Real Estate Information

Put on your dancing shoes for this year’s Zoo Rendezvous: Zoodio 54.

The Zoo's largest fundraiser of the year and the hottest ticket in town! Zoo Rendezvous will have fare from more than 70 Mid-South restaurants and bars, as well as entertainment on four stages.

Saturday, September 7, 2019
7-10:30 p.m.

$200/ticket

21 and up

Call 901.333.6757 for more information.

By and photo credit: https://www.memphiszoo.org/rendezvous

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When you purchase a home, you are not only choosing where to live, you are making a financial investment as well. Home equity is the percentage of your home value that you own and with each mortgage payment you make you are contributing to your own financial savings.  The goal is to build up as much equity as you can so that when you sell your home, you will make a nice profit!  Here are some tips for building home equity:

• Take Out a 15-Year Mortgage Loan - It’s common for people to choose a 30-year mortgage because many believe a 15-year mortgage is out of their budget.  However, it can’t hurt to ask your mortgage lender to run the numbers to see if a 15-year mortgage is doable for you.  You might be surprised to discover that the shorter term is within reach.  Sticking to a budget that allows you to pay off your house in half the time will build equity faster and will certainly pay off in the long run! These 4 Easy Steps Will Teach You How to Budget (Finally)
   
• Pay Down the Principal - Build equity faster by paying down your home loan quicker.  Even if you don’t have the ability to take out a 15-year mortgage, you can still make extra mortgage payments when you have the means to do so and the difference extra mortgage payments can make toward building equity are huge. If you make just one extra payment toward principal each year, you can potentially pay off your home loan seven or eight years ahead of schedule.  There are ways to do this without breaking your budget.  For example, you can use a tax refund or a work bonus.  Another way to do it is to simply add a small amount to your principal payment each month. What is Mortgage Principal?
   
• Make a Larger Down Payment - Depending on your credit standing, you can qualify for a conventional mortgage loan with a down payment as low as 3%, and an FHA loan with a down payment as low as 3.5%.  While it’s tempting to buy a house with a low down payment so that you have more cash on hand, the pros of making a larger down payment may outweigh the cons. The larger the down payment, the faster you build equity.  The faster you build equity, the more profit you will make should you have to sell your home before paying it off.
   
• Make Improvements on Your Home - Making home improvements is a good way to add value to your property.  It’s important to educate yourself about what home improvements give you the best ROI (return on investment).  For example, per Chris Terrill, CEO of HomeAdvisor, “a minor kitchen remodel is one of the best investments homeowners can make.”  “Projects including refinishing cabinets, updating the countertops and installing new appliances all provide high return without breaking the bank.”  Other home improvements that add value to your property include replacing garage doors, adding a bedroom, updating a bathroom and installing new windows. And don’t underestimate the value of curb appeal!  A professionally landscaped yard will not only help with a quick sale; it can also add up to 20% to your home’s value!

Owning a home is likely the largest financial investment you will make, and the more equity you acquire, the more options you will have.  You can utilize your equity as a nest egg for the future or it can be used as a cash down payment on your next home.  Use these tips to build equity faster so you can build up your savings an enjoy this wonderful perk of home ownership!

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home in the Memphis area, contact professional Realtor Melissa Thompson and let her help you with all your real estate needs! Give her a call today at 901-729-9526!

Photo Credit: thewhitellawoffice.com

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The annual Goat Days Festival is a Millington tradition and takes place Friday, September 6^th and Saturday, September 7^th this year! Bigger and better than ever, Goat Days kicks off with The World’s Greatest Goat Parade at 5:30 PM on Friday followed by Opening Ceremonies for the 30th Annual Event. Festival gates will be open from 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM on Friday and 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM on Saturday.

