Christmas Light Map 2023

Christmas Light Display Map 2023!

It’s that time of year again! My team has been driving around and found quite a few this year. Hope you enjoy taking the family out tonight to see some! We love creating this for Jackson every year!

Why use a realtor?

Why use a realtor? Part 1

Just like a tax professional, lawyer or contractor provides specialized advice and service, I believe that realtors also provide specialized advice and service. Listed below are 5 reasons why one should use a realtor:

1. Market Expert 

2. Counsel- through big decisions and doubts  

3. Share Network- Give you expanded search power. 

4. Stand in your corner during negotiations. 

5. Ensure all paperwork is legally binding and safe

In this blog post I will explain one way I provide value as a realtor- I am a market expert! 

I study the market, analyze data and interpret data to help me price your home and market it well. I observe the buying and selling trends, new construction and community developments, the type of properties that are selling, median home prices, days on market and inventory levels. Through studying comparable homes that have sold, are active or pending, I am able to gauge what people are willing to pay for your home or what you should pay for the next property you purchase. My hope is that through my experience and putting your best interest first, I will be viewed as a trusted advisor. 

Resource Services

I have a list of great resources that I love to share. Give me a call if you need a recommendation!

“Ginger also has been an undeniable amazing resource for things to do, people to connect with, and any and everything to do with Jackson.”

— Meagan

Get your house ready to sell!

Fix the top problems in your home to get top dollar, and make sure you get all the way to closing.

In 2023, the average sold price in Jackson Tennessee is almost $300,000. The average days on market in the first 6 months of 2023 is 38 days. How does that affect the price and timeline of your home sale? Call me today and let’s discuss. 731-426-2855 or 731-668-7000.

Why is Jackson TN Growing?

Look at this list and tell me if you see what I see.

This is a list of key criteria investors should use when deciding which market to invest in according to Coach Carson, author of The Small and Mighty Real Estate Investor.

1. Job Market Growing

2. Population Growth

3. Affordability

4. State Rental Laws-landlord friendly states

5. Small cities (under 500,000)

Do you see what I see? That’s right. An ideal city to invest in. The best part is that because we are so small, national investors have largely overlooked us.

(Great book by the way if you are looking to invest or trying to reach financial freedom with fewer properties )

The Impact of Interest Rates on the Home Buying Process

As a realtor, I have seen firsthand how interest rates can affect the home buying process. Interest rates play a crucial role in determining the affordability of a home, and they can have a significant impact on the overall cost of a mortgage.

When interest rates are low, it can be an excellent time for buyers to enter the market. Low interest rates mean that buyers can secure a lower monthly mortgage payment, which can make homeownership more affordable. Low interest rates means larger loan amounts: buyers can qualify for more when interest rates are lower which opens up options.

On the other hand, when interest rates are high, it can make buying a home more challenging. High interest rates mean that buyers will have to pay more in interest over the life of their loan, which can significantly increase the overall cost of homeownership. Additionally, high interest rates can make it more difficult for buyers to qualify for a loan, as lenders may be more stringent in their lending requirements.

One of the most significant impacts of interest rates on the home buying process is the effect they have on the housing market. When interest rates are low, it can create a surge in demand for homes, as buyers rush to take advantage of the lower rates. This can lead to a competitive market, with multiple offers on homes and bidding wars driving up prices.

Conversely, when interest rates are high, like they are now in May 2023, it can lead to a slowdown in the housing market. Buyers may be hesitant to enter the market, as the higher interest rates make homes less affordable. This can lead to a decrease in demand for homes, which can result in lower prices and a more buyer-friendly market.

However in the Jackson Tennessee and Madison County real estate market, the number of homes for sale is so low that we are not seen lower prices. New industry moving to West Tennessee has insulated us from a lot of the price dropping that we see across the nation.  

Overall, interest rates play a critical role in the home buying process. As a realtor, I always keep a close eye on interest rates and how they are affecting the market. By staying informed and helping my clients navigate the complexities of the home buying process, I can help them make informed decisions and invest well.

Hey Buyers! DON’T do this!

Maybe one of the saddest things is when a buyer falls in love with a house and starts imagining their life in their new home, but then they find out they can’t afford it. It is so tempting to go look at houses because you are just curious. Curiosity is GREAT! You absolutely should go look at houses that you are curious about, BUT FIRST you should find out from someone if you can actually buy it!

