Tag Archives: Economy

Nashville New Homes: And what else does the groundhog see?

Every year on the 2nd of February, certain people brave the frigid weather to gather in their traditional spot for the “made-for-tv” event, Ground Hog Day.   That traditional spot is Punxsutawney, PA and the celebration is all about the groundhog, Phil, seeing his shadow…. or not.

There are mysteries surronding this momentous event.  Why Punxsutawney, PA?   I cannot imagine the sun having many chances to shine there any during the winter.  Why not Jacksonville, Myrtle Beach, or even better..Roatan , Honduras?  Why do people give Phil’s annual appearance any credibility at all.  He has only been right 39% of the time, much like our local weatherfolks!

Here is the history of this day in folklore, along with his predictions over the years.   http://www.stormfax.com/ghogday.htm

And the results of today’s ceremony……  http://www.examiner.com/holidays-in-providence/groundhog-day-2011-results-did-punxsutawney-phil-see-his-shadow-on-feb-2nd

OK, Phil did NOT see his shadow, which means he is not scared to come out.  Winter will soon be over and it is time to prepare for spring.  What else did Phil see?   Better yet, what are WE seeing?

According to USA Today, growth is on the upswing for 2011.  Now, you too can come out of your hole! 

   http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2011-01-24-1Aecon24_ST_N.htm

We can expect a rebound in home sales.  More people are renting now than before the boom years of 2000-07.   Some should not have been able to purchase a home in the first place, but there are many more out there that can and will purchase a home as the job market improves.    Read more:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704254304576116402472968150.html?mod=wsj_share_facebook

And speaking of job growth, the Greater Nashville area is steadily recovering, and will continue to throughout the year.   Williamson County ranks 3rd in the US in job growth.  Check it out!

http://www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=13942518

Supply and Demand:  As the economy improves, demand for homes will rise, and so will home mortgage interest rates.  Prices in the Greater Nashville area have stabiilized and will be on the rise as our economy regains its health.  Those that do not own a home should get off the fence NOW.  Nothing to lose, and all to gain.   Read more:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704268104576107923872216898.html?mod=wsj_share_facebook

Which brings me to the conclusion:  If you are considering buying your first home, or any home for that matter, you will not find a better value than in a new Ole South home.  Visit www.OleSouth.com for more information on our Middle Tennessee neighborhoods.  Just like the ground hog discovered today, it’s okay to come out and look around!

Happy buying and selling!

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: 2011 is looking up!

The New Year of 2011 is upon us, and I couldn’t be happier!  Even the media is spreading positive news about the housing industry.  Here’s one example:

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-12-28/housing-seen-rising-to-3-year-high-with-boost-for-jobs.html

The time is now to buy a new home.  Not just because fixed interest rates are historically low and rising, Not just because costs are going up and not yet being passed on to the consumer.  Not just because of great incentives and selections of brand new homes at www.OleSouth.com. 

Buying a new home offers many tax advantages for those that can itemize expenses.  Your closing costs are deductible.  Your property taxes are deductible..and the list goes on.  Here is a list of 2011 tax tips.  Pay special attention to #4!

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/taxes/10-tasty-tax-tips-for-2011-1.aspx?ec_id=cmct_003

If you weren’t able to purchase a new home in time for Christmas, inking a contract before the New Year could be the next best thing!

Nashville New Homes: We told you so… But its still not too late!

Remember all the talk over the recent months about NOW being THE time to purchase a new home?   Realtors and Mortgage bankers have been preaching it.  Every financial planner has been agreeing.  I’ve written numerous blog posts about it too.  Many people listened and bought a new home.  Many people did not.  They are still renting.

Well, it still is a great time to buy a home….BUT…. you really should have bought when you were asked to several weeks ago!   No one wants to hear “we told you so” so I won’t say it.  

If you haven’t heard, interest rates have inched upward in recent weeks.  Here’s the story:  http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-mortgage-rates-20101210,0,1978719.story

But rates are still incredibly low, and there are many incentives to buy a new home right now.  The fact that a first time buyer can buy a home with little to no cash out of pocket, and have a 4.55% fixed interest rate is still incredible!  If you would like to know more about buying a home, call me…or your favorite Realtor.

