Kimble's Blog

Price Reduced! 1400 Rosa L Parks Blvd., Nashville, TN 37208 (Werthan Lofts, Germantown)

Kimble Bosworth (Village Real Estate Services) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:43:23 -0500

Although the Lofts at Werthan Mills have weathered the real estate storm pretty well; these relocating home sellers are eager to sell and have prices accordingly! At $399,545, this 2570 square foot condo is a steal. Unit 112 was one of the first and largest lofts to be built in Werthan - a true urban, gated community that features one of Nashville's only rooftop green spaces, complete with salt water pool and bocce courts.

Just because there's a bargain price, doesn't mean the owners skimped on any details in this huge space. Their upgrades include a 1046 square foot master retreat - with:

19' x 12' master bedroom
2 walk in closets

Master bath with spa tub,
separate shower & double
vanities

25' x 16' sitting room/den
Built in bookcases
2 additional storage areas

The upstairs is just as spectacular - with a 25 foot, covered outdoor area for entertaining, a large open living, dining and kitchen, guest 'master' and a third full bath.

Call the bozTEAM today to schedule a showing of this wonderful home.

bozTEAM of village real estateSERVICES
615 WOODLAND ST | NASHVILLE | TN | 37206
o: 615.369.3278 | c: 615.715.0545
www.AreYouReadyNashville.com

Something for Everyone in Werthan Lofts

Kimble Bosworth (Village Real Estate Services) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:23:45 -0500

Many new buyers are learning about a loft enclave in Germantown that is unlike most in Nashville. Some say Werthan Lofts could be right at home in New York or Chicago! It's part of the appeal for over 200 residents in this converted factory that still looks like an industrial complex as you drive by on Rosa Parks Blvd.

For the past 2 years, throughout a real estate slump, sales in Werthan have remained strong - perhaps as a result of the architectural originality OR the affordability OR the convenient, walkable neighborhood OR the spectacular pool and outdoor areas throughout the gated community OR the rare opportunity for expansion space in condo living (Werthan is one of only a handful of condos where owners of certain units can expand into basement space, upward, or by adding lofted mezzanines in the interior spaces). Whatever the reasons, Werthan lofts have closed 111 sales since June of 2007. With Phase 4 construction complete and the development down to 12 units on the market; there is still something for everyone.

Prices range from $184,000 - $475,000. Sizes range from 743 square feet to almost 2600 square feet. Here are some highlights of two available units:

Unit 112 is one of the largest spaces in the community. At $429,545 this 2576 square foot unit is one of the smallest prices per square foot. And those numbers don't take into account the most spectacular part of this space - the huge covered deck that was once a factory loading dock. The current residents spend as much time in the outdoor areas as they do inside!

Both bedrooms in the space have a private full bath. The master retreat also features a sitting room that's almost the same size as the living room and two large closets - a hot commodity in any loft.

There's a third full bath off the open living, dining and kitchen area. The entire main level is built for entertaining with large wall spaces for a gallery of art, extra cabinets and storage, room for a bar and so much more.

For the more frugal buyer, there's another Werthan gem on the upper level of phase 3. At 1330 square feet, unit 317 is a real surprise for $292,545. It, too has an outdoor space - a balcony overlooking the Hydrangea garden of the East Courtyard. The master suite here is a mix of modern - with a wall of industrial windows and vaulted ceilings that allow enough space for a mezzanine expansion. The open living room has those bricks and beams the old factory is known for - so does the second bedroom (currently used as a media room).

So, whether you're looking for large or small spaces - modern or filled with restored factory charm - Werthan Lofts really does have something for everyone! Call the bozTEAM of Village Real Estate to get your piece of history today.

Signs of Real Estate Change in East Nashville

Kimble Bosworth (Village Real Estate Services) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:02:13 -0500

A recent bozTEAM blog pointed to signs of change in Germantown. There was more evidence this week in East Nashville!

Over the past year, selecting houses for our Thursday Preview Tour of Homes has been REALLY difficult. It starts Wednesday AM with bozTEAM agents sifting through hundreds of homes on an report, trying to find 10 - 20 great candidates for the tour.

Yesterday, armed with this week's theme of '1st Time Buyer Homes Under $175,000 in East Nashville & Inglewood, 2BR/2BA'; I was sure to be in for a LOT of narrowing to get the initial sort under 250 homes.

NOPE! The initial, wide range search only found 53 homes! I did a doubletake. WHA..WHATTTT?????

53 HOMES! What could be happening here?

Then I started the daunting process of softing through those 53 homes to find suitable candidates for the tour. These had to be the best and brightest! Our current buyer needs (oversimplified for the sake of blogging, of course):

BUYER 1: Move in ready. Kitchen is MOST important. Social space is also key. Likes hardwoods. Doesn't require fenced yard, but it is a plus. Large rooms or open spaces. Over 1000 s.f. would be GREAT - but it's also ok if it just 'feels' large.

BUYER 2: Investment property to be used as rental with 2 or more units. Large yard. Future possibility to combine into buyer's personal single family home. Prefers ranch style with finished basement and 'Needs TLC'. Expansion space possibilities would be great, too.

BUYER 3: Almost the same as BUYER 1 but under $120,000 and space for music room...

You get the idea...lots of different needs usually means LOTS of previewing. After sort #2, the preview list for Buyers 1 and 3 was down to 9 listings. THIS IS TOO EASY!

What does it all mean?

Inventory is down. Either things are selling OR things are renting and no longer listed. Either way, it's a good thing.
There is more competition out there. Many of the listings already had contingencies. Haven't seen as many of those lately. We'll still preview 'cause you never know what can happen with financing. Many of the buyers we're working with are happy to be the backup offer.
The preview day won't be nearly as frenzied as it usually is. We can get to those 9 listings in less than 2 hours and have great video clips and pics text messaged to those buyers to help them narrow down our Weekend Buyer Tours in no time.

So, look out East Nashville, the bozTEAM is coming! Are you ready?

A Note to Short Sale BUYERS and Buyer's Agents

Kimble Bosworth (Village Real Estate Services) — Fri, 29 May 2009 07:18:36 -0500

Unfortunately, the bozTEAM has had a lot of experience with short sales over the past year. You may have seen a few of our blog posts that deal with the actual process. This one does not.

This post deals with the psychology of a short sale. It's hard enough to put together a successful (and quick) short sale without considering the emotional state of the Seller. The Buyer and Buyer's real estate agents can help quite a bit if they understand some of the feelings 'baggage' that comes with this process.

The Buyer, for the most part, has the easy part of the transaction. Oversimplified: the Buyer submits the 'short' price to the Seller - a price that is LESS than the amount the Seller owes the bank. The burden is on the Seller and Seller's Agent (or Mediator) to negotiate that 'short' price with the bank.

Here's where the psychology comes in. It's not like that shortage just evaporates! Something has to happen to that money. Either the bank agrees to write it off; (Yeah, right! That RARELY happens) OR the Seller:

...takes out a LOAN to pay the difference (or some portion of it) back to the bank.This is usually an unsecured loan because the bank is feeling very generous and is kind enough to extend some pretty flexible terms to that Seller so they can make their money back. These loans can be low interest rates, interest only for some period of time until the Seller gets 'back on their feet' after the financial crisis that caused the short sale in the first place...Sometimes the loans are really long time frames. Either the low interest or the long time frame are supposed to ease that burden to the Seller.
...refuses or just CAN'T take out a loan. The bank sues for the difference.This is likely to end up in some judgment against the Seller and, ultimately in bankruptcy or some form of debt management program. In either event, there will be years of financial consequences for the Seller.

I could go on and on about these options, but you should start to get the idea by now. The Buyer is most likely getting a really good deal on this house. They are excited. They feel like they have had some small victory in this tough real estate market and are going to come out WINNERS. But it's important to have some humility in the face of that victory. Keep in mind how that Seller must feel.

The Seller is going to be paying for that victory, either literally with loan payments for years, or with the impact on their credit rating. The Seller may also feel like they are 'giving' their home away.

This is real stuff. And here are some real examples of how a few short sale Sellers we work with have been emotionally impacted:

Case 1: The Seller - a builder - was selling a personal, custom-built dream home for $200,000 less than the amount owed to the bank. This sale resulted in the loss of the dream home AND the loss of a career as a builder. The bank wouldn't write off the difference and the result would be Bankruptcy for the Seller.

In this example, the Buyer was very aware of this and made the sale go very smoothly. The Seller was extremely grateful for the compassion during this stormy period of financial distress.

Case 2: The Sellers had passionately restored a home to resell for almost a year. The home was selling for $400,000 less than appraisal and $150,000 less than their loan. The bank was arranging a loan for the Sellers to pay off that difference.

In this example, the Buyers came by the house unannounced almost daily the week before the sale. Their agent was not even aware they were 'stopping in'. They directly asked the home's residents if they would mind leaving wine racks and shelving. When they called and asked the Agent (and then, the Seller directly), where an optional glass insert in the $2000 range hood was; they almost killed the deal. Whether the Buyers intended or not, the implication was that the glass (which was omitted by the designer for aesthetic reasons) was removed from the home by the Sellers.

It was all I could do as an agent involved in the transaction not to take these Buyers and their Agent and shake them! Happily, there was no assault. The Sellers completed the transaction and moved on.

I only hope that, if you are fortunate enough to buy or work with buyers of a short sale, that you will not be so short-sighted as case 2 Buyers were. Consider the feelings of loss, the financial distress and the emotional toll that these changes in the Sellers' lives are causing and be gentle in how you deal with them directly during the process. You might just get the home of your dreams, even though the Seller might be giving theirs up.

bozTEAM of village real estate: Loft and Art Tour

Kimble Bosworth (Village Real Estate Services) — Mon, 11 May 2009 22:17:18 -0500

Event: Hosted by: When: Location:

bozTEAM of village real estate: Art Tour and Open Lofts

www.socializr.com/event/677583836

bozTEAM of village real estate

May 14, 2009, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Werthan Lofts

1400 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN

Germantown Garden Guzzle this week in Nashville

Kimble Bosworth (Village Real Estate Services) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:25:40 -0500

Started years ago by the locals, the Garden guzzle is billed as 'Historic Germantown's Signature Event' and it's just one more reason the neighborhood residents find their area so desirable.

This year's Guzzle starts at Monell's lovely cottage garden and features an appetizer selection from this, one of the neighborhood's most popular restaurants.

Guzzle-Goers will stroll from there to The Mad Platter Herb Garden, following the movable refreshment stand (actually a BOAT!) from one location to the next.

So grab your shades and dress in your finest garden party attire and join us for this tour of 9 lovely commercial and residential gardens throughout this celebrated urban neighborhood. The tour culminates in an organic garden with a feast of local favorite foods, cool drinks and live music on the 1400 block of 4th Avenue.

Cheers, Y'all.

Conserve Water! Conserve Money!

Kimble Bosworth (Village Real Estate Services) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 19:49:32 -0500

Many Nashville condo owners, affected by the recent economy and facing possible Home Owner Association dues increase in the new year, may feel helpless to turn the tide of rising expenses. In fact, that's not so.

The dues ‘tide' is composed of many ‘droplets'. Together they swell to form cumulative HOA expenses - fees like building insurance, common area electricity, landscaping, pet services, window cleaning, water and more.

Jeff Barry, filmmaker and host of the Mayor's Green Ribbon Council helps us to see in his movie, Kilowatt Ours, just how much control we individuals have over the costs of our community - energy costs in particular. In an event held at Werthan Lofts last October, Mayor Karl Dean invited Werthan Lofts homeowners to participate in a unique experiment to lower consumption and help Nashville become the Greenest City in the Southeast. He urged a community-wide experiment in conservation.

They are starting with WATER. Many condo residents have you said to themselves, "Who cares if I waste water? I don't pay for it." Oh, but they do pay for it! In many communities water is the 3rd highest expense of the HOA.

If each individual was to cut consumption by only a small amount, the cumulative impact of over an entire community of households would have a huge effect on the bottom line.

There are also hidden water expenses. The Nashville sewer system actually USES electricity to generate water - 10 watts of power for every ‘watt' of water delivered. What's a watt of water? Got me. But it's clear that saving one might be a good thing. And not just for the environment - for our bank accounts, too.

Learn more about energy savings at kilowattours.org.

1008 Falls Avenue, Madison TN 37115 (Montague Neighborhood)

Kimble Bosworth (Village Real Estate Services) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:38:45 -0600

It's been a long time in the area since home prices dropped to these levels. Even with bargains piling up out there, it's still rare to find the 'perfect storm' of value that you'll find in this Madison home.

Starting outside, you'll know this home is special by the large yard with beautiful vignettes of cottage garden, wildlife refuge and lawn. This .51 acre lot can provide hours of imaginative play for children OR a haven for any gardener.

The cottage gardens start at the street with the plantings around the mailbox:

Soon, the hollyhocks will bloom with great stalks of colorful flowers up to 8 feet tall.

The green will be replaced with a colorful display of red, white, purple and pink.

A wide assortment of flowers will also crowd the space with color and fragrance.

NOT to be outdone, the rest of the yard also includes pockets of garden among the trees and along the front of the home:

The inside of the home is just as spectacular. The flexible layout offers choices of master bedroom on both levels, large kitchen with room for table or island and up to 5 bedrooms. The largest bedroom could also be used as a media/game room, music studio or playroom.

The many options in this unique home make it a perfect place for a growing family, songwriter's retreat, or bed and breakfast down by the river!

Come see what makes this 2766 square foot home such a fabulous value at $249,545.

See more of this fabulous home in this video or at the bozTEAM Blog!

I Can't Think of a Title for this Blog - A Story of Christmas Cheer

Kimble Bosworth (Village Real Estate Services) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 07:40:27 -0600

I wanted to call it, Werthan Lofts Bring Christmas Cheer to Cheatham Place. But when I thought about it, that's not really fair. So I thought maybe, Cheatham Place Brings Christmas Cheer to Werthan Lofts. You decide.

You may recall when I blogged about Cheatham Place previously - it's a Metro Development Housing Authority (MDHA) community just across the street from my residence in Werthan Lofts. It's a lovely community of small, brick buildings impeccably maintained by the management team (and listed on the National Historic Register). And it's also home to lots of people who don't live the life of luxury that I have been blessed with.

What you probably don't know, unless you live here, is that every year for the past three, I have organized a Werthan Lofts Christmas Toy drive for the children of Cheatham Place.

I first realized just how many kids lived there by the sounds of their laughter as they played throughout the community on afternoons in the summer and most holidays. Seeing and hearing that laughter is one of the best things about living in my loft!

In 2006, shortly after moving to Werthan, I met with Peaches Manning, the Housing Coordinator for MDHA to ask about a toy drive. I figured I would do some small thing to help the community kids, many of whom don't receive many gifts during the holiday season. Turns out, it would be no small thing! There were 120 kids living in Cheatham Place! And there were only a few days until their holiday party. Not much time.

The residents of Werthan came together and made it happen. Donations of presents came from dozens of residents. others without time to shop gave money. Volunteers shopped. Together we organized hundreds of gifts for kids of all ages.

For three years, I have continued this effort. Often at the last minute. And often with very little time in my own busy schedule (and these days not much money - since the real estate market downturn has drastically reduced my own income).

Fact is, I can't NOT do this. Because no one is more blessed by the gifts of this event than those of us at Werthan who participate.

We are blessed by the generosity of our neighbors. Every year the email requesting gifts and cash is met with new donations from new residents in amounts I am always surpised by.

We are blessed by the cooperation of our community retailers. This year Big Lots dug deep and located 48 mini radios for $2 each as gifts for parents and older kids in addition to the bounty of other items we purchased there.

We are blessed by the spirit of our community. In line buying the gifts, a woman behind me and my three carts of toys in line at the store asked me, "Who are you, anyway?" When I told her, "No one," and explained the toy drive; she responded, "Then you're not no one. You're Santa Claus."

We are blessed by the spirit of these children. I sat last night at the Cheatham Christmas Party, hearing the same laughter fill the room that I hear so often from my loft. This was before any presents, food or music. It would continue even if the music, food or music wasn't there. It was then I realized that these kids don't need me or Werthan's gifts. They are blessed with the love of their families who struggle to provide them a safe environment in which to grow and to love. And it's working. That laughter is proof.

It turns out, I need them. Happy Holidays!

Decoding the Short Sale Mystery: Part 2

Kimble Bosworth (Village Real Estate Services) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:41:06 -0600

In part 2 of this series, we take a look at the answer to the question, "WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS IF I AM FACING A SHORT SALE?"

We already established in Decoding the Short Sale Mystery: Part 1, that selling short, while not the only option, might be one of the best ones.

When facing the type of financial crisis that leads to a short sale, homeowners might want to curl up and ignore the problem. That's probably the WORST option. Why? Because acting as early as possible, there may be a way reduce the negative impact on credit scores, avoid foreclosure and avoid bankruptcy.

First, let's look at the options for dealing with the debt.

Option 1 - Renegotiate the Loan: The best case scenario is to work early and diligently to convince the bank to help negotiate a way for the homeowner to stay in the home. There are a lot of options here - interest rate can be lowered, loan term can be extended to create lower monthly payments, an equity line can be established to make payments until a negative situation is turned around (job loss, pay cut, etc.). In some cases, if the lending bank is not willing to help, maybe another bank will.

