Hello friends! The first half of 2020 is almost behind us. Part of the year is a blur due to COVID-19. Despite the blur, my digital calendar reminds me of what I've been up to: The year started off with a bang. January and February were filled with buyers, sellers, inspections, and closings. I stayed busy with volunteer activities, networking meetings, and seminars. Plus, I completed my Seniors Real Estate Specialist designation at the end of February.   March, as the expression goes, came in like a lion. Surrounding states were experiencing coronavirus outbreaks. Spring break was in full force in the south, and many residents were vacationing on the beaches and mountains. Mississippi's first case was diagnosed March 12. Our governor declared a state of emergency March 14. Everything fr... 06/29/2020

Rankin County is sponsoring Spring Clean Up Week that begins in a few days. Everyone can participate in Spring Cleaning, especially since last week's storms. The clean up is not only for yard debris; it's the perfect time to dispose of bulky, unusable items, including "white goods" (refrigerators, freezers, and other large appliances) and tires at no charge. The date begins Monday April 29 and continues through Saturday May 4. The primary recycling center for Brandon is located at 710 Marquette Road, but there are 9 other drop off locations throughout the county. All locations will be open between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Image courtesy of zirconicusso at FreeDigitalPhotos.net    Please contact Rankin County Solid Waste at 601-825-9213 if you have questions.Remember to sort your usual recy... 04/26/2019

 Welcome to Vintners Crossing, a beautiful residential neighborhood in Brandon's Northwest Rankin School District. Vintners Crossing is located near Highway 25 and Vine. Home prices range from the upper $200s to the mid $300s. AMENITIES: Home buyers will appreciate the amenities of Vintners Crossing. Many of the homes were custom built. Vintners is an established neighborhood with a stately entrance and mature landscaping. Interior features are what you would expect at this price point. Many of the homes have hardwood flooring, high ceilings, bonus spaces, and extra square footage, just what you require for the growing family. Most homes have lush landscaping, creating a welcome retreat after a long days' work. SCHOOLS: Children in Vintners Crossing attend the Northwest Rankin School Di... 04/07/2019

A new development is under construction in Brandon MS's 39042, a stunning community located off Highway 468 called Ironwood Estates. Several homes are available and in various stages of construction. The minimum square footage for homes in the development is 2000 heated and cooled. Prices range from $294,900 - $389,900 at the time of this article. The neighborhood has underground utilities, restrictive covenants, and generous lot sizes, ranging from .7 acre to 1.7 acres. View available homes for sale in Ironwood Estates          AMENITIES: Home buyers will LOVE the amenities offered in Ironwood Estates - granite countertops, gas cooktops, open floor plans, rustic barn doors leading into the master bathrooms, and outdoor fireplaces. Buyers will also appreciate the generous lot sizes and ... 03/27/2019

I'd never thought of taking photos of the changing season until fellow blogger George Souto introduced me to the gorgeous fall colors of New England. Last year was the first year I took photos of the changing season, and I wanted to share this years changing colors, too. Most of my readers will recognize the view as Castlewoods Golf Course, or specifically, the view from my back yard. Probably the most unusual photo I ever captured was of the ball drop in September. This photo shows a lush green landscape, with no sign of fall in sight. I'm using this photo as the benchmark.The next photo was taken in mid October. You'll notice the leaves on the hardwoods are beginning to turn and the golf course isn't the vibrant green it was in September. For consistency sake, all photos were taken at... 12/10/2018

Discover Le Bourgeois Estates, a residential neighborhood located on the outskirts of Brandon off MS Highway 471 yet convenient to schools, shopping, and dining. ABOUT LE BOURGEOIS ESTATES Le Bourgeois Estates began development in the mid 1970s. Most of the lots are wooded and rustic, and styles vary, although many are of brick construction and are rather large. The architecture styles vary from Colonial to Traditional and Ranch style. There is a mix of single story and two-story homes; some have lots of windows to let the natural lighting come inside. Some homes have been beautifully updated, but occasionally you'll come across one with original flooring and features. In cases like this, you can renovate the home to your personal specifications. Search Homes for Sale in Le Bourgeois 39... 11/12/2018

