Summer 2012 – Busier Times! (Part 1)

So far, the Summer of 2012 has been one of extremes!  Extremely high temperatures, extremely dry conditions,  extremely busy, and best of all…extremely fun.

First off, it is great to see our new home market maintaining momentum into the summer.  In June, we posted 41 new sales and are already at 32 as of July 15th!  I feel truly blessed to be a part of the great team at Ole South – Tennessee’s #1 Home Builder, and thankful for the support of our area Realtors and homeowners for believing in us.

The busier we all get, the better we have to be at managing our priorities and time.  After all, there are only so many hours in a day.

Everyone that knows Beth and I know that boating plays a key part in our personal, as well as business life.  Weekends off simply don’t happen often and the boat is there for a quick evening reprieve from the daily grind.  It is not unusual to see us on the boat most evenings during the week!

Summer 2012 brought on some decisions that had to be made.  Beth started a new position in Thompsons Station and I moved my office to Spring Hill, which made it increasingly difficult to spend as much time on the boat as we would like.  

On Memorial Day weekend of 2009, we pulled into Old Hickory Boat Dock with many of our boating friends from Rock Harbor Marina to spend the weekend. 

The marina had just been acquired by Angela and Bart Bagsby and renamed Blackjack Cove.  During their first week of operation, the marina was devastated by a large storm and work was going on everywhere!  At the end of the long weekend, we were so impressed with the people, progress and plans for the new marina that we decided to stay.  With Beth working in Mt. Juliet at the time, we had even more time for the boat!  We hated to leave our friends at Rock Harbor, but would still have many opportunities to stay in touch.

Over the past 3 years, we watched the transformation of this boat dock into a first-class marina.  New friendships and acquaintances were formed.  The facilities and atmosphere is beyond description.

And it was a great place for the wedding of Jessica and Brian Clark, who got married on Jessica’s family houseboat..and I had the honors to be Captain during the ceremony!

And after the ceremony, we returned to land for an unprecedented wedding reception at Blackjack Cove Marina, catered by The Black Pearl.

If you ever want to feed a lot of people in a fun way, call Blackjack Cove about a “Cajun Boil” dinner!

Back to making decisions. 

When we purchased our current boat in 2004, we brought it to Nashville from Louisville and stopped in at Rock Harbor Marina to spend the night, and would then take the boat to Elm Hill Marina on Percy Priest Lake, where I had been boating for 27 years.   Our overnight stay at Rock Harbor lasted 5 years!

One of the hardest things I have ever done is watch my mother grow older.  She is now 91 and living independently at Park Manor, an incredible facility for seniors.   Our new working logistics were making it harder to spend time with her, time that I will regret not spending.

With Rock Harbor being only 5 minutes from Mom, and 15 minutes from our home, the right decision was clear.

After all, Mom enjoys visiting the boat too!

In Part 2, we were joined by great friends from Honduras for the ride down the Cumberland from Blackjack Cove Marina to Rock Harbor, where festivities for the 4th of July were already underway.  Stay tuned and thanks for reading!

Independence Day 2012 – Fireworks on the Water

Nothing beats a beautiful fireworks display around water, and the Cumberland River and Old Hickory Lake will certainly be bright at night over the next several days!

 

Saturday, June 30th – Old Hickory Lake, Mt. Juliet, TN – Enjoy the spectacular fireworks extravaganza courtesy of the Cedar Creek Yacht Club.   Access to the club is private, but there are many surrounding coves and public access points offering tremendous views of the show, which begins approximately 9:00 pm.

Saturday, June 30th – Cumberland River/Cheatham Lake, Ashland City, TN – Just minutes from downtown Nashville at Ashland City’s Riverbluff Park will be an evening fireworks display to mark the end of their 2012 Summerfest.  CLICK HERE for more information

Tuesday, July 3rd – Old Hickory Lake, Hendersonville, Tennessee – July 3rd Freedom Festival at Drakes Creek Park.  CLICK HERE for more information.  Drakes Creek on Old Hickory Lake features many places to anchor and will offer spectacular views of the display.

Tuesday, July 3rd – Cumberland River, Clarksville, TN – at the Clarksville Riverfront, you will find a huge celebration in McGregor park from 6-10 pm, with another huge fireworks display to end the evening.  CLICK HERE for more information.

Wednesday, July 4th – Old Hickory Lake, Gallatin, TN – Picnic in the Park starts at 6:00 pm at the Civic Center.  Although not directly on the lake, there should be some spectacular views from Fairview Plantation and Station Camp Creek, just off of the main river channel.

