There’s great excitement in the streets of downtown Franklin! The Bob Parks office previously located in the Old Dominion Bank building at 2nd and Main has relocated to the heart of walkable Franklin at 415 Main Street. This location, for the Franklin old-timer, used to be the Hunan Chinese restaurant… For the newcomer, it’s next to the Old Theater, and across from McCready’s.

For the new office, Bob ordered a complete re-do on this site. It is beyond modern… a mix of old and new! There’s concrete floors, lots of windows and glass, paired with a western style pine tree laptop bar (you must see it to understand!), and beautiful wood conference tables. The lobby boasts 5 huge flat screen TV’s, two of which are focused on the outside for the public at large. They display our office listings and those of the Florida office (Premier Real Estate) all day long! Inside there are two screens we use to keep guests happy and informed. On a wall is a computer set up to access Google Earth so we can show our clients all the attributes of middle TN, housing developments, and even how to get to the local Bark Park ( for our out of town four legged friends!).

Also on the wall in the lobby are two touch screen computers clients can use to hunt for houses with or without our help! Our office believes in providing client driven services. We want to augment their experience, with our expertise, to make the house hunting or house selling experience the smoothest and most rewarding experience possible.

We look forward to seeing everyone at our new office. Please stop by and visit and let us show you the future in Real Estate Services! We are looking forward to seeing you!

Posted By: Charlene Kimmel

The American Dream of owning a home is about to happen for many more people this year and in 2010. With the changes to the Homebuyer Tax Credit plan extending in to 2010, more people are able to purchase a home. As part of its plan to stimulate the U.S. housing market and address the economic challenges facing our nation, Congress has passed new legislation that:

• Extends the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers until April 30, 2010.

• Expands the credit to grant up to $6,500 credit to current home owners purchasing a new or existing home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.

On November 5, 2009, Congress passed a bill that included an extension and expansion of the home buyer tax credit. The bill would extend the present $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers through April 30, 2010. Current homeowners are eligible for a $6,500 tax credit through April 30, provided they have lived in the home they are selling, or have sold, as principal residence for five consecutive years in the past eight years.

Click Here for more details.

Posted by:Tammy Carroll, CRP, GMS, RCC, WRS

You know, I don’t consider myself a “Baby Boomer,” If you were born between 1946 - 1964, yes, you are a “Baby Boomer.” Yes, I was born in 1962, so I’m on the trailing edge, which qualifies me as the “Generation Jones.” The “Generaton Jones” were born too late to experience the cultural revoution of the ’60s – I was in diapers – which marks a time of events like Vietnam, Woodstock, and the hippie movement. With that being said, I know there are a lot of us out there that have lived in ours homes for 5 out of 8 years. Now, it’s our turn to have some fun, let’s shop for a new home and receive a check because “we get to.” At least that’s what the government is telling us.

Yes, my SRES, Seniors Real Estate Specialist, designation does come in handy for me too, since I am, in fact, a “Baby Boomer” booming right along.

It’s your choice every day to make it a great day, so let’s just do it!

Posted by:Beverly Cannon

I drove by a billboard earlier today and saw a local agent has a new marketing campaign. “I’ll Sell Your Home in 90 Days! Guaranteed!” I had actually attended a seminar several years ago that pushed this slogan pretty hard. It sounds good on paper, but what does it really mean?

Typically when agents make this promise there’s an “OR” and if you are thinking about selling, realize that the agent is the person who defines what the “or” is. Guaranteed to sell …

• Or your money back! If you have a listing and it doesn’t sell, you’re not out any money anyway so there is no money to refund.
  

• Or we’ll buy it from you! Really? If it’s worth it for you to invest, why don’t you buy it in the first place? And if you’ll buy it, at what discount for you to make the purchase? 30 percent off list price?
  

• Or we’ll trade! The listing agent may be working for a builder who will take a trade on the property. Make no mistake that if the builder makes a trade, you will probably lose your negotiation ability when buying that new home. The trade is the negotiation… all other terms will be the builder’s.
  

When an agent makes a guarantee like this and there is no “OR” following it, the agent may only take the listing if you price the home at a largely reduced market value. Any agent who plops a decent house on the MLS, adds photos, and writes a good description can sell a listing at a discounted price. Price your home correctly right from the beginning and pick your agent based on their marketing abilities, knowledge, and professionalism and you can’t go wrong.

Posted by:Kathy Tyson

Bob Parks Realty - Smyrna office - is hosting a sport memorabilia auction on Thursday, November 10th. Held at Buffalo Wild Wings on Sam Ridley Parkway, the auction begins at 6:30 p.m.. The proceeds from the auction will benefit the annual Christmas for the Children program. Each year, the office sponsors children from throughout the community who would not otherwise have a Christmas. Each child will receive at least one toy and new clothing.

There will be many fantastic items available, including a Titans jersey signed by the legendary Steve McNair. In addition, two of a kind autographed prints by Eddie George and Frank Wycheck, an authentic Titans #10 jersey signed by Vince Young, and much more are to be sold. Even an autographed 8x10 of Brett Farve from a Sports Illustrated photo shot will be available to the highest bidder!

Visit this link to see photos and item descriptions. If you have questions, contact Kathy Tyson at (615) 459-4040. Bob Parks Realty - Smyrna office - is hosting a sport memorabilia auction on Thursday, November 10th. Held at Buffalo Wild Wings on Sam Ridley Parkway, the auction begins at 6:30 p.m.. The proceeds from the auction will benefit the annual Christmas for the Children program. Each year, the office sponsors children from throughout the community who would not otherwise have a Christmas. Each child will receive at least one toy and new clothing.

There will be many fantastic items available, including a Titans jersey signed by the legendary Steve McNair. In addition, two of a kind autographed prints by Eddie George and Frank Wycheck, an authentic Titans #10 jersey signed by Vince Young, and much more are to be sold. Even an autographed 8x10 of Brett Farve from a Sports Illustrated photo shot will be available to the highest bidder!

Visit this link to see photos and item descriptions. If you have questions, contact Kathy Tyson at (615) 459-4040.

Posted by:Kathy Tyson

Parks Properties 2009 Fall Fund Raising Project was a huge success on Friday, October 30th.

This year we held a BBQ luncheon and featured home baked deserts (and some beautiful purchased items as well) for sale. Steve Gregory, Parks Property Realtor and one of the country’s top BBQ Miesters once again cooked world class BBQ and his special baked beans recipe. Other Parks Property agents baked their specialties from specially decorated Halloween theme cup cakes to cakes and pecan pie.

In addition there was a silent auction for a one week stay in a Gulf Front condominium in Destin, Florida. We were delighted that attendance was so good we had to send out for more tea and slaw before the first hour was up. Benefiting from this fund raiser was the Green Hills/Belle Meade chapter of Mobile Meals and Second Harvest. The Mobile Meals chapter also serves surrounding areas, like Berry Hill, Edgehill, Melrose. In addition to monetary contributions, attendees brought non-perishable food items. A total of five large boxes of food was collected for second harvest. While monetary contributions were split between Second Harvest and Mobile Meals, the director for Mobile Meals said funds donated to them would feed three to four people for a year. Recipients of Mobile Meals who are able to pay, pay a nominal fee for their meals. There are many more who are unable to pay.

A special thank you to everyone who gave their time, money and food donations to make this such a great success.

Posted By: Frances Garner