So you think your place is too small to be staged? How about this cute little cottage in the heart of East Nashville. It's completely renovated and boasts a whopping 744 sq. ft. The vignette style staging went a long way to transform this home. Without the staging, buyers were having a hard time figuring out what furniture the room could hold and where it would go. The house is currently for sale and listed by Karen Hoffof Historic and Distinctive Homes......but, it won't be on the market for long. For a personal showing contact Karen at 615-228-3723. Fresh Perspectives is a home staging firm specializing in vacant home staging, model home staging, and redesign for the real estate community in the Greater Nashville area. For more information contact Anthea Click at 615-465-8086 or visit... 10/30/2007

Last night Realtor friends Tonya Squires and Emily Lowe along with Beverly Effinger of Countrywide and Prudential Woodmont Realty's Green Hills Principal Broker Brian Taylor had the pleasure of putting on a Home Buyer's Seminar.  It was a lot of fun!  The evening was kicked off at Prudential Woodmont Realty's new office building in Green Hills (a bit south of downtown Nashville) with hors d'oeuvres and conversation while homes listed by Prudential Woodmont Realty were shown on a power point presentation.  Then they got down to business.  More specifically, Nashville's Real Estate Market Business.  Brian Taylor gave a wonderful presentation on the current state of the Nashville Real Estate Market and also showed how to invest in real estate through the process of leveraging.  Everyone go... 10/26/2007

HOW CREDIT SCORES WORKWhat goes into your credit score?:Payment History (35% of the rating)Length of Credit History (15% of the rating)New Credit (10% of the rating)Types of Credit Used (10% of the rating)Debt (30% of the rating) (try to keep all balances below 60% of high credit limit)•      Pay all bills on time.  This is probably the most important factor in the Credit Score Calculation.  If you are consistently 30 days overdue, your score can drop by as much as 100 points, depending on how long the account has been open and how long ago the late payment took place.  To avoid late payments, consider automating your bill-paying process.  •      Think twice before closing accounts.  Lenders are looking for consumers with long credit histories that have been managed well.  But because o... 10/25/2007

I am sitting at my desk feeling a little blue - is it the weather today?  Was I just getting too used to blue skies and warm weather?  What am I expecting, Southern California?  Actually, a big part of me is glad for the cooler weather.  And happy for the rain as well - my garden is definitely looking better!  And Tennessee is a much prettier place for all the rain we normally get.So... Topic Today:  I noticed today that a house that has been on the market for - I know - over a year and a half in the Oak Hill / Green Hills area in Nashville has STILL not sold.  Now granted, the house needs updating, but for a house to be on the market that long - well, what gives?It's in a wonderful exclusive subdivision right off of Tyne Boulevard and has a well designed floor plan with a flair for the... 10/24/2007

Does anyone have any experience with homes made from insulated concrete forms. I understand how it works, but I would like to know if anyone from the realtor community had anything to say about it. It seems like it would be amuch strong building than typical wood frames. I'm more concerned with the initial cost, and any problems that might occur that I wouldn't expect. I have a client who plans to build a 4000 sq ft home in Nashville out of this material, and I'm just a little sceptical. If it's as good as I've been told, my next home may be made from the same material. 10/23/2007

Are you wanting to live in Green Hills, but don't know if you can afford it?Green Hills is a very desirable location in the Nashville Real Estate Market.  Centrally located between downtown and Brentwood, Green Hills offers a great mix of trendy shops and hip eateries.  Land value is ALWAYS increasing in Green Hills and an investment in a home in this area 2 location is sure to bring rewards!  Of course, you have to pick the RIGHT home!Did you know that there are currently over 120 MLS home listings in the Green Hills area, ranging in price from $214,900 to $1,975,000?And if you don't want the upkeep of a yard, then there are also right around 120 condos for sale in Green Hills ranging in price from $114,000 to $1,140,000!As a Nashville Native, I remember the days before the Green Hills... 10/23/2007

Fresh Perspectives has just staged a beauty in the Rosebank subdivision of East Nashville. It features 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, over 2000 sq. ft, gorgeous hardwoods, and a flowing floor plan. For more information contact:Listing Agent Karen HoffHistoric and Distinctive Homes Ph: 615-228-3723 Karen@KarenHoff.com MLS 910073 Fresh Perspectives is a homestaging company servicing the Greater Nashville Area specializing in vacant home staging, model home staging, and redesign services for the real estate community. For more information contact Anthea Click, President/Lead Designer @ 615-465-8086 or http://aclick@fresh-perspectives.com and visit our website at www.fresh-perspectives.com 10/22/2007

Foreclosures are EVERYWHERE...and when thinking about retirement one really needs to think about investing FOR your retirement. If you have children..why not leave them a rental property or by a piece of land that will have an extreme return over the next 20 to 30 years. Lets face it, social security is ??? well, what is it anyway? We will never know because it is a thing of the past that will not benefit us what so ever. The "deals" are out there and you need a Real Estate Agent to find those deals before anyone else does. We have the benefit of being able to capture a new listing within seconds it's posted and believe me the deals do not stay on the market long. Days ago there was a bank owned property I was interested in. It sold after 10 days of being on the market and because I liv... 10/21/2007

 I sell homes for a small high quality builder in Nashville, and I have been trying to convince him that sanded and finished hardwood floors are more appealing to buyers than prefinished floors. While we never really know what a buyer are going to do,I don't see a downside to making the change. The expense is similar, and we've been having some problems with the installation and maintenance of the prefinshed floors. So starting on the next house, all of our homes will have hardwood floors installed the old fashion way.  for more info click here Nashville Real Estate This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property and opinions of Larry Brewer of Benchmark Realty. Providing real estate services to clients in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Spring Hill, and the mid... 10/20/2007

 The Current State of the Mortgage IndustryWhat Is Happening?We are seeing unprecedented events right now.  In the last weeks and months, we have seen many companies in the non-conforming mortgage industry experience severe problems.  Many have been forced to close their doors or cease funding loans.  This has affected everyone from Realtors to Mortgage Brokers.SubPrime rates have continued to rise over the past 6-8 months.  More and more lenders are shutting their doors and ceasing operations.  This has made it harder and harder for low credit borrowers to get 100% financing.  Also, more Full Documentation Loans are needed.  If a borrower has to go stated he/she will need money down.Why Is This Occurring?To counteract the threat of increased deflation, the Fed decreased rates in 2003. ... 10/19/2007

Belle Meade homes have been transitioning from large mature lots with ranch style homes to modern open floor plans. Over the last several years, some of the more established neighborhoods surrounding the west side of downtown Nashville, mostly Belle Meade and Green Hills, have been getting a facelift. Older Nashville Real Estate built in the 40's and 50's are being leveled so that a new home of significance can be built on the lot. At first, some of the neighbors were not very happy about it. When in the area, I would get comments about how  real estate agents were making the property taxes go up by increasing the property value. The fact is that most of the older homes were not very efficient and the land was very valuable. It seems like a very good thing to do if you want a nice home ... 10/18/2007

Call Jan Wood or Jennifer Jennings with The Realty Association if you need more information or Click Here.  Offered at $147,900 3 Bedroom2 Baths1300 Sq. Ft.Near restaurants, shopping, airport and I-24.  This is a one level home with a split bedroom plan.  It is located between Nashville and Smyrna, TN.  Features include hardwoods, decorator paint colors with a modern flair, a new HVAC system.  Call Jan Wood or Jennifer Jennings for more details.  Offered at $154,9003 Bedrooms2 Baths1476 Sq. Ft. Wonderful home with soaring ceilings.  The paladium windows offer plenty of natural light.  This home is move-in ready and awaiting new owners.    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by The Activerain Network and it's members and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the op... 10/18/2007

BUYERS!!  If you are relocating to the Nashville area, check out Gallatin.  We are about 35 minutes travel time from Music City.  If you love golf, you must stop by Fairvue Plantation, a 36-hole golf community.  Here are some other areas of interest in and around the Nashville area...     Relocating to Nashville Other Sites of Interest!! Tennessee Performing Arts CenterThe Frist Center for Visual ArtsCheekwoodBelle Meade PlantationCountry Music Hall of FameThe University of TennesseeMiddle TennesseeVanderbilt University   SPORTS IN NASHVILLE/TENNESSEE Tennessee Titans   Nashville Predators Music City Motorplex Nashville Super Speedway     Lake/Golf Course Community - Sumner County, TN You do not want to miss out on seeing this wonderful community in Gallatin, Tennessee.  Fairvue Plantat... 10/17/2007

Questions About the Real Estate Market? Confused about the current market situation? Heard this was the right time to invest? Wondering if you qualify? Prudential Woodmont Realty and Countrywide Home Loans Are Teaming Up to Give You REAL ANSWERS RIGHT NOW!!! Facts about the Current Market Qualifying Workbook - A Strategy for YOU Investing 101 - What You Need to Know HOME BUYERS MORTGAGE SEMINAR - THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2007 from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Location: Prudential Woodmont Realty Building 2404 Crestmoor Road Nashville, TN 37215 COST IS FREE AND HEAVY HORS D'OEUVRES ARE PROVIDED BY SUSAN DALE Door Prizes include a $200 gift card at The Palm Restaurant plus $1000 off Closing Costs, a Free Appraisal and other Restaurant Gift Cards!!!! RSVP is a Must as Space is Limited, so please call (61... 10/16/2007

Nashville real estate -I've noticed lately that most of my clients fit a similar profile, and I can't understand why it happens. I don't advertise to any specific demographic group, but for some reason I end up with the same type of client every time. Does this happen to other Realtors? I've never noticed it before, but it's happening to me.  Someone asked me how was was able to find nice customers all the time, and my answer was that I didn't know, but I was glad that it happened. Every sale I've ever had, was with honest clients who appreciated the professional attitude I brought to the transaction. I don't know where the problem clients go, but I hear about them constantly.  By the way, my typical client is honest, ethical, educated about real estate trends and transactions, and usua... 10/13/2007

Nashville real estate - According to the the media, we are in a buyers market. But that's a national view.In Brentwood, Green hills, or Belle Meade, older homes with nice yards are very hard to find and demand a premium price. Most only stay on the market a few days, unless they are overpriced for the condition of the property. In Franklin and Spring hill, the market is dominated by new construction, and the builders have too much inventory for now, but I see inventories getting smaller every day. Builders have slowed or stopped building homes altogether. We may see another shortage of homes in Franklin next year if interest rates come down like the experts are predicting.People wanting to move up should do it now, while you have a nice selection. You may not get the best price for your... 10/11/2007

Nashville real estate - Headlines in the news were that home sales in the Nashville area were down 25 percent in September, but prices were up 2 percent. My guess is that a lot of that was attributed to the extreme heat we had in August and early September. Other factors may have contibuted, but it was tough to show property in 100 degree heat. My guess is that October will be much better based on the traffic that I've seen. This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property and opinions of Larry Brewer of Keller Williams Realty. Providing real estate services to clients in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Spring Hill, Green Hills, Murfreesboro, and the middle Tennessee area 10/10/2007

I can finally show clients new construction homes without thinking that they may pass out. A lot of Nashville real estate that I show to buyers are 90 percent complete, with walls and windows, but no air conditioning. I usually don't have much luck when the conditions are this tough. Clients can't see themselves in a home that's 100 degrees, no matter how good it looks.  For more information on Nashville Real Estate, Click Here 10/09/2007

Aug. 2007 Considering the overall Nationwide housing slow down, the Nashville market is remaining strong primarily due to Nashville's stong job growth and overall quality of life.  One Nashville market that shines above the rest is Downtown condos.  About 3 years ago less then 100 units existed in the Downtown core, now there are over a thousand units with thousands more being built. Never before has there been as much construction in Downtown Nashville as there is now.  Over six major buildings are being built or starting construction soon inculding the Signature Tower, a 70 story condo tower that will be the tallest building in the U.S. outside of New York and Chicago.  Another developement, called the Icon (a 22 story building), sold out in just 48 hours. The way I see Downtown Nashv... 08/23/2007

Have you noticed how many UGLY fliers there are floating around in this industry?  Hard to read, too busy, too bright or too plain fliers may have the OPPOSITE effect than the one you want.  The goal of any print piece is to communicate information effectively.  A bad flier may not ever be read, so don't defeat your own purpose!!  When you pick up any piece of advertising, the first thing that catches your eye should be the main point or focus of the ad.  Once your attention is captured, you are drawn to read and examine the rest of the flier or ad IF it is well designed.  A poorly designed flier may catch attention and be put down because it is difficult to read, or may never be noticed at all.Before you begin writing, take a minute to think about what you want the reader to understand... 07/21/2007