Central Mississippi Real Estate and Community News

Welcome to 107 Chadwyck Ct! Sitting on a large lot that backs up to walking trail and mature trees. 3 car, large garage with storage rooms. A rare find of 5 Bedrooms! Complete with 6 full baths and 2 half baths. Primary bedroom is on the main level and 2 separate up stairs levels. This home also features an amazing screened in porch complete with fireplace and tv hookup. Circle around to the backyard and you'll find a recently built heated, jetted cocktail pool!

If you’re thinking of moving to Mississippi, be sure and check out our website www.taylorgroupms.com, it has all MLS listings in Central MS and is updated every 10 minutes.  Whether you're buying or selling, our team is here to help every step of the way.  Contact us today to get started.

Taylor Realty Group

601-613-9100

HI, I’m Donna Taylor with Living in Central MS. I’m Broker Owner of Taylor Realty Group.

  Today’s video is on one of our newest listings in the Town of Lost Rabbit in Madison.  If you’re not familiar with Lost Rabbit, be sure to watch the video I made with all the details (Lost Rabbit YT Video).  This home was custom built in 2021 and truly has all the updates and extras you can imagine including a gorgeous pool with hot tub, amazing outdoor area, double dishwashers, double washer dryer, I could go on and on!  The home is 4 beds, 4.5 baths and approximately 4,750 sq ft.  The outdoor area is perfect for entertaining guests with its expansive porches!  Listed at $1.4M, this home is an entertainer’s dream!

Hey guys! Tinsley Mitchell here with Living in Central MS. Today we are going to explore some recreational trails around Brandon MS and I will tell you a little about a few of them. First up, Fannin Landing.

The Fannin Landing Multi-Use 1.3 mile trail provides a connection for cyclists and pedestrians utilizing Mississippi's scenic Ross Barnett Reservoir area, linking the lengthier North Shore Parkway Multi-Use Trail with shore neighborhoods to the north such as Palisades, Marblehead and Arbor Landing as well as the popular Fannin Landing boat launch. Parking and restrooms are available at the Fannin Landing Boat Launch, located off Fannin Landing Circle across from Marblehead Drive, about 25 mins northeast of Jackson via Hwy 25.

The asphalt sidepath trail follows the side of Fannin Landing Circle from the parkway to the north, providing a relatively smooth and low-stress route for non-motorized users. While the trail may not function as a major recreation destination, it makes a great asset for the neighboring community and for those looking to stretch their legs with a ride or walk after time out on the water.

 Connected to the Fannin Landing trail is the 4 mile NorthShore trail. A sidepath trail that largely follows the route of its namesake roadway, the North Shore Parkway Multi-Use Trail helps provide area cyclists and pedestrians with convenient access to the neighborhoods and parks along the reservoir and Pelahatchie Bay, northeast of Jackson. The paved trail is wide and relatively smooth and flat, and the northern section in particular is popular with local joggers.

The trail picks up in the south from the end of the Spillway Road Multi-Use Trail and turns north, passing through the Timberlake Campground and up to the edge of Pelahatchie Shore Park, a lovely wooded recreation site along the shores of the freshwater bay. A spur along the way allows trail users access to Lakeshore Park and the Reservoir YMCA, providing even more recreation options along the route.

Past the park, bike lanes along the roadway and along the bridge can help carry cyclists across the bay to where the trail picks up again near Bridgepointe Boulevard, although note that there are no sidewalk accommodations for pedestrians. The trail intersects with another path that follows Fannin Landing Circle before continuing east along the northern shore of the bay along an uninterrupted and pleasantly shaded route, coming to an end at State Route 471 - more bike lanes are provided to the south, allowing cyclists to loop back around to the eastern end of the Spillway Road Trail. Parking and restrooms are available along the trail at both Lakeshore Park and Pelahatchie Shore Park, both located off of North Shore Parkway to the northeast of Spillway Road.

If you think you'd enjoy living in a neighborhood that adjoins the bike path, reach out to us to help you find that perfect home!

