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

Both high schools on my side of the county held graduation events this past week. The entire county celebrated our brightest and best with ceremonies seemingly nonstop over the weekend. I am admittedly most interested in the graduation held for LaVergne High School, where my daughter graduated with honors.

I attended the rehearsal on Wednesday and the school administrators were very no-nonsense about the event. When one student danced across the stage, the principal stopped the practice, “This is an important occasion for all of you. You’ve worked really hard to get here today. If any of you belittle the event with nonsense, you will be escorted out by security.” Wow… serious stuff. BUT the graduates did behave like adults - joyful, delighted adults.

My congratulations to the newest alumnus of LaVergne High School, Smyrna High School, and all of the schools in our area! May you always have the wind at your back, your heart open, and your intelligence working on your behalf.

Posted By: Kathy Tyson

My broker emailed a report from USA Today that shows a map of the housing recovery, state by state. One big concern the housing market faced was an overabundance of new construction homes. When the homes stopped selling, the building industry came to a skidding halt. It was kind of weird standing on the back deck at a friend’s house seeing idle bulldozers in an area that had been absolutely crazy with growth. The subdivision grew mighty quiet.

If this report is accurate, however, her quiet may be short-lived. The peaceful subdivision may start hearing the noise of hammering, drilling, and construction traffic by the end of the year. Tennessee - along with Kentucky, Oklahoma, Texas, Montana, Utah, Arizona, and California - are expected to begin construction again in 2009 as the excess supply of homes are substantially depleted and demand returns.

My neighbor may not be thrilled with the added noise in her neighborhood, but I am definitely looking forward to seeing a resurgence in the housing market!

Posted By: Kathy Tyson

I took a listing late last week from sellers who are being relocated out-of-state. As we did our paperwork to get their beautiful home on the market, we reviewed options. Sellers generally have all kinds of choices that can be made when their company relocates them. They can have the home auctioned, but sometimes the concern is they won't get the price they need via that route. They have an option of accepting a lease-purchase contract. They could rent themselves. They could hire a property management company to rent it for them. Or - like my sellers have opted - they can stick with the traditional MLS listing.

Here's information about the home (which the sellers wish could just be picked up and moved to their new state).

1704 Chris Drive, LaVergne

• Price $155,000
• Seller will pay $2000 in closing costs on behalf of buyer with full price offer.
• Will consider lease-purchase.
• 1857 square feet
• 3 bedrooms, 2 baths
• Lovely lighting upgrades
• Open floor plan
• All kitchen appliances remain (perfect for 1st time homebuyers also looking for $8000 tax credit!)
• Wood burning fireplace
• Privacy fence in back yard
• Extensive gorgeous landscaping
• Huge walk-in closet in master bedroom, with double vanities in master bath
• Wonderful specialized shelves throughout home
• Upstairs bonus framed and sub floored, and area already started for staircase construction.

Sellers are very motivated, so don't miss this beautiful home. Call me at (615) 459-4040 or email me at kathy@bobparks.com for more information.

Posted By: Kathy Tyson

You can spell it donut. Or doughnut. Either way, we know them to be delicious really-bad-for-your-arteries deep-fried pastries covered with chocolate, nuts, glaze, sprinkles. Or maybe you like the ones filled with creme, apples, strawberries, or custard.

Smyrna and LaVergne residents are cheering the opening of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts today. That red sign that says “Hot” will be like Batman’s beacon to all doughnut lovers in a 10-mile radius. You can click here to help decide your order ahead of time (save me some chocolate iced custard filled treats).

I don’t know if I’ll brave the crowds during the first two weeks of opening, but I expect we’ll start seeing more doughnut goodness at the office.

Posted By: Kathy Tyson

There is an open house this Sunday, March 15th from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Located at 1210 Hampton Road Drive in LaVergne.

This house is amazing! It has three bedrooms, three baths, 3359 square feet (plus an additional 1088 square feet in the unfinished basement), a formal living room, a den, and a huge bonus room upstairs. This all-brick home is just beautiful!

Your monthly mortgage payment with today’s rates would only be about $1950 p/month and that includes taxes and insurance. If you haven’t owned a home in the last three years, you could also qualify for the $8000 tax credit when you file taxes next year!

Come by and say hello on Sunday and take a tour of your next home!

Directions: From Nashville, I-24 to exit 66B (Sam Ridley Pkwy). North Hwy 41 (Murfreesboro Road toward LaVergne). Rt on Fergus, Rt on Jones Mill Rd., Left on Hampton Road Drive. Home on the right.

Posted By: Kathy Tyson