Melissa Collins, Realtor

Families relocating to the Ozark Mountain region can feel confident in the high quality of the educational opportunities afforded by the school districts of Boone County.  Each district competitively achieves at a high level both academically and athletically.  A wide range of extracurricular activities provide students the opportunity to find their own unique niche to enhance their educational experience.

Harrison School District— Harrison.k12.ar.us

Harrison is the largest school district is the area.  With an enrollment of approximately 2,800 students, Harrison students continue to achieve above state and national averages as measured by state benchmarks, national assessments, and ACT composite scores.  Offering a broad curriculum that includes gifted and talented programs, preschool, alternative education, advanced placement courses, fine arts, athletics, career/technical education, special education, and as well as student interest clubs, makes a relocation to Harrison an easier transition for families.  Athletic teams compete in the competitive 5A West Conference of the Arkansas Activities Association.   Sports that are offered include football, basketball, volleyball, soccer, golf, tennis, and track.  The choirs and bands year after year receive superior rankings at numerous festivals throughout the year.  Elementary and middle schools have received national achievement awards, the most recent being awarded to Forest Heights Elementary as a Blue Ribbon School.

Bergman School District—Bergman.k12.ar.us

Bergman School is conveniently located between Harrison and the resort community of Diamond City on the Bull Shoals Lake.  This 3A size school has an enrollment just over 1,000 students.  Academic and athletic teams regularly represent the community in state level competitions.

Valley Spring School District—Valley.k12.ar.us

This school has a rich history of tradition in excellence in both the academic and athletic fields.  Numerous state championships have been awarded in boys’ and girls’ athletics as well as recognition as a Golden Apple School for Benchmark achievement.  Their students have scored above average for literacy in grades 3-11 and continue to exceed the state averages in other subjects as well.  The school has continued to improve on facilities over the years and is currently developing a new PE building, additional elementary classrooms, and sports complex.

Alpena School District—Alpenaschools.k12.ar.us

With an enrollment of about 550, Alpena School District can taut “small school with BIG success.”  The school district has won the Class A Championship of the State Science and Engineering Fair for 9 consecutive years.  Because in part of these awards, they were also selected as one of America’s Top High Schools by the 2011 US News and World Report.  The Alpena Leopards year after year compete far into the state basketball tournaments for girls and boys.

Omaha School District—www.edline.net/pages/Omaha_SD

A small school close to the Arkansas/Missouri border has many things to offer their students.  One significant accomplishment for Omaha was winning the ACT Outstanding GT Program for Arkansas for 1A size schools.  Faculty members work hard to ensure student success as one of their teachers was awarded the Arkansas History Teacher of the Year for 2011.

Lead Hill School District—Leadhill.ar.schoolwebpages.com

Community pride would certainly describe this school district.  Residents of this community as well as parents support this school to the fullest.  With a new gym and agriculture center the school emphasizes technology and vocational education as well as their GT program for Kindergarten through 12th grade.

Source:  Harrison, AR 2012 Relocation & Visitors Guide—www.harrison-chamber.com

Written by Melissa Collins

To quote Edgar Allen Poe “It was the worst of times, It was the best of Times”. The worst of times is painfully apparent. An economic downturn fueled by the housing crisis has resulted in historically low interest rates and declines in home values. However this has made it the best of times as far as real estate income competeing with Certificate of Deposits or other fixed rate investments.

http://www.dohardmoney.com/blog/real-estate-investing-101/

The old rule of thumb for residential investing was to search for property that would rent for one per cent of the purchase price per month. In other words, a home purchased for $70,000 would need to rent for $700 per month. Rarely do these numbers come together these days. However, with interest rates so low, that formula can be modified and stll achieve a healthy return on investment. For instasnce a house purchased for $65,000 rented for $550 per month would give a gross return of 10%.

Allowing for maintainence, taxes, and insurance one should still be able to achieve a 7% net return. There are also tax advantages to consider http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/top-ten-tax-deductions-landlords-29497.html and should you decide to leverage (use some borrowed money) results could be even better. There is no guarantee of course and management is required. We do have a property management service if you want to only be an investor. To avoid costly surprises I recommend a maintainence fund be set up and funded each month. This fund is used to cover repairs and protect against a month when the property is vacant.

We are always glad to visit with potential clients about rentals and investing.

Written by Jim Harp

A Real Estate Professional worth their commission will put a lot of effort into marketing your home.  There are more things to consider than just taking a few photos and sending it to the local MLS.  (MLS-Multiple List Service-a marketing database set up by a group of cooperating real estate brokers.)

Our local Harrison MLS is syndicated to all nationally recognized listing websites.  Realtor.com, Trulia.com, and Zillow.com are three of the more recognizable websites.  A listing at Harp and Associates will also be a listing on these websites and others.  Your listing with Harp and Associates will be enhanced on these websites.

First-time home buyers are dear to my heart.  They may be the reason  I became a REALTOR.  I remember that first home that my husband and I purchased.  I remember the fear, the butterflies, and the excitement.  I remember the REALTOR.  He was an acquaintance that became a trusted friend throughout the process.  He helped negotiate the purchase price and find the best mortgage company with the best interest rate.  We had never been through this process and we needed a professional to guide us.

Melissa Collins

At Harp and Associates, we have trusted professionals that can walk with you through the home buying process.  There are many good reasons to purchase a home, even with the media driven perception that the real estate market is suffering.  Our inventory has many good properties that would make a warm and comforting home for your family.  There are emotional reasons and financial reasons to own a home.  I can guide you through that process so the fear and butterflies are taken over by excitement because you are assured of your decisions.