Tag Archives: Nashville

Nashville New Homes: The lights are on & somebody’s home!

Something is different about 882 South Curtiswood Lane.  Very different.   For the past nine years, no one has lived there.  It has been fun driving on Curtiswood without having to watch my speed, because no one was there to care.  There is now! 

The home that has served as the “Executive Residence” for all of Tennessee’s Governors, from 1949 -2002, was all lit up again!  There was even a State Trooper at the main gate flashing his lights for me to slow down!  Welcome to Nashville, Governor Bill Haslam and family!

Tennesseans, especially the family of our new Governor, are greatly indebted to the efforts of former Governor Phil Bredesen and his wife Andrea Conte.  They unselfishly took on the challenge of organizing and executing the first major renovation/restoration of this historic 80-year old home since the state purchased it in 1949.   Of the 18 million dollar project cost, 9 million was raised from private donations. **

(**Politicos – I have not fact-checked the accuracy of these exact figures and am only using those ascertained from media articles on the subject.  Go jump on someone else.)

Also added was an underground facility that will seat 160.  That addition was very controversial, but will prove to be an asset to the state.  As a child, I always knew when the Governor was having a party because there was a huge circus tent on the front lawn, connected to the residence.  Sometimes there were porta-johns too, if my memory serves correctly.   

If you do the math and compile the entire cost of the whole addition and restoration project, the taxpayers are not affected.  The cost of the underground “Conservation Hall” was fully funded by private sources, and the restoration funded by the state, which honestly had let the facility go far too long without performing desparately needed repairs and alterations.   Try letting your home go for 53 years and see how you come out!

Thank you Governor Bredesen and First Lady Andrea Conte for sacrificing your residency at such a cool place to live for the benefit of future leaders!

Enjoy this overview with former First Lady, Andrea Conte:

Since 1949, there have been a few changes to the Executive Residence over the years.   Perimeter fencing and entrance gates were added in the early 70’s, Lamar Alexander added a swimming pool during his term, at no cost to taxpayers.  (I cannot imagine an estate of that caliber not having a pool in the first place.) 

One Halloween many years ago, after a successful visit to Minnie Pearl’s house, a group of us decided we would head next-door to “Trick-or-Treat” at the Governor’s Mansion too.  As we approached the gates, they suddenly opened…without us saying a word.   A voice came over the intercom…. “BOO!  Come on up!”   And we did.

We arrived at the back door of the mansion to be greeted by First Lady Betty Dunn.  She invited us in, the whole time apologizing for not having any halloween candy on hand.  No one had ever “trick-or-treated” at the Governor’s Mansion before. 

She served us cookies and refreshments and then took time to show us around the place.  What a gracious and charming lady!   Then, and now.    And for those that may be asking….. No, we did not roll the yard when we left.  (Not that one anyway!)  

Here are some interesting links regarding this historic Tennessee home:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee_Governor’s_Mansion

Here is an aerial view of the property.  http://wikimapia.org/4168812/Tennessee-Governor-039-s-Mansion

And here are a few scenes of the residence that all Tennesseans can now be very proud of:

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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

Nashville New Homes: A Tropical Heat Wave

My heart skipped in a beat of elation this morning when I noticed the temperature thing in my rear-view mirror showed 41 degrees.  On my way to the office, there were no icy bridges, no snow packed shoulders, and life as we know it is back to normal…whatever normal really is these days.  Just like a new home, WARM is better too!

Remember our YES DAYS OF SUMMER celebrations back in the days of warm?  That was the summer-long series of events held by Ole South, with great support from LP Building Products and the Tennessee Titans.  These events involved the entire Greater Nashville community…Realtors, our existing home owners, our dedicated staff, homebuyer prospects, and plain old friends.  Everyone pitched in, everyone played, and everyone had a good time. 

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One of the hardest tasks in marketing is deciding the most effective way to spend advertising dollars.  The most impact for the least amount of money is the game.  Back last spring, our marketing braintrust gathered to do just that, and the YES DAYS OF SUMMER came to life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jIms7RGti8&NR=1

The promotion ended at LP Field, with the give-away of the 2010 Scion that was the centerpiece of our advertising for 2010.  Here is more about that special day.

https://nashvillehomesblog.com/2010/10/31/what-a-week-it-was/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNBg9rYt0co&sns=fb

No accountant on planet earth can justify advertising expenses on paper.  Some efforts produce immediate results, while others produce long term.  Looking back, this promotion did both, and we are still getting attention from it.

Last week at the National Home Builders Association convention, or IBS as it is called, the National Sales & Marketing Council announced winners in a variety of advertising awards categories.  There are many entry categories to choose from.  At the 2009 show, we won “best black and white ad.” 

For 2010, the YES DAYS OF SUMMER was entered in the “Best Promotion” category and received a SILVER AWARD (2nd Place) over all entries from across the nation!  If we had more time and space to show every component of this promotion, it would have been first for certain.

http://www.thenationals.com/pages/winners/silver11.php

A sincere “Thank You” goes out to everyone that participated in these events.  Special thanks to LP Building Products, The Tennessee Titans, Home Center Network, BLF Marketing, and our dedicated staff at Ole South for making the YES DAYS OF SUMMER a national success.   Congratulations to each!

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: A fresh look from a far.

You know the saying…”can’t see the forest for the trees?” 

That’s why we were sitting on a runway at Nashville International Airport this morning at 7:15, only to be delayed for de-icing……to get out of the forest for a fresh look at the trees….from a far.  And I mean far.

Just 3.5 knee-bending hours later, we arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah to join with a group of homebuilders in sharing marketing ideas and challenges for the coming year.  I know this meeting will be productive because it is too cold to do anything else!

