Unfortunately, the rise of empty housing has caused a rise in vandalism, and your empty Brandon MS real estate may very well become a victim. Since no one is around to report the intrusion, the damage caused by vandals is often worse than it might otherwise be.

You may think that you don’t need to secure your vacant home because there’s nothing of value to steal.  Think again.  Light fixtures, appliances, copper plumbing, heating and air conditioning systems and even solid wood doors and mantles have a high street value to thieves.

Protect Your Home

Your homeowner’s insurance policy most likely does not cover your home after it is vacant.  Although homeowner’s insurance for vacant properties can be costly, it might save you a lot of heartache in the long run.

In addition to purchasing vacant property insurance, here are a few things you can do to protect your property until it’s sold:

• Rent your property or hire a house sitter.
• Install a home security system. Not only can this keep your property safer, it may also help lower your current insurance.
• Make the property look used.  Have someone grab your mail (or have the post office hold it), park a car in your driveway, have timers that turn lights on and off at different times.
• Keep the lawn mowed or snow shoveled.

In the meantime, make sure you have a good real estate agent with a track record for selling in a slow market. Your Brandon MS real estate is a huge investment. Protect it!

If you’re ready to get your home sold, I can help.  Call me now at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com.

Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
Ridgeland, Mississippi
www.PaulaRicks.com 
Paula@PaulaRicks.com 
Call direct:  601-942-3392

An important question right now is how much did the government support really help the national and Brandon MS real estate markets and the economy?

The Economy
Dean Maki, chief U.S. economist for Barclays Capital (New York) and one of the most accurate economic forecasters for the past 20 years, says the U.S. economy is on the rise. Many economists share Maki’s view:  We’re at the bottom and there’s no place left to go but up.

The Fed Stops Buying Mortgage-Backed Securities
The largest hurdle for the real estate market came at the end of March, as the Fed finished buying up $1.25 trillion worth of mortgage-backed securities and taking care of housing-agency debt to the tune of $175 billion. However, strategists and economists conclude that the change won’t have a lot of impact; the central bank will be replaced by private demand.

The Expiration of the Homebuyers Tax Credit
The second largest hurdle, the expiration of the homebuyers’ tax credit, might have a bigger impact if it had brought a huge sales increase. It didn’t, however, and the belief is that things will slowly improve with – or without – the credit. Although vacant housing rose to 2.09 million by the end of 2009 and foreclosures are expected to hit around 2.2 million this year, the number of new households may reach as high as 1.25 million.

The Good News
Of the potential 1.25 million new households, almost 1 million are currently living with family members. With home sales gradually improving, economists predict that even a slight improvement in the job market will bring those 1 million households out of the woodwork to find a home. When this happens, the excess housing supply will quickly disappear.  

If you’ve been stuck, waiting to sell your Brandon MS real estate, your home is part of the housing supply. With the housing market slowly improving, you may very well end up coming out on top within the next three to six months.

If you’d like to sell your home, or buy a new home, I can help. Call me at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com for more information.

Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
Ridgeland, Mississippi
www.PaulaRicks.com 
Paula@PaulaRicks.com 
Call direct:  601-942-3392

•  What are the mortgages like in this area?
• What are the current selling prices for homes?
• What’s a specific neighborhood like?
• Is there anything besides the economy affecting the Brandon MS real estate market?

For instance, you want to know current market trends. Are they stabilizing? Are things still sliding down hill? Is there a buying trend sellers can take advantage of to market their homes? While a professional real estate agent will help you sell or find a home, it doesn’t hurt for you to do some research on your own to become more knowledgeable. Who knows, you may come up with some ideas we haven’t thought of!

So where can you find reliable information on the real estate market? On the Internet, there are thousands, perhaps millions, of informational sites. Below are just a few of my personal favorites:

CNNMoney.com (real estate) – The information on CNNMoney.com has no bias in terms of convincing you to sell or buy. Where are home prices falling? Where are they strongest? What information do you need to know as a buyer or seller? From mortgages to pricing and market stability, you can find it here.

