Category Archives: Nashville New Homes

New homes in the Greater Nashville area to include Spring Hill, Smyrna, and Murfreesboro.

Nashville New Homes: Through the eyes of a homebuyer

You know the saying, “can’t see the forest for the trees.”  Yeah, that one.  There is a lot of truth in that cliche, and the solution is to take a few steps back and view things from a different perspective.

This week, we’ve been filming new TV spots of our new homes and neighborhoods throughout the Greater Nashville area for Home Center Network.  With pictures being worth a thousand words, a TV spot must be priceless,  especially through the eyes of a new home buyer.

I’ve always known our new homes and neighborhoods in Nashville, Smyrna, Murfreesboro, Spring Hill, and Clarksville offer the best new home values in all of Middle Tennessee, but this week has opened my eyes to see way beyond that.  They are also beautiful!  And even more so, the closer you look.

From the “resort-lifestyle” offered in Puckett Station and Scottish Glen, to the charming craftsman styled homes of Evergreen Farms, Ole South offers something for everyone desiring a new home in Murfreesboro.

In Smyrna, the maintenance-free convenience of Lee Crossing townhomes are unmatched by any others.  Our Belmont neighborhood is expanding into a new phase of homesites, in the best new school district of the area.

In Nashville/Davidson County, look no further than Ole South!  

One of our most successful neighborhoods, Barnes Crossing, is almost sold out and completed, with only 6 homes under construction remaining.  Close to Nippers Corner, Lenox Village, Brentwood/Cool Springs, and downtown Nashville, you will appreciate the affordable convenience of this community.   Just around the corner, you will find Rivendell Woods of Cane Ridge, offering a great selection of traditional homes and town homes.

Preserve at Old Hickory offers a wide selection of traditional homes and also offers maintenance-free townhomes in the adjoining Old Hickory Commons.  And we have special-purchase opportunities in the communities of Spencer Hill and Old Hickory Hills too!  Seen any brand new 3 bedroom homes with garages from 110,000 lately?  What about new 4 bedroom homes under 150,000?  You will at Ole South!

For those wishing to live in Williamson County, we offer ALL BRICK homes from the low 200’s in Benevento East, with another location coming soon.  Just around the corner is Meadowbrook and Cobblestone, offering a village of maintenance free town homes and traditional homes from the low 100’s.

The best values in the Greater Nashville area can now be found in Clarksville too!   A new family moves in as fast as the homes are completed, so no TV spots there yet!

We’ll finish up all of the filming this week and hopefully have our new neighborhood spots running in several weeks.  Until then, take time to visit our many new home neighborhoods today and see the beauty through your own eyes!

Find out why thousands of Tennesseans are proud to say:

Trey Lewis is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Tennessee with Ole South Realty, 615.896.0019  direct 615.593.6340.  Specializing in new homes in the Greater Nashville area to include Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Clarksville, and Spring Hill, Tennessee

Nashville New Homes: The “Occupancy After Closing Agreement”

Wait a minute!  When you purchase a NEW home, there is no need for an “Occupancy After Closing Agreement” …. right?

RIGHT!  When you purchase a NEW HOME from Ole South in the Greater Nashville area, to include Cane Ridge, Antioch, Smyrna, Murfreesboro, Spring Hill, and now Clarksville, you get your keys the minute you sign the closing documents!

You can move in immediately!

That’s right…you don’t have to wait for anyone to move out!  You don’t have to worry about swapping keys.  You don’t have to worry about the home being damaged during the “moving-out” process, and you don’t have to worry about everything staying that is supposed to stay.

When purchasing a pre-owned home, these are all points to consider.  With today’s volatile economy, anything can happen and delay a closing.  Most sellers are hesitant to move all of their stuff prior to closing without a substantial deposit.  They don’t want to be left on the street if the closing is delayed, or in some cases declined at the last minute.

And buyer’s of pre-owned home need to be concerned as well.  What if the sellers do not move out timely?  What if they take things with them that are part of the deal?  Even worse, what if something happens to the property and the seller’s contents?  Who really is responsible?  All of those concerns should be properly addressed at the time of contract.

