Nashville New Homes: The Parade of Homes is back!

Oct7

Every day, the national media tells everyone just how bad things are arond the country. I know there are many places in our great country that are suffering, but Middle Tennessee simply is not one of them!

This year, Middle Tennessee celebrates the return of The Parade of Homes. This year’s parade takes place at the prestigious Annadale of Brentwood and is open daily through October 9th. Click here for details http://www.hbamt.net/

Triton Stone Group is the title sponsor of the Parade, which showcases the magnificent craftsmanship of four Middle Tennessee Builders. These builders, and Triton Stone Group, deserve a round of applause. Their efforts add solid evidence that the Greater Nashville market is in full recovery!

Adding more exciting evidence to our market… each one of the four featured homes are already SOLD!

Let’s take a look at the exteriors of the four showcase homes for this year’s Parade. But before we do, please know I make no claim to great photography skills. You really have to see each of these homes, and Annandale, for yourself!

First, from Legend Homes, a great combination of contemporary and traditional design:

Next, you will appreciate the elegance and charm of this showcase home built by Carbine and Associates: (The brick was from an old building from 1800’s Chicago)

Across the street, you will be wowed by the European styling of this showcase home, built by Grove Park Construction.

Next door, you will appreciate the beauty of the showcase home built by Hidden Valley Homes, a design rich in “Old World” look and feel.

These homes were made even finer through the efforts of Interior Design Firms and their designers. Featured in these showcase homes are the design efforts of Jennifer Jones of Jennifer Jones Design, Kathleen Evers of K Evers Interiors, Julie Couch of Julie Couch Interiors, and Bob Deal and Jason Bradshaw of Bradford’s Interiors.

Not in the market for a million-dollar-plus luxury home? Visit the Parade of Homes anyway! There are many ideas out there that can easily adapt to any price and size of home. At the Parade site, you will also find vendors representing many different home improvement products.

The weather this weekend is going to be picture-perfect, so why not take the short drive out to Brentwood and visit the Parade of Homes at Annandale?

When you get there, you will feel even better about our Nashville economy. Builders are building, people are buying, and jobs are being created.

You don’t have to purchase a million-plus-dollar home to experience the best values in a new home. These builders, and other member builders of the HBAMT (Home Builders of Middle Tennessee) offer the best values in every new home price range imaginable.

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 “Short Sale” can of worms.

Sep23

I was showing one of our brand new Ole South homes this week to a first-time home buyer. They loved the home and all of its many features, especially the fact that everything was NEW and under warranty too.

They had learned through others that new homes offered the best value for the money, and that in most cases, a new home could be purchased for the same price, or even less, than an older resale home comparable in size and features. They had looked at other resales, and told me everything that was important to them, even the price range. Well guess what? We have the perfect home nearing completion!

This particular home was $169,990, complete with all appliances and closing costs paid. Using THDA’s Great Start program for first-time homebuyers, their monthly payment, yes PITI, would be approximately $1153 with zero cash out of pocket at closing. If they chose to place their own down-payment of approximately $5950, their monthly payment would drop to approximately $1076.

They really liked the -0- down option, but developed a perplexing look on their faces. They really wanted a NEW home, but there was another home, similar in size, just 2 miles away they had seen online. It was listed for $84,900. It was a “short sale.”

They asked, “Just what does that mean?” I explained the basic process where the bank would hopefully agree to allow the current owner to sell the home for less than the bank was owed on the property. “You mean to say the bank is going to let them sell that home for 84,900?” No, not necessarily. “Then why is it listed for that price?”

Great question. And we Realtors know the answer. It is just like fishing. We know the list price is just to attract a prospect, who will then be encouraged to make an offer, which the bank, at some unknown point in time, will accept or counter. We all know that in most cases, the bank will not approve a listing price on a pre-foreclosure home until an offer of some kind is on the table. The general public does NOT know that.

So, in the meantime, those shopping for homes receive a unrealistic picture of home values. Neighborhoods suffer. Those trying to sell their homes without financial difficulty suffer. Zillow’s “z-estimates” seem to pick up on the suffering too, lowering those home values that are automatically calculated. People believe those values because they saw it on “the internet.”

Okay, let’s go ahead and open the can of worms.

The “short sale” can be a great alternative to foreclosure and I know many Realtors that are very successful negotiating the sale of homes in this situation. It can be a win-win situation for all involved, but only if extraordinary levels of patience can be applied.

Let’s be serious. Wouldn’t our whole real estate economy be better off if a property could not be listed at an arbitrary price that is basically pulled out of the sky?

Many will disagree, but ANY home listed for sale on our MLS should be able to be purchased at the price listed. Period.