RISMedia.com – If you can’t find it on CNNMoney, you can most likely find it on RISMedia. Home improvement, financing and foreclosure information are just a few of the topics. As well, because RISMedia is actually involved in real estate, you can find the latest market information.

DQNews.com – DataQuick provides real estate data on a state-by-state basis or on a specific area. While the information can be a little technical for the non-real-estate-professional, if you want to know how the Las Vegas region is doing for home sales, or the average mortgage rates in Missouri, DQ can help. Depending on your area, you may have to pay for the data, but it’s fairly inexpensive and can give you great information.

Learn more about the Brandon MS real estate market and then bookmark this blog and the listed sites for easy reference. The more you know, the better you can prepare for upcoming trends, good or bad!

If you’re trying to sell your home, or are looking for your dream home to buy, I can help. Call me at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com now for more information.

Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
Ridgeland, Mississippi
www.PaulaRicks.com 
Paula@PaulaRicks.com 
Call direct:  601-942-3392

Consider New Construction
Builders are faced with unsold homes in developments and are willing to make deals. They are interested in all reasonable offers, and, especially if you have pre-approved financing, will negotiate with your real estate agent to give you better price and terms. It is in their best interest to get their existing homes sold.

Best Mortgage Rates in Current History
You can take advantage of the low mortgage rates to get fantastic payments on your new Brandon MS real estate. These low rates won’t last forever, so if you have good credit and solid employment, buy now to make your new home truly affordable.

Tax Credits
If you or your spouse has never owned a home, or if neither of you have owned a home as a principle residence in the past 3 years, buying a home now makes financial sense. You will get a large tax rebate at the end of the year for making a home purchase now.  However, you must act immediately because you have to have a binding contract signed no later than April 30, 2010, and close on the home no later than June 30, 2010, in order to qualify for this first-time home buyer tax credit. 

If you’re a repeat home buyer, you too might qualify for a tax credit.  Again, you must act fast.  The same dates apply for this repeat home buyer tax credit as for the first-time home buyer tax credit. 

Affordability and Availability
The market is wide open for buyers now, and finding the perfect home at a reasonable price is easier than ever before. Waiting too long can prove to be a very costly decision. The market is getting stronger and tax credits are coming to an end. Over the course of the next year, it will become increasingly more difficult to buy Brandon MS real estate at prices and rates now available.

If you would like more information on the intelligence of buying a new home now, please call me today at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com. I look forward to talking with you!

Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
Ridgeland, Mississippi
www.PaulaRicks.com 
Paula@PaulaRicks.com 
Call direct:  601-942-3392

1. Remind yourself that this is temporary. This will pass. You will eventually find a buyer. You will have a contract. You will close the deal. Everything else is just part of the process and will eventually be a memory.

2. Use lists. Lists help you keep track of what you need to do and what you’ve already accomplished. You can’t forget something if you write it down.

3. Hire an experienced Brandon MS real estate agent. Sometimes you just need professional help. You don’t have to go through this process alone. Find a real estate agent you trust and let him or her guide you through selling your home.

4. Know your limits. When you’re tired or stressed, you don’t have the energy or mental capacity to do too many extra things. Learn to say no. Shorten your to-do list. You may want to pack two boxes each day, but accept that you may only have time to pack one.

5. Practice a stress reduction. Find something that works for you to reduce your anxiety. Try exercise, yoga, meditation, or even light gardening. Remember to breathe.

6. Take care of yourself and your family. You still need to eat healthy and spend time together doing something everyone loves. Don’t neglect your life while your house is on the market.

Selling your Brandon MS real estate doesn’t have to be an extraordinarily stressful experience. Know that you will survive it. Let me help you through the process of selling your home. Call me today at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com.

Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
Ridgeland, Mississippi
www.PaulaRicks.com 
Paula@PaulaRicks.com 
Call direct:  601-942-3392

There’s one thing you might not have thought to take into account when hiring a buyer’s agent:  the communities in which they specialize.  Here are six benefits of hiring a neighborhood specialist:

1. Get insider’s knowledge of the Brandon MS real estate market:  Your neighborhood specialist knows the history of neighborhood homes including who owned them and when.  He knows which streets are considered the most desirable and why.  He’s up to date on neighborhood nuisances and their influence on Metro Jackson Mississippi home values. He’s aware of pending legislation and neighborhood regulations.

