Real Estate Agent
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Specializing in residential real estate and New Home sales in Flowood, Brandon, Pearl, Ridgeland and Madison MS
Cell: (601) 278-4513
Office: (601) 991-2900
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Real Estate Agent
Rick Young
Residential Real Estate specialist serving Rankin, Madison, and Hinds Counties. A proud member of the Crye-Leike team!
Cell: (601) 918-2019
Office: 6019(395) 160-3420
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Rankin County, MS Real Estate News

By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
We closed yesterday on this gorgeous 3 BR/2 Bath home in Rankin County. I'm happy and thankful for my client, but it is a mixed blessing because my friend/seller is moving four hours away.The home sold with multiple offers (yes!) and we accepted the one most favorable to the seller. Price isn't the only consideration when submitting an offer with multiples on the table; terms and conditions play an important role in being the winning bid.My seller was the ultimate client. She knew she needed to make the home as attractive as possible. Honestly, the house showed great before she implemented any staging techniques, but her efforts combined with our marketing and pricing strategy, we received top dollar for my clients' property.A few details about the home:Gorgeous and move-in ready, this ...
Comments 6
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
Welcome to Serenity Lake Subdivision, one of the newest neighborhoods in Pearl.  Serenity Lake is located on Old Brandon Road, near the new Metroplex Parkway. Residents are minutes from restaurants and shopping at Dogwood Festival Mall, the Jackson International Airport, and medical facilities. Now that the connector road is open, you can travel from Serenity Lake to Dogwood Festival in 5 minutes!Homes in Serenity Lake are 3 and 4 bedroom, 2 bath homes with double garages, spacious laundry rooms, and walk-in primary closets. Prices range between $295,000 - $315,000, with square footage between 1700-1800 square feet. These quality homes feature brick construction, high ceilings, crown molding, stainless appliances, and granite countertops, among other amenities.If you are interested in o...
Comments 5
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
Earlier this year, I bought a four bedroom fixer upper in my neighborhood that needed love and attention, and I was determined to make it shine again.The owner was referred to me by a past client. When I saw the house, I knew it had potential. The owner didn't want to make any improvements and wanted to sell the house "as is". We discussed the possibility of me buying the house. After a few days, we reached an agreement and I closed on the property.I documented a lot of "Before and After" photos on my Facebook page, but never got around to posting them here... until now.One of the biggest projects my contractor and I had to deal with was the foyer. It should have been a stunning entrance; instead the walls were lined with brown paper grocery bags, torn randomly into smaller bits and dec...
Comments 19
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
We all know it is a strong sellers market. Rates are great, homes are selling like hotcakes, and buyers are throwing money at sellers hand over fist. Inventory nationwide is low, and that is true in Central MS as well. I reviewed our local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) this morning and was inspired to share this data.Let's talk statistics. Rankin County, MS includes the cities of Brandon, Flowood, Pearl, Richland, Florence, Pelahatchie and Puckett. 158 homes are currently available for sale and priced between $98,000 to $4 million. The median price for sale is $388,000. The number of homes priced below $500,000 is 120. Homes priced between $500k to $700k is 32. Homes priced under $250,000? 29 properties for the entire county. 312 properties are "pending closing", while 496 homes have c...
Comments 5
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on our blessings, and November has become a time to "give back" to show appreciation and gratefulness to family, friends, and clients. The last Tuesday in November is designated Giving Tuesday, which is a global movement to show generosity to those around us.Typically speaking, our real estate business slows down in the fall and we have more time to devote to our favorite charities. There are plenty to choose from! So I challenge you to look around your community, see who you can reach out to, and give someone a blessing today. Don't wait for a designated date to share the love.A group from my office recently visited two local fire departments. We carried homemade Jambalaya and in return, were given a tour of the newest Flowood Fire Department. It was i...
Comments 11
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
My pumpkin carving talents are limited, and let's be honest; scooping the "brains" out of a Jack-o-lantern can get pretty messy.The secret for carving pumpkins has eluded me, but I admire the looks of painted pumpkins. Since painting and creativity appeal to me, the idea of a pumpkin painting contest was born.The contest ran for a couple of weeks on Facebook. I created videos and encouraged adults as well as children to get involved. The goal was fun, fun, fun! And I wanted to increase my Facebook followers on my business page. The rules were simple: Like my Facebook page, tag a friend, and take a selfie with your painted pumplin. Carving was discouraged.The entries were all good, but at the last minute a client's 12 year old submitted a pumpkin design I could not resist. It was 3 stack...
Comments 8
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
When you think of Fall Festivities, visions of pumpkin patches, hay bales, and children frolicking through fields come to mind. But why limit the activities to children? Adults want to have fun, too.Last week, Castlewoods Place, a senior assisted-living facility in Brandon, hosted their Fall Festival. Several vendors participated in the event. I attended as a neighborhood volunteer and Realtor. Pre-pandemic, I visited regularly to call Bingo, play games, etc., but visiting was forbidden during the height of the pandemic. I missed my senior friends and they missed us. Fortunately, we slowly have been invited to select events over the last few weeks.The Activities Director planned a wonderful event for the active Seniors; corn hole games, bobbing for apples, guessing games, music by the f...
