Mary & Bill Watkins

Many buyers will ask me which is better: buying a new home or an older home, buying in the city or in the suburb, what's the latest real estate trends? Well, not everyone is the same. What might work for one family may not be as great for another family.

I can tell you that any property in the city will cost you more. The question is: "Are you willing to pay more to be close to work, nightlife, shopping and hundreds of restaurants?" Up until last month, many buyers were looking to buy in the city because of high gas prices, but even those are falling. Now people are buying in the city because it's trendy and convenient.

Property prices vary in Jackson, Mississippi, but you can find condos or town homes that top off around $300,000. Some buyers may think this is a hefty price to pay for a condominium or town home, but these properties are all convenient to shopping centers, businesses, museums, parks, restaurants, trendy bars and so much more. Many residents in Jackson like the convenience and don't even own a car.

Because it's trendy to live in the city, builders are creating designs from the 1960s modern styles with a bit of an edgy twist. Designs are simple lines and imaginative lighting, such as hidden lights or crafted balls. Some architects are getting really creative and adding built-ins that do double work. With these creative designs, a large flat-screen television can swivel between rooms.

Other new trends coming about are rain shower heads installed into the ceiling instead of the wall. Sinks that are large and built into the vanity are also making a come back, as many buyers are finding that while vessel sinks may look neat, they are just not practical for daily use.

Lofts are becoming more popular, too. Lofts provide working and living space. They are usually multi-level, with the first floor completely open for business or commercial use. The upper level usually contains floor to ceiling glass instead of solid walls, giving the upper level a more open look, even with several rooms.

Of course, green homes are also becoming very popular and trendy. Green homes feature solar energy, eco-friendly floor covering, energy efficient appliances and fluorescent lighting. Some green homes even have a plug in the garage designed just for electric cars.

So, here you have it: 2008's latest trends. We hope they help you in your next home buying experience.

Jackson, Mississippi real estate

Other Mississippi Communities

Many Pearl , Mississippi residents will agree that the community of Pearl is a wonderful place live, work and play, and the reasons for this just got better. The Bass Pro Shop in Pearl , Mississippi just kicked off the holiday season with the opening of Santa's Wonderland.

The opening of Santa's Wonderland not only made kids and parents happy, it also made 30 new employees happy since the store needed thirty extra hands to make the wonderland happen.

Santa's Wonderland will be open from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Sundays. There will be several free activities and games for children to enjoy such as hunting games, fishing activities and other outdoor fun, and Santa will be there.

This is a perfect attraction for Pearl residents or anyone looking to buy a home in Pearl . It has activities for the whole family to enjoy together, and best of all it's free. We hope while you're in Pearl , you will be able to drop by and enjoy the fun.

Website Info - http://www.yourmississippihome.com/

Bass Pro Shop

Santa's Wonderland

Many times relocation can't be avoided. When you get a new job or a promotion that requires you to move in just a couple of weeks, what will you do to sell your home that fast?

In today's economy, it's almost guaranteed that you will have to face the challenge of putting your house on the market and moving on out. Sometimes, the spouse with a new job can go ahead and move while the other spouse stays to take care of the home selling matters. But, many times that's just not possible, so what do you do?

There are several things that you can do to make sure your house is secure, retains its curb appeal and sells quickly. You will want to first find a good real estate agent. The further away you are, the more you will have to depend on your agent. Much more than if you still lived in the home. Contact your Realtor ever few days to keep updated on how many people are viewing your home, and what feedback your Realtor is getting.

Keep furniture in the home if you can. A home with some furniture is more attractive than an empty one. If you need all your furniture, you can always find a staging company that rents furniture to fill your empty rooms. If that's not in your budget, you can always take pictures of your home with your furniture in it, have them printed in 8x11 inches, and make a photo album so potential buyers will be able to see what the home looks like with furniture in it.

