A homeowner can improve the home’s curb appeal and save money in the process. Before you start, the most exciting and important part is to take a “before” photo. You will be surprised once you see how your plants can change and grow.

• Plan your bedding on paper. This can come in handy when you buy and place your plants;
• Make a note of how much sun the specific area get and where does the area face;
• Discuss the plants you have in mind with the local nursery. They can tell you which plants will thrive in this area;
• Drive through your neighborhood and get ideas from other gardens;
• Visit more than one nursery and look around for ideas;
• Decide what is the focal point of your garden;
• Play around with flower of different colors e.g. azaleas, daffodils, hydrangea, roses and many more;
• Make sure to read the tags when you buy plants;
• Allow enough space for your plants. We sometimes forget that the little plants grow big. If the tag tells you the plant will grow 2 meters, allow the space;
• When buying the plants for the landscape ensure they are native to the climate and location;
• Make sure that the soil is right for the plants and know when to water the plants. Some plants need watering more often than others.
• Read the planting instructions and follow the directions when you start planting.

Your landscape can be time consuming at first, but the reward will be great. The landscape will give your home a new curb appeal which can add to the value of the property. Plan your garden with care. Remember to take some “after” photos. You will be so proud of what you accomplished.

CREATE A NEW FRONT YARD is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate

With the current economy a lot of potential home buyers are looking at the prospects of finding the cheapest place to live. The east and west coast areas are more expensive considering living costs and home prices. The most affordable and even cheap areas to live in can be found in the mid-western states. The mid-west areas are beautiful and rich in culture. The cheapest cities in the United States can be places like Nebraska, Michigan, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Ohio, Minnesota, Cleveland, Oklahoma and St. Paul. These are just some of the cheapest places to live.

In most of these cities an average mortgage can vary from $150,000 and more. The rental properties range from $400 and up for a standard apartment of two bedrooms. It is true that the average salaries here are not as high as in other parts of the country, but living costs in the mid-west are far lower.  As Forbes writer Francesca Levy points out: “Just because you can get by on the cheap doesn’t mean these places are backwaters.” One can add that some of the most expensive cities in the world are not necessarily the best places to live in.

“Cheapest Places to Live “top ten list offers some great places to live in. Nashville, Tennessee is listed in the 5^th place. Most Americans consider Nashville as a great place to live in and even to stay there for a holiday. This music city is certainly a top spot for American culture and entertainment. Austin, Texas in 10th place is a popular place to live in. Austin has become one of the nations leading hot spots for the high-tech industry so not only is the cost of living low – the job prospects are great and getting better every day.

To find a “cheaper” place is ideal for retirement, first time homebuyers, anyone who has a tight budget or who wants to live financially more comfortable on an average income.

AFFORDABLE PLACES TO LIVE is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate

When a seller and a buyer come to an agreement a “purchase and sale” contract outline the terms and conditions involving the finances and the property. The very fundamental function of the contract is to state that the seller is selling the house and the purchaser wants to own the house. The basic information that the agreement contains is buyer and seller details as well as the property description. The agreement specifies the financial terms agreed upon e.g. down payment, real estate commissions and the loan amount. This document is where the parties state that the seller can sell the property and the property can be transferred to the buyer.

It is possible that the seller can exclude a certain item from the sale e.g. an old chandelier that has been in the family for decades. The parties can negotiate the option of the seller replacing the chandelier with a standard light fixture. This must be in writing on the contract. It is good to be very specific about what is included and what is excluded when entering into an agreement. Usually all personal property that is not attached to the immovable property is excluded. This can be kitchen equipment, furniture, clothing, art and ornaments. The categories for included or excluded items are:

• Fixtures: These are the objects that are included in the sale without mentioning it on the agreement e.g. doors, the roof, flooring, bathroom rails and mirrors that are affixed.
• Chattels: This is the property that is not attached to the property e.g. ornaments, furniture and all personal belongings. Garden ornaments and/or features can be included in the sale. Make sure it is clearly stated in writing.

Buying a home is exciting. An eager seller can promise that some of the ornaments or garden features are included. Promises in some cases are easily forgotten once you start packing and cleaning up. It is always better to have it in writing and let your Real Estate Agent assist you.

GET WHAT WAS AGREED UPON is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate

Do not miss these amazing events:

• Take a tour through our listing of the Best & Most Well-liked Annual Events that take place in and around Nashville every year in the month of December.
• From the third week of November until the week after Christmas, Gaylord Opryland Hotel is host to many holiday events including the viewing their spectacular holiday lights, Ice, Breakfast with Charlie Brown, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Treasures for the Holidays to taking a General Jackson Holiday Cruise. It is four weeks of non-stop activities.
• Nearly 2 million Christmas Lights and Nativities draw visitors from near and far to see this annual spectacular site of Nashville Christmas Lights. Viewing the this magnificent display is an annual tradition among locals and another favorite add on is taking a Horse-drawn Carriage Ride (Magnolia Portico) to enjoy the decorations and lights even more

Home ownership is better than renting:

By owning a home one invests into the property, so the money that you would normally use towards rent now goes into ownership. Once you know which home you want to buy, you should make an offer. Your real estate agent can assist you with the offer. Factors to consider are: The price should be in line with prices of similar homes in the area; the condition of the home (will it cost you a substantial amount of money to refurbish); has the home been on the market for some time now (the seller may be eager to accept a lower offer); make sure you can afford the offer. The closer your offer is to the asking price, the more likely your offer will be accepted. Offers often get rejected. The real estate agent will negotiate on your behalf.

