Your Mississippi Home Blog

Tulane University is opening its second satellite campus in Madison, Mississippi with the first classes beginning this summer.  The expansion came after discussions with city officials who wanted to attract a university to the growing community of Madison, which has nearly 30,000 people.  Within a half hour drive, classes will bring in 600,000 students from the surrounding population.

The Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation approved Tulane's plan all too happily.  And the City of Madison has been renovating wings of a former elementary school building to house the university offices and classrooms ever since.

The city actually sought out Tulane because of its wonderful reputation.  Not just any college would do, but one that would help with economic development and high standards is what Madison, Mississippi needs.  Madison is now happy to embrace the wonderful university.  Together, the city and the university can make great stridesin this new partnership. 

The city is also proud to have an accomplished mayor with a demonstrated commitment to community building and education.  Many people of Madison are looking forward to Tulane's presence and what it will bring.  Tulane University of Madison will be offering courses in business, journalism and liberal arts. F or more information about Tulane, visit www.tulane.edu.

The third annual Township Jazz Festival is coming to Ridgeland, Mississippi on April 10, 2010 and will take place rain or shine.  Not many communities can say they have a true musical legend right in their backyard.  There are a few inspiring youngsters from Ridgeland who may be legends one day, too.  The Jazz Festival will be held from 12:00pm until 7:00pm in Colony Park in Ridgeland, Mississippi, and will be hosted by Fusion Coffeehouse and Kerioth Corporation. 

Look for headliner Mose Allison, a native of Mississippi Delta village of Tippo.  This 82 year-old has had his songs covered by Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, The Who, Elvis Costello, Bonnie Raitt and several other mainstays.  And now he's promoting his new recording "The Way of the World."

The Township Jazz Festival began in Ridgeland when musicians who began playing at the Fusion quickly started turning out large crowds and overwhelming the small venue.  They had no other choice but to look for a larger site.  And they got plenty of support from local sponsors.

This is a great opportunity to get out and mingle with your neighbors and other community members.  If you'll be in town looking at local Ridgeland, MS real estate or in the surrounding area, drop by the festival with your lawn chair and blanket.  It will give you a good sense of how welcome you'll feel when you move to town.

A new survey by Bloomberg Business Week shows that you can find affordable suburban living for less in Madison, Mississippi.  Suburbanites who want to live better for less can find several neighborhoods such as Hunter's Pointe, Reunion, Adderley Gardens and Bradford Place. 

The recent survey named Madison the most affordable suburb in the state of Mississippi.  The report also recognized other top communities in all 50 states.

Many people in Mississippi have already discovered that they can live in Madison for a small town price and still have big city advantages.  You simply get more value for your money.

Madison, Mississippi was once a small farming and railroad town, but it has blossomed into the popular suburb it is over the years.  There are a couple of key factors that make Madison even better than its affordable living.  It has one of the best school districts and the state's lowest crime rates. 

Many neighborhoods in Madison are upscale communities, such as Reunion and Adderley Gardens, and offer amenities like an 18-hole golf course, a lake with a beautiful sand beach, a tennis club, a swim club, walking trails and an equestrian center. 

Madison also has lower-priced homes in subdivisions such as Hunter's Pointe and Bradford Place.  You can even find a range of modest homes, older homes and high end mansions. 

The large selection of homes, wonderful neighborhoods, amenities and price ranges is what makes Madison, Mississippi a great and affordable place to live.

No one wants their kids to be unhappy during Spring Break.  And not everyone can afford or has time to take the family to the beach for Spring Break.  But, you still have great alternatives around Madison, Mississippi during Spring Break to keep their boredom at bay.

Here are some ideas for keeping your kids busy and happy:

* Mosart Craft Studio - They will be having a two week Spring Break camp for kids ages 5 to 15.  Morning camp is from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.  Afternoon camp is from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.  Mosart Craft Studio is located in the Madison Market Shopping Center on US 51.  All skill levels are encouraged to come.  Groups will be sectioned out by ages.  They will be working on glass, wood and ceramics.

* Different Strokes Art Studio - If you can't commit to a week long program, this may be perfect for you.  Classes will be held from 10:00 am through 6:00 pm during the week at the studio in the Trace shopping Center in Ridgeland, MS.  Children should bring a drink and snack and be ready to have a ton of fun working with pottery projects.  Very young children will need supervision from an adult.

* Champions Baseball Spring Break Camp - If you're looking for something athletic, this is a great place to start.  Bring your child to Millsaps College bright and early on Monday morning for the four-day camp.  Camp will end at 12:00 pm each day.  For more information, call Jim Page at (601) 974-1196.

* YMCA of Flowood - Soccer lovers will like this camp a lot.  Bring your soccer players to Liberty Road just off Lakeland Drive for a half-day camp.  YMCA members get reduced rates.  For more details, call (601) 664-1995.

