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Searcy, AR Real Estate News

By Barbara S. Duncan, GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR
(RE/MAX Advantage)
  We don't have a lot of condos in Searcy Arkansas, a small 20,000 population city approximately 50 miles from Little Rock  Arkansas.  The first ones built were exciting for our city but the builder made a mistake.  He had an "outsider architect" plan them and though they were beautiful they had a problem. They were expensive and the bedrooms were all upstairs with a very steep staircase to get to them.  Young buyers couldn't afford them and older buyers couldn't climb the stairs.  After a few of those duds, the builders got wise and did better planning.  This one is ideal for the older buyer because it has easy access from the 1 car garage and is all one level.  It was custom built with two living areas and a dining room separating them.  It has 1890 sq. ft. and is free standing, anoth...
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By Mary PAUL, ABR, CRS,GRI, e-PRO,
(RE/MAX Advantage Realtors, Searcy, AR)
I cannot believe it!  My computer will not function, and I am not sure why!  I cannot get windows to come up, has anyone else had this problem?  What do I do to fix it?This is my home office computer, which I use for my real estate.  Also,  I need to write checks for my builder husband and I guess I will have to do them by hand!  Quicken will spoil you!I keep thinking if I keep messing with it, a miracle will happen and it will work!    I guess if it doesn't, I will buy a new one!  If anyone has any suggestions, let me know.  Thanks!                                                        http://mary@maryjpaul.com
Comments 12
By Mary PAUL, ABR, CRS,GRI, e-PRO,
(RE/MAX Advantage Realtors, Searcy, AR)
Maybe I'm wrong,  but  shouldn't homes be appraised by more than just square footage?.  Is  there not a difference in a  2500 sq. ft. home with an 8/12 pitch, and a home with a 12/12 pitch!   A  home with 10' and 12' ceilings should appraise for more than a home with 8' ceilings, don't you think?  I know it does on the cost approach, but on the comparables, shouldn't you find a comp with a higher pitch and higher ceilings?Also, a pier and beam home that has closed piers should be higher that one with open piers. You are not comparing apples to apples when you  don't make these adjustments.  There should be a difference in a home with vinyl in the gables and a home with brick in the gables.Below are some more things that should obtain a higher appraisal"                          1. exten...
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By Mary PAUL, ABR, CRS,GRI, e-PRO,
(RE/MAX Advantage Realtors, Searcy, AR)
Why do we collect THINGS?  We spend the first half of our lives collecting things and the second half trying to get rid of them!  WHAT IS WRONG WITH US?  I'm just as guilty as you are!I collect vases, dishes, antiques and who knows what!  Most are stored in my attic.  Why?  Why would a perfectly sane person do this?  It doesn't make sense!  I can't take these things with me when I scale down to a smaller home.  I've come to the conclusion that when I decide to retire, this is what I will do.   I will call my daughter and grandchildren and let them take what they want, the remainder will be put in an estate sale!  Maybe, I will recoup part of my money!There are people who collect cars. That is an expensive collection!  Jay Leno has so many cars that he stores them!  Can you imagine??  So...
Comments 11
By Mary PAUL, ABR, CRS,GRI, e-PRO,
(RE/MAX Advantage Realtors, Searcy, AR)
My grandson, Adrian, played in a baseball tournament last weekend in Pocahontas.  We won the tournament and all the boys played great!  Pocahontas has had serious flooding and the water is still very high, it did not affect the ball park, it was on higher ground.While eating breakfast at our motel, I became acquainted with a lady that had been staying at the motel for over a month!  Her home, which she had remodeled about four years ago, is still underwater.  She lives in a two story home, built very high off the ground, the water is almost to the second level.  She has lost everything on the first floor.  She said she had pictures and beautiful antiques that could never be replaces.  I felt so sorry for her.This was a remarkable lady, she had a very good attitude.  She did say that the...
Comments 2
By Mary PAUL, ABR, CRS,GRI, e-PRO,
(RE/MAX Advantage Realtors, Searcy, AR)
Adrian, my ten year old grandson, loves base ball.  He lives and breathes it!!  He plays first base and batters rarely get by him, he will do the complete splits to get an out!  We spend alot of time at the ball park, and what better place to to see old friends,  make new friends and make  real estate contacts.Gabrielle, my fifteen year old granddaughter, also plays first base.  She is an excellent player and can really slug the ball!  With two grandchildren playing ball we have a busy summer, thankfully most of the games are at night.  I think it is so important for children to play sports or have somthing in their life that demands time!  If you keep them busy, you can usually keep them out of trouble.  Searcy has a very nice sports complex.  Spring and summer almost everyone is at th...
Comments 6
By Mary PAUL, ABR, CRS,GRI, e-PRO,
(RE/MAX Advantage Realtors, Searcy, AR)
WELCOME TO SEARCY, ARKANSAS!  "A city where thousands live as millions wish they could," is the motto of Searcy.  Searcy has a population of approximately 20,600 people, and is located about 50 miles North of Little Rock.RIVER OAKS is an upscale golf course community and is very close to the hospital, shopping, banks, post office and restaurants.  The golf course has a club house and a pro shop.  River Oaks is home to all people, young, middle age, senior citizens and  retirees. There are condos in the front of River Oaks and they are perfect for the person who doesn't want any upkeep.  River Oaks is a great place to call home!My husband has built alot of homes in River Oaks.  There are some pictures below of River Oaks and some of the homes he has built.  If you are planning on moving,...
