06.20.11
Posted in Madison MS Homes for Sale tagged Madison MS Home Trends, Madison MS real estate at 7:00 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
With the struggling economy and the move toward living greener, small houses are trending toward becoming more popular. You may have heard about the Small House Movement and wondered if living in a small Madison MS home is right for you.
To help you decide, here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about small houses:
How tiny is a small house?
What is typically referred to as a small house varies widely in size from about 650 square feet down to the extremely miniscule house of about 120 square feet. However, any home with fewer square feet than you’re living in now can be considered a small house. If you’re currently living in 3,000 square feet and you move to a Madison MS home with 1,500 square feet, you’ve downsized by half. It all depends on your perspective.
Does smaller equate to less expensive?
Most smaller Madison MS homes are less expensive simply because of the reduced square footage. For the same reason, smaller houses cost less to heat, cool and maintain. Of course, if you add on luxury features like marble counters and hand-carved built-ins, a small home can quickly go from economical to expensive.
Do I have to have it built from scratch?
Although the Small House Movement is fairly new, there have been small houses around for centuries. Depending on the area in which you live they may be called cottages, bungalows, row houses, town houses or even shotgun houses.
Whether you want a micromini house, a mcmansion or any size in between, I can help you find and negotiate a good price for it. Give me a call today at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com to get started.
KeyTrust Properties Paula Ricks
Paula Ricks Broker/Owner, REALTOR®
220 W Jackson St, Suite 200, Ridgeland MS 39157
601-942-3392
www.PaulaRicks.com
Tags:
Madison MS Home Trends,
Madison MS real estate
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12.30.10
Posted in Madison MS Homes for Sale tagged Madison MS real estate at 7:00 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
Whether you’re planning on selling soon or just want a comfortable home to live in now, here are five projects that increase your Madison MS home’s comfort and value:
1. Uncover hardwood floors. Is there a hardwood floor lurking under your Madison MS home’s carpet? If you’re not sure, pull up the carpet in an unnoticeable corner and investigate. If you find wood floors, you’ll probably need to refinish them, but that’s a lot less expensive than installing new hardwood flooring.
2. Add ceiling fans. Everyone likes to save money, and adding ceiling fans can reduce your electric bill considerably. Central air conditioning costs about 70 times more to run than a ceiling fan. In the summer, fans can make you feel 3 to 8 degrees cooler, allowing you to reduce the use of your A/C and still feel just as cool. Use your ceiling fan in the winter too. Just reverse the direction the blades rotate so the air flows up toward the ceiling, and keep the fan on low. This circulates the warm air around the room without creating a chilly draft.
3. Install a new bathroom floor. Installation is typically the most expensive part of this home improvement, so if you can do it yourself, you’ll save quite a bit of money. Choosing a neutral-colored tile adds the most value.
4. Update bathroom and kitchen fixtures. Replacing outdated or unattractive fixtures is a low-cost, high-impact renovation project. In bathrooms, put in new spa-style showerheads and towel bars. In both rooms, put in new light fixtures, sink faucets, switch plates, outlet covers, cabinet knobs and drawer handles. Choose items in colors and finishes that appeal to a wide audience.
5. Power wash your Madison MS home’s exterior. Make your home look almost as good as new by power washing away the grime. Clean the siding, driveway, walkways and patio.
Want more home-improvement ideas like these? Subscribe to my blog. It’s free and easy.
Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
443-A Northpark Dr, Ridgeland, MS 39157
Call Direct: 601-942-3392
Office: 601-956-8533
www.PaulaRicks.com
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
Tags:
Madison MS real estate
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12.13.10
Posted in Madison MS Homes for Sale tagged Madison MS real estate at 7:00 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
Unless elaborate decorations, gourmet food and mountains of mess are your idea of fun, I have some suggestions for you on how to make your holidays simpler and less stressful this year.
Use Fewer Decorations in Your Madison MS Home
While National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is a fun holiday movie to watch, keeping up with the Griswolds isn’t something you should aspire to. If you’re not sure what to eliminate from your heap of holiday decorations, here are a few tips:
- If it flashes or makes a noise, just say no. Decorations like that increase stress.
- Display only your most treasured items.
- This year’s mantra should be “less is more.”
- Decorate only those rooms in your Madison MS home that are used during celebrations.
- Instead of filling every inch of a room with decorations, use fewer items and group them in noticeable spots around the room.
Spending less time decorating your Madison MS home gives you more time for your friends and family. It also means wasting less time after the holidays putting away all those decorations.