Comments 11
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
Do you go the extra mile to get your listings sold? I'm sure most of us do.Recently a slow moving property needed an extra push to find the right buyer. The seller took much of my advice to heart; we cleaned, decluttered, put things in storage and made pre-listing repairs to the home. We had professional photos, a social media campaign, and a fair amount of interest during the first two weeks of showings. Then interest fizzled. We attributed the lack of showings to Labor Day, the back-to-school rush, etc.Meanwhile, the sellers packed up and moved out of state. They left several checks, written 10 days apart, to pay their yard man, so the grounds would always be presentable for showings.One Saturday, an agent called to schedule a second showing to an interested party. As luck would have ...
Comments 19
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
In the heart of Flowood, a row of quiet, unassuming townhomes sit tucked away from the hustle and bustle of city life. You might have driven past this community numerous times but never noticed the gated entrance. Behind the gate are 16 townhomes built in 2008. The units feature 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a single car garage, laundry room, family room with fireplace, and a fully equipped, stainless and granite kitchen. Each unit has a private fenced patio and small yard.The HOA maintains the front yards and pays for neighborhood lighting and gate maintenance. The setting is secluded and peaceful, yet minutes from shopping, dining, schools, and churches. You'll find Braeburn Court on Luckney Road, directly across the street from The Ivy Venue. A unit is currently for sale at Braeburn Cou...
Comments 7
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
Looking for a home with a golf course view? This 5 Bedroom, 3.5 Bath home is located on the 14th green of Castlewoods in NW Rankin County. With over 3100 square feet, this home has room to spread out. The family room is spacious and features a brick fireplace with gas logs, and has lots of built-in cabinetry for storage. You'll notice quality, solid wood cabinets in the kitchen with granite countertops, stainless appliances, and a built-in computer desk.Along with the main bedroom and bath, new tiled shower, whirlpool tub, double sinks, and walk-in closets, there are 4 additional bedrooms, and a total of 3.5 baths. The 2-year old roof has a transferrable warranty! The feature you may love the most could be the multi-purpose game room. If you are an outdoor person, you're sure to love th...
Comments 6
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
I hosted an Open House today (Sunday) in my neighborhood. You might wonder why I'd have an open house, since the market is hot and homes sell quickly. Here's why:1. The house is in my neighborhood. I am one of several Realtors in my neighborhood, all of whom have good reputations, but I want to be recognized as one of the TOP Realtors in my neighborhood.  If an opportunity presents itself, it gives me the chance to be visible, active, and be seen as the neighborhood professional.2. Open Houses are a good way to attract buyers. I posted in advance on the neighborhood Facebook page, and invited neighbors and prospective clients. I put my Open House signs out the day before to get extra exposure, and gathered marketing materials, flyers, disclosures, etc to be ready for Open House day.3. F...
Comments 13
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
The statistics are in for the 3rd week of July, 2021. You may wonder how this data affects you if you are looking to buy or sell a home in Central MS. Let's see what the numbers mean.Our primary market area is Hinds, Rankin, and Madison County. You can review the stats for the particular area you are interested in. While I'm not a math wiz (and you may not be either), the numbers are revealing.Compare the number of closings vs the number of new listings. In each case, the weekly closings exceed the number of new listings. This tells me homes are selling as fast as they hit the market.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 str...
Comments 6
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
Here's a glance at Central MS real estate statistics for last week. Inventory remains low as the sellers market continues. Sales prices ticked up from last week and homes are selling at 98-100% of list price.Inventory (overall supply) is up slightly but we are a long way from reaching a neutral market.What constitutes a sellers market? A sellers market is defined as a shortage of available homes, thus prices remain high and homes sell quickly. You'll see a buyers market when homes are plentiful. It's the basic law of supply and demand.WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?If you are a seller, it means more buyers are competing for your home, which can drive the price up through multiple offers and a shorter time on the market.If you are a buyer, interest rates are phenominally low, but you'll need a sa...
Comments 3
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
The statistics are in for the last week of June, 2021. You'll notice a higher number of closings in Central MS for the end of June compared to the previous weeks statistics.  More homes close at the end of the month so it makes sense the numbers reflect that data.This snapshot is provided by Central MS Realtors and reflects the closings from June 25 - July 1.In this graphic, Hinds County (Jackson, Byram, Terry, Clinton) had 67 closed sales with a median sales price of $178,500 (up from 47 closings last week). Madison County (Madison, Ridgeland, Canton, etc) had 55 closings (up from 39 last week) with a median sales price of $288,000. Rankin County, which includes Pearl, Brandon, Flowood, Florence, and others, came in strong with 84 closed sales (vs 57 the week before) and a median sales...