* Mississippi Museum of Natural Science - If you want educational programs for your young ones, bring them to Riverside Drive in Jackson, MS.  There is an ongoing educational and interactive exhibit for kids featuring Smokey the Bear and Woodsy Owl.  You can visit their website at museum.mdwfp.com.

* Jackson Zoo - Your kids, no matter how old they are, will absolutely love the Jackson Zoo.  Just head on over toward the state's capital and you'll soon be there. 

If, after all this, your kids are still bored, it's time to break out the heavy artillery and make them study.

Selling your home is a huge decision.  It will be one of the biggest decisions of your life. Therefore, to maximize your gain, you need to be sure your Jackson, MS home is in great condition when it comes time to place it on the market.  If it's not in the best possible condition, you most likely won't get the best value out of it. 

There are several things you should do to your home prior to placing it on the market.  And although no two home sales are exactly the same, many of the selling steps are similar. 

Here is a basic outline that will help you understand what to expect during the sales process: 

* The decision to sell - Once you decide to sell your home, it will become a financial asset you will be moving away from.  At this point, you have determined it's time to sell your property so you can maximize your gain.  Homeowners sell their homes for several reasons and, in each sale, the homeowner is entitled to their fair share of equity on the sale of the property.

* Clearing up the clutter - As you prepare your home for the sale, clear up and clean up any clutter you may have.  This will help you get rid of junk so you will have less things to move and it will make your home more appealing to potential buyers.  

Don't forget the outside of your home, too.  Trim the bushes and mow the lawn, touch up paint and fix anything that is broken.  Curb appeal is a necessity.  

* Finding a real estate professional - Using a real estate agent is a good idea to help you market your home and get it sold faster.  A Realtor® will prepare you a competitive market analyses, show you some of their accomplishments and experience in the business, and market your home professionally.  You should expect to pay around 5% - 7% commission rate for a real estate professional.  That may sound high, but when you consider everything that a real estate professional does to market your home, it really is worth the price.

* Setting a price - Setting a price for your home will require a good bit of thought because this is the most critical part.  Setting your price too high will usually reduce the number of interested buyers.  This is when a real estate professional can be extremely helpful.  An agent will help you price your home just right based on recent home sales in your area.

* Marketing your home - If you wish not to use a real estate professional and want to market your home yourself, you can put a "For Sale" sign out front, advertise in the newspaper or list online to places like Craigslist.org.  However, you will only get so much exposure.

* Moving - Once you have accepted a satisfactory price on your home, it is time to move.  Planning your move and coordinating it is also important.  Therefore, during the selling phase, you should pack up all non-essential living items.  Be sure to clearly label your boxes and get them ready for transport. Moving is a huge effort in itself, so making up a checklist of things you need to accomplish can be very helpful.  As you complete things on your checklist, check them off. 

The more prepared you are, the better off you will be when moving day comes.

It's finally time for the biggest party in Jackson, Mississippi.  The Mal's St. Paddy's Parade is just weeks away, set for March 20^th.  The parade will begin its roll through downtown Jackson at 1:00 pm.  And, this year's theme is "It Ain't Easy Being Green."

The parade will begin its route from State Street to Capitol Street, from Capitol Street to Lamar Street, from Lamar Street to Court Street, and from Court Street back to State Street.  This is the second year the parade will take this route.

There will also be lots of events to participate in throughout the day.  Here is a complete line-up the day's events:

* 8:00 am - St. Paddy's Day Run begins at Bancorp South Building at Capitol and State Streets.  All runs including the 5k Run, 5k walk and 1 mile fun run will be included.

* 9:00 am - Turstmark Children's Festival will begin at the Mississippi Museum of Art.

* 10:00 am - Pet Parade benefiting Mississippi Animal Rescue League begins at the Mississippi Museum of Art.

* 11:00 am - Trustmark Children's Parade will begin at the Mississippi Museum of Art.

* 1:00 pm - Mal's St. Paddy's Parade will begin at State Street.

There will be a Street Party at Hal & Mal's after the parade for anyone who is 21 and over.  There will also be a $6.00 entrance fee.  The Pinstripe Brass Band, the Bluz Boys and more bands will be featured at the street party.

The first St. Paddy's Parade was held back in 1982 and has been Jacskon's most popular party since.  It's a great, all-day, community event for the whole family to enjoy.

Clinton High School in Clinton, Mississippi could soon become the state's very first "green" certified school.  The school board just needs to decide whether to partake in the $1.5 million environmental project or not.

The school board is currently considering a contract with Siemens Business Technologies to improve functions at several of the district's schools, including climate control, water and lighting conservation.  Northside Elementary will be the only exception because a new school is being built to replace it.

Once Clinton High School is designated as a "green" school through Siemens' Green Globes program, it will be a huge step toward energy performance.  "Going green" means the district will have added energy savings while continuing to look out for the environment.

