The Tennessee Department of Education recently released its 2008 Report Card.  This comprehensive assessment of the Tennessee public education system contains data reflecting student achievement, demographics, discipline, educator preparation, and more.  Searches can be defined on an individual school, school district/system, or state-wide basis.  Click on the links below for additional information.

2008 TN Education Report Card

Archived Report Cards (1995 – 2007)
Tennessee Department of Education
Find Your Local School Board

JoAnne Staler has resided in Middle Tennessee for over 30 years, and her 14 years of full-time real estate practice will make her your relocation resource. Her 3 children have attended area public, private, and parochial schools, so she can help you find the BEST SCHOOL for your child. Whether looking for a Williamson County estate, a Belle Meade mansion, new construction in Brentwood, a Vanderbilt area cottage, a downtown or midtown Nashville loft, a gated community in Green Hills, a historic home in Franklin or that first-home cottage or condo, JoAnne’s extensive knowledge will help you find the RIGHT HOME in the RIGHT LOCATION! 

Looking for a luxury home?  JoAnne has represented buyers and sellers in luxury home and golf club communities such as The Reserve at Temple Hills, Govenors club, Annandale, Laurelbrooke, Legends Ridge, Fairview Plantation, Avalon and many others in Williamson and Southwest Davidson counties. 

I read a great article on FrontDoor.com today regarding what to expect from the housing market in the new year.  I hope you find it interesting and helpful.  I’ve outlined the article below….

After the recent housing boom, 2008 was a dose of reality. The subprime mortgage crisis and the collapse of major financial institutions made this year a tough one for Nashville real estate. Expect 2009 to be filled with more change and adjustment in home values and expectations.  Some experts say a slow recovery could begin in late 2009. Prepare yourself for the home sale and home buying challenges — and opportunities — of 2009 by getting familiar with what to expect in the Nashville TN housing market.

Click here to read this article in full on FrontDoor.com.

This information was brought to you by JoAnne Staler, Nashville Tennessee REALTOR with Rochford Realty & Construction Company is providing a unique level of service to buyers and sellers in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Williamson County, Green Hills, Belle Meade, Bellevue, Forest Hills, Oak Hill, Vanderbilt, Belmont, Midtown, Downtown, Historic Areas, Spring Hill, and Thompson Station Tennessee.  Whether Buying or Selling Real Estate locally or Relocating to Middle Tennessee, let a Top Selling Nashville Real Estate Agent help.  To find out more about JoAnne Staler or search for real estate via the Middle Tennessee MLS visit www.JoAnneStaler.com.

See what home buying bargains are out there!  Search all local Middle TN listings for your dream home today.

Know what school district or even specific neighborhood you want to buy a home in?  Use my advance property search tools to narrow your Nashville home search.

JoAnne Staler has been awarded membership in the Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist’s (CLHMS) Million Dollar Guild in recognition of her knowledge, experience and expertise in the luxury home arena. Members of The Guild are specialists who have proven success in the million dollar and above real estate market.  

The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing is the premier independent authority in training and certification for real estate agents working in the luxury residential market.  As a designated Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist JoAnne has documented performance in the TOP 10% of her market, and has successfully demonstrated her expertise in the luxury home and estate home market.

Click here to find out more information on the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing.

See some of JoAnne’s Nashville and Franklin TN luxury home and estate home listings here.

Read more about JoAnne Staler Franklin TN real estate agent.

JoAnne Staler, Nashville Tennessee REALTOR with Rochford Realty & Construction Company is providing a unique level of service to buyers and sellers in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Williamson County, Green Hills, Belle Meade, Bellevue, Forest Hills, Oak Hill, Vanderbilt, Belmont, Midtown, Downtown, Historic Areas, Spring Hill, and Thompson Station Tennessee.  Whether Buying or Selling Real Estate locally or Relocating to Middle Tennessee, let a Top Selling Nashville Real Estate Agent help.  To find out more about JoAnne Staler or search for real estate via the Middle Tennessee MLS visit www.JoAnneStaler.com.

It is a great time to buy a home in Nashville, TN while mortgage loan interest rates are very low!

Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.47 percent, down from the prior week when it averaged 5.53 percent and from the prior month with November ending with an average of 5.97 percent. At 5.47 percent the 30-year FRM is at its lowest point for all of 2008!