2. Work with locals who know their businesses:  A neighborhood agent develops a professional network of local contacts who will be very useful to you when buying a home.  A neighborhood real estate agent personally knows the local home inspector, mortgage broker, title company and contractor and will introduce you to them.

3. Receive personal recommendations:  In addition to understanding the local real estate market inside and out, a real estate agent who specializes in a particular area knows the businesses in the neighborhood.  She can recommend the best dry cleaner, dog walker and doctor from his own personal experience.  She can also tell you which businesses to avoid. 

4. Save time:  When you tell the neighborhood specialist the type of home you want to buy, she knows where to find that home.  She knows about new homes that are not yet on the market but are coming soon.  She knows which properties you should stay away from and which you should snap up quickly, if you like them.  In other words, she saves you precious time you’d otherwise spend trying to find that elusive, perfect piece of Brandon MS real estate. 

5. Discover the real scoop:  Want to know what’s really going on in a community?  Ask the real estate agent who specializes in that community.  She can tell you what’s really going on.  She knows the quality of the schools, the condition of the roads and the amount of crime in the neighborhood.

Save money:  The neighborhood specialist knows what makes some homes on a particular street worth more (or less) than others.  He knows the supply and demand of the houses in that area. He knows how long the property has been on the market, and if it was previously on the market.   Bottom-line, he knows what you should pay for a neighborhood home and the terms you should ask for.

If you’re looking for an agent who specializes in Brandon MS real estate, give me a call today at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com.

Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
Ridgeland, Mississippi
www.PaulaRicks.com 
Paula@PaulaRicks.com 
Call direct:  601-942-3392

Here are some of the national and local trends to expect in 2010.

Green is growing. 
A study conducted by Burst Media in late December, 2009, found that 90 percent of Web users surveyed have incorporated some aspect of going green into their lives, and overall, they are willing to pay a premium for environmentally friendly products. 

Homes are getting smaller.
For 2010, home builders say they will focus on lower-priced and smaller homes. More than 95 percent of home builders surveyed by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in January said that was the way they saw their businesses evolving.

Single-story homes are in.
Because of the rise in Brandon MS real estate homebuyers who are 55 years of age and older, more single-story homes are being purchased.  According to NAHB, barely over half of new homes today are built with two stories or more. Two-story homes peaked at about 55 percent of the market in 2006.

Lower cost, more practical homes are being purchased.
In an attempt to respond to consumer demands for practicality, as well as hold the line on prices, home builders surveyed by NAHB are most likely to include these features as standard in their houses this year:

• Walk-in closets in the master bedroom
• Laundry rooms
• Insulated front doors
• Great rooms
• Energy-efficient windows  
• Linen closets
• Programmable thermostats
• Energy-efficient appliances and lighting
• Separate shower and tub in master bathrooms
• Nine-foot ceilings on the first floor

Here are the features builders said they are least likely to add to houses in 2010.  You’ll notice a lot of the items being eliminated are luxury features, as builders try to lower costs.

• Outdoor kitchens
• Outdoor fireplaces
• Sunrooms
• Butler’s pantries
• Media rooms
• Desks in kitchens
• Two-story foyers
• Multiple shower heads in the master bath
• Smaller kitchens

Thinking about buying Brandon MS real estate and want to purchase one of the new homes in 2010?  Call me today at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com to get started.

Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
Ridgeland, Mississippi
www.PaulaRicks.com 
Paula@PaulaRicks.com 
Call direct:  601-942-3392

Called Million Dollar Listing, the show is a “docu-series” with three young stars:

• Josh Flagg graduated high school in 2004, stepped into high-end residential real estate, made several record sales and became one of Los Angeles’ best agents.
• Madison Hildebrand graduated from Pepperdine University, sold his first home to a celebrity and now sells homes as high as $20 million.
• Chad Rogers got his real estate license at 18, rose through the ranks and is currently working for a prestigious real estate brokerage.

