Mississippians know how to put on a 4th of July celebration. Mark your calendar for these events happening throughout the week preceding the holiday, and may the fourth be with you! June 29, 2017 ~ 5:30 - 9:00 p.m., Shiloh Park, Brandon United We Stand - Tribute of Praise to God & CountryImage courtesy of nirots at FreeDigitalPhotos.netMusic will be presented by Brandon Baptist, Crossgates Baptist, First Baptist, Grace Baptist, and First United Methodist. The choirs will be joined by a patriotic orchestra led by David Young. Festivities begin at 5:30. Patriotic parade begins at 6:45. The music starts at 7:30 and concludes at 9:00 or dusk with the firework presentation following. Visit www.BrandonMS.org for further info.June 30, 2017 ~ 6:00 - 9:30 p.m.Celebrate America Balloon Glow, Nort... 06/28/2017

Living on the golf course has its perks, like sitting on your patio/deck watching golfers go by. There's an added perk of golf course living; someone else maintains the greens, but YOU get the enjoyment.This photo was taken on the 6th tee box at Castlewoods Subdivision overlooking one of the many water hazards.If you'd like to explore the opportunity of golf course living, call me and let's talk. I know the neighborhood and we can discuss your options. #golfcourseliving#CastlewoodsGolfCourse    06/14/2017

ABOUT CASTLEWOODS: Castlewoods Subdivision in Brandon is home to over 2000 households that entwines with Castlewoods Golf Course, a Jack Nicklaus designed course built in 1994. The club is independently owned and operated.  Castlewoods consists of several sections governed by an active homeowners association. They are Azalea Trails, The Willows, The Woodlands, Carriage Court, and Wicklow. The front of Castlewoods was developed in the 1980s, prior to the establishment of the  HOA; it is often referred to as the "original" section. All of Castlewoods is in the Northwest Rankin School District; the three schools (NWR Elementary, Middle, and High School) are practically within walking distance. In addition to the 18 hole golf course, there is an junior olympic size swimming pool and six lig... 06/13/2017

If you've ever traveled along Highway 471 in Brandon, you've likely done a double-take at the family of dinosaurs and the big chicken just past Grants Ferry Road. Hundreds of cars drive by on a daily basis. At long last, I decided to stop and inquire about the giant dinosaurs and discover what other treasures might lay beyond the winding driveway.At the back of the winding road, I discovered a shop filled with interesting and unique memorabilia, and the proprietor of the establishment, Mr. Robert. I introduced myself to Robert and asked if I could take a look around and take some photos for my blog. He graciously showed me around his shop as I oohed and  ahh'd over his vast collection.This pic is for the Alabama Crimson Tide fans that live in Rankin County. Mr. Robert is a well-rounded ... 06/10/2017

When I saw this charming figurine at a Realtor Open House last week, I had to snap her photo. It appears she is straightening her spring bonnet which is filled with pink (or are they purple?) petunias.As charming as the outside of this home is, you really should see the inside. It's a beautiful 3 bedroom, two bath home on the GOLF COURSE in Castlewoods, with a new roof, fabulous Tuscan Oak wood floors, and a NEW air conditioning system.  The price? An unbelievable $254,900.Check it out then call me to schedule a private showing. 06/07/2017

Greenfield Station is a residential development in Brandon located off Highway 468.There are two neighborhoods within Greenfield Station ~ Greenfield Ridge has homes starting at 1200 square feet, and Greenfield Crossing, with homes starting at 1550 square feet.Greenfield Station meets the needs of many Rankin County homebuyers. Homes currently on the market in Greenfield Ridge are priced between $165,000-$189,000. Homes for sale in Greenfield Crossing range in price from $200,000 to $250,000 at the time of this article. *June 2017Not only are home prices affordable in Greenfield Station, the neighborhood qualifies for USDA Rural Housing Development loans, and is eligible for 100% financing. Borrowers must meet certain eligibility requirements, such as creditworthiness and income limits ... 06/05/2017

Remember the first time you tried something new? Were you confident or apprehensive about the task at hand? Think back to when you first... Rode a bike Learned to drive Applied for a job Tried to cook Learned to swim  The list could go on indefinitely. The point is, most of us lack confidence to perform these tasks until we've done it a few times.  My phone rang this morning. A recent home buyer didn't know how to use her automatic garage door opener. She had been manually opening the door since closing on her house. I explained how to pull the emergency release handle so the gears would catch.  Most of us take automatic garage doors for granted because we've used them most of our lives, but this new owner never lived in a home with a garage so it was unfamiliar to her. Buying a home is... 06/05/2017

