Jessie Pate Counts Real Estate

06/16/2026

✨ Is your closet working for you or against you?

A 40-year storage expert says the secret to maximizing space is simple: think vertical. Smart storage systems can double or even triple your usable space while reducing everyday stress caused by clutter.

Current trends homeowners are loving:
💡 Integrated LED lighting
🚪 Glass doors and display shelving
🎨 Two-tone cabinetry designs
🏠 Custom organization beyond the closet pantries, mudrooms, offices, and more

As homes get smaller and belongings keep growing, efficient storage is becoming one of the most valuable upgrades homeowners can make.



Check out the full article👇️
https://www.homes.com/news/a-40-year-closet-pro-says-these-storage-upgrades-make-homes-feel-better/805296717/?utm_source=Homes&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=HM_PDT_B2B_ALL_AgentWeeklyNewsFTP_20260401&utm_id=73dfc76a-8a37-f111-a5f8-5cba2c705840&utm_content=article

06/15/2026

🏡💰 Property taxes can have a major impact on the true cost of homeownership and where you live matters.

According to recent data, the national average effective property tax rate is 0.89%, but rates vary dramatically by state:

📈 Highest Property Tax Rates:
• New Jersey: 1.88%
• Illinois: 1.88%
• Connecticut: 1.54%
• Vermont: 1.51%
• New Hampshire: 1.50%

📉 Lowest Property Tax Rates:
• Hawaii: 0.29%
• Alabama: 0.37%
• Arizona: 0.48%
• Utah: 0.48%
• South Carolina: 0.49%

To put that into perspective, a $350,000 home could generate an annual property tax bill of about $6,580 in Illinois versus roughly $1,015 in Hawaii.

Before buying a home, it's important to look beyond the purchase price and consider property taxes, exemptions, and long-term ownership costs.

🏠 Are property taxes a major factor in where you'd choose to live?



https://www.homes.com/learn/property-tax-rates-where-homeowners-pay-the-most-and-least/?utm_source=Homes&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=HM_PDT_B2B_ALL_AgentWeeklyNewsFTP_20260401&utm_id=73dfc76a-8a37-f111-a5f8-5cba2c705840&utm_content=article

06/13/2026

🏡 Think manufactured homes are just old-fashioned trailers? Think again.

As housing affordability continues to challenge buyers, manufactured homes are gaining attention as a lower-cost path to homeownership. Modern designs feature open floor plans, updated finishes, and curb appeal that can rival many traditional homes.

📊 Consider this:
✔️ Manufactured homes can cost about 40% less per month than site-built homes
✔️ Homes on owned land can appreciate in value over time
✔️ Financing options include conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA loans in many cases

The biggest misconception? That manufactured homes don't build wealth. In reality, when paired with owned land, many have seen significant appreciation in recent years.

As buyers search for affordable alternatives, manufactured housing is becoming an increasingly important part of the homeownership conversation.

Would you consider a manufactured home if it helped you become a homeowner sooner?



Read the full article here👇️
https://www.floridarealtors.org/news-media/news-articles/2026/06/manufactured-homes-gain-traction-affordability-option?utm_campaign=6-4-26+Florida+Realtors+News&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email

06/12/2026

🚨🏡 Homeowners, beware: Romance scams are no longer just stealing savings, they’re targeting home equity.

One Utah homeowner lost nearly $850,000 after being manipulated by a scammer she met online. What started as friendly messages evolved into a fake relationship, bogus investment opportunities, and ultimately loans secured against her nearly paid-off home.

Unfortunately, these scams are becoming more sophisticated, often using stolen photos, fake financial accounts, and even AI-generated video to gain trust.

⚠️ Red flags to watch for:
• Someone professes love very quickly
• Requests for money or investments
• Excuses for not meeting in person
• Pressure to keep financial matters private
• Requests involving wire transfers or cryptocurrency

Your home's equity is one of your most valuable assets. Before taking out loans, wiring money, or making investment decisions involving someone you've only met online, talk with a trusted family member, financial advisor, or real estate professional.

Share this post it could help protect someone you know.



Check out the full article👇️
https://www.realtor.com/news/first-person/romance-scam-crypto-investment-fraud-anola-johnson/?cid=eml__1946:66e221571a4446d4e6969d41:rm202606081030_Marketing_Consumer_Daily_EditorialRSSDynamic&deeplinkIdentityId=589ce411-bc81-42d5-aaa4-8755cd5cfdaf

06/11/2026

🎶☀️ Summer nights in Panama City Beach just got better!

Every Thursday night for the FREE Summer Concert Series at Aaron Bessant Park Amphitheater from 7 PM – 9 PM through August 6.