Don’t look at houses until you have your financing set up. 

YUCK! Financing is boring. Yeah, but looking at houses is fun, so stick with me for a minute. 

Truly, this isn’t as intense as it sounds. Getting your financing set up looks like this. 

1. Call a recommended, quality lender and tell them a little bit about yourself. This is going to be a long term relationship so get to know them a little. 

2. Then they are going to send you a quick application to fill out about your income and debt. It should typically take less than 30 min to fill out. 

3. Then, in the next day or two they will follow up with you and tell you a range of what you might be able to afford depending on a few factors:

-How much money do you have for a down payment?

-How much will the monthly payment be with that down payment?

-How long do you want to pay on the loan?

-How high are current interest rates?

Once you know that monthly payment and the price range of the house you can buy, you are now READY to fall in love, because you know what you can afford. So let’s set up a showing. Which one do you want to see?

Call or text me for my recommended lenders. 731-426-2855

A HOUSE BUILT WITH MANY HANDS

BY GINGER WILLIAMS

DECEMBER 2, 2022

Article featured in “Our Jackson Home”

A Jackson Police Department officer stares into the face of a woman working as a prostitute; his only option was to arrest her. He had no evidence or proof to arrest the man who was likely her trafficker. But where would the officer take her? Years later, this same officer would write a check to the Scarlet Rope Project, a home for survivors of sex trafficking. 

This is how it started for many who have become involved with the Scarlet Rope Project’s new house, their own stories leading them to participate in building a place for others to feel safe and to heal.

Years ago, a Bible study teacher sat straight up in her bed one night while watching a Youtube video about sex trafficking and asked God, “What can I do to stop this?”  She called her friend, a nurse who ran triathlons, to discuss what could be done. Six years later, those two friends, Debbie Currie and Julanne Stone, early leaders of the Scarlet Rope Project, led a tour of women through a partially completed house that will soon house survivors of sex trafficking in Jackson, Tennessee.

There are countless stories of people from all sorts of backgrounds coming together to build this one house. Each contributor’s gifts are being used in ways they had not dreamed of. 

A realtor builds her first house, and begins to dream of the neighborhoods she could build one day. A young mom takes a leap to start her own interior design business and arranges furniture to make houses into homes. An attorney loses her husband and begins a journey of healing. An addict attends an AA meeting, celebrates one year sober and begins mentoring other addicts. Each of these stories have played a part in people becoming board members, advocates, counselors and builders for the Scarlet Rope Project. 

This spring, many of them stood together on a dirt plot on McCowat Street in Jackson, their individual stories culminating in this moment. They are building a house together that none of them will ever live in. The foundation has been laid and the studs are up for a house that will be a safe haven of healing for survivors of sex trafficking: The Scarlet Rope House. 

The current Scarlet Rope House, just down the street, has been housing survivors for several years. Inside, paint and plaster flakes off of the bathroom walls, the water coming out of one of the sinks smells like sulfur, and the A/C unit struggles on hot summer nights. Many donations and kind hands have made the house a home, but it’s old, crowded, and not always functional. The survivors will live there for a year or more depending on their situation. 

One is now in college, and needs a quiet place to study. Another is still feeling the darkness of detox; she’s barely able to function. Another is meeting with the staff to work through more stories she’s just remembering. Two ladies sit at the kitchen table to plan meals for the week. 

Outside, a survivor jumps out of her chair. Wide-eyed, she grips her cigarette and then quickly calms down realizing the danger isn’t coming. It’s just the wind blowing a shingle off of the roof. Every creak, backfire, sudden movement, car pulling into the driveway or meeting a new person; how long will it take to feel normal? What is normal? The things that have been done to her and over and over can’t be shared; after all, it’s her story. She stares blankly, and then a moment later she laughs at a joke shared in the group. Healing is a bumpy road; if we can even call it a road. She’s more than a victim; she’s a survivor.

“There are very few long term care facilities across the country for survivors; many have been through drug treatment facilities numerous times, but 30 days isn’t enough time to establish new habits and allow for deep layers of suffering,” said Julanne Stone, Nurse and Director of Scarlet Rope Project.“Yes, sex trafficking happens in Jackson, Tennessee. We aren’t just here to help stop trafficking; we are here to educate the community and to provide a long term facility that will give these women a chance to heal and start living a new life. But, we couldn’t build a house by ourselves. We needed a lot of help.”

