McComb, MS, Residential Real Estate Market Report for February 2010* For the period Feb. 1-28, 2010, ten homes were sold in McComb. During this same period there were 20 homes put on the market (twice as many new listings as homes sold). At the time of this writing there are 176 residential listings. This means that we have a 17.6-month inventory of homes for sale. (Please see my recent blog about the state of the market in McComb, Pike County, SW MS. Because of the ratio used to figure the number of months of inventory—number of active listings divided by number of homes sold in one month--when only a few houses are being sold, the number of months of inventory can change by several months even when the number of active listings stays the same.) We are aiming for a four to six months’... 03/08/2010

  Buyers and Sellers Benefit from REALTOR® Expertise in Distressed Sales   Thomas Morgan with Hometown Realty, Inc. GMAC Real Estate in McComb, Pike County, Mississippi, has earned the nationally recognized Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource certification. The National Association of REALTORS® offers the SFR certification to REALTORS® who want to help both buyers and sellers navigate these complicated transactions, as demand for professional expertise with distressed sales grows.   According to a recent NAR survey, nearly one-third of all existing homes sold recently were either short sales or foreclosures.  For many real estate professionals, short sales and foreclosures are the new "traditional" transaction.  REALTORS® who have earned the SFR certification know how to help sellers m... 03/04/2010

McComb, MS, Residential Real Estate Market Report for August 2009* For the period August 1-31, 2009, seven homes were sold in McComb. During this same period there were 28 homes put on the market (four times as many new listings as homes sold!). At the time of this writing there are 138 residential listings. This means that we have a 19.7-month inventory of homes for sale. (Please see my most recent blog about the state of the market in McComb, Pike County, SW MS. Because of the ratio used to figure the number of months of inventory—number of active listings divided by number of homes sold in one month--when only a few houses are being sold, the number of months of inventory can change by several months even when the number of active listings stays the same.) We are aiming for a six mon... 09/04/2009

  McComb, Pike County, SW MS, Residential Real Estate—State of the Market, August 2009   Home sales in our area seem to be slowly picking up, but there is still a ways to go before we reach a balanced market.  For those with good credit and provable good income, with a comfortable debt to income ratio, now is a great time to buy.  Buyers can take advantage of some of the lowest interest rates in decades and they can also choose from among many (136!) homes competing on the market.  For first-time home buyers, there is also the $8,000 tax credit advantage (through Nov. 30, 2009—see http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204671,00.html?portlet=7 ).  However, buyers who are weak in credit, income, and/or debt requirements are having a difficult time with many lenders.  I would say 75-80... 08/23/2009

McComb, MS, was recently named by NeighborhoodScout as Number 9 in top neighborhoods to retire in.  Click for more info. 07/20/2009

I want to let everyone know about a special blood drive that will be held for me soon.  It will take place in the "old" fellowship hall (Ewell Martin Room) at J.J. White Memorial Presbyterian Church, 110 Third Street, McComb, MS, on Saturday, March 7, 2009, from 9 AM until 2 PM.   Please support this blood drive if you can, either by donating blood or offering to help out.  If you can't be here to donate this time, please try to donate at another blood drive, if you are able!   During the first part of January I experienced a bleeding colon due to diverticulosis.  During my five days in ICU I received twelve pints of blood.  That's a good bit, as I understand the average human body contains eight to twelve pints!  I am much better now, and don't require new blood at this time, but for e... 02/10/2009

Recent education budget cuts handed down by Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour have led many parents to wonder: "How will this affect the education of my child?" Both parents and taxpayers do not really need to be concerned, according to both McComb School District (MSD) Finance Director Cathy Jones and Superintendent Therese Palmertree.  Jones said MSD is "well in the black" financially.  Palmertree emphasized that the district will not cut items that directly affect the quality of education for the students.  Changes to the budget would include such things as the possible non-renewal of certain "non-essential" positions, reduction in travel, and greater fuel conservation. MSD Superintendent Therese Palmertree, left, with Finance Director Cathy Jones   In order to compensate for a stat... 02/10/2009

On Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008, McComb residents ushered in the Thanksgiving season with a celebration at Community Parks Apartments.  The day was filled with music, food, and fun.  There were face painting and bicycle giveaways by the Mayor's Youth Council, horse rides conducted by the Big Brothers Riding Club, a house fire evacuation demonstration by the McComb Fire Department, a jumping dome, a basketball competition, and Wii games.  Special acknowledgements go to the City of McComb, Mayor Zachary Patterson, the McComb Community Relations and Tourism Bureau, the McComb Recreation Department, the McComb Fire Department, and Ashley's Tires and Rims, with additional thanks to Community Parks Apartments, Walker Chapel FWBC, New Life Fellowship, 24th Street COC, DJ and Emcee Aaron Tullos, and... 11/23/2008

On Saturday, November 15, 2008, Southwest Mississippi Christian Outreach Ministries (COM) will hold its first ever McComb Antique Show, Appraisals and Auction fundraiser.  This promises to be a huge event attracting antiques lovers from all over the region. Location: McComb Event Center, 1221 Parklane Road, McComb, MS (see map on the SWMSCOM website). Registration: Begins at 8 AM the day of the auction. Pre-register by bringing your items (one or two items) to SWMSCOM.  (Avoid the lines!) Appraisals: 9 AM-1 PM.  $15.00 entrance fee.  (You may bring two items.) Auction: 1 PM-4 PM.  No entrance fee. Lunch will be served for $5.00. Ten percent of all sale proceeds will go to SWMSCOM.  Additional donations are accepted and appreciated. You may also donate by PayPal on the website.  Parking ... 11/11/2008

McComb resident Nelsen Adelard will be headlining the second annual Camellia City Festival, sponsored by the McComb Community Relations and Tourism Bureau, on November 1, 2008, at Edgewood Park in McComb.  The festival began last year when McComb native Bo Diddley visited the town and was honored with a Mississippi Blues Trail marker.  This year promises to be a great event, as there many terrific musical performances scheduled.   Nelsen is a superb singer/songwriter and is an immense talent on the guitar, piano, and harmonica.  Nelsen's upcoming performance at the Camellia City Festival comes on the heels of the release of his fifth solo album, South by Southwest, which describes Nelsen's musical journey from Los Angeles to McComb.  The CD debuted a few weeks ago at number 39 on the Ro... 10/21/2008

Katie Swinney, Donor Recruitment Representative for United Blood Services, spoke recently to the Kiwanis Club of Pike County about the community blood program in Pike County and the impact blood donation has on people's lives. Katie Swinney with Kiwanis Club of Pike County President Shelton Davis Swinney began by explaining the local community blood program. "United Blood Services is the sole provider of blood for Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center; we also provide 100% of the blood for Walthall County, Field Memorial, and Beacham Memorial, and we supply blood to seventy other hospitals throughout the state of Mississippi, western Alabama, and Louisiana.  I myself am responsible for twelve counties in Southwest Mississippi and two parishes in Louisiana.  I've met the most won... 10/14/2008

On Saturday and Sunday, October 4-5, 2008, the Louisiana Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society held its annual Bike MS event.  Bike MS celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary with about 1,000 cyclists making the 150-mile bike ride from Hammond, LA (starting at Southeastern's University Center) to Percy Quin State Park in McComb and then back to Hammond on Day Two.  The majority of participants come from Louisiana but there are a few that come from all over the U.S.  There are six rest stops each day about ten-twelve miles apart for cyclists to stop and refuel.  There are also SAG (support and gear) vehicles that will pick up a cyclist if they are having issues with their bike or just need a drive to the next rest stop or to the end.  There is a bike shop mechanic at each r... 10/14/2008

The Hampton Inn and Suites Hotel and the Rotary Club of McComb, MS, are planning an art showcase to benefit Pike County Habitat for Humanity on Thursday, Oct. 16, 5:30-7:30 PM, at the Hampton.  Light hors d'oeuvres will be served.  Tickets are $15 per person.  Corporate sponsorships and volunteer bid options are available, and may be purchased at Hampton Inn and Suites, McComb, Hospice Ministries, and State Bank.  Committee members preparing for the event at the Japonica Gallery in McComb are, left to right, Robbin Daughdrill, Sam Sanders, Nancy Cowan, and Tiffany Chatkara. 10/11/2008

