Financial Report

BIRMINGHAM

IRS: 72 percent of state taxpayers e-filed

The Internal Revenue Service said more than 72 percent of Alabama's taxpayers filed their federal tax returns electronically during 2009.

Oct. 15 was the deadline for e-filing returns covering the 2008 tax year. The IRS reported that Alabamians filed a record

1.53 million federal income tax returns electronically. That's out of a total of 2.11 million returns.

Alabama's 72 percent figure for e-filing is higher than the national average of 67 percent. IRS spokesman Dan Boone said one reason is Alabama's Revenue Department requires large tax preparers to provide e-filing. Boone said that's not the case in all states.

Housing market giving mixed signals

The September report on the Shoals housing market is providing mixed signals, but many real estate agents continue to see positive trends. Most agree that the federal incentive for first-time homebuyers has sparked interest and home sales in what remains a weak economy nationwide.

An Alabama Center for Real Estate survey shows there were 119 homes sold in the two-county Colbert/Lauderdale area in September. That's down from the 131 sold in August and 127 sold in September of 2008.

That trend was noticed statewide, too, where there were 264 fewer homes sold this September, compared to the same month in 2008. The median selling price of the 119 houses sold was listed at $100,000, which is nearly $4,000 less than the median selling price during the same month in 2008.

The median price means that half of the houses sold were for less than $100,000, with the other half selling for more than $100,000.

In the good news category, the average selling price for homes was $129,829 in September. That's 6.6 percent more than the average selling price last September ($121,778).

Statewide, the average selling price was 7 percent less this September, compared to September 2008. Houses sold locally in September were on the market for an average of 101 days, which is substantially higher than the 71 on-the-market days a year ago.

Through September, 969 houses were sold in the Shoals, which is more than 20 percent fewer than September 2008's 1,215 total.

FLORENCE

Wiregrass Hospice open house Monday

Wiregrass Hospice will have an open house at its new location

5-7 p.m. Monday at 2530-B Florence Blvd.

Light refreshments will be served. Hospice provides services to terminally ill patients and their families. Wiregrass is owned and operated by Gentiva Health Service Inc., a provider of comprehensive home health services.

For details, call 764-0873.

McDaniel among top 500 remodeling firms

McDaniel Window and Door Co. in Florence has been chosen one of the top 500 remodeling firms in the country for 2009 by Qualified Remodeler Magazine.

The annual list recognized remodeling firms that meet six benchmarks for successful performance. Those categories involve annual sales volume for the previous year, total number of years in business, association membership, number of certified employees on staff, industry awards and community service.

McDaniel has provided builders, re-modelers and the public with doors and windows for 33 years.

"As a company, we are proud to be recognized on this prestigious nationwide list," said Mike McDaniel, company president. "We want people to look at our business during these trying economic times and see that a locally owned and operated family business can succeed."

The Top 500 list can be viewed at qualifiedremodeler.com.