I was watching the news and this wonderful story was being told, finally something positive from the media!  Western Oregon and Central Washington girl's softball teams were in a tournament, it was the top of the second inning.Western Oregon player, Sara Tucholsky, hit the ball over the fence.  She rounded first base, almost to second, when  her right knee blew out! She was in terrible pain as she crawled back to first base.  There would be no home run.  Her team could substitute a runner at first, but Sara would only get a single and 2 RBI'S.  A player cannot assist their own team around the bases.  But wait, Central Washington softball player, Mallory Holtman, wanted to carry her around the bases.  She asked her teammate, Liz Wallace, to help.  They carried  the opposing player around... 05/01/2008

I am soooo excited!  I love chicken any way you cook it!  Searcy, Arkansas is getting a Zaxby's, they have already started on the ground work!  Have you ever eaten Zaxby's chicken?  It is the best and very reasonable!Last weekend was the first time I tasted Zaxby's chicken.  It is delicious and very inexpensive!  My grandson, Adrian, played in a baseball tournament in West Memphis.  Between games our "baseball family" went to Zaxby's.  Everyone thought it was so good and they were all excited that Searcy is getting one!.  I am not a big fast food fan.  I like hamburgers at home, either on the grill or cooked in an iron skillet!  You know the greasy kind, put it in the iron skillet and right before it is done lay the bun on top with a lid!  You talk about good!!!Anyway, if you ever see a... 04/29/2008

A few years ago I listed a home that had been through at least three Realtors.  The sellers were really wanting to sell and were getting discouraged.  They asked me why their home had not sold.  I explained to them that the paint color on their shutters and front door was extremely dated and needed to be changed.Also, the entry and up the staircase needed a more neutral paint color.  It was painted a mauve color. and looked like the 80's.  I told them if they wanted to sell their home, they would have to make these adjustments.  They did and it SOLD!  It is amazing what paint can do!Last year a very sweet couple called and wanted me to list their nearly new home.  The home was immaculate and had a great floor plan.  But, it was painted a light pink and some rooms were purple.  It was re... 04/28/2008

Here in Searcy,  Arkansas it has rained so much that it has been impossible to plant.  The ground is still very wet, but I have planted most of my flowers.  I love impatients and cala lillys, and  I found some pretty ones at Lowe's.  I recently added some extra landscaping and planted beautiful red "oncore" azaleas, they will bloom all year!  I think landscaping adds so much to a home.  My crepe myrtles are getting their leaves and they will bloom in June.  I love to cook with fresh herbs!  Sunday I planted rosemary, basil, lemon balm, oregano, dill, parsley and cilantro.  I planted them in several pots and I can't wait to cook delicious meals.  If you have never grown your own herbs, try it.  They are so easy to grow!We toured a cute home last Wednesday, but it had nothing but weeds in... 04/28/2008

  We don't have a lot of condos in Searcy Arkansas, a small 20,000 population city approximately 50 miles from Little Rock  Arkansas.  The first ones built were exciting for our city but the builder made a mistake.  He had an "outsider architect" plan them and though they were beautiful they had a problem. They were expensive and the bedrooms were all upstairs with a very steep staircase to get to them.  Young buyers couldn't afford them and older buyers couldn't climb the stairs.  After a few of those duds, the builders got wise and did better planning.  This one is ideal for the older buyer because it has easy access from the 1 car garage and is all one level.  It was custom built with two living areas and a dining room separating them.  It has 1890 sq. ft. and is free standing, anoth... 04/27/2008

I cannot believe it!  My computer will not function, and I am not sure why!  I cannot get windows to come up, has anyone else had this problem?  What do I do to fix it?This is my home office computer, which I use for my real estate.  Also,  I need to write checks for my builder husband and I guess I will have to do them by hand!  Quicken will spoil you!I keep thinking if I keep messing with it, a miracle will happen and it will work!    I guess if it doesn't, I will buy a new one!  If anyone has any suggestions, let me know.  Thanks!                                                        http://mary@maryjpaul.com 04/25/2008

Maybe I'm wrong,  but  shouldn't homes be appraised by more than just square footage?.  Is  there not a difference in a  2500 sq. ft. home with an 8/12 pitch, and a home with a 12/12 pitch!   A  home with 10' and 12' ceilings should appraise for more than a home with 8' ceilings, don't you think?  I know it does on the cost approach, but on the comparables, shouldn't you find a comp with a higher pitch and higher ceilings?Also, a pier and beam home that has closed piers should be higher that one with open piers. You are not comparing apples to apples when you  don't make these adjustments.  There should be a difference in a home with vinyl in the gables and a home with brick in the gables.Below are some more things that should obtain a higher appraisal"                          1. exten... 04/24/2008