Entertain Simply
It’s not necessary to spend a lot of money on food or entertainment in order to have a good time. Some of my most enjoyable gatherings were spent listening to holiday music, playing games and eating a bowl of popcorn with friends and family.
Here are few more ideas to make entertaining easier:
- Don’t cook all the food yourself. Host a potluck party or pick up already prepared food from your local grocery store.
- Reduce the number of guests. Do you really need to invite the entire neighborhood? Invite only those few who you sincerely want to spend some time visiting with.
- Send electronic invitations. It’s free, fast, easy and fun.
The holidays aren’t about your house, food or furniture. They’re about your heart. Open your heart, relax and truly enjoy your loved ones this holiday season. Happy Holidays!
Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
443-A Northpark Dr, Ridgeland, MS 39157
Call Direct: 601-942-3392
Office: 601-956-8533
www.PaulaRicks.com
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
Tags:
Madison MS real estate
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12.06.10
Posted in Madison MS Homes for Sale tagged Madison MS real estate at 7:00 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
Unfortunately, the winter holidays are peak times for thieves and burglars. Not only are burglaries of Madison MS homes at their highest during the darkest months of the year, there’s also the added temptation of unoccupied Madison MS homes full of expensive gifts.
A recent survey found that 39% of homeowners leave presents under the tree long before Christmas Day, with only 7% of respondents waiting until Christmas Day itself to put the presents on display in their Madison MS homes. If gifts are in full view of passers-by who can see them through the windows, they could provide an incentive for thieves to target the house.
- Take greater security measures during the holidays to keep yourself and your property safe.
- Don’t hide presents in obvious locations such as closets, under the bed or in the garage. Instead, hide gifts in an attic. The average burglar doesn’t have time to climb into your attic.
- Keep window shades drawn. If your gifts are easily visible from the street, burglars will be tempted to smash the window and grab the wrapped packages.
- Don’t discard whole boxes in your trash. This gives thieves easy clues about what they can steal from your home. Instead, break the boxes up into small pieces and place them in your recycling bin or at the bottom of a sealed garbage bag.
- Create a lived in look and feel. Before leaving your home, turn on lights and a radio or television.
- Ask a neighbor or close friend to pick up your mail and newspapers if you go out of own for the holidays.
- Lock up. Make sure all doors and windows are locked. Consider replacing your locks if they’re worn. Use deadbolts in entry doors.
- Keep the garage, gates, driveway, and sides of your home well lit. Motion sensor lights work well for this.
If you’re looking for a home already equipped with an alarm system or other security features, I can help you find one. Call me at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com.
Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
443-A Northpark Dr, Ridgeland, MS 39157
Call Direct: 601-942-3392
Office: 601-956-8533
www.PaulaRicks.com
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
Tags:
Madison MS real estate
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12.03.10
Posted in Madison MS Homes for Sale tagged Madison MS real estate at 7:00 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
At this time of year, we typically don’t think a lot about safety. We’re all too busy running around shopping and decorating our Madison MS homes.
Have a fun, merry and safe holiday this year by implementing these 10 safety tips:
1. Never use lighted candles on a Christmas tree, whether it’s an artificial or live tree.
2. Purchase artificial trees with a Fire Resistant label. This label doesn’t mean the tree can’t catch fire; it means the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.
3. Check for freshness when purchasing a live tree. Needles that are hard to pull away from branches and that do not break when bent indicate a fresh tree. Sticky resin on the tree’s trunk is another sign that a tree is still fresh. Old trees can be fire hazards in Madison MS homes.
4. Chop a few inches off the trunk of your tree to expose the fresh wood. This allows for better water absorption and will help to keep your tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard. Water your tree regularly.
5. Avoid sharp or easily breakable decorations and small, removable items that children can swallow. Eliminate decorations that look like food or candy. Children may try to eat them.
6. Limit the number of standard-size light sets plugged into one extension cord to three.
7. Turn off all Christmas tree lights before you go to bed or leave your home. The lights could short out and start a fire.
8. Don’t burn wrapping papers in your Madison MS home’s fireplace. A flash fire may result, as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.
9. Remove all greens, boughs, papers, and other decorations from around the fireplace before lighting a fire.
10. Check labels on lights you’re planning to use outside to be sure they’re certified for outdoor use.
I hope you and your family have a very Merry (and safe) Christmas!
Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
443-A Northpark Dr, Ridgeland, MS 39157
Call Direct: 601-942-3392
Office: 601-956-8533
www.PaulaRicks.com
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
Tags:
Madison MS real estate
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11.24.10
Posted in Madison MS Homes for Sale tagged Madison MS real estate at 7:50 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
Thanksgiving is coming soon to Madison MS homes near you. It may even be coming to your home, bringing friends, family, good food and happy memories. In the midst of all the activity, take time to think about what you’re thankful for this year.