Comments 4
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
Most of you know we are in a strong sellers market. You hear it on the news and from your friends, but what does it mean if you are a homebuyer or seller in the Central MS marketplace?Let's talk numbers.The statistics are provided by Central MS Realtors on a weekly basis. We will discuss the sales, active listings, etc., for June 18-24, 2021. In this graphic, Hinds County (Jackson, Byram, Terry, Clinton) had 47 closed sales with a median sales price of $215,000. Madison County (Madison, Ridgeland, Canton, etc) had 39 closings with a median sales price of $285,000. Rankin County, which includes Pearl, Brandon, Flowood, Florence, and others, came in strong with 57 closed sales and a median sales price of $217,500.Now look at the list to sales price ratios. Hinds County homes sold at a 99....
Comments 1
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
The 2021 real estate market has been HOT across the country, and Central Mississippi is no exception. This 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath home located in Castlewoods Subdivision surely won't last long.Welcome to 850 Willow Grande Circle. This home has been lovingly maintained by the original owners since 2007. The home has many custom features, including high ceilings, corner fireplace with gas logs, crown molding, and side entry garage. The primary bathroom has double sinks, a separate tiled shower, whirlpool tub, and glass block window. Engineered hardwood runs throughout the family room, kitchen, breakfast area and master bedroom.You will love the large fenced yard with a covered patio, extended brick pavers, and swing with arbor.Castlewoods is a golf course community. Separate membership is avai...
Comments 8
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
Hello friends! The first half of 2020 is almost behind us. Part of the year is a blur due to COVID-19. Despite the blur, my digital calendar reminds me of what I've been up to: The year started off with a bang. January and February were filled with buyers, sellers, inspections, and closings. I stayed busy with volunteer activities, networking meetings, and seminars. Plus, I completed my Seniors Real Estate Specialist designation at the end of February.   March, as the expression goes, came in like a lion. Surrounding states were experiencing coronavirus outbreaks. Spring break was in full force in the south, and many residents were vacationing on the beaches and mountains. Mississippi's first case was diagnosed March 12. Our governor declared a state of emergency March 14. Everything fr...
Comments 13
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
Gathered around the dinner table, my family started a lively discussion about the names of each generation. I'm a proud Baby Boomer, and my son is a Millenial (although he would argue he's a Gen X) and the kids around the table tried to decide where they fit in, whether it was Millenial (Gen Y), Gen Z, or Generation Alpha.So, as I began studying for my SRES Designation (Seniors Real Estate Specialist), I was fascinated to review the dates of birth and characteristics of each generation, and how these groups relate to buying or selling real estate. The GI Generation, also known as the Greatest Generation, were those born between 1901-1924. These were the teenagers during the Great Depression and they served during WWII. Their numbers are dwindling as this age group is over the age of 95....
Comments 32
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
June is National Home Ownership Month! I am a firm believer in home ownership. I purchased my first home at age 17. Since then, I've bought and sold over a dozen PRIMARY residences, not including fixer uppers and flips. Perhaps I move more frequently than most, but with each move, I was able to reinvest my profits and "move up" in value. Did I mention I love real estate? As a child of Depression Era parents, I learned at an early age home ownership was the ONLY way to go. Mortgage payments were substantially less than they are today, but so was the cost of living. In 1950, the average annual income for the middle class was roughly $3,000, which would equate to around $29,000 today. (Courtesy of a quick web search.)  In college, one of my assignments was to present a speech to the class....
Comments 16
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
Rankin County is sponsoring Spring Clean Up Week that begins in a few days. Everyone can participate in Spring Cleaning, especially since last week's storms. The clean up is not only for yard debris; it's the perfect time to dispose of bulky, unusable items, including "white goods" (refrigerators, freezers, and other large appliances) and tires at no charge. The date begins Monday April 29 and continues through Saturday May 4. The primary recycling center for Brandon is located at 710 Marquette Road, but there are 9 other drop off locations throughout the county. All locations will be open between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Image courtesy of zirconicusso at FreeDigitalPhotos.net    Please contact Rankin County Solid Waste at 601-825-9213 if you have questions.Remember to sort your usual recy...
Comments 5
By Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty, 601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell
(Front Gate Real Estate)
April 22 is Earth Day. Recycling, re-purposing, and reusing items in different ways is as much a part of me as breathing and walking. I cringe when I see recyclables tossed in the trash or when the recycle bin is used inappropriately. If food waste or glass is tossed into a bin, the entire batch is contaminated, so it's important to recycle responsibly.  Do you recall a few weeks ago when a beached whale washed ashore with over 48 pounds of plastic waste inside its body? This is not an isolated incident. Have you ever been boating and someone casually tossed a bottle or can into the ocean or lake? Let's do better. We can all take steps to reduce our ecological footprint. Before you recycle or toss an item away, think for a moment if the item can be up-cycled, used for a kids craft, used...
Comments 17
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