Melanie Bucholz, Attorney and Director of Survivor Services said, “From learning to cook and shop for the whole house, to budgeting and sleeping at normal hours, attending Bible study, counseling and having 24 care from trauma-informed counselors who have fought their own share of issues, Scarlet Rope Project provides a rich array of resources that the women need to heal. We also need a house that allows women to live here for a long time while accommodating different phases of healing.

We regularly get calls from people in the community who just want to help. But, we also have to protect these women whose vulnerabilities have been exposed in the worst ways. We only allow volunteers who are willing to make long-term commitments and go through trauma-informed training. Building a new house has given the community an amazing opportunity to be a part of helping sex trafficking survivors heal in a very real way.”

At the new house, builders and Bible study teachers used red sharpies to tattoo the studs with Bible verses. The survivors also wrote on the boards of the rooms that will be theirs in only a few months. 

Light flows through the efficiently designed house with high ceilings and an open floor plan. From the oversized pantry to the study room and counseling room, the house has been specifically designed for those who will come through the Scarlet Rope Project Residential Program. The firepit encourages conversation; the in-home office keeps the staff near; the kitchen table is for community dinner. Every piece of furniture and every wall has been talked about, planned, prayed about and selected to make life in the Scarlet Rope House a home of healing. 

So who is building the Scarlet Rope house? It’s complicated.

What does it look like when an entire city builds a house together? It means that the giving comes in layers. Aspell gifted the lot across the street from their campus. Donors gave money. The organization Eight Days of Hope built the frame. Many others poured over blueprints, furniture, budgets, grants, etc. making decisions for a house they will never occupy. 

“I remember sitting down with Frank McMeen at West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation when they were still helping us do our books,” said Julanne Stone. “He has been a great resource. Also, when big donors, like Carl and Alice Kirkland, stepped forward, he made sure that their gift was handled correctly. There are so many others that have contributed by fundraising, building, decorating and planning.”

There are too many to name and no one person contributes more than another. Instead, they’ve all jumped in with their resources and gifts to build a home for women they may never meet. Their own stories have intersected at this moment in history, leading them to this moment to make an impact on the story of someone else. They are building a home together; a home for survivors of sex trafficking. A home that will be in Jackson for years to come.

Who built the Scarlet Rope House? No one built it, and everyone built it. No one person will ever be able to take credit and, without the support of many, it would’ve never happened.

Where do the survivors belong now? The old places are haunted, and they don’t fit there anymore. They are survivors and just passing through. They are welcome here, in a house built with many hands, the Scarlet Rope House. Learn more at www.scarletropeproject.com.

Annual Home Review

Just like an annual appointment with an accountant or tax professional, it’s important to check the well-being of your largest financial investment – your home. I can update you on what your home is worth, what houses in your area are selling for, and present home buying opportunities that may make sense for you to consider.

Maybe you've had:

• A change in family status such as a new baby or a child going to college.

• A change in jobs or income.

• Upcoming major events – wedding, vacation, etc.

• The need to earmark more money in order to reach your retirement financial goals.

• A change in residence – planning to move to a different home or purchase a vacation or second home.

As your friend in real estate, my goal is not only to assist you with your immediate real estate needs, but also to ensure we’re looking at what’s best for you in the long run.

If you are interested in this free service feel free to contact today!

Home Inspections

Your inspection will be a 30 page report of all the things you wish you didn’t know about the house that you love. The inspector will go through and identify what items are satisfactory and which ones are not.

A common one that comes up is fogging windows. This is a cosmetic concern in which the window is not functioning the way it should, but it is not broken. Nearly every inspection has wobbly toilets, gutters that need to be cleaned, and air filters that need to be changed, but these are not huge areas of concern. Another common find is wood fungus in the crawl space, which almost every home in West TN with a crawl space has, but this is easily treatable and is not mold.

The home inspection usually takes 3-4 hours and costs somewhere between $300 and $500, which needs to be paid at the time of inspection. The inspection will need to take place during the inspection period, which is stated in your contract.