The baby boomer population makes up about 28% of Middle TN home buyers and sellers. With that being said, more and more empty nesters prefer comfortable single-story living according to a recent study released by MetLife and NAHB. This study also indicated that 55+(age) home buyers are looking for these top features when considering the purchase of a home:

• Single-story First floor master bedroom
• Washers and dryers
• Storage space,
• Easy-to-open windows,
• Main-level master bedroom,
• Easy-to-use climate controls.
• High-speed Internet

You can get the full story at realtytimes.com

Find a single-story-home in these Middle TN communities:

All Single-Story Homes for sale in Nashville 415 listed

All Single-Story Homes for sale in Murfreesboro 325 listed

All Single-Story Homes for sale in Franklin 92 listed

All Single-Story Homes for Sale in Mt. Juliet 150 listed

All Single-Story Homes for Sale in Symrna 42 listed

All Single Story Homes for Sale in Middle TN 2500 listed

Posted By: Kimberly Fahey

The John Herbert House, also known to many as the home of Dr. Walter Morgan, has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1988. The double pen log home is a notable example of home design and a classic working farm in early 19th-century. Sitting on a cut-stone foundation with exterior end limestone chimneys, the main façade sports a one-story porch with Doric concrete columns. West of the house are two outbuildings–a ca. 1900 frame smokehouse and board-and-batten wash house with gable roof and stone chimney. Although this type of construction was very common in Williamson County, very few have survived like the Herbert House.

For nearly 20 years, The Heritage Foundation had high hopes of stabilizing and preserving the historic home for the future. Thanks to a successful partnership with Bob Parks Realty and Drees Homes, they were able to stabilize the historic structure and find a buyer. In addition, Bob Parks Realty and Drees Homes donated $20,000 from the sale of the home to The Heritage Foundation.

The new buyers are Skipper and Debbie Carlisle who are very excited to have this opportunity. Debbie Carlisle states that this has been a lifelong dream and they have been collecting American antiques for years in hopes of finding the perfect home to house them. The John Herbert House will now be the centerpiece of the new Breezeway Development on Clovercroft Road. The house sits on more than three acres and backs up to more than 30 acres making it the perfect amenity to future residents of the new neighborhood.

More About Homes for Sale in Historic Franklin! Check out all of Franklin Real Estate by Price Range:

$0 to $200K $200K to $400K $400K to $600K $600K to $800K $800K or more

Posted By: Kimberly Fahey

That $8,000 first time homebuyer tax credit may be mighty tempting for property newbies. Who seriously wouldn’t want some “free” money to decorate that new home, buy a side-by-side stainless steel refrigerator, or build a privacy fence in the back yard for your dog Barkley?

To qualify for the tax credit, though, you still have to qualify as a buyer. The FHA has announced new rules expected to be in place by summer that will make it more challenging to borrow on a federally guaranteed loan when purchasing a home. For example, new borrowers will need a minimum credit score of 580 to qualify for the 3.5 percent down payment program. New borrowers with less than a 580 FICO score will be required to put down at least 10 percent. Also, sellers will only be able to pay up to 3 percent in closing costs on behalf of the buyer rather than the previous 6 percent.

In addition to these expenses, a real estate buyer may also need to come up with funds for an appraisal, a home inspection, and – first and foremost – the earnest money. Why do you need to pay earnest money? How much money should you put down? What happens to your check when you’ve written it?

Why?

Earnest money shows a seller you are serious about buying the house. A typical offer will contain contingencies to purchase: the inspection contingency, the financial contingency, and appraisal contingency. If any of these contingencies are not satisfactorily met (if you can’t get a home loan, how can you buy?), you may walk away from the purchase and have your earnest money returned. If all of these contingencies are met and a buyer gets cold feet, the earnest money warms them right back up by holding their feet to the fire on the purchase. The earnest money shows that the buyer truly desires to buy the home.

How Much?

