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Madison, MS Real Estate News

By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
If you follow real estate articles, podcasts, etc., you may have heard that FHA, VA, and USDA loans are assumable. If you are a real estate agent, I'm sure you are aware of it, but not everyone has fully embraced the idea or comprehends the dynamics of this opportunity.Recently, I successfully acquired a buyer by marketing a lovely home with an assumable mortgage, but first I had to explain the benefits to the seller, then to other Realtors, and lastly to potential home buyers. Once the seller understood the process, we had the home under contract within a week or so, with multiple offers.With this particular home, it was only a couple of years old, but we were in competition with a lot of new construction.  We had a good number of showings, but came up shy of any reasonable offers. Tim...
Comments 11
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
You know the phrase, right? It's part of the Fifth Amendment of the Miranda Rights.Law and Order may not be standing at your door with handcuffs in hand, but if you are house hunting, the seller may have surveillance devices or Ring doorbells, which could record any comments you make while viewing the home.We know you are excited, but if you make negative or derogatory comments while viewing the house, the seller could be listening. He may be offended and subsequently reject your offer. On the other hand, extremely positive comments might hurt your negotiation strategies.Be aware of this technology. Hold your comments until you are safely back in the car, away from earshot from a prying seller.
Comments 22
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
Today's tip is about housekeeping. Not my favorite topic, but one that is important for obvious reasons.When do you clean house? Do you have a routine? I'm curious... do you have a set schedule? Do you tackle everything in one day? Or do you do one chore each day of the week? Is your home always "picture perfect"? If you have kids at home, do you assign chores to them?For me, the answer is easy. I clean when the cats are asleep! If they are awake, they want to be where I am; either trying to get into the dryer, on top of the washing machine, or climbing into the dishwasher, etc. They are fast so I have to stay sharp!I imagine it's the same for those with small children. Do your chores while the baby is sleeping; for me, it's when the fur babies are napping. If your home is on the market...
Comments 16
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
Get to know Sweetbriar Plantation in Madison County, a community off Yandell Road, east of I-55. In addition to the gated entrance, you'll find a neighborhood pool and playground, a scenic lake, and a common area with sidewalks and a grassy area for play, picnics, etc.Phase 2 of Sweetbriar Plantation is under construction; a number of homes are in various stages of completion. Prices range from $356,000 - $405,000. Homes are mostly 4 bedrooms, 3 baths between 2000-2300 heated and cooled square feet. 196 Sweetbriar CircleSweetbriar has an active Homeowners Association with an Architectural Review Committee, which helps owners maintain their property values.Sweetbriar Plantation is located in the Germantown School District. Elementary aged children will attend Madison Crossing Elementary,...
Comments 6
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
I'm working with several buyers looking for their next home, so every day I scour the Multiple Listing Service and hotsheet to see what was listed overnight. I'll check several times daily, and set up searches based on clients preferences to be automatically emailed to both them and me. I network with other Realtors to see what they have coming soon to stay ahead of the fast paced market.Lately I've seen a fair number of sales fall through, as the house shows back up on the market as "active" or available. Invariably, the comments read "buyers financing fell through" as the reason the home is back on the market. (Buyers want to know if something was wrong with the house but that is rarely the reason).It happened today. I received a notification that a house I showed to a buyer a month a...
Comments 13
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
August and September 2021 have been a whirlwind of real estate activity. Many of you enjoy Central Mississippi's weekly report, so I am sharing the stats so you can tell at a glance how the month of August shaped up. The graph shows the number of listings taken each week per county, the number of closings, median sales price, and list to sale ratios.Also shown is the supply of homes on the market for sale, the "inventory", and if no other homes came on the market, the "supply" of homes before we are completely sold out. Inventory changes constantly. Realtors check the hotsheet daily to see what new listings are available. It isn't unusual for a home to sell the first day with multiple offers. If a buyer says they can only look on the weekend, but a new listing hits the market on Tuesday...
Comments 3
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
What a busy week it has been in real estate! Listings, closings, negotiations, and more of the same this weekend. So while the weekly market update is late getting to you, here it is. The graphic above shows  the closings for Hinds, Madison, and Rankin counties in Central MS for the week of July 30 - August 5. The number of closings appear on the left; median sales price, current inventory, list to sale price ratio, and supply of homes are shown on the right. Keep in mind this is a snapshot of one weeks performance. You would want to look back at previous weeks to see the trends, and some of the prior weekly reports are shown below. It is important to note that inventory has ticked up ever so slightly, with a supply between 1 to 1 1/2 months. This remains a strong sellers market. I'd li...
