DeLois Smith Adam WatkinsLinda Seifert Debra Pace Scott HolmesBrenda Blackwell Wendy Gay Dennis Baum

Elizabeth Liggett Josh Bellew

Volume 17, Issue 3 / March 2015

4 Willow Bend Drive, Hattiesburg509 S. Main Street, Petal

601.545.3900 • 1.800.DELOIS.SDeLoisSmith.com • GoAllStarTeam.com

Andrew Bird

Dana Quesenberry Antwain Ross

Spring makes me happy! I have never known anyone to say that they wish Spring would hold off for a few more weeks! I found a quote from Virgil A. Kraft that sums it up for me… “Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world.”

Spring in the real estate world is our busiest time of the year. I’m sure every Realtor tells you that Spring is the optimum time to put homes on the market. All of us here at The DeLois Smith All Star Team are geared up and ready for the busy days ahead, but our stagers and marketing specialists are living up to our motto… “The All Star Difference” with new and exciting inspiration.

We have just purchased a new cutting-edge product that sets us apart from other agencies in our area. Our new 3D Walkthrough Camera is truly awesome and has the ability to do virtual tours of our listings with high-definition images in 3D. You must check out these amazing tours on our website, www.deloissmith.com/3DWalkthrough.

By Brenda Blackwell

Spring Marches In

Another All Star difference is our staging service in which a free consultation from one of our professional stagers, Vickie Iverson and Kim Moore, is offered at the time of listing. As a matter of fact, the two have just returned from the International Real Estate Staging Convention in Las Vegas and are full of new knowledge and creative ways to make your home sell FAST!! Statistics prove that a staged home sells 50% faster and at a 6% higher selling price than one not staged. Believe it or not I have had many agents from other agencies tell me that they love to show a DeLois Smith listing because they know they will walk into a beautifully staged and clean home. As I was talking to one of my listing referrals while standing in line at Corner Market recently, I asked him what he thought about how fast his home sold. He said that he just did everything DeLois and Vickie told him to do and it sold in 3 weeks! Oh how we love sellers like him!

Another interesting fact for sellers is that for every dollar one spends for improving the condition of their home, they can expect to get $3 back! Improvements could be simple things like renting a storage unit to declutter your home while it is on the market or neutralizing some walls. Paint is cheap and makes a huge difference in the way your home shows. I know sellers are crunching numbers so maybe these statistics will ease your mind a bit when having to pay for improvements.

Remember, we want your home to sell just as much as you do, and that is why The DeLois Smith All Star Team thinks these investments are worthwhile and do make the “All Star Difference!”

Happy Spring!Brenda

Ame Karoly

Spring is in the air! Hints of warmer temperatures have teased us a few times in the last few weeks. Warm weather lovers have been jolted into reality a few times as well, as another cold front sweeps away the warmth and reminds

us that winter hasn’t yet had her final say! In spite of this, your real estate team has kicked off 2015 with more pending sales for January and February when compared to the same time in 2014. How this movement will translate into the coming months remains to be seen, but we are encouraged by what we hope is a trend that will continue in the months ahead.

We welcome the opportunity to serve and build lasting relationships with our clients! And, we’re adding new technologies to help support our efforts to enhance our services to you and those you care about. Our newest technology enhancement brings cutting edge 3D imagery and virtual tours to our premium listings, where the owners have committed to staging and presenting their homes in a way that the technology can truly enhance the online appeal of their home. Delivering this technology required the investment in special equipment, and it is a first for our state. Visit www.deloissmith.com/3Dwalkthrough to enjoy this new feature. We are happy to discuss if the 3D Walkthrough is a good fit for your property.

New inventory is hitting the market at an increasing pace. The best possible selection of property will be on the market over the next 90 days or so, and our Buyer’s Agent team is ready to assist. They possess the highest level of concentrated training in our marketplace and

are excited to put their skills to work for you. They are a resource not only for homes that are listed in the MLS, but also new constructions and homes about to come on the market, and they can even help protect our clients from costly mistakes by representing them in the purchase of an unlisted property.

Speaking of the spring buyers market, USDA Rural Housing loans (which provide 100% financing for purchasers who meet relatively generous income requirements) have expanded their availability areas to include most all of Oak Grove and the City of Petal. This opens up more homes to qualifying purchasers. The new boundaries went into effect February 5th. Visit http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility to see the updated boundaries. Then call, click, or text one of our team members to take the next steps.

As always we are always committed and honored to bringing you, and those you care about, home again and again!

Adam & Team

WELCOME AME!Join us in welcoming Ame Karoly to the team!

Ame is our new Client Care Coordinator. She will be assisting all of our clients with any questions they may have.

Ame earned a Master’s degree in Global Communications from Chinese University of Hong Kong and a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from William Carey University. Ame is also a graduate of Oak Grove High School.

Prior to joining our The DeLois Smith All Star Team, Ame was the University Exchange PR Administrator at Linyi University in China. Before moving to China, she was the Public Relations Manager for the Kindness Foundation in Hattiesburg.