How much earnest money you put down is up to the buyer and the seller. The more down, the more serious the offer. I would recommend a buyer offer at least $500, but if it’s a very expensive home you’ll need more. The rule of thumb is “just enough to make it painful for the buyer to walk away.”

Where Does the Earnest Money Go?

The agent does not just “hold” the earnest money check. It is deposited in a broker account- called an escrow account- separated from operating funds. (So make sure when you write a check, you have the funds to cover it!). When you close, the money is applied to either the purchase price of the home, your closing costs, or sometimes buyers are refunded the amount.

As you consider taking advantage of the $8000 tax credit, remember… it will take some money in advance to make the home purchase. Save your money, make sure you’re qualified with a lender, and talk to your favorite middle Tennessee real estate agent to find out what to do next!

Posted by:Kathy Tyson

1. Work with a Bob Parks real estate agent that is familiar with your local market and financial situations.

2. Don’t bring silly money to the table… More >

For more information about Bob Parks Realty, visit www.bobparks.com. Or check out these quick links:

Middle TN Real Estate Links

• Nashville Homes For Sale Under $100,000 (1400 listed)

• Nashville Area Luxury Homes For Sale (661 listed)

• Murfreesboro Homes for Sale $134,000 - $350,000 (1500 listed)

• Franklin Homes for Sale $200,000 - $400,000 (350 listed)

• Smyrna Homes Homes for Sale $125,000 - $275,000 (200 listed)

Posted By: Kimberly Fahey

It’s no wonder why Bob Parks Realty is considered one of the most respected names in Gallatin and Middle, TN real estate. Bob Parks Realty agents obtain the learning needed to best serve home buyers/sellers. In fact, the Gallatin/Hendersonville office announced the following:

• Leanne Hively received her SFR (Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource) designation.
  
  
• Christine Nale received these designations: ABR (Accredited Buyers Rep), e-PRO (Internet Technology Professional), SFR (Short Sale & Foreclosure Resource)

To find out more about becoming a Bob Parks Realty agent, click here. For more information about the Gallatin/Hendersonville office, click here.

Posted By: Kimberly Fahey

When it comes to looking for a house online, let’s face it, there are so many sites to choose from… too many to count. If I had to pick just one thing that I like most about the Bob Parks Realty website, it would be the focus on community information in Middle, TN! In fact, I think this is what separates Bob Parks from all others. Check out the following pages:

• Bellevue Community and Homes for sale

• Brentwood Community and Homes for sale

• Franklin Community and Homes for sale

• Green Hills Community and Homes for sale

• Murfreesboro Community and Homes for Sale

• Nashville Area and Homes for Sale

• Smyrna Community and Homes for Sale

Posted By: Kimberly Fahey

In the words of Steven Wright, “Why do you park in a driveway, but drive on a parkway?”

Sometimes we do a lot of parking on the parkway, too. But not just us… it’s everywhere! The worst traffic in the nation can be found along a stretch of asphalt in Los Angeles called the Hollywood Freeway, according to The Daily Beast.

Nashville made the list too. Our blacktop system was in the Top 50 as I-65 right in the downtown Nashville area (exit 210 at 4th Avenue) came in at #44. I thought that if Nashville was listed at all, it might have been rush hour on I-24 from Harding Place to Waldron Road because that stretch does tend to get congested.

To the credit of our state department of transportation, however, it’s a great comfort knowing that the highway incident response team is very quick to aid motorists when problems do occur. According to the state’s web site, the HELP trucks are there in case of wrecks, debris in the road, or disabled cars or trucks. They work with emergency personnel to make sure all drivers remain safe in case of incident. If you’re on one of the three major interstates that intersect in Nashville (I-40, I-24, and I-65), it’s great to know the little green men are there.

My advice? If you drive in Nashville, try to avoid rush hour traffic. And remember… the traffic isn’t so bad in the surrounding communities. As a result, if you’re thinking about moving to middle Tennessee, remember small towns also have smaller traffic problems.