Why can’t our MLS require all short sales to be classified a separate way without a list price, followed by the instructions? Or, if a price has to be present, enter $1.00. At least that way, the playing field is more level. I know there are data fields already for short sale notations, but that still leaves the “pie-in-the-sky” listing price. Simply put, it is “bait and switch.”

Again, there are many great Realtors that specialize in “short sales.” If you would like a recommendation, please feel free to contact me anytime.

Bad things happen to good people all the time. If you know anyone that has suffered a 30% drop in income or more, that may need assistance in avoiding a foreclosure or short sale, don’t forget about THDA’s newest program, www.keepmytnhome.org.

And always remember, better times are ahead.

The aftermath of September 11th. Who will win?

Sep12

Just ten years ago yesterday, Osama Bin Laden & company perpetrated the single largest attack ever on American soil. They targeted the heart of our financial centers, and the heart of our military command. Their plan was to bankrupt America and watch us tear ourselves apart from within.

Everyone remembers what they were doing on the morning of 9/11/2001. I was having a morning cup of coffee when the news broke out on the TV. Then my phone rang. It was by Broker/Sales Manager/Mentor, Sandi Sharpe.

Over the years, Sandi acquired many friends through working with international college students. She was their family away from home. She was “Mom” to many. One family, from Uzbekistan, bought a new Ole South home and became extended family to all of us.

The grandmother of this family had spent the summer in Nashville to help her grandchildren get properly settled in their new home. She knew no English whatsoever, but was very easy to communicate with. After all, a smile means the same thing in every language. All of us loved her, and her family, dearly.

She was returning home to Uzbekistan on September 11th on the first flight to New York from Nashville. She was armed with basic signs that Sandi made to hold up when she arrived in NYC. With her smile, and those signs, she would never be lost…. well, as long as the plane landed in NYC.

But it didn’t. The flight was routed to Raleigh, NC. She did not understand any of the announcements, and only had her signs, which were useless in Raleigh. The airline personnel at the gate calmed her and checked her in a nearby hotel, but none of us knew that yet. Sandi was on the phone many hours before we knew the situation and that she was safe. In the meantime, she is in a strange location, in a hotel room, knowing only what pictures were shown on TV.

The grandson was loading up for a drive to Raleigh, which probably was not the safest thing for an olive-skin immigrant, with a name too long to pronounce, to be doing that day. Rumors of fuel shortages and curfews abound. There was nothing else to do but go with him to Raleigh.

Long story short, I will never forget the look on the grandmother’s face when she opened the hotel door and saw us standing there. She was in tears pointing at the TV. She had been terrified not knowing where she was, or why she was there. That fear turned to joy and relief as we loaded her things into the car and headed back to Nashville!

That day, America pulled together. Democrats and Republicans joined together without unnecessary drama and rallied around our President. America would prevail.

At least for a while. Then we would eventually forget.

Remember, the intention of Osama Bin Bastard and Company was to bankrupt our country and watch us destroy ourselves from within. They did not have a specific time frame in mind.

Fast-Forward 10 years to today and look around. What do you see? Democrats and Republicans constantly battling each other, our financial system struggling, and very few have respect for the Office of President of the United States, regardless of who has held it.

Regardless of your political preference, now is the time to encourage elected officials to put politics aside and pull this country together. This country has the resolve to fix our problems and its not supposed to be about “who will get the credit or blame.” We don’t elect people to find blame, we elect people to find solutions… or at least that is supposed to be the plan.

It is our obligation not to forget what happened to our country on September 11th. It is also our obligation to remember the sacrifices of countless people, that day, and every day since. If we choose not to remember, Osama Bin Bastard wins. We will be bankrupt and will have destroyed our country from within.

Murfreesboro, Tennessee has a 9/11 Memorial that will help all of us remember. We need to go see it. Often.

http://www.murfreesboropost.com/sheriffs-office-debuts-9-11-memorial-design-cms-27916

The steel beam, salvaged from the World Trade Center, is shown below, in its present and future surroundings:

You know, we are having tough times in this country right now. But until you see people wading off of Miami Beach preparing to swim to Cuba, there’s still time to get it right.

Nashville New Homes: Just what is Labor Day?

Sep2

The first Monday in September has always been designated Labor Day. Well not always, but officially since 1894 when President Grover Cleveland declared the holiday. Read more details of what brought this holiday about:

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/207792/20110902/labor-day-2011-history-origins-holiday-labor-union-workers-strike-railroad-protest-military-canada-n.htm

And if you don’t like to read, here is a video on the origins of this holiday.

Now you know the history. Now it is time to celebrate!

What are your plans for this last holiday weekend of summer?

Why not use Saturday and Sunday to explore purchasing a new Ole South home? We’ve got a new home to meet your needs in Nashville, Smyrna, Murfreesboro, Spring Hill, and Clarksville. You can see all of our Middle Tennessee new home neighborhoods online at www.OleSouth.com.

