TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Alabama Center for Real Estate (ACRE) held two real estate and economic conferences across Alabama in the fourth quarter.
First, the center made its annual trip to Huntsville to host the fifth annual Rocket City Real Estate and Economic Forum. ACRE, NALCOM and the Huntsville Area Association of Realtors along with sponsorships from NAI Chase Commercial, Fleming, Ten-X, Hays Farm Homes, Terramoor, River Bank and Trust, and Russ Russell helped attract more than 90 real estate professionals from across Huntsville to learn more about the market and network.
Industry professionals heard a North Alabama economic outlook from Ken Smith, the Senior Director of Research and Information Services from the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber, and then a housing outlook from the President of MarketNSight, John Hunt.
In between the two speakers, the forum offered a development panel of real estate professionals such as Wade Hays, Olly Orton, Wesley Crunkleton and Russ Russell who shared their thoughts on the real estate market in Huntsville.
Guests were also offered three hours of continuing education credit in real estate, accounting, or law if they attended the forum.
“It was another successful year for the Rocket City Forum,” ACRE Associate Director Stuart Norton said. “The content was outstanding and it’s always great to network with industry professionals from the north Alabama region.”
A mere three weeks after a successful trip to Huntsville, ACRE headed more than 190 miles south to Montgomery where it hosted the sixth annual River Region Real Estate and Economic Forum at the Wynlakes Country Club.
The center, the Montgomery Chamber, Jim Wilson & Associates, along with sponsorships from the Montgomery Area Association of Realtors, Goodwyn Mills Cawood, Spire, New Waters Realty, the Greater Montgomery Home Builders Association, Alabama AG Credit, the Benechoice Companies, CB&S Bank, Jackson Thornton and Warren Averett combined to bring in more than 190 industry professionals.
The largest crowd in the forum’s history heard an economic outlook from John Norris, Managing Director of Oakworth Capital Bank, a housing update from John Hunt, an Alabama Economic Update from Helena Duncan, the President and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama, and finally an update from the Montgomery Chamber by the Chief Economic Development Officer Ellen McNair.
Just like the forum in Huntsville, attendees of the Montgomery forum were offered three hours of continuing education credit in real estate, accounting, or law.
“As always, John Norris delivered an excellent economic outlook and the audience was very engaged during the Q&A portion,” Norton said. “Helena Duncan and Ellen McNair provided an excellent overview of upcoming projects in the Montgomery area including the inland port, which will be a huge boost from the region.”