I'm excited to announce I have joined Front Gate Realty as a Broker Associate. With over 25 years experience in residential real estate, I've spent my career helping others achieve their goals of home ownership. I'm excited to join this group of young real estate professionals. If you are in the market to buy or sell residential real estate in the Jackson MS metro area, please contact me to put my knowledge and skill to work for you. Front Gate Realty is a locally owned, independent agency with offices in Ridgeland and Brandon.  05/11/2017

On a recent home sale in Brandon, I represented an absentee owner in the sale of his home. On several occasions, I arranged for contractors to do certain chores to get the house ready for the market. Limbs and shrubs needed to be trimmed, the house needed to be cleaned, minor repairs performed, etc. On this particular day, someone was cleaning the gutters and removing pine straw and other debris from the roof. The contractor called to ask: "If I find something bad, do you want me to tell you about it?" My first instinct was if he had discovered a dead rodent beneath the pine straw, I DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW! But shaking that gruesome thought aside, I quickly answered "Yes!" Bracing myself, I waited to hear what prompted the phone call. He began to describe some rotten fascia near the roofs ... 11/11/2016

Perhaps you are relocating to the greater Jackson MS area and wonder "Why should I choose Brandon? Is there anything to DO?" I frequently hear this question from homebuyers who are unfamiliar with the metro area that includes Jackson, Madison, Ridgeland, Brandon, Flowood and Pearl. Once newcomers visit the area, however, they quickly fall in love with what Brandon has to offer. While the metro area has a population of over half a million residents, Brandon is a bedroom community with around 40,000 residents. We have the convenience of nearby hospitals, universities, etc., yet still enjoy the advantages of small town living. Since Jackson is the State Capital, the State of Mississippi is our largest employer, with over 30,000 employees. The University of Mississippi Medical Center employ... 09/30/2016

 There is a lot to love about where I live. Here are ten reasons to love Brandon, MS:  Shopping - You won't have to drive far to find quality stores at Flowood's Dogwood Festival Market, Dogwood Promendade and Market Street Flowood leading the way. With anchor stores including Kohls, Lowes, Belk, JCPenney and Target as well as dozens of specialty shops, you'll find almost anything your heart desires without ever having to leave Rankin County. Want to know which stores are available? Follow the links provided in this article. Food - Craving something yummy after a day of shopping, or need to grab a quick bite on the way home from work? Plenty of restaurants along Lakeland Drive can fill the need. Beginning with Table 100, a fine dining restaurant featuring a live piano bar, you can find ... 08/18/2016

What's My Home Worth? This is a question Realtors are frequently asked. The answer may surprise you. It depends! Home prices vary depending on age and condition of the home, the neighborhood, location, and features, just to mention a few factors that affect value. Recently I prepared a  Comparable Market Analysis (CMA) for a home located in a popular Brandon neighborhood. In the last six months, 20 homes had sold in that neighborhood. Closed sales prices range from $195,000 to $312,000. The price per square foot varied widely from $84 on the low end to $133 on the high end. So, what factor caused one home to sell for $84 per square foot while another sold for $133? That's a difference of nearly $50 per square foot! The first home was dated and suffered from deferred maintenance, while t... 01/26/2016

Anyone who owns real property (real estate) in the State of Mississippi may be eligible to file for Homestead Exemption. If you meet the eligibility requirements, you can recognize a significant savings on your property taxes.If you bought a home last year that you use as your PRIMARY residence, do you meet the following criteria? The home is used as your primary residence; You lived in the house as of January 1 of the current calendar year; You are considered the head of the family; The applicant, spouse, and any other joint owners are also residents of the state; You file a Mississippi state income tax return; All vehicles owned by you have a Mississippi license plate; You can only claim homestead on ONE residence in the state. If you are eligible, complete this checklist and take it ... 01/10/2016

Who Should Inform Me About HOA Covenants and Fees for My New Home? This is a question I hear regularly from homeowners. Actually, what I usually hear is "no-one told me about the covenants when I bought my house and how strict, (or lax, intrusive, or costly) they are". While recently watching HGTV's Property Brothers, the buyer refused to look at a home that was located within an HOA.  He made several unflattering references to "nosy neighbors" and people "telling him what he could and couldn't do with his property". The house met every criteria for his family, but he KNEW he would not be happy adhering to covenants attached to any Homeowners Association. Good for him! He made an informed decision regarding his lifestyle choices. Many do not consider whether an HOA is a good fit for the... 11/02/2015

