Ozark Scene near Mountain Home, Arkansas.  This farmers field and barn stand watch as the deer were hopping first one way then the other as I hurriedly got my camera ready to take a photo.     I used to live near this property and I love seeing the tranquil scenery.  Something about Old Barns...they seem to have a special charm!      I missed a chance to get a photo of the local Roadrunner... beep beep, wish I had been quicker! 08/19/2010

Elk viewing season at Buffalo River National park near Mountain Home, Arkansas draws near.  One of my favorite things is to ride down to The Buffalo National Park along the Buffalo River here in North Central Arkansas and park at one of the paved parking areas along the highway to view the Elk as they gather in the fields along side the beautiful Buffalo River. The peak season for viewing these majestic animals is considered to be the rutting season.  Here in Arkansas the season usually starts roughly the second week of September with the last week of September and the first week of October normally being the peak.  The roads are paved.  The towns are small and the people are very friendly!  We are used to seeing White Tail deer, but a Bull Elk in velvet or even after the shed of the ve... 08/06/2010

Mountain Home Arkansas 12 Year Olds World Series Bound!  We are so proud of the 12 year old Bombers baseball team!  The name Bombers is taken from the Mountain Home public schools mascot...dating back to the second world war.  The 12 year Old Bombers are coached by Ron Czanstkowski and have advanced to the Cal Ripken World Series to be held in Aberdeen Md. which starts August 14.  This is a great time of excitement for these young ballplayers, their parents, family and friends.  I hope they will soak it up for all it is worth. My son and I were talking the other day about this very possibility.  We traveled to Roswell Ga. when he was 12 for the World Series.  No we did not win the series, but it was a wonderful experience! The Mountain Home Youth Baseball program is very successful.  Th... 07/28/2010

MLS Caravan, alive and well?  I started this beautiful day with a blog post entitled Office tour, still? and I have gotten over a dozen comments which I appreciate very much.  This obviously is not a scientific poll...but, I am interested in how it is done in other areas.  I have sellers that are crushed....even after I explain prior to MLS tour to not expect much...The last tour I went on was 14 agents and that was a big tour.  In contrast, my office toured new listings this morning with 27 agents and that is fairly normal for us.  You can see the discrepancy.  Just for housekeeping's sake..My office tours weekly.  The MLS tour is also weekly. I have been in the business here in Mountain Home for over 24 years.  I have seen a few trends come and go.  It seems to me that the traditional... 07/26/2010

Never a bad day to ride!  After all the work to help with the benefit for the food basket's back pack program, the fun part was the 80 mile ride.  My wife was tied up with some other stuff so she did not ride along this time.  Approx 100 bikes made our way through Mountain Home with a police escort...ya can't just go out the highway....ya gotta have some attention!  We rode south out of town to the charming town of Calico Rock (a future post) turned back east to the wide spot in the highway known as Pineville, then further east to the small town of Viola.         We picked up U.S. Highway 62/412 at Viola and made our way back to Henderson Arkansas where we crossed over beautiful Lake Norfork.  The sound of 25 or so V-twin motorcycles rumbling across the bridge sounded awesome.  I knew w... 07/25/2010

Make a Difference, It feels so Good!  I have posted recently about the We Can Make a Difference BenefitRide.  I want to publicly thank Candy Barnes of Century 21 LeMac Realty East.  This was her idea...to do this benefit.  She did the research, she lined up the people, I feel really good that I said yes when she asked me if I would be interested in being part of it. As a real estate agent that works for a very community minded broker, this certainly is not my first foray into  being involved.  I have been a Boy Scout leader for years....which is a very hands on teaching, camping, hiking experience.  I always felt like I got more out of it than it cost me in time or effort! Century 21 LeMac Realty is very pro-community and we are involved in many aspects of giving back with over 40 agent... 07/25/2010

What's it like there?  Small town America.  I get that question a lot.  The Mountain Home, Arkansas area has grown up over the years because people that vacationed here decided that they liked what they found when they visited. Over the last 7 to 10 years we have seen a greater number of folks that had never been here, but had seen the Mountain Home area ranked in one or more of the retirement magazines and more recently ranked in 3 prominent outdoors magazines as being a top place to live and enjoy the outdoors. The writers at "Where To Retire", "Field and Stream", "Outdoor Life", and "Sports Afield" have all ranked the Mountain Home, Twin Lakes area very highly!  We find that flattering of course, and it does provide a bump of enquiries from people looking for a great pace to live. I ... 07/23/2010

