April is Fair Housing Month
Every April, Realtors remember the passage of the Fair Housing Act of 1968. This landmark legislation made it illegal to discriminate in the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, color, national origin, and religion. Familial status, disability, and sex, which includes sexual orientation and gender identity, have since been added as protected classes. The Fair Housing Act has helped to promote diversity, inclusion, and equal access to housing for millions of Americans. However, we know that the fight for fair housing is still on-going and there is so much work left to be done.
6 Tax Benefits to Owning a Home
Tax season is upon us! The due date to file is April 15, 2024 for your 2023 taxes. Let’s take a look at this realtor.com article that breaks down all the tax breaks homeowners should be aware of when they file their taxes this year.
National Cleaning Week 2024
Did you know 95% of American households engage in some form of spring cleaning? Spring Cleaning is a time-honored American household tradition promoting a boosted mood, better focus and overall relaxation. Each year, starting on the fourth Sunday of March, the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) celebrates the annual tradition of spring cleaning.
Neighborhood Business Highlight: Olive Juice Gifts & OJK-A Children’s Boutique
While a Senior at Ole Miss, Erin Young had the opportunity of a lifetime, to open her own business, Olive Juice Gifts on the Oxford Square. After a successful 10 years in the gift shop business, her marriage to Council Young and their first baby girl, they decided in 2021 to open OJK, A Children’s Boutique. They are happily married and now co-owners of OJK. As Erin shared, “This was not a planned venture, but it has been the best and most exciting challenge that we didn't know we needed.”
Neighborhood Philanthropy: 21st Annual Oxford Film Festival
Oxford is host to some wonderful non-profit organizations that provide for our community in so many ways. We want to provide a glimpse of these organizations each month. The Oxford Film Festival is set to host the 21st annual festival this week, March 21st-24th. In 2008, the Oxford Film Festival became an independent non-profit organization with 501c3 status committed to celebrating the art of independent cinema, and we are happy to highlight them this month!
Away for Spring Break? Tips to Protect your Home
Spring Break starts this weekend! With Ole Miss and local schools out March 11-15, we thought we would share some tips for protecting your home while you are away.
5 Common Real Estate Closing Day Surprises
It’s finally closing day and you cannot wait to make the deal official and move in! While closing day can be an exciting time, there are some common closing day surprises that can make the day a lot more stressful. Check out this realtor.com article that breaks down these 5 closing day surprises and how you both deal and close on your property.
Is Home Insurance Required When You Buy a House?
Is Home Insurance Required When You Buy a House?
How to Evict Pests Living in Your Attic This Winter
No one likes pests in their home. This realtor.com article shares pest control experts 5 unwanted visitors most likely to camp in your attic this winter, the telltale signs of common infestations, and how to mitigate them.
Neighborhood Business Highlight: Back 9 Oxford
Back 9 Oxford, fondly known as “The Country Club on The Square,” offers a different kind of sports bar experience for all ages. Looking for great food, multi-sport game simulators and a great bar menu? Back 9 Oxford is the place and we are happy to highlight them this month!
6 Outdated Habits Sellers Should Reset in 2024
If you’ve decided to sell your home this year, then it’s high time to make sure you’re in the right mindset to make it happen. Because let’s face it: Even in the best market conditions, selling a home can be a complex and stressful process. To help, this realtor.com article asked real estate agents what outdated habits home sellers should give up for good.
Neighborhood Philanthropy: The Pantry of Oxford & Lafayette County
Oxford is host to some wonderful non-profit organizations that provide for our community in so many ways. We want to provide a glimpse of these organizations each month. The Pantry of Oxford & Lafayette County has helped thousands of Oxford and Lafayette County citizens each year since 1982 by providing food to low-income families and the elderly living on a fixed income. The Pantry recently underwent a much needed renovation and expansion project to provide storage and access for refrigerated and frozen food. They “re-opened” on September 6, 2023 in their updated space. Since opening back, they have served 590 – 750 clients monthly.
New Rules for Buying a Home in 2024
For most of 2023, homebuyers were faced with a tough market of high interest rates and steep home prices. We are hopeful for a better buying season and realtor.com offers some “old rules” that should no longer apply to homebuyers in 2024.
Best Selling Advice for 2024
The housing market was not a level playing field in 2023. Some sellers felt “locked-in” to their low mortgage interest rates and some sellers felt they could sell their home for a high price, but would not be able to afford to buy another home. 2024 is predicted to offer a better market for both buyers and sellers. This realtor.com article shares the 6 best articles of advice and tips for sellers in 2023 that could help sellers in 2024.
Best Homebuying Advice for 2024
2023 was a tough year for homebuyers. Mortgage rates hit highs not seen in 22 years, home prices remained high and inventory was low. 2024 is looking to be the year for the homebuyer. This realtor.com article shares 6 of their most popular advice pieces, tips and takeaways for homebuyers in 2024.
Neighborhood Philanthropy: LOU Mercy Re-Entry Ministries
Oxford is host to some wonderful non-profit organizations that provide for our community in so many ways. We want to provide a glimpse of these organizations each month. According to the U.S. Department of Justice-Bureau of Justice Statistics, Mississippi has an incarceration rate at or above 650 per 100,000 residents. Mississippi is second only to Louisiana in incarceration rates. LOU Mercy Re-Entry Ministries was created to help the newly released (6 months or less) Lafayette county ex-offenders gradually rebuild their ties to the community, secure housing and transition to becoming productive citizens.
Homestead Exemption – Why File?
Homestead Exemption gives home owners a tax break in the state of Mississippi. You can only file homestead on one property, your main residence, and you must file January 2-April 1 in the Lafayette county Chancery building (the Assessor/Tax Collector’s Office).
Neighborhood Business Highlight: BossLady Detailing
We all love a clean vehicle. Many of us enjoy driving our cars through the carwash, but what if the carwash came to you? LaTasha Gillard wanted to bring a more personal touch to car washing and detailing, so she opened BossLady Detailing in September of 2022.
Pandemic Trends That Are Here to Stay
During the height of the Covid pandemic, everyone was looking for more space (a larger home with more land, a home office, a home gym and more outdoor spaces to hang with friends). Many of those trends are still going strong. Let’s take a look at this realtor.com article that shares the pandemic trends that are here to stay and those that are over.
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!! We look forward to serving you in 2024 and cannot thank you enough for helping to make 2023 such a wonderful year. Cheers to 2024!