Why do we collect THINGS?  We spend the first half of our lives collecting things and the second half trying to get rid of them!  WHAT IS WRONG WITH US?  I'm just as guilty as you are!I collect vases, dishes, antiques and who knows what!  Most are stored in my attic.  Why?  Why would a perfectly sane person do this?  It doesn't make sense!  I can't take these things with me when I scale down to a smaller home.  I've come to the conclusion that when I decide to retire, this is what I will do.   I will call my daughter and grandchildren and let them take what they want, the remainder will be put in an estate sale!  Maybe, I will recoup part of my money!There are people who collect cars. That is an expensive collection!  Jay Leno has so many cars that he stores them!  Can you imagine??  So... 04/22/2008

My grandson, Adrian, played in a baseball tournament last weekend in Pocahontas.  We won the tournament and all the boys played great!  Pocahontas has had serious flooding and the water is still very high, it did not affect the ball park, it was on higher ground.While eating breakfast at our motel, I became acquainted with a lady that had been staying at the motel for over a month!  Her home, which she had remodeled about four years ago, is still underwater.  She lives in a two story home, built very high off the ground, the water is almost to the second level.  She has lost everything on the first floor.  She said she had pictures and beautiful antiques that could never be replaces.  I felt so sorry for her.This was a remarkable lady, she had a very good attitude.  She did say that the... 04/21/2008

Adrian, my ten year old grandson, loves base ball.  He lives and breathes it!!  He plays first base and batters rarely get by him, he will do the complete splits to get an out!  We spend alot of time at the ball park, and what better place to to see old friends,  make new friends and make  real estate contacts.Gabrielle, my fifteen year old granddaughter, also plays first base.  She is an excellent player and can really slug the ball!  With two grandchildren playing ball we have a busy summer, thankfully most of the games are at night.  I think it is so important for children to play sports or have somthing in their life that demands time!  If you keep them busy, you can usually keep them out of trouble.  Searcy has a very nice sports complex.  Spring and summer almost everyone is at th... 04/18/2008

WELCOME TO SEARCY, ARKANSAS!  "A city where thousands live as millions wish they could," is the motto of Searcy.  Searcy has a population of approximately 20,600 people, and is located about 50 miles North of Little Rock.RIVER OAKS is an upscale golf course community and is very close to the hospital, shopping, banks, post office and restaurants.  The golf course has a club house and a pro shop.  River Oaks is home to all people, young, middle age, senior citizens and  retirees. There are condos in the front of River Oaks and they are perfect for the person who doesn't want any upkeep.  River Oaks is a great place to call home!My husband has built alot of homes in River Oaks.  There are some pictures below of River Oaks and some of the homes he has built.  If you are planning on moving,... 04/17/2008

IF ALL YOU CAN DO IS PULL UP YOUR MLS SYSTEM, YOU'RE NOT!  Tommorrow's agents will do most of their transactions on the internet  RELAY is a transaction management system that many Realtors will use.  The agent of tommorrow will know "texting" and their cell phone will be their office away from home!  I have a Treo 680 and I can text, e-mail, pull up the MLS, surf the internet, figure loan payments, have a contact list, a daily planner and soooo much more!  It is my office that I carry with me.  There are many cell phone like this, this one just works well for me.  If you don't want to learn new technology, YOU WILL BE LEFT BEHIND!  Consumers are very technology minded!  They know what they want, and they want it fast!  They can surf the net and find homes any place in the world, and th... 04/16/2008

Remember "time is of the essence" when dealing in real estate.  To ensure a valid contract, make sure all parties have signed!  Return phone calls promptly, to clients and other agents.  DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT!  This is the most  important thing you can do.  Keep that paper trail, especially if you feel something is not right.  Today, I had an agent in my office ask what to do if you are worried about drug manufacturing in a home.  I gave her a pamphlet with a number to call, and told her what I would do. She is a fairly new agent and will do well in real estate, she never hesitates to ask questions.  I had a house listed that I knew the occupants did drugs, he had been on tv court.  My buyers had a small child, I suggested an inspection of the home for drug manufacturing. I got t... 04/14/2008

