My dad developed a barbecue rating system several years ago in an effort to objectively identify the best all around barbeque restaurant in Birmingham.  Each restaurant was judged based on four categories:  their barbecue, their fries, their sweet tea and their pie. Each category was scored and combined with the scores from the other categories to give a grand total. The restaurant with the highest combined score would be considered the all around best barbecue joint in Birmingham. I cannot remember which place had the best overall score, but I do remember that in my dad’s opinion, Johnny Ray’s had the best pie and that Demetrie’s in Homewood had the best pork sandwich.  None of that, however, kept us from loyally frequenting the Golden Rule. It may not objectively be the best barbecue joint in Birmingham, but it will always be our favorite.

When I moved to Huntsville, I really wasn’t excited about the idea of eating the local barbecue, mostly because so much of the barbecue experience is not what you eat, but with whom you are eating.  It wasn’t until about 18 months ago, nearly five years after moving here that I found a couple of places in town that I liked. After my great lunch today, I began to wonder how the local haunts compare to my old reliable back home. I figured Friday would be as good a time as any to revive the Williams Barbecue Rating System to see who has the barbecue. I have changed the categories slightly to allow for some of the variety being offered these days. The three restaurants will be judged based on 1) their pork; 2) their signature side; 3) their signature dessert and 4) their atmosphere (I don’t drink tea).  Each category will be scored on a scale of 1-10.

The Golden Rule Barbeque  (Total Score: 33)

Pork: The Golden Rule’s pork sandwich is probably the best around because of its consistency. I have eaten there hundreds of times and never had anything but perfectly sliced tender pork.  They are also one of the only places still around that will actually slice their pork butt sandwiches instead of pulling it. The sauce that they put on the sandwich is delicious as well.  Score: 8.5.

Side:  The Golden Rule’s French fries defy all laws of physics. They are long and flexible and are both soggy and crunch at the same time. I think their secret is that they fry them with the skin still on. Either way, they are delicious, particularly with ketchup. The only real complaint could be that they are a bit greasy. Score: 7.

Dessert:  Lemon Icebox pie is the holy grail of barbecue desserts and The Golden Rule in Irondale sticks the landing with its sweet and creamy concoction that has just the right amount of bite. The only thing that keeps it from a 10 is the notion that I’ve got to leave some room at the top for Johnny Ray’s.  Score: 9.5.

Atmosphere:  Just off the shoulder of what is now called Highway 78 in Irondale, The Golden Rule has remained unchanged for as long as I can remember.  There is no music, but instead the air is filled with the sounds of friendly conversations as well as the banter in the uniquely exposed kitchen. The walls are littered with photos of local and regional sports heroes and the seats are filled with loyal locals. The authentic southern flavor is palpable. No gimmicks here, just good food and good service from a no nonsense wait staff. Score: 8

Moe’s Original Barbecue (Total Score 33.5)

Pork: Moe’s Ribs are unbelievably firm yet tender. They are easy to eat and their sauce is really good. My only complaint is that the flavor of the meat is not my favorite.   On the other hand, I have been told by a good friend that their rib sandwich tastes like it has been “made by the hands of God.” Score: 8.

Side:  All of Moe’s Platters come with a side of jalapeno cornbread. It is lightly toasted and has just the right amount of kick. It is delicious on its own but also perfect for mopping up any leftover sauce.  Score: 9.

Dessert:  Moe’s offers a small portion of banana pudding that will knock your socks off. With a vanilla wafer on both the bottom and the top, this creamy and crunchy dessert really brings it home.  Score: 8.5.

Atmosphere:  Located in the heart of Huntsville’s suburban sprawl, Moe’s is a modern take on the classic barbecue joint. What it lacks in street cred, it gains back with its general feel good vibe and eclectic musical offerings. The last time I was there I heard Johnny Cash and Widespread Panic in the same sitting.  Score: 8.

Granville’s (Total Score: 34)

Pork: When Granville’s is on, he is on. His ribs are the best I have ever had.  Period.  His sauce cleverly incorporates the sweet and the hot leaving you both wanting more and wondering why at the same time. The issue, though, is with consistency.  Sometimes the ribs are a little over cooked.  I’ve heard that Granville’s has gotten a more reliable smoker and that they are much more consistent.  Score: 9.5.

Side:  Granville’s Baked Potato Casserole is beyond description. I could never do it justice.   Score: 10.

