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…

“This is exciting for Franklin to achieve this status in Southern Living Magazine,” remarked Franklin Mayor John Schroer. “This is a true compliment for the citizens and businesses that serve Franklin visitors, they do a great job of attracting people to this town and making sure they have a pleasurable experience while they are here.”

The top ten “Best Small Town” list includes:

1. Beaufort, SC

2. Fairhope, AL

3. Fredericksburg, TX

4. Blowing Rock, NC

5. Franklin, TN
 
6. Eureka Springs, AR

7. Oxford, MS

8. Grand Rivers, KY

9. Madison, GA

10. Hendersonville, NC

Click here to read about Franklin Tennessee’s goal to become a Top 25 Green City.

Click here for more information on Franklin, Tennessee or Williamson County.  

Click here to read about Franklin’s award winning schools. 

Click here to view demographic reports for Franklin, Tennessee. 

Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest events in your life.  Real estate sales are complex transactions in which innumerable snags can occur.  Be prepared with the tools you need to successfully navigate the real estate waters. 

With over 14 years of experience working in the Nashville real estate market I’ve put together an extensive collection of resources to guide homeowners, homebuyers and real estate investors through the process of selling and buying a house, condo or other Nashville TN property.  I hope the following tools will be of assistance to you in your Middle Tennessee real estate dealings.  And remember I can be reached directly by clicking here for one-on-one expert help and advice. That’s my job.

Rent Vs. Buy

Bargains are everywhere possibly making this the best time ever to buy a home in Middle TN!  Don’t miss out on a great deal…. be prepared by knowing the do’s and dont’s of homebuying.

Your home is probably the biggest purchase your family will ever make, and it involves many decisions that go beyond simply choosing one you like.  The following article has some great information to make sure you get the best deal when buying your Nashville TN home.
Homebuying Dos and Don’ts
Take in these 8 tips for house hunting success

By FrontDoor.com

1. Do research the neighborhood.

Look at the house, but also look at the neighborhood. Location is the most important thing, so it’s critical to look at more than bricks and mortar.

How can you choose the right community? Become a neighborhood detective. Figure out what you’re looking for, do research and find a neighborhood that fits your description.

Find your perfect Nashville Neighborhood

2. Do look at several houses before you buy.

Buying the first house you look at it is kind of like marrying the first person you go on a date with — not necessarily a good idea. If you buy a home without comparing it to other listings in the area, you’re likely to overpay or miss out on a great nearby home. Walk through at least three homes before you choose. If you still love the first one you saw, make an offer!

Find out what a home sold for here.

3. Do invest in a professional inspection.

Sellers don’t always disclose the whole truth to potential buyers, or they might have done a band-aid job to cover up issues until the deal closes. The average home buyer takes 15 minutes or less to choose a home, but many potential problems, like plumbing and wiring trouble, might not be visible to the naked eye.

Home inspectors can look beyond the fresh coat of paint to find costly underlying problems. Splurge on an experience professional — it will save you time, money and house-induced heartache later on.

Read more about the TN Home Inspection process here.

4. Do buy based on needs, not wants.

The average American lives in the same home for about 9 years, so it’s crucial that you think about your long-term needs when buying a home. A 2-bedroom house with a gourmet kitchen may dazzle you today, but will you still be enamored down the road when your family starts to grow? Make a list of your needs and stick to it to avoid buyer’s remorse down the road.

Click here to find your perfect Nashville TN home.

5. Don’t overbid at real estate auctions

While it’s possible to get a deal on your dream home at the auction house, buying a home at auction isn’t always a bargain. The starting price may seem reasonable, but several bidders can force the price well over market value.

Avoid overbidding by doing research. Are any outstanding property taxes or liens that you’d have to pay for upon purchase? What are comparable homes in the area selling for? Is the neighborhood on the way up or on the way out? On auction day, set a strict budget and don’t let emotions take hold of your paddle in a bidding war.

A day at a real estate auction

6. Don’t buy a house or dismiss a house because of its decor.

A home might have gorgeous furnishings at the showing, but it needs to accommodate your furnishings and lifestyle after the sellers pack up their sofa.  Or a home may be poorly furnished but the perfect spaces lie underneath.  Look past a home’s decor and make sure the space will accommodate your lifestyle and furnishings.

Are the spaces functional and efficient for your daily routine? You might love how a seller has transformed an extra bedroom into a crafting space, but will it be big enough for your twins’ bunk beds? Focus on the floor plan and the square footage to decide if a home is right for you.

