Q&A

Tim Phillips Broker Associate, Creye-Leike Oxford Real Estate

Q: What is attracting out-oftowners to invest in a home in Oxford, and where are they coming from?

Visitors who come to Oxford fall in love with the town’s true charm. The southern kindness from the residents, unbelievable restaurants, music, arts, sporting events, theater and everything that the University offers is a huge reason Oxford is so appealing. People seem to be coming to Oxford from everywhere, as is evident from the enrollment increase at Ole Miss, Oxford City Schools, Lafayette County Schools and Regents School of Oxford. All these things are such a draw for out-oftown visitors, along with a first-class medical community. Our low crime rate and excellent law enforcement provides people with a peace of mind to enjoy the community. Ole Miss sports continues to be our community’s largest draw, as SEC football is “King” in the south. I love watching people experience their first time in the “Grove” and the greatest tailgate in all of football.

Q: What advice do you give when people are comparing Oxford to bigger cities?

Oxford has the feel of a big city while maintaining the quaintness of a small town. From Square Books to our many retail shops and restaurants, people are able to enjoy all the amazing attributes of Oxford. So many retirees choose Oxford to experience everything the University has to offer, as well as events like the Morgan Wallen concert and the Double Decker Arts Festival. People feel safe in Oxford and know that when they send their children to Ole Miss they are safe to walk around and enjoy all our town has to provide. People have a chance to participate in so many things like the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, Gertrude Ford Center and the Oxford Film Festival. Many visitors travel to Oxford to visit Rowan Oak, William Faulkner’s home. Oxford is fortunate to have so many talented writers amongst our midst. Retirees love all the amenities that we offer because there are always numerous events.

Q: What’s the single biggest challenge in the current housing market?

The number one issue we have presently is a lack of inventory and pricing. People love Oxford but also want to find a home they can afford. The condo market is very much in-demand. Many parents now realize that with the rate of the cost of rent increasing, they can purchase a condo and have their children reside there while building equity in their property. Providing affordable housing for residents of Oxford is still one of the main concerns for many of our longtime Oxford residents.

Q: What do you wish people knew more about when they buy a home?

Most first-time homebuyers are overwhelmed with the process of purchasing a home. So many clients are not prepared for the process of obtaining a loan or mortgage. Getting pre-qualified is one of the most important things that I can suggest to someone, as it helps with an offer regarding the tight inventory we’re seeing in Oxford. Getting a home inspection is one of the most important things a person can do after they have an accepted contract. Dealing with a local mortgage company or bank is also a plus to expedite the process. Also, select a Realtor that will represent you like you would want to be represented. A good Realtor, an excellent banker/mortgage company, and a good closing attorney can help make the entire process easier as you navigate

Pittman, living in Oxford again after working in Washington, D.C. and Memphis. I wish my step-daughter lived closer, but she is thriving in graduate school at Arizona State. Oxford has so much to offer and there’s always something entertaining to do. Watching the Rebs win the National Baseball Championship last year in Omaha with family members has to be one of the best weeks ever being a lifelong Ole Miss fan.

Most first-time homebuyers are overwhelmed with the process of purchasing a home. So many clients are not prepared for the process of obtaining a loan or mortgage. Getting pre-qualified is one of the most important things that I can suggest to someone, as it helps with an offer regarding the tight inventory we’re seeing in Oxford. Getting a home inspection is one of the most important things a person can do after they have an accepted contract. Dealing with a local mortgage company or bank is also a plus to expedite the process. Also, select a Realtor that will represent you like you would want to be represented.

BY ANGELA CUTRER

PHOTOS BY ALIYAH HEROD

SSalon owner Tammy Herod has been in business for more than three decades, but she’s only been a “business person” for about 20.

In 1994 came her first real lesson about business, occurring on a “day that my life changed,” she said. It was at Dudley Cosmetology University in North Carolina that Herod learned that as a person who “does hair,” she is the only person allowed to touch another person’s body, except for a doctor.

“I learned that ‘doing hair’ is much broader than just the hair on a person’s head,” she said. “It’s much deeper. A dentist couldn’t have a nail tech in his office - it would be odd. But I can have someone doing nails in my salon, as well as working with hair waxing, eyebrow arching, giving a massage or fitting a wig.”

With that ability, Herod felt great responsibility to her clients. She took those lessons about offering services and nourished her dream of running a successful salon with a large clientele. “I’ve built my business on customer service; it is my desire to satisfy everyone who comes into my salon,” she said. “I want you to get what you came for.”

Herod said she’s not sure that today’s upcoming stylists have the same thoughts about their craft, but hers has never changed. Whether you are in her salon, Tammy’s Hair Gallery, for relaxers, waves, eyebrows, eyelashes, weaves or wigs, Herod wants you to leave satisfied. If you aren’t, she’ll redo it all until you are. After all, the salon’s motto is

“Looking good is understood.”

The lessons from the university helped her to become the best hairdresser she could be, but she wanted more. Herod has since branched out her business after a much smaller start. After working with another hair professional, Herod opened her own shop, but the work grew so fast, she had to move to another building, which she hoped to buy one day.

“I don’t know what I was doing,” she admitted. “I didn’t know anything about owning a property, financing, having a personal bank account and a separate business account, the insurance needed, how to get a loan or any of that stuff.”

However, after a quite a few small business development sessions at Ole Miss, she learned. That was almost 20 years ago.

After a suggestion to call her local banker to see if she could get a loan to buy her own building, she did. She said she was surprised he said over the phone that whatever she wanted to do, the bank would support her. “I don’t think hometown bankers do that anymore,” she said with a laugh. “But he told me he knew me, that I was a wonderful client of theirs and he would support me. That meant a lot.”

Since then, she bought her building on University Avenue and built up her clientele even further. “I have people who come from Memphis, from Calhoun City, from New Albany, and they love that I’m right off the highway so they can zip in and zip out,” she said.

In November, it will be 19 years she’s been “in business” at the current location.

However, these days Herod is downsizing. Her original business may be booming, but she has other irons in the fire. In 2018, she earned her bachelor’s in marketing at Ole Miss, the same year she earned her real estate license. She hopes to construct that into another booming business of buying and selling. She already owns rental properties and wants to own more.

Her future plans are to become a broker and possibly own her own organization. “I would love to create new possibilities for families in my community,” she said. “Many families do not believe they can become homeowners. My desire is not to just sell them a home, but also help become aware of everything that could be available to them.

“I would like to build my own community with some property that I already own for those who do not meet income requirements to purchase a home. When I started my first business, my mother taught that if I was committed to helping people first, I would always be compensated for my time. She said to be dependable and trustworthy to every person I came in contact with.

“I have learned over the years that teamwork makes the dream work. I am a team player with MCG Real Estate LLC and look forward to making more real estate connections. I have learned making the connections not just with preceptive clients, but also with knowledgeable realtors are very important to my success.

Herod said her advice to others wanting to get into business is to continue their education, find a good mentor and be a student of their craft. Without these three things, it’s hard to succeed. said her advice to others wanting to get into business is to continue their education, find a good mentor and be a student of their craft. Without these three things, it’s hard to succeed.

“Many people know their craft, but not their business,” she explained. “[The education I received] made a difference in knowing how to run a business properly.”

These days, through a nonprofit organization, Herod mentors girls about business. She helps them learn how to succeed - and how to do things so they aren’t “paying someone else’s mortgage.” She said she’s been helped along her way and she wants to do that for others.

We Are A Haunting

By Tyriek White