Dessert:  Granville’s offers a serviceable key lime pie that may be store bought.  Nothing earth shattering, but it does the job. It tastes pretty good, but loses points for degree of difficulty. Score: 7.

Atmosphere:  On the corner of Oakwood and Meridian across from the old AmSouth Bank, Granville’s is accessible, but not necessarily a romantic destination.  The furniture inside is a hodgepodge that may have been purchased at a garage sale. The televisions usually show either Carlos Santana or Mick Jagger performing in concert and the drink machine may or may not work.  It is the perfect place to settle up with your bookie….if you are into that sort of thing.  In stark contrast to Moe’s, what it lacks in accoutrements, it makes up with street cred. Score: 7.5

Where We Live

Bernake speaks on housing issues.  More of the same?

Here is an interesting item on negative equity. Positively interesting indeed.

The Phoenix Real Estate tells us about the FHA Streamline refinance. This is important, so listen up.

There are some new floorplans on the block. Have we finally made it to rancher 3.0?

Chick fil-A is doubling down in Raleigh. Don’t tell my kids.

There are a lot of great things going on this weekend in town, but none could be more important than making sure you are ready to show appreciation for your loved one’s on Tuesday. Happy Valentines Day!

The Best Medicine

Summer will be here soon enough

I hope that you are getting back in the swing of things. I would really like your input on different topics that you would lie to see covered on this blog. I am hoping that 2012 will see an upgrade in content and utility for this blog. I’d like for it to be a real useful resource for the local real estate community. If any of you have any ideas, please let me know. In the meantime, keep planting those seeds! Have a great weekend!  

Where We Live

Here is the latest on mortgage rates.  I’m sure this year will be another roller coaster year.

The GDP is on the rise as well. Things may be looking up. I guess it depends who you ask.

One thing is for sure, inventory should be easing up a bit. Homebuilders certainly have.  

If you are going to be in the general vicinity this weekend, there is plenty to do in the Tennessee Valley. You can enjoy some laughs tonight at the Flying Monkey and hear some classical blues featuring Microwave Dave tomorrow night in Decatur.

The Best Medicine

Oh My!

The local bar was so sure that its bartender was the strongest man around that they offered a standing $1000 bet. The bartender would squeeze a lemon until all the juice ran into a glass, and hand the lemon to a patron. Anyone who could squeeze one more drop of juice out would win the money. Many people had tried over time (weight-lifters, longshoremen, etc.) but nobody could do it.

One day this scrawny little man came into the bar, wearing thick glasses and a polyester suit, and said in a tiny squeaky voice “I’d like to try the bet”

After the laughter had died down, the bartender said OK, grabbed a lemon, and squeezed away. Then he handed the wrinkled remains of the rind to the little man. But the crowd’s laughter turned to total silence as the man clenched his fist around the lemon and six drops fell into the glass!! As the crowd cheered, the bartender paid the $1000, and asked the little man “what do you do for a living? Are you a lumberjack, a weight-lifter, or what?”

The scrawny little man replied “I work for the IRS.”

Video of the Week

Can it Really be?

  
Home of the Week 

Click on me to see what $29 million can buy

Now that we are back in the swing if things, we are excited about 2012. There seems to be a lot of optimism in the local market about the upcoming year and it seems like we are making new friends everyday. Today, I even got a call from an old friend. Just as networker extraordinaire George Moore tells me all the time, “you never know which seeds you plant are going to sprout. If you plant enough seeds a few will grow in to big oak trees.” Keep planting those seeds. When the Sun comes out, those seeds will begin to sprout.

Take a minute to look at our firm website. There is a lot of information about the different services we provide. We are a small firm, but we all love what we do. (see standard disclaimer below). Here is the link. As long as I am putting shameless plugs in, I wanted to mention a fantastic event that Carlen and I attended last night. It was a fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters and it was called “Honoring Our Mentors.”  Here is the brief rundown. There are a lot of great people in our community making big things happen for others.

Where We Live

Here are 10 predictions for the national housing market for the upcoming year from the Wall Street Journal. Will it be moreof the sme?

Here is a more focused discussion of the new home market. The million dollar question is, “if you build it, will they come?”

Here is an interesting story about what makes some people choose certain houses over others. If you are going to wok the wok….

Here is the review of the Huntsville real eatate market in 2011.

See what a builder’s house looks like.