Taylor Realty Group

601-613-9100

Hi everyone, I’m Donna Taylor, with Living in Central MS.  Today, I’m here to talk about the good, the bad about HOA’s….especially as they relate to our area. So, if you’re thinking of moving to Madison, MS…listen up to what I have to say on HOAs…

So, are you an HOA hater??  I’m asking because I get a lot of buyers that tell me, they HATE HOA! I mean, I get it…you own your home and you should be able to do whatever you please on your property….right???  Well, not so fast.  Keep in mind one of the main purposes of an HOA is to protect home values in the neighborhood and of course to manage the common areas in a neighborhood.  Let’s just say your next door neighbor decides to paint the entire exterior of their house hot pink (nothing against pink, I love that color), just not on my house…well, if you’re in a neighborhood with no type of oversight from an HOA or other ordinance, they are free to paint their house hot pink.   And a few years later you decide to sell your home, and everyone that comes thru your front door mentions the pink house next door, and ultimately decide they don’t want to live next to the hot pink house, your home value has DECREASED.  Of course, this is an extreme situation, but this happens A LOT with other things like neighbors parking boats, trailers or junk cars in the yard.  Or maybe a neighbor that doesn’t keep their house up and has a big blue tarp on the roof for 2 years running and paint that is peeling and a yard that hasn’t been mowed in a month…. you get the gist.  So, what do HOA’s in Madison MS cost you ask?  Most of the neighborhoods in Madison, whether in the city or the county do have an HOA.  But you might be surprised at how low the HOA fees in Madison are…especially if you’re used to living in a bigger city with high HOAs.  The average ANNUAL HOA fee in Madison is around $600.  Some of the neighborhoods with more amenities like Lake Caroline (check out that YouTube Video here) are closer to $1,500 per year…but that’s because they have pool, tennis courts, playgrounds, walking trails, etc to maintain.  But, some of the smaller neighborhoods without all those amenities are usually only about $300 per year.  But, they will all have rules and regulations at their core aimed to protect home values.

Whether you’re a fan of HOA or not, make sure you ask for a copy of the covenants when looking at purchasing a home so that you know the rules. In Madison, all of the neighborhood HOA covenants are posted on the county website for all to see, so you can’t say that you didn’t know the rules!  You just need to look!  There’s nothing worse than moving into a home with your 3 precious dogs to realize the neighborhood rules and regulations state that no owner can have more than 2 dogs living in the home.  Yikes!  And yes, I’ve heard of this happening!

Ultimately, if you’re looking at buying In Madison, MS you’re most likely going to be in an area with an HOA…this is a big part of the reason why home values in our city have remained steady and always increasing.  

Hi everyone, I’m Donna Taylor with Living in Central MS.  Today, I’m here to talk about the pros and cons of Living in Madison MS...a town that I've lived in for nearly 20 years!

So, first, let’s talk about the ugly.  And when I say ugly, my perspective is that of someone that lived in a large metropolitan city of Denver for 3 years, then moved back to Mississippi as a 40 year old…which, even though I was born and raised here, it was still eye opening.  The biggest adjustment for someone moving to a small town like Madison, where our population is about 30,000 people was the lack of things to do.  We don’t have any professional sports teams in the state of Mississippi….which is why most Mississippians are Saints Fans!  Who Dat?!?  New Orleans is a quick 3 hour drive from Jackson!   Our pace of life here is much slower than most big cities…so, if youre a person that likes the hustle and bustle, and enjoys being able to get take out at your favorite restaurant at any hour of the day, Madison might not be for you.  In fact, most restaurants are closed on Sundays here…and a lot of them on Monday too!! There’s not much nightlife here either…sure there’s a few bars here and there…but they are far and few between. 

Another thing that some of my clients are bummed to find out is that there are no OLD homes in Madison. When I say old, I mean before the 1960’s.  Most of the homes in Madison started were built after the 1980’s…so if finding a super old home is important to you, you’ll be disappointed with Madison.  

And the last big Negative on my list is the lack of rentals. As I’ve mentioned in previous videos, 95% of people living in Madison own their homes.  That is very much above the national average.  This is also what keeps our home values increasing year over year.  There are no apartments in the city of Madison and never will be…well, never say never I guess??  Bottom line, if you need to rent, Madison is going to give lots of obstacles in that regard!

