http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/jan/30/real-estate-pros-figuring-out-new-reality/

Sowell & Company sales in 2011 were up 10% from those posted in 2010!  Great news!!

Our bedrooms are our sanctuaries. Or they should be, at least. According to this article, one way to get the most out of our bedrooms is to have it painted blue.

In theory, cool shades of blue create a calming atmosphere. The light tones make the room look bigger and evoke memories of peaceful skies or still water. More than once, I've read that blue is "soothing," which I think we all need in a place we are going to sleep.

 

This bedroom (one of four at 1757 Vinton) has pale, almost slate-blue shade painted on the walls.

 

 

This shade of blue is brighter and lighter, yet still has very cool undertones. (The above room is at 2033 Cowden.)  While this color is more of a baby blue, there are other "cool blues," like ice blue or sky blue.

While still in the same color family, warmer shades of blue (like turquoise, dusky blue, or some denim jean colors) give bedrooms a more casual and cozy feel. Some examples:

 

Both of the rooms above (they are from separate houses seen here and here) feature blues with warm undertones. The color combination with the orangey-brown hardwood floors just adds to each room's personality.

 

The paint in this room is lighter, but it's still a dusky shade of blue. The color is kind of like your favorite, well-worn denim shirt. Or a very pale turquoise. This same house (1905 Mignon) actually has another bedroom painted blue, but it's a cooler hue.

 If you still need some inspiration on using blue in the bedroom, you can always turn to Martha Stewart. This slideshow has tons of ideas you can steal. This slideshow from House Beautiful takes you through the multitude of blue paint samples that exist.

There is, of course, a reason why the Central Gardens Historic District has the name it does. You might not always get to peek into a backyard, but driving through the neighborhood, you're sure to see several blooms from the street.

And as luck would have it, some of these home with gorgeous gardens are for sale!

 

 

This garden is in the backyard of 1483 Goodbar. Those colors are unbelievable! And I promise the photos haven't been retouched!

 

 Here's another well-kept garden in the area, at 215 Kimbrough. The brick path really sets off the different shades of green and the fuschia colors toward the back.

 

The above backyard is more leafy than the other. But you could also think of it as a base for adding more, as can be seen by the number of terra cotta pots.

 

Need some ideas about how to perk up your own garden? Look at this blog. It has some great ideas on how to make your garden into a work of art by using mirror balls, urns, and raked sand! And if you want to learn about French influence on garden design check out this event at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens.

If you look over real estate websites, you'll often see them recommend "staging" your home when trying to sell it. (Like here, here, and here).

But what about when the house is empty? Even though there won't be furnishings or accessories to help buyers connect to your rooms, you can still highlight their potential. The goal is to get others to visualize the flow of the floorplan. 

Step 1: Inspect the Exterior     Keep the lawn and any landscaping tidy, which also means removing any lawn ornament that might be seen as "unkempt." Make sure the windows, gutters, and sidewalks are clean. And most of all, take care of the entryway. It's all about the first impression, right? That means getting rid of any spiderwebs, scraps of paper, etc.

Step 2: Remove Distractions Inside     Any little mark or dent will show. Traffic patterns on the floor become much more noticeable. So will any dead bugs or, again, spiderwebs. Make sure visitors notice the room and not any scuff by having floors, carpets, shelves, and window sills thoroughly cleaned.

Step 3: Give a Room a Pick-Me-Up     A simple fresh coat of paint can revitalize a room. For empty houses especially, care should be given to the choice of shade. Warm and neutral colors are best. Also, remove any heavy or worn window treatments, but do keep blinds in place (if in good condition). Replace any broken bulbs or outdated light fixtures. Make sure the rooms have a fresh scent.

Step 4: Going the Extra Mile     Completing the other steps should be the top priority, but if you want to add even more to the potential buyer's experience, then consider setting up framed pictures of the room when it was in use. A photo of the way you laid out your living room put on the mantle, for example.

