Category Archives: Real Estate

Nashville New Homes: “Homeownership for the Brave” – Breaking News for Veterans and Active Military!

The Tennessee Housing Development Agency just hit a “home run” in their newest program, “Homeownership for the Brave.”   Those that are eligible will receive a ONE-HALF PERCENT permanent reduction in their fixed interest rate on their home purchase!

This program is valid for purchasing a home, preferably a new one!   Here is a list of those that are eligble for this great program:

*   All Veterans

*   Active Duty Military

*   Retired Military

*   Active Duty Reservists – or Reservists who have served 180 days minimum active duty

*   Personnel discharged under conditions other than dishonorable

*   Spouse of Veteran, or Surviving Spouse of Veteran

There are  certain income and purchase price restrictions, per existing THDA guidelines.  Click here for more eligibility information:  http://www.thda.org/singlefamily/dpchoices.html

This program is BRAND NEW and not even listed on THDA’s website yet.  (www.thda.org)   If you would like additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me anytime at 615.593.6340, or your favorite mortgage lender.  If you don’t have a favorite lender, why not give Chris Meagher or David Prince at Ole South Financial a call at 615.898.7152.  Remember, if you use Ole South Financial for your new home mortgage needs, ALL CLOSING COSTS ARE PAID on your new Ole South home.

And don’t forget that certain military personnel are still eligible to take advantage of the Home Buyer Tax Credits!  This was discussed in a previous blog post here:  https://nashvillehomesblog.com/2010/11/10/thank-you-sir/

We have new homes all over Middle Tennessee, including Clarksville!  For detailed information on our neighborhoods and available homes, please visit our website, www.OleSouth.com.  Even better, visit one of our model homes and see for yourself why “New Homes Are Better!”

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 home sales in the Greater Nashville area to include Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, and Spring Hill, Tennessee

Nashville New Homes: Time to learn new tricks!

If you are reading this, you are already part of the ever-expanding influence of “Social Media.”   For many people, the only source of news is a “smart-phone,”  continuously displaying Facebook updates and “tweets” of the day’s events.  Social Media has re-defined the way we learn of “breaking news.”  You, too can be a news-breaker!

This Thursday, April 7th, you can develop and sharpen your social media plans with Carol Flammer,  the leading expert in Social Media for Real Estate.   Read more about Carol here:  http://www.carolflammer.com/  This is a “don’t miss” opportunity, especially for Real Estate professionals!

The session is from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm at Regions Center, 315 Deaderick Street in downtown Nashville.  It gets even better for Real Estate agents, who will receive 3 CE Credits for attending.  Parking is free in the garage at 350 Deaderick Street.   Click here to learn more about the event and to register: 

http://www.hbamt.net/social_marketing_2011.htm

If you are not a member of the HBAMT Sales & Marketing Council, you should consider joining.  It is great networking fun while keeping up with the latest development in our industry!

I’m looking forward to Thursday!   There has got to be more creative ways to get this message across:

SEE YOU THERE!

 

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 home sales in the Greater Nashville area to include Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, and Spring Hill, Tennessee

Nashville New Homes: No Foolin! Get creative and have some fun.

 Well, It is April Fool’s Day.  The day to tell a construction Project Manager that the wrong brick was put on a home under construction.  Or the wrong cabinetry was just installed.  You can also push the envelope and inform them they are building the wrong house on a certain lot.   However, today is not the day to say “a loan fell through!”

Today could also be an interesting day for a Real Estate Agent.  This would be a hilarious joke to play but, unfortunately for this agent, it wasn’t April fools… and this really happened:

Years ago, my cousin was married to a news anchor in Lynchburg, Virginia.  On the morning of April 1st, he stated on the news that the telephone company would be blowing dust and debris out of local phone lines and for everyone to place their phones in plastic bags for the day…to keep the dust and dirt out of your home.   That evening, they went to my aunt’s house for dinner and saw each of her phones inside plastic bags.  We still laugh about that to this day.

