Tag Archives: Nashville Homes

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

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

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

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Advertisement

Nashville New Homes: Blue skies and blue water.

On a gorgeous winter day like we have today in Nashville, you cannot help but think ahead to spring and summer.  After all, they are just right around the corner.

When I first saw today’s clear blue skies, I dreamed off for a minute and thought…. “almost time to get the pool ready for summer.”    Then, I remembered that we don’t have a pool.  We have a new puppy instead.

But Ole South does have a pool in our Puckett Station and Scottish Glen neighborhoods of Murfreesboro.  And you do not have to get it ready for summer either!   The waters are just as clear as the skies above also.  Take a look at the pool and cabana of Puckett Station waiting just for you and your family:

And just a few minutes away is the lovely pool setting in Scottish Glen:

It won’t be long until both of these neighborhood pools will be in full swing for your enjoyment!   But most of all, you will love the selection of new homes in these neighborhoods that Ole South has to offer.

In Puckett Station, choose from the maintenance-free townhomes of Puckett Downs, with and without garages, from the low 100’s.  In the Knolls of Puckett Station, you will appreciate 4-sides masonry construction with an “olde world” feel from the 190’s.  Outdoor Living areas are our specialty!   Want something even larger?  Custom build your own palatial estate in The Reserve at Puckett Station.  All within close proximity of neighborhood schools, great shopping, and I-24.  Call 615.410.3765 to arrange a visit!

Just around the corner is Ole South’s neighborhood of Scottish Glen, offering many of the same home plans available in The Knolls of Puckett Station.  Many choices of exterior elevations are offered in this quiet neighborhood, between Hwy 96 and Old Salem on Rucker Lane.  Call 615.896.8188 for more information.

In the meantime, enjoy these scenes from both communities.  Picture yourself in the pools too!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

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’s going to be fun!

If last night is any indication, 2011 is going to be a great year.  Not just for new home sales, but for having fun as well!   Middle Tennessee Realtors packed the Embassy Suites Hotel Ballroom in Cool Springs to “Kick-Off” 2011 with all of us at Ole South.  Great food, drinks, music, and fun was on the agenda.  So was giving away money, lots of it!

The turnout was spectacular and the room was filled with enthusiasm for 2011.  We are fortunate to have a lot of great Realtors in Middle Tennessee and blessed that they are good friends too.  They could have spent their evening somewhere else, and we are honored that they chose to spend their time with us! 

Whenever you have that many Realtors in one place, you have to tell them all about your company and the exciting plans we have for the new year.   New things like these:

 *  ALL BRICK HOMES in Williamson County, featuring outdoor living areas, 4 BR, 3.5 bath, Formal Dining, Bonus Room, and a 3-car garage for under 300,000.

*   The most affordable new homes in Metropolitan Nashville.  Town homes from 89,990 in Old Hickory Commons and Traditional homes from 109,990 in Spencer Hill.

*   The introduction of ‘FUTURE PROOF” homes in many Ole South neighborhoods.

*   A totally new introduction of floorplans in the low 100’s in our flagship community, Evergreen Farms in Murfreesboro.

*   The introduction of new town home models featuring walk-out verandahs and covered rear porches.

*   Our recent expansion into the Clarksville, Tennessee market.

*   And too many other things to list!

On display were many fine products used in the construction of our homes.  Special thanks to Alsides, Ferguson Enterprises, Home Center Network, Marsh Cabinets, Metro Carpets, Mold Stoppers, Ole South Financial/SunTrust Mortgage, Tri Star Title and Escrow, and Union Station Brick & Stone for their participation in the program!

We also gave away $11,000 during the evening.  24 Realtors won gift cards in amounts from $100 to $1100!  Many of our vendors gave away prizes also. 

I really enjoy watching events like this one come together.  It gets even better when everyone has fun!

Speaking of fun, let’s all have more of it in 2011!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

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: Make home buying fun!

Every Real Estate professional I know likes to have fun, and likes to provide their clients an enjoyable buying or selling experience.  Some are better at having fun than others.

Every home buyer likes to have fun too.  They want to have fun and have an enjoyable home buying experience also.  Just like Realtors, some are better at having fun than others.

You don’t buy a new home every day, so why not make the most of the experience?  Here are a few tips:

1)     Focus on your new home as HOME!  Don’t stress on investment potential.  The very lifestyle factors that attract you to the home will attract others.  Your home will not be a “get-rich-quick” tool, but will lead to a more secure financial future.  Even with zero appreciation, you will have something to sell when it is paid for.  Try that with an apartment!  Even in today’s economic climate, homes in Greater Nashville have averaged 3.5% appreciation over the past 10 years.