 

Not trimming as in cutting back, but as in the color of paint you use for the trim. While white is often the go-to color for trim, there are plenty of other colors that can be used and that many don't consider. It's time to think outside the box and make your brick home stand out!

This blogger has several shades she recommends from charcoal to slate gray and even eggplant. Ehow.com also suggests examining the brick's hue for ideas or using the color wheel.

 

Both of the above houses feature unique trims and by doing so, they each present a different attitude than if the houses had white trims. Check them out on our open house page.

Summer is in full swing, alright, but that doesn't have to mean running inside to avoid sweltering afternoons. With a shady deck, outdoor living room, or swimming pool, you enjoy being outside and sipping sweet tea.

HGTV and Martha Stewart have some great ideas about decorating your outdoor area and DIY projects as well as "hardscaping" with everything from fireplaces to furniture.

 

This house on S. Belvedere does it right! The earth, fire, wind, and water elements are all present from the stonework to the fireplace and kitchen to the ceiling fans to the pool. It's a complete oasis from Memphis heat.

 

The shade of the back patio at this home is really inviting. Who wouldn't want to lounge on some heavily padded furniture here?

 

Lanscaping your backyard makes a difference, too. The back deck of this house on Harbert Ave. comes equipped for some shade, but careful planning has placed other seating areas under several leafy trees. And that's what summer really comes down to, sitting in the shade.

 

About a week ago, we blogged about our Agent of the Month, Ed Beasley and the sale of his listing of the historic Annesdale Mansion. It was built before the Civili War, but it has a romantic Italian design.

Since then, The Commercial Appeal has followed up on the buyer. You read about his decision to buy the mansion and some of the details of the home's history here. There is also a slideshow that is part of the article.

While looking at the HGTV website, I saw an article about new ways to rethink the design of your dining room pop up. The type of furnishings you have can help build an ideal atmosphere, but optimizing the layout and features of your dining room are also important to the look and feel of it. It's true that many of us reserve the dining room for formal occassions, but a fresh design could spark some creativity and lead to your dining room being one of your favorite rooms!

 

For example, this dining room has a recess in one of the walls that you can take advantage of by putting in furniture for extra storage or displays of china, art, or plants. If you find the well-kept wood floors and abundance of natural light inspiring, then you should check out the open house for the listing above that we will be hosting on June 26 at 2 p.m. You see more pictures of this house on Twin Lakes Road in Fayette County here.

 

Another great idea is to make a spacious dining room appear even larger and lighter by putting in a small round table. The dining room in the house below (at 2302 Jefferson) is a good example. Your average recatangular table would fit, but the circular table gives the room a more casual mood. The added warmth from the wooden shutters and light green paint changes the dining room from formal to comfortable.

  

 

Of couse, if you want a formal dining room, there are some houses that really facilitate that feeling of elegance.  The opulance here makes this dining room at 667 McLean fit for a feast. The fireplace adds luxury as does the unique molding on the ceiling, which is carried throughout much of the rest of the house.

 

 

After all that design work you will be ready to eat! But before you make dinner, check out some of the latest offerings at the Memphis Botanic Garden. Not only is their Farmer's Market open for business, but also My Big Backyard is hosting the special exhibit "Delicious Dining," which showcases the various types of plants used in food preparation.

We have several listings that include homes of all sizes and in many locations, but here is one house that we would like to direct your attention to!

In a subdivision across from Overton Park, this English Tudor home has plenty of windows overlooking a shady, quiet street, so it has several sources of natural light. In fact, an office on the north side of the house is lined with windows!

Paired with the high ceilings, these windows give the house a light, airy atmosphere. Another great feature of this 4 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom house is its kitchen. Big and bright, it also has a nook for dining (even though it can't be seen in this picture).

 

Need another reason to check out this listing? It has an in-ground pool -- great for this Memphis heat! Call us for more information or click here.

Hello! Welcome to our blog, which we will be updating regularly once more.

We have a number of open houses coming up. You can find the locations and times both on our website and in The Commercial Appeal.