Finally, this weekend there looks to be plenty to do in Huntsville. For fans of the arts, there is an art show tonight at the Flying Monkey. For those of you who love classical music, be sure to catch a world premier on Saturday night.

 The Best Medicine

I am not a trained professional (at least when it comes to medicine or psychology although I try to convince my wife on occasion to the contrary) but I have made some observations about getting back in the swing of things. I’ve concluded after several minutes of semi-uninterrupted thought, that the best way to get back into the swing of things is to stop doing all the things that you did differently during the holidays.  Throw out all the candy and don’t buy any more for starters.  Diet and the routines of eating are important in how our energy levels rise and fall every day. If you eat different foods at different times of the day, chances are that you will experience fatigue at different times of the day.  The same goes with sleeping and how you let your kids eat and sleep. Routines are essential to getting back into the swing of things. Now that we have covered that I must acknowledge what everybody already knows…getting back into the swing of things is easier said than done. Maybe this week’s offering will help. Enjoy!

Where We Live

Here is some news today that Chrysler is adding nearly 1,300 jobs. Timing is everything.

Coincidentally, the jobless rate is falling.  Hopefully it will permanetly replace the sky.

Mortgage rates remain low and steady. Low and steady wins the race.

According to the Curious Capitalist, we shouldn’t get overexcited. Nobody likes a party pooper.

Here is the 2012 forecast for the Huntsville real estate market among others.  Partly cloudy with a chance of sales.

Finally, an article from the Huntsville Times about some local music acts to watch out for this year if that is what floats your boat. It includes a feature on Steven Jackson who is a friend and neighbor who I got to know at a Will Kimbrough show. He’s so down to earth that I didn’t even realize he was a rock star until I read this article. The things you learn by reading.

 The Best Medicine

*This week’s joke comes with a reminder that life is finite. Live it to the fullest. This joke is dedicated to Gene Bartow and Don Hacker who both passed away this week.  One was a sports icon who moved mountains for UAB athletics and the other was the father to three of my childhood friends who moved mountains for his friends and family, brought the first Cheeburger Cheeburger to Alabama and was always good for a laugh.  Both of these men have made an indelible impression on me.

Oh My!

A group of 15-year old boys discussed where they should meet for dinner. It was agreed they should meet at the Dairy Queen next to the Ocean View restaurant because they only had $6.00 between them and Jennie Johnson, that cute girl in Social Studies, lives on that street and they might see her and they can ride their bikes there.

Ten years later, the group of 25-year-old guys discussed where they should meet for dinner. It was agreed they should meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the beer was cheap, they had free snacks, the band was good, there was no cover and there were lots of cute girls.

Ten years later, at 35 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. It was agreed they should meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the booze was good, it was right near the gym and if they went late enough, there wouldn’t be too many whiny little kids.

Ten years later, at 45 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. It was agreed they should meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the martinis were big, and the waitresses were pretty.

Ten years later, at 55 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. It was agreed they should meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the prices were reasonable, the wine list was good, and fish is good for your cholesterol.

Ten years later, at 65 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. It was agreed they should meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the lighting was good and they have an early bird special.

Ten years later, at 75 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. It was agreed they should meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the food was not too spicy, and the restaurant was handicapped accessible.

Ten years later, at 85 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. It was agreed they should meet at the Ocean View restaurant because they had never been there before.

Videos of the Week

Home of the Week

How Much do You Think this House Will Cost in November?

This week I am going to keep it short and sweet. I have skipped the standard section of news storied, because this week the only news we need to worry about is our own news. Instead of gettig bogged down in the financial detritis of teh week, I hope you enjoy the humor below as well as the pretty nifty brownstone for sale below. Most of all I wish you all a very merry Christmas! We will be back next week to wish you a happy New Years. On second thought, the weather is pretty nice here…

 The Best Medicine

And as I recall, I think we both kind of liked it

 

Check out our new feature below. Every week I will be posting a real estate related video for all of you visual learners. This section will replace the college football picks. In case you were wondering, I sputtered down the stretch to a 6-6 record which earns me a birth in the annual Snuggy Bowl. At least I will be warm. Back to the new vidoe feature, I hope that you find it informative and easy to use.  In the meantime, I hope you all have a great week.

Where We Live

 Here is another hodgepodge of news and items from the past week:

Here are a couple of related articles pointing out the importance of  a first impression when listing a home. One is from down the road in Birmingham and the other is from our friend in Phoenix.