Just think back to May of 2010.  Pretend you had just closed on your home purchase and gave the sellers a week to move out before assuming posession.  Then comes the great flood.  Your home has two feet of water in it and all of the seller’s stuff is ruined.  Even though you own it, you are technically not yet the owner-occupant.  You have insurance on your contents, but its not your stuff floating around.  Even if the sellers had not cancelled their policy, would their insurance company still pay the claim with a wagging tail knowing their policy holder did not own the property?  Lots and lots of complications.  Situations like this, although rare, do happen.

You, the buyer, might also have everything loaded and on the way only to find out there is a complication in the title work and your loan cannot close on time.  Can you say “MOTEL?”

When you purchase a new home from Ole South, you can cast all concerns to the side!  Our purchasing process is simple, seamless, and reliable.  We simply do not miss closing dates, unless you venture outside of our process with unknown lenders.

Through Ole South Financial, you will receive the very best financing program available and all of your closing costs are paid!  No surprises.  No hidden fees.

And yes, ZERO DOWN financing is still available for first time buyers.

 And the best part….. when you finish signing the closing documents, you get YOUR keys to YOUR NEW HOME and can move whenever you feel like it!

Doesn’t it make sense to look at new homes first?  Our model homes are open daily and anytime by appointment.

 

Trey Lewis is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Tennessee with Ole South Realty, 615.896.0019  direct 615.593.6340.  Specializing in new homes in the Greater Nashville area to include Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Clarksville, and Spring Hill, Tennessee

Nashville New Homes: It all starts with affordable housing.

It came as no surprise to anyone familiar with Fourth of July celebrations in Nashville for 2011’s “Let Freedom Sing” to be ranked in the top fifteen national celebrations.  From aol.com: http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/06/28/july-4th-fireworks-15-of-the-biggest-shows-in-america-ranked-p/

And while the fireworks went BOOM, Forbes was busy compiling its list of 2011 Boom Towns!  And Nashville is #3 on the list:

http://blogs.forbes.com/joelkotkin/2011/07/06/the-next-big-boom-towns-in-the-u-s/

Nashville is on a roll with Forbes, ranking #6 in the country for business and careers  http://www.forbes.com/2011/06/27/best-places-11-top-50_slide_7.html and #4 on the list of best places to retire: http://www.forbes.com/2011/03/23/best-retirement-places-cities-living-costs-doctors-crime_slide_11.html

And late last year, Nashville was ranked as the 4th best college town in America!     http://www.insidevandy.com/drupal/node/14645

All of these rankings are a benefit of affordable housing.   Plain and simple.

Without affordable housing, all of these encouraging rankings would disappear quicker than France surrendered to Germany in 1940!

The Nashville area is committed to providing affordable housing, and there is no better place to learn more than this Sunday at the 4th annual Mayor’s Homeownership Fair at Bridgestone Arena.  Here is the schedule for the day’s activities:   http://www.nashville.gov/housingfair/schedule.asp

No home builder is more committed to providing affordable brand new homes in the Greater Nashville area than Ole South, and we’ll be at the Mayor’s Homeownership Fair also!

In our 26th year, we remain committed to providing the very best new home values in every one of our neighborhoods.  Find our more at the 2011 Mayor’s Homeownership Fair, or by visiting our website, www.OleSouth.com.

Trey Lewis is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Tennessee with Ole South Realty, 615.896.0019  direct 615.593.6340.  Specializing in new homes in the Greater Nashville area to include Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Clarksville, and Spring Hill, Tennessee

Fireworks on the Cumberland River – Smoke on the Water & Fire in the Air!

We are lucky to live in Nashville, where we have an abundance of rivers, lakes, and streams to play in!   And this is the weekend that we’ve been waiting for and where anything that can be cooked will be cooked on a grill.

And after the meals, there are few scenes more beautiful than fireworks over the water.  There are some great opportunities coming up on the Cumberland River and Old Hickory Lake over the next few days that you will not want to miss.  

Saturday night, July 2nd, Cedar Creek Yacht Club, located on Benders Ferry Road in Mt. Juliet, will present a huge fireworks display at 9:00 pm.  Although Cedar Creek Yacht Club is not open to the public, there are many parks and other places nearby where you can enjoy the breathtaking views.  There are a lot of nearby coves to anchor in, which is where you will find many of us.