April Fools jokes are nothing new.  Here is a serious-like documentary on British TV that aired on April 1, 1957:

Want to have some fun with food?  Check this out

How about some fun at the office?

More funny April Fool Pranks:

Got a roommate?

Afraid of spiders?

Those that want to insert technology into April Fools will not want to miss watching this:

 http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xcscw9_easy-pranks-for-april-fools_school

I hope you enjoyed some of these clips.  I have got to run and show a house to a potential buyer that just called…. hopefully its not a prank!  In the meantime, please feel free to share some of yours!

Happy April Fools Day!

Nashville New Homes: There’s a lot we can do!

When you hear disappointing news, sit back and ask yourself “what can I do about it?”   In many instances, the first and easiest answer that pops into mind is “nothing.”   Isn’t it time that we all think just a little deeper for a better answer?  There is a LOT that we can do.  And we need to start doing it!

Statistics show that for every 100,000 homes that are built, 150,000 construction jobs are created, ALONG WITH 150,000 manufacturing jobs related to appliances, furniture, etc.  Hmmm… for every new home sold, THREE JOBS are created (or saved!)  That means our loyal Ole South home buyers created or saved over 800 jobs last year alone!

  What can we do?  Encourage people to buy new homes!  Read about these statistics and other good news here:

  http://www.trulia.com/blog/Craigschaid/2011/03/foreclosures_plunge_27_-_biggest_drop_on_record

I have a silly question.  If statistics prove that housing creates (and saves) jobs, then why is our government taking steps to discourage home ownership?

There is discussion within BOTH political parties on Capitol Hill about eliminating the home mortgage interest deduction.   There are alternatives being discussed as well, but we need to be informed.  With everyone acknowledging that housing is the key to economic recovery, why are they even considering anything that would have questionable effects on home ownership?  Here is more information on this subject:

http://www.mercurynews.com/real-estate/ci_17637345?nclick_check=1

What can you do?  Contact Congress!  Here is a handy website that will give you the contact information for each of your elected officials in Washington.

http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/

Would you like to see property values in your area climb?   Even if your home is not for sale, you can help the value of your neighbor’s home that might be.  What can you do?

  

Spend a few extra hours in the yard.  Fresh mulch, trimmed bushes, and green grass makes everyone take notice.  Scrape off any peeling paint and add a fresh coat.  Just those pennies spent will translate into serious dollars for you…and your neighbors!

What else can I do to make things better?   Relax.  Have some fun.  Soon.   We are…starting tomorrow.  Cruising on the Carnival Triumph from New Orleans can be cheaper than staying at home!   If you can’t go, the next best thing is to read about it until you can.  Right here:  www.johnhealdsblog.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 home sales in the Greater Nashville area to include Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, and Spring Hill, Tennessee

Nashville New Homes: A Splash in Spring Hill

Word of a major economic announcement for Spring Hill has been circulating for some time now, and today was the day!  Those “out-of-the-know” assumed it was more positive news about the GM Plant ramping back up production.  Others thought it was another manufacturing facility of some kind.  Those “in the know” have kept their mouths shut.

Today, major plans of a multi-faceted $750 million amusement park to open in late 2012 were announced.  Read all of the details of “Festival Tennessee” here:   (bet they change the name!)

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110302/WILLIAMSON01/110302014/Las-Vegas-company-open-Festival-Tennessee-new-Spring-Hill-theme-park?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

This is exciting news for Spring Hill, and all of Middle Tennessee.  Some are skeptical of a development of this magnitude.  Being optimistic takes less energy than being skeptical…especially if no one is asking you to invest anything.  Season tickets aren’t even on sale yet anyway!  :0) 

The land is already there.  It is located in a county where unemployment is among the highest levels in the state.   The availability of seasonal workers is tremendous.  Just look at all the new schools being built.  Best of all, what construction there is will not be performed by ghosts.  Real workers will be employed – and we have a lot of them here!

