| A: | Remodeling magazine produces an annual "Cost vs. Value Report'' that answers just that question. The most important point to remember is that remodeling a home not only improves its livability for you but its curb appeal with a potential buyer down the road.
Most recently, the highest remodeling paybacks have come from updating kitchens and baths, home-office additions and extra amenities in older homes. While home offices are a relatively new remodeling trend, for example, you could expect to recoup 58 percent of the cost of adding a home office, according to the survey. |
| A: | You can find distressed properties or fixer-uppers in most communities, even wealthier neighborhoods. A distressed property is one that has been poorly maintained and has a lower market value than other houses in the immediate area.
Ascertaining whether the property you're interested in is a wise investment takes some work. You need to figure what the average house in a given area sells for, as well as what the most desirable houses in that area are like and what they cost. Some experts suggest that buyers who take this route try to find a "cosmetic fixer" that can be completely refurbished with paint, wallpaper, new floor and window coverings, landscaping and new appliances. You should avoid run-down houses that need major structural repairs. A house price that looks too good to be true probably is. A smart buyer will find out why before buying it. The basic strategy for a fixer is to find the least desirable house in the most desirable neighborhood, and then decide if the expenses needed to bring the value of that property up to its full potential market value are within one's rehab budget. |
So let me ask you as we are all moving closer to celebrating the Hanukkah and Christmas seasons. Are you under the impression that all of the clean-up of storm damaged homes and the rebuilding of the lives of the many families who suffered the devastating effects of hurricanes Ivan, Katrina, Rita, Ike and Gustav is all finished with nothing more for you or anyone else to do to help? Did you think that that the government stepped in and made them whole? Are those poor soles out of your sight and so, out of your thoughts and prayers too?
I live and work in Biloxi Mississippi, so needless to say I am somewhat of an authority on this subject. I am proud to report that we, the residents of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, are a resilient bunch of folks and even though we still have quite a way to go before we are completely recovered from hurricane Katrina, we are still a lot further along that the proud folks of Cameron Louisiana who were hit with hurricane Rita and more recently, hurricane Ike.
I and my friend, The Reverend Jane Bearden, took a truck load of donated household goods, donated by the members of my church, the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, to that humble Cajun country community on Thursday. A day that I could quite confidently define as the worst possible day of the entire calendar year to make this trip. Believe it or not we were stranded for five and a half hours on Interstate 12 in a snow storm! That's right, a snow storm in the beautiful, usually tropical deep South. So what started out as a six hour round trip journey to help out fellow storm victims turned out to be an all day excursion. By the end of the trip we were both exhausted and speechless. We were tired from driving of course, but also speechless from the devastation that we witnessed there in Cameron. We were also so very incredibility thankful for the opportunity to be able to offer our tiny bit of help to such an incredibly thankful group of people.
So if you're feeling a little stuck this holiday season for a creative way to make a difference in a world that seems to be falling apart around us all, take a moment to consider helping someone less fortunate than yourself. Collect the things that those people need to put their lives together again, and bring it to them. Raise money to help put a roof over a family. Do volunteer work while your taking a few holiday vacation days off. It doesn't have to be help to just hurricane victims either. There are opportunities close to your own home too. Please don't miss the chance to help your fellow man, woman or child.
Many Peaces,
Jim Wheeler, Broker / Owner
Landmark Properties
The official web site for Landmark Properties - Wheeler & Associates, Inc. received a full "make over" today. Stop by and have a look and let us know what you think.
While there please take a little time to check out the properties that we are currently marketing or search the Mississippi Gulf Coast Multiple Listing Service database for residential or investment properties. We offer buyer representation for the properties that you find there and would be happy to hear from you.
Commercial
Commercial and public building permits logged in the three South Mississippi counties for the week ending Dec. 01, listed by owner.
BAY ST. LOUIS
Hancock County Port and Harbor, 1301 Seaplane Road, Port Bienville, $82,000, metal building.
BILOXI
1726 Beach Blvd., $6 million, new Best Western hotel, AFC, Inc.
ABC Child Development Center, 1900 Popp's Ferry Road, $400,000, metal building, Starks Construction Company, Inc..
D'IBERVILLE
Byrd Apartments, 3073 Borries St., $34,000 each, three apartment buildings, T.J. Contractors.
GULFPORT
Troy Verrett, 2707 25th Ave., $180,000, tenant finish, Woods Construction.
Chris Chain, 1319 24th Ave., $51,000, tenant renovation, M.E. Ellis Construction, LLC.
Dennis Barber, 1315 25th Ave., $52,000, tenant renovation, M.E. Ellis Construction, LLC.
Fotello Brown, 371 Tegarden Road, $250,000, warehouse, Strickler Builders.
Burrt Pittiman, 1307-1311 25th Ave., $69,000, tenant renovation, M.E. Ellis Construction, LLC.
Garry Tibbens, 1224 19th St., $19,000, tenant finish - pool house, Hall-Mack, LLC.
Gulfship, LLC, 12351 Glascock Drive, $6.9 million, shipyard launch systems, Bodden Ent.
MRA, 2505 14th St., tenant renovation - Hewes Building, Mitchell's Construction.
Robert Finley, 1421-1423 24th Ave., $37,000, tenant renovation, M.E. Ellis Construction, LLC.
RFFS, LLC, 11266 Three Rivers Road, $175,000, metal building, I-CON Construction, LLC.
David Theobald, 2408 14th St., $43,000, tenant renovation, M.E. Ellis Construction, LLC.
Sherry Trullender, 2504 13th St., $43,000-$51,000, tenant renovation of two units, M.E. Ellis Construction, LLC.
Don Halle, 2711 14th St., $121,000, tenant renovation, M.E. Ellis Construction, LLC.
St. John Baptist Church, 12252 Dedeaux Road, $2.8 million, new church, Starks Construction Company, LLC.
D & F Properties, 1712 15th St., $198,000, H. Gordon Myrick, tenant finish, second floor.
LONG BEACH
Sears Holding Management Corp., 1900 Popp's Ferry Road, $5.8 million,
Residential
Residential building permits logged in the cities and unincorporated areas of the three South Mississippi counties for the week ending Dec. 01: Bay St. Louis: 4; Biloxi: 2; Diamondhead: 0; D'Iberville: 1; Gautier: 0; Gulfport: 4; Hancock County: 3; Harrison County: 2; Jackson County: 1; Long Beach: 2; Moss Point: 4; Ocean Springs: 4; Pascagoula: 1; Pass Christian: 2; and Waveland: 2.
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Landmark Properties - Wheeler & Associates, Inc. is a full service real estate borkerage firm representing buyers, sellers, investors, landlords and tenants of residential & commercial properties.
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