A good credit score is a necessity for obtaining a mortgage loan, car loan, or most any loan for that matter.  Here is an interesting article about credit scoring, or as it says, credit ranking:  And we thought we had it all figured out!

http://www.zillow.com/blog/new-twist-your-credit-score-is-a-ranking-not-a-rating/2010/12/10/

Something else to think about… You will stay WARM in the winter and COOL in the summer, all while saving energy, in a brand new Ole South home.   Think about it, why shouldn’t you own a new home?

OK, lets say it again:  “If you have any desire at all to own a home, act now.”   You will be glad you did!

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: Let’s share some laughs.

There is one thing that can make everyone’s day brighter and that is a good laugh!    Rather than ramble on about all the valid reasons to purchase a new home right now (especially if you are a first-time buyer), let’s share a few laughs about Real Estate, the economy, and life in general.

This Realtor takes the art of “overcoming objections” to an entirely new level:

And we all have had similar showings to this one:

And here is one especially for buyer agents working with “wanna-be” investors:

Listen to our own Brandon Wise talking about buying a NEW home:

Winter is coming.  You can avoid this scenario buy purchasing a new Ole South home with your own garage:

And lastly, let’s have a laugh about the economy.  Sure beats crying!

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: Do the math.

Back in my school days, I had a teacher who’s favorite response when asked advice was to “do the math.” Whether it was about which girl to ask out, or which college to attend, “do the math” was always the answer. Pretty sound advice too!

If you don’t own a home right now,  and you are paying rent,  its time to do the math.  Home ownership isn’t for everybody, but it is an important component of your future financial health.

Here is a helpful calculator to help you “do the math,” courtesy of Ginnie Mae, aka Uncle Sam:   (Use these numbers … 4.75% interest rate, 30 Year term, and 3.5% minimum down=payment.  First time buyers may qualify for ZERO down, using a 4.85% interest rate.  Visit www.thda.org for details) 

http://www.ginniemae.gov/rent_vs_buy/rent_vs_buy_calc.asp?section=YPTH

Even if you already own your home, the low fixed interest rates of today probably have you thinking about that next home, whether larger or smaller.  Go ahead and admit it.  After all, now really is a great time to buy that new home you have always wanted.  It may not be there for you down the road.   Let’s “do the math.”

Recently, I heard another creative reason for now being the time to buy.  If you wait much longer, interest rates will be substanitally higher and no one will be wanting to sell and give up their historically low interest rate for a higher one.  

Okay, so your existing home may not command the sale price it would have a few years back.  Neither is the new home you are wanting to buy.   Lose and save?  Gain and pay?  “Do the math.”   When doing that math, keep in mind that your house is your home first, and investment second.

Have Questions?  We have answers.  Visit any of our www.OleSouth.com Greater Nashville New Home neighborhoods and explore all of your many options.  We take the stress out of buying a home!  And we’ll give you a stress ball 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 home sales in the Greater Nashville area to include Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, and Spring Hill, Tennessee

Nashville New Homes: What about “Festive Friday?”

For years, we’ve all known that the Friday after Thanksgiving is the “kick-off” shopping day for Christmas.  When I was a kid, it was real simple…the “after Thanksgiving sale.”    In recent years, the mood has shifted into calling the Friday after Thanksgiving, “Black Friday,” with a meaning that for many can only be be explained by CPA’s and economists with beards.

One thing I love about selling new homes is being able to meet so many different people, and many that have moved here from other parts of the world.  One particular resident stopped in the other day asking about “Black Friday” and what its significance was.  He already knew all about the traditions of Memorial Day, Indepence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and had even studied “Black Monday” in economics, when during the 80’s the stock market crashed on a Monday in October.   This “Black Friday” was a complete mystery to him.

OK, so I explained that retailers in the United States typically do not show profitability for the year until the Christmas shopping season starts, and all these sales are simply to get them in the “black,” or out of the “red” for the year, with the rest of the season being total profit.

Although the concept now made total sense to him, “the marketing makes no sense to me” was his response.  You know, it really doesn’t to me either!   The marketing guru’s have spent entirely too much time around the calculator on this one.

So, why not “Festive Friday?”  Many workers have the day off, which is reason to be festive.  Many families have relatives in town (that might buy you a nice gift while shopping) which is another reason to be festive.  We’ve just finished a holiday dinner and given thanks for everything in our lives…again, another reason.

“Festive Friday” is a great day to search for a new home, too!  You have all the family together, and all Ole South model homes are open today for your viewing.  And if you simply drop by anytime this weekend, you will get a certificate for a free flat screen HDTV for your Ole South home, if you purchase before June 11, 2011. 

