Welcome to Serenity Lake Subdivision, one of the newest neighborhoods in Pearl.  Serenity Lake is located on Old Brandon Road, near the new Metroplex Parkway. Residents are minutes from restaurants and shopping at Dogwood Festival Mall, the Jackson International Airport, and medical facilities. Now that the connector road is open, you can travel from Serenity Lake to Dogwood Festival in 5 minutes!Homes in Serenity Lake are 3 and 4 bedroom, 2 bath homes with double garages, spacious laundry rooms, and walk-in primary closets. Prices range between $295,000 - $315,000, with square footage between 1700-1800 square feet. These quality homes feature brick construction, high ceilings, crown molding, stainless appliances, and granite countertops, among other amenities.If you are interested in o... 03/08/2023

603 Wildberry Drive in Patrick Farms Subdivision in Pearl MS is now closed.   I had the privilege to represent the sellers when they purchased this home three years ago, and was happy they contacted me to handle the sale of their home now that they are selling. It's bittersweet, though, because clients eventually become good friends and you hate saying good-bye. This 4 Bedroom, 2 Bath brick home located on the 7th tee in this golf course neighborhood has an open floor plan with new light fixtures, granite counter tops and stainless appliances in the kitchen, a spacious family room with  fireplace, and lots of natural lighting.  The new owners were thrilled to purchase this property and I'm sure they will enjoy their home for years to come. If you're in the market for a home in a golf co... 11/09/2018

 The property at 2359 Upper Drive in Pearl, MS is SOLD and CLOSED. The 3 bedroom, 2 bath house was listed in mid-September and closed in less than 30 days. The new owner intends to renovate the property. The house already had good bones; I can't wait to see the transformation.Upper Drive is located in Cunningham Heights, an affordable, convenient Pearl location.   If you are considering a move in the greater Jackson Metro area, please reach out to me at 601-278-4513.  10/21/2018

Barking dogs might deter burglars, but they can also discourage buyers when your home is for sale. An otherwise desirable property might be rejected because the buyer doesn't want to hear Brutus and Fido barking each time they walk outside.While showing homes this particular day, I arrived before the clients and went to unlock the door. Immediately the neighbors dogs in the fenced yard went berserk, barking at my presence.A few minutes later, the buyers arrived. Three Boxers in unison began to bark incessantly while my clients stopped and stared (at the dogs).The tour of the home went well and the buyers were very interested. We stepped out front to look at the exterior, just as a dog walker came down the cul-de-sac. In a bizarre twist of fate, one of the Boxers BROKE THROUGH the wooden... 10/12/2018

Are you looking for an affordable home in Pearl, MS? This 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath home is cheaper than rent. You can literally kiss the landlord good-bye! UPDATE: THIS PROPERTY IS SOLD. IF INTERESTED IN A FIXER UPPER OR SIMILAR PROPERTY, CONTACT ME AT 601-278-4513. Located toward the end of Upper Drive off Pearson Road, it's a quiet street in an established neighborhood. Upper Drive is convenient to I-20 at Exit 48. It's close to restaurants, Prime Outlets, Bass Pro Shop and Trustmark Park (for Mississippi Braves Baseball).  The house has a fabulous covered patio and two storage buildings. It is structurally sound with no known foundation issues and well maintained, but is in need of cosmetic updates. This is the perfect home to add your personal touches and truly make it your own.This brick ... 09/28/2018

A prospective home buyer and I were discussing the upgrades to the home for sale in Patrick Farms at 603 Wildberry Drive. While we talked, I browsed the photos from the old listing and compared to how the home looks today.What a transformation! The before photos show a cold, depressing home with stained concrete floors, dark walls, and a yard completely devoid of any plant life.After the current owners purchased the home, they added granite countertops to the kitchen, laminate flooring throughout the kitchen, dining, and family room, new carpeting in three bedrooms, and created flower beds and added vibrant, happy plantings.See the difference for yourself... There isn't a significant difference in the front yard. To be fair, the first photo was probably taken in the winter, as evidenced... 09/11/2018

 603 Wildberry Drive in Patrick Farms Listed for sale with Pat Starnes, Front Gate Realty JUST LISTED ~ Here's your chance to enjoy living in a golf course community overlooking the 7th tee. 603 Wildberry Drive features 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, an open floor plan with new light fixtures, granite counter tops and stainless appliances in the kitchen, a spacious family room with  fireplace, and lots of natural lighting. The owners added screens or storm doors to all exterior doors to enhance outdoor living. The interior was recently painted a warm neutral and new flooring installed in the public areas. The master bathroom has everything smart buyers want, including a jetted tub with separate shower, double sinks, and large walk-in closet. The back yard is perfect for informal gatherings with p... 08/19/2018

