Williamson County, TN is one of the top affluent counties in the country and it is clear that people here love their homes. We build outdoor fireplaces, outdoor kitchens and put home theatres in our homes. So many families have parties at their homes where kids can play and everyone can enjoy great times with friends. Instead of going out for a night on the town, people go to each other homes. Neighborhoods like Westhaven in Franklin feature huge club houses, pools and live music in the summer. Keystone in Franklin just built a large pavillion for parties and music for their neighborhood parties. Laurelbrook has events posted at their club house all the time while people use their gym and large pool area.

Buyers want more than just a home. They want a lifestyle. How far is it to downtown Franklin, TN, grocery stores or entertainment? Give me a nice neighborhood pool and open space to fly a kite with my child. I cannot tell you how many friends we have made at our neighborhood pool in Keystone over the years. I just sold a home priced at $599,900 in Franklin because of several key features. The neighborhood, location, walk to neighborhood pool and the views. It is so much more than just the house itself.

When buying your next Williamson County, TN / Franklin, TN or Brentwood, TN home look at the big picture, not just the house. Look at the lot, the location and homes around you. You can always change the look of the interior of your home and some of the exterior, but you cannot change where you live. This will be where memories are made and you only get one shot at it. Make it a good life in Williamson County, TN.

Last month there were 2,091 homes closed in the Greater Nashville area. This is the first time since September that we have experienced greater than 2,000 closings. Hey, some fair/ good news. Sales are still down from 2008 numbers.

The median price of a single-family Nashville home in June was $177,700, down just 3 percent from the $183,615 median price at this time last year. The condominium median price was $ 152,870 in June of this year, compared with $185,500 in June of last year.

Nashville inventory levels are down a tad, so all of this tells me that we may have hit the bottom. Sellers have taken equity loans out on their homes years ago on “presumed equity” they thought they had. Now they complain that their home is worth less than they owe. Duh!!! When you go to the ATM too many times, you eventually run out of money. Your home equity varies each month. Don’t believe me? Go to www.Zillow.com or www.Trulia.com which are free sites that give you graphed data that shows the fluctuations.

The general buying public wants and craves data. If your home is overpriced, everyone now knows it and it will just sit on the market without a buyer.

Recently I sold two homes in the Keystone development in Franklin, TN. Both sellers were willing to listen to what I had to say about pricing. Both were disappointed, but understood. Both homes sold within a month. Bad market? Not if you price it right.

Your house value can be like a stock. You will not know your true gain or loss until the house or stock sale is completed.

Have you heard about trading houses? The concept is not as easy as it may seem, but I just closed a transaction in Franklin, TN last month that was one of the smoothest transactions ever.

Franklin, TN

ow do you negotiate price? First you need to be concerned about the appraisals. Fannie May and Freddy Mac now require that the appraisals on each property be given to each financial institution as part of the deal. Another words, they want to make sure that the values are not inflated. Given this, it may be difficult to have both properties contract under the list price or higher. If one does not appraise, then the whole deal is off.

Don’t negotiate prices based on % amounts. Negotiate on a total price paid. It also makes sense for both homes to include a home warranty via a third party company. When/If issues come up, the new owners call the warranty company vs. getting upset with the previous owners. Agents should strongly encourage professional home inspections.

The real trick! Moving Day. Solution – Storage containers. Talk to both sides about loading up as much as possible into an on-site storage containter such as PODS or 1-800-Pack-Rat. Schedule the move a day or two after closing just in case the closing gets pushed back a day or two (mortgage companies tend to wait to the last minute to get everything to the closing). Schedule a time in the afternoon for possession for both homes. Both owners should schedule movers that day to move all remaining items out of the house. The majority of smaller items will already be inside the storage containers that will be moved that day.

To assure that this type of transaction works, both sides must work with each other vs. against each other. There must be a give and take on both sides. both agents must work closely with each other.

Have you ever wanted it all, but not sure where to find it? Here it is!!! The Ultimate Lifestyle in Franklin, TN is now avaiable at a greatly reduced price. Will Forte, owner of Forte Building Group, out did himself when he spent two years building his latest masterpiece. This newly constructed 6,000 square foot luxury home has every feature you can image. Features include; Outdoor fireplace, automatic blinds for the signature turret windows, full home automation, temperature controlled wine cellar, high grade appliances and so much more!

Walk to the square in downtown Franklin to a large variety of resturants, shopping and churches. Enjoy the multiple Downtown Franklin Festivals throughout the year by just walking out your front door. Franklin, TN was recently ranked the #5 small town by Southern Living Readers Choice Awards for 2009. Nearby is the Factory at Franklin where unique shopping experiences, salons, spas and eating destinations such as Saffire are just 1/2 mile away. What about a fun night out on the town where you can see everything and enjoy food and taste a large variety of wines? Franklin’s Wine on Mainstreet can be enjoyed by just stepping out your your front door at 112 Church Street. My wife and I always enjoy this once a year event and it is a great time to see friends and meet new people in Franklin.

112 Church Street is located at the Brownstones development at Church and 3rd in Franklin. Check out the photos of this property or watch the video on my website at www.FranklinElite.com. Exotic cuts of granite, wide cut hardwoods, glass tile work, an elevator to all 4 floors, high grade doors and windows and much more are featured in this property. Only the best would do! Best of all, the property sits across from the development’s signature courtyard. At just $1,975,000 this newly constructed home is the lowest price the builder has ever offered. Please call us for your private showing today at 615-429-0153. We have floor plans and information about this property on our website at www.FranklinElite.com. The home is listed and marked by Bruce Jones with RE/MAX Elite.

There is no question, buyers in this Williamson County / Nashville market are looking for good/great deals. Buyers also do not have large down payments like they have had in the past probably because the home they sold did not net them as much or they have lost money in the stock market. With this being said, buyers not only demand a great deal, they also NEED the home to be updated and ready to move in with minimal improvement left to be made. The buyers do not want carpet or painting allowances, they need to see the improvements now. The banks also are not as kind as they used to be when it comes to “Decorating” allowances or carpet allowances. The banks and appraisers want and demand that the work already be done. So Beware!

Your Nashville area / Franklin, TN real estate agent has to tell you how it is right now. No sugar coating! The home listed above has all new carpet, newly finished hardwoods and fresh paint and is aggressively priced. Guess what? The buyers want more! What do they want? Get rid of the brass plumbing fixtures. Give me GRANITE in the kitchen! Give me GRANITE in the bathrooms! Wow, these Williamson County buyers really demand a lot! The affluent Franklin / Brentwood, TN buyer does want a lot, but you have to give it to them if you want your house sold. The listings that already have all the updates done and are priced right will be the ones that sell first. All others will have to wait!

Bruce Jones, Broker

ABR, CLHMS, CRS, GREEN, GRI

RE/MAX Elite – Brentwood, TN 37027

Direct – 615-429-0153

Office – 615-661-4400

What You Don’t Know During Your Divorce Will Hurt You

Your Nashville family home is usually the biggest (if not only) asset in most divorces. However, when dividing marital property, appraisal minus mortgage does NOT equal equity. This incomplete equation leaves your Nashville property over-valued and that works against you in divorce. In addition to the inaccurate and unfair division of your Williamson County property, you risk damaged credit, default, foreclosure or even bankruptcy. Without more real estate due diligence much earlier in your divorce process, divorce can be fraught with avoidable problems. To protect your rights NOW, you need a Nashville real estate agent specializing in divorce -an RCS-DTM REALTOR®.

Specialized Nashville Real Estate Services for Your Unique Needs

Susan Comer, Affiliate Broker with Nashville Real estate Agency RE/MAX Elite has completed course work to earn the RCS-DTM designation as a Real Estate Collaborative Specialist – Divorce™. RE/MAX states, as an RCS-D™ REALTOR®, Susan Comer is professionally trained to neutralize divorce real estate as a business transaction in the best interest of the house – and each divorcing spouse. Leading your divorce real estate team, Susan Comer also serves as project manager working with you and your lawyers and can refer from real estate and financial professionals specializing in divorce to assist with essential evidence of your house value. Such additional evidence is needed during your divorce process, especially before any property negotiation or mediation.

Helping You Protect Your Nashville Real estate Interest

The RCS-D™ professional program is approved for continuing education credit by the Tennessee Real Estate Commission.
You may contact susancomer@comcast.net to discuss with you how you can protect one of your most valuable financial assets during the stressful time of divorce. Whether your divorce is completed, just beginning or somewhere in between, Bruce Jones Associate, Susan Comer will help you determine your best options now for a stronger financial future.

Ask the Williamson County Real Estate Experts

If you have any questions about the topic of divorce and Nashville real estate, you can ask it anonymously or contact us direct here at Bruce Jones & Associates.