The last year has been hard for hundreds of thousands of individuals and families. Some who, at the beginning of the year, had a good job, nice house they could afford, 2.5 kids – you know, living the American dream – are now trying to figure out where their next meal is coming from. Some are trying to figure out where to sleep tonight.
Many homeowners – those with Madison MS homes and homes elsewhere across the nation – seem to think these people must have “done something” to be in their current situation. They believe that as long as they don’t “do something,” they won’t experience similar problems.
This belief is far from the truth. Not all, but most, Americans struggling today paid their bills on time, went to work every day and were just regular, responsible people. Their place of employment closed or their jobs were cut and, with hiring freezes, they couldn’t find new jobs. They could no longer afford their mortgages. The banks foreclosed. This is the true story of all too many people across the U.S.
Did they really do anything? Could they have stopped the companies from letting them go or closing? Could they have forced someone else to hire them?
As Thanksgiving draws near, I urge you to take a look at your own situation. Whether you hate or love your job, be thankful you still have one, when thousands don’t. Look around your warm, safe home and be thankful you can still afford it – even if it’s underwater and/or losing equity. You know where your next meal is coming from – even if you can’t decide whether it’s chicken or burgers tonight.
Be thankful for your Madison MS homes, your jobs, your families and your good, full life. I know I am. This Thanksgiving, take time to let go of the cares of the world; just enjoy what you have and with whom you have to share it.
Finally, I’d love to hear what you’re especially thankful for this year, so please feel free to add your comments below. I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving for many years to come!
Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
443-A Northpark Dr, Ridgeland, MS 39157
Call Direct: 601-942-3392
Office: 601-956-8533
www.PaulaRicks.com
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
Tags:
Madison MS real estate
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10.11.10
Posted in Madison MS Homes for Sale tagged Madison MS real estate at 7:00 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
The fall holidays are just around the corner, starting with the scariest day of the year – Halloween. You may have always enjoyed Halloween in the past, but the most frightening thought now might be, “I have a Madison MS home for sale! I can’t do Halloween right now!”
Sure, sure. Right, right.
Take a deep breath. Don’t panic. First, if the idea of Halloween or autumn decorations this year (versus before you had a Madison MS home for sale) freaks you out, you need the break anyway. Secondly, it’s the perfect opportunity to sell your house. Holiday decorations can help buyers imagine the decorations they might use for a warm, inviting atmosphere.
There is, however, a difference between decorating before you put your home on the market and decorating now. For example, don’t go overboard. You want potential buyers to enjoy a relaxing stroll through the house, not scream when the skeleton falls out of the closet.
Pumpkins
If you decide to decorate for Halloween rather than just an autumn theme, that’s okay. Pumpkins, used wisely, can draw attention to an area. However, growling faces are a thing of the past until your house is sold. Use harmless, happy pumpkin expressions to help build the overall cheerful holiday house-buying mood.
Candles
Forget about burning candles right now. The last thing you want is to have a candle fall over during negotiations and set the curtains on fire. It’s a sure bet the buyers will change their minds. Consider using flameless candles as a safer alternative. They’re even available in autumn scents such as Pumpkin Spice and Cinnamon Fusion.
Colors
You can use autumn colors to warm a room. A bowl of chrysanthemums and dried leaves will make a special touch in the bathroom, while pumpkin gourds can add warmth to a porch.
Because of the holidays coming up, autumn makes people nostalgic. For most, it brings thoughts of family and friends, pumpkins and turkey, fun and light-heartedness. A warm, inviting decorating scheme can further bring out that nostalgia, and get a SOLD sign put in front of your Madison MS home for sale.
If you’d like to sell your home before the holidays begin, 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.
443-A Northpark Dr, Ridgeland, MS 39157
Office: 601-956-8533
Call Direct: 601-942-3392
www.PaulaRicks.com
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
Tags:
Madison MS real estate
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08.30.10
Posted in Madison MS Homes for Sale tagged Madison MS real estate at 7:00 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
While those who own Madison MS homes for sale are worried about the real estate market, some buyers are getting good deals. However, there are plenty of people on both sides of the market with a case of cold feet.
For instance, some with Madison MS homes for sale took them off the market. Others, who’ve thought of selling, haven’t.
The same can be said for buyers. Many potential homebuyers change their minds or still worry over that age-old question of, “Should I or shouldn’t I?”
