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Survey: Real estate still No. 1 investment

Birmingham Business Journal - by Lauren B. Cooper Staff

Despite a slow national real estate market, a recent survey showed real estate is the No. 1 choice for self-directed investors. Washington-based Guidant Financial Group conducted a survey of nearly 1,000 self-directed IRA holders and found that nearly 65 percent of the respondents said they were considering property as an investment for their retirement savings. Nearly 60 percent chose rental property, more than 36 percent chose foreclosures and preforeclosures and more than 28 percent chose raw land. "These numbers provide valuable insight into the minds of investors," said David Nilssen, president and CEO of Guidant. "It demonstrates that, although the real estate market is experiencing a downturn, many still continue to view real estate as a secure and viable means to growing their nest egg." Other choices, according to the survey, included: tax liens and deeds, 29 percent; business/franchise, 22.8 percent; hard money lending, 22 percent; notes, 19.3 percent; vacation property, 19 percent; foreign investments, 10.4 percent; and securities, 7 percent.

Alabama farmland rises to record value

Birmingham Business Journal - by Cindy F. Crawford Staff

For the third year in a row, Alabama farmland has posted a double-digit increase in value, rising to a record-high average of $3,100 per acre, U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates show. That's up 10.6 percent from the 2006 per-acre average of $2,750 and 84.5 percent higher than 2000, reported the Alabama Farmers Federation. Auburn University agricultural economics professor John Adrian, who recently completed an analysis of Alabama farmland returns and values from 1970 to the present, said a combination of several factors has fueled the increase, including favorable interest rates, a popular tax incentive and outside demand for land by non-farm investors. Research by Adrian and fellow AU ag economist Walt Prevatt found that since 2000, rates of return have averaged 9.7 percent, with the biggest gains coming in 2005 (up 29 percent), 2006 (up 14.6 percent) and 2007.

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Dos and Don’ts of Safe Turkey Hunting

 
 
It’s almost that time of year again when hunter’s thoughts turn to love. Probably not the type of love you are thinking about, but to the love of spring turkey hunting. There’s nothing quite like the hair-raising thrill of a tom’s gobble booming through woods or the heart-pounding suspense of a drumming gobbler coming to your call. This love affair begins in most Alabama counties on March 15. For most who participate in this annual right of spring, turkey hunting is special. It is also special in several ways from the standpoint of safety.    

You may be familiar with the standard firearms safety and safe hunting practices associated with any type of hunting: handle your gun with care; always keep the muzzle of your gun pointed in a safe direction; never shoot at a sound or movement; and always positively identify your target before pulling the trigger. Some additional defensive tactics should always be used when spring turkey hunting .      

Turkey hunting safety begins when you even get dressed for the hunt. Never wear red, white or blue clothing that could be visible to another turkey hunter. These are the colors of a spring gobbler’s head and neck. An irresponsible hunter might think you are a turkey and aim a gun or even shoot before properly identifying you as a hunter and not a gobbler. Avoid wearing white tee shirts or socks that may unknowingly become exposed while hunting. These items of clothing as well as the exposed skin of your hands and face might be mistaken for the white parts of a gobbler’s head. Dark socks and undershirts as well as a head net and gloves can camouflage you from the sharp eyes of a turkey, as well as avoid the potentially dangerous and unwanted attention of another hunter.
     Select a calling site that is as tall as your head and wider than your shoulders, like a large tree, stump or rock. Objects such as small trees won’t hide slight movements of your head, hands or shoulders when calling. Another hunter could mistake these movements for a turkey. Using a background larger than your seated silhouette when calling also helps protect your back, where you can’t see. In addition, don’t hide so well that you can’t see what is happening around you. You can’t harvest a turkey that you can’t see, and should you call in another hunter you both want to know about it.
Don’t try stalking or sneaking in on a turkey for a shot. The odds that the bird will see you and spook go way up. If the sounds you were hearing turn out to be another hunter, you might be mistaken for the turkey he’s been calling to. If this happens, your chances of becoming involved in a hunting accident increase greatly. Also avoid using a gobbler call when you know other hunters are in the area. When you gobble, the roll of hunter may be reversed and you may become the hunted.
Always assume every sound you hear and movement you see is another hunter. If you see another hunter approaching, sit still and speak to them in a loud voice. Never wave, stand or use your call to announce your presence. Any of those signals might be mistaken for a turkey.
Be aware of “turkey fever” and its prevention. Hunters have been known to hyperventilate or suffer tunnel vision in close encounters with turkeys. During the excitement of the hunt, it is easy to see what you are looking for, rather than what is actually there. The right attitude, with safety foremost, greatly reduces the odds of a mishap. Disregard any kind of peer pressure that could cause you to take chances or do things you shouldn’t in an effort to harvest a bird. Better to miss a chance at a shot than to take one that you end up regretting the rest of your life .
Spring turkey hunting is an exciting and challenging sport . Following the basic rules of firearms safety as well as defensive turkey hunting tactics will help ensure it’s also a safe spring for all concerned.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries.</SPA