One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs averaged 5.09 percent last week, down from the previous month when it averaged 5.18 percent.

“After Federal Reserve actions to increase liquidity in the mortgage market, interest rates for fixed-rate mortgages (FRMs) took a dive,” said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. “This week’s decline was the largest since the week of November 27th, 1981, and 30-year FRM rates are now almost a full percentage point lower since the last week in October.”

[SOURCE: Freddie Mac]

Click here for more Nashville TN mortgage information.

Prequalify for your Nashville TN mortage online here.  Quick and easy!

Have mortgage questions?  I can help…. click here to contact me directly.

This information was brought to you by JoAnne Staler, Nashville Tennessee REALTOR with Rochford Realty & Construction Company is providing a unique level of service to buyers and sellers in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Williamson County, Green Hills, Belle Meade, Bellevue, Forest Hills, Oak Hill, Vanderbilt, Belmont, Midtown, Downtown, Historic Areas, Spring Hill, and Thompson Station Tennessee.  Whether Buying or Selling Real Estate locally or Relocating to Middle Tennessee, let a Top Selling Nashville Real Estate Agent help.  To find out more about JoAnne Staler or search for real estate via the Middle Tennessee MLS visit www.JoAnneStaler.com.

Gorgeous Condo located in the sought after Franklin TN community of Westhaven is now available for rent!  This two bedroom, two and one half bathroom FULLY FURNISHED executive rental comes stocked with a Flat Screen TV, washer/dryer, and FREE high-speed Internet & digital cable.

Full access to the neighborhood ‘Resident’s Center’ which includes a fitness center and beautiful resort style swimming pool.  

This Westhaven Condo has a pet friendly private courtyard! This is also the perfect place in which to extend your living space. Bring the party outdoors when entertaining or enjoy a private time relaxing.  This fantastic Franklin TN executive rental is available for immediate occupancy with a six month lease term and rents for $2500 monthly.

This Westhaven condo is listed by JoAnne Staler, Franklin Tennessee REALTOR with Rochford Realty & Construction Company is providing a unique level of service to buyers and sellers in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Williamson County, Green Hills, Belle Meade, Bellevue, Forest Hills, Oak Hill, Vanderbilt, Belmont, Midtown, Downtown, Historic Areas, Spring Hill, and Thompson Station Tennessee.  Whether Buying or Selling Real Estate locally or Relocating to Middle Tennessee, let a Top Selling Nashville Real Estate Agent help.  To find out more about JoAnne Staler or search for real estate via the Middle Tennessee MLS visit www.JoAnneStaler.com.

Click here to see other available rental properties.

The Tennessean newspaper reports: At the 2008 Governor’s Housing Summit in Nashville last week, the state’s Attorney General warned of an increase in Tennessee foreclosure scams…..

*** BEGIN QUOTE ***
“Scams built around false promises to help borrowers facing foreclosure hold onto their homes — perhaps perpetrated by some of the same people who issued predatory loans to begin with — appear to be on the rise, the state’s attorney general told housing officials Monday.

The state has filed lawsuits against two “foreclosure rescue” companies that it says promised to help borrowers restructure mortgages but instead pocketed fees without following through, Attorney General Robert E. Cooper Jr. said in an introductory address to the 2008 Governor’s Housing Summit in Nashville.

A group of Tennessee agencies, including the Office of the Attorney General and the Division of Consumer Affairs, believes the rise in foreclosures statewide has touched off a wave of deception aimed at capitalizing on struggling borrowers’ desperation.
*** END QUOTE ***

To read the news report (from the TENNESSEAN) on the Attorney General’s remarks, go HERE.

This information was brought to you by JoAnne Staler, Nashville Tennessee REALTOR with Rochford Realty & Construction Company is providing a unique level of service to buyers and sellers in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Williamson County, Green Hills, Belle Meade, Bellevue, Forest Hills, Oak Hill, Vanderbilt, Belmont, Midtown, Downtown, Historic Areas, Spring Hill, and Thompson Station Tennessee.  Whether Buying or Selling Real Estate locally or Relocating to Middle Tennessee, let a Top Selling Nashville Real Estate Agent help.  To find out more about JoAnne Staler or search for real estate via the Middle Tennessee MLS visit www.JoAnneStaler.com.

 Click here to search the Nashville MLS and see all local homes for sale.

