Actually, May 23rd is the big day for the new International Airport in Panama City Florida. The state of the art terminal features a huge modern terminal with seven gates for a total cost of $318 million dollars. Also a new 10,000 foot runway will allow commercial aircraft and larger jets of any size be able to land more easily. This new airport will make travel more accessible for people coming from around the world.

Bob Parks Realty and The Premier Property Group is a member of the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® network which has over 35 international members. These members will now be able to fly directly in to the Panama City Beach area ~ also known as the Emerald Coast. Members within the network share information about their local areas and encourage other members to visit. To view homes in the area: www.relohomesearch.com.

For more information about the airport: www.newpcairport.com

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

In addition to being nominated for Best in Nashville Business, the Greater Nashville House and Home magazine awarded Bob Parks Realty with the “The Readers Favorite Award.” This is a huge honor because the award is based upon the opinions of Middle Tennessee home owners and magazine readers. They cast their votes and stories for their favorite real estate companies, designers, builders, landscapers, and more. 

The 450 plus real estate professionals at Bob Parks Realty are dedicated to providing only the highest level of care for families, communities, and home owners in Brentwood, Murfreesboro, Franklin, Smyrna, Mt. Juliet, Hendersonville, Gallatin, Green Hills, Shelbyville, the Nashville area, and Florida’s Emerald Coast. Again, receiving this award is a proud moment as the organization continues to be the Most Respected Name in Real Estate serving Middle Tennessee, Seacrest Beach, and Santa Rosa Florida.

For more information about Bob Parks Realty, visit www.bobparks.com.

Posted By: Kimberly Fahey

There may be plenty of houses in the middle Tennessee real estate market and not as many buyers as we’d like to see, but the homes that are priced right and also clean and well maintained are quite popular these days. So popular in fact, that multiple offers are coming in!

I had an older home listed last month that had lots of personality. The hardwood floors had a darker wood design built in and the backyard was a haven for bird lovers. The sellers fortunately negotiated and had a smooth closing with one of the two potential buyers. And today, I’m in another multiple offer situation. I’m meeting with a buyer about a condo he hopes to own, but this time he’s the one competing with another buyer.

Many buyers get alarmed when they hear they are in a multiple offer situation. Often they just want to throw in the flag to avoid a “bidding war.” Other times buyers are suspicious because they think agents are trying to maximize their own commission by getting the buyer to pay more. By law, we are required to put our clients’ interests above our own and we must deal with all parties honestly and in good faith. I take the mandates seriously because I don’t want to lose my ability to earn a living, and I believe other agents do the same.

Therefore if you’re told there are multiple offers, believe it. You have several choices you can then make. You can stand firm on your current price - there’s nothing wrong with that because it MIGHT already be the highest offer. You can change your offer (higher or lower). Stay away from the eBay mentality to “outbid” someone else - figure out in advance the highest amount you’d pay and do not go above it. If you don’t get the house, there will be others. Finally, your last choice and the worst thing to do is walk away. If it’s not meant to be, it never will be if you don’t at least make an effort.

There is one other choice you can make. It’s daring, but could be your key to winning the bid. You can change your offer to read, “Will pay $1,000 more than highest offer, not to exceed XX amount.” Of course, you would also ask for evidence that the other offer was a certain amount - and the listing agent can provide this with written permission from the seller, as long as the other buyer hasn’t specifically prohibited their bid from being shared.

Good luck buyers! If you’d like more information about real estate in Nashville, Smyrna, LaVergne, Murfreesboro, or other areas of Middle Tennessee, I welcome your call!

Posted by:Kathy Tyson

Residents and home owners choose Rutherford County because of its family-affordable suburbs, beautiful landscaped neighborhoods, and exceptional schools! Recently, the Rutherford County School District earned District Accreditation by the Advanced Accreditation Commission. Rutherford County is the only county in Tennessee to earn this prestigious designation. In order to be considered and maintain this level of education excellence, the school district must adhere to very high standards, quality assurance, and continuous education improvement set forth by the Advanced Accreditation Commission.

To further impact the lives of Rutherford County children and families, the school district had to address many areas of their education process. Specifically, seven of these standards included:

• Commitment to Ongoing Improvement
• Teaching and Learning
• Vision and Purpose
• Leadership
• Documenting and Using Results
• Resources and Support Systems
• Stakeholder Communications and Relationships

For more information about moving to Rutherford County visit www.bobparks.com.

Posted By: Kimberly Fahey

In addition to being one of the best places to get ahead, Williamson County was most recently named one of the most wealthiest suburbs by Forbes Magazine, not only in Tennessee but nationwide. Top on the list included many northern counties near DC, New York, and California. These wealthy suburbs are linked to more populated inner cities with a significant industry. For example, the Williamson County area in Tennessee is home to many executives employed by Healthcare Corporation of America, the music business, and other self-employed executives in a wide-range of businesses that serve these markets.

Williamson County also offers picturesque rolling-hill acreage and land development that you cannot find anywhere else. Located just a few miles from the Nashville nightlife, it offers everything that busy professionals need to get ahead, raise a family, and enjoy peaceful Sunday mornings overlooking beautiful Tennessee landscapes.

Bob Parks Realty currently has several real estate professionals serving the needs of home buyers in this area. To find an agent, visit www.bobparks.com. Following are just some of the homes being offered:

$3,495,000
125 Steeplechase
Nashville, TN 37221

Located on 4 plus magnificent Tennessee acres with phenomenal resort-style outdoor living: saltwater pool, diving area, swim-up bar, 10 person hot tub, exotic cabana and more! PERFECT 10!

Bedrooms: 7 Bathrooms: 8 full 1 partial Square Feet: 11585 Subdivision: Warner Park Area: 10-Williamson MLS ID: 1159917

$2,994,500
132 STEEPLECHASE LN
Franklin, TN 37221

LUXURY with all the amenities! FREE housekeeping. FREE lawn & landscape care. FREE pool care. FREE trainer for your new workout rm. ALL FREE for 2 years! NO HOA fees! 2.79 acre sanctuary w/fenced yard is PRICED BELOW APPRAISAL FREE WARRANTY on builder’s personal residence

Bedrooms: 8 Bathrooms: 8 full 2 partial Square Feet: 12756 Subdivision: Warner Park Area: 10-Williamson MLS ID: 1086015

• Check out all homes and estates for sale in Williamson County
• Check out all homes in Nashville, TN $800,000 Plus
• Check out all homes in Brentwood, TN $800,000 Plus
• Check out all homes in Franklin, TN $800,000 Plus

For more information about Bob Parks Realty, visit www.bobparks.com.

Posted By: Kimberly Fahey

Whenever I think of spring in Nashville, lots of places come to mind. This year there are many fun places to visit to have some fun. For example, Bass Prop Shop is having Easter activities from March 27 through April 4th. The Easter Bunny will make an appearance along with lot of games and crafts for the younger kids at heart.

Then there is the Belmont Mansion’s First Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 3rd. This is a free event and will feature prizes, a petting zoo and of course the Eater Bunny. Cheekwood’s Spring Art Hop will also be held on Saturday April 3rd where families will enjoy an Easter egg hunt and a visit from the Easter Bunny himself.

Exploring in Nashville is fun for everyone of every age! Young, old and everyone in between. Looking for the finest museums, attractions and events is easy. I suggest every Nashvillian enjoy our own city and check out the sites we have to offer.

At Bob Parks Realty, we like to share what Nashville has to offer by taking a tour of downtown. Start at Fort Nashboro and wind up at Centennial Park for a picnic. When we have clients coming in from out of town who may be relocating or thinking about moving to Nashville an area tour is a great way to kick off the day.

When searching for homes in Nashville we start by searching on: www.bobparks.com by area, price range or schools.

Needless to say, there are lots of activities going on in Nashville this season. For more information click here.

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

Williamson Count has been ranked 4th as one of the best places “To Get Ahead” by Forbes Magazine. According the 2009 study, more people moved into the county than out. In order to get ahead in your job and to find the right place to live, people may think they need to move to a bigger city. However, the study showed that the best places are suburbs of major cities. The study included a closer look at the largest counties with an average household income of $75,000 or higher. The study then examined how much the population grew in terms of three-year job growth and two-year income growth. Number four on the list was Williamson County.

If you think that moving to a larger city is your way to higher income, you might want to consider your options in Williamson County.

Williamson County Homes For Sale and Real Estate Links:

• Search all Homes for Sale in Williamson County
• All Franklin, TN Homes for Sale
• More Information About Williamson County
• Williamson County School Reports

  Posted By: Kimberly Fahey

Brentwood, TN has a reputation for being one of the best places to live in the Nashville area. Located just a few miles from the downtown Nashville nightlife and many corporations like Bob Parks Realty, HealthCare Corporation of America (HCA), Nissan, Bridgestone Firestone, and many more. Brentwood communities are ranked very well compared to national standards. Let’s take a look:

Brentwood, TN

Median Age: 43 years

Median Income: $132,618 per year

Population Growth: 33.1%

Brentwood, TN Population Stats

Male : 49 %
Female 50%
Married 75%
Single: 24%
Families 45%

Brentwood, TN Housing Market

Average Age of a Home: 16 years

Average Home Price: $611,919

Homeowners: 93.79 %

Renters: 4.31 %

Brentwood, TN Real Estate and Homes for Sale

Search all Brentwood, TN Real Estate

Search for Brentwood Homes by Subdivision Name

Search by Brentwood School District

For more information about homes for sale in Smyrna, TN, check out these links:

• Under $200,000

• $200,000 - $400,000

• $400,000 - $600,000

• $600,000 - $800,000

• $800,000 Plus

  Posted By: Kimberly Fahey

An agent in my office recently updated her Facebook status and said,

“The first 3 hours of an Amber Alert are the most critical. You can go to www.wirelessamberalerts.org and sign up for free text messaging. This is even for people that don’t have text plans. IT COULD SAVE A CHILD’S LIFE.”

Thanks to being a Mom of two daughters, I often worry about their safety, along with the safety of their friends, the girls in my daughter’s Girl Scout troop, and my nieces and nephews. Given the success of finding Elizabeth Smart after she was missing for a year and that Jayce Duggard finally returned to her family, we must have hope that other missing children can still come home.

I went to the link and followed the simple instructions. After putting in my mobile phone number, I clicked that I agreed to the terms of use, then proceeded to the zip code section. Here you pick cities from which Amber alerts are issued and I picked Nashville, LaVergne, Smyrna, Murfreesboro, and Clarksville. If you don’t know the zip codes, you can run a quick search on tennessee zip codes and links will be readily available.

Signing up for text message notifications was simple. I’m hoping that I won’t get many Amber Alerts, but if I do - and since I’m a Realtor and often out and about - I’ll be on the lookout.

Posted by:Kathy Tyson

At a recent seminar on energy savings, I had an opportunity to learn more about the Green Movement and the work that is being done to educate consumers. One statistic that I learned about Nashville homes is that 20% of new construction in Nashville in 2009 were Energy Star certified. The added energy systems in this type construction equates to 15% more energy efficiency. Over 1000 Energy Rated homes are currently available for sale in Nashville. More than 800 of these homes sold in 2009.

Austin, Texas has been a leading example of energy conservation. Through their efforts, they have been able to save energy of an amount to exceed the output that would have been gained by building a new power plant. TVA has a goal of saving by efficiency an amount equal to the output of a new Nuclear Plant by 2012.

As conservation and Green thinking grows in importance, resale value will be positively impacted by Energy Certifications in residential homes.

One thing I learned that I brought home and began immediately was to lower the thermostat. For every degree the thermostat is lowered there is a 6 to 8% cost savings. While I thought 65 was a good night time temperature, I found that I’m just as comfortable sleeping at 63 degrees. I’m also being more conscious of turning the thermostat down when I’m going to be away from home for several hours.

One further piece of information I gained was that coming to Tennessee in late April is a “Cash for Clunkers” program for Appliances. No details at this time.

Posted By: Frances Garner

Join local residents in the Murfreesboro and Smyrna area at the new Salsa dance club, Espana! Located on Main Street in Murfreesboro, they will be hosting a brunch catered by Chef Julio and the Smyrna High School. While enjoying Salsa music and great food, you’ll have an opportunity to learn more about the new Nissan all-electric Leaf car. For more information and to make reservations call (615) 893-6565.

Posted By: Kimberly Fahey

Rachel McDonald

GNAR (The Greater Nashville Association of Realtors) hosted their annual Award’s of Excellence on Saturday March 6.. Bob Parks Realty agents Dawn Franklin and Rachel McDonald were recognized for their leadership, high sales volume, and involvement in GNAR.

Rachel McDonald received the Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award and she has received the Silver Award for seven years.

Dawn Franklin has been recognized for real estate achievements by receiving the GNAR Silver Award for the third time.

The entire Bob Parks Realty (www.bobparks.com) family is very proud of Rachel and

Dawn Franklin

Dawn for their hard work and dedication to Middle, TN home buyers and sellers. With agents like this, it’s no wonder why Bob Parks Realty is consider the most respected name in Middle, TN real estate.

About The Greater Nashville Association of Realtors:

For more information about GNAR and their awards for top real estate achievers, please visit www.gnar.org.

About Bob Parks Realty:

For more information about finding your perfect home or joining Bob Parks Realty, please visit www.bobparks.com.

Posted By: Kimberly Fahey

Bob Parks Realty is pleased to welcome Belinda Butler Perry as a Realtor in the Smyrna office located at 557 Sam Ridley Parkway West.

“I am very excited to join Bob Parks Realty,” said Belinda. “The opportunity to combine my experience with Bob Parks Realty reputation as Tennessee’s premier real estate company will allow me to provide my clients with the highest quality of service.” Belinda recently transferred from Crye-Leike Realtors Starwood office. She has been a licensed Realtor for 15 years in addition to acting as sales & marketing manager for a Rutherford County builder since 1991. “I bring to my real estate clients a total of 19 years of experience assisting buyers in realizing their dream of home ownership,” said Belinda. “I have extensive new construction experience and have sold hundreds of homes in Middle Tennessee.”

Since becoming a licensed Realtor, Belinda has been assisting buyers and sellers in and around Rutherford, Davidson, and Wilson Counties. She specializes in residential real estate focusing on previously owned homes and first-time homebuyers. Belinda is a member of the Greater Nashville Association of Realtors (GNAR) and the National Association of Realtors (NAR). She currently lives in Smyrna and has been a resident of Rutherford County since 1985. For all your real estate needs and personal referrals, please contact Belinda Perry at Bob Parks Realty, LLC by phone at (615) 482-4180 or email her at belindaperry@realtracs.com.

For more information about homes for sale in Smyrna, TN, check out these links:

• All Smyrna Real Estate
• Search for real estate by Smyrna Subdivision
• Smyrna Real Estate $200,000 - $400,000

  Posted By: Kimberly Fahey

If you’ve never bought a home, or if it has been some years, you may not know that Representation by a Realtor for a Buyer is a formalized agreement, just as a Listing Agreement is a formalized agreement between seller and agent. While buyers may easily find homes on line and make contact with the listing broker to view the home and even write a contract to purchase the home, they will be doing so without the benefit of the knowledge, expertise and guidance of an agent who is dedicated to representing that Buyer. A Buyer’s Representation Agreement spells out the services that the agent will provide, and also what expectations are for the buyer. If you are not well acquainted with, and completely comfortable with your agent, the representation agreement period can be for a short period of time, a day, a week or for whatever time you may specify.