Sunday evening, July 3rd, the festivities move to the other side of the lake at Drakes Creek Park, where Hendersonville will host a terrific fireworks display at 9:00 pm.

And on July 4th, Nashville will host one of the largest fireworks extravaganzas in the country at approximately 9:15 pm at Riverfront Park, titled as “Let Freedom Ring” with special guest star Darius Rucker.

If you plan to watch the fireworks by boat, you will not be allowed to dock at Riverfront Park.  You used to be able to, but former Mayor Bill Purcell put an end to that years ago.   Don’t let that stop you from going by boat though!

Now, you must anchor (good luck) upstream of the Korean Veterans Bridge, or downstream from Woodland Street.  No boat traffic, other than law enforcement or the General Jackson is allowed between those two bridges.

Nashville on the Fourth of July is simply spectacular!  Check out the schedule of “Let Freedom Sing,” which lasts the entire weekend!

http://nashville.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=nashville&cdn=citiestowns&tm=118&gps=295_436_1276_786&f=11&su=p284.9.336.ip_p554.18.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=0&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.musiccityjuly4th.com/

If you don’t plan to venture out on the Cumberland River for fireworks,  there are numerous celebrations taking place all over Middle Tennessee.  Here is a list:  http://www.fox17.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/mywx_vid_8106.shtml

And from now, through the end of the holiday weekend, if you are looking for more to do, here is a list of many area happenings:   http://www.nashvilleparent.com/dont-miss-events/june-27-july-4-2011

One thing in particular we all need to do over the next few days…. we all need to take a moment to reflect on the freedom that we enjoy in this great country and remember all the brave men and women that are serving, and have served, our country defending that freedom.

Happy Independence Day! 

P.S.  After the Independence Day Weekend Celebrations are over, Ole South’s YES DAYS OF SUMMER celebrations will continue!  Visit www.OleSouth.com or join our Facebook Fan Page www.facebook.com/olesouthproperties  for the location nearest you!

Trey Lewis is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Tennessee with Ole South Realty, 615.896.0019  direct 615.593.6340.  Specializing in new homes in the Greater Nashville area to include Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Clarksville, and Spring Hill, Tennessee

Nashville New Homes: Bad economic news?….Another great opportunity for Tennessee!

Every time you turn on the national news, or read a national headline, there is negative news about the economy, specifically the housing market.   Many prospective buyers hear this news loud and clear, and sustain their “wait it out” philosophy.  Why?

Because no one else is talking!   I saw a great facebook post this week of a quote by Anthony J. D’Angelo, “If you have time to whine and complain about something, then you have time to do something about it.”

Yes we do!   It is our responsibility as Realtors to communicate the positive to everyone, not just those already searching for a new home, but those that should be.  Let’s start now:

Right now, low interest rates are resulting from a lackluster national economy.  Every day the overall economic news leans toward “bad” is one more day that a home buyer can take advantage of unfathomable interest rates.

From the Wall Street Journal….”Based on incomes, this is as affordable as it gets,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics. “If you can get a loan, these are pretty good times to buy.”

It truly is a great time to buy.  Not just because of low interest rates, but because of the programs that are available.  In this world, especially in this Congress, loan procedures are always subject to change.  Here is one potential change looming on the horizon that we have the opportunity to do something about:

https://realtorparty.realtoractioncenter.com/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1653

There are areas of the country that are suffering in this economy.  But others are striving, and those areas are attracting jobs and economic activity much like a magnet.  We are blessed that  Tennessee is one of these areas!

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2011/06/13/tennessee-no-6-for-2010-economic-growth.html

The Clarksville/Ft.Campbell area is a magnet all by itself, bringing industry that is thinking outside the box in attracting workers.  Check out a unique approach from Hemlock Semiconductor:

Click here to learn more about Hemlock’s opportunities:  http://www.clarksvillenow.com/pages/10125186.php?

And less than 50 miles away, Nashville just keeps on retaining and creating job opportunities, as reported in the Nashville Business Journal:

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2011/06/14/employment-outlook-in-nashville-among.html

And there is even more encouragement for young adults to begin their careers in Nashville, creating many potential “first-time buyers.” 

