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Please go to http://www.picayunehomefinder.com for updated posts on the Picayune and Pearl River County, MS, area.

Why Live In Pearl River County Mississippi?

There are many factors that make living in the Picayune/Pearl River County are more desirable than living in the Metropolitan area of New Orleans, Louisiana (which is only 50 miles South of Picayune).  The most important factor to many people who are considering moving to our County is the fact that most of Pearl River County, MS, is not in a flood zone.  There are areas along the Pearl River, Boley Creek, and other waterways that are considered a flood zone, but the majority of the County is not.  The elevation, starting at the South end of Picayune, in an area called Nicholson, starts at about 40 feet above sea level. The Carriere area hits between 120-180', and the Poplarville, MS, area has elevations in areas that go above 200'.  Our population more than doubled after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, due to the fact that Picayune was the higher ground from the areas that flooded.

 

Another factor that appeals to many is the retirement aspects of Picayune, MS.  Picayune has been certified as a Retirement Community.  There is no State Income Tax for residents over 65, and there is a Homestead Exemption Credit for Seniors in Pearl River County.  Picayune offers a Senior Center, off of Frontage Road, behind WalMart at I-59 Exit 4.  You can find out more information about Senior Retirement perks by contacting Carol Fitzwilliam.

There are over thirty churches representing all major denominations, in the Picayune area. Churches and church related activities are an important aspect of life in our community, and in large part contribute to the friendly atmosphere and hometown values. 

Commuters enjoy the peaceful surroundings of the Pearl River County area, while still being able to be within distance of jobs, and recreation.  Many residents work in New Orleans and Slidell, Louisiana, or at the John C Stennis Space Center off of Exit 1, near Nicholson.  Pearl River County is also a central location for commuting to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, or to Hattiesburg, MS. 

Downtown Picayune offers quaint antique and gift shops, and a warm hometown atmosphere.  The Picayune Street Fair, in April and November, bring people from miles around. 

Come see what Pearl River County, Mississippi, has to offer you and your family!

Traditional Print Ads Won't Sell Your Home

Gone are the days when you put an ad in a newspaper or magazine, and a flood of calls came in response to that ad. Unfortunately, most Realtors are still stuck in the past decade, spending a lot of money on print ads that just don't generate leads for their properties.
Consider this . . . if you are a buyer who is wanting to see what is available in the town you are looking in, where do you start? Do you drive to that town and pick up a local newspaper or home magazine, or do you fire up your computer from the comfort of your own home, and start searching?
Buyers are very updated on the market, and want to see pictures of the property. They are not going to be intrigued by a text description and single outside photo. Inside pictures are a must, to generate an interest for your Picayune area home.
I feel that it is very important to take several photos of the properties I list in the Picayune, MS, area. Panoramic Views give the buyer a tremendous look at what the rooms and property have to offer. A Visual Tour is a great tool for advertising a home. This is something that you just cannot put in traditional print ads. Buyers are interested in the look and features of your property. They just aren't going to be interested if they can't get a glimpse at what the property has. Sure, the words can be flowery and descriptive, but how many times have you seen a property advertised, and when you have gone out to see the house, it's NOTHING like you imagined it would be? The Realtor's job is to make the advertisement as appealing as possible. Pictures are worth a thousand words!
Here are a few examples of photos that I have taken of properties here in the Picayune, MS area (please click on the photo for a larger view):

In this photo you can get a wide look at the beautiful sitting area behind this home at 23158 Whitfield Road in Picayune, MS

In this photo you can see just how large this master bedroom of this North Hill Home I sold in Carriere, MS, really is.  A traditional photo would never had been able to incorporate all of this room.

Using stiching software, I was able to create a panormic view of the main rooms of this Hidden Hills home that I just sold in Picayune, MS.  When this photo is run through the Visual Tour software, it gives you the feel of standing right inside the house.