🎵 Live music
🪑 Bring your lawn chairs & blankets
🧺 Coolers and food welcome
🐾 Pets welcome
💲 FREE admission

Gather your friends and family, relax under the stars, and enjoy one of PCB's favorite summer traditions!

📍 Aaron Bessant Park
600 Pier Park Drive, Panama City Beach

Who's ready for a night of great music and summer vibes? 🎤🌴

Hot summer nights are made for music, and the Summer Concert Series has become a beloved summertime tradition in PCB. Enjoy a FREE concert in the park every Thursday at Aaron Bessant Park Amphitheater — bring your lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy the sounds of summer music; coolers, food and pet...

06/10/2026

🏡✨ Would you live in a house built from a giant Goodyear balloon?

A rare piece of architectural history just hit the market in Pasadena, California. Designed by famed architect Wallace Neff, this unique “Airform” dome home was created in 1947 using an inflatable Goodyear balloon as the mold before being covered in concrete. 🎈➡️🏠

Originally envisioned as an affordable housing solution during America’s post-war housing shortage, Neff’s bubble houses never became mainstream but they remain some of the most fascinating homes ever built.

🔹 Listed for $1.95 million
🔹 1,204 sq. ft. main dome residence
🔹 2 bedrooms with curved walls throughout
🔹 Detached 1,000 sq. ft. studio
🔹 Includes a 1960s underground bomb shelter
🔹 Located in Pasadena’s prestigious Madison Heights neighborhood

Perhaps the most intriguing detail: after designing lavish homes for Hollywood legends like Judy Garland and Mary Pickford, Neff chose to spend his final years living in this very dome proof of how strongly he believed in the concept.

A true blend of art, innovation, and history. Would you buy a one-of-a-kind “bubble house”? 🤔



Read the full article here👇️
https://www.homes.com/news/rare-pasadena-bubble-house-built-with-goodyear-balloon-asks-1-95-million/1266711012/?utm_source=Homes&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=HM_PDT_B2C_ConsumerWeeklyNewsFTP_20260401&utm_id=5070d8fb-8a37-f111-a5f8-5cba2c705840&utm_content=article

06/09/2026

A multimillion-dollar home on Nantucket is being given away for FREE 😳🏡

The catch? You have to move it off the property.

A 3-bedroom, 2-bath Colonial home on Massachusetts’ famous “Billionaire Isle” is available through Nantucket’s Demolition Delay Bylaw program, which encourages relocating homes instead of sending them to the landfill.

The home sits on valuable land where owners often purchase properties just for the lot itself. While moving the house could cost anywhere from $150K–$500K, that’s still a massive discount in a market where the median home price is around $4.4 million.

Locals say these free homes get claimed FAST 👀

Honestly… would you move a house across an island if it meant getting a Nantucket home for a fraction of the price? 🚛🏠

Read the full article here👇️
https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/nantucket-house-free-140-surfside/?cid=eml__1946:671fdfdc1a4446d4e6c1b034:rm202605091300_Marketing_Consumer_Weekly_EditorialNewsletter&deeplinkIdentityId=589ce411-bc81-42d5-aaa4-8755cd5cfdaf

06/09/2026

🏡 Just Listed! Built in 2024, this beautiful 3BR/2BA Celeste floor plan in the sought-after Liberty community offers LVP flooring throughout, a 2-car garage, and a fully fenced backyard with peaceful wooded views. 🌳✨

Enjoy an open kitchen with island seating, a spacious primary suite with double vanity, soaking tub & separate shower, plus access to incredible community amenities including pools, fitness center, pickleball courts, splash pads, playgrounds, and more!

📍Conveniently located near Tyndall AFB, hospitals, shopping, dining, and entertainment.



Check out the listing here👇️
https://www.flexmls.com/share/E7I4y/6662-Kettles-Street-Panama-City-FL-32404

06/06/2026

Southern homebuyers are putting down less money upfront than buyers in other parts of the country 🏡💰

A new report found that buyers in the South made a median down payment of 13.4% in early 2026, lower than the Northeast, West, and Midwest.

Why? Lower home prices across many Southern markets are helping keep upfront cash requirements more manageable, even while affordability challenges and higher mortgage rates continue nationwide.

The report also suggests competition may finally be easing in many Southern markets, including Florida. As inventory improves compared to the intense pandemic market, financed buyers may have more opportunities to compete without needing huge cash reserves or bidding wars.

That said, even with smaller down payments, today’s higher rates are still creating affordability pressure through higher monthly payments.

For many buyers, the conversation is shifting from “How much do I need upfront?” to “What monthly payment can I comfortably manage?” 🔑

https://www.floridarealtors.org/news-media/news-articles/2026/05/southern-buyers-making-smaller-down-payments-other-regions?utm_campaign=5-26-26+Florida+Realtors+News&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email