Kim Wilkins, Real Estate Agent for Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky

06/18/2026

🏡 Before You Fall in Love with a House… Fall in Love with the Neighborhood First.

One of the best pieces of home buying advice I can give my clients is this:

Before you make an offer, drive through the neighborhood at 7 AM, 3 PM, and 9 PM.

And don’t stop there—take the route to and from your workplace, your children’s school, or the places you visit most often during the actual hours you would normally be traveling.
Seeing the area during your real-life commute can reveal traffic patterns, delays, congestion, and other daily realities that you might not notice during a quick showing.

Most buyers spend a lot of time looking at kitchens, bathrooms, and paint colors, but you’ll spend far more time living in the neighborhood than admiring the countertops.

A home can feel completely different depending on the time of day.

☀️ 7 AM This is when you see the reality of everyday life.
School traffic
Commuter traffic
Parking situations
Noise levels
How busy the streets really are
I’ve seen buyers love a home until they realized the nearby school turned their quiet street into a daily traffic jam.

🌤️ 3 PM. The neighborhood starts to change.
Kids are home from school
Parks become active
Traffic patterns shift
Businesses begin closing
Some neighborhoods come alive in the best way possible. Others may be much busier than you expected. Some become deserted.

🌙 9 PM
This may be the most important visit of all.
Street lighting
Noise levels
General activity
Overall atmosphere

This is when you learn how comfortable you’ll feel pulling into your driveway after a long day.

The truth is:
✅ Kitchens can be remodeled.
✅ Bathrooms can be updated.
✅ Paint colors can be changed.

But the neighborhood, traffic patterns, daily commute, and lifestyle are much harder to change.

As I often tell my clients, you’re not just buying a house… you’re buying the life that comes with it.

The morning commute. The evening walk. The route to work or school. The places you’ll visit every week. The sounds you’ll hear with the windows open. The feeling of coming home every day.
Smart buyers don’t just inspect houses.
They inspect lifestyles.

Thinking about buying a home in Southern Illinois or Western Kentucky? I’d be happy to help you look beyond the property and find the right place to call home.

📞 Kimberly Wilkins, REALTOR®�🏡 RE/MAX Advantage (IL)
RE/MAX Realty Group (KY)�📱 618-638-7442

06/12/2026

🏡🔑 A Heartfelt Thank You to Two Very Special Clients 🔑🏡

Days like today remind me that real estate is about so much more than buying and selling houses. It's about the people, the stories, and the memories made along the way.

💕 To my seller in Metropolis, thank you for trusting me to help you close this chapter and begin an exciting new one. Congratulations on your relocation! Wishing you safe travels, new adventures, and countless happy memories with your precious new grandbaby.

🎣 To my buyer in Marion, congratulations on your new home! What an exciting place for your growing family make memories together. I can already picture the fishing poles lined up by the pond, afternoons spent on the dock, and stories about the one that got away. Here's hoping you reel in that big ole catfish we know is lurking out there somewhere! Cant wait to hear about the adventures in the woods! Wishing you years of happiness, laughter, and unforgettable moments in your new home.

Thank you both for allowing me to be a small part of your journeys. There is no greater compliment than the trust you place in me during some of life's biggest transitions.

❤️ Congratulations and best wishes to you both as you begin these exciting new chapters! 🏠✨

06/08/2026

💰 WHAT COULD YOU DO WITH A $45,000 HOUSE?

Flip it.
Rent it.
Finish it and live in it.

📍 706 E 8th St, Metropolis

This 2-bedroom bungalow is a blank canvas with the demo work already underway. Add your vision, your labor, and your finishing touches to create value where others see work.

🏡 2 Bedrooms 1 Bathroom
🏠 Attic Space for Possible Expansion
🚗 Detached Garage with Alley Access
🔨 Rehab Started
📈 Potential Upside

The best opportunities aren't always move-in ready.

Ready to take a look?

📲 Kimberly Wilkins, RE/MAX Advantage 618-638-7442

06/08/2026

🏊‍♂️ Why spend your summer at someone else's pool?

Imagine stepping out your back door, grabbing your favorite drink, and spending the afternoon floating in your own in-ground pool drifting in and out of the sun with the shade of mature trees.

And while you're enjoying the good life, the solar panel system helps keep energy costs under control.

This beautifully maintained home offers the perfect blend of comfort, efficiency, and outdoor living with an updated interior, cozy gas log fireplace, detached 2-car garage, and a peaceful country setting just minutes from town.

☀️ Private Pool
☀️ Solar Savings
☀️ Detached Garage
☀️ Country Living Close to Town

📍 956 Country Club Rd, Metropolis, IL

Ready to make every weekend feel like a staycation?

📞 Kimberly Wilkins
RE/MAX Advantage
618-638-7442



https://kimberlywilkins.remax.com/property/103-12659353-956-country-club-road-metropolis-IL-62960

06/07/2026

🏡✨ See the Potential at 203 W 12th Street, Metropolis, IL! ✨🏡

Don't just look at a home for what it is today. Imagine what it could become tomorrow.

This graphic showcases how simple cosmetic updates, fresh furnishings, and thoughtful design choices can completely transform a space without changing the home's character. From the inviting front porch to the spacious living room, upstairs bedroom, and kitchen, you can see how small changes can create a big impact.

Whether you're a first-time homebuyer, investor, DIY enthusiast, or someone looking for an affordable home with room to build equity, this property offers an opportunity to make it your own while creating value along the way.

Sometimes all it takes is a little vision to see what's possible.

📍 203 W 12th Street, Metropolis, IL

📞 Kimberly Wilkins, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Advantage (IL) | RE/MAX Realty Group (KY)
618-638-7442

Photos shown on the right side are virtual design concepts intended to illustrate potential possibilities and may not reflect the property's current condition.

https://www.remax.com/il/metropolis/home-details/203-w-12th-st-metropolis-il-62960/1657113108378183469/M00000243/12594293

06/07/2026

🌟 Packed with Potential and Ready for New Memories

What if you could buy a home with nearly 1,500 square feet, 3 bedrooms, an oversized detached garage, and a screened front porch for less than many people are paying for rent?

📍 203 W 12th Street, Metropolis, IL

This home offers the opportunity to build equity while creating a space that reflects your own style and vision.

Imagine:
🏡 Fresh paint and updated flooring
🏡 A refreshed kitchen tailored to your style
🏡 A private upstairs retreat for a bedroom, office, or hobby space
🏡 Evenings spent relaxing on the screened front porch
🏡 Building equity instead of paying someone else's mortgage

Whether you're a first-time buyer willing to put in a little sweat equity, an investor searching for your next project, or someone looking for an affordable home with room to grow, this property offers possibilities that are becoming harder and harder to find.

The reality is that many buyers scroll past homes like this and focus only on what a property is today. Smart buyers look at what a property can become.

Could this be your next project, investment, or future home?

📞 Contact Kimberly Wilkins with RE/MAX Advantage for details and a private showing.

3-bedroom, 1-bath bungalow offering more space than expec...

06/07/2026

🏡 Space, Style & Modern Comforts! 🏡

Looking for a home that offers room to spread out, entertain, work from home, or accommodate guests? This beautifully updated home delivers over 2,800 square feet of flexible living space designed to fit your lifestyle.

✨ 3 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms
✨ Open-concept floor plan
✨ Stunning kitchen with large island & solid surface countertops
✨ Finished walk-out basement
✨ Cozy wood-burning fireplace
✨ Bonus room ideal for a home office, guest room, hobby space, or potential 4th bedroom
✨ Expansive rear deck for outdoor enjoyment
✨ Attached 2-car garage

From the modern updates to the versatile floor plan, this move-in ready home offers the perfect combination of comfort, functionality, and style. Whether you're hosting family gatherings, working remotely, or simply looking for more space to enjoy everyday life, this home checks all the boxes.

📩 Message me for additional details, pricing, or to schedule your private showing!



https://www.remax.com/.../164150073906.../M00000243/12626609

🏡 Space, Style & Modern Comforts! 🏡

Looking for a home that offers room to spread out, entertain, work from home, or accommodate guests? This beautifully updated home delivers over 2,800 square feet of flexible living space designed to fit your lifestyle.

✨ 3 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms
✨ Open-concept floor plan
✨ Stunning kitchen with large island & solid surface countertops
✨ Finished walk-out basement
✨ Cozy wood-burning fireplace
✨ Bonus room ideal for a home office, guest room, hobby space, or potential 4th bedroom
✨ Expansive rear deck for outdoor enjoyment
✨ Attached 2-car garage

From the modern updates to the versatile floor plan, this move-in ready home offers the perfect combination of comfort, functionality, and style. Whether you're hosting family gatherings, working remotely, or simply looking for more space to enjoy everyday life, this home checks all the boxes.