New opportunities to serve our clients

4 Grand Bayou “Doll House” view created by the 3D Walkthrough.

By Adam Watkins

Current real estate market statisticsHattiesburg Area Single Family Median Sold Home Prices (January 01-February 24)

2014 2015

Hattiesburg $98,000 $150,000

Oak Grove $155,000 $205,000

Petal $152,500 $129,600

Hattiesburg Area Single Family Homes SOLD (January 01-January 31)

2014 2015

Hattiesburg 23 18

Oak Grove 38 33

Petal 20 24

Call us at 601-545-3900 for your no obligation home price consultation.

Looking for a new home? Visit DeLoisSmith.com to view all of the latest listings!

Tour of Homes Sunday, March 1, 2015, 1:30-5 PM

The Trace 5BD/3BA - $289,999BEST FIND AROUND! IMMACULATELY KEPT WITH

NEW CARPET. FANTASTIC FLOOR PLAN W/ STORAGE GALORE, LARGE CORNER LOT, LARGE DECK.

Directions: King Rd to Courtland Dr., RT on Auburn Pl, LT on Waverly, RT on Collinwood, LT on Morrell.

216 Morrell Circle

Oak Grove

2:30 to 3:00 pm

Barton Park 3BD/2BA - $129,900BUILT BY CRAIG FLANAGAN. BRIGHT AND AIRY WITH NEW PAINT AND CARPET! LOTS OF EXTRAS Directions:

Hwy 98 to Jackson Road, cross over W 4th Street, turn right into Barton Park subdivision.

18 Hawthorne Drive

Oak Grove

1:30 to 2:00 pm

Longleaf Acres 4BD/3.5BA - $349,000BREATHTAKING WATERFRONT LOT IN LONGLEAF ACRES! VERSATILE HOME W/ MOTHER-IN-LAW

QUARTERS. Directions: Hwy 11 north to Eastabuchie Road. Turn right on Longleaf Drive, follow around lake.

406 Longleaf Drive

Petal

1:30 to 2:00 pm

187 Balboa Drive

Oak Grove

3:30 to 4:00 pm

102 Sunline Drive

Petal

4:30 to 5:00 pm

Lake Serene 4BD/5BA - $595,000MASSIVE AND PALATIAL, TWO-STORY COLONIAL WITH

PRIVATE IN-GROUND POOL - 6234 SQ. FT. ON 1.6 ACRE LOT AND 3 CAR GARAGE. Directions: Hwy 98 West to

West Lake Road, turn right on Balboa and cross over the lake.

Pecan Lakes 4BD/2BA - $210,650LOCATED ON A QUIET CUL-DE-SAC IN PECAN LAKES,

THIS HOME IS LOADED W/ NEW FEATURES AND ENLARGED BEDROOMS. Directions: Sunrise Road to Pecan

Lakes, left onto Sunline Drive after passing over first lake.

Burks Place 5BD/3.5BA - $249,500BUDGET APPRECIATING, BRICK, TWO-STORY, JUST

OFF OAK GROVE ROAD. FRESHLY PAINTED AND NEW CARPETING THROUGHOUT W/ WOOD BURNING FIREPLACE. Directions: Oak Grove Rd., turn onto Hickory Hollow.

28 Hickory Hollow

2:30 to 3:00 pm

107 High Meadows Circle

Petal

3:30 to 4:00 pm

419 Yellow Pine Drive

Petal

1:30 to 2:00 pm

The Meadows 3BD/2BA - $162,250SPARKLING NEW AND VALUE PACKED BY AAA HOMES!

OPEN & INVITING FLOOR PLAN W/ WELL PLANNED KITCHEN, KING-SIZE MASTER SUITE. Directions: Hwy 42 to

Sunrise Road, turn right onto High Meadows.

Hattiesburg 3BD/2BA - $124,900TOTALLY RENOVATED HOME CONVENIENTLY LOCATED TO USM W/ BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF CHURCH & CAMPUS ACROSS THE STREET. CHARMING HOME, LARGE LOT.Directions: Hardy to North 24th Avenue. Home across from church.

111 N. 24th Ave.

Hattiesburg

2:00 to 2:30 pm

101 Sweet Bay Trail

Petal

3:30 to 4:00 pm

Petal 3BD/2BA - $149,500 HANDY-DANDY PROPERTY WITH EASY ACCESS TO

PPS/PES/PHS. LARGE RANCH STYLE HOME W/ TWO LIVING AREAS. Directions: Hwy 42 twoard PHS, right on Magnolia

Lane @ red light, left on Yellow Pine.

Trailwood 4BD/2.5BA - $295,000 MAGNIFICENT SOUTHERN COLONIAL, TOTALLY UPDATED AND MOVE-IN READY! 1.3 ACRE LEVEL LOT. Directions: Hwy 42 past Petal High School, right on Wildwood Trail, at first stop sign turn

left on Sweet Bay Trail, then right at next stop. House on right.