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2011/06/20/nashville-a-top-city-for-young-adults.html

Education in Middle Tennessee is also in the national spotlight!  Four Middle Tennessee High Schools are ranked among the top 500 in the nation.  Below are the Tennessee schools on the list and their nationwide ranking:

          Hume-Fogg Academic High School of Nashville, #33

          Brentwood High School, #100

          Ravenwood High School of Frranklin, #284

          Page High School of Franklin, #494

The above facts are just a few examples of evidence that “Tennessee is happening”   and attracting more attention and activity, just like that magnet!   When you plan an evening on the town, you more than likely select a place that you have heard great things about, right?   Businesses and relocating families are the same way.

Tennesseans, let’s join forces and get the word out on the economy in our great state!

When you are searching for a new home, you will hopefully consider one home builder that has been providing the area’s best new home values for over 25 years:

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/feature/ResBuilders-061711-1.html

We at Ole South appreciate everyone’s support and continue to be optimistic about life in the Great State of Tennessee.  We invite everyone to visit our model homes and neighborhoods, as well as our website, www.OleSouth.com, to discover why thousands of homeowners are proud to say:

     

Trey Lewis is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Tennessee with Ole South Realty, 615.896.0019  direct 615.593.6340.  Specializing in new homes in the Greater Nashville area to include Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Clarksville, and Spring Hill, Tennessee

    

Nashville New Homes: Mortgage Payment Relief Program in Tennessee

What is the difference between a recession and a depression?

A recession is when a friend or neighbor loses their job.  A depression is when you lose yours.  Job losses have affected many, with positions either eliminated, or full time hours scaled back to part time.  In either situation, through no fault of their own, many families have difficult choices to make.

Tennessee is one of few states that received money, $217,315,593.00 from the US Treasury’s Hardest Hit Fund (HHF).   In January of this year, the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) announced a program to help unemployed and under-employed homeowners meet their mortgage obligations in Tennessee’s hardest hit, or “targeted” counties.  Click here for a list of these “targeted” counties:  https://www.keepmytnhome.org/ppc.html

Now, this 7-year program has now been expanded and is available in ALL Tennessee counties.  Here is a synopsis of the program from the THDA website www.keepmytnhome.org. 

*****

Homeowners who qualify for financial assistance may receive up to 18 months of monthly mortgage payments and/or funds to pay past due mortgage payments to bring the mortgage current; these funds are paid directly to the loan servicer/lender.

To qualify for the Keep My Tennessee Home program, a homeowner must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Be unemployed or underemployed (a 50% reduction of income) through no fault of their own. The event or incident which results in unemployment or substantial underemployment must have occurred after Jan. 1, 2008.

 

  •    *** THIS has now ben changed to a 30% reduction. ***

 

  • Have a mortgage for a single-family home or condominium (attached or detached) in Tennessee that they occupy as their primary residence. This includes manufactured homes on foundations permanently affixed to real estate that they own.
  • Have a history of timely mortgage payments prior to the job loss/reduction of income.
  • The combined amount of your mortgage principal, interest, taxes and insurance must be greater than 31% of your household income after the job loss/reduction of income.
  • Not have more than six months’ reserves of liquid assets, that is, liquid assets equal to six months of their mortgage principal, interest, taxes and insurance.
  • Have a household income less than $74,980.
  • Have a total unpaid principal balance not exceeding $226,100.

Above are the basic eligibility criteria. Meeting these criteria does not guarantee eligibility for the Keep My Tennessee Home program.

*****

In Tennessee’s “targeted” counties, homeowners can receive funds up to 18-months, up to a total of $20,000.  In all other counties, homewoners can receive 12 months of assistance, up to a total of $15,000.  Once eligibility is approved, funds are sent direct from THDA to the servicing lender and can be for delinquent payments, current, and future payments as they become due.

The assistance funds are basically a loan, set up as a “line of credit” to be used as long as the hardship circumstances continue, up to the end of the eligibility period.   The loan is then forgiven over 5 years, 20% each year, as long as the family keeps the home as their primary residence.

Another great feature of this program is that you do not have to be delinquent on your mortgage payment to be eligible.  As long as your financials fit the guidelines, you are eligible for the assistance loan. 