2)     Explore the basics of home mortgages.  Know your financial capabilities before you shop and have a source for your required down-payment.  In Tennessee, first-time buyers may be eligible for their down-payment to be paid by THDA’s Great Start program.  Visit www.THDA.org for more information.

3)     Explore different areas close to, and further from work.  You may actually find your best quality of life in an area you have never thought of!  There are more ways to find information now than ever.  Use them!  It doesn’t cost anything to look.

4)     When choosing a Realtor or a home builder, find one that you personally like and can develop a relationship with.  After all, it is your money…you might as well have fun spending it!

5)     Contrary to popular belief, there is a perfect home at the perfect time.  When you find a home you like, that meets all of your needs, is within your budget, and gives you a warm feeling inside…that is the one.  No two homes are exactly alike, so questioning your emotions may actually cause you to miss out. 

6)     Too many cooks…. well you know the saying!   It never hurts to get advice from people you like and trust, but the more people you consult, the more opinions you will get, which most likely will add confusion.  Trust yourself first.  Others later.

At Ole South, we’ve made homebuying fun for over 25 years.  We take stress out of the equation and allow you to focus on what is most important to you…your new home.  Visit any of our Middle Tennessee locations today.  We’ll even give you a little yellow stress ball for starters!   Give me a call when you are ready to explore.

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: Surprised, Appreciative, and Humbled.

It is now officially Christmas Week.   There have been times that I thought 2010 would never end, and now I look back and wonder where it went!

Thursday night, I was honored to receive the “2010 Sales Manager of the Year” award from the Home Builders Association of Middle Tennessee’s Sales & Marketing Council.   It truly is an honor to be recognized by your peers.  It is a greater honor to work with the team we have at Ole South.  This year, ten of our thirteen full-time on-site agents received Circle of Excellence awards! 

The evening would not have happened had it not been for those that got off the fence and purchased a new home.  Thank you for believing in us, and the new home industry!  

We gathered at Nashville’s fashionable Hutton Hotel and enjoyed the company of other builders, industry professionals, and on-site agents that also made it through 2010.   Connie Nicley and the staff of HBAMT are to be commended for making this year’s event spectacular as always!

At this event, it became apparent that 2011 is going to be a year of recovery!  Why, you ask?

At the 2008 HBAMT banquet, only one agent received a Platinum Award for over $10 million in closed sales – our own Lynn Harrison.  At the 2009 banquet, there were no Platinum Award recipients.  This year, there were two!  Tommy Jarrett from Southeastern Builders and Joni Wilson of Norfolk Homes.   The market is turning!

This hasn’t necessarily been a banner year for the home building industry, but it has been an exceptional year for those wanting to purchase a home, especially first-time home buyers.   Those opportunities still remain, at least right now.  Those sitting on that fence are going to have blisters of regret if they keep waiting on the planets to align more favorably than they are now.   Keep waiting and pay more… in price, interest rate, or both.

Our HBAMT Sales & Marketing Council brings cutting-edge program topics and speakers to our meetings.  In September, we had the honor of spending the morning with Jeff Shore, a well-known “guru” of new home sales.   If you are in Real Estate, especially new home sales, his blog is a “must-follow.”    His Christmas Message will make you reflect, and make you proud to be a Realtor. 

http://www.jeffshore.com/blog/the-shore-thing-december-18th-2010/merry-christmas-2010/

Merry Christmas!

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: Ten more days…

Isn’t it hard to believe that in just 10 days it will be Christmas morning?   The Christmas programs that everyone has been rehearsing for will be over, another Christmas Eve will have passed, you’ll have a new supply of King Leo candy sticks, and if you need anything at the grocery store, you’ll be out of luck and have to wait, or go visit Habib at the Kwik Sak.  Get a lottery ticket too while you are there.

Its also hard to believe just how bitter cold it is right now.  Very few things beat coming into a warm home when it is cold and I had the pleasure of welcoming a first time buyer into their brand new, warm Ole South home today.  That’s always a special time, but it was especially meaningful to me today… I had left my coat in the car!

If you haven’t bought the perfect Christmas gift for the family yet, consider a new home if you don’t own one already.  Can you think of a good reason not to?    You can own a brand new home in Nashville for less than $800 per month, including taxes and insurance.  And you can also pay more if you would like!