When families enter into a contract to buy or sell a house, two things are true:

• The buyer wants to own the home.
• The seller wants to sell the home.

In order for both these things to take place, the transaction must be completed. That is not an easy task in the current market.  The National Association of Realtors (NAR) released their Existing Homes Sales Report yesterday. In the report, NAR announced that one out of every three contracts to purchase a home in October never made it to a closing table.  How does that ratio stack up against previous numbers? Cancellations have more than quadrupled in the last 14 months!  According to NAR, cancellations are caused by: “declined mortgage applications, failures in loan underwriting from appraised values coming in below the negotiated price, or other problems including home inspections and employment losses.”

Having someone who truly knows the market is crucial if you are planning to buy or sell a home. This expert should know what is happening in real estate, understand why it is happening and be able to simply and effectively explain each point to you and your family.  There can be consequences if you don’t have a true industry professional on your side.

No one can guarantee you won’t face challenges. However, the best agents and mortgage professionals know how to manage the expectations of all the parties involved thus dramatically increasing the chances your deal will close and you and your family will be able to move on with your lives.

Joy resounds in the hearts of those who believe in the miracle of Christmas!

Wishing you all the peace, joy, and love of the season! Season’s Greetings!

BUYING A HOME IS BETTER THAN RENTING is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate

Welcome to the new economy. In the modern world of real estate, words like “foreclosure” and housing crisis are all too common. You hear about them every time you turn on the TV. A lot has changed over the last couple of years. That is exactly why Modern Real Estate Guide created this website — to provide current real estate information for home buyers and sellers.

To understand something about Real Estate when you want to buy or sell a home, can be overwhelming. On this website, you will find modern real estate advice to help you make sense of the current housing market. They tackle the tough questions that consumers are asking these days: What kind of credit score do you need to buy a home these days? Which types of mortgage loans is the safest option these days? How can you avoid becoming another foreclosure statistic down the road? How can you reduce your debt to increase your chances of getting a mortgage loan?

You’ll find answers to these questions and more as you travel throughout this website. Whether you’re buying a home, selling a home, or just trying to improve your financial situation, the real estate tips and financial advice collected here will help you succeed.

Helpful Real Estate Tools: In addition to the real estate information and advice provided through this site, you’ll also find a variety of helpful real estate and financial tools. For example, you can use the convenient web-based tools provided below to order your credit information, get mortgage quotes and more.

A great Realtor is reputable, honest, transparent and reliable and acquires an overall positive friendly attitude. Here we hold these qualities in high regard and encourage you to contact us.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate

 Milky Way Farms is an exciting new lifestyle development catering to the Equestrian, Golfing, and Outdoor lover. This historical estate, built by candy king Frank C. Mars in the 1930’s, consists of over 1100 acres offering a private Equestrian Club and will boast a Jay Haas designed golf course. The Milky Way Farms community has awarded a select group of experienced REALTORS® to become Designated Marketing Specialists for this exciting property.

JoAnne Staler, Williamson County Tennessee Realtor, earned this designation through the successful completion of two 3-hour sessions that were held at the Williamson County Association of REALTORS® followed by a 6-hour on-property session where she became well versed on the Mars family history, equestrian operations, golf course design, and the overall project.

Milky Way Farms will feature estate lots, lake cottages, equestrian and golf cottages & condos. Exclusive “Founder’s Ridge” premium homesite locations & incentive packages now available for purchase. From the low $200,000’s.  JoAnne is an expert on this Equestrian and Golf community located in Lynnville, Tennessee so please contact her for additional information or to arrange a private tour.  Click here to speak to JoAnne or email JoAnne directly.

JoAnne Staler, 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, Lynnville, 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 Williamson County 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.

Learn more about Milky Way Farms

See additional photographs of Milky Way Farms

See my Featured Homes Listings

New to the Middle Tennessee area or thinking of relocating?  Request my FREE package of Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin relocation information.

JoAnne Staler Williamson County REALTOR Awarded Milky Way Farms Specialist Designation is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate

According to the most recent update from the Williamson County Association of REALTORS® Franklin Tennessee continues to lead the pack with 146 closed sales in June 2008.  

There were 327 residential and condominium closings in Williamson County Tennessee reported for the month of June, according to figures provided by the multiple listing service (MLS).

Compared to June of 2007, the residential home closings decreased 33 percent and the median price for residential homes decreased by 3 percent. Days on the market (DOM) for residential homes increased by 14 as compared to June 2007. Condominium closings decreased by 54 percent. The median prices for condominiums increased by 1 percent and days on the market also increased by 8 days compared to June 2007.

June 2008

June 2007

June 2006

June 2005

 For additional information on Home Sales in Williamson County Tennessee contact JoAnne Staler, Williamson County  REALTOR with Rochford Realty & Construction Company.  JoAnne 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, MidtownNashville, Downtown Nashville, Historic Areas, Spring Hill, and Thompson Station Tennessee.  Whether Buying or Selling Real Estate locally or Relocating to Williamson County Tennessee, let a Top Selling Williamson County Real Estate Agent help.  To find out more about JoAnne Staler or search for real estate via the Williamson County Tennessee MLS visit www.JoAnneStaler.com.

Online Williamson County MLS search

Learn more about Williamson County Tennessee

Do You Have a Real Estate Related Question? I Will Email You an Answer Quickly. 

Williamson County Tennessee Home Sale Statistics June 2008 JoAnne Staler REALTOR is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate

You’ll know you’re home when you walk into this impressive three bedroom, two and half bath townhome located in the community of River Plantation in the Bellevue Tennessee area just minutes from shopping, downtown Nashville and Interstate 40.

958 General George Patton Road is a desirable end unit is fully decorated and features a spacious den with a wood burning fireplace, custom built-in bookcase and parquet floors. 

The charming eat-in kitchen has a custom tile backsplash and tile floors as well as ample cabinets and counter space for easy meal preparation.

Storage won’t be an issue as this home’s upstairs master bedroom features custom built-in cabinets and bookshelves that span the entire length of the bedroom wall.  The room also includes crown molding and custom decorator paint, as well a fully decorated master bath.

And, You’ll have no worries about parking, with your own two-car carport. Just bring your furniture and starting enjoying your new home right away!  If you would like more information, please contact JoAnne Staler with Rochford Realty at 673-9150.  

JoAnne Staler, Bellevue 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 http://www.joannestaler.com/.

Beautifully Updated Townhome in FANTASTIC Bellevue Location listed by JoAnne Staler Nashville, TN REALTOR is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate

Perched atop a hill in beautiful Legend’s Ridge 688 Legends Crest Drive is has four bedrooms, four baths, two half baths and boasts an expansive 5,694 sq. ft
 
Rarely will a truly magnificent property such as this become available for purchase in Williamson County.  Built without compromise, this striking custom home located in Franklin, TN offers only superior quality finishes.

What makes this WILLIAMSON COUNTY TENNESSEE REal Estate so special is an ambiance of elegance created by this one-of-a-kind masterpiece.  No amenity has been overlooked!

You’ll know you’re HOME when you step through  dramatic double French doors into the elegant entry of this brand new custom built residence.  Warm colors and rich hardwood floors accentuate the beautiful millwork and attention to exquisite detailing within this masterpiece.

Meticulously designed, this 4 bedroom, 4 bath, 2 half bath home exudes an old world feel with  a soaring two-story foyer and grand salon featuring gorgeous chandeliers.

the gourmet Kitchen is well appointed with a commercial grade gas stove with double ovens, hand-rubbed old world finish cabinetry, two dishwashers, a massive kitchen island and  butler’s pantry.

The hearth room features a vent-free fireplace, built-in bookshelves for storage with style and opens to a covered outdoor living space with a gas fireplace for year round enjoyment.

· Hardwood floors throughout with recessed wood registers;

· Central vacuum

· Cherry paneled walls and coffered ceiling in upstairs study

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 http://www.joannestaler.com/.

Luxurious Estate Style Home for Sale in Franklin TN listed by JoAnne Staler REALTOR with Rochford Realty is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate

THE SOUTHERN TENNESSEE RED CEDAR HEART Bedroom Furniture Collection

The Southern Tennessee Red Cedar Heart Furniture is as functional as it is beautiful. 

I hope you enjoy the following summary provided by the makers of this collection, THE CANDLELIGHT CRAFTSMEN….

If you are looking for a cedar heirloom with exquisite beauty and quality, you need to look no further.  This is a one-of-a-kind suite.  There is not another one like it anywhere at any cost.  Each distinctive piece is a naturally created work of art handcrafted with pride and craftsmanship.

"The love and care put into this entire suite’s assembly is patently obvious.  It is as functional as it is beautiful.  Time and space will not allow us the pleasure of including everything we have done to ensure quality at every stage of construction.  However, you can be certain you are getting as fine an heirloom quality suite of furniture as can be had.  This two year plus project has produced a bedroom suite that will, with reasonable care, last for generations".

For additional photos, information, or to purchase Southern Tennessee Red Cedar Heart Furniture please contact THE CANDLELIGHT CRAFTSMEN Denny, Rick, and Ken (931)762-9875. 

JoAnne Staler, 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.

Southern Tennessee Red Cedar Heart Furniture brought to you by JoAnne Staler, Nashville TN REALTOR is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate