Chad McGehee-Weichert, Realtors-The Space Place

09/24/2026

🏡 OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND IN ATHENS! 🏡

If you’ve been thinking about making a move, I’d love for you to come take a look at my listing at 26448 Lochlan Circle in Athens!

And this weekend, you have TWO chances to see it in person. 👇

📍 26448 Lochlan Circle | Athens, AL 35613

🔑 SATURDAY | 12:00–2:00 PM
🔑 SUNDAY | 2:00–4:00 PM

Come walk through the home, take your time looking around, and see if this could be the one you’ve been waiting for.

Already working with an agent? Absolutely bring them along. Just starting to think about buying? Come by and ask questions—no pressure at all.

And if you know someone looking for a home in the Athens/Madison area, I’d really appreciate you sharing this with them. Sometimes the right home just needs to find the right person. 🏡

We will be there and would love to see you!

📲 Chad McGehee, Realtor®
Weichert Realtors® – The Space Place
Independently owned and operated
📞 770-595-8405
📧 [email protected]

09/17/2026

🏡 Months in the Making… and Today They’re HOME! ❤️

Some closings just mean a little more.

Today, I had the privilege of helping friends get to closing as they officially became homeowners in Hoover, Alabama! 🎉🔑

This one wasn’t about finding a house that was already sitting there waiting for them. We started from the beginning — finding the right neighborhood, choosing the floor plan, selecting the lot, and then watching their home come to life from the ground up.

And then came the hard part… waiting.

For nearly six months, we watched the progress, celebrated each new stage, and counted down the days until this one finally became theirs.

When people you care about trust you to help them with something this important, you go where they need you. And I’m incredibly grateful they allowed me to be part of the journey.

Today wasn’t just about closing on a beautiful new construction home. It was about seeing friends finally walk into a place they’ve been dreaming about and waiting on for months.

Congratulations, friends! You’re finally HOME! 🏡❤️

And thank you for trusting me to walk through this process with you from the ground up. That means more to me than you know.

Chad McGehee, Realtor®
Weichert Realtors® – The Space Place
📱 770-595-8405
📧 [email protected]
Independently owned and operated

09/16/2026

🏡 If You've Been Waiting To Buy a Home… Your Window May Be Opening.

Here's a stat that caught my attention:

📅 September 27 – October 3 has been identified as the best week to buy a home nationally in 2026.

Why that week?

Several buyer-friendly conditions are expected to come together at the same time:

🏠 More homes to choose from – Active listings are expected to be about 13% higher than an average week.

👥 Less competition – Buyer competition historically drops about 30% from its peak.

💰 Lower asking prices – Prices are projected to be about 3.5% below their seasonal high. On a typical home nationally, that's roughly a $14,000 difference.

⏰ More time to make a decision – Homes tend to stay on the market longer, giving buyers more time for inspections, comparisons, and negotiations.

📉 More price reductions – Sellers with homes that haven't moved may become more willing to adjust.

Now, does that mean everyone should circle September 27 on the calendar and wait?

No.

Real estate is local, and the right time to buy ultimately depends on your finances, goals, and what's happening in the specific North Alabama market you're considering.

But if you've been sitting on the sidelines waiting for more choices and potentially more negotiating power, this fall deserves your attention.

And here's the key:

👉 Don't wait until September 27 to START preparing.

Get pre-approved. Know your budget. Identify the areas you like. Start watching homes and price reductions now.

That way, when the right opportunity appears, you're ready.

If you're thinking about buying in Huntsville, Madison, Athens, or anywhere across North Alabama, I'd be glad to help you build a plan.

📲 Chad McGehee, REALTOR®
Weichert Realtors® – The Space Place
📞 770-595-8405

Want to buy a house this year, but not sure if the timing’s right? Seasonally, it may actually be a better time to buy than you expect.

09/08/2026

Schedule a tour today for this brand new listing in East Limestone area. Like New.....without the wait of new construction. 10 minutes to downtown Athens, convenient to I-65, 12 minutes to Clift farms for shopping and dining. Call to schedule your tour today.

Like new and move in ready, offering an open, spacious la...

09/07/2026

🏡 JUST LISTED IN ATHENS! 🏡

📍 26448 Lochlan Circle | Athens, AL 35613
💰 $310,000
🛏️ 4 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms
📐 1,838 Sq. Ft.

If you’ve been looking for a like-new, move-in-ready home in Athens, without the wait for new construction... this one deserves a look!

Built in 2024, this home offers a bright, open floor plan with 9-foot ceilings and plenty of space for everyday living and entertaining. The kitchen is the heart of the home with a large center island, generous counter space, stainless steel appliances, walk-in pantry, and a new backsplash.

Location! 10 minutes to the square in Athens. 12 Minutes to Clift Farms in Madison.

My favorite features:
✨ Open-concept kitchen, dining & living area
✨ 9-foot ceilings throughout
✨ 4 bedrooms all on one level
✨ Spacious primary suite with walk-in closet
✨ Double quartz vanity, soaking tub & separate shower
✨ Large kitchen island & walk-in pantry
✨ Fenced backyard
✨ Covered back patio
✨ Two-car garage
✨ Convenient to I-65 and Athens Square

At $310,000, this is a great opportunity for someone wanting a newer home without waiting on new construction.
📸 Take a look at all the photos here:
https://www.zillow.com/.../26448-Lochlan.../344718822_zpid/

Want to see it in person? I’d love to show it to you!

📲 Chad McGehee, Realtor®
📞 770-595-8405
📧 [email protected]
Weichert Realtors® – The Space Place
Independently Owned and Operated

This 1838 square feet Single Family home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. It is located at 26448 Lochlan Cir, Athens, AL.

09/02/2026

🏡 Think a Brand-New Home Automatically Costs More? Think Again.

For years, buyers have assumed:

“New construction is nice… but it’s probably out of my price range.”

Right now, that assumption may cause you to overlook some pretty interesting opportunities. 👇

According to the latest national housing data, a newly built home now typically costs about $40,000 LESS than an existing home.

And builders are doing even more to attract buyers:

💰 35% of builders are cutting prices, with an average reduction of about 6%.

🔑 63% are offering incentives, which may include help with closing costs, upgrades, or mortgage-rate buydowns.

Why?

Builders have inventory they need to sell. Unlike an individual homeowner who may decide to wait for the right offer, builders have carrying costs on completed homes — and that can create negotiating opportunities for buyers.

There can be some additional advantages too:

✨ Everything is new
🔨 Lower near-term maintenance
🏠 Builder warranties may be available
💵 Potential closing-cost assistance
📉 Possible mortgage-rate incentives

But here's something REALLY important:

The sales representative in the model home represents the builder.

Having your own REALTOR® means having someone looking at the transaction from YOUR side — comparing the price, evaluating incentives, negotiating where possible, and helping make sure important steps like an independent home inspection aren't overlooked.

So if you've been automatically skipping the "New Construction" button in your home search, it may be time to take another look.

North Alabama has a tremendous amount of new construction, and I'd be happy to help you compare new vs. existing and see which actually gives you the better value.

📲 Chad McGehee, REALTOR®
Weichert Realtors® – The Space Place
📞 770-595-8405

Most people think a newly built home costs more than an existing one. But right now, that’s actually backwards.

08/18/2026

🏡 **So… Who Has the Upper Hand in Today’s Housing Market?**

Is it buyers? 🤔
Is it sellers? 🏠

The answer may surprise you:

👉 **It depends on where you are.**

One of the best ways to measure who has the advantage is something called **months of supply** — basically, how long it would take to sell the homes currently on the market if no new homes were listed.

Generally:

🔑 **Under 4 months:** Sellers tend to have more leverage
⚖️ **4–6 months:** A more balanced market
💰 **Over 6 months:** Buyers tend to have more negotiating power

Nationally, we're currently around **4.6 months of supply**, which puts the overall housing market back into more balanced territory.

But here's the important part…

**Real estate isn't national. It's local.**

One neighborhood may have homes selling quickly with sellers holding firm on price.

A few miles away, buyers may have more choices and be negotiating:

💵 Seller-paid closing costs
🔨 Repairs
📉 Price reductions
🏦 Rate-buydown assistance

That's why I'm always cautious when someone tells me, *"I heard it's a buyer's market"* or *"It's still a seller's market."*

My first question is:

Which market?

If you're considering buying or selling in Huntsville, Madison, Athens, or the surrounding North Alabama area, let's look at what's actually happening in **your price range and your neighborhood.**

That's the information that matters.

📲 Chad McGehee, REALTOR®
Weichert Realtors® – The Space Place
📞 770-595-8405

Ask around and almost every homebuyer out there wants to know if there’s a way to get a better deal. And just about every seller wants to know if they'll still get top dollar.

08/11/2026

🏡 **Buying a Home? Don’t Forget This Part of Your Monthly Payment**

When buyers start running the numbers, most naturally focus on:

💰 Purchase price
📉 Mortgage rate
🏦 Monthly mortgage payment

But there’s another number that deserves attention early in the process:

👉 **Homeowners insurance.**

Insurance costs have increased over the past few years, and what you pay can vary significantly depending on the home, location, coverage, roof age, and other factors.

The encouraging news? While premiums are still increasing, the pace of those increases has started to slow.

That’s why one of the smartest things you can do when considering a home is **get an insurance quote early** — even before you make an offer. It gives you a much clearer picture of what your actual monthly housing expense could be.

A few ways buyers may be able to manage insurance costs:

✅ Compare quotes from multiple companies
✅ Ask about home + auto bundling
✅ Look for available discounts
✅ Make sure upgrades like a newer roof are considered
✅ Maintain strong credit

Buying a home shouldn’t be about finding out what you *can technically qualify for.*

It should be about understanding what you can **comfortably afford every month.**

📲 If you’re thinking about buying in Huntsville, Madison, Athens, or anywhere across North Alabama, I’d be happy to help you look at the whole picture and connect you with trusted local professionals along the way.

**Chad McGehee, REALTOR®**
**Weichert Realtors® – The Space Place**
📞 **770-595-8405**

08/10/2026

🏡 Could the Equity in Your Current Home Make Your Next Move Easier?

You've probably heard the old rule: "You need 20% down to buy a home."

That's not necessarily true. There are loan programs that allow qualified buyers to purchase with much less.

But here's what's interesting… 👇

Many repeat buyers are actually CHOOSING to put 20% or more down.

According to the National Association of REALTORS®, the typical repeat buyer today puts down 23%.

How are they doing it?

💰 HOME EQUITY.

If you've owned your home for several years, you've likely been building equity in two ways:

🏠 Your home's value may have increased
📉 You've been paying down your mortgage

When you sell, that equity can potentially become the down payment on your next home.

And putting 20% down can come with some pretty significant advantages:

✅ Smaller monthly mortgage payment
✅ Less interest paid over the life of the loan
✅ No PMI on many conventional loans
✅ Potentially stronger offer when competing for a home

Here's the part I think many homeowners overlook:

You may have more buying power sitting inside your current home than you realize.

If you've thought about moving up, downsizing, or simply finding a home that better fits where you are in life now, let's start by figuring out what your current home may be worth.

No pressure. Just good information and a plan.

📍 Huntsville | Madison | Athens | North Alabama

📲 Chad McGehee, REALTOR®
Weichert Realtors® – The Space Place
📞 770-595-8405

If you’re planning to buy your next home soon, you’ve probably heard the old rule about saving 20% for your down payment.

08/06/2026

🏡 Thinking About Waiting for Lower Mortgage Rates? Read This First.

I hear it all the time...

"We're just going to wait until rates come down."

That sounds like a smart plan—but here's something worth considering. 👇

No one knows exactly where mortgage rates are headed. They move based on inflation, the economy, and global events, and they can change quickly. Recent rate volatility is a good reminder that trying to perfectly time the market is incredibly difficult.

Instead of asking:

❓ "When will rates be lower?"

Try asking:

✅ "Does buying a home make sense for my family today?"

If the answer is yes, waiting could actually cost more if:
🏠 Home prices continue to appreciate
📈 More buyers enter the market
💲 Competition increases

And remember... if rates improve later, refinancing may be an option. But you can't refinance a home you never purchased.

Every buyer's situation is different, which is why I always recommend sitting down, looking at the numbers, and building a strategy based on your goals—not the headlines.

If you're thinking about buying in Huntsville, Madison, Athens, or anywhere across North Alabama, I'd be happy to help you explore your options.

📲 Chad McGehee, Realtor®
Weichert Realtors® – The Space Place
📞 770-595-8405

Imagine waiting a year to buy a home, only to find mortgage rates haven't changed much. That may sound frustrating. But it's a real possibility.