A lengthy checklist is involved that looks at the entire building from the rooftop all the way down to the sewage to help ensure that every possibility for efficient energy use was taken.

If Clinton High School is successful, the district may then look to do the same to Clinton Park Elementary and other schools in the future.  However, the older schools will not be on the list.  It is just too costly to pursue the Green Globes standards and upgrades to older schools.

"Going green" and being aware of the environment is such a huge deal right now that the district is interest in doing all it can for its part to help save money.

While several districts in the state are partaking in the Siemens energy program, none have yet to qualify for the Green Globes status.  Clinton High School is hoping to be the first.  The savings from "going green" will pay for the project. 

Everything is still in the finalization state, which calls for a 15 year lease/purchase agreement.  Annual savings of around $127,000 in energy costs and $5,000 in operating costs will cover the payments.

Not only will this be a great achievement for Clinton High School, but it will be great for the community of Clinton, Mississippi as well.  Even in today's hectic economy, "going green" is still very important.

Tax deductions are always a good way to squeeze a little extra tax savings into your yearly tax planning and budgeting efforts.  With the economy being on a rollercoaster for some time now, the government has had to get creative and come up with tax credits and incentives to help homeowners reduce their 2009 taxes.  Therefore, we have some tax tips and help.  Some may apply to you to help you get the most of your taxes this tax season.

Planning Your Retirement Contributions

The tax deadline is April 15 or you can file an extension to make IRA contributions for 2009. 

401(k): For 2009 tax year, the contribution limit on a traditional 401(k) plan was $16,500 and $11,500 for a SIMPLE 401(k) plan.  Anyone who was 50 or older in 2009 can make an additional $5,500 contribution for the traditional plan and $2,500 for a SIMPLE plan.

Traditional and Roth IRAs

For the 2009 tax year, the contributions were limited to $5,000 for anyone under 50 years of age. For anyone over 50 years of age, the limit was $6,000.  SEP IRAs were limited to a maximum of $49,000.  And, starting in 2010, everyone who owns a traditional IRA will be able to convert it into a Roth without income limitations.

Unemployed in 2009

If you were unemployed in 2009, the first $2,400 of unemployment benefits you received in 2009 is tax free, according to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  This only applies to benefits received in 2009.

Green Tax Incentives

Anyone who upgraded their home with energy-efficient home improvements is eligible for 30% of the cost of all qualifying improvements up to $1,500.  The credit applies to home improvements such as insulation, energy-efficient windows or energy-efficient heating and air systems.

Homebuyer Tax Credits

First-time homebuyers who purchased a home in 2009 are eligible for a tax credit up to $8,000 with no payback required.  The credit was also extended back in November of 2009 with a new deadline of April 30, 2010.

For more tax deduction information, visit the IRS website at www.irs.gov.

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Trends among many home buyers these days appear to be with fixer-uppers.  Instead of looking for the traditional perfect home, some buyers are actually choosing homes that need a little work.

Buying a fixer-upper allows you to purchase it well below market value and add your own personal stamp to it.  However, in some markets, fixer-uppers can be hard to find.  With huge price declines, house flippers quickly grab these homes up, renovate them and turn them around for a profitable sale.

With thorough research or the help of a professional real estate agent, you can find fixer-uppers priced several thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars below market value.  Your goal is to find a $300,000 property and only pay $150,000 for it or buy a $150,000 property and only pay $75,000 for it.  You get the picture here.

You will then be able to renovate the home to your liking, adding your personal touch, which can save you thousands of dollars.  And saving money on real estate is great these days.

As the first month of 2010 has already come and gone, it seems that a growing trend with aging Mississippi home buyers has already begun.  The most current trend shows that aging Mississippi buyers want comfortable, easy maintenance homes with the master bedroom on the first-floor.

It's looking as though the baby boomer generation is now hitting their 50+ years.  And these baby boomers make up around 28% of the population with very interesting statistics.  BabyBoomerMagazine.com says this group is wealthier than any other in the nation, accounts for 40% of consumer demand and controls almost 70% of the total net worth of American households.

When MetLife Mature Market Institute did a survey on people between ages 55 - 64, they found some interesting data and strong similarities.  According to the survey, the primary interest of aging home buyers is in finding single-story floor plans or a home with a master bedroom on the main floor.  They are also interested in finding communities that offer on-site health care or transportation to nearby heath care centers and reasonable cost housekeeping services. 

It looks as though easy living is a big attraction for aging home buyers in Mississippi.  Another common interest all those surveyed had was the need for low maintenance inside and outside the home.  Other survey findings include the importance of top-rated features in the home such as easy-to-use climate controls, washers and dryers, easy to open windows and storage space.

As far as location goes, 28% prefer to live in rural communities, while 9% prefer to live in a central city like Jackson, Mississippi.