One of our listings is practically in our own backyard in Midtown. On June 19, you can see this house on Rembert. It has a very large screened-in porch and a patio in the backyard, which will be nice to have this summer, right? Speaking of front porches, iVillage has a slideshow (found here) that gives ideas on how to use and decorate your home's porch.

Our agent of the month is Ed Beasley! Not only does he get top honors for the month of June, but also he gets the prime parking space by the door. Ed is in the Multi-Million Dollar Sales Club and is a Top 5 Producer. Find out more about him and his listings here. Last month, Ed's listing of the pre-Civil War Annesdale mansion located on Lamar was bought. The Commercial Appeal wrote about the new owner and his plans to renovate his new home. Check out the article!

It's been quite a while since our last blog post here at Sowell & Company,

But I know that our adoring fans were pleased to read about the fabulous Mike Lawhead over and over again. (If you didn't catch it before, click the moustache in the previous post to experience a very informative moustache website.) 

As I said, we're way past due for a Sowell & Company update...

First of all, our seminar last July was a great success.

We had a big turnout, and our guests  left with happy tummies and a heads full of ideas about marketing a home for sale--from preparing for the appraisal to staging with only available furniture and decor.  Our speakers wereMary Davis of C. Howard Davis Appraisals, Mary Katherine Taras of MKFT Interiors, and garden design specialist Ava Middleton.  All the presentations were full of simple and practical suggestions.  For instance, angling furniture (as opposed to placing it flat against each wall) and staggering furniture of differing heights are simple ways to add interest and visually balance a room--no new furniture necessary! What about those hanging plants on the front porch? 

Ava Middleton suggests adding an extender to the hook so the plant hangs perfectly centered in the frame created by the posts and railing.  Ah!  Much better...  Apparently, looks are everything when you're selling, but our experts reassured us that good lipstick and rouge don't have to cost a fortune.  I think a lot of our audience members left with just a little more courage about selling their homes on a budget in this challenging market.  If you missed it, don't despair!  Just stay tuned to find out about our next seminar!

We also wrapped up our efforts for "Operation Feed," a food drive coordinated by the Midsouth Foodbank.

We had a lot of fun partnering with our neighbors at Restaurant Iris to collect items for those less fortunate.  We sort of had a rough start, as one of our agents thought the first donation of dried beans and canned veggies were meant for just anyone with a hankering for Tuesday night stew.  After a quick investigation, we  apprehended the offender and sentenced him to a double donation.  Sadly, the beans had already been consumed.

All of our agents participated in the food drive, and many of our clients donated to the cause too.  It was so exciting to watch box after box fill with food!  I think we pulled it together to make a great contribution.  I attended the wrap-up ceremony at the Malco Paridiso to accept our lovely participation award and to join in the celebration!  I was stunned to find out how many people the Food Bank helps with this one drive. This and all other drives allow the Food Bank to supply 76% of the food distributed by pantries in the Midsouth, as well as 53% of the food in soup kitchens and 48% of food distributed by shelters.  

Next year, we're pulling out all the stops to bring home the big prize!  In the meantime our elegant little participation award will stand proudly on display in the reception area.

Since our last blog post, Sowell & Company has welcomed two new Realtors to the company: Ashley Dacus and Cindy Stanfill.

They're both exceptional Realtors (we'd accept nothing less) and great people all around.  I had the chance to ask Ashley why she chose to join with Sowell and why she loves Memphis.  She was more than happy to gush!:

 

"I came to Sowell & Company because my experience with other Sowell & Company agents in the past had only been marvelous and Sowell & Company has a reputation for having some of the smartest folks - and their commitment to technology and sustainability was a big factor, too. 

Ashley Dacus

Plus, everyone I asked said Linda was a wonderful broker.  To quote another broker when I told him where I'd moved:  'There is no better mentor, teacher, role model and professional than Linda.' I'm from Northeast Mississippi, but I've been living here since 2004.