Ok, enough of the gloomy list…let’s talk about the positives.  Why are people moving to Central MS?  I definitely have some insight on this, as I’ve helped several people move here over the last few years, and honestly, I’m always to surprised when I hear the #1 reason they move here…it’s because of our conservative values.  A lot of people just like me grow up in the south and then move out West and realize what I mean when I say “conservative Values”. There’s so many things in our county over the last few years that have made people realize that living in a “liberal area” is not all it’s cracked up to be, especially when raising a young family.  I knew the second I became pregnant with my child in 2013 that living in a huge liberal metropolitan city was not the way I wanted to raise a family. To each his own of course, I’m saying, that’s the #1 reason I moved back to Mississippi. 

Another reason that makes Madison so desirable is our cost of living.  And, I’m mainly refering to housing costs.  The median house price in Madison is $373k.  Home prices have been very stable here for years. So many of our clients are shocked at the quality of home they can get for under $400k.  Even our homes that are “spec” are great quality homes, because that has become the standard here.  Most of my buyers that are new to MS are pleasantly surprised when they see the caliber of our newer construction homes in the area.  Most have brick exterior, granite counters and all those things that make a home not feel like a lot of the cookie cutter neighborhoods that they are used to seeing.

And Last but definitely NOT least on my list, are the things that are quantifiable that make any city great. These are things that get graded on sites like https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/madison-madison-ms/ , here you can easily see things like crime rate, schools, jobs, commute, etc.  As a REALTOR, I have to be careful of the things I saw on most of these topics, so that’s why I point people to sites like Niche.com where opinions are taken out and it’s all about the facts and numbers.

MS gets a bad wrap sometimes, but it’s really an unfair judgment.  In today’s world where so many people are working remotely, but paying a small fortune for housing in a crowded, congested, over priced city, and looking for a better option, there’s good news.  I encourage you check out some of the neighborhood specific videos one my YT Channel

Hey Guys, Tinsley here today with a neighborhood tour of Northshore Landing in Brandon, MS.  If you're looking for homes for sale in Brandon, MS...don't miss Northshore Landing.  It's a newer neighborhood that was just started in 2020.  If you’re looking for newer or new construction homes in Brandon, MS on large 1-2 acre lots, be sure to check out this tour! 

Currently Northshore Landing has around 90 existing homes with a new phase under construction right now.  One of the best things about Northshore Landing is the large lots with a country feel but still conveniently located!  The homes in Northshore Landing average around $460k.  So, if you’re looking for a new construction home in Rankin County within the average prices for Brandon, Northshore Landing is a great option.  Crossview Plantation is  located just off of Fannin Landing Circle. It is located within minutes of the Ross Barnett Reservoir but the good thing is it does not fall under PRV leasehold so no added fee for you!  It’s about a 25 minute drive to downtown Jackson and about a 10 minute drive to the city center of Flowood, making it convenient to shopping and restaurants.  Most of the homes in Northshore Landing are brick construction and 4 bedrooms/3 baths with several other options also.  The amenities of the neighborhood include a clubhouse and pool and HOA fees will be low...currently at $650 Annually. Also, nearby there is a paved walking trail made for walking and biking and a public boat launch.

In the last 6 months, there have been 24  homes sold with an average sold price of $460,000. There are 12 active listings in the neighborhood right now ranging in price from $442k-$699k, 11 of which are new construction. The square footage of these homes are ranging from 2,496 to 3,634 sq. 

Northshore Landing is located in Northshore elementary School zone which is currently number one in the state for testing scores and NorthWest Rankin middle and high school.

You can click here to see current Active Northshore Landing Homes for Sale. 

And if you have a particular neighborhood in Rankin County that you’d like a tour of, just comment below and I’ll check out. 

Also, don’t forget to sign up for daily market updates including new listings, price changes, etc on www.taylorgroupms.com

Hi again, Donna Taylor, Broker /Owner of Taylor Realty group here today with another Neighborhood Tour of a great neighborhood in the City of Madison MS that is walking distance to one of the top-rated elementary schools in Madison.   This neighborhood consistently delivers quality homes in the median price for Madison.  Stay tuned for today’s neighborhood tour of Cross Creek.

So first, let’s talk about the location… Cross Creek is located just east of Interstate 55 off Hoy Road and inside the city limits of Madison . It’s about a 15 minute drive to downtown Jackson and about a 2 minute drive to the city center of Madison, making it convenient to shopping and restaurants. Most of the homes in Cross Creek were built between 1999-2003, and most of the homes are mainly brick exterior with 2 car garages.  

Cross Creek is a great option in Madison, if a super convenient location is important to you.  There’s an entrance off Tisdale Rd and Hwy 51 making it easy to access from both sides.  Located along the newly paved Hoy Rd corridor is a nice wide paved walking trail that on any given day, lots of locals use for exercise or just taking a leisurely stroll.  This newly constructed walking trail connects Cross Creek neighborhood to Madison Ave all the way down Rice rd to Madison Ave Elementary school, so you can make a nice loop of about 3 miles without leaving the pathway. Like I mentioned earlier, one of the best parts about Cross Creek is the proximity to Madison Ave Elementary Schools, which is located less than one mile…you really could bike or walk to school.

Cross Creek is a fairly large neighborhood by our local standards.  There are probably somewhere around 400 homes in the neighborhood

So, do think you might want to live here….let’s get to it…what’s a home in Cross Creek cost?  Well, During the last 2 years, there were 41 homes sold, ranging in price from $250k up to $480k.  But the average sold price during this time period was $337k.  Homes in Cross Creek are mostly 4 bedrooms, and average around 2,600 sq feet in size.  This average home price is below the median for Madison, which means homes in here go fast!   Cross Creek HOA fees are currently $550 annually.  Currently there is only 1 active listing and 1 pending listing.  If you think you’d like to call Cross Creek home, be sure to check out our website www.taylorgroupms.com and sign up for email alerts so you’re the first to know when a new home goes on the market. It has every home in our MLS listed and is updated every 10 minutes.

One note I need to mention about Cross Creek, is there seems to be one or 2 streets in the neighborhood where the homes have noted settling and disturbance of the foundation…that is thanks to our expansive clay in the area.  It’s very hit or miss, so make sure you are working with an Experienced Agent that is familiar with the area and knows what to look for!

Next let’s talk about schools.  Cross Creek obviously located in the Madison Avenue Elem and Madison Middle and Madison Central High School.  It’s also only a 5 minute drive to Madison Ridgeland Academy or to St Anthony Catholic School, if you’re looking for a private school options.

If you’re thinking of moving to Mississippi, be sure and check out our website www.taylorgroupms.com, it has all MLS listings in Central MS and is updated every 10 minutes.  Whether you're buying or selling, our team is here to help every step of the way.  Contact us today to get started.

Taylor Realty Group

601-613-9100

Hey Guys, Tinsley here today with a neighborhood tour of Kensington Subdivision in Brandon, MS. Kensington is a new gated neighborhood that was just started in 2020.  If you’re looking for new construction homes in Brandon, MS under $450k, stay tuned for this tour! 

Currently, Kensington has around 160 homes with a new phase currently being prepped.  One of the best things about Kensington is price point!  The homes in Kensington average around $400k.  So, if you’re looking for a new construction home in Rankin County below the average prices for Brandon, Kensington is a great option.  Kensington is  located just off of Hwy 25 with an additional entrance on Hwy 471.  It’s about a 20 minute drive to downtown Jackson and about a 3 minute drive to the city center of Flowood, making it convenient to shopping and restaurants in Dogwood Festival Market.  Most of the homes in Kensington are brick construction and 3 bedrooms/2 baths with several 4 bedroom options also.  The lot sizes are nice size…around a half acre. Kensington is filled with amenities that include a neighborhood swimming pool, lake, clubhouse and sidewalks throughout the entire neighborhood. This  neighborhood is also very family oriented as they often host events and festivals within the neighborhood. It is a great option for raising your family.

In the last 12 months, there have been 35 homes sold with sold price ranging from $361,000 to $430,000 and the average square footage was around 2,200. There are 10 active listings in the neighborhood right now, but don’t worry there is a new section in the works that they are currently taking reservations on that you could possibly choose your plan and finishings on.

Kensington is in Oakdale Elementary School district that feeds to Northwest Rankin Middle and High School. 

Want to see current Active listings in Kensington, here's the link: Kensington Homes for Sale

If you’re thinking of moving to Mississippi, be sure and check out our website www.taylorgroupms.com, it has all MLS listings in Central MS and is updated every 10 minutes.  Whether you're buying or selling, our team is here to help every step of the way.  Contact us today to get started.

Taylor Realty Group

601-613-9100

Selling your home is a major breakthrough in life. You might have heard a lot about the complexity of the home-selling process that keeps homeowners worried at all times, and let us tell you, you have heard it right. 

You must comply with a long list of requirements and walk the extra mile to attract the right buyers. Before you settle down from closing the deal for your home sales, taxes confront you. Homeowners usually overlook taxes in their home sales planning and panic afterward when they become liable. 

So, how does tax affect your house’s sales? Read this guide to find out. 

Do you Need to Pay Tax on Home Sales?

Everyone wishes for a profitable sale of their house, but few people know that a profitable sale may come with a burden of taxes. There are different types of taxes involved in a home selling process. Depending on your specific situation, you may or may not be liable for all of them. 

Every deal differs from others, so there is no final answer to whether you need to pay tax on home sales. Sometimes you can get a full or partial exemption due to the period of time you have owned and lived in a property. 

Types of Real Estate Taxes

Suppose you are selling your home in Belle Terre, Madison, MS, or any other neighborhood; what are the possible taxes on your home’s sales? The following are the common types of real estate taxes you may owe during home sales. 

Real Estate Sales Tax

The straightforward tax for the sale of a house is the real estate sales tax. This varies from state to state. Some states tax the sales of real estate while others do not. You must check with the taxing authority in your state to check if you are liable for this tax. 

Capital Gains Tax

As the name indicates, capital gains tax is imposed on the profit from selling a tangible asset. Here it means the tax on the profit of real estate sales. This means you must pay a tax when you sell a home for more than its actual purchase price. This tax is not inevitable, and there are ways you can avoid capital gains tax legally. 

Property Tax

This is a yearly local tax on property that the owner of the property must pay. Local taxing authorities collect this tax from the owner. For instance, if you have a home for sale in Stillhouse Creek Madison, MS, you have to pay the property tax calculated by the concerned local authority. The property tax calculation usually takes into account the value of land and the owned property. 

Real Estate Property Tax

This tax is calculated on the total or partial value of the sold home. Similar to real estate sales tax, transfer tax also varies among states. Some states don’t impose a tax on the transfer of property, while others charge different rates. 

Capital Gains Tax Exemptions

You may be interested to find out the tax exemptions more than anything. Let’s begin. 

• Suppose you sold your home in Belle Terre Madison, MS, at a profit. However, you have owned and lived in that house for two of the five years before selling it. In this situation, $250,000 of the total profit is exempted from the tax. 
• Considering the same situation, if you are married and file a joint tax return with your spouse, the first $500,000 from the profit is tax-free. Remember that these conditions imply the profit you make from the sales and not the actual sales income. 
• If you sell your home for less than $250,000 profit while owning and living in it for two of the five years prior to the home sale, you do not have to pay any capital gains tax. This means that all of your profit is tax-free. 

How to Calculate Profit on Sales?

The first step to determining your tax liability is to calculate the total profit. It helps you determine if you owe any tax. Calculating the profit is not as simple as deducting the sales price from the purchase price. Instead, it has some important considerations.

Firstly, you must add the cost of home improvement repairs you did before selling your house. Since home improvement repairs add to the value of the house, they are included in the purchase price.  

The second step is determining the sales price. You must deduct any legal processing charges and other fees from the total sales. For instance, if you sold your home for $500,000 and paid $20,000 in commission fees and closing charges, you must deduct it to get the net sales amount. 

Now that you have the actual purchase and sales price, you can find the difference between the two to calculate total profit. If the amount is less than $250,000, you are exempted from tax. If it equals or exceeds $250,000, you must pay the due tax. 

The Key Takeaway

Taxes are an inevitable part of your home sales, so you must pay attention to them. Keep an eye on tax liability resulting from the sales and ensure to settle it timely. Refer to this guide to get an idea of important aspects of different taxes and their implications. When in doubt, consult an expert to avoid any complications. 

