Being north of I-10, insurance rates are more favorable, and being just out of the city limits, means that you are just outside of city taxes. All things combined, this is an excellent opportunity for residential home buyers or even investors wanting a prime rental location for single family homes.

I have another post on Belvedere Place in Gulfport, MS which was written on August 10, 2009, just over a year ago, which showcased the property for investment potential and I was recently contacted by the real estate firm representing the builder (new company) asking that I take that post down even though the old real estate firm welcomed our Internet presence and loved the idea we were bringing them more business. The reasons they gave were that they were concerned that other real estate companies may be given the impression that there was some sort of “agreement” between us and them. I feel that their motives were more in their interest though. Since we do have the number one Internet presence on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, when we showcase any property or community, we naturally rise to the top of the search engines for related searches. I feel that they were worried that we would take away from their ability to make more money by “double siding” transactions. That being said, make sure that you call us for an appointment at Belvedere Place in Gulfport. We know that we have sent people directly to the model home out there before with no money to us, but now we want to hear from you first and will gladly represent you on the buying side. Keep in mind that when you go directly to the model, you are dealing with an agent that represents the builder and that may decrease your ability to negotiate on price and terms.

Now, I hope that any concerns by DSLD Homes and Stone Ridge Real Estate are put at ease. We do not have any relationship with the developer or real estate firm at the model. We represent buyers and the seller pays us for bringing the buyer. Call or email me if you have any real estate needs on the Mississippi Coast.

Additional information about our original post on Belvedere Place:
Suzette Riley at DSLD Homes/Stone Ridge Real Estate contacted me demanding that I remove the post about Belvedere Place in Gulfport, MS. I informed her that I would remove pictures of the model, even though we had permission to take the photos, because if anyone else asked me to take photos of their home off this site, I would. I did however, inform her that I would not remove the posts about the subdivision because while the builder may have rights to build in the subdivision, once it was officially platted and the first lot was sold, it became property of the owners and therefore a newsworthy story on this blog, which aims to bring THE BEST real estate information on the MS Coast. While she was not extremely happy that I did not remove the post entirely, I did agree to make it known that Tech Realty® (my brokerage), MSCoastRealty.com (this site), and none of our agents are directly associated with the builder(s) of homes in Belvedere Place Subdivision in Gulfport, MS.

There’s no better time than now for military personnel to decide on using the tax credit extension, even if filing for taxes is at the bottom of priority lists.

Guest Post By James Kelley:
James Kelley blogs on veteran’s issues and real estate in the United States at VA Benefit Blog .He also works for VA Mortgage Center, proudly serving American military families as the nation’s premier VA lender.

Over the past year, we have seen more home sales slip through because of what used to be minor issues but now the banks simply do not budge on their requirements. Even with these issues, we have seen a steady stream of home buyers who have contacted us to assist in buying a home and we continue to work with them daily. Over the past few months, we have continuously seen more requests for information through this website and our other sites and have noticed that more of these contacts are ready to start looking for their new home where many of the requests several months ago were more “information gathering”.

We leave this site open and report as much data as possible on our area and the housing market and leave all doors open to our readers to gather as much information from this site as possible. We are available for questions or to assist you in your home search when you are ready and will have as little or as much contact with you as you want. Make no mistake – the Mississippi Coast Housing Market is moving and we are here to assist you in your needs. Check out our Buyer’s Page or Contact Us for more information on general real estate inquiries or when you are ready to put us to work for you!

Who is eligible?

• A person/family who is not a current homeowner in the 6 eligible counties
• A renter who wishes to own a home and has not owned a home in the past 6 months
• A person displaced by Hurricane Katrina who wishes to buy a home in the 6 eligible counties
• A new resident to the 6 eligible counties
• An individual whose income is not more than 120% of median income as defined by HUD (see Chart)

What about participant support?
As part of the My Home My Coast program, participants will go through a class on home ownership, and counseling both before and after the purchase of their home. The My Home My Coast program is designed in a manner to help people own homes long term and provide counseling to help mitigate the possibilities of foreclosure.  This counseling is also designed to help participants with credit repair and is individually catered to each person to achieve the highest possible results.

How much money can you get?
The program is determined by each participants needs but offers up to a 40/60 value loan program. Local approved lending institutions fund as little as 40% of the loan while  the remaining (up to) 60% is provided through block grants as a 0% loan. Closing costs and downpayment assistance is also provided. Down payment assistance is determined based on participant’s income to the Average Median Income (AMI) – See Chart.

Are there any other requirements?
The My Home My Coast program does require that you use specified lending institutions and closing agents when you buy your home. This list of “acceptable” suppliers is used to create a more seamless transaction as these suppliers are familiar with the unique way the program is handled.

Where do I go from here?
If you have already received My Home My Coast approval, contact us to help you find your new home. If you still need to apply, you can view the My Home My Coast website at MSGCRC.com. At the time of this writing, the My Home My Coast program is not taking additional applicants. I am in contact with the MSGCRC staff to get updated when this occurs. You can also call 1-888-49-Coast (888.492.6278).

Home lighting is an easy and relatively inexpensive way to showcase your space in the most flattering way possible. Here are some illuminating home lighting tips to help get your space in tip top shape before going on the market.

Foyer & Entry Way Lighting: Speaking of first impressions, start things off right with an impressive ceiling fixture in your foyer. A mini chandelier or sculptural pendant light would be a welcome visual treat for anyone who walks through the front door.

Living Room Lighting: The living room is made for entertaining so you need warm and inviting lighting. Nothing too bright or unnatural. Table lamps and floor lamps with dimming bulbs work wonders for creating a nice, comfortable atmosphere. You’ll also want to take down any heavy curtains and let in some natural light.

Dining Room Lighting: Also used for the entertaining, the dining room is often considered the focal point in a home. A lovely chandelier or pendant centered over your dining room table would really pop in your space, in addition to providing more than adequate light for dining.

Kitchen Lighting: Under cabinet lighting is necessary if you have cabinets that hang over your counter space. The added benefit of under cabinet lighting is that it brilliantly showcases granite countertops. Consider installing some pendant lights over a kitchen island or bar as well as over your kitchen table. Kitchen lighting needs to be comfortable yet functional.

Bathroom Lighting: The bathroom should be the brightest room in your house. Vanity mirror lights on the sides or over your mirror is generally the way to go. You’ll also need an overhead light of some kind – nothing fancy. If your bathroom doesn’t have a ventilation fan you might want to invest in one of those now. You can buy ventilation fans with built in lights.

Chances are you probably already have light fixtures up in your home if you’re currently living there, but if any of them are broken or dated you might want to consider updating them with something a bit more contemporary. It’s also OK to add more fixtures than you might normally have just to show your space in the best possible light. Also, make sure that you are fully utilizing your home’s natural light. Open up your blinds, take down those curtains. Let the sunshine in!