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

This great old house in Searcy has been here for a long time.  It is located near downtown Searcy and was built before the street was paved, as you can see in the original picture.  I once had it listed and the inside was so interesting with lovely wood trim and wood floors and butler's pantry and a sleeping porch upstairs.  I have not been inside in several years but I hope it hasn't changed too much. I personally think it is interesting to compare the house when it was new with no trees or shrubs and how it is now with a multitude of grown trees and neighbors nearby.  Of special note to you home inspectors is the extension of the chimney from the construction days til now.  I've heard that chimneys won't "draw" unless they are higher than the pitch of the roof.  Why else would they ha... 04/07/2008

Generally I list my builders new construction before the footing is poured.  I keep a house plan in my office and several times homes have been sold before construction.  The problem is when a new construction is listed, takes six months or longer to build, and the days on the market are misleading.  The home is not finished so the days on the market would be longer!   I'm talking about a stable market here, not one where the builder is trying to unload 75 homes and is on the edge of bankruptcy!  Don't think the builder in a stable market  is going to take a 25% reduction, just because you think it has been on the market a long time!  Educate your buyers that the days are not accurate because the builder did not have the home finished.  Selling new construction is not the same as sellin... 04/04/2008

Did anyone watch the Barbara Walters special last night?  They say that babies born today could live to be 150, and feel young!  They have found ways to stop aging!  WOW!  People in their 80's will feel like they are 40!  Do you really think this is possible?  They even think they can grow body parts, IS THIS SCIENCE FICTION OR WHAT?And, there are some people who are having their bodies frozen at death anticipating that they can get new parts and come back alive.  Of course this costs $75,000 per person!  One family of five signed up for it!  I wonder if that comes with a written guarantee?I think we had better start saving our money!  I don't think my money will last for me to live 90 more years, especially with the gas and food prices!!  Also, Social Security is only suppose to last u... 04/02/2008

The first big step toward  buying your first home is to start at the bank.  Find out what you can afford to buy and buy less than you can afford.  You don't want to be saddled with a big payment and find that you have no money left for savings, recreation, or an emergency!  Next step is to find a Realtor that is looking out for you!  Don't be eager and buy the first home you see!  Shop around, you may find something you like better.  Buying a home is not like buying a pair of shoes, you can't take it back later for an exchange.  When you find the home that is right for you, get a home inspection!  You need to know if there is going to be a problem with the home later.  Is the roof in good shape?  What about the heat and air units? Do all the electircal outlets work?   A home inspector c... 04/01/2008

Homes are like clothing, styles change continually!  Homes used to be built with lots of petitions and very small rooms. Now everything is very open, where the family can watch TV from the kitchen. Most families eat meals in shifts.  Formal dining rooms are not as important.  The baby boomers remember going to grandma's for Sunday dinner and the best china would be set.  Not so now!  Grandma's are not cooking, they are going to exercise, shopping, and trying to stay young.  Times have changed!  Grandma's don't look old!You used to see alot of wallpaper in homes, not anymore!  I guess so many people have had  a bad experience trying to remove it!!  Years ago everyone painted their walls and trim off white, no color.  Now, color is everywhere!  Pretty golds, vivid reds, sage greens, terra... 03/31/2008

Don't you who get out in the country from time become nostalgic when you drive by a dilapidated old home place?  It will have large trees, outbuildings, animal pens, garden spot, but probably no chicken pen because the chickens roamed free and left nice droppings all over the yard for little kids to step in as they played hide-and-seek (ughhh!).  Shrubs will be overgrown but with Spring coming on little bulbs from so many years ago will be shooting up and starting to bloom.  There will certainly be an old storage shed that held no-telling-what.Well, I listed that place this week.  You can actually buy it for $48,000.  You can fix up the house if you have energy to spare and don't mind walking through two bedrooms to get to the added on bathroom. (Functional obsolescence, you know.)  You... 03/30/2008

