This is a first in a series of blogs about our family’s relocation from California to Tennessee.

People often ask me “What made you choose Gallatin?” The answer is really very simple – the people.

I had actually traveled to and from Middle Tennessee only a couple of times prior to making the decision to move here. The first was by accident. During the August 2003 East coast blackout, my husband and I were in route to New York to assist my elderly parents in packing up their long-time home in Westchester County. While in the Dallas/Ft Worth airport, we were informed that no flights were being permitted to land at LaGuardia airport. Instead of waiting it out in Texas, my husband and I decided to fly to Tennessee and stay with my sister, who had just moved to Hendersonville in June. We literally were in Tennessee for no more than 12 hours, 8 of which were overnight.

Stay tuned…more to follow.

Posted By: Christine Nale

The Nashville community has been chosen as one of seven Flagship Earth Hour Cities in the U.S., along with six others to include Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Millions of people around the world will also participate. This weekend thousands of Nashville citizens will turn off their lights on Saturday, March 28th at 8:30PM for one hour to make a statement about climate change as part of Earth Hour. Hopefully this effort will extend to the entire state of Tennessee to show its commitment to the environment and also get worldwide recognition. Citizens are encouraged to sign up at www.earthhourus.org/nashville

Posted By: Bob Cunningham

Nashville is very fortunate to have a great group of leaders who are forward thinking, serving at our Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce! The positive leadership within a company is very important to succeed and usually starts at the top. The Chamber’s mission and brand promise provide the strategic foundation for the organization’s programs and activities. Area business leaders are selected annually to serve on the Chamber’s Board of Directors, assisting the Chamber in meeting its long-range goals.

Each Chamber member has a place to volunteer within the Chamber, from its Area Business Councils, the Nashville Health Care Council, the Nashville Technology Council, to the Sports Council, Education Council and more. The Chamber’s volunteer leadership team represents the voice of Chamber members, directing and driving the Chamber’s progress on key issues. There are nearly 40 councils and committees to serve our community, making it a great city to relocate and call home.

The Nashville Chamber’s Members are active and believe in….

Belonging, collaborating with others, energized by common drive and passion;

Engaging, sharing a vision for the future and sharing the collective influence to make it happen;

Leading, impacting our region, transforming our future;

Prospering, realizing opportunities that grow your business and enrich our communities.

Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce serves the 10 county region of Middle Tennessee –

Cheatham; Davidson; Dickson; Maury; Montgomery; Robertson; Rutherford; Sumner; Williamson and Wilson and has been named one of the Top 100 Places to Live. Nashville ranked among the top 100 places in live in America based on education, employment, economy, crime, parks, recreation and housing.

Click Here To find out more about Nashville, TN.

Posted By: Tammy Carroll

Nashville is located in the heart of Tennessee along the Cumberland River. With its rich history in country music, down home southern hospitality, Nashville has many things to offer. Whether you are just visiting or plan to relocate to this area, Nashville is a great place to live, work and play.

With its diverse work opportunities in the music industry and health care industry, Nashville and its surrounding counties have been named “Smartest Place to Live” by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine.

Click Here for more information.

Posted By: Tammy Carroll

If you’re thinking of building in Williamson County, you definitely want to check out Springhouse at Breezeway, a new Franklin community by ParkTrust Development. Before I tell you about the new homes in Breezeway, let me share with you some “building basics” when it comes to making a good investment, then you can see if Breezeway passes your own litmus test!

Typically, buyers in the first phase of a given community get the highest return on their investment. There are a couple of reasons for this: First, builders and developers are anxious to get product moving so pricing is usually best when they are first breaking ground. Also, homes tend to get bigger (in terms of sq ft) as the neighborhood grows and gets established, because builders are reluctant to build the biggest homes (i.e. largest construction loans/highest risk) until they see momentum in a community and have a few “pre-sales” underway. Ultimately, the smallest homes generally command the strongest return on investment in a given community.

The best buys are definitely the new homes that are complete or close to completion (referred to in the industry as “inventory” or “spec” homes) as builders are anxious to reduce monthly carrying costs (interest on construction loans, maintenance costs, utilities, etc.).

Located off Wilson Pike in Franklin, Breezeway is zoned for Brentwood schools (Ravenwood High School). There are both custom home builders and a high end production builder (Drees Homes) currently building in Breezeway. There is one spec home available now by custom homebuilder Southern Lifestyle Homes. This home has 3379 sq ft and is listed at $579,000… check out 109 Bayhill Circle.

Forty percent of Breezeway is designated greenspace and the homes currently available front a scenic pond at the Breezeway entrance. Call today to make an appointment to see this beautiful home or discuss building a home to your own specifications! Jack Miller 615.308.7776 (phone or text).