I'm obsessed with Memphis!  There's so much to do!  The food (oh gawd, the food!), the music, the festivals, the cultural experience - I really can't see myself anywhere else.  I love to travel, but I LOVE to come home to Memphis.  And I completely stumbled into real estate very accidentally, but I think it's the perfect fit - I love being an ambassador for the city, I love getting to know new folks, and I love getting to experience the city as if for the first time over and over, vicariously through my clients."

Wow!  Memphis and everyone and Sowell & Company love you too, Ashley!  I really like Ashley, and I really love her blog, "Home Sweet Memphs."  It's full of wonderful insight into the Memphis Real Estate Market and has plenty of great ideas for living the good life in Memphis. Check it out!

One of my favorite Sowell Realtors, Lynn Baack recently clued me in to the Tennessee Appliance Rebate Program.

She wanted to make sure I spread the word.  The program affects customers who bought energy-efficient air conditioning and heating equipment before April 22, 2010.  This includes Energy Star-qualified room air conditioners, central air conditioners, air-source heat pumps, and gas furnaces.  Rebates can be anywhere from $40 to $250, depending on the appliance.  Rebates will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, so act now!  For more information visit tnecd.gov/recovery/energystar.html.

So that's the recap.  What's next? 

Well, the Cooper-Young Festival in Midtown is this weekend.  Sowell & Company is sponsoring the Cooper-Young 4-Miler on Friday, and just guess who the lucky lady to run for Sowell will be... Yours truly!  If  you're running, walking, flying, or crawling in the race, I'll see you there!  This will be my first Cooper-Young festival to experience, so I'm very excited.  Supposedly, it's the biggest festival in town, next to Memphis in May, and there's tons of live music, crafts, and activities.  If you'd like to learn more, visit the Cooper-Young Festival website.

Until next time!
Katie Bird

You can tell Mike Lawhead is a people person when you first meet him.

  He has a quick sense of humor, he’s straightforward, and he’s effortlessly dynamic.  This was all very apparent to

"I'm not a desk guy."

me when I asked him to identify the thread that runs through his exciting career.  "I'm not a desk guy," he offered with a frank smile.

It's true:  Mike has spent very little time sitting behind a desk.  He's been on the move a lot, but his home is Memphis.  No matter how far he's gone or what ambition he's seen to fruition, he's been destined to make his home in the city that he assured me he knows backwards, forwards, and upside down.

After graduating Mamaroneck High School in Mamaroneck, New York, in the mid 60s, Mike headed to the University of Denver and began his studies in Broadcast Journalism. After one year, Memphis called him home, and he enrolled at Memphis State to complete his degree.

Mike says that shortly after starting classes he had an epiphany. He was on campus making his way to a geology lab, when he realized he had no motivation or desire to spend any time sitting in a classroom--or in school for that matter. Mike immediately turned around and got himself to the naval recruiting office.

After taking an aptitude test, the Navy recruiters found that Mike had a gift for languages.

Mike had taken a little Spanish in High School, so he began training to be a Spanish Linguist and Cryptanalyst.  He excelled, and his foreign language choice served him well, as he remained stationed in Guantanamo during the Vietnam War.

Following his service in the Navy, Memphis beckoned for him to return, and he came back with the inspiration he needed to pursue Broadcast Journalism. Mike became the play-by-play announcer for

The Memphis Blues, The Memphis Tams, and Memphis State Basketball, all while finishing up his degree at Memphis State. 

Mike recalls doing radio broadcasts of basketball games after the games were over.  He would get the game details and record the play by play with no video footage. 

I think it's safe to say Mike's a natural performer, and he must have been adept at making it all seem real over the radio waves.

 

When Mike finished up his degree in 1972, he went to work as a Public Relations Assistant at First Tennessee Bank.

It was here that he conclusively decided he would not and could not ever be the "desk guy." 

When he was indirectly urged to get rid of his resplendently stylish 70s moustache, he took it as a sign and quickly nabbed a position at WREG-TV in Memphis as a Sports Reporter.

He naturally found his stride in television broadcasting, and it wasn't long before Mike was the top Investigative Reporter in Memphis.  Ultimately, he became WREG's Anchorman.  

Vintage Footage of Mike as a New Anchor at WREG-TV

 

After 14 years on television, sitting at the news desk must have reminded Mike that he was meant to keep moving, so he left his highly successful television career to work as a Public Relations Director for Chandler Simmons & Company.  The next year, he got a job as U.S. Representative Harold Ford's Press Secretary and spent the next two years on Capitol Hill.

Returning to Memphis in 1990, Mike once again took up his passion for broadcast media, as Sports Director at WMC-AM Radio Memphis.  He also got his Broker's License.  He was with Coldwell Banker Hoffman Properties from 1991 until 2009, when Sowell & Company was lucky enough to have him join our team.  

As good as Mike Lawhead is at delivering information, he insists he's a listener and not a talker.  One would think the opposite when referencing his incredible career in public communication.  But if you consider his great career and success as a Real Estate Broker, it's clear that he's absolutely right.  It is this fact, rather than his "I'm not a desk guy" personality, which is the true thread that runs through all of his accomplishments; Mike knows how to listen.  If he weren't so good at it, he wouldn't have been so successful delivering information to people over the radio, on television, and in print all these years.  It is my opinion that the best talkers are always the best listeners.  Receptive to their audience's preferences and desires, a good listener always gives back the right stuff.

Mike's real estate clients are certainly lucky. When they come to him with questions, concerns, and preferences about buying or selling a home, he becomes their best ally.

He is equipped to personalize his real estate expertise to the specific needs and communicate the most necessary information.  And with that, there is plenty of proof that Mike Lawhead is much more than the "Non-desk Guy."  Mike Lawhead is the highest order of "Ear Guy" that one can aspire to be.

Mike is honored to have served on the Boards of Directors of The Memphis Oral School, The Memphis Arts Festival, and Theatre Memphis.  He has also served on The Memphis Area Association of Realtors Government Affairs Committee, Board of Directors, and Education Foundation.

Mike still does play-by-play announcing for Memphis University School football, but he says his real passion is being a grandpa to two little princesses.  I visited Mike's Facebook page in search of photos to post here, but every photo featured a little blond cutie dressed in pink.  I found one of Mike--holding a little blond cutie dressed in pink.  You can tell he's an attentive grandpa too.

 To contact Mike or learn more about him click here.

This week I've been painting the living room in my new house...

As well as the extra bedroom that I've decided will be the "music room" or "groove space."  Every day after work, I've put on my painter's hat, put down a drop-cloth, and cranked up some Aretha in preparation for a late night of cleaning, sanding, edging, taping, and rolling.  

I've always loved painting interiors.  I think it's therapeutic for me because it requires just enough skill to occupy my mind along with just enough repetition to be very soothing.

As much as I love it, I'm rational about the great amount of effort involved.  Normally, I would be opposed to insanely late painting sessions on weekdays, but I my fire was lit last weekend by how much a color can change a space and the way you feel about being in it. 

Here's my story:

After work last Friday, I decided I would finally splurge on a great set of sheets to make myself feel a little more cozy and at home.  So I drove all the way out to.... TJ Maxx!  I found some beauties, but I just couldn't convince myself spend on even bargain priced sheets.  

Some people are born to shop. Unfortunately, I was not.  If I do buy anything,  I must feel the item worthy enough to include in my burial tomb.

So new sheets were not in the cards, but, (Oh happy day!)  as I spun on my heels to go home, my eye fell upon the most exquisitely patterned shower curtain.  Oh, it was love... And at $14.95, it was a deal!  I rushed home with it to check that the blue in the curtain matched my beautiful blue tile floor.  Oh, rapture!  It was fabulous. There was only one problem.  The walls were the color of dry dirt.  I inspected the walls closely with the curtain in hand.  How could I make this work?  Haul in some dirt for a dirt centerpiece?  Install a nice ant farm?  Hmm...

