Music City on target with web site offering new program for entrepreneurs wanting to start a new business. The Nashville Entrepreneur Center is being launched to encourage the entrepreneurs in town to start their own companies. They can “Ask an entrepreneur” questions and will offer workshops, market research and connect entrepreneurs to the right resources.

For more information, Click Here.

Nashville has rebranded the “Music City” brand to the world through a separate website called “I Am Music City” check it out at www.IAmMusicCity.com. What a great way to reach out to people who are seeking resources and gain help from other entrepreneurs who have found success in Nashville.

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

It’s Fall Break for many students in Rutherford County - specifically the kids who attend the Murfreesboro City Schools on the alternative calendar. Their fall break will extend through next week as well when they’ll still enjoy some much deserved time off along with the remaining city and county schools!

What are your plans for Fall Break? Here are some ideas that shouldn’t cost a fortune!

Walden Pumpkin Farm outside of Smyrna is open now through the end of October. While admission is free, you can enjoy a hayride and the corn maze for a minimal price.

The Greenway System runs both in Murfreesboro and Smyrna. There are 11 trailheads just in the Murfreesboro area and you can take walks, visit playgrounds, and visit the banks of the Stones River while enjoying the fall weather.

Take your dog for a walk at Murfreesboro’s Bark Park! Promoting responsible dog ownership, this would be a fun way for both you and your pooch to make new friends.

Go by Barfield Crescent Park to walk on a mile-long wilderness trail, participate in an inexpensive nature program, or visit the bug or butterfly garden.

What other ideas do YOU have for a fun way to spend a day of Fall Break?

Posted by:Kathy Tyson

For the first time since 2005 the number of closed home sales was up from the same period during the previous year. Here in the southern region, the numbers for home prices were down only 8.7 percent as compared to 9.7 percent in June 2009. Per Steve Murray, editor of REAL Trends, the numbers tell the tale. With fall and winter just around the corner hopefully home prices and the real estate market will continue to stabilize taking us in to a stronger spring season.

For more details:



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

Go Green by paying bills electronically instead of paper statements and other bills. A coalition of several financial service companies have found this method could assist in protecting the environment. The study revealed the average American household recieves 19 bills and a statement in the mail monthly and seven payments are made in paper form. If 2% more households would switch to electronic payments, 15 miillion pounds of paper would be saved, thereby saving more than 181,000 trees. Green house gases would be reduced by more than 390 milliion pounds and 143 milliion gallons of wastewater would not enter the environment.

Posted by:Bob Cunningham

The city of LaVergne will be holding it’s annual Oldtimers’ Day events this Saturday, September 19th … a day of fun, food, and live entertainment. My favorite part - besides walking through and saying hello to friends - is the parade! The 10:30 march through town is extra special this year because it’s the first parade where my daughter gets to sit on the back of a convertible as Junior Miss Tennessee of Baton Twirling! She’s excited because this first parade (of about six this season) is in her hometown! You can see me driving Tiny Miss Tennessee in a tiny little smart car!

Other people to look for: the LaVergne High School Marching Band, my friend Patrick Anderson of Anderson Auto Glass, and my friend Robert Carroll from Bob Parks Realty… So come on down to LaVergne’s main drag Saturday morning and enjoy the parade!

After the parade, you can visit the food booths, buy craft items, or visit the business tent and submit your name to win prizes! Throughout the day, musicians and dancers will perform on the main stage. Then at dusk, you can see a phenomenal fire works show! See you there!

Posted by:Kathy Tyson

A tour around Nashville is a fun trip through town! With all the landmarks in this area it could take a week or to visit each one. Since moving here thirteen years ago, my family has made it a goal to visit as many famous places as we can. This has helped us get to know Nashville Middle Tennessee. One of our favorites is the Parthenon located in Centennial Park. The Parthenon is a full size reproduction of ancient Greece’s most glorious temple. It is complete with an interior sculpture of the goddess Athena and other accurate reproductions of the original temple’s pediment sculptures.

Another favorite landmark we like to visit in Nashville is The Hermitage which is the former home of President Andrew Jackson. The home is now a museum where you can learn about history from the Jackson ear and roam the beautiful gardens and grounds. The Hermitage was restored after it was damaged by fire in 1834, Jackson had it remodeled in the Greek Revival style.

Not only do we visit landmarks in Nashville with our family, we also share with visitors to our area. Working at Bob Parks Realty gives us an opportunity to share these special landmarks about Nashville. Recently we gave several of our corporate clients a tour of the Parthenon and The Hermitage which was great fun. Some of our clients that have relocated to Nashville have also enjoyed getting to know our area as well.

Nashville ~ Middle Tennessee is full of famous spots to visit ~ for more information visit: www.bobparks.com or to search for single family homes, townhomes, condos, land, farms or commercial properties.

Posted By:

This may be one of those secrets that goes along with our mysterious handshake, but I’m going to spill a great strategy when you’re the buyer and in a multiple offer situation.

First, remember you’re not at an auction or on eBay. Talk to your agent in advance and determine the fair market price and a top dollar amount of what you’re willing to pay for a home. Do not get personally involved in a bidding war and end up buying it for more than you intended.

Okay, so now you have your price in mind - and the maximum amount you’ll bid? Write your offer and then under the “Special Stipulations” section of the contract add the following:

Purchase price shall be $1,000 more than highest offer, not to exceed X amount. Seller shall provide proof of highest offer.

Of course, you can word this however you’d like but it should certainly get the attention of the seller. And if you’re concerned about the seller disclosing the price of the other high offer, no fears there either. According to an attorney who was in our office earlier this week, the price of the other offer can be disclosed with permission from the seller.

The down side is you may not get the home if the highest amount exceeds what you as the buyer are willing to pony up. But if not, then you may just be 30 to 45 days until closing with an accepted offer through this strategy!

Remember … less than two months until November 30th - the deadline to buy and still get that juicy first-time home buyer tax credit!

Posted by:Kathy Tyson

We are going green! Last week our Green Hills office of the Bob Parks Family became Parks Properties! I’ve been busily replacing our Bob Parks signs with these beauties. The remarks have been very positive . As much as we were loyal to the Bob Parks Red, Yellow and Black logo, there is something that feels so Fresh about our new signs. I look forward to hearing YOUR feedback.

Posted By: Frances Garner