Our town had a little excitement Monday afternoon as one of our branch banks called in to report they'd been robbed.  We have gained a LOT of branch banks in Searcy and some are in quiet areas where a robber would likely not be seen except by the bank employees.  The robber had his head pretty well covered but was captured on cameras.  It showed him entering with his face covered by a yellowish bandana and going directly behind the counter to the teller.  He brandished a gun during the robbery and left out the front door after getting the money, as reported by our Daily Citizen newspaper.Investigating started immediately and by the next day, the robbers, two of them, were apprehended.  The investigation was led by Roger Pearson, the new director of the Criminal Investigation Division wh... 03/27/2008

They are swimming with the stingrays!!  Several years ago we went on a cruise and the Cayman Islands was one of our ports!  There were about 25 people in our group and some of them, (not me, I consider myself an intelligent person) wanted to swim with the stingrays!So, we scheduled the excursion with Captain Marvin, got on the boat and went out to sea.  The Carribbean is a beautiful turquoise color and the water was shallow where the stingrays were.  I did not get off the boat!  I have no desire to swim with stingrays!  My husband, daughter and grandchildren thought it was so neat!  I thought they were ugly creatures and no way was I getting in that water!  I love to snorkle, but I am constantly watching for sharks and stingrays!We did have a great time, the shopping was great and Seven... 03/26/2008

Why is it so hard for some Realtors to put information in the MLS about their listing?  Does it have a new roof? New Heat and Air?  Is it a split bedroom plan?  Has the kitchen been remodeled?  Why don't you put the answer to these questions in the listing detail?  Maybe your listing will sell!!When I pull up listings to show, I WANT INFORMATION!  I don't just want to know how many bedrooms and baths!  What makes your listing unique?  You do want it to sell, don't you? ] Our residential listing detail covers alot in the feature section, so generally that is not a problem.  But, in the public remarks section alot of Realtors either don't put anything or they give just a little info.  When I put together a group of homes to show, I want to know what makes a property special!  If the infor... 03/25/2008

Advertising takes a big bite out of our real estate budgets!  I have several internet sites where I advertise, and they are expensive!  Realtor.com, Homes.com and  RE/MAX.com are among those where I advertise my listings.  I think that at least 90%, maybe more, of the public uses the web sites to look for homes.  Why then do I still feel the need to advertise in our area newspapers and brochures?I think the internet is the best advertising, but I still do newspaper and real estate guides.  I don't think they are as effective as the internet, but the sellers like to see their homes advertised.  So, I try to make my sellers happy and do both.   At tax time, I think WOW, did I really spend that much in advertising!  You know the public thinks Realtors make a lot of money, but by the time y... 03/25/2008

I don't know how many times this has happened to me!  Seller calls to let me know that the Realtor who showed the home did not lock the back door!  Folks, we need to be responsible here!  We have liability when we do not lock doors!  Our lockbox will record who showed the home last, so it will be easy to find out who the irresponsible Realtor was!  There is no excuse for this!  It doesn't matter if it is a vacant home, lock it up!!!  If you and your client open a window, close it and lock it!I had one home, new construction, where an intruder came in, spent the night and took a shower.  They did leave $20.00, I guess that was for the "motel" room!  The only thing we could figure was that someone left the window open and they came in!  We are suppose to be professionals!  We need to take... 03/21/2008

I had a house listed in the country and I got this phone call from a potential buyer from Louisiana.   She inquired about the home and the ammenities it had.  She inquired  if it was close to a cemetary and if I knew the sellers.   Then she said, "Would it be possible if I could come and live in the home for three days to see if it has evil spirits in it?"  I replied, "I'll ask the seller and if it possible I will call you back."  Needless to say the seller said no.The most common thing is, "Can I rent this to own?"  We hear alot of this in our area. This question makes  me think of the furniture "rent to own" stores.  I generally say, "No, the seller needs their money so they can buy another home." Have you ever had a situation where the seller did not want to claim the dogs?  I was wo... 03/20/2008

My husband is a building contractor, and I work with several other builders.  In Arkansas builders are licensed with the state and they are required to have Workmen's Compensation.  If you are working with builders you need to be knowledgable about construction.  My builders bring me their plans before construction.  I look them over and we discuss ways to make the plan work better.  Also, if it is a small breakfast area I suggest installing can lighting.  You are very  limited with pendant lighting on where to place the table.  During construction I will offer suggestions.  Sometimes moving a wall 6" will do wonders, or deciding what brick to use, or paint colors.  Whatever I see that will help the house sell, I let my builders know.  Sometimes bathrooms need to be reworked on the plan... 03/19/2008