Why the concern?  The entire project is privately funded and does not require any taxpayer funds – at least as it is presented.  Spring Hill and its citizens have all to gain and nothing to lose on this one.    Here is the proposed location near Jim Warren Road in Spring Hill:

I must admit some of the items discussed raise doubts:  80 restaurants?  Five would be a good start.  Two resort hotels with 8000 rooms?  Hmmm…Opryland Hotel has just over 2800.  Why not a golf course?

We must remember that Las Vegas was once a pot hole in the middle of the desert!  Tunica wasn’t even that much.  Regardless, if it weren’t for those pursuing a dream or vision, nothing would ever happen… anywhere.  

One thing we all can agree on…. that was the most publicity ever seen over $35 worth of poster board.

There definitely is demand for a large scale theme park in Middle Tennessee.  We now know that Opryland really was profitable.  People that live in Alabama will come because they have nothing else to do.  The Nashville MSA has also grown considerably over the years.  With gas prices climbing once again, people will opt to vacation closer to home – and Nashville is within a day’s drive of the majority of people in this country.

If people will support a park in Santa Claus, Indiana they will support a park in Middle Tennessee even more.  And when they fall in love with the area after their visit, we will have a new home in Spring Hill waiting on them!

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 home sales in the Greater Nashville area to include Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, and Spring Hill, Tennessee

Nashville New Homes: The Old & The New.

Remember the song “Ain’t it funny how time slips away?”  

I can remember our first color TV from Famous State Sales on Granny White Pike.   Riding a bike to Glendale Pool, Krystal Hamburgers for a dime, JP Brown and Warner Drug Stores both had lunch counters and great milkshakes.  If you didn’t bring enough money, they would send the bill to mom and dad.   Paddle boats were all over the lake at Centennial and Shelby Parks.  H.G. Hills refused to sell beer and most stores were closed on Sundays.

All of these memories, and more, flashed in my mind while I was checking out this great website:

http://www.nashvillewebreview.com/automat/nashville/

Even if you are not from Nashville, you will enjoy finding out what the area was like before LP Field and Bridgestone Arena.

It is even neat to think that the brand new Ole South home you can buy today might be on the National Register of Historic Places in just 100 years!

Nashville New Homes: It’s not personal.

In new home sales, or any sales field for that matter, there is rarely the perfect time to schedule a week-long trip.  What are you going to miss?  What will you return to?  These are questions that go through the mind.

 This year, we managed to select the perfect week for our mission in Honduras, which hopefully you read about in past postings.  We missed the largest snowfall of the year and we missed the most frigid temperatures recorded this winter.  On our return day, the weather turned near perfect!  What timing!

The warmer weather turned loose a hotbed of activity in the new home market with our sales and traffic at levels we had not seen since the home-buyer tax credit expired last year.   I am proud to say that ALL of our available new homes in Nashville’s Spencer Hill are now pending!   And we’re starting more, even a 4-bedroom home for $149,990!

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The traffic surge continues into this week too, thank goodness!   And according to this, the same trend is developing in Nashville!   http://kennethbargers.com/2011/02/09/2011-home-sales-begin-with-increase-in-the-greater-nashville-area/

 The one thing all prospects have in common right now is they all are expecting  “a deal.”   

They’ve heard all the national statistics on home sales and they are also hearing us shout “now is the time”  from our rooftops.  They are reacting by exploring their options.  We have to react smartly and cannot afford to let emotions block the way to a potential sale.    

There have been recent examples of transactions that could not be fathomed at any other time.  Mansions listed for 1.5 million selling for 800k, short-sales of homes where 180k is owed selling for 150k or less, etc.  Transactions like these are what prospective buyers have heard about.  Even though these transactions are not the mainstream in Nashville, their expectations have been raised.  It is our charge as Realtors to keep expectations in check, but most of all make everyone involved realize that “it’s not personal.”

