Blog – DyeNamic Homes Team

Desoto County Golf Courses

Golf Courses in Desoto County

So, you have the afternoon off from work? You and your friends are ready for a round of golf. But where should you go? Well, Olive Branch and Southaven in Desoto County have many choices for all skill levels. And, since Mississippi is known for its luxurious golf courses and mild weather which are perfect for golf year round, take a look and see what some of the best have to offer!
One of North Mississippi’s premier golf courses, Cherokee Valley Golf Club in Olive Branch, is positioned on a hill and boasts 11 lakes and 52 bunkers. This 18 hole par 72 course ranges from 6751 yards at the rear tee to 4422 at the front tees. Cherokee Valley Golf Club also offers a lodge-style banquet hall with snack bar. Whether you want to host your next charity tournament or group event, afternoon fun with friends, or you’re interested in the Junior Membership for your kids ages 9-18, Cherokee Valley has plenty to accommodate.

If you’re from Olive Branch, you may remember when Plantation Golf Course opened in 1990. Since then, in 2014, Plantation was bought by the owners of Windyke Country Club, who are striving for improvement of the golf course to the standards associated with Windyke. Plantation Golf Club is located on the east end of Olive Branch on 180 acres with 40 acres of lakes and creeks. Location makes it one of the most popular for Memphians to come to Desoto County for golf. Don’t miss out on the amenities of the club which features a colonial-style clubhouse for banquets, tournaments, and business meetings.
Wedgewood Golf Club, also in Olive Branch, is an 18-hole semi-private course on 6863 yards. It features 4 sets of tees for different skill levels. Wedgewood has a sister course located in Southaven for those looking to pay a little less and still play in Desoto County.
North Creek Golf Club, Wedgewood’s sister course in Southaven, is located conveniently 4 miles west of I-55. Managed by Wingfield Properties, this facility features 6,433 of yards from the longest tees for a par 72 course. Be sure to ask about the daily specials including every Monday – Wednesday when public servants (firefighters, police, EMS, and Military) receive a discount with valid ID.
Olive Branch Country Club, on Germantown Road in Olive Branch, combines golf, family time, fitness, and pool facilities in one great location with all of the conveniences of a country club experience for members. With current renovations to the Ladies’ Locker Room, Player’s Bar, Executive Lounge, Tennis courts, and more, the Olive Branch Country Club is sure to impress members and guests alike!
Are you ready to grab your golf balls, tees, and clubs? Book your tee times today!

Restaurants in Olive Branch, MS 38654 Zip Code

Are you new to Olive Branch? Have you been here for years, but looking for a new place to eat? There is a restaurant to meet nearly all tastes in Olive Branch now. Of course, if you’ve been around for years, you know how much the town has grown and that we started out with just Dodge’s and Sonic! food-plate-wood-restaurant-large

First, decide what you’re in the mood for. Is it BBQ? Are the kids begging for Mexican? Is it a Japanese meal you want? Maybe it’s date night. Or are you looking for something small and local?

Here is a guide to some of the top picks in Restaurants in Olive Branch, Mississippi!

BBQ – Here in the south, Barbecue is always one of the first choices to take out clients, cater work events, or just pick up after church on Sunday.

Southern Pride BBQ, 7164 Hacks Cross Road, 662-874-5693

Ranks highest in town for their brisket.

Corky’s Ribs & BBQ, 6434 Goodman Road, 662-893-3663

Centrally located in Olive Branch near Cinema and newest shopping centers. And, it’s voted one of Memphis’ best BBQ restaurants.

Old Style Bar-B-Q, 8920 Expressway Drive, 662-895-9932

Convenient to Hwy 78 and locally owned and operated since 1984. They also have a banquet room for 100.

Mexican Cuisine – There is no shortage of choices for Mexican cuisine in Olive Branch. It’s always a fun, family-friendly atmosphere!

Rancho Grande, 4860 Bethel Road, 662-893-8650

Offers live music on Thursday nights. Ranks highest in the area for service, food, and atmosphere

2. Casa Mexicana, 7565 Goodman Road, 662-890-7174

Convenient to Hwy 78. Great for out of town guests! Great service! Also has very reasonable pricing.

Japanese Cuisine – Whether you want take out Japanese or want to enjoy the Hibachi Grill, there is a place for everyone’s Japanese taste.

Osaka, 7164 Hacks Cross, 662-890-9312

This restaurant is separated into 2 parts – one for regular restaurant style dining, – one for Hibachi Grill. EXCITING sushi menu!

Oishi Japanese Express, 8110 Camp Creek Blvd, 662-895-5888

Great option for take out! Fast service, good prices and GENEROUS portions!

Date Night – Leave the kids at home! (Safe and sound with a baby-sitter, of course!)

Tuscany The Italian Steakhouse, 5910 Goodman Road, 662-895-3663

Receives great reviews for steaks, sauces, and bread.

Colton’s Steakhouse, 8051 Goodman Road, 662-890-4142

Something on the menu for everyone. Choose from chicken, salad, shrimp, steaks, or burgers. While the restaurant is very family-friendly, it’s still a great place for date night!

Small and Local – A selection of everything from seafood to burgers!

Louisiana Bayou, 9261 Old Hwy 178, 662-890-9590

The name says it all! Enjoy some of your southern Cajun favorites – Crawfish bisque, Shrimp Po Boy, Crawfish Etouffee, and more! Quality food with a great atmosphere.

Sidestreet Burgers, 9199 Hwy. 178, 901-596-4749

Great place to stop for lunch! (Only problem is the food is so great that they’re super busy!) If you’re looking for something a little different, the “Fat Panda” is a must-try. Maybe fish tacos are more your style. The Mahi tacos are a favorite “special of the day.” Or, you can play it safe with a fresh burger or club sandwich. Chef Mah really delivers on customer service and meal preparation.

Pinks, 9120-A Pigeon Roost Road. 662-420-7229

Tucked away in Old Towne Olive Branch, Pinks is a charming little coffee shop serving pastries, wraps, desserts, and of course, COFFEE! It has a fun, local atmosphere great for sipping some java while doing work or reading a book.

So, whether you are looking to support small local business, spending fun family time, or enjoying a quiet dinner for two, Olive Branch has grown to accommodate just about any taste or function.

This list of Restaurants in Olive Branch MS was created using Yelp reviews. The DyeNamic Homes Team nor Dream Maker Realty suggest one restaurant over another and the list is in no particular order. Feel Free to add your favorites by using the comments section. Please do not leave negative comments regarding a restaurant, this list was designed to positively support our local Olive Branch businesses.

And if you happen to be in the Market For Real Estate, you can can see a list of Olive Branch Homes Here!

Presenting 3 Acres in Whispering Pines S/D

11208 Whispering Pines

The DyeNamic Homes Team with Dream Maker Realty presents this must see home in Whispering Pines S/D on 3 acres! 11208 Whispering Pines has 4 bedrooms + Game room. IMPRESSIVE entryway. Large open kitchen with tile backsplash, large snack bar, microwave vent-a-hood,stainless steel appliances (Refrigerator STAYS). Kitchen is open to the great room with fireplace & gas logs. Breakfast room, Separate Formal Dining Room, & Living Room. Oversized Master bedroom with Sunroom separated by French doors – Perfect for office, exercise room, or nursery! Master Salon Bath with jetted tub, separate walk-in shower WITH STEAM OPTION, large walk-in closet, & 2 elevated vanities. 3 bedrooms, full bath, & Bonus Game room Upstairs. 3 heat/air units, smooth ceilings, laundry room with cabinets, sink, & built-in ironing board. 2 walk-in storage areas + pull down attic space. Home has security system, storage building, oversized double garage, gutters, paved circle drive, screened porch with tile floors, mature trees, and small pond! These are just a few of the extras you will find in this beautiful, well-maintained home ready to move-in! 11208 Whispering Pines, Olive Branch, MS is For Sale by Debra Dye, DyeNamic Homes Team, Dream Maker Realty, Licensed in MS, 901-239-6041.

Click Here for a Live Video Tour!

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Tips for Selling Your Home

Selling your house can be an exciting time. You’re hoping to get the highest price, and you want your house to sell quickly. To expedite the process and eliminate stress and anxiety, you should carefully consider a few things before you stake the “For Sale” sign on the lawn.

Do Your Research

Do your due diligence in finding the right real estate agent. Your realtor should specialize in the type of property you’re selling, and should be familiar with your area. You should have a good rapport with your agent and be able to communicate comfortably. Research realtors in your area, and avoid working with a real estate agent who is part-time, or who is a friend or relative. Give Mark and Debra a call at 662-893-3232 to find out how they intend to market your property.

Price to Sell

Price your property properly. Debra can help you understand comparative pricing by evaluating similar homes for sale in your neighborhood. Your home is only worth what buyers are willing to pay, and you may not extract from it what you’ve invested. Keep in mind that your asking price may not necessarily be your selling price. Potential buyers have the right to submit bids lower than your initial asking price, and you may be in a position where you must accept the best offer, even if it does not match your asking price. Additionally, your asking price may be reduced over time. The longer your house sits on the market, the more often you may be considering price reductions. To increase the potential offers on your home, you should have your house properly staged, and you may consider including a home warranty.

Consider Home Warranties

You can purchase a home warranty from a home warranty company. A home warranty is designed to protect the structure and certain major systems and appliances such as roofing, plumbing, and electrical work. When an item in your home is faulty, you place a call to the home warranty company. The home warranty company selects a pre-qualified professional contractor to assess and repair the problem areas at a reduced cost to you. When you include a home warranty in the sale of your home, it may garner higher offers as buyers feel more secure. A home warranty may also prove beneficial during the home inspection process.

Stage Your Home

Staging your home means preparing the home for viewing and sale. Staging a home includes de-cluttering. Remove bulky furniture. Re-arrange existing furniture into comfortable conversation areas. Furniture may be more appealing situated away from the walls. When you arrange furniture away from the walls, the area seems larger. Take down any personal pictures, awards, or trophies. You want potential buyers to be able to envision themselves in the house without feeling like they’re encroaching on your space. Keep walls, draperies, floors, and accessories in warm neutral colors, even if this means you have to paint. If floors are in need of repairs, repair or replace them, as well as any other broken or damaged items. Potential buyers prefer a move-in-ready experience without imagining a list of to-do projects and tasks.

Don’t forget the outside of your home when you’re staging a house to sell. Curb appeal is what draws potential buyers in, so make sure the exterior of your home is in good order, trim bushes and trees, make sure lawn furniture is clean and comfortably arranged, and that there are no toys or lawn ornaments scattered about the yard.

Pay Attention to Details

You may receive multiple offers on your house, commonly referred to as a bidding war. Look carefully into the details of each offer. Some buyers make offers that may include more money while other offers have easier terms or more appealing closing dates. For example, one offer may be contingent on the sale of the buyer’s existing home. Mark and Debra will help you understand each offer and guide you in making the right choice.

Once you’ve spoken to Mark and Debra at 901-239-6041, staged and repaired your home for sale, and understand the variables in incoming offers, you’re ready to successfully sell your home.

Tips for Investors Buying Real Estate

Wouldn’t it be blissful to buy a property, use your handy skills to fix it up, refurbish it, make it enticing, and then flip that house for a large profit? Yes, it would be blissful, but it wouldn’t be realistic. Investing in real estate properties can be a tricky business with a pipeline of multiple risky investments working simultaneously, not just one house at a time. It takes more than one or two people with maintenance or design skills to pull off successful real estate investments. Before you dip your tenderfoot toes into the real estate investment pool, there are some things you should carefully consider.

Don’t go it alone. To be profitable in your real estate investments, you need an entire team on your side. You’ll need a real estate agent, a home inspector, an appraiser, a closing attorney, and lender to assist with your own property investments as well as helping potential buyers. You may also need contractors for home repairs. If your plan is to hold properties for rent, you may also need a property management company. Working with a management company or property manager is another complex layer to property investments, and could prove costly. Research various property managers to determine if they may help or hurt your bottom line.

You cannot dip into your family’s retirement savings, buy a property you think is priced low, and then do it yourself in a flip. Many successful investors warn against single transactions. If you’re buying one home at a time to fix up and sell, you’re doing a transaction, not operating a business. Have you ever frequented a restaurant that has only one item on the menu? Doctors have more than one patient. A mechanic repairs multiple cars. Working one house at a time makes for a risky hobby, not a business structure.

It’s unrealistic for you to think you’ll get rich quick by making real estate investments. Many people are intrigued with the television programing showing successful couples buying, fixing, and flipping houses. It is tempting to think that if the people on television can make a living flipping houses, then so could you. But what you don’t see is the behind the scenes garnering of education, experience, and wisdom to navigate the industry with minimal risk. You shouldn’t believe everything you see on television. You need a solid business plan before you make your first purchase. Additionally, you need the understanding that real estate transactions aren’t about the properties, but about the numbers. To be profitable in investing, you should have multiple properties in various stages of purchase, repairs, rentals, and sales. You cannot stumble into success by planning as you go, or fly by the seat of your pants one project at a time and expect to be successful.

Any property you purchase is going to come with risk. Although the price might seem perfect for the plucking, there may be ugly truths behind the home’s exterior. If you’ve blown your entire savings in the purchase of the property, you won’t have any funds left for the fix it projects or expensive repairs necessary before the house can be put on the market. It’s not as easy as buying a house, holding on to it until the value increases, and then selling it quick for a big buck. Many investors find themselves floating in failure, up to their eyeballs in expensive projects because they paid too much for a property and didn’t have a proper plan in place for repairing and selling the house.

Before you make your first step into the realm of real estate property investments, do your research. As with any business undertaking, you must understand the market and its demands. Educate yourself about real estate investing. Read articles, buy books, and investigate the Real Estate Investors Association. Buying your first property without proper knowledge of the industry is jumping into the pool without any water. You can prevent setting yourself up for failure with a bit of patience, prudence, and proper respect for the industry into which you’re trying to succeed.

For more information on investing in real estate in DeSoto County, give Mark a call at 901-239-6041.

Things to Do in DeSoto County

It’s true that people cherish DeSoto County for its small community charm, but it’s also filled with big time fun. Packed with history and nostalgia, DeSoto County has evolved to include shops, sports, farm activities, museums, music concerts, nightlife, fabulous food, and so much more. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing day with no pressure, or the fast-paced buzz of adrenaline packed play, DeSoto County is ready to serve up good times!

Outdoor Enthusiasts

Agritourism is a fabulous feature of DeSoto County, giving hands-on farm fun to people of all ages. Get ready to dig into some cow-milking, corn-grinding, maze-navigating, animal-petting, fruit picking, pony-riding, fish-catching down-home fun when you visit working farms in DeSoto County.

Cedar Hill Farm is 120 acres of working farmland in Hernando. Cedar Hills Farm offers tractor-drawn hayrides, pony rides, and a petting zoo. They also feature fun activities such as volleyball, horseshoes, and paintball. You can make your way through their myriad blackberry bushes to pick fruit, or you can purchase them picked and packaged for convenience. Also, ripe for the picking are cantaloupe, cucumbers, okra, peppers, pumpkins, squash, watermelon, and tomatoes. This farm also provides a tranquil place to fish, and a country kitchen where you can sit down for a garden-fresh supper.

Another fabulous place in DeSoto County to appreciate nature and fun foliage is the Brussels Bonsai Nursery in Olive Branch. Brussels Bonsai Nursery is the largest supplier of Bonsai trees, some of the smallest trees in the world, in the entire United States. Bonsai trees are grown in containers or pots to prevent them from reaching their natural size. Ornamental in nature, growing and tending to bonsai trees helps relieve stress, develop patience, create peace, purify the air, fight fatigue as well as coughs and sore throats, and provide a sense of accomplishment. Brussels Bonsai Nursery includes a thousand acres of greenhouse containing a multitude of bonsai trees of several varieties and lucky bamboo. You can also shop the nursery for containers, supplies, accessories, books, and videos – or attend educational workshops.

During winter months, you can visit a Christmas Tree Farm and pick out the holiday tree of your choice!

Music Lovers

Blues music lovers will appreciate and enjoy the Blues Trail Markers in DeSoto County. The Blues Trail markers are historic markers preserving the stories of bluesmen and women whose environment, including DeSoto County, Mississippi, deeply influenced their music. DeSoto County Mississippi Blues Trail Markers include Beal Town Bound in the hills of Hernando, Big Walter Horn in Horn Lake, Jo Callicott marker in Nesbit, and the Memphis Minnie Mississippi Blues Trail marker in Walls, Mississippi.

Lovers of music may also appreciate that the lovers Elvis and Priscilla Presley honeymooned at Horn Lake. The cottage is private property and not open for tours, but if you drive by, you’re welcome to take pictures as keepsakes.

DeSoto County is home to blues, gospel, country and other music concerts.

Shoppers

For the shoppers in the household, DeSoto County is rich with antique and retail shops. Whether you’re looking to furnish your new home or pick up a few trinkets and treasures, DeSoto County has got it all. Jewelry, pottery, glassware, fashion, cards, collectibles, and more. Hernando, Horn Lake, Olive Branch, and Southaven all offer a plethora of products for purchase.

Riders

Harley-Davidson enthusiasts will enjoy Southern Thunder Harley Davidson shop in Southaven offering thousands of gift items. Pick up shirts, jackets, jewelry, collectibles – and, of course, motorcycles!

Golf Lovers

If golf is your guilty pleasure, you’ll be tickled to tee off at any one of DeSoto County’s golf courses. Cherokee Valley Golf Club, Plantation Golf Club, and Wedgewood Golf Course are all situated in Olive Branch, Mississippi while nearby Southaven houses The Club at North Creek. All are 18-hole courses on luxurious greens, and the clubs feature various amenities such as pro shops, practice ranges, and food and beverage.

There’s plenty for you and your entire household to enjoy in DeSoto County, Mississippi. Meander through the history of the area, get hands-on in the community’s agricultural accomplishments, peruse the shops, get your game on at the golf course, or enjoy any number of additional activities celebrated throughout the DeSoto County community.

Interested in calling DeSoto County home? Give Mark and Debra a call at 901-239-6041.

Helpful Hints for Home Staging

Congratulations on deciding to sell your home. You’re probably anxious about your upcoming move and are ready to embrace your future. Before you anchor that beloved “For Sale” sign in the front yard, there are some things you can do to guarantee a more inspiring environment for potential buyers and possibly increase bids for higher values. Staging the house you’re selling is one of the most important things you can do in raising the ante on future offers. Staging a home means neutralizing the area so that it’s no longer personal to you and is welcoming to potential buyers. Here are some helpful hints for home staging.

De-Clutter the House

You’ll want to de-clutter your environment. De-clutter not only means eliminating anything you consider to be junk, but it also means reducing the amount of items that are visible during your open house or walk-throughs. Clean out closets and get rid of any clothes that you haven’t worn in a long time. If clothing items are seasonal and you don’t intend to wear them for a while, go ahead and pack them rather than leave them in the closet. Toys, crafts, and miscellaneous tidbits that have found a comfortable resting place seemingly unnoticed in your space should now be discarded, packed, or properly placed in subtle ways. De-cluttering also involves removing some of the furniture if necessary. Areas look smaller with bulky furnishings, so simplify if you can. Don’t be afraid to re-arrange furniture into conversational groupings away from the walls.

Remove Personal Items

Remove any personal items. Although you may adore the large canvas portrait of your household members above the fireplace mantle, potential buyers want to envision their pictures on the wall rather than feeling like they’re encroaching on your territory. You may be in love with your collection of skunk figurines on the shelves, but people walking through your environment may not appreciate skunks the way you do. Trophies, pictures, collectibles, and anything personal to you should now be put away for safe keeping until moving day.

Deep Clean the House With personal items removed and the space de-cluttered, it’s time for deep cleaning. Everything should sparkle and shine, free of dust build-up, stains, or unsightly grunge. Cleaning helps you determine where things just got a bit dirty, or where things might need to be repaired or replaced. If there are stains on the carpet, you may wish to have the carpets cleaned or replaced. Sellers do sometimes offer carpet allowances in their contracts, but buyers are more attracted to a move-in-ready environment than they are to a discount on their bottom line.

Fix It and Make It Neutral

If there are holes in the walls or magic marker sketches you can’t sponge off, painting the walls may be necessary. Try to arrange it so that walls, carpets, drapes, and other fixtures are in warm neutral colors. You might have found that bold burgundy feature wall to be attractive, but neutrals are more appealing to potential buyers. Keep blinds and windows open, adding light to the room and show off any scenic views. Remove any obstacles from sightlines. Make any necessary repairs to major items such as roofing, heating and air units, hot water heaters, or major appliances. These things could be discovered in the home inspection process and cause frustrating delays.