In most cases, the buyer will not pay anything for the representation of the Buyer’s Agent. Usually the Agent’s fee is paid by the seller. Sometimes an unrepresented Seller may not be willing to pay the Realtor’s commission. In that event a Buyer may choose not to be shown homes in that category.

An experienced Realtor representing a Buyer can save time in finding properties that meet specific needs, work diligently to negotiate the best price and terms and provide sources of Lender’s who offer great rates along with great service as well as qualified home inspectors, closing attorneys, insurance options and more.

Don’t go it alone. Take the team approach. Happy House Hunting.

Posted By: Frances Garner

Yesterday I attended a presentation by Edsel Charles of Market Graphics Research Group; www.mgresearch.net; in Franklin, TN. This is the second largest Market Research Group in the US and provides market research data to the Federal Reserve Bank among others. Among the topics discussed was the fact that Baby Boomers are unable to find what they want to “move-down” into. In an overbuilt market, which is working to correct itself and making some positive strides in that direction, there is no overbuilding in what either seniors moving down or Baby Boomers are seeking. According to the statistics that Edsel presented yesterday, the average Baby Boomer’s dream house would be somewhere between 2700 and 4100 square feet on one level. The most important area of the home would be a social living area/ kitchen that is functional, open, and beautiful (sounds good to me so far). The master bedroom area is another area needing special treatment preferably with an access to outdoor deck and garden area. A private library area for the lady of the house suitable for entertaining was high on the list. And according to Edsel the male Baby Boomer in the family’s fantasy would include an oversized garage with a wet bar, full bath and a dog bath area. Baby Boomers, What do you think? Is this what you are looking for?

Posted By: Frances Garner

Now is the time to think about real estate! With tax credits, the low interest rates, and with the over-correction of the local real estate market, affordability has reached levels that we have not seen for years! And, it’s unlikely buyers will see this type of market for many, many years to come.

Promising news for home buyers and owners:

• January 2010 marked the fourth straight month where homes sales increased. This is followed by 39 straight months of declines. This trend is expected to continue with a 5-10% increase throughout 2010.
• New construction experts agree that 2010 will see this number begin to climb too. A shortage of inventory is likely to occur in late 2010 in lower to mid-range price points.
• Steve Murray, a nationally recognized real estate expert notes: We are in a soft-bottom and have started a long slow recovery.

A Time to Buy!

• An $8,000 tax credit is available for first-time home buyers until April 30, 2010
• A $6,500 tax credit is available for current home owners who have been in their home for five consecutive years and plan to purchase a new or used home by April 30, 2010. (see all the details under the “client resources” link at www.bobparks.com)
• Interest rates remain at historic lows. As of late February 2010, 15 year fixed rates are near 4.5% and 30 year rates are around 5% for home loans.
• Most financial experts believe rates will begin to rise in the coming months

To list your home with the most respected name in Middle, TN real estate, click here.

Visit www.bobparks.com to search for your next dream home in Murfreesboro, Franklin, Brentwood, Smyrna, Nashville, Green Hills , Mt. Juliet, Hendersonville, and more!

Posted By: Kimberly Fahey

The city of Murfreesboro is bringing awareness and support to artists in the area. For more information on how you can support creative Murfreesboro, please visit: www.murfreesborotn.gov. The website list upcoming events and more.

Upcoming Events:

• March 1 - April 5: Jaye Kiblinger: Cross-stitch an art

• April 5 - May 3: Murfreesboro and Rutherford Art League

For more information about Murfreesboro Real Estate, click here.

Posted By: Kimberly Fahey

If you are considering calling historic Franklin, TN your home, please contact Dianne McKee. She has gathered everything a new-comer should know and more about the area. Dianne and the Bob Parks Realty office in Franklin are located in the downtown shopping area. You are welcome to stop by, or contact Dianne McKee for more information.

For more information about real estate and homes for in Franklin, TN, check out these links:

• Search all Franklin, TN Real Estate
• Search by Franklin, TN Neighborhoods
• Search by Franklin, TN Schools
• Find a Franklin, TN Real Estate Professional

Posted By: Kimberly Fahey