Take a minute to look at the very best values in new homes in Middle Tennessee, including Nashville, Smyrna, Murfreesboro, and Spring Hill.  Brand New Homes from $89,990 to $299,990 is another reason to be festive!  Here, take a look: 

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By the way, do you have a lot of left-overs from yesterday?   If the answer is yes, then you have another reason to be festive.  All new Ole South homes come with a complete kitchen appliance package, and that includes a built-in microwave and refrigerator!

Happy “Festive Friday!”

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: Pass the mustard!

As one gets older, (ok, me…), you sometimes think back to your younger years and the stupidest things are usually the first to come to mind.  Funny thing, if you read into those stupid things analytically like old people do, you can usually find a hidden meaning.

Back in the college days, did you ever incoherently go to the Krystal late at night with the munchies?  Go ahead, admit that you did.   Then the competition began for who could get the most pickles to stick against the windows? 

We found that the more mustard you put on the pickle, the greater the odds of the pickle sticking to the window….and holding too.   So, what’s the hidden meaning in all this?

It doesn’t take an economist with a nice beard to know that we are in a sluggish economy.  Mortgage interest rates are the lowest in 59 years and inflation in construction, although present, has yet to be passed on to the consumer.  But, there are still a lot of people capable of buying their “first-time” new home that haven’t gotten into the market yet.   Don’t they realize the importance of home-ownership to their future financial security?

Home-ownership is the pickle and we simply have to put more mustard on it to get it to stick.  And that is what we are doing at Ole South.  We are constantly improving the new homes we offer, and including even more reasons to act now. 

For example, visit any of our model homes over “Black Friday” weekend and get a certificate for a flat-screen HDTV to use with your new home purchase before June 11, 2011.  And on select inventory homes, you’ll even get a Stainless Steel appliance package at no extra charge.  Closing costs?  What closing costs? 

You can also visit our website, www.OleSouth.com, and register to win (2) tickets to see Garth Brooks live at Bridgestone Arena December 16th.  After we get your email address, you can bet you will become aware of all the reasons to buy a new home…now!

  We are expanding into even more communities where we can offer the very best new home value in Middle Tennessee.  You simply have to pay us a visit…and tell your “new-home-less” friends too!  We look forward to seeing you!

And until then, pass the mustard!  And the ketchup 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 home sales in the Greater Nashville area to include Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, and Spring Hill, Tennessee.

Nashville New Homes: Realtors will go to heaven.

Well, most of them anyway!

One of the great things about getting old is forming new habits.  Habits like going to bed early only to find that you are not tired enough to sleep.  And there you find yourself scrolling through the TV guide thingy looking for a good movie that you’ve already seen a hundred times.

That was the case with me the other night and the movie I chose to watch again was “The Bucket List” starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson.  If you haven’t seen it yet, watch your TV guide thingy and it will be shown again soon I am certain.

There is one scene when both of them were sitting on top of the Great Pyramids and Morgan Freeman shared this with Jack Nicholson:

“You know, the ancient Egyptians had a beautiful belief about death. When their souls got to the entrance to heaven, the guards asked two questions. Their answers determined whether they were able to enter or not. ‘Have you found joy in your life?’ ‘Has your life brought joy to others?’”

WOW…This great comedy had just turned into a thought-provoking drama of self-reflection.   But don’t get out the violins just yet.. Jack Nicholson’s smart-ass reply brought the movie back into the “comedy zone.”

If those really are the two questions we will one day be asked, then most all Realtors can count on going to heaven.  After all, it is our vocation to bring joy into the life of others.  We witness the joy and excitement of people buying their homes!  That joy and excitement is taken to a whole different level when they purchase a brand new home, and an even higher level if that new home was built by Ole South in one of our Middle Tennessee neighborhoods!

We have the opportunity to bring joy into the lives of others every single day and everyone has the opportunity to participate.  Even the guy cooking McRibs at McDonalds can take comfort and joy that the McRib promotion will soon be over so he can go back to making kids happy with “happy meals.”    The only people that experience joy from a McRib are the makers of Tums. 

(McD’s needs to read the definition of madness – the one that says “madness is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results.”  And they keep trying to resurrect the McRib…I don’t get it.  McPizza would be better!)