What to consider at a showing

7. Don’t buy the most expensive house on the block.

Keep up with the Joneses, but don’t outdo them. You won’t get the same return on investment with the biggest house on the block, and you might have trouble selling later on.

Before you purchase a home, research the neighborhood. Is the house you’re considering overbuilt for the area? Are comparable homes selling in the area? You’ll be glad you gathered the information if you ever decide to sell.

MARKET ANALYSIS
Find out how much a home is worth & see neighboring home sales

With over 14 years of real estate experience assisting home buyers in Middle TN I can make certain your best interests are represented in your search for a home in the Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin area.  As a top Middle TN area real estate agent, I will guide you through the entire home buying process, from viewing homes and mortgage financing, to making sure the final contract is in your best interest.  Click here to find out why TN homebuyers choose me.

Click here for more TN home buyer information and tips.

Spring is a great time to sell your Nashville TN home.  The weather is comfortable for home buyers to tour listings, the foliage is in bloom making your home’s curb appeal optimum, and house prices unexpectedly advanced in January according to a report from the Federal Housing and Finance Administration.   

I came across an article on FrontDoor.com titled Staging Tips for Spring that outlined some ideas to brighten up your home and attract buyers that I thought you would find interesting.  Please see the article below along with some home staging tips I’ve added as well. 

Whip your yard into shape. When you’re selling in the spring, you need to get your yard in shape as quickly as possible. Clear winter yard debris, and get frost-resistant plants that won’t be affected if a late cold spell hits.

Do some spring cleaning. It’s natural to want to spruce up your space in the spring, so scrub away! A sparkling home will impress Nashville buyers and make your home seem even more appealing.

Organize your Closets. Box up your winter wardrobe. Bulky winter clothes take up lots of space, so move them out as you de-clutter your closets. You’ll impress buyers with all that space.

Spruce up the entryway. If your welcome mat is covered with winter dirt, pick up a new one. Wipe down your front door and sweep away cobwebs from light fixtures.  Being greeted with a clean, pretty doorway will help set the tone for the entire showing.

Bring spring aromas indoors. Spring is not only a colorful season in Nashville, but a fragrant one, too. Bring the aroma indoors. Scents have a profound effect on mood, so infusing scent into your decor with fresh flowers or plants not only improves your home visually but aromatically as well and can change the overall feeling of a space.

Bring out the bright colors. Tuck away the heavy, winter flannel comforter and pull out crisp linens and coverlets for color. Bring in the spring with floral-designed spreads or colorful solids. Don’t forget accent pillows for added style and comfort.

Highlight your outdoor living spaces. Clean or paint your decking, and make any necessary outdoor repairs. No deck? Arrange chairs or outdoor furniture in your yard to create the illusion of an outdoor room – see picture above for an idea.

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 in the competitive Nashville real estate market.  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.

Selling your home is one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. How much is it REALLY worth? How long will it take to sell? How do you handle buyers making undesirable offers? Get the Straight Facts About What Can Make or Break the Sale of Your Home.

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

More Nashville TN Home Seller Tips here.

What buyers want!  Click here to find out what Nashville TN buyers are looking for in their home search.

For more specific information about what factors sell homes in TN neighborhoods such as Brentwood, Franklin, Green Hills, or Belle Meade TN call me directly by clicking here or visit my website at www.JoAnneStaler.com

JoAnne Staler, Nashville Tennessee REALTOR with Rochford Realty & Construction Company is providing a unique level of service to home buyers and  home sellers in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Williamson County, Green Hills, Belle Meade, Bellevue, West Meade, 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.

The Treasury Department has moved at record speed to implement one piece of the new American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009  aka the stimulus act.

The Department and the Internal Revenue Service which will manage it recently announced that forms and regulations are already in place for homebuyers who wish to claim the first-time credit enabled under the act.

The credit is available to homebuyers who purchase a home before December 1, 2009.  In an effort to make the effects of the credit felt quickly in the economy, homebuyers can claim the credit either on their 2009 tax return or immediately on the 2008 return due in April.

The tax credit represents 10 percent of the purchase price of a home up to a maximum of $8,000 or $4,000 for married taxpayers filing separate returns.   The $7,500 credit that was authorized under earlier legislation last year was actually a 15 year loan; the new tax credit does not have to be repaid by the homeowner under ordinary circumstances.

The credit does have to be repaid if the homeowner sells the home in less than 36 months or if the home ceases to be his principal residence during that time.

Read more about the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 here and find out how it affects you as a Nashville TN homebuyer, homeowner or home seller.

Below is information about the opportunities the program may provide to you as a Nashville homebuyer, homeowner or home seller.

Major Modifications Italicized

I strive to keep my clients well informed.  Please click here to call me directly if you have questions or would like to put the program to work for you.

Best,

JoAnne Staler

JoAnne Staler, Nashville Tennessee REALTOR with Rochford Realty & Construction Company is providing a unique level of service to home buyers and  home sellers in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Williamson County, Green Hills, Belle Meade, Bellevue, West Meade, 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. 

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

I came across an interesting article on FrontDoor.com titled Tips for Homebuyers and Sellers in 2009 that I wanted to share with you relevant to buying and/or selling a Nashville TN home in the new year.  I’ve paraphrased the article below and added some additional information as well. 

A late-2008 consensus survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Urban Land Institute, based on input from more than 600 industry experts, projects the U.S. residential market should start rebounding appreciably in 2010.

But what about now? This new economy has added some new wrinkles to Nashville TN home buying and home selling strategies, while reintroducing some of those old-school favorites like sound fundamental fiscal practices. So here are some tips for TN homebuyers and sellers to help you survive, and even thrive, in the transition year of 2009.

Tips for Nashville TN HOME BUYERS

Cash is the new king. If you can spare the cash, brother, it has a heck of a lot more buying clout now. In the past, we’ve tried to persuade people to seek out more liquid investments for their cash on hand and grab an easy-to-get, low-interest mortgage. Now, with the equity markets depressed at the same time that mortgage loans are hard to find, the tables have turned. Those wielding ready cash in a recession are always ahead of the game.

Negotiate extras … and more extras. This is a no-brainer in the current market. But while sellers continue to offer throw-ins such as built-in appliances, and flat screen tvs, the best throw-ins are always the ones that take monetary form. Think paid closing costs, repair credits and paid homeowners association dues, to name only a few.

Determine your own home-buying budget. Do this before you start talking with TN home mortgage lenders. They will tell you what you qualify for, but only you can determine what you can really afford.

Research = savings. Put your trust in a local real estate expert who is familiar with the trends and opportunities unique to each TN community.  The aformentioned can vary greatly from one TN neighborhood to the next. It’s my job to steer you into opportunities and out of traps. 

To determine an appropriate offer price let me research similar properties in the form of comparable prices for active, pending and sold properties in the last three months from the TN MLS for the most accurate picture of what the property is worth. 

If you are thinking of selling or buying a home in Nashville, Brentwood or Franklin TN you should know exactly what it’s worth before making such an important decision.  Click here for a quick “Comparative Market Analysis” with data taken from the TN MLS for free, and with no obligation.

Watch for TN foreclosed-property inventory to loosen. Banks will soon be under greater pressure to cut their losses on property they own through foreclosure and to increase revenues. With a smaller percentage of distressed homes selling at auction, banks are loaded up with more of these “nonperforming assets.”

Click here for more TN home buyer tips.

Tips for Nashville TN HOME SELLERS

Price correctly from the get-go. Don’t start out too high-priced just to “test the waters.” Your backup plan of adjusting on the fly may prove futile. Keep that window of opportunity open from the first time the “for sale” sign appears on your lawn. The first 30 days a home is on the market are when it gets the most attention from potential buyers and their real estate agents.

As a top real estate agent, I determine the value of Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee area homes daily. Using the information you provide, I can perform a quick market analysis, and give you a free estimate of what your home is worth in today’s market.  Click here to find out what your TN home is worth.

Looks do matter. Don’t underestimate the importance of curb appeal and having the interior in “show” condition. Not only is there an acute price war going on out there, there’s also a beauty contest being staged. You may be strategically located in a quiet cul-de-sac, near great Middle TN schools, have state of the art appliances and a three car garage, but unless your exterior and interior is well coifed and in sparkling condition, other offerings will outshine it.  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.

Don’t overdo it. By contrast, if you go too far in improving your place, you likely will not be able to recoup your remodeling investment.  Give your Middle TN house a makeover that adds value and keeps it up with the Joneses’. That doesn’t mean you should run out and install Italian marble. But if hardwood floors are the norm in your Nashville neighborhood, replace the carpet. When you list your home for sale with me we will walk through together and I will advise you on what we need to do to maximize its selling price.

Don’t be an ambiguous seller. Either you are going to sell or you aren’t. Why waste everyone’s time, including yours? If you manage to fetch a decent offer with a test listing in this market, commit to sell. You may be able to buy a better replacement house at a disproportionately lower price with so many steals still out there.

Click here for more TN home seller tips.

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.