Wednesday, July 4th – Cumberland River @ Riverfront Park, Nashville TN – “Let Freedom Ring” begins in the afternoon and ends with the most spectacular fireworks show you will ever see.  CLICK HERE for more information.  For those viewing by boat, the main river between the pedestrian bridge and Woodland Street will be closed to boat traffic.  Visiting boaters must anchor above the Korean Veterans Bridge, or below Woodland Street bridge.

 

Over the next few days, families and friends will join together to celebrate.  Let’s not forget just what it is supposed to be all about!

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, Gallatin, and Spring Hill, Tennessee.

Nashville New Homes: Glad to be here!

We’re really blessed to live in a country that allows us to live where we want to.  I am glad to live in Nashville and happy to see more and more heading our way every day!  Aren’t you?

I think it is safe to say that Nashville has reached the status of being a “world class” city.  And the world is finding more and more about Middle Tennessee every day.

# 4 ranking in the US in economic strength?

Yes!  CLICK HERE FOR THE STORY

#1 ranking in the US for job growth?  

Yes!  CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

#1 in Fun  (I think so anyway).   There’s never a bad time to be in our Music City, but the Fourth of July festivities are beyond comparison, and 2012 is no exception!  CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON “LET FREEDOM SING 2012”

There are fireworks displays and celebrations scheduled all over Middle Tennessee to celebrate Independence Day.  CLICK HERE TO FIND THE ONES IN YOUR AREA.

Simply put, Middle Tennessee is the place to be.  Get out there and enjoy it!

And drink lots of water too!

 

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, Gallatin, and Spring Hill, Tennessee.

Foreclosure Help: Why not keep your home?

The past several years have been financially hard on many Tennessee families.  Even though the Middle Tennessee economy is rebounding, there are still those that may need a helping hand.

Tennessee is one of 18 states that is receiving funds from the “Hardest Hit Fund.”   The great folks at THDA are the ones administering this program, which is called “Keep My Tennessee Home.”

From the THDA Keep My Tennessee Home website:

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.

The program is also expanding to offer temporary assistance to those whose income loss results from medical issues as well.

For more information on this great program, visit www.KeepMyTNHome.org.

This is one program that many people are not aware of.  It is out there and it is available.

Now YOU know.  Others need to know.  Please pass the word!

 

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, Gallatin, and Spring Hill, Tennessee.

Its called Memorial Day for a Reason.

Monday is Memorial Day, a day for many that includes a celebration of hot dogs, hamburgers, barbecue, chicken, and basically anything that can be cooked on a grill.   It is also the holiday weekend that signals that summer has arrived!

But it is a lot more than that also.  Memorial Day, a day of remembrance for those that have died serving our country, was originally called “Decoration Day.”  It was first observed on May 30, 1868 when the graves of fallen Union and Confederate soldiers were decorated with flowers at Arlington National Cemetery.

It was not until after World War I that the day became “Memorial Day” to honor the fallen soldiers of any war.  In 1971, Congress passed the bill proclaiming the last Monday in May as the official recognized “Memorial Day.”

Here is a link to the history of this all-important day:

http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html

There are a number of ideas that come to mind on what to do this weekend.  With record high temperatures forecasted, the lake is probably the best place to be!

Two-Foot Cove is a popular cooling off spot on Old Hickory Lake.  There is a volleyball net to keep things jumping!  Don’t worry, the channel is clearly marked and just the volleyball area is the “two-foot” deep part.

While you’re at Old Hickory Lake, why not visit Blackjack Cove Marina, and The Black Pearl Restaurant.  They are already on their second batch of Captain’s Punch and the weekend hasn’t even started yet! The Black Pearl is open all weekend and you will not want to miss it’s awesome Sunday Brunch, a great atmosphere accompanied by steel drums.

Here are more scenes from Old Hickory Lake for your enjoyment.

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Everytime I see Ingram boats on the river, I am amazed.  In the above picture, the HB Stewart is pushing 6 barges filled with coal.  Hard to believe that it would take 318 tractor-trailers to haul the same amount.

Another fun and inexpensive outing would be a boat ride from the legendary Cherokee Steak House, near Gallatin.  Visit www.cumberlandrivercruises.com for more information.

So get out there, fire up the grills and ice cream churns, slice some watermelon, and enjoy this weekend.  But please, take a few minutes for remembrance and tribute of those who died protecting these very things we enjoy.  And if you get a chance, thank a living soldier or veteran too!

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, Gallatin, and Spring Hill, Tennessee

Spring Hill & Thompsons Station New Homes: MARS HAS LANDED!

Well it’s now official!  Mars Petcare has officially landed in Thompsons Station, just south of Metropolitan Nashville.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held today with a huge crowd present, emcee’d by Mars’ Director of Public Affairs and Government Realtions, Mark Broadhurst.

  Also on hand were Linda Mars, former Chairwoman of the Board of Mars Corporation, Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson, Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, and other Mars’ Corporate Officials.  CLICK HERE for the full story.

Here is Linda Mars, unveiling the new Innovation Center design:

 

 

On a side note, I personally got tickled hearing Linda Mars introduced as Ex-Chairman of the Board, and Marsha Blackburn introduced as “Congressman.”  So much for political correctness.   A welcome change, I might add.

About the announced project in Thompsons Station, Mars Petcare is building an approximate 88 million dollar Regional Innovation Center, one of five in the world.  The project, which will create 144 new jobs in Williamson County, will be complete in 2013.

The company’s mission is to make the lives of pets better.  Our Ruby the Doberman is certainly jumpng for joy about that!  If she had only been there today!

As Marsha Blackburn so eloquently said, “we welcome Mars to Williamson County Tennessee and we hope you will stay a LONG, LONG TIME!  From the looks of the proposed facility, and the excitement of the event, it certainly appears that they will.

Mars graciously accepted their welcoming by presenting a donation of $50,000 to the Thompsons Station Greenway and Walking Trail fund.

Just a few miles down the road, we at Ole South are building brand new homes to accommodate the growing demand for new homes in the area.  We are excited about their presence and look forward to their involvement in the community!

Another side note, this is not the first time Mars Corporation has created jobs in Middle Tennessee.  Back during the Great Depression, company founder Frank Mars purchased a large tract of land in Giles County, near Lynnville, and employed hundreds of Giles County residents to build his  “Milky Way Farms,” named after his famed candy bar. 

This hsitoric jewel still exists today and we will dive into that amazing piece of history later in the blog, but you can CLICK HERE for a quick idea!

Trey Lewis is VP Sales & Marketing for Ole South Properties Inc, Tennessee’s largest independent home builder,  615.896.0019  direct 615.593.6340 or emailTLewis@olesouth.com.  Specializing in new homes in the Greater Nashville area to include Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Clarksville, Gallatin, and Spring Hill, Tennessee.

Spring Hill New Homes: Let’s do it again!

Sprng Hill, Tennessee is one of the greatest areas in the United States in which to live, and probably the greatest place in the world to build a new home.  I’ve done it twice and look forward to doing it again!

I first moved to Spring Hill in late 2000, when Ole South acquired the then-new Ridgeport subdivision from another builder/developer.   The purchase came complete with a model home that we didn’t build, but did give us an immediate presence in the area.

When we launched our presence in Spring Hill, there were three positions for Ridgeport .  On-site Sales Agent, Project Manager, and Construction Superintendent.   I was all three in the begnning and it was the greatest learning experience of my entire life, well… maybe except for an IRS audit.

As our business exploded, we built a new model home and I purchased the older one, which proved to be a great vote of confidence for Ole South in the eyes of others.  It also made commuting to work a breeze!  In the five years I lived there, not one time did anyone knock on my door about anything other than a dinner or party invitation!

Approximate 325 homes later, Ridgeport was complete and I built another home in our next Williamson County neighborhood, Chapman’s Crossing.  It was such an awesome experience to see many of our Ridgeport buyers move with us to Chapman’s Crossing to accomodate their growing families.  It was even greater having them as neighbors…again!

During these years, I had the opportunity to encourage many of our home buyers to get involved in Real Estate, and those that did are doing quite well.  Its a great feeling to know you helped make a difference in someone’s life – which is what its supposed to be all about anyway.

In 2007, we moved back to Nashville to be closer to my mom after my dad passed away.  Ironically, at the same time Ole South acquired the Rivendell Woods of Cane Ridge neighborhood and needed someone to start it off.  I hated to leave Spring Hill, but it seemed like divine intervention was having its way.

While in Nashville at Rivendell Woods, Ole South presented new opportunities and I assumed the role of VP Sales & Marketing for the company.  Keeping my office in Rivendell Woods, I have been able to pull it off and still do what I love the most – helping people find the perfect home that meets their wants and needs.

Over the years, Ole South has grown to be the largest home builder in Tennessee and I feel very fortunate to be a part of the company.  This month, I took the opportunity to start off another Williamson County neighborhood in Spring Hill, so my office will be in The Arbors at Autumn Ridge for the time being. 

I’ll miss seeing the residents at Rivendell Woods on a regular basis, but will still be around whenever possible.  In the meantime, the residents and propsects of Rivendell Woods will find Annette Spicer to be a delightful addition to the neighborhood.

The Arbors at Autumn Ridge is a gorgeous location, nestled among trees in the peaceful country setting convenient to both Spring Hill and Thompsons Station.  Here, take a look a a few of the great homes we are building:

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Those that have visited this blog before know my photography skills aren’t the best.  Spring Hill and Thompsons Station’s weekly paper has much better photography skills which you can see by CLICKING HERE.

I really am excited about being back in Spring Hill on a regular basis.  And when you are in the area, please drop by for a visit!   For those of you that are familiar with Spring Hill, The Arbors is probably not where you think it is. 

Turn on Wilkes Lane, across from the McDonalds at Campbell Station, and follow approximately one mile.  The tree-lined road will let you know you have arrived!

Interestingly enough, there is an available home site, right across from the model home.  What a coincidence!

Trey Lewis is VP Sales & Marketing for Ole South Properties Inc, Tennessee’s largest independent home builder,  615.896.0019  direct 615.593.6340 or emailTLewis@olesouth.com.  Specializing in new homes in the Greater Nashville area to include Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Clarksville, Gallatin, and Spring Hill, Tennessee.

Metro Property Tax Increase – The Double-Edged Sword

It costs a lot to run the “world class city”  that Nashville has become and I don’t envy Mayor Karl Dean one bit!     CLICK HERE  to learn more about the Mayor’s proposed property tax increase.

Nashville businessman Lee Beaman contributed an interesting opinion with his letter-to-the-editor this past Sunday.  CLICK HERE to read his opinion.  (Please pay little attention to the class-envy comments that some made.  We can be assured the Beaman family pays more than their fair share in taxes to Metro.)

Karl Dean is right.  Nashville needs more revenue to continue and expand the services that we all demand and expect.  New schools need to be built.  Old school buildings are in disrepair.  Metro employees need raises.  Road improvements need to be scheduled.  Our aging infrastructure needs to be replaced in many areas.  We need more parks to add to our quality of life.

Most importantly, Nashville really needs a better and more boater-friendly Riverfront Park!   The riverfront areas of Knoxville, Chattanooga, and even Clarksville beat ours.

Lee Beaman is right too.  Increasing property taxes do make property values fall.  Maybe not all at once, but they will fall.  Look at Memphis and Shelby County. 

So, the average Nashville family will pay $192 more per year.   That $192 translates to approximately $3,000 in home purchase affordability.  Those that barely qualify for the “$145,400 median home value” in Davidson County will now only qualify for approximately $142,400 under the new tax rates.  Maybe not devastating, but enough to rattle the cup…especially when it may be yours!

The value of a piece of property is directly related to what a person or business can afford to pay for it.  Then, the more the value falls, the more the tax rate has to go up to generate the same revenue.  A vicious cycle.

What is the answer?  There’s not a good one.  No answer will  be popular to everyone, but it really is time to think outside of the box. 

The answer is simple.  We need a larger property tax base.  We need more families moving into Davidson County.  We need more businesses locating within the county limits.   We need people spending more money in Davidson County. 

It all starts with affordable housing, balanced with quality of life, and convenience.  Why wouldn’t someone working in Davidson County choose to live here?  We have got to eliminate those reasons to begin solving the problems.

Our surrounding counties do not have a football stadium to support, yet their citizens enjoy it.   They do not have the responsibility of a world-class arena, but their citizens pack it.  None of those counties have an international airport to maintain.  Some don’t have an airport at all!

Before you get the tomatoes, I am not advocating charging out-of-county residents more for airline flights, concerts, Titans, and Predator tickets.  We need every seat filled that we can get!  But it would be nice to have a “Metro Resident Discount.”

What about employers offering a “Metro Resident” pay incentive?  That incentive could come from TDOT, who could then slow down interstate constructon projects a bit!  

Then, if we could just make it less cumbersome for developers and builders to provide new, affordable housing in areas that already have needed infrastructure, we’d be off to a good start!

We can get better… but only when WE want to.

The older I get, the more I look back.  Sometimes I just laugh, and sometimes I probably should cry.