For more information, please visit www.keepmytnhome.org.  For more information on THDA and its many valuable programs, please visit www.thda.org.

Even in tough economic times, Tennessee is still the best place in the world to live.  Come join us.

Trey Lewis is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Tennessee with Ole South Realty, 615.896.0019  direct 615.593.6340.  Specializing in new homes in the Greater Nashville area to include Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Clarksville, and Spring Hill, Tennessee.

Nashville New Homes: Work Equity as your New Home Downpayment?

What is the one thing that everyone in this world has in common?   A FUTURE.  

That’s right…everyone has a future of some kind.   Although there are no guarantees in life, there are steps each one of us can take to make our future more stable and secure.  Owning a home is one such step that everyone can position themselves to take.  Your future really can be in your own hands.

Home mortgage criteria has changed a lot over the recent years, but that doesn’t mean it has to be more difficult to purchase a home.  It just means you have to provide more proof of your ability to be a responsible homeowner. 

FHA loans are the most widely used programs, where 3.5% of the purchase price is required as a downpayment, without exception. 

WAIT A MINUTE…. aren’t there ZERO DOWN home mortgages?  Technically, NO…. but actually…. YES! 

In Tennessee, there are loan programs where the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (www.THDA.org) will grant first-time buyers up to 4% of the purchase price to be used toward the downpayment and/or closing costs. 

If the seller of the property agrees to pay your closing costs, which Ole South will, you can use the THDA Great Start grant for your downpayment and administrative fees.   How does THDA do that?  What is the catch?

There is no catch.  The fixed interest rate for loans using the downpayment grants are slightly higher than those FHA loans with your actual down-payment.   If used responsibly, the Great Start program can be a very useful tool in financial planning. 

With today’s historicaly low interest rates, the money you would normally put down can be used to pay off other debts with higher interest rates.  A trusted mortgage professional can help you evaluate your options.  I happen to know many, so please let me know if you would like to know more.

There are other ways in addition to THDA to secure a downpayment.  You may have a relative or close friend that will give you the money, which has to be documented in the form of a gift letter affidavit that no repayment is required or expected.

And there is another provision that has been around a long time, but has basically been forgotten….WORK EQUITY.   Most builders hate it because it really is a pain in the ass to deal with.  BUT, it is a tool that can bring willing homebuyers to the closing table much quicker!  We offer the program at Ole South and you do not have to be a first-time buyer to participate!

FHA allows the seller to credit the buyer an amount up to $2.00 per heated square foot living area for painting the interior of the home, including all wood trim and doors.  The seller can also furnish the paint!  Please remember in your negotiating, that is the maximum allowed amount and the builder can get the same job done for 1/2 of that amount. 

You can also receive “work equity” credit toward your required downpayment for seeding and strawing your own lawn.  And the seller can furnish the grass seed and straw as well!

Lets do the math using an 1800 s/f,  $150,000 new home example, which Ole South offers plenty of choices.  (www.OleSouth.com) 

The required down-payment is $5,250.   Paint the home and you can receive $3,600 credit toward your downpayment.  You can seed and straw a typical new home yard and receive approximately $750.00 credit.  That leaves your total cash out of pocket at $900…. and you still get to take full advantage of the lowest rates available!

History proves that over time, owning is always better than renting.  Why not improve your financial future today by visiting one of our Middle Tennessee neighborhoods in Nashville, Smyrna, Murfreesboro, Spring Hill, and Clarksville?  Find out why thousands of home owners are proud to say:

Trey Lewis is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Tennessee with Ole South Realty, 615.896.0019  direct 615.593.6340.  Specializing in new homes in the Greater Nashville area to include Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Clarksville, and Spring Hill, Tennessee

Nashville New Homes: The “Dog Days of Summer”

I used to always wonder why people coined the phrase “dog days of summer.”   Back one summer in the early 1980’s, legendary songwriter Bobby Harden asked me to bring my keyboard over to his boat to play background on a song he had just written.  The song was about those old dog days of summer.  The title ended up being “Too Cold at Home.”   Several years later, the song was released by Mark Chesnutt.   We played it a lot over the years at the lake!  (Thanks Judie Wells for the antiquated picture!)

