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March 2024 | Volume 14 | Issue 10
Serving the Birmingham area since 1958. SERVING HOMEWOOD, HOOVER, MOUNTAIN BROOK, VESTAVIA HILLS, TRUSSVILLE AND THE U.S. 280 CORRIDOR
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REAL ESTATE SPOTLIGHT Realtors bullish on Homewood housing market, interest rates expected to drop By JON ANDERSON
T
he year 2023 was another slow one for the housing market in Homewood, as rising interest rates kept people out of the market. However, home values stayed strong, and Realtors are expecting activity to pick up this year. The number of home closings in Homewood declined 21% from 381 in 2022 to 300 in 2023, according to data from the Greater Alabama Multiple Listing Service. That’s also down 39% from a peak of 495 home closings in 2019. Average sale prices in Homewood declined by 3% from $534,542 in 2022 to $518,359 in 2023. But prices still were 30% higher than in 2019, when the average price was $399,913, MLS data shows. “It is a seller’s market still,” said Reba Myer, a Realtor with LAH Sotheby’s International Realty’s office in Homewood for 15 years.
See REAL ESTATE | page 24
Reba Myer stages one of the new townhomes for sale on 18th Street South. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Crime continues downward trend By SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR. Crime in Homewood was down 12% from 2022 to 2023 and down 18% compared to the 10-year average, police officials say. Robberies and auto thefts were up, but there were decreases in homicides, assaults, burglaries and thefts, according to statistics from the Homewood Police Department. Changes in scheduling and new policies have given police more visibility in the community, and new technology, social media and proactive policing have helped
reduce crime, police Chief Tim Ross said. Here are some highlights from the 2023 crime stats shared by Sgt. John Carr, the department’s public information officer: There were 75 burglaries in 2023, down 30% from 108 burglaries in 2022 and down 41% from the 10-year average of 144. There were 35 robberies in 2022, up 52% from 23 robberies in 2023 and up 9% from the 10-year average of 34.
INSIDE
See CRIME | page 26 Sponsors............................ 4 News.................................... 6
Homewood Police vehicles during a traffic stop in West Homewood. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Business............................. 9 Events................................ 12
Sports................................ 14 Opinion............................. 20
Summer Camp Guide................................. 22 facebook.com/thehomewoodstar
On the Ballot
Batter Up
Gary Palmer and Terri Sewell face competition for congressional district seats.
High school baseball and softball seasons are underway at Homewood.
See page 6
See page 14-15