Then I noticed a little chipped spot.  The paint layer felt very rubbery, so I pulled; like a curious child, I began peeling and peeling. Lo, and behold! Underneath was a beautiful smooth sea green layer of color that perfectly matched my new curtain!

I love distressed walls, so I decided to peel as much brown paint away from the one wall as I could and leave it looking splotchy and worn.  I then took a paint chip and had it matched at the paint store to paint the edges and remaining walls.

Before	After

So now my formerly brown, boring bathroom is quite a gem, and I can't help but believe that the stars aligned to make it so.

The most important result of this turn of events was the bond that it created between me and that tiny little bathroom.  Adding a color and a few details that I really appreciate made me feel more at ease and more at home.  I mean, after everything was over, I wanted to just hang out in there. I even bought a shower caddy, a toothbrush holder, and a rubber ducky!

So I'm on a painting spree.  I have a feeling that when I finish the living room and groove space, I'll immediately move on to the kitchen and bedroom.  Who knew that a little color could bond one to a space so much?! ...Serendipity...

Steve Solomon

Sowell & Company's Featured Agent

"Once you meet me, you never forget me!"

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Steve Solomon is a lifelong Memphian with over 20 years of experience in the real estate industry.

Steve says that growing up he was a natural leader with the same take-charge attitude that defines his remarkable personality today.  Ask anyone at Sowell & Company about him and you're sure to hear these descriptions:  honest, outspoken, trustworthy, a stickler for rules, and very knowledgeable. 

Little Steve

He's proud to be the "go-to" guy in the office when it comes to real estate information, and even Linda Sowell sometimes consults Steve with complex questions. 

Steve is committed to being an exceptional agent.

You'll find him in the office seven days a week, and he is quick to explain that  he feels obligated to continue his education whenever there is an opportunity to do so.  One of his mottos is," You should learn as much as you can in order to be the best at what you do." Steve has earned both his Broker's license and GRI certification.

He takes pride in keeping his clients' best interests at the forefront of every communication and transaction.  "I don't let anything fall through the cracks," he says. "I continually follow up and keep the ball rolling, so when it's time to close, my client is ready to close without a hitch."  His dedication to providing the finest service and upholding the code of ethics has earned him a position on the Professional Standards Committee of MARR.  His habit of being thorough is a thread that runs through his personal life and every endeavor.

People around the office also know him as a genuinely caring person who never meets a stranger.

His office is a testament to his big heart.  Steve proudly displays numerous real estate awards alongside certificates from animal rights groups, photos of his two adorable cats, and an odd collection of knick knacks that says are "gifts" from clients and friends. 

"Gifts"

Other agents joke that they often send their clients gifts in gratitude, but the opposite is true for Steve! 

Steve's Doppelganger

He also displays a photo of an alert prairie dog, whose attentive and energetic stance perfectly mirrors Steve's readiness to assist the next client.

Steve has a great network of friends that he's known for years, and he loves to plan trips and travel with them.  He's been all over the world and on 20 cruises to date. His gregarious nature and passion for seeing new places and people have led him to his most recent venture, working as a travel agent.

You don't know Steve Solomon until you hear about his two adorable cats Oliver and Hershey.

 

 They are his most beloved companions and he admits to spoiling them.  Oliver is "friendly and never meets a stranger"--very much like his master, and Hershey is aloof but loves to be pet.  Steve is a passionate animal rights activist and belongs to the ASPCA, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, The Humane Society of America, and The Shelby County Humane Society.

 

Sowell & Company is so proud to work with Steve Solomon.  He has a combination of qualities that are hard to find together in a real estate agent--honesty, knowledge, and compassion.  He's an excellent agent and one of the best friends anyone could ask for.

To learn more about Steve or to contact him Click Here.

 

One of our agents, Rosemary Stoots, suggested I share a little information about FHA’s Kiddie Condo Program.

Instead of paying housing costs for four or five years while your son or daughter attends college, why not invest in a condo or house near campus?