Confidence or concern?  Maybe a little of both seems to be the answer I am getting in my very unscientific polling.  I have been making a point of asking people as I come in contact with them about how they feel about our local Mountain Home, Arkansas real estate market.  I am used to being asked about the market, and actually look forward to answering consumers questions.  It is a little different for me to be asking others, but they seem to be anxious to give me their opinions. Most professionals I speak with are on the optimistic side...but very cautious.  It is almost as though they don't want to rock the boat as it seems to be righting itself.  My man on the street respondents seem to be a bit weary and concerned at the same time.  When asked about the reasons for their concern the... 07/22/2010

Working the business, Is there more the seller can do to help it sell?  I recently sold a 1800 square ft ranch type home here in Mountain Home to a builder that I have worked with for years.  This builder had called me some few weeks ago to tell me to be on the look out for "cheap" houses.  he wanted to buy a couple homes to rehab, and either rent out or flip. I have worked with this guy for 10 years.  He builds a very nice house.  I am happy to represent these homes for him when he builds but I certainly understood his reluctance to go out and build 2 or 3 $250,000 homes which would be pretty nice in this part of the hills. We scrounged around for a while and even looked at some REO homes that are on the market here.  He tells me there are some real bargains out there according to the ... 07/21/2010

I took a little side trip this morning.  My wife had a day off today and asked me if I needed to be in the office early.  I am usually in the office before 8:00 am, but today, I did not "need" to be in that early. She asked me if I wanted to take a ride down to Mountain View for breakfast.  I love a cool (relatively speaking) ride in the morning so away we went.  We jumped on the Roadstar and motored through the lush Ozark Hill country the 50 miles down to Mtn. View.    I Love living and working in such a neat area as this.  Some of the best riding in the U.S. and absolutely friendliest people in the world.  When I was new to the real estate business I found it hard to take a morning off.  If you have read any of my blog you already know that i go to work every day focused on providing ... 07/20/2010

You Can Make a Difference Benefit Ride for Food program for kids, Mountain Home, Arkansas is this Saturday...July 24th!  We are hoping to have over 100 bikes ride in the beautiful Ozark Hills to benefit the backpack food program for school age children here in Baxter County.  Century 21 leMac Realty and Century 21 LeMac East along with First Security Bank here in Mountain Home are sponsoring this benefit ride!  First Security Bank is providing the food and drinks....that is right, there will be free food for those that register to ride....How much?  Only ......$10!   We will have D.J. Peace productions playing music, and a good time will be had by all! Feel free to call or email I will be happy to give you details or directions to this Benefit Ride!  You can make a difference!  Registra... 07/19/2010

A mid-summer break.  I try to take a family vacation every year.  Last year was a stay-cation.  No complaints from me.  More importantly, no complaints from my lovely wife.  She has been trying to make sense of this Real Estate Agents' life for years. My wife Loves to plan vacation time.  She works hard, she plans in order to make it special, and I enjoy spending time with her and our sons.  We enjoy our family time together. Did I mention she loves to plan?  This year due to some unforeseen circumstances with her work and our sons' work schedules...we planned a short trip to St. Louis for a weekend of wandering and enjoying a day at Busch Stadium to see a Cardinals' game. The planning commenced months ago.  Conflicts in scheduling with 4 adults...oops 5 adults can and will arise.  The ... 07/18/2010

Home Inspectors with exceptional service!  I live and work, selling real estate here in the beautiful Mountain Home, Twin Lakes area of Northern Arkansas.  I have been helping folks find their next home for over 24 years.  I only say that to let you know that when I see exceptional service in my industry, I do recognize it and try to acknowledge it. The term Home Inspection will strike fear into the heart of many sellers, buyers and even agents.  I tell folks that although an inspection is not required by law here in Arkansas, they will be required to sign off if they decide not to have one done by a licensed professional. I would estimate that 90% of my transactions have inspections associated with them.  The question inevitably comes up..."which inspector should we hire?".  I give the... 07/16/2010

 Patriot Guard Mission...an update.  i was honored yesterday to be able to attend and stand flag line for SPC Clayton McGarrah  KIA 82nd Airborne Div.  He was laid to rest in Harrison Arkansas after being killed in action on July 4, 2010, as most of us were celebrating our nations independence.         The Westboro Baptist Church, a radical group of folks from Kansas attempt to protest this nations being involved in the war.  They do this by protesting at service-peoples funerals here stateside.  The Patriot Guard Riders were formed to show respect to, and to protect the service person's family and loved ones from anguish caused by these people as uninvited intruders.  I knew there would be a good turn out of riders as the call had gone out that the "kooks" were supposed to try to inter... 07/15/2010

