People move to Bemiss, Georgia for a very simple reason – they were ordered to. An unincorporated community of around 9,000 people, Bemiss is 4 miles southwest of the Moody Air Force Base and regularly sees jets and helicopters taking off from the landing strip. “It’s within a stone’s throw from Bemiss,” says Janice MacMillan, a Signature Choice Realty broker and 25-year resident. “That area in general is highly populated by military families because you’re so close to the base.” With single-family houses, small businesses and local schools, Bemiss is united in support of its service members who call it home.
Houses near the Moody Air Force Base
Residential subdivisions are populated by modest homes with lots ranging from a quarter acre to 2 acres. Most homes have brick veneers with vinyl sidings, while larger homes will have four or more bedrooms and two-car garages. Tall trees and small shrubbery accent many lawns, and there’s more rural land than sidewalks. Prices range between $150,000 and $400,000, while some apartments cost $1,300-$2,000 per month. “We have almost a transient type of community here,” MacMillan says. “We have people just coming and going literally all the time, and that’s by virtue of the base.”
From Pine Grove Elementary to Lowndes High
Pine Grove Elementary and Middle School are both directly next to each other around 3 miles northwest of Bemiss. Pine Grove Elementary has a 12-to-1 student-teacher ratio and was rated among the top 100 elementary schools in Georgia with an A on Niche. Pine Grove Middle offers support through its military connection program and was also rated an A. The educational pathway ends at Lowndes High School, which is 10 miles southwest in Valdosta and earned an A-minus. There are also a few preschools and private Christian schools around the community, and books can be checked out from the base library.
A day’s drive to Florida beaches
State Route 125 runs 8 miles south into Valdosta, which has the South Georgia Medical Center open for 24 hours. Route 84 connects Valdosta over 40 miles west to Thomasville and 35 miles east to Homerville, while Route 41 provides a straight shot 20 miles south into Florida. “You’re a day’s drive to Florida beaches,” MacMillan says. “We’re pretty well located to where we can get to things pretty easily.” The closest commercial airport is over 90 miles southwest across state lines at Tallahassee International Airport.
Home runs at Freedom Park
Freedom Park is a 250-acre recreational facility that sits along Bemiss’ southern border. In addition to having 12 softball fields, the park also has a 14-acre Miracle League field, which is the largest in the nation. It also has a 20-hole disc golf course, a basketball court, a dog park and open fields where regional Olympic events are held in the spring. The Grand Bay Wildlife Management Area is directly east and features over 3,000 acres of pine forests and cypress wetlands used for hiking and sightseeing.
Restaurants and markets by Bemiss Road
Local businesses are situated along Bemiss Road and include automotive shops, churches and car washes. Most dining is on the southwestern corner by Freedom Park and include Mexican grills, Chinese restaurants, pizza chains and fast-food franchises such as Wendy’s, Sonic and Subway. This corner is anchored by a Walmart Neighborhood Market, while service members in town have another grocery option in the Moody base commissary.
Environmental factors
The community sometimes gets noisy due to base activity, while aircraft fumes contribute to poor air quality. Winds and hurricanes occasionally blow in from Florida, and the area has a high fire factor due to the dry land and dense forestry.
Janice MacMillan began her real estate career in 2008 when many were leaving the field because of the economic downturn. Her natural sense of optimism, forward thinking and unyielding work ethic served her well during those lean times. Seeing the path farther ahead and not the immediate obstacles, Janice established herself in the Valdosta area as someone who was always willing to shine a light in the dark corners of a troubled market to find ways for her clients to find their perfect home.
The wife of a retired Air Force veteran, Janice has made a real and lasting connection with Valdosta's military community. Realizing the need for a stable, reliable friend in a rapidly changing environment, Janice has forged a bond with active-duty and retired military members in and around the Moody AFB area. If someone is transferring into the community or having to leave to serve elsewhere, Janice has proven her ability to market homes quickly and efficiently as well as zero in on a buyer's real needs when the perfect home seems out of reach for other brokers. With a well-earned referral record and an active presence on social media, she is recognized as a someone clients can count on. Understanding that old marketing methods mean unsold homes, Janice is constantly embracing new and aggressive technologies that enable her to reach out to a market ready for fresh and bold ideas.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