The Kiddie Condo Program can help you do this.  It's a no down payment program, and FHA allows non-occupant coborrowers.  That way, parents can use their credit and income history to purchase a condo or home for their son or daughter.  The property isn’t considered a second home or an investment, so the interest rate is the same as for a primary residence.  (By the way, interest rates are really great right now!) The student is considered the co-signer and must live in the property.

There are some great advantages to this!  For one, the student can use this as an opportunity to build his or her credit history.  He or she can also find roommates and charge them rent, cutting down on individual monthly costs.   It gets better.  After four or five years, the condo or home will have significantly appreciated in value.   The equity earned can be used to pay off any student debt or even as a down payment on a house after graduation! 

How cool.  I wish my parents and I would have had this option when I started college.  I’d  be right as rain at this point!

There are of course a few disadvantages and risks associated with this arrangement, so get informed before you jump into a deal like this.  For more information on the Kiddie Condo Program, click here.

In other news...

Look for our featured agent Steve Solomon next week on the website!

Steve's been involved in Memphis Real Estate for over 20 years, and it's obvious he loves what he does.  I've already unearthed baby pictures!  Awesome... I can't wait to interview him.  I've got to find my Barbara Walters costume.

That's all for this week. Happy Father's Day!

 If your father or husband is in the mood to buy a home, you could spend the day visiting open houses with him!

Lately we’ve been getting things lined up for our quarterly seminar here at Sowell & Company.

If you’re thinking about selling, this is the seminar to attend!  We’ve invited speakers with expertise in bringing out the best in your home and preparing it for the market.  Mary Davis, an appraiser from C. Howard Davis Appraisers, will be there, as well as Mary Katherine Taras of MKFT Interiors. 

Both of these ladies have wonderful information and ideas to share. If you won’t be able to attend on July 15, why don’t you check out our website for information on getting ready to sell?  We have basic tips and links to some great articles.  Click here.

Again, the seminar will be July 15.  It begins at 6:00 and is open to the public, although we request you call first at (901) 278-4380 to reserve a space.  It will take place here at our offices at 54 S Cooper in Memphis, and we will serve light refreshments.

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If you've lived in the home you're selling for many years, you probably know a little about it's history.  I love to think of all the life that's been lived in old homes, so

I loved reading about the historic Wright Carriage house in this month’s issue of Memphis Magazine.

It once belonged to Luke Edward Wright,  a decorated Confederate Civil War soldier and Tennessee Attorney General, among many other prestigious titles. He went with Teddy Roosevelt on the famous bear hunt in Mississippi that led to the creation of the Teddy Bear!  Wright’s home is long gone, but the carriage house remains and stands as a fascinating residence in Victorian Village.  Pick up the June issue of Memphis Magazine at Bella Notte or Toadhall Antiques in Midtown or these other locations. 

One of our agents, David Lorrison, found the perfect buyer for this intriguing home.  Lorrison is quoted in the article, saying, “…to see someone fall so in love with a home like this and be able to help him acquire it is something I don’t think either of us will ever forget.”  Our agents are so lucky to work with clients in this beautiful and historic part of Memphis.  I think it’s obvious that they enjoy what they do.

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Speaking of homes and history....

As I’ve begun to turn my new home in Midtown into a perfect little nest, I’ve grown curious about its history and character.

Yesterday I decided to rearrange my furniture, so I gave myself a crash course in the ancient art of feng shui.  I’d like to say I was skeptical about the new age-y claims that it could boost your mood and improve your health, but I’m a sucker for most things new age-y. Okay, so maybe I tricked myself into believing it worked, but I honestly felt an emotional change: surprisingly calm and rejuvenated  after rearranging just my living room! 

Needless to say, I wanted to know more, so today I did a little more research. I found a  series of videos, “Feng Shui Video Tips for a Better Home,” and learned about a bagua map.  A bagua map is a tool used in feng shui to map a room or an entire home in order to see how the different sections correspond to different aspects in one's life:  fame, relationships, creativity, travel, career, inner knowledge, health, and wealth.   That led to my wondering where I could get a floor plan to my home. Since it was built in the 1920s, I guessed it might be a little hard to track down.

I did a little research online and I found this article with ideas for tracking them down, and this one, that deals more with the history of the home. So is this the beginning of a beautiful relationship between me and my little home?  I think so.  I’m going to learn it’s history, find it’s different energy centers, and deck it out to bring in all the good energy and people that a house needs to make it a home sweet home.

Every home has an energy all its own, whether it comes from its history, its past owners, or its design and construction.

One of the greatest delights when making your nest is to become acquainted with it's bones.  And when you're selling it, I'm sure it's to your advantage to communicate that kind of information to your agent and your potential buyers.  Maybe I'll ask about that at the seminar!

Hi! I hope everyone is enjoying our new website. We love it!

Since the last time I posted, I was lucky enough to attend a homebuyer’s education class at United Housing, Inc.-- right down the street from our office.

I learned so much, and taking a class like this is an absolute MUST for inexperienced and first time homebuyers before they take any steps toward home ownership.  We covered the entire scope of the home buying process, including preparing yourself financially to buy a home, improving and maintaining your credit, understanding different types of loans, applying for a loan, maintaining a budget, and looking for the right home.   

When I told one of our agents, Jeanie Henson, how pleased and informed the class left me, she agreed that it is crucial to educate yourself about buying a home because, “if you don’t have good working knowledge beforehand, you might not know the right questions to ask.” Knowledge is power, and everyone, even veteran homebuyers, should feel confident that they can wisely negotiate with their agent, their lender, and the many other people involved in the home buying process.

The free class was eight hours long.  Mine was held Saturday, but they offer the class on weekdays too.   They also provided a wonderful textbook that I took home and devoured for the rest of the weekend.  United Housing, Inc. is certified by HUD, THDA, and the City of Memphis.  It’s a nonprofit organization, and its aim is to support the revitalization of Memphis neighborhoods through housing productions, homebuyer education and counseling, and affordable lending products for low to moderate and first time homebuyers.  They offer services in both English and Spanish.  United Housing is located in a cute blue house at 51 N. Cooper, and you can find out more about their classes at www.uhinc.org or call them at (901) 272-1122.

In other news…

Yesterday, we had a wonderful realtors' luncheon in Belleair Woods.  The home, located at 34 Belleair, is very opulent and beautiful.   I think the agents in attendance enjoyed the complement a grand atmosphere lends to lip-smackin’ Corky’s BBQ. 

I have to say, I personally enjoyed mixing business with BBQ.  Check out photos of the event on our Flickr Photostream.

Peace, Love & BBQ.

Katie

P.S. The BBQ Shrimp from Corky’s is dynamite!

Hello!  I'm Katie, and I'll be the official blogger for Sowell & Company's new website. 

I know that all of the agents and staff at Sowell & Company are really looking forward to the launch of our website.  It's going to be such a great tool for people who are buying and selling homes in Memphis, and you'll be in touch with an excellent agent in no time! 

Not only will you be able to read about all of our agents and  view our listings, you'll also get to use interactive maps, search for properties, get information and tips about real estate and relocating, learn what the city of Memphis has to offer, check out open houses, and view our Twitter and Facebook updates!  Whew! Pretty great, huh?

The new site will be a huge asset to our clients and our company, and it will help people just like me! Newcomers and first time home buyers in the fair Bluff City!  If I'd had all of the great information on our new site at my fingertips as I planned to relocate, I would have been even more excited about finding my dream home and getting settled in Memphis, Tennessee.  As I explore the content of our new site, I think of how wonderful it will be to explore different neighborhoods, attractions, amenities, and homes for sale with a few darling little mouse clicks!

Nonetheless, I was fortunate enough to find a wonderful agent at Sowell & Company who helped me find the perfect spot and understand the process of purchasing a home.  I can tell you from experience, the people here are truly amazing!  Whether you're buying or selling a home in Memphis, they pull together to make your dreams come true!

Until next time,

Katie