Read about mortgage changes that may affect you here.

I thought you might be interested to know that for the third quarter of 2008 compared to the third quarter of 2007, Williamson County TN only experienced a 2.46% drop in median price for single-family homes. Williamson County continues to perform better than many metro areas and the National average.  I have summarized information from Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller, story from Inman News, for your review…

S&P/Case-Shiller reports 16.6% drop in Q3

By Inman News, Tuesday, November 25, 2008.

The Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller National Home Price Index dropped a record 16.6 percent in the third quarter compared to the same quarter last year.

And a separate monthly price index for 20 U.S. metro areas also fell a record 17.4 percent year-over-year in September.

The monthly index is based on repeat sales of resale single-family homes over time, and the quarterly national index is a composite of single-family home-price indices for the nation’s nine Census divisions.

In a separate announcement this week, the National Association of Realtors reported that the median price of U.S. resale homes dropped 11.3 percent year-over-year in October — the largest ever drop since the National Association of Realtors began tracking the statistic in 1968 (see Inman News).

Phoenix suffered the largest year-over-year price drop in the S&P/Case-Shiller monthly index, falling 31.9 percent; followed by Las Vegas, down 31.3 percent; and San Francisco, down 29.5 percent.

Dallas had the slightest year-over-year price drop in September, at 2.7 percent (our own Williamson County Tennessee did better at only 2.46%); Charlotte was down 3.5 percent; and Denver was down 5.4 percent.

San Francisco had the largest August-to-September price drop, at 3.9 percent, while Cleveland had the slightest month-to-month drop, at 0.6 percent.

Click here to see the S&P/Case-Shiller 20-metro-area price index

Read this Inman News article in full

Search the Middle TN MLS for Williamson County Homes for Sale

See what your home is worth and what other homes are selling for in your neighborhood

This information was brought to you by JoAnne Staler, Williamson County Tennessee REALTOR with Rochford Realty & Construction Company is providing a unique level of service to buyers and sellers in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Williamson County, Green Hills, Belle Meade, Bellevue, Forest Hills, Oak Hill, Vanderbilt, Belmont, Midtown, Downtown, Historic Areas, Spring Hill, and Thompson Station Tennessee.  Whether Buying or Selling Real Estate locally or Relocating to Middle Tennessee, let a Top Selling Nashville Real Estate Agent help.  To find out more about JoAnne Staler or search for real estate via the Middle Tennessee MLS visit www.JoAnneStaler.com.

I just wanted to take a second and update you on some current and soon to be FHA mortgage loan changes that may affect Nashville area home sellers and home buyers. As of last month FHA has changed its up front and monthly mortgage insurance premiums. The new upfront premium is 1.75% and the new monthly premium is .55%. Prior to these changes both the monthly and the upfront were credit score driven.

The other change that will go into effective on January 1, 2009 is the new minimum down payment that will be required on all FHA loans. FHA will change the minimum required down payment to 3.5% which is up from 3%. The borrower is still allowed to get this gifted from a relative but no longer from Down Payment Assistance Programs.

As always, Heather, Kristi, Gary, Josh, Gena, and I are always available to answer any questions you may have regarding Middle TN mortgage loans.  Click here to speak to me immediately.

The JoAnne Staler Group specializes in first time home buyers.  We offer home purchase counseling to walk you through every step of purchasing your first home in the Nashville TN area.  We’ll help you find your perfect Nashville neighborhood, educate you on financing options, assist in the mortgage loan prequalifying process, find your dream home, guide you through the home inspection,  make sure the final contract is in your best interest and coordinate the closing.  Click here to see Why Nashville area home buyers choose me as their real estate agent.

To see what other TN Home Buyers have said about JoAnne please click here. 

New to the home buying process? Click here to tell me your concerns or ask me questions. It’s my job to help! There’s no obligation, and I promise to get back to you quickly… 

JoAnne Staler, Nashville Tennessee REALTOR with Rochford Realty & Construction Company is providing a unique level of service to buyers and sellers in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Williamson County, Green Hills, Belle Meade, Bellevue, Forest Hills, Oak Hill, Vanderbilt, Belmont, Midtown, Downtown, Historic Areas, Spring Hill, and Thompson Station Tennessee.  Whether Buying or Selling Real Estate locally or Relocating to Middle Tennessee, let a Top Selling Nashville Real Estate Agent help.  To find out more about JoAnne Staler or search for real estate via the Middle Tennessee MLS visit www.JoAnneStaler.com.

