In 2006, the Tennessee General Assembly passed Public Chapter 398 which established an annual sales tax holiday every August from 12:01am on the first Friday of the month until 11:59pm on Sunday. The advantage you ask? Shoppers can save BIG on computer purchases under $1,500 and school supplies and clothing under $100. Consider supporting our local retailers in Murfreesboro, and catch some deals for your kid’s Back-to-School needs at the same time. The current economic indicators reveal that consumer spending is down, but sticking to a budget as you hunt down some fabulous rollbacks for your spending dollar always makes sense… Check out the Square in downtown Murfreesboro, and then pop on over to The Avenue on Medical Center Parkway to get your “find” of the century… Top off a day of fun and shopping with refreshments from one of the many local eateries in both locations. And don’t forget that Marymont Springs is ready to welcome you with some fresh made iced lemonade and home-baked cookies. Stop by for a rest after your day and enjoy the rockers and shade on our front porch…you’ll be glad you did…see you soon!

Posted by:  Karen Boynton

Looking around me as we move into the lazy days of summer here at the historic mansion on Rucker Lane, I am reminded of a favorite quote of mine from my college days by Vincent Van Gough. Simply put, he said, “Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together”. Within that statement there is true inspiration, and as your eyes drink in the surrounding loveliness of Marymont Springs, your heart too will be inspired.

Situated in the softly rolling hills of Murfreesboro in western Rutherford County, you will note graceful structures dating back to the early 1800’s blended with modern shopping conveniences, medical facilities, and amenities that are touched by Southern nostalgia. We are fortunate to be able to provide the benefits of small-town living with the attractions of a major metropolitan area.

If you are looking for your own haven of inspired living, please consider that we have a rich quality of life featuring a lively arts program, a greenway trail system throughout the county, first class education, desirable career opportunities, and annual community events that celebrate the blend of days gone by with the here and now.

Come experience Marymont Springs for yourself, and give free reign to your hidden aspirations! We are located at 1124 Rucker Lane off of Highway 96 in Murfreesboro. Stop by for a fresh baked cookie and a cool glass of lemonade, while rocking on the porch of the historic mansion…and then be inspired!

Posted by:  Karen Boynton

The International Folk Fest is being held in and around the Nashville area, including Murfreesboro, from June 13-June 20. With activities running all week long there is plenty for everyone to experience, such as shows for senior citizens, civic clubs, schools, and evening performances, etc. in Murfreesboro and Rutherford Country. This is fun for the entire family.

The festival began in 1982 to bring international music, dance and arts from more than 50 countries to the Rutherford County area. Countries that have visited the area include Greece, India, Ireland, Israel, Brazil, Czechoslovakia, England, Germany, Mexico and many, many others.

For more information about the fun-filled events visit: www.mboro-international-folkfest.org.

Posted by:  Kimberly Fahey

Secret No 96: Montgomery Bell State Park

Number 96 of 100 of Nashville’s Best Kept Secrets is Montgomery Bell State Park, which is located approximately 30-40 minutes West of downtown Nashville. This parks is not only beautiful, but it’s also one of few parks with a dedicated mountain biking trail in the Nashville area. Even though a lot of state parks mention mountain biking trails, they are often shared by horseback riders, which does not go hand-in-hand on a path barely wide enough for a front tire.

The park also includes more than 100 picnic areas, rustic cabins, and campgrounds. It’s perfect for a couple, family, or even some time alone. There is also a creek that runs through the campground with some campsites located along the bank. The trails include more than 18 miles of scenic tall trees and fresh air. You can also hike the backcountry trail which has three overnight shelters open year-round.

For more information, visit: http://www.stateparks.com/montgomery_bell.html

About Bob Parks Realty

The most respected name in middle Tennessee real estate, Bob Parks Realty is home to over 400 real estate professionals serving families and home owners in Murfreesboro, Brentwood, Franklin, Nashville. Gallatin, Hendersonville, Smyrna, Green Hills and the surrounding area. For more information about Bob Parks Realty, visit www.bobparks.com.

Posted by:  Kimberly Fahey

100 of Nashville’s Best Kept Secrets No 97: Arrington Vineyards

Just a short drive from Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, and Murfreesboro, Arrington Vinyards is a beautiful place to share a glass of wine with your sweetie, family, and friends. My husband and I went on Mother’s Day. Even though both of our Moms live outside-of-the-state, we knew that Arrington Vineyards would be great place to spend the afternoon. They had a live Jazz band and tons of families sharing picnic style lunches on the lawn. You could see wives and moms sharing stories while Dads passed balls with their kids. You are welcome to bring in your own food and drink or go into the rustic style log cabin for wine tasting and buying.

Arrington Vineyards was Founded by Kix Brooks and sits among the beautiful hills of Arrington, Tennessee. They offer award-winning wines and amazing views from the covered deck and breathtaking sunsets.

Hours of Operation:

Monday – Thursday: 11am - 8pm
Friday – Saturday: 11am - 9pm
Sunday: 12pm - 6pm

Directions:

For directions, please visit: www.arringtonvineyards.com/directions

For more information about Arrington Vineyards, please visit www.arringtonvineyards.com. For more information about the most respected name in middle Tennessee real estate, Bob Parks Realty, please visit www.bobparks.com.

Posted by:  Kimberly Fahey

Leslie Gannon, Relocation Manager and Tammy Carroll, Vice President of Corporate Real Estate Services at Bob Parks Realty announced that Jackson National Life Insurance company will be moving to Franklin, TN across from Nissan headquarters.

Jackson National Life Insurance is a AA rated company with eleven facilities across the country. They expect the move to occur within the next year and they plan to hire 500-700 new employees. Several executive will be relocating including the CEO Mike Wells.

This project originated from the Nashville Chamber 2010 Partnership recruiting efforts. They worked on this project for approximately 3 years and they checked out 44 cities before deciding on Middle Tennessee. Contributing factors were: education pool of workers, way of life, and balanced economy. The move is not based upon cost, it was based on Nashville as a whole and all it has to offer.

This is great news for Nashville!

For information about relocating to middle Tennessee or the Nashville area, check out these Bob Parks Realty community pages:

· Brentwood Homes for Sale, Real Estate Info

· Franklin Homes for Sale, Real Estate Info

· Hendersonville Homes for Sale, Real Estate Info

· LaVergne Homes for Sale, Real Estate Info

· Mount Juliet Homes for Sale, Real Estate Info

· Murfreesboro Homes for Sale, Real Estate Info

· Nashville Homes for Sale, Real Estate Info

· Shelbyville Homes for Sale, Real Estate Info

· Smyrna Homes for Sale, Real Estate Info

Secret #100: Duck River Race Track in Wheel , Tennessee

I love this place! Y ou will not find any tourist here and it’s great for people watching. It’s somewhat out of town, but close enough for a Saturday night out with your honey or kids.

Duck River Racing is located between Shelbyville, TN and Huntsville, Alabama. It’s a beautiful one hour drive from Murfreesboro on country roads full of rolling hills and horse farms. Usually, my husband and I stop in Shelbyville for dinner. You must follow the directions closely because the final turn into the race track feels like you have pulled into someone’s driveway. You know you are close when you hear roaring engines and you start to see a bit more traffic than normal.

The parking lot is not paved. It’s just dirt and there are not any real parking slots like you find at the Mall in Green Hills (another one of my favorite places!!). Ticket cost is fairly cheap for the entertainment. You are welcome to bring your own cooler and chairs, or share silver metal bleachers with the rest of the local fans. Flip-flops and cut-offs are the norm, but I prefer to wear my jeans and some super cute high-heel clogs with a girlie top.

The race track is dirt and the bleachers are just a few feet from the race. It’s a totally cool experience to be that close to cars going that fast! Even more exciting is to see family, fans, and friends of a driver who just won a race! After his victory, he may join the crowd in the bleachers still in his jump suite which will have logos of local businesses that you have never heard of like: Betsy’s Flowers and Gifts or Johnny’s Paint and Body Shop. For a short-time, you can feel his victory and wish you were the driver of the car… at least once.

After several rounds of racing, you can start to feel a little grit in your mouth and tiny little speckles of car oil on your face and hands. The sound is so load it can be almost unbearable but worth every minute of the excitement.

For more information about Duck River Racing, you can visit www.duckriverspeedway.com.

Posted by:  Kimberly Fahey

Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) invites you to join the 110% Club for the Blue Raider Athletic Association. By joining, you will receive the following:
· 110% Club gift from the Blue Rader Athletic Association
· Name listed in football game day program saying “I GAVE 110%”
· Extra priority privileges for MT athletic events
· Additional tax deduction.

Bob Parks Realty is all about supporting community efforts, local schools, and families in Murfreesboro and throughout Middle, TN. For more information about Middle TN State University in Murfreesboro (MTSU), please visit www.mtsu.edu

Posted by:  Kimberly Fahey

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

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

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

At www.BobParks.com you can search for all homes for in Middle, TN by subdivision name! Check out these links for real estate information and homes for sale in your neighborhood:

• All Franklin, TN Homes for Sale by Subdivision
• All Murfreesboro, TN Homes for Sale by Subdivision
• All Brentwood, TN Homes for Sale by Subdivision
• All Nashville, TN Homes for Sale by Subdivision
• All Smyrna, TN Homes for Sale by Subdivision

Posted By: Kimberly Fahey

Kudos to Janis Fredricks Burchell for her appearance in the February/March 2010 Murfreesboro Magazine “Women In Business, Our City’s Fearless Females” section, page 22. Murfreesboro Magazine asked her “Why choose Murfreesboro for your business?” Janis responded with , “Our middle son graduated from MTSU in the fall of 1998. He stayed and started a business. We decided after frequent visits to Murfreesboro to retire here. This is a great community and Tennessee has no income taxes. We moved here from New Jersey in 2007.”

Janis was asked and answered a few other questions and also mentions fellow Realtor, Janet Mills of Bob Parks Murfreesboro Office, and her inspirational family story. To read the complete article, visit www.murfreesboromag.com.

Janis currently holds her E-PRO Designation and is the final stages of completing her ABR. Contact Janis for your Real Estate needs by mobile at 615-869-8899 or by email janisb@realtracs.com.

For more information about homes for sale and real estate in Murfreesboro, click here

Posted By: Kimberly Fahey