Posted By: Jack Miller

An electronics recycling event is scheduled on Saturday April 4th, 2009. Sponsors for this event is Nashville’s own Lipscomb University and Southeast Recycling Technologies, Inc. Recycling stations will be set up on the football field of Lipscomb High School, Nashville, TN. Items accepted are discarded or unwanted computers, printers, TV’s, or any electronic equipment with a plug. Refrigerators and HVAC units will not be accepted at this event. All e-waste will be disassembled in order to properly recycle. Hard drives and other data will be shredded to destroy all information. Documentation will be provided to businesses requiring certification of disposal of their hazardous waste.

Click Here to learn more.

Posted By: Bob Cunningham

The “Tennessee Recycling Coalition” is alive and well throughout Tennessee.The group recently held their 20th Anniversary. Several members of the group have been involved for the last 20 years. As experts they have an abundance of knowledge on how to get it done. They set up basic recycling programs and solid waste education. New members in the group bring a fresh perspective on issues as well as the role that communication and technology plays in the recycling world.

Posted By: Bob Cunningham

A gorgeous 1 owner home in the “Plantation Villages” of Fairvue Plantation - A planned development on seven miles of spectacular Old Hickory Lake shoreline with two immaculately conditioned golf courses and an extraordinary private club offering you the lifestyle you have always dreamed about. .

My listing at 1106 Isaac Franklin Drive (MLS # 1060300) offers the buyer of this 3 bedroom, 2 full bath home single-level living, excluding the 2nd floor bonus room. Gleaming hardwood floors in the main living area, a granite kitchen with custom glazed cabinets, a formal dining room and a breakfast room all make this former model home one you can be proud of. Added features include textured walls, recessed lighting, volume ceilings and extra storage in the attic area.

Monthly fees of $130 include lawn and irrigation maintenance for a true easy-living lifestyle. Additional HOA fees for the development are a low $250 annually. Golf and club memberships are additional.

This property is offered as a Short Sale. Don’t hesitate any longer in allowing yourself the Fairvue lifestyle. Call me today at (615) 829-1051 for more information, or Click here to see additional pictures.

Posted By: Christine Nale

Wooden bridges span several creeks along the way, a favorite stopping point where kids love to throw stones into the creek below in a make-shift target practice. Eventually you’ll pass groves of bamboo-esque cane along the river just before you reach the incredible Cumberland River Pedestrian Bridge. Your goal as a new cyclist is to wind your way up the path to the bridge before you run out of breath!

Once you reach the center of the bridge, you’ll enjoy a stunning view of Opryland Hotel’s glass rooftops in the distance. It’s not unusual to catch a sight of a barge or tugboat meandering along the Cumberland River below. If you picked up some of those binoculars I suggested, this is a great time to whip ‘em out! The current of the Cumberland is swift: if you have any doubt, focus on an object floating in the water and watch how quickly it disappears from sight!

Let’s start at Shelby Bottoms: From downtown Nashville, just take Shelby Avenue (heading away from Titans stadium) until it ends at Shelby Park. At the back of the park, high in the air, is the railway trestle. You can park your vehicle just below the trestle at the trail head. And if you’re lucky, you’ll even catch a train chunkin’ along overhead as you enter the Greenway.

This is one of my favorite times of year for the Shelby Bottoms Greenway because it’s just beginning to get warm and the trees are just beginning to leaf, but not enough to block the stunning views of the Cumberland River as you ride along the trail. At the head of the trail you always see plenty of walkers, roller bladers, kids on tricycles… it’s a real family affair! There are lots of nice riverfront overlooks and there’s even a nature center (free of charge) as you enter the trailhead. Not a bad idea, by the way, to rent a pair of binoculars at the nature center whether you’re on bike or enjoying the trail on foot.

Further down the trail you’ll find yourself intermittently immersed in shade and sunshine as you fly down the trail beneath a canopy of trees and then suddenly into an open glen where flocks of birds fly low overhead. This is not flowery prose; trust me, the flocks of bird fly very low overhead at times… it’s truly one of those Marlon Perkins moments (if you’re over 40, you know what I’m talking about).

Read Part I of this post here.

Posted By: Jack Miller

Spring is in the air. So when the appointments are over, the paperwork’s done, one of my favorite Nashville pastimes is hitting one of the many Nashville Greenways.

Maintained by Metro Parks, the greenways are a series of recreational paved and natural pathways that connect neighborhoods, local parks, points of interests, and most importantly, connect people to nature. Before I explain why I enjoy the Nashville Greenways so much, let me tell how I stumbled into one of my favorite leisure activities.