One challenge I am certain will be on the agenda is the right balance of pricing and incentives.  New home values have never been greater.  But you must realize that home builders have to make a profit, and you really do NOT want to buy from one that isn’t.  

Here is a great cartoon about home buying incentives that I will borrow from Jeff Shore’s great blog, The Shore Thing.

http://www.jeffshore.com/blog/the-shore-thing-december-4th-2010/the-incentive-guy/

One thing I have already seen from a far…. Middle Tennessee has some fantastic new home prices and values!    Have a great week!

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: Merry Christmas!

I just cannot chance Christmas going by without putting out another plug for buying a new home. 

If Joseph and Mary had been in Middle Tennessee instead of Bethlehem, they wouldn’t have had to look any further than Ole South for a brand new, warm place to stay.  And as first time buyers, with THDA financing through Ole South Financial, they wouldn’t have needed any cash to put down.  The Three Wise Men, which might have been women, could have brought housewarming gifts instead of the herbs and ointments that were on sale that night at the local Walgreens.

 Being a church organist for most of the past 30 years, I’ve had the pleasure of serving Congregations of a variety of denominations –  Presbyterian, Baptist, United Methodist, Episcopal, and Lutheran.   I never have played at a Church of Christ.  They don’t have organs, remember?  Although each have differences, they all have one thing in common… the Christmas hymns.

I used to dislike the release of  new hymnals.  The ministers just could not wait to pick hymns that no one knew – including me.   Some in the congregation would bitch about the new hymns, and then the selections would be back to the more familiar hymns, except for one glitch…in the new hymnals, some of the words had been changed!  As the hymnals get newer, the verbage used  becomes more “inclusive.”   In other words, more liberal.   The Christmas hymns have fortunately escaped these revisions, for the most part.

As a child, I always pictured God as an old man, similar to Santa Claus, with a Charlton Heston voice.  After all, it does say in Genesis that man was made in the image of God.    Now we have that “inclusion” thing that brings that image into question.  The modern translations say man AND woman are made in the image of God.  Does this mean the first woman looked like Santa?

Could God actually be a woman?   Yes, God could be a woman.  Women get great pleasure in saying “I told you so” when you don’t believe them and they are proven right.    But we have to be realistic here.  God is more likely a man.   A woman God simply wouldn’t keep putting up with everything that goes on down here on earth!    So lets not split hairs.  What about God being a Spirit that can only be seen and felt through others?   That works. 

This past year has been difficult for Beth and I, along with many of our friends.  We have lost dear friends, family, and loved ones.  Others have been diagnosed with not-so-good news.   But at the same time, it has been a good year.   New friendships have been created, old friendships have grown stronger, and we are much more thankful for the simple things in life that we had been taking for granted.  

To fully appreciate being happy, you have to experience being sad.  To fully appreciate comfort, you have to experience pain.  To fully appreciate life, you have to experience death.  Sometimes, we simply have to sacrifice for everything to work out in the grand scheme of things.   God proved that, with Jesus. 

In the early 80’s, The Presbyterian Church released a new hymnal that included a simple hymn that has become one of my favorites for Christmas Eve.   Here are the words to this beautiful hymn:

Born in the night, Mary’s Child, a long way from Your home:
Coming in need, Mary’s Child, Born in a borrowed room.

Clear shining light, Mary’s Child, Your face lights up our way:
Light of the world, Mary’s Child, Dawn on our darkened day.

Truth of our life, Mary’s Child, you tell us God is good:
Prove it is true, Mary’s Child, Go to your cross of wood.

Hope of the world, Mary’s Child, You’re coming soon to reign:
King of the earth, Mary’s Child, Walk in our streets again.
 

May this year be your best Christmas ever!

 

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: ‘Tis The Season.

My first real job after college was a National Accounts Representative for a furniture manufacturer…in other words, a furniture salesman that travelled around the country.  The year had been pretty good, and to show appreciation during the holidays,  I sent my customers sausage and country ham from Early’s Honey Stand.  I felt real good after the packages were sent until my Dad said…OH NO, YOU DIDN’T!   

So, most of these buyers were sent food they are not supposed to eat, for a holiday that they do not celebrate.  Call me a fool, but I never thought to ask what religion these furniture buyers were.   Well, guess what…no one got offended, no one got mad.  They all appreciated the gesture and probably remembered me as a dumbass!

As you know, we have delicious Otis Spunkmeyer cookies at our model homes and we offer them to everyone that visits.   I’ve made the cultural “faux pas” of offering these cookies to international home buyers during Ramadan.  No one got mad, no one got offended, and I learned more about that tradition.  And we are still friends.

One thing I think everyone can agree on is… ’tis the season!  Regardless of your religious preference or tradition, this is a season for kindness and being thoughtful to others.  Lets throw out political correctness and just be human.   Acts of kindness should not have cultural or religious boundaries.   And if myrhh and frankencense were suitable gifts for a king, a simple smile and kind word should suffice for all of us.

We all need a good laugh every now and then too!  Here is a cute parody on the modern day Nativity:

And what happened at this shopping mall in Canada is simply incredible.  The first time I watched it, I kept waiting to see mall security burst in and break it up.   I then remembered it didn’t happen in this country!   Take a look:

And now, everyone is glued to the local weather forecast!  Could it be that Nashville has the first “White Christmas” in 17 years?  Read more on this here:

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20101222/NEWS01/12220345/Will+Nashville+get+its+first+white+Christmas+in+17+years

Way cool!  I am excited about the possibility of snow for Christmas.  But there is another thing on my “bucket list.”  Spending the Christmas holidays somewhere warm….

And one year, we will.  Just not this year!

Merry Christmas!  (or Happy Holidays, if you prefer)

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: 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: 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: 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!

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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: 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.