10 Most Desirable Features in New Homes

A new RISMedia article by Steve Kerch (“Top 10 Must-Have Features in Today’s New Homes”) summarizes consumer reports recently released at the National Association of Home Builders Show. One survey, by AVID Ratings Co., solicited home buyer preferences, revealing “10 ‘must’ features in new homes”:

1. Large kitchens, with an island
2. Granite countertops
3. Energy-efficient appliances, high-efficiency insulation and high window efficiency
4. Home office/study
5. Main-floor master suite
6. Outdoor living room
7. Master suite soaker tubs
8. Stone and brick exteriors
9. Community landscaping, with walking paths and playgrounds
10. Two-car garages

It’s an interesting article, worth reading in its entirety, HERE.

Must-Have Features in New Nashville TN Homes is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate

According to the National Assoc. of Home Builders, 59% of Builders are downsizing. They are building smaller, ‘greener’ homes. Watch the following video for more details…

Builders Downsize the Dream Home JoAnne Staler Nashville REALTOR is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate

U.S. House Prices Increase – Is This a Good Time to Sell or Buy a Home in Nashville TN? is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate

Councilman Jameson continues criticism of Metro’s second Nashville riverfront plan

 By MICHAEL CASS • Staff Writer • March 9, 2009

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Mayor Karl Dean is committed to each of the projects envisioned by Nashville’s original riverfront redevelopment plan but believes some may have to be built later than expected due to the economic recession, a city official said today.

Ed Owens, waterfront redevelopment director for the Metro Development and Housing Agency, said Dean wants to build each of the 19 projects on either downtown Nashville bank of the river.

“What’s important to keep in perspective is that we’ve got a good plan,” Owens said this evening. “This is not a discussion about changing any of those projects or not doing any of them. I know the mayor is fully committed to implementing the plan.”

Owens said Dean asked MDHA to revisit the original plan because of the economic crisis affecting the city’s building plans. MDHA decided to present an alternative that didn’t start with the “adventure and water play park,” which would be the most expensive project, because it wanted a true alternative.

“Otherwise, you would just end up with a variation of a theme,” Owens said.

He declined to specifically rebut any of Metro Councilman Mike Jameson’s criticisms of the alternate approach.

“We’re obviously interested in Mr. Jameson’s thoughts and opinions,” he said.

Original story: Councilman Jameson continues criticism of Metro’s second riverfront plan

A new plan for redeveloping Nashville’s downtown riverfront falls short on several counts, a Metro councilman said today.

The new proposal, http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090308/NEWS01/903080391“>presented Saturday by the Metro Development and Housing Agency, is an alternative to the riverfront plan the city, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and a team of consultants came up with after gathering public input over a 16-month period in 2006 and 2007.

Councilman Mike Jameson and an agitated East Nashville audience criticized MDHA Saturday for considering a reordering of priorities on the river’s east and west banks.

Nashville TN Official Committed to Downtown Riverfront Projects is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate

While the Middle TN area was not hit as hard as some, 2008 was still tough on Nashville home sellers.  While industry experts project the residential real estate market should start rebounding appreciably in 2010, there is still a price war out there in the Nashville real estate market. If you currently have your TN home for sale or are thinking of selling your home it better be well coifed and in sparkling condition or other offerings will outshine it. However, remodeling decisions are particularly tough to make, especially if you’re remodeling to get your home sold. If you don’t update, your home may not attract buyers. If you do update, you may not be able to recoup what you spend.

I came across an article on FrontDoor.com titled Top 10 Home Updates That Pay You Back that I thought nicely addressed the aforementioned dilemma.  I’ve paraphrased the article below and added some additional information as well.

Top 10 Home Updates

These projects will bring the biggest return on investment if you sell your home

By Dona DeZube, FrontDoor.com

The secret to successful remodeling is to keep up with the Jones’ — but never surpass them. Whether you want to make more money than you spend, or just recoup your remodeling expenses if you sell your Nashville, Brentwood or Franklin, TN home know what’s standard in the neighborhood.

Does everyone have laminate kitchen countertops? Splurge on granite and you’ll be the envy of your friends, but you won’t get your money back at resale. Is your home in a high-end neighborhood? Laminate countertops will save you money, but if you have to sell, high-end buyers will discount their offer because your kitchen isn’t what they expect or simply not buy your home at all.

Before you pick up a hammer, allow me to walk through your home with you and I will advise you on what we need to do to maximize its selling price.  This is part of my job as a local real estate expert!  I will advise you for free and with no obligation.

“The homes that sell in a buyer’s market have four things in common: an in-demand location, the right price, a perfectly maintained exterior and updated kitchens and baths,” says Susan Huerta, a Realtor with Long & Foster Real Estate, Clarksville, Md.

To get the biggest bang for your remodeling buck, try one of these 10 projects, which have the highest payoffs, according to Remodeling Magazine’s 2009 Cost vs. Value Report (CVR):

1. Spruce up or replace your siding.
2. Add a deck.
3. Tweak your kitchen.
4. Repair or replace windows.
5. Overhaul your kitchen.
6. Strip the bathroom.
7. Find cash in the attic.
8. Earn bucks from the basement.
9. Add space to add value.
10. Add low-cost landscaping.  

Top 10 Home Updates That Pay You Back in the Nashville TN Real Estate Market is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate

What does the Anti-Foreclosure Plan mean for Nashville home owners and home buyers? 