For years I have enjoyed visiting the beaches in and around the Destin, Florida area. Seaside, Rosemary Beach, Watercolors. It’s almost a Nashville vacation staple to hit the Emerald Coast annually for many folks in Middle Tennessee (this, incidentally, is why Bob Parks opened our sister company, The Premier Property Group in that area). One of my favorite activities has always been renting a bike and riding the trails that link all these cool beaches and communities together, enjoying the natural terrain and its inhabitants along the way.

I was reminiscing about that bike & beach experience one day when a friend suggested I get on one of the newly completed Nashville Greenways. So I did.

Although I’ve been riding now for a few years on many of our Greenways, two have quickly become my favorites: Shelby Bottoms in East Nashville (five miles of paved trails) and the Stones River Greenway near the Percy Priest Dam (ten miles of paved trails). If you’re up for an adventure, the two greenways actually connect around Lebanon Road in Hermitage.

Posted By: Jack Miller

We’ve all seen the ads for Applebee’s Bar and Grill. The Yuppie crowd gathering for a few drinks, some food & laughs after a hard day in the business world. Nothing wrong with that. But as the economy and financial world changes around us, notice the new face of Applebee’s.

As I find great pleasure in helping young people buy their first home and families with young children moving up to accommodate the increased space requirements, I also enjoy helping them find “deals” in other areas. My daughter and I took my two grandchildren to Applebee’s last week to find that kids meals were free. No playground, no rides that require tokens, just quiet adult atmosphere where kids are not just tolerated but encouraged to attend. Check out other restaurants in the area expanding their clientele by offering deals to families with kids.

Click here to view meal deals for kids.

Posted By: Madonna Hartley

If you are looking for a good, “safe” real estate investment, properties in college-towns are certainly worth considering. While these areas typically are more expensive, the benefits may very well outweigh that fact.
Real estate prices, like anything else, are a function of supply and demand. Demand in college towns is at least steadier, if not more destined to grow, than the average real estate market. Other factors that increase the demand are:

• Student body growth. According to the Department of Education, college enrollments are expected to rise by almost 1.6 million students, or 15%, over the next 10 years.

• Graduate students. The number of graduate and professional students is growing even faster – almost 25%. Many are married, or come from abroad, and are looking for a 2-3 year lease.

• Professors and support staff at the university need housing as well.

• In some areas of the country, college towns are desirable for retirees, who are looking for a mentally and physically active environment.

• If you invest in the town where your son or daughter is attending school – it saves the $5,000 or so in “room fees” you’d otherwise pay for in a dorm. (You could even collect some rent if your child has roommates!)

On the other side of the equation, the supply is usually constrained by strict zoning and growth controls, common in most college towns. Both factors work together to provide your margin of safety and return on your investment. Nashville is home to many colleges and universities, making for some great opportunities. Vanderbilt, Belmont, Lipscomb, MTSU, Fisk, TSU, and others – opens up many neighborhoods to explore.

Posted By: Chris Fuller / Sue Ray

Award winning Deercreek Construction has dropped the prices on their WillowSprings inventory by $50,000- to over $100,000! These beautiful homes are in the Lake Lot community of WillowSprings and have all the amenities of WillowSprings, plus some! Open House every weekend Friday, Saturday and Sunday 1-5pm until SOLD! Must see them! MLS# 990098: 304 Whitewater Way, lot 149, The Ashbee: Gorgeous French Country construction, single level living with 4 BR and 3.5 baths! Ten foot ceilings and 8 foot doors, fabulous millwork, outstanding kitchen! REDUCED to $449,900

Posted By: Charlene Kimmel

What could I mean by that, you ask? Well, as we all know, in late February, the stock market fell to its lowest value in twelve years. Investors have given back all the value they had gained in their stock portfolios in the last twelve years! So, if like me, you let it re-invest and had it all in untouchable SEP’s and 401’s, you have, in essence, earned nothing and in some cases have even cut into principal on your investments! Yes, I know – we are ALL sick!

Yet at the same time, houses in the middle Tennessee area have gained value. Even including the small amount of “give back on value ” that occurred locally in 2008, our houses have happily gained a 64% INCREASE in value since 1998- just 10 years!

This fascinating information comes from the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight. It shows that an investment of $201,211 in a home in Middle Tennessee in 1998 brought an average value of $329,065 in 2008!

The following considers a $100,000 home in Middle Tennessee in 1983 and how it appreciated in value over time:

1983 $100,000
1988 $140,283
1993 $148,363
1998 $201,211
2003 $243,894
2008 $329,065

Makes me wish I had ALL my investments in real estate!