The 13th Annual Mississippi Jazz Festival was held at the Summit Rotary gym on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008.  The festival this year was a tribute to Summit native John Gilmore, ace saxophonist who played with the famous Sun Ra's Arkestra.  Performers were Mississippi and Louisiana musicians Dr. Ronald Myers, piano and trumpet; Sherrill Holly, saxophone; Dr. London Branch, bass; and Wilton Knott, Rufus Mapp, and Aye` Aton, percussion.  Dr. Branch celebrated his birthday at the event, which was also the birthday of John Gilmore.  For more information, see http://www.jazzmississippi.com/ . Listen  to the audio recording in which Aye’ Aton tells of how he played with Summit, MS, native John Gilmore in the Sun Ra Arkestra, Sherrill Holly speaks of meeting Gilmore and following the famous Sun Ra g... 10/11/2008

I just posted my first video on the Internet! Click to see the McComb High School Marching Band performing their halftime show, "Down in New Orleans," at the state band contest in Pearl, MS.  The All-Superior Marching Tiger Band once again won an overall ONE! Be sure to click "Watch in high quality" on the bottom right of the video.You can also click to see photos of the band, cheerleaders, drill team, and color guard.  Thanks for visiting!   10/08/2008

Dr. Oliver Young, President of Southwest Mississippi Community College, spoke at a recent meeting of the Southwest Mississippi Home Builders Association.  He told of how well SMCC students do compared to others, and he informed the group of recent and upcoming projects of the college.   Young began his comments by saying: "The people in this area support that community college really well.  But that community college not only is a very valuable asset to this area, it's a very important industry in this area, and it's going to be even more viable in the future, as to what the community college offers and how it's involved with what's going on in this area."   SMCC offers excellent academic transfer courses.  "That has always been kind of the heart and soul of a community college, Young ... 10/06/2008

Hi, I promised I'd let you know when I got the website for Southwest Mississippi Christian Outreach Ministries up and running.  Well, it's now online.  Here is the address: http://www.swmsoutreach.org/ .  We hope to add our PayPal account to the website soon (for donations).  In the meantime, please see my previous blog on SWMSCOM .  Thank you!   10/06/2008

Coach Sam West, the new athletic director at McComb High School, spoke recently to the Kiwanis Club of Pike County.  He recognized several similarities between Kiwanis and his own mission.  "Being the athletic director at McComb High School, I live and die for one thing: I want to help children and adults alike have extraordinary, life-changing moments."   One of the things begun at MHS this year is a scholar athletes program. "Every student who has a 3.0 GPA or higher from last year, we're going to have a big pizza party for them.  We're going to give them all T-shirts with ‘McComb High School Scholar Athletes' on them, with different symbols and signs for the different sports. We've also started back our FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) again, and we believe if we can get FCA g... 09/18/2008

he Mayor's Youth Council (Mayor Zach Patterson, McComb, Mississippi) has been actively involved in strengthening our community since its inception in April of 2008.  The thirteen young people on the council represent all the area high schools.  They have been developing their leadership skills through formal training and a number of volunteer community service projects, and they have a developing slate of events scheduled for the rest of the year.   Training for McComb's youth council members began with the first annual MML (Mississippi Municipal League) Statewide Youth Leadership Summit in Hattiesburg on May 1, 2008.  Members also attended the 77th annual MML Youth Track conference in Biloxi on June 24.  Additional training has included the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service ... 09/16/2008

At a recent meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Pike County, Dr. Sharon Slater-Smith, principal of McComb High School, spoke about her vision for this coming school year.    Her first goal is to increase overall student performance.  Referring to the state tests that measure students’ achievement, Slater said, “It is my position with my students that we are to exceed the limit set on us by the state tests.  I don’t want us wondering when our scores will be back and crossing our fingers until they come in July.  I said to my teachers, ‘If you are actively engaging children in the learning process, you don’t have to worry about it—you will see the results.”  As a personal example, Slater mentioned that her son, who is taking Spanish at MHS, recently came home and excitedly spoke some Spanish f... 08/25/2008