"Thanks for a job well-done.""Thanks for all your hard work""You were such fun to work with. Thank you!" Everyone appreciates a pat on the back, or an "atta-boy" for their job performance. It's no different for real estate professionals. It gives us a warm fuzzy feeling when clients take the time to compliment us or write a review on our behalf. I received a heartfelt thank you from an out-of-state seller who found me online and needed to settle his sisters estate. This is what he wrote:  Pat, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all you did for me in selling my sister's house. You were a God send. I never thought I would find an agent like you.This was a new experience for me but you lead me through it. It even became fun after a while!I wish you all the best and mayb... 08/09/2018

My clients purchased this adorable new construction home exactly four years ago in the Live Oaks Community in Pearl. The house served their needs well. It has three bedrooms, one of which they used as a home office, two bathrooms, hardwood flooring in the family room, a generous covered back porch and a fenced yard.The house was everything they needed until their jobs relocated them to the north side of the Jackson MS metro area. Wanting to reduce their commute, they contacted me a couple of months ago to begin the home search while at the same time selling their beloved first home. We met a couple of times to map out their options. With impeccable timing, we placed their home on the market and received an offer in less than a week, while simultaneously  executing an offer to purchase a... 08/06/2018

Today began as most real estate days do. My schedule was planned and I was walking out the door when I received an "urgent" call that tossed my schedule into a frenzy. When you buy a house with FHA financing, the house must meet specific FHA guidelines. One of the requirements is that windows are operational, meaning they must open and close. Sometimes homeowners decide to permanently seal the windows in an attempt to keep intruders out. Thoughout my real estate career, I've seen windows nailed or screwed down or painted shut, and sellers think they are doing it for their safety. However, they fail to think what might happen in case of an emergency.  The FHA underwriter red flagged the windows, and the buyers loan can't close until egress is accessible. The inspector wanted to reinspect... 06/18/2018

It's finally springtime and there's much to do in Brandon this month! Mark your calendars for these fun events around the Jackson Metro area. May 5 ~ Pearl Day FestivalThis event kicks off at 10:00 a.m. at Pearl City Park with arts and crafts, a Kid Zone with inflatables and a petting zoo, and a dunking booth.  There will be live entertainment throughout the day on both the small stage and at the Pearl Junior High School track and football field. The gates open at 4 p.m. for the BIG stage and $10 tickets are available here. Country Music star Sara Evans is the headline performer. For the full line-up of entertainment, follow this link to the City of Pearl website. May 5 & 6 ~ Spring Parade of HomesSponsored by Home Builders Association of Jackson, this is the final weekend for the Parad... 05/03/2018

Baseball. It's as American as apple pie, hot dogs, and fried chicken.The Mississippi Braves, a Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, moved to Pearl MS from Greenville, SC in 2005 and it's been fun for Mississippi baseball fans ever since.Residents within a few miles radius of the 8400 capacity ball park enjoy the weekly fireworks after home games each weekend throughout the season.Home games are played at Trustmark Park. Spectators have several chances to see the M-Braves play in July. From Wednesday, July 19 to Sunday, July 23rd, the M-Braves will host the Biloxi Schooners (BLX). From Tuesday, July 25 through Saturday the 29th, you can watch the M-Braves play the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (JAX).Games during the week start at 7:00 p.m. Saturday games begin at 6:00 p.m., while Sunday... 07/15/2017

When talking to home buyers about ordering their home inspection, some express confusion, and think the home inspection and the appraisal is the same report. Some borrowers think the bank will order the "inspection" for them.An appraisal is NOT the same as the home inspection.An appraisal determines the value of your property, in other words, what your home is worth. The appraiser will compare the age, number of rooms, amenities, and square footage to other properties that have recently sold to determine fair market value. Comparison properties are called "comparables" or "comps".A Realtor prepares a Competitive Market Analysis (CMA) in the same way, but appraisers have additional training, licenses and certifications.The appraisal does not determine if the home systems (air conditionin... 06/30/2017

I hear this question all the time from owners who want to sell their Brandon MS home or condo, "What should I do to get my house ready to sell?"CLEAN:The first thing that needs to be done is a thorough house cleaning. From top to bottom, inside and out, the grounds, gardens, flower beds, door frames, ceiling fans, etc.; EVERYTHING should be cleaned, mopped, dusted, and scrubbed.DE-CLUTTER:Next on this list? De-clutter. Since you have to pack anyway, pack your collectibles, off-season clothing, holiday decorations, etc. This will make your home appear more spacious than if your closets are overcrowded or you have too many knick-knacks on the shelves. DE-PERSONALIZE:Next? De-personalize. Pack away personal photos, mementos on the refrigerator, and the paid bills. Items with your name(s) o... 06/26/2017

