Pontotoc Homes December 2019

DECEMBER 2019

Real Estate Guide to Pontotoc County & the surrounding area

FEATURING (Page 10)

Hamilton Mortgage

Get personalized service for your home loan

We work here, Live here, Play here.

We are your neighbors!

PROPERTIES Selecting the right real estate professional to work for you is the most important step in the process.

PONTOTOC RIDGE REALTY, INC. EACH MOSSY OAK PROPERTIES OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED.

BROKER: SUSIE CHAPMAN 419-3265

BROKER: PATTI STARK 296-5301

BROKER: MARILYN SAPPINGTON 488-5477

ASSOC.: ALISHA GALLOWAY 509-2677

BROKER: DAVID ANDERSON 419-5318

BROKER: CAYCE CONTI 396-1967

ASSOC.: LENA CHEWE 297-4079

49 S. Main St., Pontotoc, MS • 662-489-2848 • www.pontotocridgerealty.com

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 7 7 7 8 10 15

Patty Turk Properties, LLC

15 16 17 18 19 20 22 24

Matthews Real Estate

First Choice Insurance Pickens Pest Control Distinctive Design Crye-Leike Realtors, Beth Walker Hamilton Mortgage feature Things to consider before warming up next to your first fire this winter

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Dennis Cox, Tommy Morgan, Inc. Hamilton Mortgage Southern Hills Realty & Appraisal, Inc. Benefits to open concept floor plans Mossy Oak Properties Holiday Hosting in small spaces First Choice Bank

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Advertising Consultant: Angie Quarles • Designer: Chelsea Williams Pontotoc Progress • 13 Jefferson Street • P.O. Box 210 • Pontotoc, MS 38863 • 662-489-3511

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Jeff and Lori WIlliams, owners of Hamilton Mortgage

Hamilton Mortgage Get personalized service for your home loan from Story & Photos by REGINA BUTLER

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o you need a home loan that will fit your budget? Make sure you call Hamilton Mortgage on Marion Street in Pontotoc.

Owned and operated by Jeff and Lori Williams, with the capable assistance of Kelly Jones, the business has been on Marion Street in Pontotoc since March of 2018.

Williams’ business is family owned and operated and originally opened in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1989.

“I opened an office in Ecru, then moved it to Tupelo for 17 years,” Jeff said, “before moving it back to Pontotoc.”

Lori explained why the move back home took place, “Jeff was

diagnosed with cancer, and one day we were out looking at the cows and I said we should move back home with our business.”

One thing led to another, the office space that was on Marion Street opened up and now they are in business in their own home town.

“It was the best move we ever made,” Jeff noted. “We get a lot more foot traffic here than we did in Tupelo. This has been a great location for us.”

That location is an office that looks somewhat small at first glance, but looks are deceiving. There are spacious rooms in the back for the loan officer and the attorneys to sit comfortably around a table while they are closing the loan.

Kelly Jones

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And the first person to greet you with a smile as you walk in is usually Kelly Jones. “She has been with Jeff processing loans for almost 10 years,” Lori noted. “Her years of experience are invaluable and she is such an asset.”

Hamilton Mortgage offers most mortgage loan products including the 100% USDA financing option. “We also offer FHA and conventional fixed rate mortgages,” Williams said.

It was the desire to give that one-onone customer satisfaction that made Williams decision to go into business for himself.

“After working with another big box lender, I saw a need in our community for home loans with personalized service,” he said.

Jeff said that most people believe that they can’t buy a new home.

“Reaching and educating the most people possible is the greatest challenge. Most people today decide they are not capable of buying a home before even trying. Or they are overwhelmed and fearful of the process.”

The couple actually has two locations to help those who are needing a loan.

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“Jeff operates a quick stop there on the Hurricane Road in Ecru just before Ashley Furniture, and he has a small office there. We can meet with customers there that come from Ecru or from New Albany,” said Lori.

Hamilton Mortgage is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. “However, we offer after business hours, flexible closing hours, and one on one customer care. I be-

lieve we are the only specialty focused mortgage banker in Pontotoc.

“It is a nice community here.

If someone calls me I can be right here, or if I can’t, Kelly can.”

Lori also said she appreciates the closeness of the people who work at other places around town, “we are like a family.”

The couple also expressed gratitude to the folks at the

First Choice Bank. “Shane Clayton has been good for us,” Lori said. “We offer different things than they do in this industry and they have been great to bounce ideas off of and to help us with our business.”

Jeff chuckled. “Larry Russell and Donna Simmons should get man and woman of the year,” he said.

And there is nothing quite like seeing that person get the

keys to a new home that makes him smile.

“What makes my day worthwhile is being able to help individuals achieve the American dream of homeownership with little or no down payment.

There is nothing more rewarding than helping someone own a home,” Jeff said.

Hamilton Mortgage is an Equal Opportunity Lender. Restrictions may apply. Call them at 662-586-5155.

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Things to consider before warming up next to your first fire this winter

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warm fire can make even the coldest winter day more enjoyable. Fireplaces may not get much use in spring or summer, but come late fall and throughout the winter, the fireplace can be a great place for families to gather.

Before fireplace season hits full swing, homeowners might want to brush up on a few fireplace facts so they can safely enjoy nights spent sitting by the crackling flames.