Comments 2
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
Central MS Realtors has published the closing information for the last week of July 2021. The report runs a week behind so the last two days of the month will be picked up on next weeks report. The volume of closings is up as expected the last week of the month. Many home buyers choose to close as late in the month as possible so you'll notice a sharp increase toward the end of any given month. Inventory in all three Central MS counties remains low, and homes are selling at an average of 100% of list price.  Look at the supply of homes. There is less than one months inventory. This equates to a strong sellers market with low inventory, homes that sell fast with multiple offers, at list price or above. I must stress the importance of hiring a Realtor to represent you in a sellers market....
Comments 2
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
Closings have been reported for the second week of July for the three primary counties in Central MS. Here's a look at the numbers:You can tell by the chart above that Hinds County (Jackson, Clinton, Byram, and Terry) had the most closings, coming in with 60 closed sales for the week, followed closely by Rankin County (Brandon, Flowood, and Pearl) with 54 closed sales. Madison County had 27 closed sales. Although Madison County had the fewest number of closings, they led with the highest median price range, $276,000.All three counties had an average list to sales price ratio of 100%, and each county has less than a one month supply of inventory.Not all closings are published through the Multiple Listing Service of Central MS. Some new construction closings were never registered through ...
Comments 3
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
WATERFRONT! Fabulous waterfront living and a fisherman's dream located on a picturesque 3.51 acres in Madison County. Custom built for a multi-generational household. The main home has 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, the attached in-law suite contains 2 bedrooms and one bath, plus full kitchen and beautiful hardwood flooring. There are two screened porches and water views from throughout the home. This property was built with TONS of storage, includes a huge laundry room with lots of cabinetry, a pantry that doubles as a safe room, and additional storage throughout the home. One bay of the three car garage is oversized, long enough to hold a generous sized boat of your choice. There is plenty of paved parking for your guests, plus a circular driveway. Lakefront property in Madison County 3.51 ac...
Comments 11
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
Are you a teacher, nurse, or EMT? Perhaps a firefighter or police officer? If so, a new loan program is available in Mississippi that offers 100% financing. That's ZERO DOWN PAYMENT!I'm excited to share this mortgage program, available through Liberty Financial MS Mortgage Department, to our local hometown heroes. What's the catch? Your credit score has to be at least 720. If your number falls short of this goal, Liberty Financial has a trained credit counselor to help improve your score. There is no charge for this service. The maximum loan amount for this program is $453,000. There are no income limits. It would be an honor to assist you with your home purchase. If you are in the market for a new home in the Metro Jackson area and want more information on this program or are ready to ...
Comments 6
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
The game of life is a lot like football. You have to tackle your problems, block your fears, and score your points when you get the opportunity. ~ Lewis Grizzard Let's face it. Football is HUGE. And what goes better with football than tasty appetizers? My September postcard has a football theme along with an easy to prepare jalapeno and cheese dip recipe that is sure to please. (Scroll to the bottom for the recipe) Bon Appetit!Jalapeno Popper Dip 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened1 cup mayo1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies1 can (4 oz) diced jalapeno peppers1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, divided1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs1 T olive oil In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, mayo, cheddar, chilies, peppers and 1/4 cup Parmesan until blen...
Comments 17
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
Beautiful Cypress Lake is located in the heart of Madison, MS, just off Highland Colony Blvd. and a stones throw from Madison Central High School. Cypress Lake is a gated residential neighborhood with home prices starting in the upper $200s. Different sections within Cypress Lake offer varying price points, but one thing is certain, the peaceful setting, the gorgeous lake and waterfall provide a serene backdrop for all residents to enjoy. Health care, shopping, schools, and recreational activities are all nearby. Search Active Listings in Cypress Lake RECREATION: There's plenty to do in Madison. If you live in Cypress Lake, you have easy access to Hwy 463 and I-55. Several parks in the area provide recreational activities. Nearby Liberty Park has 5 lighted baseball fields and soccer fie...