ABOUT PATRICK FARMS:  Patrick Farms is a planned residential community located in Pearl MS, 10 minutes from the Jackson International Airport and convenient to I-20. It is surrounded by a semi-private 18 hole golf course built in 1999 by the Randy Watkins Golf Group. Homes in Patrick Farms are affordable. Typical home prices range from the mid $170s to the mid $240s. It's a wonderful price point for many families, and Patrick Farms offers a lot of value for the amenities and is convenient to shopping, churches, restaurants, and recreational activities. The Homeowners Association is managed by Landmark Properties. Annual dues are $180, payable quarterly at the end of each quarter.  School age children in Patrick Farms could attend either Pearl or Brandon schools, depending on the street ... 06/14/2017

My phone rang and the pleasant voice at the other end said "Ms Starnes?", to which I hesitantly replied "Yes". Realtors receive telemarketing calls on a daily basis and THIS call sounded suspicously like someone wanting to sell me the next best website, Google or Yahoo placement, or real estate gizmo or gadget. "I got your name from Mr. Johnson." Sounds suspect, but the caller continues: "You helped him buy his house and were so helpful that I told him I wanted HIS agent when it came time to sell my house. I'm calling to schedule an appointment." If I haven't said it lately, MY CLIENTS ROCK! My business thrives on word of mouth and repeat business, and THIS KIND OF CALL MAKES MY DAY! Thank you Mr. Johnson for recommending me to your friends. I will take good care of them. You have my pe... 10/29/2016

So, you want to sell your house. You've spent the last few weeks painting, taking care of deferred maintenance issues, and it's almost showtime! Are you ready? Let's take one more look around the house to be sure your HOUSE is ready...  Is the lawn freshly mowed? Are shrubs free of weeds and flower beds fresh with mulch?  Pressure wash the driveway, patio and sidewalks  Remove any loose throw rugs that could be a trip hazard Be sure the front door is welcoming and uncluttered. A fresh coat of paint and zero dust is a plus! Remove cobwebs from every corner. Dust the ceiling fans and change the air filters Organize your cabinets in the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry rooms Remove excess candles, clutter, and remove most of your family photos Be sure blinds, drapes, and windowsills are cle... 09/16/2016

My phone rang and a former homebuyer asked "How can I sell my current home while simultaneously buying a new one?" This young couple has lived in their Brandon MS home for three years and now wants to move to a larger home with a shorter commute. Rather than jump in the car and start looking at homes, I explained the process to my client. My first suggestion was to redirect them to their lender (who provided excellent service when they purchased their first home) to determine what price range they would now qualify for, factoring in increased wages, current financial obligations, etc. My next course of action is to take a look at the value of their current home and determine the amount of equity they would have upon selling.  After talking to their lender and preparing a market analysis... 09/01/2016

Pearl MS Residents To Benefit From Free Fall Clean Up WeekSaturday, October 31 - November 7, 2015 The City of Pearl MS is sponsoring a FREE clean up week the first week of November. This offer is for residential customers only.This is a terrific opportunity to eliminate clutter that's accumulated around your home, both inside and out.Most items can be placed at the curb for pick up, but if you have a large load, appliances, or white goods (mattresses, old furniture, etc), I'd suggest you call 601-932-3519 to ensure timely pick-up.Tree limbs will be accepted in 5 foot lengths (or less).Those who follow my blog know that I am environmentally conscious and I encourage readers to reduce their carbon footprint.Please do your part to recycle whenever possible.Flammables, explosive materials, ... 10/26/2015

Looking for Festivals and other things to do in Rankin or Madison County during the month of October? Here's a list of activities to enjoy with friends and family in and around the metro Jackson area, beginning with the MS State Fair! Mississippi State Fair  (Fairgrounds-Jackson, MS)October 7-18, 2015 Brandon Police Trunk or Treat Shiloh Park, Brandon October 1712th Annual Scarecrow Cruise & Car ShowMadison, MSOctober 16-17 Lake Harbour Volunteer Fire Dept. Haunted House Friday and Saturday, October 23-24; 30-31 Treat Street at the TownshipRidgeland, MSOctober 24 @ 4-6 p.m. Smokin' on the REZ BBQ and Music Fest  Old Trace Park, RidgelandOctober 23-24 Boo at the Zoo - Jackson  October 23-24 Rankin Glow Run 5K and Treat Street Muse Center, Pearl October 29 Kid's Night Out - a Halloween Al... 10/05/2015