  

Rather than dog days, we at Ole South are having YES DAYS!  The upcoming weekend has been proclaimed Nationwide Open House Weekend all across the nation!   The weather is going to be perfect for an Open House also.  Like the song says, it is going to be “too hot to fish,” and “too hot for golf.”  Why not cool off looking at a new home?

In conjunction with National Open House Day, Ole South will kick off its 2011 Yes Days of Summer this Saturday, June 4th from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm at our Preserve at Old Hickory and Old Hickory Commons neighborhoods.   Tour our newest decorated model home (5011 Preserve Blvd. 37013 for you GPS tekkies) and enjoy hot dogs, refreshments, and a variety of family fun.  Yes, there’ll be a waterslide, a bounce house, as well as snow cones to give added relief from the heat.

And there is also a neighborhood yard sale as well.   A great way to find bargains, and meet the great residents of this neighborhood!

Now is an unprecedented time to purchase a new home.  Interest rates are lower than ever.  New homes are more efficient than ever before.  New homes are….well…. NEW!    Why not join us this weekend at one of our Middle Tennessee neighborhoods.  With brand new homes from 89,990 to 299,990, there is certain to be one for you!

Trey Lewis is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Tennessee with Ole South Realty, 615.896.0019  direct 615.593.6340.  Specializing in new homes in the Greater Nashville area to include Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Clarksville, and Spring Hill, Tennessee

Nashville New Homes: Another Day on the Cumberland River – Part 2

 

Current and Crap

After an evening of great food, fellowship, and fun it was bedtime on the river.  We were securely tied, so there was no real concern for the current or the logs floating downstream.  After all, there was another boat docked in front of us!

At 4:00 am, Ingram’s David K. Wilson pushed a string of coal barges through downtown.  The thrust and wake from his propellors bounced us around like a floating cork. 

HINT TO METRO PARKS & RECREATION:  If the Riverfront docking was on the East Bank, we would not have felt a thing.  OK, I’ll stop bitching.  At least we do have a facility to tie up and plug into downtown.

Downtown Nashville in the morning is interesting to watch.  Early-risers walking their dogs, street sweepers, and several less-fortunate people snoozing on the riverbank.

Across the river at LP Field, home of The Tennessee Titans, a crowd was gathering for the GoodGuys Car Show.  Hundreds of hot rods and collectibles were on hand for this event.

After morning coffee, we headed downstream for the brunch at Commodore, which started at 11:00 am.  We would arrive right on time, even with all the barge traffic.

Remember Frosty Morn?  This was the former home of the Neuhoff Packing Company.  Mr. Robert Baltz worked at the Neuhoff facility and said as a kid he would one day own them.  In 1980 (=/-) Baltz Brothers Packing Company acquired Neuhoff and the Frosty Morn name.  The plant was shut down, but Mr. Baltz still occupied Mr. Neuhoff’s office.  A neat story about a neat man.

Futher down river, MetroCenter was spared during the flood of May 2010.  Many fingers were crossed that the levy would hold…and it did.

There are also numerous fuel storage facilities along the Cumberland. 

and pretty buildings for landmarks also…

Remember Mario Ferrari, the legendary restauranteur?  Back in March, I posted about his former 103′ yacht, Dolce Vita, returning to Nashville.  Here is the article:

https://nashvillehomesblog.com/2011/03/12/nashville-new-homes-back-again-to-the-cumberland-river/

The “Dolce Vita’s”  new name is the “Lost Pearl” and here she is tied up below downtown, across from MetroCenter.  If you would like to keep up with its progress, check out the boat’s website www.lostpearl.net.

Here is a cute waterfall that happens to be located at the Ford Glass Plant.  No, its not sewage.  We assume it is water being used to cool the glass ovens.

Here is the entrance to Rock Harbor Marina.  Many may remember the famous “Blue Moon” restaurant that was here.  The flood of May 2010 ended that, but plans are to open another restaurant in the near future.  We moored our boat at Rock Harbor for five years before moving to Old Hickory and had a blast there.  Drop in sometime and meet some really great people.

Uhoh….here comes 795 tractor trailer loads of coal, courtesy of Ingram Barge’s “HORNET,” one of the largest pushboats to tour the Cumberland.  I don’t know whether “Hornet” is a “he or she” so I will just say “it.”  Here it is pushing 15 barges upstream:

 I wonder who “Hornet” was named after?