Accordingto the Searcy Sun/White County Record, a group of old rock and rollers from the 50's are trying to get a name change for Highway 67 in Arkansas.  This stretch of highway runs from the edge of White County at Bald Knob and Bradford on through Newport, Tuckerman, Swifton, Walnut Ridge, Pocahontas and on into Missouri.  Back in the 50,'s, Elvis, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and many more would perform at the Silver Moon in Newport.  There was also other clubs, the Wagon Wheel in Bald Knob, Porky's Rooftop in Newport, The Cotton Club in Searcy, Charley's Place and Bob King's at Swifton.  Elvis performed alot in this area, along with the other musicians.I think it's a great idea, would probally bring tourist in.  The senior consultant on the designation project  is the leg... 03/13/2008

While on tour this morning I was riding with some Realtor friends and we started talking about giving to others.  My friend, Beverly, said, "Mary, I know you are giving, Perrin told me."  I replied, "Yes, I am and I raised Mitzi, my daughter, to be giving.  Then I told them this story.When Mitzi was in about the 5th grade, I picked her up from school.  It was in the winter and a very cold and rainy day.  I saw this little girl waiting for the bus.  She had on a clear plastic rain coat and the coat was just stiff from the cold and rain.  I asked Mitzi if she knew her.  She said she was in her class and she was poor. I can't remember the little girl's name, so I'll call her Susan.On the way home Mitzi said, "I want to give Susan a coat and some of my clothesl"  I thought, that is a good i... 03/12/2008

Have you ever met someone that you just couldn't forget?  I don't even know his name, but I can see him clearly in my mind!Last July we flew to San Juan, PR, to spend a few days before boarding the Carnival cruise ship, Destiny. We try to take a vacation each year with our daughter's family.  We only have one child, a son-in-law, and two granchildren, Gabby and Adrian.  Gabby has a friend, Jessica, and she usually goes too.  While we were waiting to board the ship, Mitzi, Gabby, Jessica and I took another tour of Old San Juan.  Old San Juan is one square mile of restored buildings, cafe's, and little shops.  It has old world charm, cobblestone streets and lots of diverse cultures.  We walked to the city square and it was so pretty, statues, fountains and lots of tourist. Then we saw the... 03/10/2008

Pass the popcorn!  Home theater rooms are the newest trend in upscale homes. No need to get dressed, you can watch the movie in your pajamas!  What a great way to relax!  My husband builds upscale homes and theater rooms are a great selling feature.  The rooms must be painted a dark color, on walls and ceiling.  Our house has a theater room and our wall color is called "Java" from Sherwin Williams, it is a very dark brown.  Our ceiling is a little lighter shade.Alot of theater rooms have theater seats, we looked at them, but I like having a comfy sofa, love seat and big chair!  I have my office in the theater room and while my husband is watching a movie, I can work on real estate. My office is kinda in a little alcove, so I don't bother him. If you are thinking of buying or remodeling ... 03/09/2008

I could not do without Quicken!  I use it in my business, my builder husband's business, my storage units, my investment property and my personal business.  At year's end I can click on last year, and instantly have a printout of my expenses and income.  How convenient!  I can also view, anytime, how much I have spent on advertisement for the year.  Quicken is a great tracking tool, and sooooo easy to use.  If you are not using Quicken, you don't  know what you are missing!  Try it!!My builder husband is always asking, "How much have I spent on materials on Job 10?"  I can tell him in two seconds.  I can also tell him how much labor he has paid and any other check that he has writtten.  When he gets his yearly audit with Workmen's Comp, I can have that ready immediately.  This program i... 03/08/2008

We are supposed to change our clocks tonight so that we lose an hour and many people will show up late for chruch in the morning.  I always like the longer days and hate it in the winter when I drive home in the dark at 5:00 pm.  I can't remember a time, however, that the weather outside on this day in Searcy AR has looked as these pictures show.  There was no one on the golf course yesterday and even though the roads were clear, Arkansans tend to hide out, as I did, and stay home when the weather looks this way. 03/07/2008