Two Cases of Cold Feet
A 26-year old with a steady job, good paycheck and good credit, sums it up for many potential buyers. “My job’s steady and my credit is good. I keep watching the houses that go up for sale, thinking I could go ahead and buy, but then the ‘what if’s’ pop into my head. I don’t want to miss this opportunity to get a great deal and lock in a low interest rate, but there are so many unknowns…”
A former seller shares why he took his home off the market. “My wife and I decided to sell and went through the process of hiring an agent. The agent suggested having someone come in and redecorate the house. While we were looking for another place, we kept coming back to this beautiful home and started remembering what we really liked about it in the first place.”
He went on to say, “We also started thinking about all the things we no longer had to deal with. We own this home, but if we bought another one, we’d have to take out a mortgage. Our house started looking better and better. Turns out we didn’t need to move; we just needed to redecorate.”
Should I or Shouldn’t I?
Should you buy a home? Should you sell the home you own? Only you can really answer that question. For the buyers, however, if you can afford a home of your own but are holding off for lower prices, you could end up missing out. Home prices and mortgage rates are already at all-time lows; this may be as good as it gets.
For sellers, consider why you want to sell your home. Is it too small? Too big? Would remodeling turn it back into your dream home? Or – do you really need to sell your home for some reason?
Putting your Madison MS home up for sale or buying a new home should never be a spontaneous decision. Before you do either, take stock of your finances and reasons.
If you’d like to sell your home or find a home to buy, I can help. Call me today at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com for more information.
Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
443-A Northpark Dr, Ridgeland, MS 39157
Office: 601-956-8533
Call Direct: 601-942-3392
www.PaulaRicks.com
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
Tags:
Madison MS real estate
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04.01.10
Posted in Madison MS Homes for Sale tagged Madison MS real estate at 1:03 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
Surprising numbers of potential homebuyers are holding off on buying Madison MS homes for sale. They see the housing prices drop and are waiting for them to go lower. They see the mortgage rates and are waiting for them to drop further. If this is you, you might want to rethink your strategy and take a real look at potential Madison homes.
Here are two crucial reasons why you might not want to wait any longer:
1. Interest Rates on the Rise – Thanks to the Federal Reserve buying $1.23 trillion worth of mortgages, interest rates have been kept somewhere between 4.93% and 5.09% for a 30-year fixed-rate loan. That’s about 0.4 % lower than it might be without the Fed’s help. However, by the end of 2009, the Federal Reserve had already started implementing a phase out of the mortgage program. With the Fed program closing at the beginning of this month, it’s not a question of whether mortgage rates will rise, but when, how much and how fast. The experts don’t expect them to climb very high, stopping somewhere between 5.5% and 6% by the end of 2010.
2. Lower Home Prices – Home prices, predicted to drop another 5% in 2010, will also make some difference in overall cost. Putting the falling home prices together with the currently low interest rates, you still have a chance to get a great Madison MS home for sale at a great deal – for a little while longer.
Instead of waiting for lower costs that may never come, consider where you are now:
It’s very possible that the market will never be better than it is right now for buyers. It’s a buyers’ real estate market, with the scales tipped to make homeownership as cheap as it can get. If you can afford to buy now, but are waiting for things to get even better, reconsider – you might wait yourself into a market you can no longer afford!
Ready to take advantage of this buyers’ market and purchase a Madison MS home for sale? I can help. Call me today 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
Tags:
Madison MS real estate
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10.19.09
Posted in Madison MS Homes for Sale tagged Madison MS real estate at 7:00 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
If you have one of the Madison MS homes for sale, every room needs to be just right. Most people think about the kitchens and bedrooms, but these days a great looking home office can make a huge impact too. Check out a few ways you can make a big impact:
Designate the right space
Whether it’s a spare bedroom or a computer nook, you need to specify a separate place to do business. Make sure the area has enough room so that you can set up a desk, chair, computer and a printer without making it look messy.
Clean your area
To really have a good home office, the space needs to be neat. To make your home office look its best to potential buyers, get rid of clutter and only retain the essentials.
Don’t waste money
Just because you have a home office doesn’t mean you need to go broke trying to furnish it when preparing your Madison MS home for sale. Think about wants versus needs first. Then once you get the necessities, use any left over money to buy office supplies such as ink cartridges, computer paper and more.
Add a decorative touch
Now that you have what you need, it’s okay to add some decorative style. Hang artwork. Add a few plants. But, remember to keep it simple and neutral so that potential buyers can easily imagine it as their own home office.
Many people don’t think of the importance of a home office when preparing Madison MS homes for sale. But with so many people working from home, a dedicated space for a home office is a great selling point.
If you’re ready to sell your home, with or without a home office, 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
Tags:
Madison MS real estate
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