Patriot Guard Missiontoday in Harrison Arkansas.  I hope to be able to attend.  I have a previous commitment that I will attend to, then hit the road to Honor and show respect to SPC Clayton D. McGarrah, U.S. Army 82nd Airborne,  Killed in Action July 4th, 2010.  Unfortunately, we expect protesters from the church in Kansas.  I sincerely hope they are blowing steam and stay away from the family and community of this fallen hero.  Regardless of circumstances, I will be honored to be there in support of this young man and his family.  It is the least that I can do. God Bless America, and God Bless those that stand in Harms Way to protect her. 07/14/2010

The Garden,  I almost laughed when I typed the title.  My friends and co-agents here at the office have formed a Topsy-Turvy club this year....a bit of a competition on tomato growing.  I am at a distinct disadvantage.  I would not call my thumb black...but it sure is not what I would call green either!  I got out of the habit of growing a garden, but i believe i am hooked again. I dutifully followed directions and advice on choosing, planting and hanging my 3 plants.  Next year I will go for 6 and I will get an earlier start.  I LOVE cherry tomatoes.  No, not so much in salads, but in a bowl, or a box with a shaker of salt. I have one cherry tomato plant and it has produced about 2 dozen beautiful and tasty cherry tomatoes.  That is about one good binge for me.  Next year there will be... 07/13/2010

BROstock by Liquid Force Wake boarding Championship comes to Bull Shoals lake, Mountain Home, Arkansasthis weekend!  The BROstock champion Danny Harf from Orlando Florida will be competing with riders from around the world this weekend right here on Bull Shoals Lake.  Liquid Force moved the competition to Bull Shoals Lake from Lake Powell.  The purse will be $13,000.  24 of the world's best riders including Shawn Watson, and Shane Bonifay will compete with Harf for that purse!  The riders come form Florida, Texas, California, Washington, Canada and Australia. Liquid Force created BROstock and is a driving force in Wake board riding!  Bull Shoals Lake has over 1000 miles of shoreline and is world famous for it's exceptional fishing!  Bull Shoals Lake  is approximately 12 miles west and n... 07/09/2010

The T Buckets are coming!  For the past few years the "Bucketheads" (Owners/drivers of T-Bucket cars)  Have congregated here in Mountain Home for a week of fun and fellowship as well as just plain showing off!  The name of this event is.... Bucketheadbash.  The event started in 2005 and was founded here by Spirit Industries Bob Chester.                                               Spirit Industries has a plant here in Mountain Home that manufactures the Hot Rod T buckets as well as parts, kits and other Hot Rods.  Spirit just moved into a new facility on the north side of town moving from 8500 square feet to 24,000 square ft.  The T-Buckets will be shined and shown at the Baxter County Fairgrounds July 17th with a $3 admission with proceeds to go to the Mountain Home, Christian Clinic.... 07/09/2010

 Take a break, enjoy America!  I did something that I rarely do....We loaded up the Bike and went for a ride this morning with 2 other couples.  I usually work most Saturdays...seems there is always something that needs to be taken care of.  We only rode 215 miles round trip, but what a beautiful morning it proved to be.  Temperatures were hovering at 70 when we left the house.   It felt wonderful to have long sleeves on and still feel a hint of a chill as the bike sliced through the ozark hills.  We rode from Mountain Home to Eureka Springs and then down to the Lake town Beaver which has a beautiful suspension bridge crossing the lake.  The good folks of Beaver put up with tourist traffic year round because it is really an unusual structure in a picturesque location.  Most people cross... 07/03/2010

Celebrate America!  Mountain Home Lake Norfork, Flippin, and Bull Shoals Arkansas  The Celebration started last Friday with the Red, White, and Blue festival that I blogged about last week.  This weekend the celebration continues!  The festivities start Saturday at noon at Hickey Park in Flippin Arkansas which is the home of Ranger Boats.  Flippin is a great small town with a ton of patriotic pride!  There will be games, vendors, music and fun for all throughout the day with a great Fireworks Show to start just after dusk. Just East of Mountain Home there will be a personal favorite of mine.  The Lake Norfork Fireworks Show!  This show will be done by the same folks that brought us the show last week at the Red, White, and Blue Festival.  Lake norfork has over 550 miles of shoreline and... 07/01/2010