Walking by my azalea bush in the back yard, I was almost blinded by the color.  It will only last a few days and be gone.  Looking at the neighbor's yard, I saw this tree that is also so colorful.  With flooding all over Arkansas, as you've probably read in the news, it should be cheerful to see something pretty and colorful.  BUT, it is colder than the dickens here (old Southern saying and I don't know what it means) so all our new flowers may get killed tonight by late freeze.  04/14/2008

Folks, we are in one of the most dangerous professions!  We meet people we don't know at vacant homes, we let strangers in our cars, yet none of us would pick up a hitch hiker!  WE ARE AN ASSULT WAITING TO HAPPEN!  When I read articles about Realtors who have been hurt or murdered I really get scared.  We never know what is going to happen, and we are all in the same boat!  WE WANT TO MAKE THE SALE!If someone calls me after hours and I haven't met them,  I get my husband to go with me.  He sits in the car and waits until I am finished.  No, I am not a beautiful young lady, but it is not about looks, it is about  POWER!  There are eighty year old women who get raped!  Don't think because you are old, fat, male, ugly or whatever that you are safe.  YOU ARE NOT!When showing property, don't... 04/12/2008

 We are pleased to have new people moving to Searcy.  Several families are being relocated to White County as gas wells are being built and all the jobs that go with gas production are filled.  Everyone is excited as we watch to see what happens in this previously quiet town.At this point, Searcy has no central rental agency.  Other towns have places to go and have someone find you a rental.  Not Searcy.  The best we offer right now is a rental sheet with a list of what we have been told is available.  We offer it as a courtesy and anyone can stop by and pick one up.A forlorn looking family was in our lobby looking at the sheet.  At first I passed by but turned and went back to see if I could help.  They were saying, "No one will accept our pets."  "Pets?"   I ask.They explain that they... 04/12/2008

I love selling real estate and meeting new people!  Sometime finding the right home can be a challenge, but the end result is very rewarding.  When the children are eager to claim their bedroom and their eyes are full of excitement, I'm glad we found the right home! When buyers have older children, I include them in the conversation when we are looking.  If they play sports I drive them by the sports complex, school, parks, library, public pool and the shopping areas.  I feel this may make it easier for them to adjust.  Moving to a new place is a little scary to children, they have left their old friends behind and they wonder if they will fit in.Keeping a cooler of soft drinks and some snacks is always a good idea!  Kids get bored and a soft drink usually hits the spot!  It's very impo... 04/11/2008

I was completely shocked Thursday night  when Michael Johns was voted off!  I think he is so talented and he performed so well Aerosmiths "Dream On."  A native of Australia, he has a great voice with alot of soul!  He has star quality and I believe he will make it big!Thursday night he was in the bottom three for the first time.  This guy can really sing, and he did not deserve to be voted off.  Everyone was totally surprised, especially the other contestants!  Paula was in disbelief and the audience was shocked!  I watched him this morning on one of the talk shows with Dolly Parton!  Dolly thinks he has tremendous talent and will be a star.  I agree with Dolly!  I think this time the American people got it wrong!!    04/11/2008

This year I mailed my taxes early!  I generally wait until the last day, but this year I decided I would get it done early!  I pay estimated taxes and that is a big help!  If you are not paying estimated taxes, you may want to talk to your tax person!  It is so much easier paying a smaller sum four times a year, than one large sum! Last year I planted alot of  outside flowers the end of March.  We got a cold spell and they withered and died.  I went back to the nursery and the lady said, "Never plant in Arkansas until after April 15th, tax time."  Wow, does everything revolve around tax time!  Anyway, I can't hardly wait until the 16th to start planting!!We have had soooo much rain here!  It is a beautiful 69 degrees today, but tomorrow it is suppose to be colder!  We have certainly had... 04/11/2008

REALTORS  have a saying about a house that is about two or three years old.  We sometimes call it a "better than new house" because some owner has worked on the yard, added the window coverings and sometimes added a privacy fence. This house located on Shawn Terrace in Searcy AR qualifies for that description.  Best of all is the addition of the Plantation Shutters that are custom made and go all across the front of the house.  I understand the shutters are extremely expensive and when I questioned the gentleman who is co-owner about the huge expense and why he made that expense he just replied, "Because my wife wanted them."  He said that in a voice that implied he absolutely adored his wife and whatever she wants, he supplies. This property is for sale and if you are looking for a pro... 04/11/2008