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

Elizabeth Liggett Josh Bellew

Volume 17, Issue 5 / May 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

Over the last six years, home ownership has lost some of its allure as a financial investment. As homeowners suffered through the housing bust, more and more began to question whether owning a home was truly a good way to build wealth. A study by the Federal Reserve formally answered this question.

Two of the findings revealed in their report:• A homeowner’s net worth is over thirty-six times greater

than that of a renter.• The average homeowner has a net worth of $195,400 while

the average net worth of a renter is $5,400.

Bottom LineThe Fed study found that homeownership is still a great way

for a family to build wealth in America.

Home ownership’s Impact on Net Worth

Ame Karoly

I recently attended homecoming at Forrest County Agricultural High School, my alma mater, in Brooklyn, Mississippi. This is an event that occurs the first Friday of every April (unless it falls on Easter weekend and then it is on the second weekend in April rain or shine)! At each homecoming there are ‘honor classes’ beginning with the current graduating class and then every class having graduated in a 10 year span for the previous years. This year was a ‘special’ year for my class and I was honored to have visited with some of those classmates with whom I have had little to no contact for decades including a sweet friend from Panama! It was a thrill to see her and after all these years be able to revisit that friendship! (During my years in attendance we had the unique opportunity to attend school with students from Central America who boarded during the year in the dormitories on campus). The dorms were also open to students from other Mississippi school districts as well as other states. Sadly, the dorms are no longer a part of the campus but there has been some chatter as to that becoming a part of the make-up of the school in the future.

While attending FCAHS I participated in many of the activities on campus including memberships in the various clubs such as FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), 4-H, Beta Club, and Student Council. Other activities included the Junior-Senior play where I played ‘Birdie’ in the production of ‘Bull in a China Shop’. Sports were also a big part of those high school days….especially varsity basketball. And yes, I played ‘forward’ and lettered three years….all 5’2” of me! When I go back to the yearly homecoming event with my BFF from high school, who was a cheerleader and fellow ball player, for a brief moment we become those carefree high school girls. This year was much the same feeling as we walked

through the school to view our class photo composite. There we were on display with so many others through the years in the long hall leading to the front entrance!

The evening’s festivities began with a catered meal for several hundred attendees. The program included recognition of outstanding alumni, yearly scholarship awards and entertainment by the ‘Aggapellas’ an FCAHS contemporary ‘a cappella’ group. On Saturday evening we had another gathering at a smaller venue for our classmates and more ‘one on one’ visitation which we all agreed was a hit and that it should occur more regularly.

This lovely old school, created in 1911 by the Mississippi State Legislature, has celebrated over 100 years of existence. An agricultural high school teaches the basics of farming and other trade related skills as well as preparing students to go on to college if that is their choice. Many young people have walked the halls of FCAHS and many went on to make noteworthy careers for themselves not only in the Pine Belt but throughout the world in business, education, medicine, sports, and so much more! I have often touted the wonderful alumni association that exists. It certainly would not survive except for the dedicated teachers, staff, historians, and monetary contributions. All this, from those who want to see this venerable educational institution and genuine Mississippi treasure prevail for generations to come.

Live and Love well,

Linda Seifert

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

FCAHS: Memories of Yesterday and Visions of Tomorrow

Current real estate market statisticsHattiesburg Area Single Family Median Sold Home Prices (January 1-April 28)

2014 2015

Hattiesburg $110,000 $123,500

Oak Grove $180,000 $180,000

Petal $134,300 $129,000

Hattiesburg Area Single Family Homes SOLD (January 1-April 28)

2014 2015

Hattiesburg 62 76

Oak Grove 109 109

Petal 71 76

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

Tour of HomesSunday, April 12, 2015, 1:30-5 PM

Canebrake 4BD/3.5BA - $399,500AMAZING VALUE OFFERED IN THIS HIGH QUALITY

PECAN ACRES GARDEN HOME. VERY UPSCALE LIGHTING, 8’ DOORS, HAND SCRAPED BRAZILLIAN

CHERRY SOLID WOOD FLOORING. Directions: Hwy 98, turn into main Canebrake entrance, follow Canebrake Blvd around lake, turn

right on Pecan Acres.

24 Pecan Acres

Canebrake

3:30 to 4:00 pm

Hunters Ridge 4BD/3BA - $174,500THIS CHARMING HOME HAS IT ALL! 4 LARGE

BEDROOMS, 3 FULL BATHS, BONUS ROOM, AND FENCED BACK YARD. Directions: EGP (Hwy 42) to Sunrise Road, right on Temple Rd., right on Nicklaus Trail, left on Dove Hollow, right

on Mallard.

11 Mallard Drive

Petal

1:30 to 2:00 pm

Bridgefield Gardens 3BD/2.5BA - $159,900CHARMING, SHUTTERED, BRICK COTTAGE W/ SMALL PRIVACY FENCED YARD. OAK GROVE OR SUMRALL SCHOOLS. Directions: Hwy 98 West, north on Hwy 589 towards

Sumrall, left into Bridgefield Gardens.