No matter how energy efficient your new home is, cold weather like we are experiencing right now will spin your meters like a roulette wheel.   Everyone knows that new homes have proper insulation, energy efficient windows, high efficiency heating systems,  efficient appliances, etc.   But here are a few helpful hints to save a few extra heating dollars with any home this holiday season:

1)  Try setting your heat at 65.   That sounds crazy, but we started that at our house several winters ago and it really has saved a fortune.  (If you think that is cold, go outside for a few minutes and then come back in) 

2)  If you have a central heating unit, switch the fan from automatic to MANUAL mode.   Warm air rises and cold air falls – leaving the fan on manual keeps the air evenly blended and actually reduces the time the heating elements are on. 

3)  If you have a heat pump, whenever you need to set the temperature higher, do it in small increments of 2 degrees.  This will keep the electric coils from kicking in, and slowly raise your temperature. 

4)  Build a Fire?????   I know people say not to use a fireplace because all the heat goes up the chimney and I think that is a bunch of crap.   If that is true, why do people build fires in the fireplace to keep warm when the power goes out?  Just a thought….

Also, no matter what type of home you live in, keep a pair of gloves, a flashlight, and a blanket in your car and keep the gas tank full.  This time of year, anything can happen on your way home from work.

Bottom line….Stay warm and take time to enjoy the season before its gone!

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: Santa is coming to town.

Actually, Santa recently passed through Nashville.   And he brought a lot of great things to the Greater Nashville area with him!   And not to worry, he will be back again… very soon!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Nashville now celebrates the opening of Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville in the downtown business district.  Everyone knows that Margaritavilles only locate in the most popular of tourist destinations!  Here you can learn more about this new iconic venue from the Nashville Business Journal:

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2010/11/22/margaritaville-opens-in-downtown.html

And another spectacular event happened earlier this month, the re-opening of Opryland Hotel – transformed from $200 million in flood damage to a collection of over 2 million Christmas lights! 

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/40197429/ns/travel-news/

Another holiday spectacular you will not want to miss is the Season of Celebration, at Nashville’s Cheekwood Botanical Gardens.  The Arts are alive in well in Nashville, Tennessee!

http://www.cheekwood.org/Art/Season_of_Celebration.aspx

These events are just a few of the many things that Santa has brought to Nashville this year.   Back in 1986, he brought Ole South Properties to Middle Tennessee and we have been building the very best new home values in Nashville, Smyrna, Murfreesboro, and Spring Hill ever since!   From 89,990 to $299,990, we have a brand new home to meet your needs.

Santa can’t bring a new home down your chimney, but he certainly can point you in the right direction to find one – www.OleSouth.com.   Join us on Facebook too!  www.facebook.com/olesouthproperties

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: 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

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: What a week it was!

Last week certainly was exciting, and it started off with a bang at LP Field, home of The Tennessee Titans!

While I was at sea chasing Hurricane Richard on the Carnival Triumph, our six finalists for “Win in 2010” gathered at the LP Party Deck to find out who would win the 2010 Scion.  I really did want to be there, I swear I did.

Each of the contestants picked a key out of a Titans helmet, held by our owner, John Floyd.  No, the contest was not rigged.  I wasn’t there, remember?

But Kelly Ford, an Ole South home owner in Murfreesboro’s Puckett Station was there to turn the winning key.  Here she is, shown with Ole South owner, John Floyd, who was kind enough to stand in for me.  Lucky John!

Here is Kelly, with husband Kevin, after calming down a bit!

LP Field really was THE place to be last Sunday.  Even Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen showed up to get in on the excitement! So, while Kelly enjoys her 2010 Scion, let’s also once again congratulate Brenda McMillan, John Betts, Glenda Garriott, J.J. Love, and John Black.  Although they didn’t win the car, they did enjoy the game from the exclusive LP Party Deck!  We thank them, and everyone for your continued support of Ole South, Tennessee’s #1 Home Builder.

It really was a great week, and other than missing this exciting event, it was a great week for me also.  Selling the best new home values in Greater Nashville, Smyrna, Murfreesboro, and Spring Hill is always fun, but every once in a while, you just have to take a break and rest up for even more exciting news from Ole South.  Yes, something exciting is happening and more people are going to be able to afford a brand new home just minutes from downtown Nashville!

The cat is still in the bag, and it is going to stay in there a bit longer.  First, I have to unpack!

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.