Mary Reed DurkineXp Realty

Stories & Market Notes

The Blog

Notes from the Birmingham market, stories from the field, and the occasional neighborhood deep-dive, written by Mary Reed Durkin.

Couple on a residential porch resting with their dog, a warm portrait of established homeownership in Birmingham
Sellers

What to Do With Your Home Equity in Birmingham in 2026

The average U.S. homeowner had $295,000 in equity at the end of 2025. Birmingham is right there. Here are six ways to put yours to work in 2026.

Jun 24, 2026

Mary Reed Durkin and Amy Gregory at RISE Retreat 2025
For Agents

How to Know If It's Time to Switch Real Estate Brokerages

I paid my brokerage a 50% referral fee on my own sorority sister. That morning I finally ran the math, and it changed everything. Here's what I found.

Jun 12, 2026

Friends gathered around an outdoor table for a backyard summer dinner, the kind of evening Birmingham was made for
Lifestyle

Summer Entertaining in Birmingham: Best Outdoor Spots, Shops & a Recipe

Something happens in Birmingham in the summer. Here's the full guide: best outdoor tables, local shops for your space, and a recipe worth knowing by heart.

Jun 12, 2026

Front exterior of a two-story new construction home with antique brick facade, dark charcoal siding accents, white-trimmed windows, covered front porch with arched entry, dormer windows, and fresh landscaping with boxwood shrubs and pine straw
Sellers

What to Fix Before Selling Your Birmingham Home

Life got full and the house waited. Here's an honest look at deferred maintenance before selling in Birmingham: where to spend and where to skip.

May 27, 2026

Evening street scene in downtown Birmingham at 20th Street North, with a curved modern-renovated building glowing with warm light, pedestrians on the sidewalk, and cars in motion
Market Updates

Birmingham Is the #1 City for New College Graduates in 2026

ADP ranked Birmingham the #1 U.S. city for new college graduates in 2026. Here's what the wages, hiring rates, and real estate data actually tell us.

May 23, 2026

Mary Reed Durkin, founder of Mary Reed Durkin Real Estate, in a warmly lit portrait inside a Birmingham home.
My Life

I Kept Saying No.

I said no to real estate for years. Here is the story of how I got here, what Birmingham gave our family, and how I show up for every client today.

May 5, 2026

A spacious family room with rich hardwood floors, a brick fireplace flanked by Southwestern textile art, generous sectional seating, and warm lamp light — the kind of well-loved gathering room found in many established Birmingham homes.
Multi-Gen

One in Three Large Birmingham Homes Is an Empty Nest. Here’s What I’ve Been Thinking About.

The new Redfin empty nester report through a Birmingham lens: what 31% of our large homes being empty nests means, and whether to renovate, downsize, or sell.

Apr 28, 2026

Black-framed family photos arranged on a gallery wall above the staircase landing of a Birmingham home, capturing generations of memories in a single hallway.
Multi-Gen

Multi-Generational Living in Birmingham, AL: When Your Home Needs to Work for Everyone

Aging parents, adult children moving home, empty nesters: what Birmingham families are navigating and what your home really needs to fit this season of life.

Apr 27, 2026

Aerial view of downtown Homewood, Alabama, with leafy residential neighborhoods in the foreground and Red Mountain in the distance — one of the most active suburban markets in the Birmingham metro area.
Market Updates

Birmingham Real Estate Market 2026: What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know Right Now

A local breakdown of the current 2026 Birmingham real estate market: pricing, days on market, and what it means if you're buying or selling now.

Apr 23, 2026