4 Bridgefield Court

Oak Grove

1:30 to 2:00 pm

217 S. 21st Ave.

Hattiesburg

4:30 to 5:00 pm

Crowns Pointe 3BD/2.5BA - $169,900MID-TOWN, TWO-STORY LOADED W/ CHARM & LOTS OF LOVING UPGRADES. BEAUTIFULLY LANDSCAPED,

NEW KITCHEN APPLIANCES, REFINISHED MAPLE HARDWOOD FLOORING, EXTENSIVE BUILT-INS.

Directions: Hardy Street to S. 21st Ave.

Canebrake 3BD/4.5BA - $410,000COMPLETELY FURNISHED, TURN-KEY PURCHASE

OPPORTUNITY! BETTER-THAN-NEW, FRENCH COUNTRY HOME OVERLOOKING THE 14TH FAIRWAY. Directions: Hwy 98 to second Canebrake Entrance (Bienville Trace), left

on Bellerose.

10 Bellerose

2:30 to 3:00 pm

3 Waverly Circle

Oak Grove

1:30 to 2:00 pm

Woodlands South 4BD/3BA - $398,500COUNTRY FRENCH, CUSTOM BUILT HOME ON

SPRAWLING 1.59 ACRE, CORNER LOT. CLASSIC OLD WORLD MOLDINGS, DOORS, CABINETRY, & LIGHTING.

Directions: Hwy 98, south on Cole Road, right into Woodlands South.

42 Woodlands Trace

Oak Grove

2:00 to 2:30 pm

The Trace 4BD/2.5BA - $279,900 ONE OF OAK GROVE’S MOST IMPRESSIVE ONE-STORY EXECUTIVE HOMES! UPSCALE DESINER

LIGHTING FIXTURES, LUXRIOUS MASTER. Directions: Hwy 98 to King Road, right on Courtland, right on Auburn Place, left on

Waverly Circle.

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

4:00 to 4:30 pm

4 Crowns Pointe

Oak Grove

2:30 to 3:00 pm

Crowns Pointe 3BD/2BA - $139,900100% USDA FINANCING FOR THIS PERFECTLY LO-

CATED, OAK GROVE STARTER HOME NEIGHBORHOOD. SPARKLING NEW, READY-TO-MOVE-IN. Directions: Hwy

98 West Hegwood Drive, go through 4-way stop, turn into Crowns Pointe on the left.

Villages of Oak Grove 4BD/2BA - $193,900SPARKLING NEW HOME AT THE VILLAGES! USDA

FINANCING AVAILABLE. FAMILY FRIENDLY FLOOR PLAN WITH A 2ND LEVEL BONUS ROOM. QUIET CUL-DE-SAC

LOCATION. Directions: Old Hwy 24, turn onto Leaf Lane, turn into The Villages of Oak Grove.

10 Lafite Cove

Oak Grove

4:30 to 5:00 pm

Canebrake

38 Elks Lake Road

Dixie

3:00 to 3:30 pm

Dixie 4BD/2.5BA - $284,900ALMOST 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.

3503 Rocky Branch Rd.

Sumrall

2:00 to 3:00 pm

Sumrall 5BD/3BA - $364,500SETTING COULD BE FEATURED IN SOUTHERN LIVING! YOU CANNOT DUPLICATE THIS SETTING AT THIS PRICE. REAL

WOOD PLANK FLOORING, KITCHEN FOR A CHEF. Directions: Hwy 589N to Sumrall, left on Scruggs Rd., cross over Oloh to N. Mill Creek Rd., at intersection of Rocky Branch Rd., home on the right.

SW Hattiesburg 4BD/4.5BA - $289,500SPACIOUS 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 Drive

Canebrake

3:00 to 3:30 pm

100 S. 22nd Ave.

Hattiesburg

3:30 to 4:00 pm

SE Hattiesburg 3BD/2BA - $169,500 WELCOME HOME TO THIS 1910 WHITE STUCCO

CASTLE! SO MANY LOVELY WINDOWS, SIDE COURTYARD, HARD SURFACED FLOORING! Directions:

Hardy Street, turn right onto S. 22nd Avenue.

Bellepointe 4BD/2BA - $249,900YOUR SEARCH FOR EVERYTHING IN THIS PRICE RANGE IS OVER! HUGE CORNER LOT, PRIVACY FENCE, SHOP W/

ELECTRICITY, QUIET SUBDIVISION.Directions: Old Hwy 11 to McMahon Rd., left into Bellepointe, 1st right,

home on left corner lot.

106 Bellepointe

Oak Grove

4:00 to 4:30 pm

Outlying NE 3BD/2BA - $176,000 PICTURE PERFECT SETTING WITH PONDS AT EVERY ANGLE.

5 BEAUTIFUL ACRES WITH A LARGE POND, BACK YARD MANICURED TO PERFECTION. Directions: Hwy 49, right @ Peps

Point Rd., right @ River Rd. Home on left across from Mack’s.

832 River Road

Hattiesburg

1:30 to 2:00 pm

For more information and photos of these homes visit DeLoisSmith.com/Tour-of-Homes