The truth is, Real Estate is a great investment and now, with rates at historic lows, it is a great time to buy!

The Feds have just lifted their self-imposed limit of 4 investment properties per person, so now Investors have more options and opportunity! In addition, with the 2009 Homebuyers Tax Credit, there are even greater opportunities to benefit in this down market! Call me at (615) 790-7400 if you have any questions or ideas! I’d love to talk it over with you~

Posted By: Charlene Kimmel

Considering a lake property in Middle Tennessee? Look no further, Center Hill Lake in beautiful Dekalb County is it! A 64-mile long deep-water reservoir consisting of 415 miles of mostly undeveloped shoreline and 18,200 acres of nothing but fun, fun, fun, Center Hill is considered the playground of choice for many country music stars who make the Nashville area home Pristine waters with a maximum depth of 190 feet and 3 breathtaking waterfalls flowing directly into the lake, along with the many creeks, quiet coves, and awesome sunrises and sunsets are just a few of the many reasons why most choose this area over all others. In addition, there’s great golfing, an Appalachian Center for Crafts, 3 State Parks, 5 Restaurants, 9 Army Corps Recreation Areas, and 8 Marinas! Find your next home or getaway overlooking beautiful

Center Hill Lake / Marina at Highland Cove Condominiums. Just one hour from Nashville, this gorgeous gated community could be your next full-time home or quiet secret hideaway!

Posted By: Frances Garner

One of our Bob Parks Realty Brokers starts a new group ~ "Positive Like Minded People" (PLMP). This is a great way to stay connected and support others in the economic market of today. We have a choice every day of the attitude we have; why not choose to be positive and spread the energy? To learn more about the group, read on to learn what Eileen George, a Managing Broker of Bob Parks Realty has to say about PLMP.

"I stopped by our local Subway at lunch a few weeks ago and ran into a friend of mine who's a closing attorney. He was eating his sandwich while reading the newspaper. I walked over to his table and suggested he stop reading the negative press and we shared common feelings about the need for positive energy. There is a lot of bad news these days but so much of it is beyond our control however, what is in our control is how to react to it.

Wouldn't it be great if we could surround ourselves with positive-like-minded people? Brian agreed and we made a commitment to hold ourselves accountable to do just that.

That very week we emailed and discovered that a lot of us were using "Facebook" in the real estate community and between our networks we could connect with a high volume of people. So we hatched our combined effort to form "Positive Like-Minded People" (PLMP) meeting for fun and for free. Our first invitation was sent out through Facebook and twenty-five people arrived at 8 a.m. in Gallatin's Starbucks to share positive news. Brian and I were surprised, elated and encouraged that there were so many others who wanted to talk positive or at least be around positive people. There has been some incredible residual affects from this experience too. The personnel at Starbucks have noticed a real change in morale among their people and other customers since our meetings began. Since we only meet once a week they have requested we do it more often because of the attitude shift they observe. Isn't this cool!

There's some life changing events going on in our meetings that may not have happened if this group didn't start so I'm certain my meeting Brian that lunchtime was not an accident. I believe that there's a purpose for everything and it's nice to be part of something that may change the attitude of one person that may affect the lives of many.

I look forward to sharing stories from this group in this forum. Thanks for listening..."

Posted By: Tammy Carroll

It’s that time again, and thankfully, earlier than in years past! Don’t forget to set your clocks one hour AHEAD this Sunday, March 8. I think most of us are ready for longer days and more daylight after the long winter….and we live in the South! I love our Nashville in the Spring. We are already seeing buttercups and crocus popping up, and the trees are budding. We’ll be seeing more people out enjoying Radnor Lake, Natchez Trail, and all the other wonderful recreation areas. The real estate market here is picking up, too. We have seen increased activity and more pendings than we’ve seen for several months. The interest rates are also still very low, and despite what you may hear, mortgage companies and banks are still loaning money. If you haven’t heard, the new homeowner tax credit for 2009 has passed, and that will mean an $8000 credit for those buyers. If you’d like more info on the tax credit and who qualifies, just send me an email with “Tax Credit” in the subject line, and I’ll send you back a link to some helpful answers to your questions. Happy Spring!

Click here to view my Daylight Savings E-Card!

Posted By: Fran Harmon

A) Size the building smaller. It saves materials, money and energy.

B) Face the building toward the south and put most of the windows on the south side, taking advantage of the sunlight to warm the house in winter. Plant trees on the south side and extend the roof’s eaves to block out the sun’s rays and keep the house cool in the summer. Other tips will be forthcoming soon. Visit commonfire.org for more information on this subject.

Posted By: Bob Cunningham

What the new "First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit" really looks like and how it could change the look of the real estate market across the country...

NAR opposes mortgage interest deduction provisions on President Obama's Budget Proposal which was released February 26th. As currently drafted, the plan changes the mortgage interest deduction by reducing the amount of mortgage deductibility on families earning over $250,000. It will be interesting to see how it affects people relocating to Nashville, Middle Tennessee and the home values across the country. Click here to read more and to view the Government Affairs Tax Credit Chart.

Posted By: Tammy Carroll

Center Hill Lake in the winter is more serene, quieter and every bit as breathtakingly beautiful as during those lovely seasons that permit swimming, skiing, boating and fishing. As I sat in my beautiful furnished model at Highland Cove Condominiums on a recent Saturday Open House event, I was once again overwhelmed by the beautiful setting.

Highland Cove Community is year round home to a few luck owners, but the vast majority make it their get-away destination. Just over an hour From Nashville, it’s an easy week-end retreat. A great opportunity to entertain family and friends, the community BBQ area is never over worked. There are only sixty-six units to share the pool and other amenities. The final phase was recently finished with two furnished models. All units are three bedrooms; the penthouse units offer a bonus room as well as unbelievable views.

Middle Tennessee residents are very fortunate to live within a short distance of such a beautiful natural area.

Posted By: Frances Garner

If you are driving about this coming Sunday afternoon – stop and visit us at our Open House at 4316 Signal Hill in Belle Meade, from 2-4 PM. This is a remarkable custom built home with exquisite details throughout. Hand made bricks, wood shake shingles, copper gutters just to mention a few. Wonderful living and entertaining areas are throughout this lovely home. Special extras include a dumbwaiter to unload your groceries to the kitchen, a wine cellar, and even a custom tiled dog wash station! It is 5,156 of perfection. Please stop by!!

Posted By: Chris Fuller / Sue Ray

We all know someone who has parents that are mature in age, and may have not bought or sold a home in 20 years. Much has changed over that period of time. "Home" is their refuge from the world. For seniors, it is their "picture book," the keeper of life's warmest memories. No wonder folks want to stay in their home as long as they possibly can. Leaving their home means saying goodbye to what is the most special to them. Today, I can help you take advantage in the decision-making and sales process. It relieves some pressure to know there are Realtors who are specially trained to help seniors make smart decisions about selling the family home, buying rental property, etc. Through receiving my Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES), I have found a most appreciative group of clients in Middle Tennessee. They are so willing to listen and learn and for that, I am very grateful to open up the "abyss of the unknown" to senior clients and make it a gratifying experience for me and for them. For more information you can go to www.SRES.org or www.SeniorsRealEstate.com or call 1-800-500-4564.

Posted By: Beverly Cannon

As a Realtor, I am as guilty as others of spending way too much time indoors these past few months. I have found that a great excuse for me to get out and enjoy the spring time weather is to take my dachshund and his canine pal Charlie to visit the Dog Parks that Metro Nashville has to offer. While leash walking is totally OK at all Metro parks, these special locations allow your pooch to freely roam in a specified area so they can mix and mingle with other furry friends. It’s the perfect date on a warm weekend afternoon for you both to socialize and play! The following are the locations for you to check out:

Centennial Dog Park
At 31st Ave. and Park Plaza
Parking off Parthenon Ave.
(separate areas for large & small dogs)

Shelby Park
South 20th @ Shelby Ave.
Behind the community center

Warner Dog Park
Off Vaughn Road
Just South of Old Hickory Blvd.

And, if you happen to live in Williamson County, you can drop by:

Maggie’s Bark Park
138 Claude Yeats Drive, Franklin

Don’t forget that while you are out playing, it’s your job to be a responsible pet owner and follow the suggestions of “Bag it”, a public service campaign that keeps our environment clean and healthy for everyone to enjoy.

Posted By: Chris Fuller / Sue Ray

Wanna see the engine behind the hood ornament? The Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee is the place to visit!

Finally the men and women who play the music we all grew up on get their recognition. They have touched the threads of our lives and touched us in so many ways and now….The Musicians Hall of Fame is here, now come see what you’ve heard!

Click here to watch a video and see what other musicians think about the Musicians Hall of Fame.

Check out the website at: www.musicianshalloffame.com

Posted By: Tammy Carroll

Wondering what Bob Parks thinks about the 2008 real estate market in Nashville, Tennessee? 2009 will be a great opportunity to purchase real estate with the interest rates being at an all time low! For more on Bobs thoughts, click here.

Posted By: Tammy Carroll