The Foreclosure Fix Plan and What it Means For Nashville Home Owners and Home Buyers is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate

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.

Great Time to Buy a Home in Nashville TN-Mortage Loan Interest Rates VERY Low is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate

While the holiday season is a hectic time to show and sell your house, there are distinct advantages to staging and showing your home during the holidays. Nothing is more inviting than a home brimming with greenery, twinkling lights and holiday decorations.  FrontDoor.com has an article with some great tips to Sell Your Home During the Holidays.  I’ve outlined the article and the tips below to help you sell your Nashville, Brentwood or Franklin TN home this holiday season……

While the thought of selling your home during the winter months may dampen your holiday spirit, the season does have its advantages: holiday home buyers tend to be more serious, and competition is less fierce with fewer homes being actively marketed.

1. Deck the halls, but don’t go overboard. Homes often look their best during the holidays, but sellers should be careful not to overdo it on the decor. Adornments that are too large or too many can crowd your home and distract buyers. Choose decorations with a general winter or holiday theme to avoid alienating buyers.  You may even consider hiring a professional home stager to make certain your home appeals to a  wide range of buyers.  If you list your Middle TN home for sale with me, I’ll provide the services of a Professional Home Stager !  Click here to see a professional home stager in action.
2. Hire a reliable real estate agent. That means someone who will work hard for you and won’t disappear during Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s. This will ease your stress and give you more time to enjoy the season.  Click here to see Why Nashville, Franklin and Brentwood Home Sellers Choose Me.
3. Seek out motivated buyers. Anyone house hunting during the holidays must have a good reason for doing so. Work with your agent to target buyers on a deadline, including people relocating for jobs in your area.  I work extensively with several large companys assisting with their employee Middle TN relocations so I have a large pool of motivated home buyers on a deadline! 
4. Price to sell. No matter what time of year, a home that’s priced low for the market will make Nashville home buyers feel merry.  Click here to see what other homes in your neighborhood have sold for.
5. Make curb appeal a top priority. When autumn rolls around and the trees start to lose their leaves, maintaining the exterior of your home becomes even more important. Bare trees equal a more exposed home, so touch up the paint, clean the gutters and spruce up the yard. Keep buyers’ safety in mind as well by making sure stairs and walkways are free of snow, ice and leaves.
6. Take top-notch real estate photos. When the weather outside is frightful, TN homebuyers are likely to start their house hunt from the comfort of their homes by browsing listings on the Internet. Make a good first impression by offering lots of flattering, high-quality photos of your home. If possible, have a summer or spring photo of your home available so buyers can see how it looks year-round.
   I have many years of experience taking photos that showcase the best your Nashville home has to offer.  When you list your home with me I’ll take top quality digital photos and use them to market your property all across the web….. Yahoo Real Estate, Microsoft MSN HomeAdvisor, Craigslist, REALTOR.com and other top national sites. I can place your home on my web site and blog site within a few minutes time! 
7. Create a video tour for the Web. You’ll get less foot traffic during the holidays, thanks to inclement weather and vacation plans. But shooting a video tour and posting it on the Web may attract house hunters who don’t have time to physically visit your home or would rather not drive in a snowstorm.
   See one of my Franklin TN listing’s video tours.
8. Give house hunters a place to escape from the cold. Make your home feel cozy and inviting during showings by cranking up the heat, playing soft classical music and offering homemade holiday treats like cookies and eggnog. When you encourage buyers to spend more time in your home, you also give them more time to admire its best features.
9. Offer holiday cheer in the form of home loan financing. Bah, humbug! Lenders are scrooges these days, but if you’ve got the means, then why not offer a home loan to a serious buyer? You could get a good rate of return on your money.  Click here for more TN Mortgage information.
10. Relax — the new year is just around the corner. Thanksgiving and Christmas are stressful enough, with gifts to buy, dinners to prepare and relatives to entertain. Hire me to sell your home and rest easy!  Request a Free Presentation On How I Will Market and Sell Your Nashville Brentwood or Franklin Home. Remember, All Real Estate Agents Are NOT Alike. 

Click here to read FrontDoor.com’s article Top 10 Tips for Selling Your Home During the Holidays in full.

Quickly Find Out What Your Nashville, Franklin or Brentwood TN home is Really Worth, by Email, for Free.

More Nashville TN Home Seller Tips here.

Get the Straight Facts About What Can Make or Break the Sale of Your Nashville TN Home.

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.

Tips to Sell Your Nashville TN Home During the Holidays is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate

I came across on article on Zillow.com that caught my attention regarding many homeowners being in denial regarding the housing market.  While Nashville and the surrounding Middle TN area isn’t suffering as drastically as other regions, our local housing market has definitely taken a nosedive.  As the Zillow.com article reads…..

America is in one of the worst housing crisis in history, yet 49% of U.S. homeowners believe their home’s value has increased or stayed the same over the past year, according to  Zillow’s Q3 Homeowner Confidence Survey.

What can you do as a Nashville Homeowner? 

Click here to see the Top 10 Ways to Beat the Sluggish Housing Market-Tips for Nashville Home Sellers   

Find out what other homes in your neighborhood sold for 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.

Are You a Nashville TN Homeowner Still in Denial? is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate

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! 

FHA Mortgage Loan Changes may affect Nashville TN Homebuyers and Sellers is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate