There are many steps in buying a house and each step takes time. The biggest determining factor is how long you spend looking at properties. Once you have a contract in place, it takes an average of 50 days to close on a house.

The National Association of REALTORS® recently introduced Commitment to Excellence (C2EX), a program that empowers REALTORS® to demonstrate their professionalism and commitment to conducting business at the highest standards.

Homeowners looking to add personality and individuality to their home are more likely to undertake a "do it yourself" remodel than hire a professional, according to the National Association of Realtors® 2019 Remodeling Impact Report: DIY. The report also shows that cash-strapped millennials are the most likely of any generation to take on a DIY project.

The spring buying season has begun, and this year potential buyers can take advantage of plentiful inventory and record-breaking housing affordability conditions.

Private transfer fees are fees charged to either buyers or sellers at the closing of a transaction each time a property is sold.  These fees decrease affordability, increase potential liability and provide no benefit to the property sellers or buyers. They have also been called "harmful" by the National Association of REALTORS®, Mississippi REALTORS®, and Central Mississippi REALTORS®.

The real estate industry is a good one to consider if you are starting a career or experiencing the need to change career paths. Daily, it is rewarding being the person who makes a first-time homebuyer's dreams come true, helps an investor purchase commercial property, or helps someone sell their home or property.  Every day is different, and every client is different making real estate sales an exciting business.

In 1969, Astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the Moon, Woodstock attracted more than 350,000 rock and roll fans, and the ARPANET, the predecessor to the Internet, transmitted its first communication. It was also the year the REALTORS® Political Action Committee, or RPAC as it is more widely known, was launched. The world has changed so much since then, and real estate has evolved with it.

While many people know that a Realtor® helps buy and sell homes, what they may not know is that only a Realtor® is a member of the National Association of Realtors® and subscribes to its Code of Ethics. It's the Realtor® Code of Ethics that inspired the association's powerful new "That's Who We R®" campaign, which launched February 25, 2019. The campaign aims to reinforce the value of Realtors® as advocates for property owners, engaged community members and trusted advisors with in-depth knowledge of the industry.

Mississippi has signed into law a savings account program supporting first-time homebuyers. Known as the First-Time Homebuyer Savings Account Act, Mississippi is taking proactive measures to help state residents realize the dream of homeownership.

The National Association of REALTORS® recently released a series of reports jam-packed with statistics. Central Mississippi REALTORS® has distilled much of this into some fun facts for home buyers and sellers.

Throughout our long history serving the area, the REALTORS® of Central Mississippi have consistently proven their devotion to giving back to the community. Over the years, we have provided relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina, contributed funds to Stewpot Community Services, and helped renovate and stock an art room at the Boys & Girls Club of Central Mississippi. More recently, Central Mississippi REALTORS® sponsored a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the upcoming expansion of Children’s of Mississippi and chose to contribute to Sunnybrook Children’s Home.

Home remodeling isn’t as easy as it looks on TV. And for nearly two-thirds of homeowners who’ve attempted a do-it-yourself house project, they say they regret not calling in an expert on at least one of their projects, according to a new survey from ImproveNet of about 2,000 Americans.

In a critical win for home sales while the partial shutdown of the federal government is ongoing, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will issue and renew flood insurance policies, reversing an unexpected and controversial ruling the agency released earlier this week.

Imposters. Impersonators. Fakes. Frauds. Phonies. You might call them by different names, but these scam artists have one thing in common: they pretend to be someone they aren’t and tell you a bogus story to con you into wiring them money.

Due to the popularity of technology allowing consumers to search for property for sale online, real estate professionals are frequently contacted to schedule a showing by potential buyers with whom they have no prior relationship. This creates awkward moments sometimes as REALTORS® encourage the meeting of potential buyers at the office first, for safety reasons, but potential buyers want to meet at the property, instead.

The U.S. House and Senate passed comprehensive farm legislation today that includes long-sought protection of federal Rural Housing Services programs for thousands of small communities across the country.

We do not get much cold here in Mississippi, but when we do, it can be brutal. We start by pulling out our winter coats and putting flannel sheets on the bed. While you are busy making your home cozy, do not forget that the cold can do a lot of damage around your house as well.

To understand the Prime Rate, it helps to understand the Federal Funds Target Rate. The Federal Funds Target Rate is the interest rate that banks charge to loan money to other banks for overnight loans.

Viewing a house for sale requires buyers to visualize the property as a future place to call home. Would-be buyers often have to rely on their imagination for how they want to design the property as homeowners and what that man cave set-up could look like.

When you have real estate questions, who is your source for accurate information? Some may respond that those public websites that do a lot of TV advertising are the source for all things real estate; but can that be true? All real estate is local and only local experts can advise on the value, trends, and economic development of a particular market.

Real property is property that is immovable and includes the land and all permanent structures affixed to the land. Personal property is everything that is movable, such as lawn mowers, automobiles, and books.

According to Central Mississippi MLS’ Market Heartbeat report, property inventory is low; therefore, properties are generally not sitting on the market for long. While holding steady for the past several months, there are currently 2,530 residential properties for sale in the 10-county area served by Central Mississippi MLS, Inc.

You've always dreamed of owning a home, but what advantages does homeownership actually offer?

Do not put the cart before the horse. For a stress-free home buying experience, take the steps in the order that produces the best results.

Owner’s title insurance is an optional fee that buyers are asked to consider when closing on a property. It is often disregarded since it is optional and frequently not discussed until closing.