There are many riverfront homes in this area that suffered tremendous damage from the May 2010 flood.

Commodore Yacht Club is located up in Overall Creek, on River Road.  You would never know it was back there from the river:

We have arrived… 10:55 am!  Like a bus schedule.

This year’s brunch was put on by Phil Carmen and his wife Linda, and went off without a hitch.  The food was beyond excellent too!

The best treat was seeing many old friends.  Shown here is the original “Uncle Bud” , Buddy Rogers and his lovely wife, Sydney. ( In addition to catfish fame, Buddy was also Marty Robbins’ drummer and has played with all the great names over the years.)

Surely someone under that tent needs to buy a new home!   Another highlight of the visit to Commodore Yacht Club is to see the “Lady J” which used to belong to Alan Jackson.  It is a 57′ Burger with twin diesel engines, and everything else known to man kind.  And it is pretty too!

This boat is so pristine and slick that spiders can’t even hold on!

Well, today is the day that the world was supposed to end, and we wanted to be closer to our home marina when it ended…so we headed back upstream at 1:00 pm.   Just at the time the world was supposed to end, this is what we saw ahead of us:

It got worse before it got better.  Thank goodness for radar, and an attentive crew.

The time the world was to end passed.  Everything cleared up just in time to enter Old Hickory Lock.

We weren’t alone in the lock.  We were joined by mountains of debris and logs. 

In no time, we were back at home at Blackjack Cove Marina.  www.blackjackcove.com.   Just minutes after securing everything, the thickest fog I have ever seen rolled in.  We had made it back just in time.  And we missed the end of the world too.

If you have a boat, and have not traveled the Cumberland River through Nashville, do it!  

Trey Lewis is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Tennessee with Ole South Realty, 615.896.0019  direct 615.593.6340.  Specializing in new homes in the Greater Nashville area to include Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Clarksville, and Spring Hill, Tennessee

Nashville New Homes: Attention Realtors: “Thou shalt have free food and fun”

Let’s face it, the economic times of the past several years has taught us (forced us is more like it) to realize that we can get by on less.  Less business, less money, and sadly…less fun. 

But for those that will pull their head out of the sand, there is still a lot of fun to be had… and a lot of it involves complimentary food and spirits too!  There is absolutely no excuse for being bored or hungry in the Real Estate business.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

This Tuesday, May 17th, all Realtors, Home Builders, and Trade Vendors are invited to a poolside mixer at the Governors Club.  The event is from 4:00 – 7:00 pm and will feature complimentary beer, wine, and appetizers.  (A cash bar will be on hand for those that cannot compromise their distinguished tastes.)  Here is a link to all you need to know about this exciting evening event:

http://www.hbamt.net/smc-mixer-0511.htm

Many thanks to Christina Cunningham and The Governors Club for hosting this fun evening!

Membership in The Sales & Marketing Council of the HBAMT is not limited to Home Builders and their on-site agents.  It is open to all Realtors whose firms are members of the association.  The SMC’s monthly meetings are great networking events where you will learn more about exciting topics, as well as enjoy complimentary breakfast.  Want to know more?  Drop by the Governor’s Club on Tuesday, contact any SMC member, or give me a call at 615.593.6340.

Summer is right around the corner and you can also be assured Ole South will host many events worthy of attending.  Our first “Yes Days of Summer Celebration” for 2011 will be held at our Preserve at Old Hickory neighborhood on Saturday, June 4th.  

Enjoy food, refreshments, games, waterslide, and prizes while you see first hand the exciting new homes that Ole South has to offer!  There will even be a community-wide yard sale.  Mark your calendars and watch the Ole South Facebook page for more updates and events.   www.facebook.com/olesouthproperties.

In the meantime, take a closer look at all the emails you receive from the many different Realtors, builders, and their organizations.  There are a multitude of great networking events happening each week.  Any one of them could change your business plan for the better!  And nothing beats free food, drink, and fun!

Trey Lewis is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Tennessee with Ole South Realty, 615.896.0019  direct 615.593.6340.  Specializing in new homes in the Greater Nashville area to include Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Clarksville, and Spring Hill, Tennessee