Three months ago, I checked my renewal status as a licensed Real Estate Agent. I needed to take a couple of CE classes to complete my Continuing Education requirements for the next two years, so I hopped online and promptly ordered the required Agency and Law Classes. I had 90 days to complete the courses; plenty of time, right?As usual, life and work (and procrastination) got in the way. June arrived and I was facing a deadline. In my mind, I had until June 15th to complete the courses. Not ideal, but eleven days was plenty of time to tackle the two 4-hour classes.Except when I found the link for the classes, I discovered I had four days to finish both classes, plus exams to get my certificates for the MS Real Estate Commission.FOUR DAYS! Ouch!Sunday afternoon, I quickly started the fi... 06/05/2023

If you live in metro Jackson and have never heard of Repeat Street, you owe it to yourself to spend an afternoon browsing the merchandise. I found myself Saturday afternoon with a little free time on my hands. The closer my car got to the destination, the more excited I became. My adrenaline was working overtime.Repeat Street is one of the largest consignment shops in the area, and they have virtually anything you can think of. Quirky, fun, retro, collectibles, furniture, clothing; you name it, they probably have it.My house is full so I have to be VERY SELECTIVE about what items come in by way of shopping. I am filled to the brim (to the point of clutter), but adore walking down memory lane, and Repeat Street is the perfect place to do it. Remember the stemware received as a wedding gi... 09/20/2021

Imagine being awakened at 2:00 a.m. by a loud, persistent banging at the door, with the sound of a roaring evacuation vehicle in your driveway. Quick, what would you do? Would you have time to grab important papers, valuable mementos, or family pets?This happened to me one spring morning last year. I left home with nothing but the clothes on my back and my 35 pound rescue dog in tow.Fortunately, my house did NOT flood, but it was a scare nonetheless. The reality does not hit until you come face to face with the fact that you are being evacuated from your home and you do not know what will happen next. It is unimaginable to know what to expect until you have lived through a disaster, but many have experienced the aftermath of flood, hurricanes, and fire damage.By all means, if you are in... 06/04/2018

Oakmont Subdivision is a gated Garden Home community located between Old Canton and Rice Roads. Homes in the neighborhood typically are priced in the low to mid $300,000 range and are generously sized between 2500-2800 square feet. Oakmont is situated on a private tree-lined street in the heart of Ridgeland. The community has a neighborhood pool and clubhouse, and homes have amenities you would expect at this price point. Some features include high ceilings, granite countertops in kitchens and baths, bonus rooms, etc. The home pictured comes with 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, a built-in home office, large bonus room, pool and hot tub in a private back yard.  View Homes for Sale in Oakmont School aged children would attend the schools in the Madison County School District, which includes Ann... 03/28/2018

 Easter Egg Hunts in the Jackson MS Metro Area - 2018     Here comes Peter CottontailHoppin' down the bunny trailHippity hoppin', Easter's on its way   Bringin' every girl and boyBaskets full of Easter joyThings to make your Easter bright and gay     Brandon - Thursday, March 29, Shiloh Park Don't be late for a very important date: The Brandon MS Easter Egg Hunt starts promptly at 6:00 p.m. at Shiloh Park Baseball fields. Over 6000 eggs will be "hidden", as well as special beeping eggs for visually impaired children. The egg hunt is for children aged 1-9. The Easter Bunny will be a special guest at the event.Visit www.brandonms.org for additional information Florence - Thursday, March 22, Hemphill Park Beginning at 6:00 p.m., children ages 0 – 12 are invited to come and enjoy inflatable... 03/15/2018

After weeks of gloomy wet cold weather, spring it on its way to central Mississippi. Although we are still getting more than our fair share of rain, the Bradford Pear and Tulip trees are in full bloom. Daytime temperatures have hit the mid 80s already, so get ready for a red hot summer!The spring and summer real estate market is warming up, too. If you're in the market to buy or sell a home in central Mississippi, contact me for a no-obligation consultation.  #WordlessWednesday#FrontGateRealEstate  03/01/2018

Almost everyone across Central MS enjoyed a snow day last Friday, December the 8th. Classes were canceled for most students across the metro, while many employees went to work late or not at all.A beautiful blanket of snow covered Brandon, Jackson, and the surrounding area. The Jackson International Airport reported 5 and 1/2 inches of fluffy white snow. Throughout the day, hundreds of snowmen and snow angels appeared in front yards across the south, while adults and kids alike enjoyed the unofficial holiday. My plans for the day consisted of picking clients up at the Jackson Airport at 11:00 a.m., then viewing homes for sale in Madison and Ridgeland. The newfallen snow put a damper on my plans as the buyers flight was delayed for several hours. While waiting for the plane to land, I en... 12/13/2017

Realtors are asked hundreds of questions throughout the homebuying and selling process. These are my Top 5 Frequently Asked Questions, in no particular order: FAQ #1 ~ Do I Need a Home Inspection Before I list My Home?FAQ #2 ~ How Do I Prepare My Home for Sale?FAQ #3 ~ How Much Down Payment Do I Need to Buy a House?FAQ #4 ~ Why Wasn't My Offer Accepted?FAQ #5 ~ Doesn't the Bank Order My Home Inspection?Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net My specialty is residential real estate in the Brandon, Flowood, Pearl, Madison, and Ridgeland areas. If you have questions, or are in the market to buy or sell a home, please let me know. 07/11/2017

You found a house you love and want to make an offer. You discuss price, terms, etc., with your Realtor, write the offer, and mentally start making plans for the future.The next day, your Realtor tells you another offer was more favorable, and you lost the house. What went wrong?You may be shocked, disappointed, or angry. A number of details could have prevented your offer from being accepted. Following are five reasons your offer might be declined. The amount offered was too lowWhile it's understandable you want to purchase the house at the best (aka lowest) price, the seller wants to get the highest price possible, usually with the least amount of time on the market. In a hot market, it isn't realistic to low-ball your offer. If an offer is too low, the seller might be insulted and no... 06/30/2017

If you look beyond the blooming petunias, you'll see an antique bicycle planter that was lovingly passed down to an appreciative friend of mine. The planter belonged to her grandparents and it is treasured by the family.You know I HAD to take the picture. No flower left unphotographed. Happy Wednesday!  06/28/2017

Our challenge for the month is to write a post discussing our strengths and weaknesses. Before writing my entry, I read through several articles and found a common theme resonating in others' posts; our strengths and weaknesses are the same. Being able to use a weakness and turn it into a positive ~ well, that's just what successful people do. I read John Meussner's  post Are Strengths Any Different Than Weaknesses? If you haven't read it, hop over there and check it out. John talks about his persistence being both a strength and a weakness; being persistent can and will make you successful, but it can lead to exhaustion if you don't take breaks and recharge every now and then. Jon Kolsky wrote the following paragraph in his entry, Being The Best Version You Can Be!"It is also important... 05/21/2017

The Old Trace Dog Park will have its Grand Opening Saturday, May 20 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.  The idea for an off-leash dog park originated about 18 months ago and is now complete. The project was paid for through donations and fund-raising efforts. The Barnett Reservoir Foundation managed the project that was approved by Pearl River Valley Water Supply District. Use of the one acre park will be free, but rules will be posted and all dogs must be vaccinated. A veterinarian will be on hand during the grand opening to provide rabies vaccines as well as micro-chipping.  The dog park is a welcome addition to Old Trace Park and is sure to be popular among pets and animal lovers.  05/15/2017

It was an overcast, chilly day at the Ross Barnett Reservoir, but the 9th Annual Dragon Boat Regatta was a blast. The Madison County Chamber of Commerce planned the regatta, with help from these sponsors. Dragon boat racing dates back thousands of years and is quickly becoming an international team water sport. Twenty paddlers, a drummer, and a steerer race against competing boats. A fraction of a second can make the difference between first and second place.  The Front Gate Realty team entered the race along with nearly 50 other teams.  First, second, and third place winners were 1) Kudzu Crossfit, 2) Reservoir Fire Department, and 3) Crossfit Fossil Fuel.  Everyone had a great time. Kids enjoyed the bouncy houses, face painting, and playground. The adults enjoyed socializing, good foo... 05/13/2017

So much is happening this week, you don't want to miss a thing! Here are important dates for the week of May 8-13, 2017. Thursday, May 11 ~ Canton Flea Market Tip: Arrive early, wear comfy shoes, and shop from 8-5. The Canton Flea is a semi-annual event, always held on the second Thursday in May and October. **Friday, May 19 - Pepsi Pops Always a fun event! Sponsored by Brown Bottling Company, among others, this outdoor concert at Old Trace Park, Ridgeland features the MS Symphony Orchestra. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs. Come early to choose a great spot. Gates open at 4:30, concert at 7:30, fabulous fireworks at the end. ** Pepsi Pops originally was scheduled for May 12, but due to impending bad weather, has been rescheduled for the 19th.  Saturday, May 13 - Dragon Boat Regatta ... 05/09/2017

Pepsi Pops is an open-air concert with music performed by the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra. Held each May at the Old Trace Park in Ridgeland, it is a fun evening on the banks of the Ross Barnett Reservoir. This year Pepsi Pops will be held Friday evening, May 13th. The concert begins at 7:30, but the gates open at 4:30. Arrive early for prime seating (on the ground) and parking. Bring lawn chairs or blankets, or both. Coolers and snacks are allowed. Glass and alcohol are not. Admission is $15 at the gate; ages 4-18 is $5. A fireworks display will follow the end of the concert. Enjoy this outdoor concert sponsored by the Brown Bottling Group, Inc. along with support from Regions Bank.  P.S.: If you miss the Symphony tonight at Old Trace Park, you can catch their performance Saturday, M... 05/13/2016

With the future of the economy still uncertain, and mortgage default notices being filed at breakneck speed, is there any reason to be optimistic about the real estate market today? I guess that would all depend on who you are. For investors who can get their hands on some cash, this is a great market to be in. As the pendulum of supply and demand continues to swing higher and higher on the supply side, prices will continue to fall, which equals a great buying opportunity. And not only that, but as more and more people are being displaced from their homes, the demand for rental property increases. Of course you, as the investor/landlord, will have to relax your rental qualifications some as many will have a foreclosure or default on their credit report. Overall, it is still an unfortuna... 11/19/2011

The third annual Township Jazz Festival is coming to Ridgeland, Mississippi on April 10, 2010 and will take place rain or shine.  Not many communities can say they have a true musical legend right in their backyard.  There are a few inspiring youngsters from Ridgeland who may be legends one day, too.  The Jazz Festival will be held from 12:00pm until 7:00pm in Colony Park in Ridgeland, Mississippi, and will be hosted by Fusion Coffeehouse and Kerioth Corporation.  Look for headliner Mose Allison, a native of Mississippi Delta village of Tippo.  This 82 year-old has had his songs covered by Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, The Who, Elvis Costello, Bonnie Raitt and several other mainstays.  And now he's promoting his new recording "The Way of the World." The Township Jazz Festival began in Rid... 04/05/2010

As real estate professionals serving the Ridgeland, Mississippi area, we have to boast about what a wonderful, charming community Ridgeland is.  Since 2007, Ridgeland has been one of Mississippi's fastest growing real estate communities offering southern charm and modern-day business amenities.  The community offers the perfect mixture of great neighborhoods, a developing economy, superior schools, wonderful parks and, best of all, it's within close proximity to Jackson, Mississippi.  Ridgeland also enjoys a mild climate nearly year-round with plenty of sunshine to go around too.  Ridgeland offers the finest school system in the state of Mississippi.  The community is served by the Madison County School System, which is made up of one elementary school, one middle school and one high sc... 04/13/2009

My "other" site for blogging. Yes, I've tried the outside world of blogging by self-publishing a blog outside of active rain called: The Green Building Inspector. Give a try? 03/21/2009

Last week I wrote the premiere edition of Foreclosure Friday, a series of blog posts designed to discuss buying foreclosures. As a reminder, the tips in last week's issue were: Arrange financing before beginning your search for a home. Find a qualified agent to help you in your search for a foreclosure. Foreclosures are usually sold "as is - where is" without any warranty or repair allowance. Following is the process for buying a HUD foreclosure: When a property is first listed for sale through HUD, only owner-occupants can submit offers to purchase during  the initial "10 day bid period". An owner-occupant, quite simply, is someone buying the home with the INTENTION OF LIVING in the property as their primary residence. If no-one purchases the property during the initial 10-day bid proc... 03/13/2009