We are now entering a time of year that can be difficult for many people.  It is important to remember that we don’t have to give someone the newest “Wii” or “Xbox,” or jewelry big enough to choke a dog to bring joy into someone’s life.   A can of King Leo candy sticks might do the trick.  Or, a kind word and a simple gesture of happiness may be just the right thing.  Especially for strangers too!   In the “Bucket List,”  the two men were complete strangers from two totally diffrerent walks of life, and their paths crossed to bring joy into each other’s lives, just when that joy was needed the most.

Just look around.  An opportunity arises every day.  Take it.  You will then find more joy in your life.

And Realtors, with interest rates at historic lows for who knows how much longer, we have an even greater opportunity to bring joy into the lives of others…the joy of home ownership. 

So, lets all go show some some homes this week!  And make a note, all of our model homes will be open on “Black Friday” and anyone visiting before 5:00 pm on Sunday, November 28th will get a flat screen HDTV certificate, good with any new Ole South home purchased before June 11, 2011. 

The “Bucket List” plays even better on a flat screen HDTV 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 home sales in the Greater Nashville area to include Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, and Spring Hill, Tennessee.

Nashville New Homes: Go and tell.

Yesterday’s blog topic was about students from Cane Ridge High School’s Construction Career Academy visiting the new home construction site of Rivendell Woods of Cane Ridge.   Yesterday, the students got to see first-hand examples of the trades they have been studying.   ( Photos are posted on yesterday’s blog thing.   Home Center Network will be airing excerpts on Comcast Channel 49 at 9:00 am and 9:00 pm daily.)

Ole South has had involvement with Cane Ridge since its opening and have watched the Career Academy concept evolve into a successful program format.  And it is getting better each and every day.  With guidance from educators such as Harold Cunningham and Lance Lott, even better things are on the horizon for Cane Ridge.

Which leads me to another subject … involvement in our local schools.  There are many wonderful things happening in schools all across Middle Tennessee.   We need to constantly find out what these things are and spread the good news to all that will listen!   There may be one disfunctional student that carries a knife to school, but there are thousands more carrying books, notebooks, and pencils. 

Everyone can help in some way, even if it is just talking positive.  Our quality of life is directly impacted by the quality of our schools, so we each really do have skin in the game!  The better our local schools perform, the better our local economy performs. 

Parents want to raise their families where there is a great quality of life.  Employers want to locate their businesses where they can attract great employees.  The benefits of quality education go on and on and can never be underestimated.   

 About the quality of education in Metropoltan Nashville,  did you know that US News & World Reports publishes a list of the “Best 100 High Schools in America?”   Guess what?  There are only TWO Tennessee High Schools on this list.  BOTH of them are Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools!   Tell people about that!

 http://education.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/sections/education/high-schools/index.html

 There are great things going on with education in Nashville.  Let’s all get more involved whenever we can and see if we can add even more area schools to that list next year.

Then watch the value of your new Ole South home in Nashville, Smyrna, Murfreesboro and Spring Hill climb even more.

Have a great day!

 

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: Good News Everywhere You Look!

There is a lot of good news out there, especially about Nashville, Tennessee being the perfect place to live!  Forbes Magazine has recently ranked Nashville in the top ten slots of several lifestyle categories:

According to Forbes, Nashville is the 5th most affordable place to live.  They also rank Nashville #7 in the top places to call home.  Folks, the Greater Nashville area is happening! 

Everone has got to remember that the national news is just that – news from all across the nation.  To apply the national news scenarios to every city would be like having one national weather forecast.  I can just see us now dressing for a snowfall in Denver when it is 75 and sunny in Nashville!

So, if you live in Nashville, you need to feel good about your choice!  If you don’t own your home yet, give home ownership serious consideration.  Don’t just rely on my advice …there’s more out there.  Check out the Top Ten Reasons To Buy A Home that was recently published in the Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703376504575492023471133674.html

Convinced yet?  Why not visit one of our Ole South new home neighborhoods in Greater Nashville?  Whether you want to live in Nashville, Smyrna, Murfreesboro, or Spring Hill… you will certainly find the right home in the right neighborhood for you!

Today, if you are trapped at work, or just hanging out on the couch at home with nothing planned, tune in to Talk Radio 99.7 FM today at 12:00 noon and you’ll have even more knowledge about today’s market!

Buying a home is great.  Buying a new home is even 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, but not limited to, Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, and Spring Hill, Tennessee.