Pontotoc Homes August 2026

AUGUST 2026

Real Estate Guide to Pontotoc County & the surrounding area

Pontotoc Ridge Realty, LTD. PAGE 8 & 9

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 Patty Turk Properties, LLC

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5 Long-term rental property tips 5 First Choice Insurance 6 Southern Hills Realty & Appraisal, Inc. 7 Key features for an outdoor TV room 8 Pontotoc Ridge Realty LTD. 10 How to brighten interior spaces 11 Dennis Cox, Tommy Morgan, Inc. 12 Crye-Leike Realtors, Beth Walker

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13 Tips to determine how big a home you really need

14 Tips to tend a garden in late summer 16 First Choice Bank

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Real Estate Guide to Pontotoc County & the surrounding area

Advertising Consultant: Angie Quarles | Designer: Chelsea Williams Pontotoc Progress • 13 East Jefferson Street P.O. Box 210 • Pontotoc, MS 38863 • 662-489-3511 4| PONTOTOC HOMES

Long-term rental property tips

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he sharp increase in home prices has been well documented in recent years. Though price increases have varied from market to market, the National Association of Home Builders reports that the average home price increased by 55 percent between the first quarter of 2020 and the third quarter of 2025.

Many adults who otherwise would be in the market to buy a home have felt priced out by the sharp increase in prices. That’s led many to the rental market, where more and more adults are looking for long-term solutions. Much like the process of buying a home, finding a longterm rental requires would-be renters to be diligent, patient and honest with themselves about what they’re looking for. With that in mind, adults looking for a long-term rental property can keep these tips in mind during their search.

GET A CLEAR IDEA OF ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH A PROPERTY

Monthly rent is the primary expense associated with a rental property, but there might be ancillary costs as well. In addition to the rent, a property might include fees for parking, trash, fitness facilities, recreational facilities like a community pool, and other expenses. These fees can quickly add up, but it’s good to note that some of them might remove additional expenses. Take note of all expenses associated with a property and if some of them will cancel out other monthly bills.

related to getting to and from work each day.

It’s also worth noting that a big advantage to renting is the smaller time commitment related to renting a property as opposed to owning one. Rental maintenance and routine property upkeep like mowing is typically left to a landlord or property manager, allowing renters to use that extra time for recreational pursuits or other endeavors. But that advantage can quickly vanish if renter

INQUIRE ABOUT RENT CONTROL

Rent control laws, if they exist, vary by municipality. Many renters consider finding a rent-controlled property akin to finding a needle in a haystack, but it can be done. Rent control laws often regulate how much a landlord can increase rent at the end of each lease, and those allowable increases tend to be much smaller than the increases that have characterized much of the rental market in recent years. Prospective long-term renters are urged to work with a real estate agent or realtor to find a rent-controlled property in their desired location.

GET A HANDLE ON A POTENTIAL LANDLORD

Many renters prefer a responsive landlord who takes their concerns seriously and is quick to act when an issue arises. Long-term renters who find a property they like will be dealing with the landlord for years to come, so prioritize finding a landlord with a strong reputation among past and current renters. Many landlords do not have direct access with tenants but communicate through property management firms. Ask the rental listing agent which type of arrangement exists at each property and, if possible, speak with current tenants to get an idea of the dynamic between the landlord/ property manager and residents.

CONSIDER THE LOCATION

A low monthly rent might be hard to resist, but if a property is far away from the office, those cost savings could be erased by expenses

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KEY FEATURES FOR AN

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Outdoor TV Room

n outdoor living area can provide a welcome space for residents and guests to gather on beautiful days and nights. The appeal of outdoor living is undeniable, and homeowners working with a blank canvas in their backyards, or working with an aging area in need of a complete overhaul, can tailor their spaces to meet their own unique wants.

Many homeowners are building outdoor living spaces around a TV room where they can host movie nights and game watches under the stars. Data from the National Association of Realtors® indicates that such spaces are worth homeowners’ investment, as a new patio can recoup as much as 95 percent at resale.

Outdoor TV rooms are wildly popular. A few creature comforts can make these spaces even more inviting.

Features to make an outdoor space more enjoyable OUTDOOR TV ENCLOSURE

The cost of an outdoor TV enclosure will depend on the size of the television, but it likely won’t break the bank regardless of how large a television is. Many enclosures for televisions up to 65 inches can be had for less than $500.