An Antique Tractor Show and Parade, the ever- popular Dixie Irons Tractor Pull, equestrian events, Hot Air Balloon Rides, El Toro Taco and Hot Rod Barn Show and Shine Car Show and swap meet benefiting the Millington Crisis Center, KCBS Championship BBQ Contest, Arts and Crafts benefiting the Millington Arts Council, games and rides, fishing rodeo, horseshoe and corn hole tournaments, battle of the bands, incredible food and goats, goats and MORE GOATS!

Benefiting many charitable organizations, Goat Days is presented by the City of Millington in memory of the event founder, W.S. “Babe” Howard, sponsored by Republic Services, Carey’s Body Shop, Ritter Communications, Homer Skelton Ford and Homer Skelton Chrysler Dodge Jeep.

$5 per car load, festival admission FREE

By and photo credit: millingtontn.gov

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When selling your house, having pets presents some challenges.  Your fur babies are a beloved part of your family.  But it’s important to realize that not everyone feels comfortable around animals. So, it is vital that you consider the impact a pet may have on the bottom line when selling your home.

Some potential buyers may be perfectly fine with pets in the home, but for others, it might be a deal breaker. They might not ever walk through your front door if they know there are animals inside. Pets make some people very nervous, and others may have a fear of animals.  In addition, keep in mind that your pets are not their pets.  Even if they are pet owners and animal lovers, they don’t know your pets or what you allow them to do.

The best solution for home-sellers with pets is to relocate them while your house is on the market.  It may be upsetting for you to do this, but it is the best option.  At the very least, you should do your best to remove your pets from the house during open houses and when your home is being shown.  That means having a plan for those last-minute home showings. How to Prep Your House for a Last-Minute Home Showing

It’s also a good idea to remove all signs of your pet from the home when it is being shown. You want your home to look and feel as appealing as possible to homebuyers.  Cat litter boxes should be clean and kept out of sight.  If your carpets have pet stains, hire professionals to get rid of them. Replace them if necessary.  And be hyper aware of pet odors. Because you live with them, you likely don’t smell them. Have a neighbor come in and do a sniff test…and tell them to be honest if they smell pet odors.  If eau de doggy (or kitty) is present, try enzyme cleaners such as Simple Solution or Nature’s Miracle to get rid of it.  Put away food and water bowls when not in use and hide pet paraphernalia such as toys, kitty condos, leashes, animal beds etc.  Most importantly, vacuum religiously.  Every day. Sometimes twice a day. How to Get Rid of Pet Smells Fast

Remember that whatever steps you take to “de-pet” your home are temporary.  The sooner your house sells, the sooner you will be reunited with your precious pets and life with them will go back to normal.

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home in the Memphis area, contact professional Realtor Melissa Thompson and let her help you with all your real estate needs! Give her a call today at 901-729-9526!

Photo Credit: earth911.com

The Delta Fair is a classic. It's a week, August 30^th – September 8^th, of midway games, rides, livestock and homemaking competitions, exhibits, and more.

The Delta Fair & Music Festival brings the communities of Memphis together to celebrate the area’s rich art, music and culture. In addition to the lineup of homegrown musicians performing across a diverse range of genres, the festival offers a wide variety of entertaining attractions like a motorcycle stunt show, live chainsaw sculpting, a Mexican rodeo, a mini tractor pull, laser tag, magic shows, a demolition derby and more. The 4-H and FFA Children’s Barnyard features kid-friendly exhibits and an opportunity to feed live farm animals, and one of the festival’s highlights is the Banana Derby, where Capuchin monkeys are the jockeys in an adorable dog race.

Did you know that the Delta Fair & Music Festival has more LIVE music than any other event in Memphis?  Over 150 acts on 3 stages!  They strive to balance the lineup to showcase national acts as well as our very own home grown world class artists who have their roots growing deep into the Delta soil. 

What would a visit to the fair be without filling up on the good old-fashioned fair food! You’ll find everything from Pronto Pups to Funnel Cakes and everything in between! Whatever you decide, we can all agree that state fair foods are the best!

Located at 7777 Walnut Grove Rd, Memphis, TN 38120. Call (901) 213-7469 or visit www.deltafest.com for additional information.

By and photo credit: deltafest.com

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Moving to a new town can be tough on kids.  Leaving behind friends and familiar places is hard enough; add in the anxiety of starting at a new school and it’s a lot for any child to handle. But while change is challenging, it can also be positive.  Here are some tips for helping your children blossom at their new school:

1. Prepare your children.  Make them part of the process of learning about their new school. Go to orientation together or arrange for a tour.  Older children, especially, will appreciate the opportunity to get the lay of the land and figure out where their classes are before the first day.  Show them where the bathrooms, gymnasium, auditorium and nurse’s office are. If possible, have them introduced to their teachers.  They will feel much more confident when they start if they are not feeling lost.
    
2. Meet friends before school starts.  Tweens and teens may have the opportunity to try out for and/or join sports teams or band during the summer.  This is a fantastic way for them to meet others with common interests.  For younger children, sign them up for day camps either at the school they will be attending (if offered) or at local rec centers.  If your community has a pool or play area, you will likely meet people there that will be attending the same schools.  Joining a community league sports team is also a great way to meet other kids that you’ll likely see at school as well.
    
3. Replicate or create first day of school traditions.  If there are things you have always done to celebrate the first day of school, stick with them.  That will give your kids a sense of familiarity and make the change of a new school less dramatic.  If you haven’t established any traditions for back to school, now is a good time to start.  Whether you fix a special breakfast, or take them for a treat at the end of the day, that little extra bit of TLC is sure to make them feel better.  21 Back-to-School Traditions to Try This Year
    
4. Practice driving to school.  This might sound silly, but the last thing your children need on their first day at a new school is to be late.  If you are driving them to school, choose a weekday to take a test run at the same time you will be driving during the school year.  That way you will have a good idea of what time everyone needs to wake up and be ready to go.  Keep in mind that there will likely be more traffic when school starts, so give yourself a little extra time.  Make sure you know where to drop your children off and pick them up and what the procedures are for the car line.  If you are stressed, your children will be too.  If you know what you are doing, they will feel more confident.  If your children are riding the bus to school, be sure to know where the bus stop is and what time you need to be there.
    
5. Make sure your children get plenty of sleep.  Anxiety can make it difficult to sleep well.  Sleep deprivation in turn creates more anxiety.  While you can’t force your children to fall asleep, you can create an environment to aid them.  Limit screen time and make sure all electronics are put away before bed time. Set a bed-time routine and stick to it.  With all the changes taking place in their lives, children need the consistency of routine. 6 Tips for Getting Back to a School-Year Bedtime Routine
    
6. Don’t make it a big deal.  Sometimes the bigger a deal you make something, the more nerve-racking it becomes.  School is everyday business.  Talk openly with your kids about it. Acknowledge that it’s normal to be nervous, but emphasize, that you know they will be ok.  Avoid creating such high expectations that anything less than a perfect experience will feel disappointing to them.

If you are new to the Memphis area and need information about schools, check out these websites:

• Memphis School Guide
• Shelby County Schools
• 2020 Best Schools in Memphis
• Best Memphis Schools

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home in the Memphis area, contact professional Realtor Melissa Thompson and let her help you with all your real estate needs! Give her a call today at 901-729-9526!

Photo Credit: letgrow.org

A festival of collaborations among musicians and artists of diverse genres from Memphis and beyond, bringing to life unique performances and workshops in the award-winning Crosstown Concourse. Now in its third year, this festival for the adventurous listener will include performances at Crosstown Theater, The Green Room, East Atrium Stage, and a special collaboration with Opera Memphis.

A free festival kick-off performance featuring Blueshift Ensemble and ICEBERG New Music will be held at Crosstown Brewing Company on Thursday, August 15.

Time: Friday 6pm-10pm / Saturday 10am – 11pm

Tickets: $30/day & $55/weekend pass

For more info and the full schedule of events click here.

By and photo credit: https://crosstownarts.org/calendar/continuum-music-festival-3/  

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