📩 Message me for additional details, pricing, or to schedule your private showing!



https://www.remax.com/luxury/il/vienna/home-details/65-magnolia-ln-vienna-il-62995/16415007390658447040/M00000243/12626609

06/06/2026

🏡 JUST SOLD! 🏡

Congratulations to my seller on the successful sale of their home!

Closing day is often a mix of excitement and emotion. While today marks the end of a real estate transaction, it also marks the closing of a chapter filled with memories that can never be packed into moving boxes.

Within these walls, families found shelter during life's storms. Firstborns were brought home from the hospital. Babies took their first steps across these floors. Birthday candles were blown out, Easter eggs were hidden and discovered, Thanksgiving dinners were shared around the table, and Christmas mornings were filled with laughter, excitement, and love.

A house is made of bricks, wood, and drywall, but a home is built from the moments that happen inside it.

Thank you for trusting me to help guide you through this important transition. As one family turns the page to a new chapter, another family now has the opportunity to create memories of their own.

06/01/2026

🚨 COMMUNITY SCAM ALERT 🚨

Please be careful if you’re searching for a rental home through Facebook groups.

Recently a client of mine contacted me to verify a property we had looked at (he is a buyer) would be a rental as his kids were looking for a rental in Metropolis. He had been searching for rentals on Facebook and was in a FB messenger chat with someone who claimed it was one of his rental properties and needed him to pay a fee for an application/background check before he would meet him to tour the home. He was asked to send the money via Venmo and he would then receive a link for the application.

While some legitimate landlords and apartment complexes do charge application fees, those payments are typically processed through a verified rental website, property management company, or established business, not sent directly to a stranger through Venmo, Cash App, or other peer-to-peer payment apps.

After hearing about this situation, I decided to investigate myself.

I contacted the individual, who identified himself as a “landlord and tenant lawyer,” and posed as a prospective renter. He sent me information on three different properties he claimed were available for rent.

Here’s what I discovered:

✔️ Every photo he sent was pulled from online real estate listings.
✔️ All three properties are currently listed FOR SALE by licensed real estate brokerages in Metropolis.
✔️ One of the properties is actually MY listing.
✔️ When I told him I didn’t use Venmo, he immediately offered PayPal and Cash App instead.
✔️ None of the payment accounts matched the name on his Facebook profile.

These scammers are targeting people who are urgently looking for housing and hoping they’ll send money before verifying the information.

Before sending ANY money:

🔹 Verify the property address online.
🔹 Check whether the home is listed for sale or for rent.
🔹 Be suspicious of anyone requesting deposits, application fees, or holding fees through personal payment apps.
🔹 Drive by the property if possible. If there’s a “For Sale” sign in the yard, it’s probably not a rental.
🔹 Contact the listing brokerage or property owner directly to verify the property’s status.

At RE/MAX Advantage, we rarely handle rental properties. If someone claims one of our listings is available for rent, please call our office at (618) 524-4777 or contact one of our agents directly to verify the information before sending any money.

There are a lot of good people in our community, but unfortunately there are also people looking to take advantage of others. Please share this post to help protect friends, family, and neighbors from becoming the next victim.

⚠️ If it sounds too good to be true, verify before you

05/28/2026

UPDATE: Contract Received in less than 6 days on market!

🌿 ESCAPE THE NOISE & FIND YOUR OWN PRIVATE RETREAT 🌿

Dreaming of a country home with acreage in Southern Illinois? This hidden gem in rural Pulaski County might be exactly what you’ve been searching for! 🏡

✨ 3 Bedrooms | 2.5 Baths
✨ Over 2,800 Sq Ft
✨ 8.84 Scenic Acres
✨ Private Lane Setting
✨ Mature Norton Grape Orchard 🍇
✨ Persimmon Trees
✨ Partially Wooded with Abundant Wildlife 🦌

Inside, you’ll find timeless character with some hardwood flooring, traditional stained trim, solid wood doors, a cozy gas fireplace, and beautiful French doors connecting the living spaces and opening to the rear deck overlooking the peaceful countryside.

Whether you’re looking for a private retreat, hobby farm potential, homestead lifestyle, or simply room to breathe and enjoy nature, this property offers the kind of setting buyers rarely find today.

Imagine sipping coffee on the deck while watching deer roam the property, harvesting grapes from your own orchard, and enjoying the quiet of rural living just minutes from town. 🌳

📲 Message Kimberly Wilkins with RE/MAX Advantage | Your Realtor on the River for details or your private showing!

Follow this link to more details and photos:
https://www.remax.com/il/grand-chain/home-details/205-nalley-ln-grand-chain-il-62941/13395970823466722286/M00000243/12656757