International presence lured beach Realtor to Century 21 franchise

Sheila Hodges said she never planned to link her Gulf Shores-based real estate agency with a franchise until Century 21 used the word "international."

"Century 21 is in more foreign countries than they are in the United States," said the owner of Century 21 Meyer Real Estate. "That was my 'aha!' moment

FORECLOSURES

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• Real Moves
MEYER REAL ESTATE was selected to manage the seven-story, 144-unit Holiday Isle condominium on Dauphin Island, according to Meyer and developer The Mitchell Company. Meyer will have an on-site office for property management, vacation rentals and sales.

• Business leaders are bullish on Alabama
Alabama business leaders who participated in an online survey reported that they think the state's economy is stronger than that of the overall United States. Results of the Alabama Business Leaders Confidence Index, produce

Buy at the beach for cheap

The threat of hurricanes wasn't enough to keep Nancy Carr from buying a condominium in Gulf Shores.

The three-bedroom beachside unit in Island Winds East was too good a deal to pass up. The condominium, whic

• Banking on success
Thousands of jobs on the horizon and deposit movement prompted by merger has the Mobile banking market more populated and less settled than ever before, according to analysts and bankers.

• Switch is flipped on RSA Tower
Six hundred elegantly dressed guests gathered in the middle of Royal Street on Friday night, cheering and counting down "Three! Two! One!" before a giant light switch was flipped, and a 91-foot-tall spire lit up like a welcome beacon on top

• Port Authority gets to know key customer
MONTGOMERY -- The Alabama State Port Authority held its board meeting and took a tour Tuesday at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, the port's largest customer for containerized cargo and steel.

• 'Mobile's living room' reopens
When the Battle House Hotel opened its doors at 3 p.m. Saturday, there was already a line around the block.
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• Steel framing intended to protect against hurricanes
Officials with Volunteers of America Southeast hope that Southeast Steel Framing LLC, will lead the way in building affordable homes along the Gulf Coast that are constructed with lightweight steel bones instead of t