What does all of this have to do with being one of the Brandon MS real estate agents? Nothing – and everything. Watching the show, I can’t help but think, “If these young bloods can sell a $20 million dollar house in Beverly Hills, in this economy, we can certainly sell $262,148 in Brandon, Mississippi.” 

Okay, so they’re selling to a lot of celebrities. And, yes, people in Beverly Hills and the surrounding counties are famous for their big wallets. I also have to admit that it might be easier to sell a house with fifty natural selling points (huge pool with pool man, beautiful grounds cared for by landscapers, two-ton chandeliers, stables) than it is to sell an average house that has five selling points.

Having said all that, however, when times get tough remember that we have a beautiful city. We have beautiful homes for sale, nice neighborhoods and great communities. We have a lot of selling points to show off, at more affordable prices.

If you’re looking for a beautiful home in Brandon or the Metro Jackson area, even if you’re not a celebrity, I can help. Call me now at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com.

Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
Ridgeland, Mississippi
www.PaulaRicks.com
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
Call direct:  601-942-3392

Here are a few tips to help you get your Brandon MS real estate decorated in eco-friendly style!

Tips for an Eco-Friendly Holiday:

Instead of buying wrapping paper, buy decorative wooden boxes, tin boxes, cloth bags or other eco-friendly packaging to hold your presents. You can get any of these with Holiday themes, most won’t get thrown away for years and, when they finally do fall apart, they’re biodegradable.

1. If you do use wrapping paper, save the paper and reuse it next year: recycling at its best!

2. Buy a real tree instead of a fake one and find an organization to plant one in its place. Once Christmas is over, you can have the Christmas tree recycled into wood chips, mulch and other wood products.

3. Try buying your gifts from an eco-friendly store. Online or offline, these businesses offer gifts made from recycled, reused or all natural materials.

4. Create fantastic holiday decorations with reusable materials from around the house. There are tons of decoration ideas around the Net, so you’ll be able to find some ideas that use things you already have lying around.

5. Send an e-card instead of a regular Holiday card, or buy Holiday cards made from recycled materials.

6. If you want lights, use LEDs (low-energy lights). Not only do they use less power, but also if one light goes out, the rest stay lit.

If you own Brandon MS real estate, with a little bit of thought and ingenuity, you can be as bright and cheerful as you’ve always wanted without worrying about the impact on the environment. Have a Happy (and eco-friendly) Holiday!

If you’re looking for a green home to hang your eco-friendly wreaths in, I can help. Call me at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com for more information.

Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
Ridgeland, Mississippi
www.PaulaRicks.com
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
Call direct:  601-942-3392

One area where you might consider decreasing your impact on the environment is in your own home construction.  There are several ways you can have a safe and clean green home construction.

1)  Find a “green” builder to help with your home.  Search the Internet for professional green builders.  It takes a special contractor to coordinate the elements of Brandon MS real estate home building to ensure maximum energy savings.  Buying green materials is just one step toward having a green home.  To achieve ultimate efficiency, the different structural parts of plumbing, electricity, gas lines, and framework need to be coordinated.

2)  Buy green materials from different vendors.  Shop around to ensure you are getting the best deal.  One vendor may sell stone at an exceptional price, but his timber may be overpriced.  Natural supplies can be in short availability in some areas.  Natural builders and vendors are working together to build a greener home construction industry, but it is still a business.  It is your responsibility as the homeowner to make sure that you are getting the best deal.

3)  Continue the “green” theme with your home decorations and furnishings.  The construction of your green home saves resources and energy.  You can reduce your impact on the environment even further by using energy saving appliances, eco-friendly interior paint, and sustainable wood flooring in your home.

If you’re one of the Brandon MS real estate owners wanting to build your new home using green construction, it’s a great start to a cleaner, brighter future. 

I can help you learn more about green home construction options.  Call me at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com for more information.

Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
Ridgeland, Mississippi
www.PaulaRicks.com
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
Call direct:  601-942-3392