Madison County Living

Name: Madison County Living
Address: 7720 Old Canton Road, C-1, Madison, MS, 39110, US
Telephone: +16017156548

Home
United States
Madison, MS
Madison County Living

Call Directions Website Contact the business

Working To Exceed Your Expectations As Your Real Estate Resource
🔑 REALTOR w. Berkshire Hathaway A trade association for North American auto auctions.

John Rea is a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Gateway Real Estate. Before entering real estate in 2016, he owned and operated wholesale automobile auctions. In 2008 John was elected President of the National Auto Auction Association. John and Kim, his wife of 30 years, have three children. They have lived in the Metro Jackson area for most of their marriage. Together, they have personally bought and sold over ten homes. The negotiating skills developed in the auction business and his first-hand experience in the housing market have led to a successful multi-million-dollar sales career in real estate. John will use these same skills to your benefit, whether buyer or selling.

10/31/2026

Happy Halloween, Madison 🎃

Tonight: porch lights on, candy bowls full, and please drive slow in the neighborhoods. Lots of little ones will be out.

Tomorrow: the City of Madison's Santa Express kicks off. From Nov 1 through Dec 31, shop participating Madison businesses and save your receipts. You can trade them for Madison Money at the auction on Saturday, Jan 9, 2027.

What are you handing out tonight? Tell me in the comments.

Santa Express: participating businesses throughout Madison, MS · details at madisonthecity.com

10/30/2026

Behind the scenes: before I list a home, I sit down with the sellers and ask two questions that surprise people. When did you buy? And what have you put into the house since?

I'm not a CPA, and I'll never pretend to be one. But those answers tell us early whether your sale is simple (it usually is) or whether something like a rental, a home office or a short ownership period means you should call your tax advisor before we list.

No surprises at the closing table. That's the goal.

John Rea, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Gateway Real Estate. Cell (601) 565-4764, Office (601) 853-0414

10/29/2026

Seller question: "Do I pay taxes when I sell my house in Mississippi?"

Usually not. Three things to know:

• If you owned and lived in it 2 of the last 5 years, up to $250,000 of profit is excluded from federal tax ($500,000 married filing jointly).
• Mississippi has no real estate transfer tax.
• Mississippi's income tax starts from your federal numbers, so profit the IRS excludes generally isn't taxed by the state either.

Where people get surprised: a rental or home office, profit above the limit, or selling before you've lived there 2 years.

Full answer on my blog: https://www.gateway-realtors.com/johns-blogs/capital-gains-tax-home-sale-jackson-metro-ms

General info, not tax advice. Check your situation with your CPA.

John Rea, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Gateway Real Estate. Cell (601) 565-4764, Office (601) 853-0414

10/28/2026

This week's local spotlight: Martinson's Garden Works in Ridgeland 🌼

Fall is planting season in Mississippi. It's the time to swap tired summer pots for mums and pansies, and to get shrubs and trees in the ground while it's cool. Martinson's is a garden center right on Highway 51 with shrubs, hydrangeas, roses and seasonal color.

Thinking about selling in the spring? A couple of fresh pots by the front door is one of the cheapest curb-appeal upgrades there is.

Martinson's Garden Works, 650 Hwy 51 N, Ridgeland, MS 39157 · (601) 856-3078. Give them a call for this week's hours before you go.

Got a spot I should feature next? Drop it in the comments.

10/27/2026

Selling in the next year? Pull these 3 records now, before you need them:

1. The closing statement from when you bought. It shows what you paid and some costs that count toward your basis.
2. Receipts for big improvements: roof, HVAC, additions, remodels. These can lower your taxable gain. Routine repairs usually don't count.
3. Your settlement statement when you sell. Your closing attorney prepares it. Keep a copy with your tax records.

Most sellers never owe tax on their home sale, but the ones who do are usually the ones who can't prove what they put into the house.

Questions about what your home would net today? Call or text me.

John Rea, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Gateway Real Estate. Cell (601) 565-4764, Office (601) 853-0414

10/26/2026

Selling your home this year? Here's the tax question I hear most: "Am I going to owe on the profit?"

Most homeowners don't. If you owned and lived in the home at least 2 of the last 5 years, up to $250,000 of profit is excluded from federal tax ($500,000 for married couples filing jointly).

For perspective, the median residential sale in Madison County went from $234,500 in September 2016 to $355,000 in September 2026. Rankin County went from $167,500 to $290,000. (Central Mississippi MLS data.) That's about $120K of growth, well under the limit for most sellers.

Here's the full breakdown, including what Mississippi adds (and doesn't): https://www.gateway-realtors.com/johns-blogs/capital-gains-tax-home-sale-jackson-metro-ms

General info, not tax advice. Your CPA has the final word.

John Rea, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Gateway Real Estate. Cell (601) 565-4764, Office (601) 853-0414

10/24/2026

"Buy now, refinance later." Before you count on it, check three things:

1. A refinance has its own closing costs.
2. How long you'll stay. Closing costs ÷ monthly savings = months until it pays off.
3. Rates have to drop enough to be worth it, and nobody can promise they will.

Buy a payment you're comfortable with today and treat a refinance as a bonus. Questions? Call or text me.

John Rea, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Gateway Real Estate. Cell (601) 565-4764, Office (601) 853-0414

10/24/2026

Mark your calendar, Madison 🍂

The City of Madison's Scarecrow Festival is next Thursday, Oct. 29, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at Liberty Park. Inflatables, a cake walk, train rides, a petting zoo, games, face painting, crafts, a photo booth and food vendors.

Who's going? Tell me in the comments.

📲 On Instagram? Comment HOMES and I'll DM you every home for sale in Madison and Rankin County right now.

10/23/2026

Behind the scenes: before I show a buyer a single house, I ask them one thing. Have you talked to a lender yet?

It's not about slowing anyone down. It's so you know your real number, your monthly payment and your options before you fall in love with a house. It also makes your offer stronger when the right home comes along.

Thinking about buying this fall or next spring? Start with that conversation. I'm happy to point you to a local lender I trust.

📲 On Instagram? Comment HOMES and I'll DM you every home for sale in Madison and Rankin County right now.

John Rea, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Gateway Real Estate. Cell (601) 565-4764, Office (601) 853-0414

10/22/2026

Three numbers your lender looks at before saying yes:

1. Your credit score, which helps set your rate.
2. Your debt-to-income: how much of your monthly income already goes to payments.
3. Your down payment. Every loan program sets its own limits.

Know these before you shop. Need a local lender to talk to? I'm happy to connect you.

John Rea, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Gateway Real Estate. Cell (601) 565-4764, Office (601) 853-0414

Address

7720 Old Canton Road, C-1
Madison, MS
39110

Telephone

+16017156548

Website

http://gateway-realtors.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Madison County Living posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.