Click here to pre-qualify for your Brentwood, Franklin or Nashville TN mortgage loan.

Find Out About the Latest Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin Area Homes for Sale Before Anyone Else! INSTANT DAILY EMAILS! 

Searching for that perfect home in Nashville or the Middle TN area?  Before you can love a home you have to like the neighborhood.  Many times buyers have a good idea of the home they are looking for but haven’t given the neighborhood much thought. I recently came across an interesting article on FrontDoor.com outling 5 steps to choosing your perfect neighborhood that I thought might be helpful to buyers out there. 

The FrontDoor.com article titled How to Choose a Neighborhood, 5 steps to finding a place where you belong gives some great tips for choosing the Nashville community that is right for you.  I’ve provided the article’s highlights below.  Click here to read the FrontDoor.com article in full. 

STEP 1 — Profile Your Perfect Neighborhood

• Do you have children or are you planning to have children anytime soon?
• What type of home do you want…single-family home or a condo, townhouse?
• How far are you willing to commute?
• Do you want to be in a historic neighborhood or a new development?
• What is your current community lacking? 

STEP 2 — Zero In on the Area

This is where a good realtor can really help to narrow the search by educating you on the areas that best match your list of wants and don’t wants that you came up with in Step 1.  My expert local knowledge of the Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin Tennessee area should be invaluable to you, not just in terms of real estate, but also schools, neighborhoods, the local economy, and more. Click here to read detailed descriptions of many Middle Tennessee neighborhoods. 

STEP 3 — Get the Suspects

With your area of Middle TN in mind, start digging up information. Find interesting neighborhoods online, ask real estate agents for recommendations and compile all the background information you can, including:

• School information
• Crime statistics
• Parks and recreation
• Neighborhood associations
• Tourist attractions

STEP 4 — Find the Clues

Once you’ve done the background research, visit neighborhoods that made the preliminary grade in person. There’s no better way to paint a real picture of life in the neighborhood. Use your senses to get a complete picture of the prospective community.

Sights:

• Remember your first impression. You’ll want to feel good about where you call home, and impress buyers when you’re ready to move on.
• Visualize yourself in the neighborhood.You’ll enjoy the neighborhood more if it’s easy to do what you like.
• Observe the neighborhood at different times of the day. Driving through will help you get a snapshot of life in the community — good and bad.
• Make sure the local schools make the grade even if you don’t have kids. It will be easier to sell your house later if the schools are nice.
• Look for warning signs. Be on the lookout for signs that the neighborhood is in trouble.

Sounds:

• Stop and listen. Bird and nature sounds are generally pleasant, but what about noise from the highway, airport, hospital, train tracks or nearby clubs and bars? It’s not very relaxing to listen to trains screech by during your morning coffee — especially not every morning.

Smells:

• Specifically, are there any? Take a big whiff of the air, and ask around if you smell any bad odors.

Taste:

• Ask yourself if the neighborhood matches your taste in a living environment

STEP 5 — Close the Case

You’ve chosen your Middle TN neighborhoods. Now for the hard part: finding a house you love. Now, make sure to:

• Find out how much house you can afford. 
• Draw up your vision of home. It worked for your neighborhood — now make your list of wants and don’t wants for your home!

Click here to read FrontDoor.com’s How to Choose a Neighborhood 5 steps to finding a place where you belong

This information was brought to you by JoAnne Staler, Nashville Tennessee REALTOR with Rochford Realty & Construction Company is providing a unique level of service to buyers and sellers in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Williamson County, Green Hills, Belle Meade, Bellevue, Forest Hills, Oak Hill, Vanderbilt, Belmont, Midtown, Downtown, Historic Areas, Spring Hill, and Thompson Station Tennessee.  Whether Buying or Selling Real Estate locally or Relocating to Middle Tennessee, let a Top Selling Nashville Real Estate Agent help.  To find out more about JoAnne Staler or search for real estate via the Middle Tennessee MLS visit www.JoAnneStaler.com.

Click here to speak to JoAnne directly and start finding your perfect Nashville neighborhood and home today.

Read about Nashville communities here to help decide which one you might prefer.

Access my real estate map here to locate Middle TN communities that may house your perfect neighborhood.