TheMReport — News and strategies for the evolving mortgage marketplace.
Issue link: http://digital.themreport.com/i/386473
Th e M Rep o RT | 7 Department Bristol, Tennessee Education quality score: 73.22 Median home price: $85,850 Population: 25,474 Hot home: The amenities list for this four-story home is extensive: wine cellar, a wa- terfall recessed into a wall, a garage for seven cars, a mas- ter bathroom with a steam shower and rain shower, two wet bars, a games room, an indoor gallery, a balcony, fireplaces, a pool, walk-in closets for him and her (his has a gun vault), outdoor cli- mate control, an outbuilding for storage, and an invisible dog fence. And don't forget the five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, 13,597 square feet, and town ratings placing Bristol among the best places for young people to live. All that in one home should more than justify the asking price of $2.1 million. Nederland, Texas Education quality score: 72.83 Median home price: $95,460 Population: 16,178 Hot home: A modern five bedroom, four-and-a-half bathroom home has little to do with the Dutch families who settled Nederland near the turn of the 20th century, but that doesn't stop this place from be- ing comfortable in an incredible town. The house features a dozen closets and extra storage spaces, a large yard, fireplaces, and a garage with insulated doors for heated or cooled gatherings in this gated property. The price of $699,900 is almost as cozy as the separate games room and den. Moore, Oklahoma Education quality score: 72.52 Median home price: $97,870 Population: 51,106 Hot home: A gated residence not far from Oklahoma City with fountains, balconies and patios, outdoor living areas, a guest apartment, a storm shelter, a heated and cooled shop, and enough combined room to provide covered parking for 15 vehicles are all available in this $1.3 million mansion south of the city. Lofty high ceilings and a theater, a pool with fountains and a slide, and a pond on the property make this four- bed, seven-bath home with 6,223 square feet a good call. Warner Robins, Georgia Education quality score: 71.98 Median home price: $93,840 Population: 60,392 Hot home: An arcaded entryway shows off the southern-inspired charm of this home with its five bed- rooms and three-and-a-half baths. Fireplaces and wood furniture offset the archways that decorate the rooms, and sunlight filters in from wall-to-wall windows in some rooms. The outdoor living possibilities with both a pool and a lake in the backyard are limitless, whether sunbath- ing or swimming, grilling, or enjoying the shaded banks along the water. At only $624,900 for 5,197 square feet, this Georgia home is a place of guaranteed relax- ation in a town top-rated for raising a family. Denison, Texas Education quality score: 71.71 Median home price: $66,960 Population: 24,103 Hot home: There's a lot that can be done with 400 acres of land, but the real wonder of this lot is what has been done with only 7,700 square feet. Priced at $3.9 million, this house has an open floor plan, with lines of sight extending for multiple rooms across the ground level. High ceilings, windows the size of walls, interior stone architec- tural elements, and forested surroundings ensure light, style, and privacy inside, but the multiple lakes, ponds, forests, and other outdoor terrain guarantee as much life and fun outside. Sources: Information acquired from Zillow, Trulia, the National Association of Realtors, and GreatSchools.org. Harrison, Arkansas Education quality score: 80.01 Median home price: $99,800 Town Population: 13,108 Hot home: This ranch sits on almost 53 acres of land and comes fully furnished. It also comes with farm equipment, horses in the stable, and a hot tub beside the pool in addition to its five bedrooms, four-and-a- half bathrooms, and a cool price tag of $1.5 million. The interior of the main house is 6,358 square feet, though the lot also has a barn, a machine shed, and a house for chickens and turkeys. If you've ever wanted to live a simple life and ensure your kids are well educated, this is the home you've been looking for. Richmond, Texas Education quality score: 78.62 Median home price: $91,540 Population: 13,404 Hot home: This ranch- style home boasts 8,059 square feet for $3.6 million. Comprising four bedrooms and seven bathrooms, it knows how to look pretty. Plus, it has everything else to sweeten the deal: waterfront views, a gated community, a loggia, a pool, a sports court, a theater, and a town with old-time feel that boasted the mayor with the longest tenure in United States his- tory until 2012. The school system in Richmond is also phenomenal, with many teachers holding advanced degrees. Webb City, Missouri Education quality score: 78.13 Median home price: $88,160 Population: 11,302 Hot home: Webb City has a well-developed civic spirit, and this five-bed, 4.5-bath home only a mile from the center of town is a good way to enjoy it while also getting some privacy on a 46-acre lot. The home is 5,000 square feet and flaunts a price tag of only $635,000, while the town and school district it falls within sports a newly renovated library and a high-tech fitness club. Plus the school system is recog- nized by S&P for outperform- ing expectations for 13 of 14 recent years. The addition of four new classrooms ensures low student-to-teacher ratios and a continuing good grade for this town. Texarkana, Texas Education quality score: 74.42 Median home price: $85,120 Population: 36,131 Hot home: A $1.3 million home in Texarkana means living in the birthplace of Ross Perot, the politician, and Scott Joplin, the king of ragtime music. With five bedrooms, five full baths and two half-baths, this home has 8,836 square feet and three wooded acres that guaran- tee a roomy life inside and outside. Marble and wood floors, a library, a pool, yard statuary, and elegant wood furniture are all included to build up this house into an expansive home. Then ac- count for the schools nearby with perfect ratings, and there's no reason not to buy Angleton, Texas Education quality score: 74.19 Median home price: $86,720 Population: 18,640 Hot home: This home is just like the state you can find it in: It has wide open spaces and roomy accommoda- tions. While four bedrooms and four full baths might not impress like some other bed/bath numbers on this list, the 4,670 square feet and 19 acres means there is room to grow. A glassed-in porch overlooks the pool, there is a guest house on the grounds, and the 23-stall horse barn in excel- lent order means there's space for any Triple-Crown winners you're bringing with you. For $1.2 million, this house is a steal.