Posted by:Kathy Tyson

A Must Read for Middle, TN Real Estate Professionals and Potential New Home Owners!

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is expected to announce huge changes that will strengthen the ability to help Middle Tennessee people to purchase homes. A ton of home owners that borrow money take advantage of FHA-backed funding to purchase a home. To get the full story, click here.

Posted By: Kimberly Fahey

Here’s how the cost of living in Middle, TN cities compare to Brentwood, TN (source: www.bestplaces.net).

• A salary of $100,000 in Shelbyville, Tennessee should increase to $171,074 in Brentwood, Tennessee

• A salary of $100,000 in Smyrna, Tennessee should increase to $166,141 in Brentwood, Tennessee

• A salary of $100,000 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee should increase to $157,257 in Brentwood, Tennessee

• A salary of $100,000 in Nashville, Tennessee should increase to $152,213 in Brentwood, Tennessee

• A salary of $100,000 in Gallatin, Tennessee should increase to $148,376 in Brentwood, Tennessee

• A salary of $100,000 in Hendersonville, Tennessee should increase to $145,454 in Brentwood, Tennessee

• A salary of $100,000 in Franklin, Tennessee should increase to $116,617 in Brentwood, Tennessee

For more information about homes for sale in Brentwood, TN, click here.

Posted By: Kimberly Fahey

This is painful to admit - and perhaps a little bit shocking - but I’m not the best cook in the world. As I’ve worked hard to balance my household budget these last few months, I’ve tackled some cooking projects I never dreamed of doing. Earlier this year I made shish-kabobs on the grill. They weren’t horrible. Then a friend of mine from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan taught me to make a traditional northern dish called pasties (pronounced Pass-tees). It’s like a meat pie that also includes potatoes, onions, and carrots.

I hope to keep learning new dishes through 2010 to help keep our household expenses down. There seems to be a surge in cupcake stores all over the country and part of me loves them but another part says, “Don’t even think about them much less GO there, girl!” But why buy cupcakes, sheet cakes, or layered cakes when I can make them myself? I’m going to try to bake my own low-carb cakes and then see if I can make them pretty. I have some cake decorating equipment at home and am thinking about taking a formal decorating class with one of my daughters this spring to learn how to use the fancy tips.

The Tennessee Technology Center in Murfreesboro offers a class in cake decorating. You can learn more about it by calling (615) 898-8010. In addition, Michael’s located at The Avenue offers a four-course class that teaches everything from flowers and borders to using fondant. I can get 50 percent off if I take the classes offered in February. What about you? Anyone want to take cake decorating with me?

Posted by:Kathy Tyson

Despite the decline in real estate sales, Bob Parks Realty, the most respected name in Middle, TN real estate has not stopped their mission to serve Middle Tennessee residents. Bob Parks Realty invested a significant amount of money and time to local charities and to implement state-of-the-art web technology that better serves residents and real estate agents.

2009 Charity Involvement

Bob Parks Realty raised more than $123,000 for Middle TN communities throughout 2009 and helped save many lives by coordinating two blood drives. The thrill of finding families their perfect home is second only to the joy of giving back to Middle TN residents.

• $30,000 to Mercy Ministries
• $24,000 for Christmas for Kids
• $22,000 for Make a Wish Foundation of Middle Tennessee
• $12,000 for the Tennessee School for Blind. And More than $121,000 over the past ten years.
• $14,000 for Christmas for the Children. And over $100,000 for the past ten years.
• $2,300 to Mobil Meals
• $1427.43 to Mitchell Neilson School
• $1751.78 to Jack Anderson School
• Bob Parks Realty helped save many lives by coordinating two blood drives for Red Cross Blood Mobile
• $15,635 to various other charities

Advancements in Web Technology: www.bobparks.com

Community involvement is not the only thing that sets Bob Parks Realty apart from other real estate companies. Www.bobparks.com is a local company that can compete with nationally-known online real estate giants like realtor.com. The Bob Parks difference is the focus on Middle Tennessee communities and families.

