Four years ago, my granddaughter and her husband were getting ready to start a family. She didn't want to have a baby until they were in a home of their own, and I wanted a great grandchild! So I scoured the new listings in search of the perfect home for her and hubby. I found a fabulous off-market property for them and before you could bat an eye, we were under contract. My reward was a beautiful great-granddaughter born 8 months later.After my great granddaughter was born, Chloe told me she thought she would stop at one child. I was disappointed, but understood. Kids are expensive these days. Besides, my granddaughter is a great money manager and she works that budget like nobody's business. If that was her decision, so be it.Fast forward to the end of last year. They had been discuss... 08/31/2025

As I look back on my career, I ponder the question "How Have I Changed"? I recall the initial thoughts of getting into the real estate business. I remember the excitement and fear of studying for my real estate exam. Interviewing companies to place my license and learn the ropes. We don't know what we don't know until we get started.Each transaction was a learning experience, and it was frustrating! Thankfully I chose a nurturing independent agency as my sponsor and they guided me through the things you don't learn in real estate school.The early years can be a struggle. Sure, you make a list of everyone you know, send out announcements, and tell anyone who will listen that you are now in real estate. Some of those people will give you a chance, but honestly, everybody knows SOMEBODY wh... 07/31/2025

I found this full-page newspaper promo last week while going through a file in the office. The year was 1992, and the Columbus MS Board of Realtors had released the list of Top Real Estate Producers for 1991.I had been in real estate a couple of years, and earning the distinction of Top Producer was a big deal. I was honored to be among the 47 Top Producers in the Columbus, MS market.When I decided to get into real estate, I chose a small agency to affiliate with. It was the perfect fit for me. The partners took me under their wing and advised me when I needed help, encouraged me when I failed, and included me in their work family. I look back at this time in the business with appreciation for Rick, Gerry, and Hilbert as they set me on the path for success. I learned so much from each o... 03/31/2025

It's March, and the Christmas decorations are finally stored in the attic.I don't "bounce" as well as I used to, so I recruited my daughter-in-law to help put things away, and to dial 9-1-1 if necessary. (Honestly, it was more to help open and close the attic stairs, but more on that later).The DIL commented on how large my attic space is, and daydreamed of having a big game room up there (not happening). Anyway, that got me to thinking, what are the typical items stored in folks' attics?1. Leading the list at number 1 is Christmas and holiday decor, Halloween, Easter and fall items. I downsized a couple of boxes this year, but still have ornaments, Santa's, Christmas gnomes, garland, and all size trees. Some boxes decided to reside on shelving in the garage for convenience sake.2. Next... 03/07/2025

It's the last day of February, and I'm finally sitting down to write my "love" post for the challenge - "Why We Love What We Do".  It's been a busy month to be sure; even more so since I co-hosted the February challenge with Debe Maxwell, CRS and have been busy reading everyone's incredible submissions!Writing my own post after reading the talented and creative entries from everyone else means trying extra hard to be original. But I'll push through and get this entry done by midnight!I love my "job" for all the reasons most Realtors do—and surprisingly, looking at pretty houses doesn’t even make the Top 10 (even though that’s what most people think we do). If I’m being honest, the freedom and flexibility to set my own hours and choose how many clients I take on is at the top of my list.... 02/28/2025

Today's tip helps reduce unnecessary wear and tear on your home-- turn on the vent fan while bathing or showering, and let it run for several minutes after your shower is over.In small bathrooms, steam from a shower or bath creates moisture. If the steam can't escape, it creates a "rain forest" situation and sweat will accumulate and run down the walls. You will greatly reduce moisture in the room by using the vent fan, which is a standard feature in modern homes.Turn on the fan before turning on the hot water. Let the fan run during your shower and bath and for several minutes after. When you vacate the bathroom, leave the door open to help the steam dissipate faster.This is such a simple task, but children or teens will not learn this lesson unless we teach them. How do I know? Common... 02/25/2025

When a client asks you to check on their vacant house because of record low temperatures, you grab your warmest hat, coat, and gloves and head out the door. If 32° is freezing, 20° is an INSULT to us in Central Mississippi!If you are selling your home during the winter months, here are 6 key things you should do to get your home ready for winter. 1. Seal drafts and improve insulation: Check for drafts around windows, doors and other openings and seal them using weatherstripping or caulk.2. Service the HVAC system: Ensure your heating system is working properly by having it serviced before you put your house on the market. Change the air filters, clean ducts, and check for any issues.3. Wrap your pipes! Insulate exposed pipes including exterior faucets, pipes in the attic and garage. Do ... 02/21/2025