Here is the runner up in the house of the week competition. It doesn’t have a staircase to the center of the earth, but it is a fine looking home in a really cool part of our region.  The accompianing article is pretty nifty as well.

Here is Tom Brander’s take on the North Alabama real estate market in November.

Here is an interesting article on a very difficult and complicated issue facing many homeowners these days.

I know this is the last minute, but here is the information on Jim Parker’s Songwriter Showcase tonight.

 The Best Medicine

 Home of the Week

Do the Saftey Dance

 

The past week has been eventful in local sports news. Congratulations to the Alabama Crimson Tide on their second berth in the BCS National Championship in the past three seasons. The announcement did not come without a little bit of drama as their closest competition the Oklahoma State Cowboys made a late push and made the margin between number 2 and number 3 very close. Down on the Plains, the coaching staff looks to be set for a shakeup. Yesterday, defensive coordinator Ted Roof announced that he has taken the same position at Central Florida. More coaching changes could be on the horizon in Auburn as the Tigers try to bounce back from a lackluster performance this season against their most notable rivals Georgia and Alabama. Closer to home, UAH hockey fans got some great news this week as the program will be continuing on after reports that it was going to be shut down.

Christmas parties are in full swing and the ones that I have been to so far have been excellent. This is a great time of year to visit with contemporaries and discuss the industry and get ready for anther great year. We are all lucky to work with such a professional and kind group of real estate proffesionals. It certainly makes coming to work every day enjoyable. I hope you all have a great weekend!

Where We Live

 Here is another hodgepodge of news and items from the past week:

The end of the year is coming soon, decisions ou make between now and December 31st could affect your income tax liablity for the 2011 tax year. The Washington Post offers us some tips on how to save a few sheckels come tax time.

We are definitely getting ito the throes of Winter. Our friends in Birmingham have some pointers on how to get your home winter ready.

How long do you have to wait in the checkout line before you start to get antsy? The folks at Moneyland can tell us what the norm is.

Here is an article about the staus of the European financial meltdown.

If you are looking for something to do in town this weekend you can check out the Nutcracker on Ice or you can get a lesson on how to produce letter press stationary.

 The Best Medicine

Home of the Week

Boxy is Good

Tommy and his Turkey

Happy (black) Friday to everybody!  I hope that everyone has come out of their tryptophan induced coma in time to have some leftovers. I’m on the road (down to the Plains) this weekend, so this will be a bit of a skeleton edition of my weekly offering.

I do want to acknowledge, however that I have a lot to be thankful for. My family, my friends and those of you who trust me with your business are a few of the people that I am very thankful for. I look forward to seeing you all sometime during this holiday season.

Next time you see me, don’t forget to ask me about my Turkey.

Where We Live

 Here is another hodgepodge of news and items from the past week:

If you have a customer that calls you about issues they are having with their neighbors, you can refer them to this article.

In case you missed it, here is the list of many of the deals you can get today at several prominent retailers. Don’t forget to bring protection.

Here is a feel good story for Thanksgiving about a college football player in Chicagoland.

Speaking of football, here is an outsider’s perspective of the biggest rivalry in college football.

A search of local events was fruitless. Perfect timing. I hope you enjoy a relaxing weekend with your family.

 The Best Medicine

"Hey Nick, who knew so many people like to watch us listen to headphones?"

I’m quite passionate about college football and almost as passionate about trying to predict who wins. So every week, I will test my abilities against the now notorious Danny Sheridan. I will choose one game each week and pick which team will beat the “spread” as determined by the bagman hunter himself.  In order for my record to be more like a real football team, I will take a week off the week of Auburn’s bye.  Hopefully, I’ll do well enough to go to a bowl!

Our Hurting Handicapper’s Current Record is 6-5

Week 12: Alabama at Auburn Saturday at 2:30pm CST on CBS

Danny Sheridan says that Alabama will win by 20.5 points.

