🌱 Birmingham-Hoover Homes Overvalued + 2023 NFL Draft

Hello all. It's me, Miranda Fraraccio, your host of the Hoover Patch newsletter. Come along to find out everything you need to know about what's going on these days in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Thursday: Heavy thunderstorms. High: 74 Low: 62.
• Friday: A couple of morning showers. High: 80 Low: 53.

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Here are the top three stories today in Hoover:

1. Fitch Ratings is listing the Birmingham-Hoover metro area as one of the most overvalued home markets in the country, trailing behind the Buffalo, New York, and Rochester, New York, metros. Sales of existing homes have grown from previous expectations in 2023 so far, but it's unclear headed into what Fitch Ratings calls the "spring buying season" whether expectations for the market will match up to the reality. The full U.S. RMBS Sustainable Home Price Report for the first quarter of 2023 is available at the link. (Fitch Ratings)
2. The 2023 NFL Draft begins today. 247Sports speculated on Apr. 26 what the draft lists will look like, giving pride-of-place to a few former Alabama players, including Bryce Young and Will Anderson. Mock drafts include Crimson Tide players and where they may end up when the draft season is over. The draft will run from Apr. 27-29. (247Sports)
3. Some state lawmakers want to set further legal limits on the discussion of LGBTQ topics in Alabama's public schools. House Bill 354, sponsored by Rep. Mack Butler from Rainbow City, stipulates conversations pertaining to lesbian, gay, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) issues must be deemed "age and developmentally appropriate" in order to be permissible. HB354 would also require schools to notify parents if school staff believe there have been any changes "in the student's services or monitoring related to the student's mental, emotional or physical health." Similar legislation which passed in last year's legislative session was also meant to create boundaries around acceptable discussion of sexuality and gender in the public schools, but it was only applicable through to the fifth grade. (AL.com)

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Today and tomorrow in and around Hoover:

Thursday, April 27

• Tito's Thursday & Happy Hour At Cajun Steamer Bar & Grill (3:00 PM)

Friday, April 28

• Storytime At Hoover Public Library – Lee Branch (10:30 AM)
• Brett Young: Five, TOUR, Three, Two, One Tour At Avondale Brewing Co., Birmingham (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Bryant Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa is undergoing field renovation work to prepare the venue for future attractions. See the photos at the link! (James Spann via Instagram)
• 1818 Farms wants to remind you that the farm gift shop will be open this Friday and Saturday, Apr. 28 and 29, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for a plant sale! A great way to welcome the spring season, and take a bit of it home with you, too. (1818 Farms via Instagram)
• The Hoover Police Department is on the lookout for a woman accused of felony shoplifting at a local business. The suspect is alleged to have stolen over $3,700 worth of merchandise. If tips lead to an arrest there may be a monetary award! Please call Hoover Police Department Detective Davis at (205) 444-7624. (Hoover Police Dept via Twitter)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Thursday! I'll catch up with you soon with a new update.

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. She is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, where she earned degrees in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or practicing film photography.