If you’re thinking of moving to Mississippi, be sure and check out our website www.taylorgroupms.com, it has all MLS listings in Central MS and is updated every 10 minutes.  Whether you're buying or selling, our team is here to help every step of the way.  Contact us today to get started.

Taylor Realty Group

601-613-9100

Selling your home and moving to a new home is a significant milestone in life. However, this milestone comes with a list of challenges. Those who have done it before know how hectic and tedious it can get.

Even if your home is listed in a growing neighborhood, such as homes for sale in Lake Caroline, MS, the home selling process is not always smooth. You have to get many things done within a limited time to sell your house faster. 

You can only face these challenges efficiently when you are prepared for them. Here is a guide to possible challenges you may face while selling your home so that you can get rid of them timely. 

1. Emotional Overflow

Building a house, maintaining it, making memories there, and handing it over to someone else is an emotionally overwhelming experience. It is normal to feel down with the emotional overflow taking over your mind; however, it can distract you from your main goal. 

You must not let this emotional overflow affect your crucial decisions, such as setting a competitive price or doing repair work. The best way to pacify this is to hire a realtor and let them assist you in the important decision-making process. They can analyze a situation better and help you choose what is better for you. 

2. Market Saturation

Listing your home when the market is already crowded with existing listings can be another challenge. Making your home get noticed among the best homes for sale in Lake Caroline, MS, or any other neighborhood can seem even more challenging. Finding a viable offer in such a market can take forever. 

A saturated market is favorable for buyers but really challenging for sellers. Especially if you want to sell your home faster, you may compromise on the asking price and sell it for less than the market value. Otherwise, you have to wait too long to let the market conditions improve to find your desired offer.  

3. Finding a Reliable Realtor

Some people sell their homes alone, while others take professional assistance to streamline the process. For this, they need a reliable real estate agent who can understand your selling objective and suggest you the right plan accordingly. For instance, for selling a home in Sherborne, Madison, MS, you must find a realtor who knows that market well. 

Finding a professional realtor to handle your home selling process can be difficult. It is better to ask for referrals and conduct a one-on-one interview before hiring an agent. Consider the expertise, experience, success rate, and commission of the agent before hiring one. 

4. Incorrect Pricing

Pricing can be the biggest challenge for sellers who are selling their homes for the first time and have little to no idea of the market conditions. You may have valued your home far higher in your mind than the actual market price. Realizing and coming over this realization can be challenging. 

If you are selling your house in Sherborne, Madison, MS, you need to know the market price for similar homes in the neighborhood. Analyzing real estate data and the market condition is vital for setting a realistic price. Let your realtor take charge while pricing your home to resolve pricing issues. 

5. Poor Picture Quality

Many homes at the best locations and with the best interior and exterior conditions fail to get better offers only because of poor-quality pictures. Most home sales take place online, where buyers assess your home through pictures before making an offer. Getting high-quality pictures of your listed home is crucial for selling it faster. 

The pictures you post while listing your house shape the first impression of the house on the buyers, so make it count. Hire a professional real estate photographer to capture the pictures that attract buyers. This investment pays off when you are able to sell your home at the desired price.  

6. Necessary Repairs

Before selling your home, you need to get it to a better condition by repairing the wear and tear that occurred over the years. Repairs and maintenance of a home require time and money, and both these resources are limited. You need to trade off among required repairs to decide which ones are worth investing your time in. 

Sometimes you do not need to do a lot of work but rather simple repairs to give a fresh look to your house. A professional, such as a real estate agent, can examine your home and give you better advice on how to go about with repairs and maintenance of the house. 

Bottom Line

When it comes to selling a home, no two transactions are the same. Even if the same person sells two houses in the same locality, they may face different challenges. While some of these challenges seem inevitable, for others, you only need good planning. Prepare yourself for the potential challenges before you list your house and act according to the situation to make the most of it.

If you’re thinking of moving to Mississippi, be sure and check out our website www.taylorgroupms.com, it has all MLS listings in Central MS and is updated every 10 minutes.  Whether you're buying or selling, our team is here to help every step of the way.  Contact us today to get started.

Taylor Realty Group

601-613-9100