Take a look at this inviting 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath home located on a quiet cul-de-sac in beautiful Turtle Ridge Subdivision. Convenient to everything in Flowood, including Dogwood Festival Market, grocery stores, drug stores, and the Ross Barnett Reservoir. You'll love the arched front doors leading into the home, plus the doors from the dining room that open onto the fenced, landscaped courtyard.As you step through the front door, the first thing you'll notice is the heart of pine wood floors. The dining room with its brick accent wall could be used as a wonderful home office if there is a need. The family room has built in cabinets and gas logs in the fireplace. The master bathroom has a jetted tub, separate shower, double sinks, and a glass block window that allows privacy but lets in na... 11/05/2018

Murphy's Law: What CAN go wrong WILL go wrong This post was inspired by a missing prescription. I went to my doctor who said she would phone in my prescription. After work I went to the pharmacy, only to be told they had no record of an order. They blamed the doctor's office, who was closed by this time, and suggested perhaps I was at the wrong pharmacy!   Regardless of how much I protested, they didn't budge. The next morning, the doctor's office called to confirm my prescription WAS called in, this time with a confirmation (?), and my script was filled.  So, WHY did I think this relates to real estate? If anything goes wrong, someone's going to point a finger. It's human nature to want to place blame, and I see it happen all the time. A real estate transaction has many moving parts. L... 10/25/2018

The City of Brandon had a Town Hall meeting recently to discuss Community Development in the city and the Police and Fire Department budget.  Two important announcements were made during the meeting. First, Brandon was named the Second Safest City in the State of Mississippi by the independent group SafeWise. SafeWise determines the rankings by reviewing data from FBI crime statistics.  Meanwhile, our neighbor Madison, MS was named the number one Safest City in the State. Both of these cities are part of Metro Jackson and are to be commended for the outstanding job they do to keep their residents safe. The next announcement Mayor Butch Lee made was that the fire insurance rating for residents of Brandon has fallen from a Class 5 to a Class 4. This rating will effectively lower the insur... 10/16/2018

 I happened to catch this helicopter hovering over the #1 tee at Castlewoods Golf & Country Club while dozens of golf balls were dropped onto the course. This event is in conjunction with the Chamber Cup Golf Tournament sponsored by the Flowood Chamber of Commerce. Golf balls were raffled off and a lucky winner walked away with $500!  Are you interested in a home with a view? If so, you can reach me at 601-278-4513. 09/14/2018

Avalon Subdivision is situated between Old Fannin Road and Hugh Ward Parkway in Brandon. The main entrance on Old Fannin Road is just outside Flowood city limits in Brandon's 39047.  The prime location is convenient to restaurants, shopping, medical facilities and recreation. Avalon got its start in the late 1990s and the neighborhood has prospered, today it's home to 400 households.  NEIGHBORHOOD AMENITIES: Avalon has wonderful amenities for residents to enjoy. In addition to the neighborhood pool and playground, the clubhouse is available for residents to use for private events. A fitness room is also available. The clubhouse is located at the corner of Avalon Way and Brighton Court. There's plenty of parking, and the playground is fenced for safety. Mature trees help shade the playgr... 08/25/2018

 Forest River Subdivision is one of Brandon's newest neighborhoods off Old Fannin Road. It's located at Farmington Station and Vernon Jones Road, behind Timberview Plaza office complex. AMENITIES: Homes in Phase One are under construction by several prominent homebuilders. Pricing for the homes range from the low to upper $300,000s. These homes feature many desirable amenities such as wide plank hardwood flooring, interior brick and shiplap accents, large granite islands, and exterior fireplaces. All homes have a minimum of two car garages (some have three), and heated and cooled area ranges between 2000-2700 square feet (as of 8/8/18, when this article was written).  View homes for sale in River Forest SCHOOLS: Children in River Forest will attend the Northwest Rankin School District, ... 08/08/2018

SOLD - 77 Woodgate Drive, Brandon, MS This affordable home in Crossgates stayed on the market all of THREE days before a smart Brandon home buyer scooped it up. With three bedrooms and two full baths, a sunken family room with wood beams and a cozy fireplace, a screened porch and fenced yard, it will make a wonderful home for its new owners.Although the exterior was mostly brick, the sellers had recently replaced the trim on the home and upgraded the master bath with a jetted tub and new ceramic tile. The kitchen had a wonderful mosaic tile backsplash, a gas cooktop, and granite countertops.We are still getting calls for homes in this area, so if you've considered selling, please contact me at 601-278-4513 for a no-obligation consultation.Crossgates was one of the first master planned c... 07/30/2018

