Should Coach DeBoer List This Week? Alabama 49, South Carolina 18 Edition

How Did Alabama Do Against South Carolina?

Alabama walked into Bryant-Denny Stadium and never let South Carolina catch up. Quarterback Keelon Russell threw for 365 yards and four touchdowns, and he added a rushing score of his own. Ryan Coleman-Williams caught two touchdown passes, and the Crimson Tide scored on four straight possessions in the first half to lead 35-3. South Carolina pulled within two touchdowns late in the third quarter, but Alabama answered with two more scores in the fourth to close it out, 49-18. The win pushed Alabama to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the SEC. Next up is a road trip to No. 24 Mississippi State.

What Is Our Call This Week?

Get Ready

Homes are still selling fast and close to full price across West Alabama, but the market is shifting under the surface. Homes for sale in Tuscaloosa County are up almost 16 percent from a year ago, and up nearly 28 percent inside the city. Homes are also taking longer to sell, and prices in the city have slipped almost 7 percent. None of this is a crisis. It just means buyers have more options than they did a year ago. If you are even thinking about selling in the next six to twelve months, this is a good week to start getting your numbers together. And just to be clear, this has nothing to do with Coach DeBoer’s actual home. We just like the headline.

What Is Happening Across Tuscaloosa County?

Tuscaloosa County is still a healthy market, but it is loosening up. Homes are selling for about the same price as last year, and sellers are still getting full asking price on average. The bigger story is supply. There are almost 16 percent more homes for sale than a year ago, and homes are taking about a week longer to sell. That is still a fast market compared to most of the country, but it is not as tight as it was.

What Is Happening in the City of Tuscaloosa?

Inside the city limits, the shift is more noticeable. Homes for sale are up almost 28 percent from last year, and the median sale price has dropped nearly 7 percent. Sellers are still getting full price when a home does sell, so this is not a market where buyers are lowballing. It is a market where buyers finally have room to shop around and compare homes before they decide.

How Does Birmingham Compare?

This series is not just for Tuscaloosa. Any TWG agent across West Alabama or Greater Birmingham can use these numbers with their own clients. Here is how the Birmingham metro, Jefferson and Shelby counties combined, stacks up against Tuscaloosa County for the same month.

*Birmingham active listings and months of supply are current, as-of-today figures rather than a historical monthly comparison.

Birmingham is telling a different story than Tuscaloosa right now. Prices there are up about 7 percent from a year ago, and homes are selling faster, not slower, at a median of just 15 days. Fewer homes sold this year than last, which usually means buyers are being more selective, but sellers are still getting close to full price. The lesson for both markets is the same. Whether things are heating up or cooling off, sellers who prepare early get the best results.

Who Does This Market Favor Right Now?

What Should This Mean for You?

Tuscaloosa County and the City of Tuscaloosa are both moving toward a more balanced market, with more homes to choose from and a little more time to decide. Birmingham is moving the other way, staying tight with prices still climbing. Wherever you are buying or selling, the numbers change every month, and the right move depends on your own timeline and goals. That is what this series is for. Check back next week for a fresh set of numbers.

Sources: West Alabama MLS (WAMLS) InfoSparks, Greater Alabama MLS (GALMLS) Paragon, ESPN, Alabama Athletics (rolltide.com).