Today was closing day on a home my buyers purchased. I wanted to announce the closing on social media, but knew my clients were private and wouldn't want a big splash on Facebook or Insta.I asked ChatGPT for 5 things to do after you get the house keys and within a nano-second, AI spit out the reply. If it weren't so late at night, I could have written the post myself, but as it was already late, I knew my new AI friend could help me out.Here is the AI-generated text for 5 Tips After you Get the House Keys:1. **Change the Locks**: For security reasons, it's wise to change the locks on all doors. You never know who might have a copy of the existing keys. 2. **Clean the Space**: Before moving in, thoroughly clean the house. This includes vacuuming, dusting, and wiping down surfaces. This c... 02/20/2025

Every now and then, a house hits the market that is rare, special, a great value and perfectly priced. In the real estate world, we call this a unicorn. Because few people have ever seen a unicorn; most question its existence. But when you see one, you must act quickly if you wish to capture it!A unicorn hit the market today. My client had been looking for a property like this for MONTHS! I showed it to her, and on the spot, the buyer asked me to write the offer. I gathered the necessary disclosures and we discussed strategies.Easy peasy, right? WRONG! When a unicorn appears in the wild, people take notice. Others wanted this unique, beautiful unicorn for their own desires. In laymen's terms, we were facing multiple offers.So I pulled out all the tools in my toolbox. All the tricks of t... 02/12/2025

My mission the last several years is remembering the elderly in Assisted Living and Retirement Homes. I've volunteered at Bingo and other activities, attended dances, brought snacks, decorated Christmas trees, and brought door prizes throughout the year for various games and activities.Many older adults are forgotten during the holiday season; I'd like to encourage those with living parents and grandparents to include them in your holiday celebrations, even if it involves a short visit at your home or theirs. A family visit is the most cherished gift!There are countless opportunities to brighten someone's day by visiting a senior center or nursing home. Not only does it bring them pleasure, it warms the soul  knowing you have made a difference in someone's life. Over the years I have co... 12/22/2024

A few weeks ago, I wrote about Assumable Loans in the 21st Century. In that post, I explained how in certain circumstances, an assumable loan could be the way to sell a home for the highest and best outcome for the seller.My listing closed this week. As Paul Harvey would say, here is the rest of the story.I received numerous calls the first day I promoted the home as "assumable".  Most callers didn't have the necessary down payment; others (including other Realtors) didn't understand how the process would work. I must have explained the process dozens of times. Finally, two buyers submitted offers and the seller accepted the most attractive one. (That in itself is a story for another day).The mortgage was through PennyMac. I researched reviews about how the process might proceed. Across... 08/23/2024

If you follow real estate articles, podcasts, etc., you may have heard that FHA, VA, and USDA loans are assumable. If you are a real estate agent, I'm sure you are aware of it, but not everyone has fully embraced the idea or comprehends the dynamics of this opportunity.Recently, I successfully acquired a buyer by marketing a lovely home with an assumable mortgage, but first I had to explain the benefits to the seller, then to other Realtors, and lastly to potential home buyers. Once the seller understood the process, we had the home under contract within a week or so, with multiple offers.With this particular home, it was only a couple of years old, but we were in competition with a lot of new construction.  We had a good number of showings, but came up shy of any reasonable offers. Tim... 08/09/2024

You know the phrase, right? It's part of the Fifth Amendment of the Miranda Rights.Law and Order may not be standing at your door with handcuffs in hand, but if you are house hunting, the seller may have surveillance devices or Ring doorbells, which could record any comments you make while viewing the home.We know you are excited, but if you make negative or derogatory comments while viewing the house, the seller could be listening. He may be offended and subsequently reject your offer. On the other hand, extremely positive comments might hurt your negotiation strategies.Be aware of this technology. Hold your comments until you are safely back in the car, away from earshot from a prying seller. 07/02/2024