Comments 5
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
Thanks to a generous out-of-state seller and the perfect timing of blueberry season, I've had the opportunity to make several blueberry cobblers for friends and family to enjoy. One of my vacant listings has two mature blueberry bushes and the time is right for harvest. At the sellers insistence, these delicious and nutritious blueberries have found their way into smoothies, yogurt and pies, instead of dying on the vine or being left for the birds. My grandmother shared her easy cobbler recipe with me when I was in my early 20s. I'm not big on baking, but every now and then I prepare a cobbler, and there's no better time to do it than when fresh fruit is plentiful. This is my grandmothers simple and easy recipe. I usually make it with canned peaches, but it is equally good with most oth...
Comments 15
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
As a Realtor, I've seen hundreds of buyers and sellers negotiate costly home inspection repairs. The home inspection can create undue stress and conflict for the parties involved. By taking a few simple steps BEFORE the inspection, some of the drama and cost of repairs can be avoided.  Remove clutter beneath the kitchen and bathroom sinks. Home inspectors are not required or expected to move things around, and if they can't SEE what's beneath the sink, they can't INSPECT it. You may have to pay for a second inspection or worse, correct an obstructed leak at the last moment before closing. Besides, don't you think BUYERS look under the sink? Clear the obstacles to selling your home, and if you find a problem, repair it. Replace the HVAC filter and remove dust from fans and vents. This is...
Comments 29
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
Someone commented the other day that "everyone knows" houses don't sell during the holidays. That may be true is certain parts of the country, but it isn't true in Brandon and Madison, MS!Sure, the market may slow down, but people DO buy houses during the holidays. And homes that are properly positioned in the marketplace, are clean and appropriately staged will garner the most attention. It's been business as usual for me the last couple of weeks; a new listing, one offer accepted, two home inspections scheduled, and an offer received this afternoon (December 19).If your home didn't sell during the busy summer months, you may need to reposition yourself in the market. If I can offer assistance, I can be reached at the number below. Homes CAN and DO sell during Christmas  
Comments 10
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
It's time to load the family into the car and enjoy Christmas lights in cities across Central Mississippi. There's still time to get into the spirit of the holidays and enjoy the festive Christmas displays in the following locations: TOWN SQUARE, CANTON, MSYou simply MUST see the Canton Christmas Festival of Lights.  From now until December 23rd, you'll see hundreds of thousands of sparking lights, enjoy the four story LED Christmas tree, ride in horse drawn carriages, fire truck and train rides, and see Santa and Mrs. Claus. The Canton display of lights is spectacular and not to be missed! For more information, contact Canton Tourism. FLOWOOD, MSWinner Circle Park becomes a Winter Wonderland each year beginning in early December. You can enjoy the enchanted park until December 22 this ...
Comments 8
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
When ActiveRain hosted the photography contest earlier in the year, I discovered a few cool photo-editing tools and have enjoying using them periodically to spice up my marketing campaign. I learned how to erase unwanted items from a photo as well as how to sharpen the images, straighten crooked photos, etc. But perhaps the feature I'm most excited about is adding text to my photos and turning them into  marketing pieces. The first text editing feature I discovered was how to add a watermark. The app is called Add Watermark Free. The contest introduced me to several other useful apps that I continue to use. One is called Snapseed. I tried it with my Halloween photo, but didn't get the desired results, so I tried with Photo Editor and got closer to the results I had in mind.  The above p...
Comments 10
By Steve Houck
(Real Estate Partners, LLC)
I recently hired a new agent, so, I was in the process of training him to do things the way I feel they should be done. One of the first things that I told him is that nobody wants to be "sold" anything. This got me to thinking about what a valuable lesson this is. As Realtors, it is our job to show people possibilities, to show them their options, give them choices, based on what we learn from them. Many times, people don't know what they want until they actually walk into homes that may fit their needs. They may think that they know beforehand , but they have many misconceptions. They surf the net and they think that they have all the information they need. That's why we Realtors have a job! Because you can't get all the info you need from the net. That is just a starting point.     I...
Comments 0
By Steve Houck
(Real Estate Partners, LLC)
"I was told that I could get a 2.75% mortgage from this lender"You can get this rate from any lender. That is if you pay enough discount points and origination fees. (That is in the fine print) I get letters in the mail from lenders offering the low rates. People outside of the business may not know what these offers entail. The question is: what will it benefit you to pay all this money up front to buy down your rate on a 30 yr fixed mortgage? Let's say that you would have to keep that mortgage for 10 years to get back your initial cash outlay from your lower rate. If you move or refinance in 5 years, you have thrown your money away.There is no free lunch!  Everybody's interest rates are basically the same. The difference is the fees they charge the consumer , which can vary widely. Th...
Comments 2