Enclosures are important because most are weather-resistant and some are shatterproof.

In addition, an enclosure protects the television when no one is home or outside, ensuring windy or stormy afternoons when debris or branches might be flying near the television won’t damage the device.

LIGHTING

It’s easy to overlook lighting when planning an outdoor TV room. However, once the sun goes down, it may feel odd and a little uncomfortable if the only light is coming from the television itself. Some ambient lighting that’s attached to a pergola or built into a pavillion can help illuminate the space where you’ll be watching TV.

SOUND CAPABILITY

An outdoor TV room likely won’t be used as frequently as indoor spaces, so a sizable in-

vestment in a sound system to accommodate outdoor viewing may not be necessary. But you may want to enhance the sound for outdoor movie nights or game watches. If you’re mounting the television on an exterior wall, a pair of speakers can flank the TV on each side.

If the television is going to be placed on an outdoor TV stand, a soundbar built for outdoor use should suffice.

COMFORTABLE SEATING

It’s unlikely you would feel comfortable watching a movie or game indoors if you spent the whole time sitting in your dining room chairs. And it’s equally important to prioritize comfortable seating in an outdoor TV space rather than just dragging patio dining table chairs or even adirondack chairs over to the TV area when you’re about to watch something.

Some cushioned outdoor furniture will enhance the viewing experience for everyone.

FAN

A ceiling fan attached to a pavillion or a wall-mounted fan or two directing air toward the seating area can keep pesky bugs at bay and provide a little cooling relief on warm nights.

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HOW TO BRIGHTEN

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Interior Spaces

f spring and summer are seasons when homeowners focus their renovation energy on outdoor living spaces, that attention shifts back inside upon the arrival of fall. People tend to spend much more time indoors than outside come late fall and throughout the winter.

The ambiance inside in fall and winter is notably different, as fewer hours of daylight can darken interior spaces. Finding ways to brighten home interiors can make spaces more inviting in late fall and throughout the winter.

It can be a challenge to keep interior spaces bright over the winter. But there are many ways homeowners can illuminate interior spaces.

Ways to brighten a space in your home LAYER WITH SHEER AND BLACKOUT CURTAINS

The simplest way to brighten interior spaces is to allow natural light to illuminate them, but that can be difficult in homes with blackout curtains. Blackout curtains are highly effective at keeping light out, but they won’t do much to brighten interior spaces in the winter. Layer blackout curtains with sheer curtains so you can still get some privacy but brighten interior spaces with natural light at the same time.

ADD LIGHTING WHEREVER POSSIBLE

The days when interior lighting was limited to floor lamps and overhead fixtures are long gone. Various types of lighting can now be used to brighten interior spaces throughout winter. Recessed lighting is a relatively inexpensive upgrade that can brighten any room in a home at any point in a day. Unlike a traditional overhead fixture where the light emanates from a single source, recessed lighting can be installed in various points in the ceiling so each corner of a room can be lit up. In addi-

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tion to recessed lighting, under cabinet lighting in kitchens and on bookshelves can brighten spots that traditional fixtures typically fail to illuminate. Layering the lighting so light comes from various sources can create a brighter feel.

USE COLOR TO YOUR ADVANTAGE

Color is another tool that can be used to brighten interior spaces in the winter. If homeowners are reluctant to paint walls with new and brighter colors, then accents can lend rooms a lighter feel. Vibrantly colored throw pillows, blankets and fixtures can create a lighter feel when residents and guests enter a room. Artwork with light colors also can help to brighten interior spaces.

WASH THE WINDOWS

They are easily overlooked, but dirty windows can block natural light and greatly reduce the amount of light entering a home through the windows. Clean the interior and exterior of your windows prior to winter so any grime that has built up in recent months and years is not preventing light from entering your home.

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TIPS TO DETERMINE HOW BIG A HOME

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You Really Need

hopping for a new home is an exciting experience. As prospective buyers shop around and attend open houses, they are likely to fine-tune their list of what they need and what they want in their next home.

One choice buyers will be faced with is how much home to buy. Determining how much square footage an ideal home should have can be difficult. While many home buyers can envision themselves enjoying a palatial estate, square footage is a significant variable in regard to home prices. When trying to determine how much home to buy, prospective home buyers can ask themselves a range of questions to help make that decision.