Pay Attention to the Outside

The outside of your house-for-sale is as important as the inside when it comes to staging. Potential buyers are attracted to curb appeal. Drivers by should find your house appealing. Staging the outside of your home includes fixing any broken fixtures such as porch planks or shutters, replacing any broken siding, painting, and landscaping. Clear your yard of overgrown shrubs, tall grass, bikes, toys, or lawn ornaments. Barbecue areas, patio furniture, and outside elements should be clean, tidy, and inviting.

Staging a home doesn’t need to be complicated. However, if you feel overwhelmed in your staging process, there are professional staging companies available for hire, or you can get helpful tips from Mark and Debra.

Moving is an exciting time of change. You can eliminate stress, increase value, and create an enjoyable experience by properly preparing your home for sale. Remove clutter, clean inside and out, make any necessary repairs, and create inviting curb appeal. Then, you can trust your real estate agents, Mark and Debra, to do the help sell your home. Give them a call today at 901-239-6041.

Helpful Tips for First Time Homebuyers

Buying your first home is a remarkable achievement and a monumental milestone. Before you jump the gun and sign on the dotted line, there are some things about first time home buying that you should take into consideration.

Clean Up Your Credit

Your credit should be in great shape before attempting to borrow substantial funds for a home loan. If there’s anything derogatory appearing on your credit reports, get those tidied up and taken care of before you begin the home buying process. Cleaning up your credit if you have a negative history could be a time consuming and frustrating process, so take care of that before you even begin looking for your new home.

Get Pre-Approved

With a clean credit history and a healthy deposit, you’re ready to seek out pre-approval for your home mortgage loan. Being pre-approved for your home loan is imperative for two reasons. First, by being pre-approved, you’ll know what your budget is for purchasing a house. Second, when you do locate your dream house, you won’t risk losing it to another potential buyer in the time it takes to apply for a home loan. Your home loan may be fixed-rate, meaning the interest and payments don’t change over time, or may be variable-rate, meaning the introductory fees are small, but interest may inflate over time. The life of your home loan may be a ten year, fifteen years, or thirty-year loan, or longer, which will alter your monthly payment amount.

Be Prepared for Additional Expenses

Be prepared with funds on hand for your deposits and closing costs as these items are not covered by your home mortgage loan. Your deposits and closing costs are separate and apart from your down payment.

Call Mark and Debra

You’ll want to find a real estate agent that has strong negotiation skills and knows the current real estate market. Mark and Debra will communicate clearly and efficiently regarding the purchase and processes of closing on your first home. Having their knowledge and experience working on your behalf will lessen your stress. You can reach them at 901-239-6041.

Be Prepared for Competition

Be prepared for multiple offers to come in on the house you select. When you fall head-over-heels in love with a particular house, chances are, so might someone else. You may not be the only person placing a bid on your dream home, so don’t be caught off-guard if your realtor tells you there’s competition. When multiple offers come in on a single property, you’ve got to either up the ante on your bid, adjust your terms, or be prepared to walk away and find another house. Mark and Debra will assist you in navigating through multiple-offer scenarios.

Know the Process

When the buyer accepts your offer, you’ll be asked to make a good-faith deposit. You’ll pay this non-refundable deposit to the broker or attorney, and not directly to the seller. The home is then appraised by a specialized appraiser to ensure the bank lending the home loan that its value matches the asking price.

Once your offer is accepted, a home inspector is called in to look over the entire structure. During this phase, it’s possible the home inspection process will disclose unpleasant news, such as a roof in disrepair, or plumbing that’s not up to code. Don’t be alarmed if the home inspection doesn’t produce perfection. Know that when the home inspection discloses things that are in disarray, the contract is re-negotiated to include repairs or an allowance for repairs, so the home is in good order when you move in. At this phase, you also have the opportunity to back out of your contract if the repairs needed are more than you’re prepared to deal with comfortably.

The seller of the property you’ve chosen to buy may have a home warranty in place to protect themselves and your interests in the sale of the house. A home warranty is purchased separately from a home warranty company and includes repairs to the home at reduced rates by qualified pre-selected contractors.

Finally, your home then goes through a closing process. The title changes hands during the closing phase – and you, as the buyer and new owner, take possession of the property. Congratulations on buying your first home!

Give Mark and Debra a call at 901-239-6041 to talk about making your first home buying experience a positive one that ends with you owning the home of your dreams.