Today's tip is about housekeeping. Not my favorite topic, but one that is important for obvious reasons.When do you clean house? Do you have a routine? I'm curious... do you have a set schedule? Do you tackle everything in one day? Or do you do one chore each day of the week? Is your home always "picture perfect"? If you have kids at home, do you assign chores to them?For me, the answer is easy. I clean when the cats are asleep! If they are awake, they want to be where I am; either trying to get into the dryer, on top of the washing machine, or climbing into the dishwasher, etc. They are fast so I have to stay sharp!I imagine it's the same for those with small children. Do your chores while the baby is sleeping; for me, it's when the fur babies are napping. If your home is on the market... 06/25/2024

My job is to help people move.I've helped sellers downsize not only their home, but also their possessions. Sometimes I post items for my senior clients in Facebook Groups because they don't use Facebook and I do what I can for my clients.A friend saw all my furniture postings, and asked if I was moving.It was a logical assumption, but NO, I'm not. I'm helping a senior client get rid of things as she prepares to move out of state. But the question made me think... statistics say the average American moves every 7 years (or 9 times in their lifetime). How many times have I moved?So I counted....Thirteen!I have purchased 13 primary residences in my adult life. I did the math. In my adult life, I have moved every 3.5 years. Wow!And that doesn't count the FOUR times I lived in temporary hou... 06/23/2024

Congratulations! Your home is under contract, and the buyer has ordered the home inspection. As the seller, you are probably busy packing for the big day. A hundred details are running through your mind. But take a few minutes to prepare for the home inspection.If your home is in need of repairs, hopefully you addressed these items before putting your home on the market. If not, now is a good time to remedy these concerns.  See this oldie but goodie inspection checklist.Remember, the inspector needs access under the kitchen sink**, as well as all the bathrooms sinks to check for leaks. It may not occur to you to tidy up these spaces before the inspector arrives. The inspector will not move items out of the way, so be sure the area is clear of cleaning supplies, detergent, and other item... 06/18/2024

Today's Tip is of a cautionary tale; if you have dead or dying trees on your property, it's better to face the problem head-on rather than let nature take its course.Thousands of acres of Mississippi forests were affected by last year's drought, then many of these weakened trees were hit again by a devastating pine beetle infestation. Not only did the drought and pine beetles affect our forests, individual homeowners and landowners were also affected. Our golf courses and neighborhoods sustained a large loss of trees, many of which have yet to be removed.The danger, of course, is a dead or dying tree falling during severe storms and high winds, causing serious damage to property or life and limb.In these photos, you'll see dead trees near homes in my neighborhood. I would have a hard ti... 06/11/2024

Many people are oblivious to how their homes look or smell. We live in our homes, and as owners we sometimes neglect or don't notice deferred maintenance or odors that can knock a visitor down as they walk through the front door.Cooking odors, pet smells, musty odors, and smoking are some of the worst offenders. As people age, they either become used to these odors or have lost their sense of smell. So what do you do?In the case of elder homeowners, a relative or family friend is tasked with bringing the issue to the forefront. If the home is for sale, the Realtor is often the one who will delicately mention the unpleasant smell.For health reasons, and if your home is for sale, there are several things you can do to eliminate foul odors. For one, open the doors and air things out! Homes... 06/04/2024

Today's maintenance tip "Keep Your Gutters Clean" comes from practical experience in the life of a Realtor.On occasion, I have viewed homes with small gardens growing in the gutters. It's ok to have roof-top gardens if they are designed as such, but vegetation growing in gutters is not ok.The number one purpose of gutters is to direct water away from your home. If gutters are clogged with leaves, dirt and debris, you could soon face an unsightly and damaging situation.Clogged gutters can also be the "root cause" of other issues, including foundation and roof issues, fascia rot (I've witnessed this first-hand), and insect infestation. Do yourself a favor; keep your gutters free from debris by having routine maintenance performed on your gutters. All you need is a sturdy ladder and a pair... 05/28/2024

Termites can infiltrate your home at any time, but we tend to notice those little buggers in the springtime more than any other season. Perhaps that's because as homeowners, we are outside more, doing yardwork after a cold winter or are spring cleaning inside our home and notice the tell-tale signs.This past week I had calls from two family members who had discovered termites. In one instance, termites were already chomping the sheetrock inside the home; in the other case, termites were discovered in landscaping timbers while doing clean up in the yard.My advise to both relatives was to call a termite inspector. For the first relative, there is visible damage, but it's too early to tell how extensive the damage will be. In the second situation, perhaps the termites were only in the land... 05/21/2024