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

May21

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.

Nashville New Homes: Fall is going to be fun!

Oct13

Fall in Middle Tennessee is already off to a great start!

Leaves are beginning to turn, the Tennessee Titans first season under Head Coach Mike Munchak is underway, the Nashville Predators host their first home game of the season tonight, and Ole South rolls out its very first “Facebook Friends Friday” tomorrow.

You can find out more about Facebook Friends Friday on “The Ole South Blog,” where you will also learn just how easy and fun buying a new home can be!

Another reason Fall is off to a great start is the Real Estate market in Middle Tennessee. Interest Rates are “stupid-low.” Incentives are terrific, and there are still a lot of new homes to select from. With the US Economy in the doldrums, and our local economy growing again, don’t miss exploring this great opportunity to purchase a new Ole South home!

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Whether you choose your new Ole South home in Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Spring Hill, or Clarksville, you can be assured you are receiving the very best new home value…period. Visit our website OleSouth.com for the location nearest you. Find out first hand why thousands of Middle Tennesseans are proud to say

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.

Nashville New Homes: Even lower mortgage interest rates? Coming soon.

Aug29

That’s right. Even lower interest rates are on the horizon for first-time home buyers, thanks to the folks at Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA). Visit their website, www.THDA.org for more information.

Here are the new program rates that go into effect September 1, 2011 for all files submitted ON OR AFTER that date:

Great Rate – 3.95% For the first-time buyer that has their own down-payment funds and closing costs, if not paid by a seller. Perfect for those with front and/or back ratios below 45%.

Great Advantage – 4.25% Buyer receives a 2% grant that may be used toward down-payment, or closing costs if not being paid by seller

Great Start – 4.55% Buyer receives a 4% grant that may be used toward downpayment, admin fees, and closing costs if not paid by seller.

Remember! When you purchase a new home from Ole South in Nashville, Smyrna, Murfreesboro, or Spring Hill, and use Ole South Financial (our SunTrustMortgage Joint Venture), ALL CLOSING COSTS are paid! (note: certain conventional loans limit seller contributions to 3%)

YES! A first time buyer can purchase a brand new Ole South home with ZERO CASH DOWN AT CLOSING and receive a 4.55% fixed interest rate 30-year FHA loan. Find yours at www.OleSouth.com

NOW – an unprecedented time to take advantage of unprecedented opportunities.

Nashville New Homes: Through the eyes of a homebuyer

Aug17

You know the saying, “can’t see the forest for the trees.” Yeah, that one. There is a lot of truth in that cliche, and the solution is to take a few steps back and view things from a different perspective.

This week, we’ve been filming new TV spots of our new homes and neighborhoods throughout the Greater Nashville area for Home Center Network. With pictures being worth a thousand words, a TV spot must be priceless, especially through the eyes of a new home buyer.

I’ve always known our new homes and neighborhoods in Nashville, Smyrna, Murfreesboro, Spring Hill, and Clarksville offer the best new home values in all of Middle Tennessee, but this week has opened my eyes to see way beyond that. They are also beautiful! And even more so, the closer you look.

From the “resort-lifestyle” offered in Puckett Station and Scottish Glen, to the charming craftsman styled homes of Evergreen Farms, Ole South offers something for everyone desiring a new home in Murfreesboro.

In Smyrna, the maintenance-free convenience of Lee Crossing townhomes are unmatched by any others. Our Belmont neighborhood is expanding into a new phase of homesites, in the best new school district of the area.

In Nashville/Davidson County, look no further than Ole South!

One of our most successful neighborhoods, Barnes Crossing, is almost sold out and completed, with only 6 homes under construction remaining. Close to Nippers Corner, Lenox Village, Brentwood/Cool Springs, and downtown Nashville, you will appreciate the affordable convenience of this community. Just around the corner, you will find Rivendell Woods of Cane Ridge, offering a great selection of traditional homes and town homes.

Preserve at Old Hickory offers a wide selection of traditional homes and also offers maintenance-free townhomes in the adjoining Old Hickory Commons. And we have special-purchase opportunities in the communities of Spencer Hill and Old Hickory Hills too! Seen any brand new 3 bedroom homes with garages from 110,000 lately? What about new 4 bedroom homes under 150,000? You will at Ole South!

For those wishing to live in Williamson County, we offer ALL BRICK homes from the low 200’s in Benevento East, with another location coming soon. Just around the corner is Meadowbrook and Cobblestone, offering a village of maintenance free town homes and traditional homes from the low 100’s.

The best values in the Greater Nashville area can now be found in Clarksville too! A new family moves in as fast as the homes are completed, so no TV spots there yet!

We’ll finish up all of the filming this week and hopefully have our new neighborhood spots running in several weeks. Until then, take time to visit our many new home neighborhoods today and see the beauty through your own eyes!

Find out why thousands of Tennesseans are proud to say:

Nashville New Homes: The “Occupancy After Closing Agreement”

Aug9

Wait a minute! When you purchase a NEW home, there is no need for an “Occupancy After Closing Agreement” …. right?

RIGHT! When you purchase a NEW HOME from Ole South in the Greater Nashville area, to include Cane Ridge, Antioch, Smyrna, Murfreesboro, Spring Hill, and now Clarksville, you get your keys the minute you sign the closing documents!

You can move in immediately!

That’s right…you don’t have to wait for anyone to move out! You don’t have to worry about swapping keys. You don’t have to worry about the home being damaged during the “moving-out” process, and you don’t have to worry about everything staying that is supposed to stay.

When purchasing a pre-owned home, these are all points to consider. With today’s volatile economy, anything can happen and delay a closing. Most sellers are hesitant to move all of their stuff prior to closing without a substantial deposit. They don’t want to be left on the street if the closing is delayed, or in some cases declined at the last minute.

And buyer’s of pre-owned home need to be concerned as well. What if the sellers do not move out timely? What if they take things with them that are part of the deal? Even worse, what if something happens to the property and the seller’s contents? Who really is responsible? All of those concerns should be properly addressed at the time of contract.

Just think back to May of 2010. Pretend you had just closed on your home purchase and gave the sellers a week to move out before assuming posession. Then comes the great flood. Your home has two feet of water in it and all of the seller’s stuff is ruined. Even though you own it, you are technically not yet the owner-occupant. You have insurance on your contents, but its not your stuff floating around. Even if the sellers had not cancelled their policy, would their insurance company still pay the claim with a wagging tail knowing their policy holder did not own the property? Lots and lots of complications. Situations like this, although rare, do happen.

You, the buyer, might also have everything loaded and on the way only to find out there is a complication in the title work and your loan cannot close on time. Can you say “MOTEL?”

When you purchase a new home from Ole South, you can cast all concerns to the side! Our purchasing process is simple, seamless, and reliable. We simply do not miss closing dates, unless you venture outside of our process with unknown lenders.

Through Ole South Financial, you will receive the very best financing program available and all of your closing costs are paid! No surprises. No hidden fees.

And yes, ZERO DOWN financing is still available for first time buyers.

And the best part….. when you finish signing the closing documents, you get YOUR keys to YOUR NEW HOME and can move whenever you feel like it!

Doesn’t it make sense to look at new homes first? Our model homes are open daily and anytime by appointment.

Nashville New Homes: Need more reasons to buy now? You’ve got em!

Jul15

If you’ve been waiting for the planets to become perfectly lined up before buying your first home, wait no longer!

Buying your first home is a big decision, and if you haven’t thought much about it, you need to start now. According to HUD, home prices have stabilized and will start rising.

Nashville New Homes: Bad economic news?….Another great opportunity for Tennessee!

Jun22

Every time you turn on the national news, or read a national headline, there is negative news about the economy, specifically the housing market. Many prospective buyers hear this news loud and clear, and sustain their “wait it out” philosophy. Why?

Because no one else is talking! I saw a great facebook post this week of a quote by Anthony J. D’Angelo, “If you have time to whine and complain about something, then you have time to do something about it.”

Yes we do! It is our responsibility as Realtors to communicate the positive to everyone, not just those already searching for a new home, but those that should be. Let’s start now:

Right now, low interest rates are resulting from a lackluster national economy. Every day the overall economic news leans toward “bad” is one more day that a home buyer can take advantage of unfathomable interest rates.

From the Wall Street Journal….”Based on incomes, this is as affordable as it gets,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics. “If you can get a loan, these are pretty good times to buy.”

It truly is a great time to buy. Not just because of low interest rates, but because of the programs that are available. In this world, especially in this Congress, loan procedures are always subject to change. Here is one potential change looming on the horizon that we have the opportunity to do something about:

https://realtorparty.realtoractioncenter.com/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1653

There are areas of the country that are suffering in this economy. But others are striving, and those areas are attracting jobs and economic activity much like a magnet. We are blessed that Tennessee is one of these areas!

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2011/06/13/tennessee-no-6-for-2010-economic-growth.html

The Clarksville/Ft.Campbell area is a magnet all by itself, bringing industry that is thinking outside the box in attracting workers. Check out a unique approach from Hemlock Semiconductor:

Click here to learn more about Hemlock’s opportunities: http://www.clarksvillenow.com/pages/10125186.php?

And less than 50 miles away, Nashville just keeps on retaining and creating job opportunities, as reported in the Nashville Business Journal:

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2011/06/14/employment-outlook-in-nashville-among.html

And there is even more encouragement for young adults to begin their careers in Nashville, creating many potential “first-time buyers.”