The annual spectacle that is the Iron Bowl is upon us once again.  This season, the defending BCS National Champion Auburn Tigers play host to an Alabama Crimson Tide squad who appear to control their destiny in their bid to win a second BCS title in three years. The football gods are indeed smiling on the state of Alabama. With all the recent success of both teams, one would expect this to be a close game. Danny Sheridan does not see it that way. In fact, he says that Alabama will win by three touchdowns. As crazy as that seems, it is important to note that in Auburn’s four losses the margin of defeat has averaged nearly four touchdowns. Auburn’s offense has sputtered and their defense has been abused with rare exception all season long. Most recently, Auburn mustered a horrendous effort against the Georgia Bulldogs losing 45-7. Alabama, on the other hand has torn through almost every one of their opponents without much resistance. The only exception has been LSU, who turned the Tide 9-6 in an overtime thriller in Tuscaloosa. Taking all of those facts into consideration, it would be reasonable to predict that Alabama should easily cover Sheridan’s spread. Not so fast my friend!  All of Auburn’s losses have come on the road this season, meaning that Auburn is undefeated at home. While Alabama is as good if not better than all of the teams that have beaten Auburn, this game will be different. This is the Iron Bowl. The young Tigers will respond to the unbelievable atmosphere at Jordan-Hare Stadium and keep this one close deep into the second half. Alabama has a fantastic defense, but their offense is one dimensional and their special teams are suspect. This game will be close and could go either way. Auburn covers Sheridan’s spread.

Home of the Week

Do you like Apples?

Remember when you are getting ready for your closings over the next couple of weeks to double check that property taxes are prorated and that they are based on the correct assessment. This time of year can be tricky.  Remember that the taxes should be prorated based on the homestead status of the seller (or whoever was the owner of record as of October 1st) and not the buyer.  This is especially important in foreclosures and new construction. It isn’t enough to just pull the sheet from your county tax assessor because that report will only tell you what the assessment was on October 1st, 2010. For a new construction sale, it is likely that the property was assessed without an improvement, so to base a tax proration on that assessment would be woefully inadequate considering the 2012 taxes will be based on a  fully constructed home that is not homesteaded.  When you are dealing with a foreclosure, the assessment sheet will likely list the foreclosed borrowers as owners because they most likely owned the home on October 1st, 2010. However, if you are working on a foreclosure in the last quarter of the calendar year, it is likely that the foreclosing lender was the owner of record on October 1st, 2011 which means that the taxes due in October of 2012 will be based on a non-homestead assessment.

Where We Live

 Here is another hodgepodge of news and items from the past week:

Here is a straight to the point item for real estate junkies. Check out some interesting facts about the current trends in real estate.

I thought of my father in law Charles Bailey when I saw this open thread on a Seattle real estate blog. He has spent a good amount of time in his life taking photos of listings for Homes and Land of Huntsville. I’m sure he would get a kick out of these “what not to do” photos.

Not to be a buzzkill on a beautiful Friday, but here are some potential deal breakers as brought to you by Zillow. Never underestimate the value of a home inspection!

Thanks to the Chicago Trib for this report on Tootsie Roll’s lawsuit against Footzyroll.  Isn’t there a dance called the Tootsie Roll? I wonder if Footzyroll’s are the optimal footwear for performing the Tootsie Roll. 

Here is the skinny of what to do in Huntsville this weekend. The Harrison Brothers Hardware Christmas open house is tonight and of course the galaxy of lights will be a fixture for the next several weeks.

 The Best Medicine

"Hey Nick, who knew so many people like to watch us listen to headphones?"

I’m quite passionate about college football and almost as passionate about trying to predict who wins. So every week, I will test my abilities against the now notorious Danny Sheridan. I will choose one game each week and pick which team will beat the “spread” as determined by the bagman hunter himself.  In order for my record to be more like a real football team, I will take a week off the week of Auburn’s bye.  Hopefully, I’ll do well enough to go to a bowl!

Our Hustling Handicapper’s Current Record is 6-4

Week 12: Nebraska at Michigan Saturday at 11:00am CST on ESPN

Danny Sheridan says that Michigan will win by 3.5 points. 

I literally flipped a coin on this one.  My luck has slipped so much in the second half of the season that I am more comfortable leaving my next pick up to chance.  Heads for the home team and tails for the visitors and the winner (best 2 out of 3) is…Nebraska.  Now that I think about it, I can live with that pick. Both teams have played well all season, and while Michigan has had an easier schedule, they are undefeated at home. Nebraska will be travelling East for the second consecutive week after playing in an emotional game in State College.  So at first, I thought Michigan was the wise pick. However, this game, like a lot of other close games will come down to turnovers and field position. While there is a razor thin difference between the two teams in terms of turnover margin, Nebraska features a vastly superior kicking game. That will be the difference in this one.  I hope.  Nebraska covers Sheridan’s spread.

Home of the Week 

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