The Chimney Safety Institute of America advises homeowners with fireplaces to hire a CSIA-certified chimney sweep to clean their fireplaces. After a lengthly period of non-use, various issues could be affecting the chimney, many of

which might not be noticeable to an untrained eye. Professional, certified chimney sweeps have extensive knowledge of fireplaces, making them valuable resources who can let homeowners know if any safety issues developed since fireplaces were last used. The National Protection Agency recommends that chimneys be swept at least once per year.

A full inspection of the chimney might be in order as well.

Chimney service technicians will conduct thorough examinations of readily accessible portions of the chimney exterior and interior and accessible portions of the appliance and the chimney connection. The CSIA recommends that homeowners who plan to use their chimneys

as they have in the past request a Level 1 inspection, which will examine the soundness of the chimney structure and flue as well as the basic appliance installation and connections.

Technicians also will verify if the chimney is free of obstruction and combustible deposits.

Homeowners also should inspect their chimney dampers before lighting their first fires of the season. Dampers should open and close smoothly. If not, a service technician can help fix or replace the damper.

Firewood is another thing homeowners must consider before lighting their first fires of the season. The CSIA says that well-seasoned firewood works best, noting that wood that is not well-seasoned will

produce more smoke than heat.

In addition, the home improvement resource This Old House recommends using dense wood that’s been split and stored in a high and dry place for at least six months. Oak is an example of dense wood that, when stored properly, can make for an enjoyable fireplace experience. Avoid softwoods like pine. Pine can produce a lot of creosote, which is a byproduct of wood combustion. Creosote is highly flammable, and as it builds up in a chimney, the risk for a chimney fire increases.

Before nestling up to a fireplace this winter, homeowners should consider a host of factors and safety measures to ensure their fireplaces are safe and ready for the season ahead.

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BENEFITS TO OPEN

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Concept Floor Plans

he way a home is designed can say a lot of things about it. In fact, many real estate professionals and contractors can determine when a home was built based on the design of its interior.

For example, homes with sunken living rooms were likely built sometime in the 1960s and 1970s.

Open concept living rooms are one trend that might one day make people nostalgic for the early 21st century. Many of today’s home buyers want homes with open concept floor plans, which can give homes a more spacious feel, perhaps even creating the illusion that a home is bigger than it really is.

Home buyers who have never before enjoyed open concept floor plans can consider these benefits to these wildly popular layouts.

Open concept floor plans continue to be popular among home buyers and might prove to be the most lasting home design trend of the early 21st century.

Open Concept Floor Plan Benefits ENTERTAINMENT

Many people who live in homes with open concept floor plans cite their convenience when entertaining as one of their biggest assets. In an open concept home, guests don’t have to be corralled into a single room in the home. Instead, hosts and their guests can roam freely from room to room because there are no walls dividing common areas. This can make gatherings feel less cramped than in homes with more traditional floor plans.

SAFETY

The safety of open concept floor plans may be most applicable to parents of young children. Open concept floor plans allow parents to keep an eye on their children while cooking dinner, working from home or tending to other chores around the house. Since there are

no walls to divide rooms in open concept homes, parents don’t have to wonder what their curious kids are up to because they can see them at all times.

FLEXIBILITY

Open concept floor plans give homeowners more flexibility. For example, homes with more traditional floor plans may have designated spaces for dining areas. These spaces don’t leave much room to work with and may not be valued by homeowners who don’t often host dinners at home. As a result, such rooms may just be wasted square footage. With an open concept floor plan, homeowners have the flexibility to make dining areas as big or small as they see fit and can even adjust the rooms on the fly on those occasions when people are coming over.

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Holiday Hosting

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IN SMALL SPACES

atherings of family and friends are a big part of the holiday season. Hosting such gatherings can be a great way to show loved ones how much you appreciate them, and hosting also saves hosts the trouble of traveling during one of the most hectic travel seasons of the year.

When hosting a large crowd at home, space can be a difficult hurdle to clear. However, a few helpful strategies can help spacestarved hosts pull off a holiday soiree where everyone is comfortable.

Holiday hosting can be fun, even in small spaces. A few simple tricks can make even the smallest spaces accommodating.

Tricks for holiday hosting in small spaces PARE DOWN THE MENU

Holiday feasts don’t have to resemble medieval banquets with excessive amounts of food and drink. Hosts with small kitchens and tiny dining quarters can pare down the menu, limiting offerings to just a single entree and a few simple side dishes, so everyone feels comfortable at the table and has ample room to eat. A small menu also gives hosts more time to spend with their loved ones during the festivities.

Don’t overdo it on drinks, either

When planning the drinks menu, avoid offering cocktails, which take time to prepare and often require guests to visit the kitchen for refrigerated ingredients. Limit drinks to wine, beer, water, and soft drinks, storing cold beverages in a cooler kept outside on a front or back porch or in an area outside the kitchen so cooks can work without interruption.

Move some furniture

If your main living space is small, consider moving some bulky furniture into a bedroom or office where guests won’t be spending time. Then make better use of the open living space by placing folding chairs or other accommodations to ensure there’s ample seating for everyone. A single recliner can only be enjoyed by one person, but removing it from a room may create enough space for as many as three folding chairs.

Go small on decorations

If you know you’ll be hosting in advance of the holiday season, decorate with guests in mind. That might mean skipping a six-foot Christmas tree in favor of one that takes up less space. Avoid leaving any fragile decorations out, as adults or overexcited kids may knock them over as they try to navigate a cramped space.

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