Option 2 - Short Sale: Work with the bank, buyer and seller to agree on a sales price that is less than the amount owed on the home. This is the option we will look at in more detail in this blog.

Option 3 - Foreclosure: The bank takes back ownership of the home (in Deed of Trust states like TN , there are some technical differences, but, for the sake of simplicity...) and tries to sell it as a bank owned property (REO). Banks are not interested in incurring marketing expenses to get that home sold. They just want to get it sold and recover some of the lapsed mortgage. They may post the property on REO websites. Often, these properties are not even in MLS. They are rarely marketed in very aggressive ways (agreesive ways require $$$ and the bank is trying to mitigate their own loss.) More frequently that not, the homes may end up for sale on the courthouse steps. Banks often report that these foreclosed homes sell for anywhere from $.50 to $.25 on the dollar.

When the house does sell, the bank will likely 'go after' the foreclosed homeowner for the difference between the loan and the sales price. (As you may have guessed from above; that can be a pretty big difference!) They will also add any legal and marketing expenses to the total.

Option 4 - Bankruptcy: Bankruptcy may be an option for some homeowners. There are requirements to meet to qualify for this option. Most recommend bankruptcy as a last resort and you should consult an attorney to get the specifics.

Now, let's look at points to negotiate in a short sale.

Let's use some numbers in an example. Let's say the mortgage is $300,000 and the offer is $250,000. Let's also assume that the bank has not yet incurred any legal expenses from a foreclosure. There could, however, be real estate agents involved in the transaction with either the buyer or seller. Sometimes, there is even a negotiator, who works with all parties in the interest ONLY of working out a short sale acceptible to all parties. This person does not serve any one party's interests. Rather, they get paid to close the deal and get the property sold.

It's important to remember that all of the fees associated with closing the sale (the negotiator expense, the real estate agent commissions, the title search, taxes, etc...) are negotiable. The closing fees can average around 3-8% of the purchase price.

There are also several ways things could work out regarding the debt:

Option 1 - Bank writes off difference: The short amount in the example above would be $50,000 + any closing costs associated with the transaction which are not paid by the Buyer. In some cases, the bank may agree to write off those expenses.

WHY? Foreclosure requires significant legal fees - sometimes as much as $30,000 to $50,000. If the homeowner declares bankruptcy, the bank may never recover the debt at all. They may actually net more money than with other options. And they would certainly put the matter to rest faster than with other options.

Option 2 - Bank requires Seller to pay some of the difference: In this scenario, the bank may write off a portion of the shortage. Let's say, for example, they agree to write off all the closing fees, but will not forgive the mortgage shortage. They may require the Seller to pay the remaining short amount. The bank will often negotiate a loan (secured or unsecured) with the Seller for that difference. While this seems shocking at first; remember, loans are what the bank does. They have a lot of flexibility about how they can negotiate this loan (interest rate, payback terms, etc.). And for the Seller, negotiating a workable monthly payment is definitely preferrable to being 'on the hook' for the whole foreclosure amount.

Option 3 - Bank requires Seller to pay all of the difference: This is the same scenario as above except the bank does not write off any expenses. The Seller would be responsible for all the shortage. Again, may be preferable to the Seller being 'on the hook' for the entire mortgage.

It's important to speak with experts to learn all the nuances of the process and figure out what works best for the specific situation. There is no Short Sale formula. Every one is a little different. But with the right team helping to negotiate the transaction and preparing you for all the steps in the process, short sales can be less painful than the alternatives.

In the next blog we will review the impact of short sales on credit ratings. Interestingly, there are some ways to negotiate a better outcome here, as well.

Decoding the Short Sale Mystery

Kimble Bosworth (Village Real Estate Services) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:47:17 -0600

If you'd asked me, "What's a short sale?" three years ago, I would have looked at you funny or quipped something whitty like, "10 days". Not because I didn't know, but because you most likely didn't need to.

There was almost no such thing in a market where the qualifications for loans and refi's was warm breath - where banks were willing to work with financially distressed customers or you could just cash out of your home in a matter of weeks with a willing buyer for a price over market value.