With temperatures soaring to 95° in the Brandon MS area, it's hard to tell this is supposed to be fall and Halloween is two weeks away! However, Mississippi peeps know how to deal with freaky temperatures. We celebrate by dressing our yards in seasonal scarecrows, pumpkins, mums, etc., as well as scary inflatables and skeletons galore.The entrance to Bridgetowne Subdivision in Brandon is attractively decorated for fall.These two art projects were crafted from scrap pieces of wood and turned into yard decor.Wine bottles turned Jack-O-Lanterns! Use outdoors to light the path by adding tea lights or candles. Use candy corn to keep tea lights snug in their holders. Follow my Pinterest Board for Fall Y'all! Watch out for that Fire Breathing Dragon! Boo!Don't let the giant spider get you whil... 10/17/2015

Hidden Hills Brandon MS ~ Market Report for September 30, 2015Home sales in Hidden Hills remain strong going into the fall season. Currently, there are 23 homes available for sale and three additional properties are pending. Ten homes have closed within the last 90 days; ironically sales were split down the middle between new home sales and existing properties.The average list price of homes currently for sale in Hidden Hills is $264,436. Prices range from $219,900 to $339,900. The average days on the market for closed sales is 77, while the average days on the market for currently listed properties is 123. Inventory is down slightly from a couple of months ago. The average closed price is $243,580.How do the closed sales compare to this time last year? Year to date closings for 2014 wa... 10/01/2015

Scotty's Tire & Automotive in Brandon Saves The Day!Let's face it -- no-one wants to be stranded due to car trouble, but to a Realtor, reliable transportation is essential. I was driving through Brandon today when suddenly I heard a series of loud beeps from my cars' electronic system. I was a few miles from a service station, so I navigated to the nearest parking lot to look at the owner's manual. I suspected (hoped) it was only a low tire, which the owner's manual confirmed, although a visual inspection of the tire(s) did not.  Scotty's Tire & Automotive immediately came to mind. They had been previously recommended by a friend. Since it wasn't quite 5 o'clock, I hurried over and was helped by the nice man behind the service counter. He checked all four tires, properly re-inflated the... 09/25/2015

You're in the market for a new home and decided to look in Northwest Rankin County.There are many reasons to consider Brandon's 39047 for your new home... quality schools (Northwest Rankin School District, home of the Cougars), good restaurants, nearby shopping & churches, access to the best medical facilities in the state, not to mention our low county taxes, beautiful parks and recreational activities, and quiet suburban living.The home buying process, although exciting, can be confusing and overwhelming. What style and size home do we need? What upgrades do we want? Are we pre-approved and what is our budget? What kind of fees may be involved? Closing costs? HOA fees? PID fees? Taxes? There certainly is a lot to consider.Hiring a Realtor who specializes in new construction can alliev... 09/03/2015

Explore Castlewoods Subdivision, Brandon, MS Castlewoods Subdivision, one of the largest residential neighborhoods in the state, is home to over 2000 homeowners. The neighborhood surrounds a privately owned 18-hole golf course, Castlewoods Country Club. Located in northwest Rankin County, Castlewoods is minutes from the Jackson-Evers International Airport, shopping at Dogwood Mall, numerous restaurants and churches, and Northwest Rankin schools. The Homeowners Association offers walking trails, manicured common areas, Azalea Trails Park and pavilion, street lighting, and plenty of green spaces. Swimming, golf, and tennis are available through a separate membership with Castlewoods Country Club. The club frequently has live music, BINGO, and a delicious menu of food and drink. Club membe... 06/30/2015

Homes for Sale in Hidden Hills Subdivision, Brandon, MS 39047 Hidden Hills, a friendly residential community in northwest Rankin County, is a desirable homebuyer destination. The neighborhood homeowners association offers amenities such as a walking trail, swimming pool and clubhouse, manicured common areas, and plenty of green spaces. Quality new construction homes are for sale, as well as resale properties. At the time of this article (Summer 2015) approximately 25 new and existing homes are for sale.  New home prices begin around $250,000, and the minimum square footage is 1800.   Looking for a home in Hidden Hills? For a list of all available homes in Hidden Hills, call or email me. Its close proximity to Northwest Rankin School District, shopping, which includes Dogwood Market Fest... 06/19/2015