Realtors are solutions to needs and desires.  Most Realtors have a realistic idea of what can be accomplished in a successful deal and set expectations accordingly.   Listing Agents and Buyer Agents have a duty to set parameters within reality. 

Buyer agents have an exceptionally difficult task in balancing their clients expectations and the reality of a successful offer.  Their clients have to know that they hit “rock-bottom”  without leaving a single dime on the table.  The process may start with an offer of ridiculous expectations, and it may start with an offer closer to reality.   It depends on the Buyer Agent and the desires of their client, but in neither case is to be taken “personal.”

Listing agents also have their hands full.  When was the last time you presented an offer to your “seller” only to hear  “They want WHAT?  Do they think I am a fool?  To hell with them, etc…”  The listing agent also has to set expectations, and focus much harder on taking emotions out of the picture when presenting offers.  “It’s not personal!”

Nashville is very fortunate to have a diverse population, and especially fortunate to be a destination for people relocating to the United States from other countries.  Negotiating tactics vary and must be kept in perspective.  In many countries, negotiations start AFTER everyone has agreed.  All of us have to know that this is simply a process and not an indication of the buyer’s honor or integrity.  “It’s not personal.”

In negotiating a recent contract, the laundry list of items and price concessions appeared endless.  You CAN do this and that.   Yes, technically we could.  But, we won’t.  It’s not personal.

The most important ingredient to any negotiation is the element of mutual RESPECT.  Without that, your deal will go no where.

Let the negotiations begin!

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 home sales in the Greater Nashville area to include Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, and Spring Hill, Tennessee

Nashville New Homes: There’s no place like home.

Like the song says, “There’s no place like home,”  especially when that home is a brand new home.  No toenails in the carpet and no strange smells…unless they are your own!

Having just returned from a marketing conference In Salt Lake City with many other great home builders, I can say with confidence that new homes really are better…all across this great country!   If you know anyone needing a home outside of the Nashville area, please let me know because I now have more great home builder recommendations.  Even far away!

And if you’re in the Greater Nashville area and considering purchasing a new  home, you can view all of our communities on Home Center Network on Comcast Channel 49 at 9:00 am and pm, and anytime at www.homecenternetwork.com.    

You will want to give special consideration to a life in Spring Hill.  Here’s why:

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110105/WILLIAMSON12/101050327/2044/A+look+ahead++Big+projects+on+horizon+for+Spring+Hill+in+2011

With brand new homes from the low 100’s for the first-time buyer in Cobblestone and Meadowbrook and brand new all-brick homes from the low 200’s in Chapman’s Crossing and Benevento East , look no further than Ole South for your best value.  You will then see first hand why…..

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

Nashville New Homes: Up, Up, and Away.

On my way to church this morning it was a blistering cold 26 degrees outside, but the sun was shining just like a summer day.  All of a sudden, I saw this hot air balloon being launched.  Before I could pull over for a picture, it was on its way soaring to new heights!

That reminds me of what we at Ole South are doing in 2011…. soaring to new heights… not in a balloon, but by offering unprecedented value in the homes we build.

For example, you will want to check out the new look of our maintenance-free townhomes at Villas of Rivendell Woods.  Two brand new home plans, unlike anything you have seen before.   Experience the flair of Key West or the sizzle of Bourbon Street from your private upstairs verandah, accessed only from your bedroom suite!

 Also new for 2011 are the most affordable new homes in Metropolitan Nashville Davidson County, in Spencer Hill, just minutes from downtown.  We have homes nearing completion from 109,990 to 129,990!  https://nashvillehomesblog.com/2010/11/03/let-the-cat-out/

And we’re also offering the very best ALL BRICK home value in Williamson County at Benevento East.  You simply will not believe these unprecedented values from the low 200’s.  Three-Car Garages and outdoor living areas are among the host of options.  

Did you eat your black eyed peas this year?  We did!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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