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2011/06/20/nashville-a-top-city-for-young-adults.html

Education in Middle Tennessee is also in the national spotlight! Four Middle Tennessee High Schools are ranked among the top 500 in the nation. Below are the Tennessee schools on the list and their nationwide ranking:

Hume-Fogg Academic High School of Nashville, #33

Brentwood High School, #100

Ravenwood High School of Frranklin, #284

Page High School of Franklin, #494

The above facts are just a few examples of evidence that “Tennessee is happening” and attracting more attention and activity, just like that magnet! When you plan an evening on the town, you more than likely select a place that you have heard great things about, right? Businesses and relocating families are the same way.

Tennesseans, let’s join forces and get the word out on the economy in our great state!

When you are searching for a new home, you will hopefully consider one home builder that has been providing the area’s best new home values for over 25 years:

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/feature/ResBuilders-061711-1.html

We at Ole South appreciate everyone’s support and continue to be optimistic about life in the Great State of Tennessee. We invite everyone to visit our model homes and neighborhoods, as well as our website, www.OleSouth.com, to discover why thousands of homeowners are proud to say:

Nashville New Homes: Work Equity as your New Home Downpayment?

Jun7

What is the one thing that everyone in this world has in common? A FUTURE.

That’s right…everyone has a future of some kind. Although there are no guarantees in life, there are steps each one of us can take to make our future more stable and secure. Owning a home is one such step that everyone can position themselves to take. Your future really can be in your own hands.

Home mortgage criteria has changed a lot over the recent years, but that doesn’t mean it has to be more difficult to purchase a home. It just means you have to provide more proof of your ability to be a responsible homeowner.

FHA loans are the most widely used programs, where 3.5% of the purchase price is required as a downpayment, without exception.

WAIT A MINUTE…. aren’t there ZERO DOWN home mortgages? Technically, NO…. but actually…. YES!

In Tennessee, there are loan programs where the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (www.THDA.org) will grant first-time buyers up to 4% of the purchase price to be used toward the downpayment and/or closing costs.

If the seller of the property agrees to pay your closing costs, which Ole South will, you can use the THDA Great Start grant for your downpayment and administrative fees. How does THDA do that? What is the catch?

There is no catch. The fixed interest rate for loans using the downpayment grants are slightly higher than those FHA loans with your actual down-payment. If used responsibly, the Great Start program can be a very useful tool in financial planning.

With today’s historicaly low interest rates, the money you would normally put down can be used to pay off other debts with higher interest rates. A trusted mortgage professional can help you evaluate your options. I happen to know many, so please let me know if you would like to know more.

There are other ways in addition to THDA to secure a downpayment. You may have a relative or close friend that will give you the money, which has to be documented in the form of a gift letter affidavit that no repayment is required or expected.

And there is another provision that has been around a long time, but has basically been forgotten….WORK EQUITY. Most builders hate it because it really is a pain in the ass to deal with. BUT, it is a tool that can bring willing homebuyers to the closing table much quicker! We offer the program at Ole South and you do not have to be a first-time buyer to participate!

FHA allows the seller to credit the buyer an amount up to $2.00 per heated square foot living area for painting the interior of the home, including all wood trim and doors. The seller can also furnish the paint! Please remember in your negotiating, that is the maximum allowed amount and the builder can get the same job done for 1/2 of that amount.

You can also receive “work equity” credit toward your required downpayment for seeding and strawing your own lawn. And the seller can furnish the grass seed and straw as well!

Lets do the math using an 1800 s/f, $150,000 new home example, which Ole South offers plenty of choices. (www.OleSouth.com)

The required down-payment is $5,250. Paint the home and you can receive $3,600 credit toward your downpayment. You can seed and straw a typical new home yard and receive approximately $750.00 credit. That leaves your total cash out of pocket at $900…. and you still get to take full advantage of the lowest rates available!

History proves that over time, owning is always better than renting. Why not improve your financial future today by visiting one of our Middle Tennessee neighborhoods in Nashville, Smyrna, Murfreesboro, Spring Hill, and Clarksville? Find out why thousands of home owners are proud to say:

Nashville New Homes: “Yes” Days of Summer – Week #1

Jun5

For all of us at Ole South, this week was the official start of summer. It was for all of the thermometers in the Nashville area also!

The “Yes Days of Summer” are officially underway and we will host numerous events throughout the summer for our residents, Realtors, and prospective home buyers. Join Ole South on Facebook for breaking news of future events. www.facebook.com/olesouthproperties.

We selected our Preserve at Old Hickory / Old Hickory Commons neighborhood to kick-off this years celebrations. The residents there had organized a neighborhood yard sale for Saturday, and this weekend was Nationwide Open House Weekend too.

My day started at Kroger at 7:00 am Saturday, purchasing the food and drink for the event. I hate shopping and I always forget something. My rationale for waiting until Saturday morning was that it would be cooler. It wasn’t.