Here are a couple of examples of homes I have listed that have a Visual Tour. Check out the Visual Tour of this wonderful home in the country in Carriere, MS:


And get a look at the panoramic views of the private 23 acre lake in this fabulous estate in Henleyfield, in Carriere, MS (click this link and you will also see the blog for this property):

As you can see, these properties have the advantage over properties that are listed and advertised in newspapers and such. 

If you are interested in selling your home, give me a call and let me show you how your home can be given the Strategic Marketing advantage!

Stinky House = No Sale

A buyer's first impression of a home is absolutely one of the most important things to consider when it comes to selling your home, especially in a difficult market where there is a lot of competition.  Many people worry about curb appeal, how the lawn looks, how the front door looks . . . and those things are very important.  BUT there is one thing that many sellers fail to consider when putting their house on the market. . . HOW DOES THE HOUSE SMELL?

I attended a Realtor Open House this afternoon, where a local Picayune Realtor was showcasing the house to all Realtors in the area giving them the opportunity to know the house and possibly match it with one of their buyers.  When I opened the door and started to walk in, the overpowering smell of cigarette smoke hit me like a ton of bricks.  My lungs seized up, and my eyes started to water.  And the problem wasn't that a Realtor was smoking in the house - the problem was that the Sellers smoke in the house on a regular basis and the house oozes the smell out of every pore.

Buyers are very sensitive to the sights, sounds, and smells of a house they are considering buying.  I can tell you from experience that if a house smells, the buyer isn't going to spend much time looking at it not matter how beautiful it is, or how perfect it might be for them.  Their thought is "How am I ever going to get that smell out?" 

Problem is that sellers don't always realize that their house smells.  If you are around a smell long enough, your nose will adjust and it's not so noticeable anymore.  If you smoke, you don't realize how the smell clings to your clothing, your carpeting, your walls.  Pets can also emit odors (especially overloaded cat boxes, or wet dog bedding).  And if the house sits empty, without any air conditioning circulating the air, or with moisture trapped in, it can smell like mildew, which is another smell that grabs my lungs like a vice grip. 

When you put your home on the market, you have to start thinking about it as a marketable item, and not your home (after all, you're not going to be living there once it sells).  You have to look at your home from the eyes of a Buyer, and the nose of a Buyer too!  If you smoke, air out the house, Febreeze the furniture, set up some air fresheners (the ones that plug in the wall work pretty well - and I recommend a cinnamon smell), and for Heaven's sake - - - go outside to smoke every time until the house sells!

Now, if you have pets, be sure to keep cat boxes cleaned regularly (right before a house is shown is the best because chances are Fifi just came out of there and left a present for you), remove the dog bedding, and take the pets with you when you leave for the showing.

Happy homes appeal to Buyers, and a happy home is one that smells good, and invites you in.

Time for Tax Credit Running Out!

The First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit, made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is coming close to expiring. In order to take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit, you must close on a house on or before November 30, 2009.

This tax credit is available to "first time home buyers" (anyone who has not owned a home over the past 3 years). There are a few other stipulations to receiving this credit.

1. The tax credit is 10% of the purchase price of the house, up to $8,000. Therefore, if you use this credit to purchase a $30,000 home, you will only receive a $3,000 credit.
2. It must be your primary residence where you live more than 50% of the time and you will have to do so for three years or the government will take back the credit when you sell the home.
3. To get the full credit, your modified adjusted gross income must be under $75,000 for singles and less than $150,000 for married joint filers.

If you are interested in taking advantage of this Federal Tax Credit, you must find a home and enter into contract before the end of September due to the time frame that it takes to get your offer accepted, completing inspections, and processing a loan.  This process is now taking up to two months, depending on the lender you choose.  Keep in mind that if you do not close the sale on the property on or before November 30th, you will not be eligible to receive this tax credit.

It's a great time to find that home you are looking for, and receive the great credit on your taxes next year!  If you are ready to take advantage of this tax credit, give me a call.  We'll find that perfect home for you!

Save Money with a Home Inspection

Short Sale Possible on this 4 Bedroom Carriere Home

4 Bedrooms, 2 Full Baths, Built in 2005 on 3.75 Acres!