allowed zone.

Check your property’s address here: https://webgis.auburnalabama.org/shorttermrentals/

Please note that even if you get the go-ahead for a short term rental from the city, many home owner associations have restricted short term rentals for their neighborhoods. So, if the property is in a neighborhood with an HOA you must check with them! Finding properties suitable for Airbnb or VRBO investments can be a challenge. I highly recommend employing a realtor to help you in your search for the perfect short term rental. They are out there!

One of my favorite ways I like to see my clients invest in rental property is what I like to call a “Family Game-day Rental”. This is a combination of a student rental and a personal Game-day home. Many of my clients have purchased 3 bedroom homes close to campus for a multi-use purpose. One bedroom for their student/child, the second bedroom for a friend to rent and the third bedroom for the parents to enjoy Game-day weekends on the plains. Investing in a property like this saves my clients from paying rent for their student, produces some income by renting a room and provides the whole family with an enjoyable place to visit their student and our lovely town. These homes are typically excellent for resale purposes when their children have completed their time in Auburn or can be converted into family or short term rental properties. I happen to have one such property listed currently! It’s a 3 bedroom home located 1.5 miles from campus with 3 entertaining spaces on the main level – perfect for tailgating from home!

The bottom line is that investing in Auburn real estate is a safe bet if you understand the local rules and regulations. Your realtor can help you navigate zoning and help you calculate the earning potential of a property. Reach out to your realtor today to get the ball rolling on investing in Auburn real estate. And if you don’t have a realtor you can always call me!

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