I remember when the internet was the phone book and a set of World Book Encyclopedias.  If you wanted to know something, you either found it in there…or you asked someone else.

I can also remember life without cell phones, although I will readily admit I was among the first to succumb to the addiction in the early 80’s.  My first was a Motorola hand-held, which was purchased for $2850.  Then the monthly service fee plus every nanosecond that it was used.  But it was cool.

Just a few short years ago, our only means of communicating in business was either face-to-face, a phone call, or by mail.

Fast-Forward to today’s times.  We have the internet, we have “google.”  We have Facebook and Twitter to keep abreast of everyone’s last known move.  We have websites instead of showrooms.  We have remote-control home systems.  And now, everything can be accessed by our own personal cell phone.

It amazes me.  Communication has never been easier, while at the same time it has never been more difficult.  People are simply overwhelmed with information and cannot comprehend, or react to, it all at one time.

Those that are getting the messages across are those that know exactly how to attract someone’s interest.  They know exactly what information people search for.  They know how to make themselves stand out in the crowd.

We all can be one of “those” people.

This Thursday morning, yes TOMORROW, the HBAMT Sales & Marketing Council is proud to have Mike Lyon visit Nashville.  Mike is author of the best-selling book “Browsers to Buyers” and will conduct a workshop on just how the internet can be used to build and improve today’s businesses.

The event is hosted by Piedmont Gas at their corporate offices.  Registration and continental breakfast is from 8-9, with the workshop from 9-12.  CLICK HERE for all of the details!

Folks, new technology and the internet is not going away.  There are no “app” substitutes for being likeable and sincere.  And no “app” can take the place of a personal visit.  However, we can position ourselves better for our message to be heard.

But first, we’ve got to learn how to send it.  See you there!

Trey Lewis is VP Sales & Marketing for Ole South Properties Inc, Tennessee’s largest independent home builder,  615.896.0019  direct 615.593.6340 or emailTLewis@olesouth.com.  Specializing in new homes in the Greater Nashville area to include Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Clarksville, Gallatin, and Spring Hill, Tennessee.

Is the Gallon of Gas a Republican or Democrat?

The 2012 Election is going to be an interesting one for sure.

For one thing, the Republican Party is failing to put forth a candidate that can unite and energize that party.  It is almost as if their plan has always been to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.  Who knows, deep down they really may not want to win.  Who could really blame them?  It really is more fun to bitch than it is to actually do something.

The Democratic Party is faring no better.  Either they don’t want to win again, or they really don’t get it.  I’m not sure which.

Along comes the gallon of gas.  Crude prices are again falling, yet the price per gallon continues to rise.  What was spent for the tummy now goes to the tank.  I’ve heard people say that $5.00 per gallon gas is the best candidate the Republicans have.  After all, Americans always vote their pockets…..right?

MOST of the time, but this time could be different.

Higher gas prices have helped our flegling automobile industry.  Newer cars are more efficient and they are selling.  Idled factories are coming back to life.  I actually saw a Chevy Volt in real life this week and was impressed.  Not enough to buy one just yet though.

I am sure many rushed to the local dealer before filing their taxes, just to take advantage of the $7500 credit.  Others that might be upside down with their home mortgage also followed as well, not just for the tax credit, but with the hopes the car might catch on fire and burn their house down.

High gas prices have also helped many urban area real estate markets – the only place the “Live-Work-Play” concept has ever stood a chance.  Today’s higher gas prices are forcing people to live closer to where they work.  The “Live-Work-Play” concept just may work after all… as long as employers can stay in business.

Which brings me to the economy.  It seems the Democrats really don’t want to be in control either.  Whenever things start to improve, they rush to botch it up.    As the fear of higher interest rates spur home buying activity, they issue statements that the Fed rate will remain unchanged for years.  As home sales still continue to improve, they hurry to increase the cost of Mortgage Insurance.  As employment numbers rise, lets add more costs to employers.  Yeah, that’ll work.

If I had the ability to print money, I could have already solved our economic problems.  Why is it taking so long?

The reality is the economy would fix itself in time anyway.  The lions share of the new printed money went to the wrong people.  Thats nothing new.  Neither party has yet to corner the market on greed.

In the meantime, get ready for drama.  One side will attempt to convince us just how bad things are.  The other side will counter with how bad things could be.  They will collect all the money they can to further their cause.  And when Election 2012 is over, they will all go back to their dressing rooms, break bread, have some laughs and begin preparing for the next round.

In the meantime, there will be one clear winner either way….the gallon of gas.