Shopping finally complete and arrived at Preserve at Old Hickory, where Grand Central Party was waiting to unload and set-up. If you ever plan an event, you owe it to yourself to check this place out. They have everything for rent, and it is very affordable. Not only that, they make it all so easy. http://www.grandcentralparty.com/

After everything was set up and organized, we fired the grills in the blistering heat. I then told Wanda Comer, the beloved on-site manager at Preserve, to “shoot me” if I ever agreed to do this again when it was this hot. She won’t. And I am certain we’ll do it again, real soon…. because days like this really are fun! Here, take a look….

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Unlike “general” Real Estate, the best part of building and selling new homes is that we have the opportunity for continued involvment with our home buyers in shaping their community. We see marriages, we see children grow up, and we have an opportunity, and responsibility to become involved in the community to make a difference in the quality of life experience. Most of all, we make friends.

Wanda Comer takes these opportunities to make a difference and that is obvious by the admiration, love and respect her residents have for her. Here is Wanda, presenting the $100 Gift Card drawing to resident Ashanti Chunn, who just happened to be out the door on the way to the store when Wanda called!

Wanda is not the only one making a difference in the Preserve. John Donlon and Annette Spicer manage the adjoining Old Hickory Commons neighborhood of maintenance-free townhomes and were on hand all day as well. Chuck Reed, our Managing Broker, hovered over the grill to make certain all had plenty to eat. He also made some tasty snow cones. Thanks also to our construction staff for making sure the grounds were in order and everything we needed to work with was on-hand.

However, the ones that make the biggest difference are the residents of these two communities! They are very active in the HOA, have formed “Neighborhood Watch” groups, and are taking great pride in the future of their neighborhood.

We also had a visit from District 32 Councilman, Sam Coleman. Sam has been a great friend to this community, as well as our entire city. He has served two successful terms as District Councilman and will be running for Council-at-Large in the upcoming August election. Sam is worthy of our support and will have my vote for sure.

This was a fun week and a great start to the “Yes Days of Summer!” Earlier in the week, we hosted Gary Ashton & The Ashton Real Estate Group (TAREG) of Re/Max Elite (http://www.nashvillesmls.com/) for an afternoon on Old Hickory Lake followed by evening dinner at The Black Pearl Restaurant. www.blackjackcove.com

Especially these days, no one is working harder than Realtors, but we all have to play every once in a while! The saying about “all work and no play” needs to be revised to “all work and no play makes Jack a miserable person.” A great time was had by all!

Here’s to the 2011 Yes Days of Summer!

Nashville New Homes: The “Dog Days of Summer”

Jun1

I used to always wonder why people coined the phrase “dog days of summer.” Back one summer in the early 1980’s, legendary songwriter Bobby Harden asked me to bring my keyboard over to his boat to play background on a song he had just written. The song was about those old dog days of summer. The title ended up being “Too Cold at Home.” Several years later, the song was released by Mark Chesnutt. We played it a lot over the years at the lake! (Thanks Judie Wells for the antiquated picture!)

Rather than dog days, we at Ole South are having YES DAYS! The upcoming weekend has been proclaimed Nationwide Open House Weekend all across the nation! The weather is going to be perfect for an Open House also. Like the song says, it is going to be “too hot to fish,” and “too hot for golf.” Why not cool off looking at a new home?

In conjunction with National Open House Day, Ole South will kick off its 2011 Yes Days of Summer this Saturday, June 4th from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm at our Preserve at Old Hickory and Old Hickory Commons neighborhoods. Tour our newest decorated model home (5011 Preserve Blvd. 37013 for you GPS tekkies) and enjoy hot dogs, refreshments, and a variety of family fun. Yes, there’ll be a waterslide, a bounce house, as well as snow cones to give added relief from the heat.

And there is also a neighborhood yard sale as well. A great way to find bargains, and meet the great residents of this neighborhood!

Now is an unprecedented time to purchase a new home. Interest rates are lower than ever. New homes are more efficient than ever before. New homes are….well…. NEW! Why not join us this weekend at one of our Middle Tennessee neighborhoods. With brand new homes from 89,990 to 299,990, there is certain to be one for you!

nashvillehomesblog.com

a fun look at new homes in nashville

Tag Archives: New Homes Spring Hill

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

Nashville New Homes: Fall is going to be fun!

Nashville New Homes: Even lower mortgage interest rates? Coming soon.

Nashville New Homes: Through the eyes of a homebuyer

Nashville New Homes: The “Occupancy After Closing Agreement”

Nashville New Homes: Need more reasons to buy now? You’ve got em!

Nashville New Homes: Bad economic news?….Another great opportunity for Tennessee!

Nashville New Homes: Work Equity as your New Home Downpayment?

Nashville New Homes: “Yes” Days of Summer – Week #1

Nashville New Homes: The “Dog Days of Summer”

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