About Bob Parks Realty

Bob Parks Realty is the most respected name in Middle, TN real estate. To find your next dream home or to become an agent , visit www.bobparks.com.

Connect with Bob Parks Realty On

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Posted By: Kimberly Fahey

The difference in the number of homes that sold from 2006 to 2008 in Smyrna, Tennessee was stone cold sobering … a drop of a little more than 60 percent in residential sales (the statistics do not include condos, land, commercial or farms). The stunning free fall seems to have leveled off in 2009, however, and hopefully it is a strong sign of economic recovery. In 2009, the number of homes sold only dropped about 6 percent - a drop much more palatable than 60 percent.

The good news for Smyrna is that the value of the homes being purchased has remained fairly strong. Where neighboring LaVergne had 327 homes that sold for under $125,000, Smyrna’s number was 161 under $125,000. In addition, the total number of homes that sold in Smyrna this past year was 560 while LaVergne had but 511. A full analysis of what you got for your money in Smyrna is featured here at the local web site, This is Smyrna.

What does this mean for the neighboring communities? Affordable homes are available in both LaVergne and Smyrna, but Smyrna’s hold is more firm on houses in the prices ranging above $125,000. However, both communities are wonderfully close to the greater Nashville metropolitan area and all its entertainment, shopping, and sports events. This makes settling in either town just a hop, skip and jump away from the easy access to fun, work, and play, so if you’re considering a move to the area your choices for where to live are wide open.

Posted by:Kathy Tyson

I don’t know about you, but I was one happy camper when it was time to say good-bye to 2009. Yes, there were many wonderful moments, but overall I was just ready to look deep into the eyes of last year and say, “Pppbbbbtttt!” Wonder why? I wrote a housing market update for my own hometown of LaVergne.

It had some good news (the market really does seem to have hit bottom so now we can begin climbing up again), but some of it wasn’t so great:

Yes, I’m ready for a new year and I wish you and yours a very pleasant, prosperous 2010!!

Posted by:Kathy Tyson

Despite the decline in home sales throughout 2009, Bob Parks Realty has not stopped their mission to serve Middle Tennessee home buyers. Bob Parks Realty invested a significant amount to implement state-of-the-art web technology that better serves Middle Tennessee residents and real estate agents.

Finally, there is a local real estate company that can compete with nationally-known online giants like Realtor.com, Truila.com, and Homes.com. The Bob Parks difference is the focus on Middle Tennessee Communities!

The latest in web technology is not only extremely expensive, but it’s also very time consuming to implement. Regardless of the cost, Bob Parks Realty wanted to give agents more technology-driven tools while allowing home buyers a way to search for homes for sale by Tennessee schools, local interactive maps, Middle Tennessee subdivisions, and more . The total initiative took almost 12 months to finalize. In late October 2009, Bob Parks Realty launched its website specifically with real estate agents and Middle Tennessee home buyers in mind. This technology is linked to the latest in social media, community information, school reports, and it allows agents to develop and customize their own personal websites to further reach home buyers.

Visit www.bobparks.com and click on property search for a complete review of how Bob Parks Realty is better serving Middle Tennessee on the web.

Check out the Most Popular Searches:

• Murfreesboro Homes for Sale: $125,000 - $225,000

• Downtown Nashville Condos

• Brentwood Homes for Sales: $225,000 - $350,000

• Mt. Juliet Homes for Sale: $125,000 - $225,000

• Shelbyville Homes for Sale: $150,000 - $250,000

• Franklin Homes for Sales: $225,000 - $350,000

• Gallatin Homes for Sale: $180,000 - $250,000

• Smyrna Homes for Sale: $180,000 - $250,000

Posted By: Kimberly Fahey