Hundreds Of Professionals Attend Annual Real Estate Conference

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI)  – Mississippi’s real estate market is on the upswing, with home values continuing to rise, and new housing starts across the state.
Those trends are encouraging for hundreds of real estate professionals meeting in Tupelo for an annual conference.

Andrea Detrick may have been in a board of directors meeting, at the conference center, but she was still making deals.

“I just finished up a contract this morning, and here I am, not at home,” Detrick said.

The Oxford based broker is one of 400 professionals attending the annual convention for the Mississippi Association of Realtors. Over the next three days, realtors can get all of their continuing education credits, network with others from across the state, hear from coaches in the industry and find out how MAR leaders have been working with state lawmakers.

“We were able to get a law passed for a first time homebuyer savings account this year, what this does is provides people a tax deduction of up to $2,500 for single people and up to $5,000 for couples, they’re able to put this into a designated savings account for first time homebuyers, they can use that money for down payment or closing costs,” said David Griffith, president of MAR.

The floor of the Bancorpsouth Arena is an exhibit hall. In between meetings, real estate professionals can visit a variety of companies, including home warranty firms, sign manufacturers, lenders and there is even one company that specializes in gifts, once the deal is done.

“We’re the company that sends the customer the gift after the sale, we recently gotten into the real estate market, we can do closing gifts for your customers, and just to let them know you appreciate their business and also to get referrals,” said Emily Tucker, with Udeserveacookie.com.

Mississippi’s real estate market is the strongest in recent years. Professionals say the momentum should continue, as long as interest rates remain low, new construction continues and tax deductions for mortgage interest payments are kept in place.

New officers will also be installed during the annual conference. For more infromation visit: msrealtors.org