Redfin tags Horn Lake as "Very Competitive" this spring: the average home sells for 1.5 % above list, and hot listings can fetch 4–6 offers within 48 hours. Entry-level inventory under $225 K is disappearing fastest, so buyers who pre-qualify with NMHL can tour homes the day they hit MLS and submit same-day offers with inspection waivers up to $5,000—an edge that won two out of our last three contracts on Church and Tulane drives.

New construction is also surging along Nail Road, where builders like CGC Homes and Heartland Constructors offer 1,700-sq-ft plans starting at $269,900. Most will accept FHA and VA financing, and several already partner with NMHL to pay up to $6,000 toward buyer closing costs—ask us for the current incentive sheet before you visit the model.

Mississippi’s assessed value equals 10 % of true market value, multiplied by the millage. In Horn Lake you pay:

• DeSoto County Schools: 54 mills
• DeSoto County general: 37 mills
• City of Horn Lake: 27.46 mills

On a $200,000 house assessed at $20,000, the annual tax is $20,000 × 0.11846 = $2,369. Senior citizens 65+ can exempt the first $75,000 of true value, cutting the bill by roughly one-third. Escrow is required on all NMHL loans with less than 20 % down, so we collect 1/12 each month plus a two-month cushion to avoid shortfalls when reassessments arrive.

Under $200 K: Look west of I-55 between Goodman and Fields. Houses from the 1960s–70s sit on half-acre lots, many with mature oaks. Prices have jumped 9 % in two years, yet still land around $135 per square foot—perfect for FHA 203(k) renovation loans that NMHL closes in-house.

$200–275 K: Shadow Ridge and Oak Hollow deliver 1990s–2000s builds, neighborhood pools, and deSoto Central Elementary. Average DOM is 9 days, so we counsel buyers to submit escalation clauses up to $10 K over ask.

$275 K+: Southern Oaks and the gated Fairways at Southaven (technically Horn Lake address) feature brick exteriors, three-car garages, and golf-course frontage. These subdivisions hold value even in flat markets because HOA dues ($250/yr) keep common areas pristine.

Beyond Smart6, Horn Lake buyers can layer:

• Mississippi Home of Your Own: $7,500 forgivable after five years, income under 80 % AMI
• Mississippi Home Saver: 0 % second mortgage equal to 3.5 % of price for FHA borrowers—essentially covers the statutory minimum down payment
• HUD Good Neighbor Next Door: 50 % discount on select HUD-owned homes for teachers, EMTs, police; only three houses currently available in DeSoto County, but NMHL can text you when the next one lists

We also maintain a local grant with the DeSoto County Development Foundation that gifts $2,000 toward closing for buyers who complete an 8-hour HUD-certified course—our licensed counselors teach the class via Zoom every Saturday morning.

DeSoto County sends one of the highest per-capita enlistment rates in Mississippi, so we built a dedicated Veteran Loan Concierge team that knows every VA quirk—from disability-income gross-up to how the VA funding fee changes with a 10 % disability rating. We’ll help you secure a VA Certificate of Eligibility in under two hours and explain how the recent Blue Water Navy Act may have increased your loan limit to $766,550 with zero down—even on a Horn Lake new-build.

Our average VA origination fee is 1 %, but we can credit up to 1 % of the loan toward closing if you take a slightly higher rate—often the net payment difference is under $20 per month and saves $3,000–$4,000 at the table.

Whether you’re eyeing a $180 K starter on Church Road or a $350 K pool home in Fairways, the first move is an NMHL Same-Day Pre-Approval. Upload pay stubs, W-2s, or 12 months of business bank statements through our encrypted portal; most borrowers receive a full underwrite and credit-approval letter within four business hours. We’ll then pair you with a Horn Lake agent who carries the NMHL Buyer Advantage badge—those agents know our timelines, grant layers, and how to craft offers that win in multiple-bid scenarios.

Ready to stop scrolling Zillow and start holding keys? Tap the Apply Now button or call 662-HEARTHLAND and speak to a Horn Lake home-loan specialist—weekends included.