While driving past the Brandon Nursing and Rehabilitation Center last week, I caught a glimpse of something colorful and of course, had to turn the car around to take a photo. The facility recently installed this gorgeous heart shaped flower bed smack in the middle of the front lawn. The picnic tables were painted a shade of red to match the vincas. In the photo below you can see a section of the red walking track.The nursing and rehab facility has received several Commercial Landscaping Awards from the Brandon Garden Club for their previous projects. The flower bed was an employee project and implemented by the employees.  The facility is located at 355 Crossgates Blvd in Brandon. Almost Wordless Wednesday - Heart Shaped Garden of Love   07/18/2018

Great news for the City of Brandon! The Brandon Amphitheater opened in the Spring of 2018 on Boyce Thompson Road in Brandon. Locals and tourists from across the country have enjoyed performances by national entertainers, including Hank Williams, Jr., Dave Matthews Band, Salt-N-Pepa, and many more. Still to come this summer will be Alan Jackson, Chris Stapleton, Imagine Dragons, and Alabama. I attended the Hank Williams, Jr. concert and he did not disappoint. The Amphitheater has outdoor seating for around 8000 people, and events are held rain or shine. You need to know certain things before attending a concert. For instance, what you can carry, what to leave at home, when to arrive, etc.  The City of Brandon has provided a list of FAQs to answer most of your questions. The Amphitheater ... 06/11/2018

As you enter Greenfield Station from Highway 468, you'll pass the neighborhood pools and cabana as well as a few estate sized homes on the right. You will notice the lush landscaped entrance and roundabout which leads to four communities within Greenfield Station.The first development in the neighborhood is Greenfield Ridge, a section with homes between 1200-1550 square feet. Next, Greenfield Crossing was developed with homes to meet the needs of those looking for 1550-2000 square feet. See my 2017 blog post about the neighborhood. Two new phases are currently under construction. Coventry of Greenfield features quality new construction with 1900 square foot minimums, and Sawgrass Lakes is being constructed with 1300 square foot minimums. Current pricing for Coventry is in the mid $200,0... 04/27/2018

Northwest Rankin Middle School students were schooled in the art of real life recently by participating in a Reality Fair. I was fortunate to play the role of "Realtor" in two sessions at the school.Students selected their desired occupation, and based on that choice, they were paid a salary and instructed to find housing, connect utilities, pay their insurance, cell phone, etc. Their choices had to fit within their budget. In some cases, students had to negotiate ways to either increase their income or reduce expenses. The number one stop on their shopping list was to find a place to live. So one by one they visited the housing booth. Based on their income, wants and needs, they chose between a one bedroom apartment, sharing a two bedroom with a roommate, thereby cutting their expense,... 04/13/2018

Crossview Plantation is one of Brandons' newest neighborhoods with estate sized lots near the Ross Barnett Reservoir. Located off Holly Bush Road, Crossview Plantation features homes with lot sizes between 1.5 acres to 3 acres, with a minimum square footage requirement of 2,200.  Crossview Plantation is within walking distance of the newly constructed McClains General Store and Restaurant. It's a comfortable commute to Jackson and Madison with easy access to Highway 25 (Lakeland Drive) and shopping at Dogwood Festival Market in Flowood.A dozen homes are in varying stages of construction at the present time with four exclusive builders. Home prices range from the low $400,000s to the mid $500,000s. These homes are quality construction with features you would expect at this price point. H... 04/02/2018

If you've followed my blog for very long, you know I love to capture images like the one above. While viewing property this afternoon, I spotted this dilapidated old barn behind a row of new construction homes, and couldn't resist snapping this picture. And how about that tree? I wonder how old it is. Wordless Wednesday - I Couldn't Resist!  03/28/2018

  My first contact with this couple was mid November. They were relocating to the Jackson MS metro area for a job opportunity and looking for a Realtor to help them find a home. Less than 60 days and two snow days later, we closed on their home.  My heart was full when I received the following review... "We found Pat Starnes online where she was highly recommended. We spoke with her on the phone. She subsequently gave us her website of current homes that she thought matched our desires. When we flew into town, we had 5 days to find a home. She picked us up at the airport despite the fact that it snowed 3 inches that day! We spent 8-12 hour days together that weekend looking at homes. Monday we were no closer to finding a house and we were flying out the next day. At that point, Pat reco... 02/28/2018