After you’ve found the perfect new home for your needs, why not venture out to Old Hickory Lake for a relaxing meal at Nashville’s only floating restaurant and bar, The Black Pearl at Blackjack Cove Marina. www.blackjackcove.com

Labor Day is the last official holiday between now and Thanksgiving. Get out there and enjoy it! Enjoy it even more in your new Ole South home!

Nashville New Homes: Changing the rules…another great reason to buy now.

Aug26

Perhaps the best reason to buy a new home in Nashville now is “the rules” and furthermore, knowing that the rules are going to change.

For example, on October 1, 2011, if passed by Congress, FHA loan limits will decrease in 669 counties across the nation. These 13 Tennessee counties will be affected by the new limits:

Cannon, Cheathan, Davidson, Dickson, Hickman, Macon, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Williamson, and Wilson.

Currently, a home buyer can acquire an FHA loan up to $432,500. After October 1, 2011, the proposed limit will be $393,300. Those wishing to use FHA financing on loans up to $432,500 need to act now!

http://government-mortgages.com/fha/fha-loan-limit-decreases.html

For those looking to purchase a new Ole South home in the immediate future, these changes will have no effect. Other than with our custom built homes, our most elegant offerings are far below these proposed limits, even though they compare very favorably to homes in the 400’s. You’ll have to see it for yourself to believe it! www.OleSouth.com

So, if this change will not affect Ole South directly, why my great concern?

The moral of the story? All rules and lending criteria are subject to change at any time.

Purchase a new Ole South home using an FHA loan through Ole South Financial, and Ole South pays all of your closing costs. There are proposals out there to restrict the amount of closing costs a seller can pay, meaning YOU will pay the difference out of pocket. Things can change. Act now.

Currently FHA loans require a 3.5% down payment, which can also be funded by THDA for eligible first-time buyers using the “Great Start” program. There have been numerous proposals floating around to raise the down payment requirement. Things can change. Act now.

According to many experts nationwide, home affordability is at a peak. Especially in Nashville. Now truly is the time to buy a new home, before the rules that we know change again.

Nashville New Homes: Zero downpayment available to even more home buyers.

Aug20

This morning, while reading Leneiva Head’s blog about THDA’s foreclosure prevention program, it hit me that I had forgotten to do something.

http://leneivahead.wordpress.com/2011/08/20/theres-a-way-to-keep-your-home-foreclosure-prevention-assistance/comment-page-1/#comment-61

Yes, I had forgotten to post about some recent changes from the great folks at THDA, who are always on the forefront of ways to boost home ownership!

Everyone should know that down-payment funding for FHA loans is still available for eligible first-time buyers through THDA’s “Great Start” program. To be eligible, your household income cannot exceed certain limitations and the price of the home you are purchasing must fall below a certain amount.

On August 1st, the income limitations were raised! These revised limitations bring the reality of home ownership within the reach of many more first-time buyers.

Lets look at the Greater Nashville area, including the adjoining counties of Rutherford, Williamson, Sumner, Cheatham, Wilson, and Robertson: A first-time home buyer can purchase a home with ZERO out of pocket if the home price does not exceed $226,100. A buyer’s household gross annual income cannot exceed $79.440 for 1-2 person households. If the household contains 3 or more, annual gross income can be as high as $92,680.

For eligibility in nearby Maury County, the home purchase price cannot exceed $200,160, with gross income limited to $70,320 for 1-2 person and $82.040 for 3 or more person households. Maury County is a designated “target” county and you do not have to be a first-time buyer to take advantage of THDA programs.

Like with any loan program, there are additional credit score and debt ratio requirements for eligiblity. Visit www.thda.org for all the details.

If you are looking to purchase a new home, and like the idea of keeping your down-payment, you will want to explore this program. We have homes available right now in almost every community that can fit within the guidelines. Visit us today and find out why Ole South is Tennessee’s # Home Builder!

www.OleSouth.com

Nashville New Homes: Through the eyes of a homebuyer

Aug17

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:

Nashville New Homes: The “Occupancy After Closing Agreement”

Aug9

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.

Nashville New Homes: It all starts with affordable housing.

Jul11

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.

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

Jun29

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!

nashvillehomesblog.com

a fun look at new homes in nashville

Category Archives: Real Estate

Nashville New Homes: The Parade of Homes is back!

Nashville New Homes: The “Short Sale” can of worms.

The aftermath of September 11th. Who will win?

Nashville New Homes: Just what is Labor Day?

Nashville New Homes: Changing the rules…another great reason to buy now.

Nashville New Homes: Zero downpayment available to even more home buyers.

Nashville New Homes: Through the eyes of a homebuyer

Nashville New Homes: The “Occupancy After Closing Agreement”

Nashville New Homes: It all starts with affordable housing.

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

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