Comments 3
By Mary PAUL, ABR, CRS,GRI, e-PRO,
(RE/MAX Advantage Realtors, Searcy, AR)
IF ALL YOU CAN DO IS PULL UP YOUR MLS SYSTEM, YOU'RE NOT!  Tommorrow's agents will do most of their transactions on the internet  RELAY is a transaction management system that many Realtors will use.  The agent of tommorrow will know "texting" and their cell phone will be their office away from home!  I have a Treo 680 and I can text, e-mail, pull up the MLS, surf the internet, figure loan payments, have a contact list, a daily planner and soooo much more!  It is my office that I carry with me.  There are many cell phone like this, this one just works well for me.  If you don't want to learn new technology, YOU WILL BE LEFT BEHIND!  Consumers are very technology minded!  They know what they want, and they want it fast!  They can surf the net and find homes any place in the world, and th...
Comments 16
By Mary PAUL, ABR, CRS,GRI, e-PRO,
(RE/MAX Advantage Realtors, Searcy, AR)
Remember "time is of the essence" when dealing in real estate.  To ensure a valid contract, make sure all parties have signed!  Return phone calls promptly, to clients and other agents.  DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT!  This is the most  important thing you can do.  Keep that paper trail, especially if you feel something is not right.  Today, I had an agent in my office ask what to do if you are worried about drug manufacturing in a home.  I gave her a pamphlet with a number to call, and told her what I would do. She is a fairly new agent and will do well in real estate, she never hesitates to ask questions.  I had a house listed that I knew the occupants did drugs, he had been on tv court.  My buyers had a small child, I suggested an inspection of the home for drug manufacturing. I got t...
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By Barbara S. Duncan, GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR
(RE/MAX Advantage)
Walking by my azalea bush in the back yard, I was almost blinded by the color.  It will only last a few days and be gone.  Looking at the neighbor's yard, I saw this tree that is also so colorful.  With flooding all over Arkansas, as you've probably read in the news, it should be cheerful to see something pretty and colorful.  BUT, it is colder than the dickens here (old Southern saying and I don't know what it means) so all our new flowers may get killed tonight by late freeze. 
Comments 8
By Mary PAUL, ABR, CRS,GRI, e-PRO,
(RE/MAX Advantage Realtors, Searcy, AR)
Folks, we are in one of the most dangerous professions!  We meet people we don't know at vacant homes, we let strangers in our cars, yet none of us would pick up a hitch hiker!  WE ARE AN ASSULT WAITING TO HAPPEN!  When I read articles about Realtors who have been hurt or murdered I really get scared.  We never know what is going to happen, and we are all in the same boat!  WE WANT TO MAKE THE SALE!If someone calls me after hours and I haven't met them,  I get my husband to go with me.  He sits in the car and waits until I am finished.  No, I am not a beautiful young lady, but it is not about looks, it is about  POWER!  There are eighty year old women who get raped!  Don't think because you are old, fat, male, ugly or whatever that you are safe.  YOU ARE NOT!When showing property, don't...
Comments 25
By Barbara S. Duncan, GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR
(RE/MAX Advantage)
 We are pleased to have new people moving to Searcy.  Several families are being relocated to White County as gas wells are being built and all the jobs that go with gas production are filled.  Everyone is excited as we watch to see what happens in this previously quiet town.At this point, Searcy has no central rental agency.  Other towns have places to go and have someone find you a rental.  Not Searcy.  The best we offer right now is a rental sheet with a list of what we have been told is available.  We offer it as a courtesy and anyone can stop by and pick one up.A forlorn looking family was in our lobby looking at the sheet.  At first I passed by but turned and went back to see if I could help.  They were saying, "No one will accept our pets."  "Pets?"   I ask.They explain that they...
Comments 6
By Mary PAUL, ABR, CRS,GRI, e-PRO,
(RE/MAX Advantage Realtors, Searcy, AR)
I love selling real estate and meeting new people!  Sometime finding the right home can be a challenge, but the end result is very rewarding.  When the children are eager to claim their bedroom and their eyes are full of excitement, I'm glad we found the right home! When buyers have older children, I include them in the conversation when we are looking.  If they play sports I drive them by the sports complex, school, parks, library, public pool and the shopping areas.  I feel this may make it easier for them to adjust.  Moving to a new place is a little scary to children, they have left their old friends behind and they wonder if they will fit in.Keeping a cooler of soft drinks and some snacks is always a good idea!  Kids get bored and a soft drink usually hits the spot!  It's very impo...
Comments 20
By Mary PAUL, ABR, CRS,GRI, e-PRO,
(RE/MAX Advantage Realtors, Searcy, AR)
I was completely shocked Thursday night  when Michael Johns was voted off!  I think he is so talented and he performed so well Aerosmiths "Dream On."  A native of Australia, he has a great voice with alot of soul!  He has star quality and I believe he will make it big!Thursday night he was in the bottom three for the first time.  This guy can really sing, and he did not deserve to be voted off.  Everyone was totally surprised, especially the other contestants!  Paula was in disbelief and the audience was shocked!  I watched him this morning on one of the talk shows with Dolly Parton!  Dolly thinks he has tremendous talent and will be a star.  I agree with Dolly!  I think this time the American people got it wrong!!   
Comments 13
By Mary PAUL, ABR, CRS,GRI, e-PRO,
(RE/MAX Advantage Realtors, Searcy, AR)
This year I mailed my taxes early!  I generally wait until the last day, but this year I decided I would get it done early!  I pay estimated taxes and that is a big help!  If you are not paying estimated taxes, you may want to talk to your tax person!  It is so much easier paying a smaller sum four times a year, than one large sum! Last year I planted alot of  outside flowers the end of March.  We got a cold spell and they withered and died.  I went back to the nursery and the lady said, "Never plant in Arkansas until after April 15th, tax time."  Wow, does everything revolve around tax time!  Anyway, I can't hardly wait until the 16th to start planting!!We have had soooo much rain here!  It is a beautiful 69 degrees today, but tomorrow it is suppose to be colder!  We have certainly had...
Comments 11
By Barbara S. Duncan, GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR
(RE/MAX Advantage)
REALTORS  have a saying about a house that is about two or three years old.  We sometimes call it a "better than new house" because some owner has worked on the yard, added the window coverings and sometimes added a privacy fence. This house located on Shawn Terrace in Searcy AR qualifies for that description.  Best of all is the addition of the Plantation Shutters that are custom made and go all across the front of the house.  I understand the shutters are extremely expensive and when I questioned the gentleman who is co-owner about the huge expense and why he made that expense he just replied, "Because my wife wanted them."  He said that in a voice that implied he absolutely adored his wife and whatever she wants, he supplies. This property is for sale and if you are looking for a pro...
Comments 3
By Barbara S. Duncan, GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR
(RE/MAX Advantage)
This great old house in Searcy has been here for a long time.  It is located near downtown Searcy and was built before the street was paved, as you can see in the original picture.  I once had it listed and the inside was so interesting with lovely wood trim and wood floors and butler's pantry and a sleeping porch upstairs.  I have not been inside in several years but I hope it hasn't changed too much. I personally think it is interesting to compare the house when it was new with no trees or shrubs and how it is now with a multitude of grown trees and neighbors nearby.  Of special note to you home inspectors is the extension of the chimney from the construction days til now.  I've heard that chimneys won't "draw" unless they are higher than the pitch of the roof.  Why else would they ha...
Comments 8
By Mary PAUL, ABR, CRS,GRI, e-PRO,
(RE/MAX Advantage Realtors, Searcy, AR)
Generally I list my builders new construction before the footing is poured.  I keep a house plan in my office and several times homes have been sold before construction.  The problem is when a new construction is listed, takes six months or longer to build, and the days on the market are misleading.  The home is not finished so the days on the market would be longer!   I'm talking about a stable market here, not one where the builder is trying to unload 75 homes and is on the edge of bankruptcy!  Don't think the builder in a stable market  is going to take a 25% reduction, just because you think it has been on the market a long time!  Educate your buyers that the days are not accurate because the builder did not have the home finished.  Selling new construction is not the same as sellin...
Comments 12
By Mary PAUL, ABR, CRS,GRI, e-PRO,
(RE/MAX Advantage Realtors, Searcy, AR)
Did anyone watch the Barbara Walters special last night?  They say that babies born today could live to be 150, and feel young!  They have found ways to stop aging!  WOW!  People in their 80's will feel like they are 40!  Do you really think this is possible?  They even think they can grow body parts, IS THIS SCIENCE FICTION OR WHAT?And, there are some people who are having their bodies frozen at death anticipating that they can get new parts and come back alive.  Of course this costs $75,000 per person!  One family of five signed up for it!  I wonder if that comes with a written guarantee?I think we had better start saving our money!  I don't think my money will last for me to live 90 more years, especially with the gas and food prices!!  Also, Social Security is only suppose to last u...
Comments 25
By Mary PAUL, ABR, CRS,GRI, e-PRO,
(RE/MAX Advantage Realtors, Searcy, AR)
The first big step toward  buying your first home is to start at the bank.  Find out what you can afford to buy and buy less than you can afford.  You don't want to be saddled with a big payment and find that you have no money left for savings, recreation, or an emergency!  Next step is to find a Realtor that is looking out for you!  Don't be eager and buy the first home you see!  Shop around, you may find something you like better.  Buying a home is not like buying a pair of shoes, you can't take it back later for an exchange.  When you find the home that is right for you, get a home inspection!  You need to know if there is going to be a problem with the home later.  Is the roof in good shape?  What about the heat and air units? Do all the electircal outlets work?   A home inspector c...
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