                                        Turkey Season Schedule
Gobblers Only - One a day, Five during combined Fall and Spring Seasons.

Special Youth Hunt, Saturday & Sunday prior to opening of the spring season, in accordance with rule 220-2-.119.

Special Disabled hunt one day prior to all opening days.
Participants must meet medical requirements of regulation 220-2-.109

Lower Dixie’s Timber Update

APRIL 2008  Todd Lowery RF

Timber markets are a lot like the weather. If you wait long enough they will change. The question is, how long should you wait?

A poor housing market has hurt the lumber business nationwide. The timber “Bread-basket” as the South is called, is feeling the squeeze. Many local sawmills have cut production back to stem losses and try depleting the glut of small dimensional lumber on the market.   This lack of production coupled with the large supply of chip-n-saw material readily available in our area has caused prices to drop.

Now for some good news! Pulpwood markets are strong. The pulp and paper industry are making money and that is good news for the landowner. Pine pulpwood has been in high demand for the last several months with no sign of slowing down soon. Louisiana Pacific’s new OSB plant in Thomasville, AL should be online in the next few months and should help with some of the production concerns of the logging industry. This is critical in our area. Loggers are the backbone of the timber business. The reduced production of local sawmills has many concerned that those loggers will move to pulpwood thinnings or risk going out of business. The extra pulpwood production could eventually oversupply the pulpwood markets.   This isn’t good for the loggers or landowners because quotas encourage price drops and limited logging production. We are hopeful that this doesn’t happen. New markets like LP should help spread the “new” pulpwood production across our area and keep oversupply in check.

Hardwood sawtimber markets are steady for the time being but these markets are closely tied to domestic spending and housing. One local sawmill manager said recently that markets aren’t dropping their price but that the orders for lumber are drying up. He is preparing for another slow year.

It has been dry in our area for the last 3 years, but it looks like we are finally getting the rain. Tree planting should be successful this year and hopefully the moisture will help our drought stressed forest. Timberland is a great investment but like any investment there are certain risk. Drought, hurricanes, and a bear market are out of your control. What you can control are your choices on how and who manages your timberland investment. Tutt Real Estate and Lower Dixie Timber Company are experts in this field. We watch markets and environmental conditions to advise our clients on what is happening in our industry. Lower Dixie Timber has over 100 years of experience in our staff in what many consider the most competitive timber market in the country. It is our job to know how to get the most money out of your timberland investment.   With thousands of tracts of timber handled by our staff we can help you make the right decisions. If you’d like to schedule a consultation or are considering creating a long-term management plans for your forest, let our experience and knowledge help you make the right choices.   See our contact numbers on our web page.

Qualifying Broker, Land Specialist     334-534-1315
Associate Broker   888-219-9675
Associate Broker   888-397-0245
Associate Broker   888-253-0074
Associate Broker   334-381-5621
Associate Broker   888-433-0419
Sales Associate     334-295-0555
Sales Associate     334-534-7154
Sales Associate     334-456-1511
Sales Associate     334-534-5088
Sales Associate     334-534-0288
Sales Associate     251-458-5460
Sales Associate     334-225-4678
Sales Associate     334-225-4678