Timberton 3BD/2.5BA - $197,500ENCHANTING TIMBERTON WATERFRONT WITH THREE ELEVATED PORCHES FOR RESTING AND DREAMING! MOVE IN NEXT WEEK! Directions: Veterans Memorial Drive to Timberton Subdivision, follow Timberton Drive around curve, turn

left on Troon Circle.

40 Troon Circle

Hattiesburg

3:30 to 4:00 pm

37 Candelabra

Petal

2:00 to 2:30 pm

Reese Creek 3BD/2BA - $179,900 SO MUCH FOR THE PRICE! SPACIOUS HOME IN A GREAT GATED COMMUNITY. LARGE LOT WITH FENCED BACK YARD. Directions: Sunrise Road to Goodluck Road, take left into

Reese Creek subdivision.

SW Hattiesburg 3BD/2 BA - $137,500CLASSIC BRICK RANCH STYLE HOME WITH 2 LIVING

AREAS, A FENCED BACK YARD, PLUS OUTDOOR STORAGE BUILDING. CONVENIENT TO USM AND FGH. Directions: S. 28th

Ave, left on Julienne Pt., right on Longue Vue, left on Clayton Place.

2106 Clayton Place

Hattiesburg

3:30 to 4:00 pm

Oak Grove

32 Backwoods Trail

Petal

2:30 to 3:00 pm

Willows of Trailwood 3BD/2BA - $199,500IMMACULATE, EXCELLENT DESIGN-AWARDED, 3 BD, 2 BA

W/OFFICE/SUNROOM. BIG BACK YARD TOO! Directions: Hwy 42 past Petal High School and Trailwood West entrance. Next right into

The Willows onto Redfern Tr, left onto Backwood Tr.

Bent Creek West 4BD/2.5BA - $214,900HIGHLY MOTIVATED SELLER! THE PERFECT MIXTURE OF FUNCTION & STYLE! SLAB GRANITE COUNTER-

TOPS, LARGE PATIO.Directions: Hwy 24 to Bent Creek West, left on Bent Creek Loop, right on

Crystal Creek, left on Cambrooke, left on Cottage Park Road.

16 Cottage Park

Oak Grove

3:30 to 4:00 pm

112 W. Canebrake Blvd

Canebrake

2:30 to 3:00 pm

Canebrake 4BD/3.5BA - $429,900DISTINCTIVE, SOUTHERN COLONIAL, TWO-STORY,

FORMAL PLAN W/ HARDWOOD FLOORING AND CLASSIC APPOINTMENTS THROUGHOUT. Directions: Hwy 98 to Canebrake

Golf Entrance, right on W. Canebrake Blvd.

Castle Manor 4BD/2.5BA - $275,000WELCOME TO THIS HIDDEN GEM OF A STREET WHERE

NEIGHBORS ARE FAMILY! SPRAWLING MAIN HOUSE PLUS COMPLETE APARTMENT. Directions: Hwy 42 to

Dogwood. Take Oak @ end of Dogwood. House on left.

107 Oak Drive

Petal

2:30 to 3:00 pm

103 High Meadows Circle

Petal

3:30 to 4:00 pm

The Meadows 3BD/2BA - $167,900FABULOUS NEW CONSTRUCTION BY AAA HOMES W/ OPEN AND INVITING FLOOR PLAN. GREAT ROOM W/ VAULTED CELIING AND LAMINATE WOOD FLOORING.Directions: Hwy 42 to Sunrise Road, turn right onto High Meadows.

38 Elks Lake Road

Hattiesburg

3:00 to 3:30 pm

Dixie 4BD/2.5BA - $289,900ALMOST 8 ACRE SPREAD ON ELKS LAKE ROAD!

MOVE-IN READY WITH FRESH PAINT. Directions: Take Elks Lake Road from Hwy 49 South @ Beverly

Drive-In. 2nd house on left after bridge.

SW Hattiesburg - $299,500SPACIOUS ESTATE HOME IN SW HATTIESBURG. THIS WELL MAINTAINED HOME IS VERY CONVENIENT TO

USM AND FGH. Directions: S 28th Ave., turn left on Mimosa Ave., right on Velma St., left on Carriage Rd., right on Estelle Ave.

1002 Estelle Ave.

Hattiesburg

3:00 to 3:30 pm

The Trace 4BD/2.5BA - $229,500FRESHLY PAINTED AND MOVE-IN READY. BONUS ROOM UPSTAIRS, TWO LIVING AREAS, GAS RANGE, STAINLESS APPLIANCES. Directions: West Fourth Street to Lake Throreau Road,

left on Jubilee Point.

28 Jubilee Point

Oak Grove

1:30 to 2:00 pm

For more information and photos of these homes visit

DeLoisSmith.com/Tour-of-HomesSELLING THIS SPRING? If you are planning on listing your home this spring, NOW is the

perfect time to contact us for your personal listing consultation. Our experienced listing team will walk you through the entire process.Call 601-545-3900