The ideal amount of square footage in a home varies from buyer to buyer. Determining what suits you may come down to how you answer a variety of questions.

Questions to consider for how much home to buy HOW MUCH CAN I AFFORD?

ome buyers’ budgetary considerations should extend beyond the asking price of a home and into what they will be able to afford should they purchase a particular property. Projected monthly mortgage payments can be easy to determine, but utilities can fluctuate considerably from home to home. Energy prices are fluid, but the more square footage a home has, the higher utility bills are likely to be. When determining how much home you should buy, you first need to identify what you can afford, and that mock budget should include estimates regarding monthly utilities. In addition, upgrading and renovating a larger property is likely to cost more, so that’s another budget-related variable to consider when determining how much home to buy.

HOW MUCH HOME CAN I TAKE CARE OF?

Seasoned homeowners know that the work required to own a home never ceases. Firsttime buyers must keep that in mind when shopping for a home. A home with lots of square footage will require more daily and long-term maintenance than a smaller home. If you don’t have the time, the means or the will to keep up with maintaining a property, then perhaps a home with a small footprint in terms of square footage is for you. If taking care of the home is not a concern, then extra square footage may not be a deterrent.

HOW SIGNIFICANT A VARIABLE IS ZIP CODE WHEN SELLING A HOME?

Another variable to consider when determining square footage is the ZIP code of a home.

Selling might not be foremost on the minds of prospective buyers, but a large home in a town with a poor school district and safety concerns is unlikely to generate as great a return on investment as a smaller home in a town with a reputation for great schools and little crime.

However, the real estate market is forever in flux, so prospective buyers who prefer a larger home but don’t want to break the bank to purchase one are urged to work with a real estate professional to identify areas that might be upand-coming and offer the best of both worlds.

That’s no small task, but local real estate agents and realtors can be invaluable assets in such pursuits.

HOW MUCH HOME DO I NEED?

Of course, how much home a buyer needs is a unique and important variable. But this also is a difficult question to answer. Buyers who plan to grow their families will need enough space to accommodate everyone who eventually lives under their roof. Couples buying a home together who discuss how big a family they want to have can use that discussion to inform how large a home to buy. Buyers who like to get out and about can ask how much time they’re likely to spend at home and use that to determine how much square footage they need at home.

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TIPS TO TEND A GARDEN

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In Late Summer

s summer winds down, long stretches of sunlight are dwindling and cooler temperatures are on the horizon.

Gardening enthusiasts may wonder how they can manage their backyard gardens as the peak growing season comes to a close.

People may not be eager to do much in their gardens come August, particularly because the air may be hot and the dew point high. And spending the final days of summer at the beach or in the pool may take priority.

However, late summer is a great time to focus on certain tasks.

There’s plenty of work to be done in the garden come the end of summer.

Late summer gardening tips DEADHEADING

HMany plants look better with the wilted flowers removed. Furthermore, some plants, such as with lilies and roses, will benefit from having spent blooms removed so that no unnecessary energy is drawn away from the roots or bulbs.

Research your plants and learn which can benefit from some late-summer deadheading to keep them thriving.

WEEDING

Weeds can become problematic if they’re allowed to grow unabated. Routinely go into the garden and cull the weeds.

CONSIDER SUCCESSION PLANTING

Growing vegetables like beans or peas may be more successful if you try succession planting. This involves sowing new seeds every seven to 10 days to extend the harvest.

KEEP AN EYE OPEN FOR PESTS

According to Garden Smart, caterpillars and beetles may be chewing on garden plants by late summer, and aphids still may be problem-

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atic. Handpick insects off of vegetables and ornamental flowers, or use safe sprays for treating these issues.

PLANT COOL WEATHER VEGETABLES

Many plants will grow well when planted in late summer, according to Homesteading Family. Some such plants include turnips, beets, carrots, kale, chard, mustard greens, and peas.

You can begin turning your summer garden, or a portion of it, into a fall and winter garden.

HARVESTING WHAT’S READY

Pick vegetables that are ready to eat, and remove any plants that have reached the end of their growing cycle.

CONVERT PLANTER BOXES AND CONTAINERS

This is a good time to start changing over summer annuals in containers and planter boxes to those that do well in fall, such as mums, asters, pansies, and goldenrod.