On the outside, make sure you have someone tending your lawn. Curb appeal is very important, so hire someone to keep your lawn mowed, the leaves raked, trim the hedges, or shovel the snow if needed. Before you leave, spruce it up a little. Add some new ground covering to your shrubs, and maybe brighten it up a little with colorful annuals.

When you're leaving be sure to touch up any paint that may need it. Sometimes, when you move your furniture will scuff the walls or scratch them. This can easily be touched up and will help the home sell faster. Another thing to remember about paint is not everyone likes bold colors, so if you have bold colors on your walls, you may want to consider painting them a neutral color.

Having someone to come in and professionally clean your carpets will go a long way. Especially if your home will be vacant. When a home is vacant, all the potential buyer will have to look at are the walls and floors. So, make sure they are super clean.

If you're leaving appliances, make sure you leave the paperwork and any warranty information. Of they are Energy Star appliances, leave copies of your energy bills to show how much you've save using them.

Vacant home are the perfect target for break-ins. Investing in exterior sensor lights that turn on automatically when dark will help a lot. Also, cancel your newspaper subscriptions. If you use a security alarm, keep it turned on and give the code to your agent. And last but not least, check your homeowners insurance. Some companies have a cap on how long your coverage will be in effect while your home is vacant.

These tips should help you get your home sold when you need to do it quickly.

The Legacy of Timbuktu : Wonders of the Written Word art collection has been brought to Jackson , Mississippi to the International Museum of Muslim Cultures Mississippi Museum, and will be here until October 31^st.

Within the last millennium a very important world legacy was discovered - the literate culture of Africa . It symbolizes unique riches and historical manuscripts that have survived for centuries. The found manuscripts are evidence that beginning in the 14^th century, a very sophisticated culture once lived and flourished in the city of Timbuktu on the outskirts of the Sahara Desert . The manuscripts show that Timbuktu was a crossroads for international commerce and book trade. It was also a well known center for learning, bringing in thousands of teachers, students and scholars from around the world.

The museum will showcase the exhibit of this awesome legacy and the many tragic events that ended Timbuktu . The feature exhibit will be a display of African manuscripts that show the prominence of learning and literacy that made Timbuktu what it was for over 700 years. The leather bound manuscripts are just some of the estimated one million documents that have been found in the country of Mali of West Africa. There will be videos that will display the African artifacts through listening stations, touch-screen kiosks, interactive maps and more.

This is a great attraction to Jackson residents and visitors. It gives the chance to explore the history of African trade, great civilizations, tent life, and French colonialism in Mali . There will also be a display of Malian musical instruments and a demonstration of the similarity between the music played on these instruments and today's blues.

If you're looking for a fun and affordable activity to enjoy while in Jackson , Mississippi , then stop by the museum. You will have fun while you learn.

Several real estate agents joined in a survey about marketing phrases and what they mean to them. In the survey, they were asked to give their own descriptions of what different marketing phrases mean. The results of the survey found that many agents came up with similar descriptions for each marketing phrase.

Here's some common marketing phrases and what they really mean:

~ Fixer-upper - This phrase could mean a number of things. The home could need major repairs, it could mean that no one has lived in it for several years, or that the home is very old, or a number of other things.

~ As-Is - This phrase usually means the seller will not perform any upgrades or repairs to the home. You will not be able to negotiate any defects found from a home inspection.

~ FROG - This phrase is usually found in south and southwest state listings. It means there is a Family Room Over the Garage or a bonus room. Do yourself a favor. If the room was added on after the home was built, check to make sure it was done with current building codes and proper permits.

~ Bright sunny home - This phrase is used to describe a home with no shading from trees.

~ Cozy - This phrase is used to discreetly let you know there is no room for your big screen television.

~ Light and bright - This phrase could mean that everything is white, such as carpeting, tile and paint.

~ Walk to shopping centers, schools and entertainment - This phrase usually means the property is located in a large retail or commercial area.

Many of these phrases can be confusing to potential homebuyers. If you are worried or confused about the meaning of a particular marketing phrase, just ask your Realtor for their opinion of the phrase.