Today, the question is on a lot of minds. And it's no joke. There's fear on the faces of the people who ask this question. Their voices quake when they ask. They are asking because there is a real possibility that it could happen to them. When people ask that question these days, they are facing a potential late loan payment. They have already cut back their spending as much as possible. They are in financial distress and are facing the reality that their home might be worth the same as it was in 2001 - three years BEFORE they purchased it. There's a lot of bad news behind that question.

The good news is, short sales need not be a mystery. Here's the short answer to the question:, "What's a short sale?":

A short sale is a sale of a home where the sell price will be less than the loan payoff amount.

If your loan payoff is $300,000 and your home's market value is $250,000, you are probably in a short sale situation - unless a buyer just woke up from a three year nap and is somehow willing to pay significantly over market value for your home.

It's also likely, if you're asking the 'short sale' question; you're not just thinking of selling your home because you are tired of mowing so much grass and want to move to someplace with less lawn maintenance. People don't sell short because they want to. They sell short because they HAVE to.

People sell short because selling a home for a loss is the best option. Being ont he hook for the $50,000 short is, after all, better than being on the hook for the entire $300,000 loan and the additional fees associated with foreclosure, which the bank WILL try to collect.

People sell short because it's a better option for credit scores in the long term than foreclosure. They sell short to get the home out of the financial picture and to be better equipped to deal with the rest of their financial issues without that largest debt looming.

The mystery of the short sale is not the what, but the how.

How do you get through a short sale with as much as possible, including your dignity? How do you advertise a short sale? How do you negotiate a short sale with the bank? With the buyers? How do you deal with the credit rating implications? How do you work through the process while still dealing with the emotional issues surrounding the financial crisis in your life that has led to this situation?

Over the next week, we'll look at how to decode the short sale mystery, answering questions like:

What are your options?

What is the short sale process?

What is the credit score impact of a short sale?

And more...

Timing the Market

Kimble Bosworth (Village Real Estate Services) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 19:43:07 -0500

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OUR NASHVILLE REAL ESTATE MARKET????

Nervous buyers and sellers are asking some tough questions these days. Questions like:

How do I know my home won't lose value the minute I purchase?
When do you think the market will hit the bottom?
Will our home prices continue to fall in Nashville?

What do these questions mean? Well, for starters no one WANTS to buy high and sell low. And buying a home is one of the single, largest investments a person makes in their lifetime. And this current market has challenged preconceptions about the stability of real estate as an investment. And most human nature is to follow, not to lead. So these questions are a healthy sign that people are waiting for someone to lead them into a buyer's market. These questions amount to: Are we there yet?

So what's the answer? I don't know. They never gave me a crystal ball in Real Estate School. Fortunately, they did give me a pretty good education on economic cycles at Vanderbilt. And the experts give me lots of advice to surf and read through. So, in an effort to answer these questions the best I can, here is some conventional wisdom:

You can't time the market. Trying will only make you crazy. So, if you are trying and it's making you crazy and you don't have to buy...DON'T. Wait until you are comfortable buying. Let someone else lead.
Short term investment RARELY pays as well as long term investment. It's as true with stocks as it is with real estate. We got spoiled with 5 years of record home price increases. That meant you could buy a home with no money down, sell it in two years and still make money after closing fees and loan payoff. That was not normal. Don't bank on it happening again. The average homeowner keeps a home for 5 years. By then, you should have enough equity that, even if home values only increase moderately; you should not have to bring money to the closing table. The best advice in times where those record increases are no longer the norm - plan carefully and buy a home that will meet your needs for many years. OR plan to improve the home's value with good, old fashioned hard work. Make remodeling improvements to improve the value. Don't wait for time to do that for you.
Gains and losses are not actually realized until after money changes hands. Markets are cyclical. They go down. They go back up... You have not lost money on your home until you sell it. #2 above addresses this a little. Here's an example. If you bought 5 years ago at $100,000 (nice, easy number to work with). And your property value increased 300% by 2007 (making it worth $300,000). But prices dropped in 2008 by 50%. If you sell, you may have to sell around $150,000. Still a 50% gain over your purchase price. If you don't need to sell, you can wait until the values go back up to the 2007 level (experts predict 2 years). As long as you can make payments and don't have to sell - it makes sense to keep this home and wait out the down cycle. Some good news - in a market like Nashville, where annual increase averaged a more moderate 7% per year and the drops have only been about 5% this year, the down side is not as far down as some, more volatile markets like Vegas, CA and FL.
Market reports on price drops lag behind actual price reductions. Currently, listings in Nashville averaging over 100 days on the market before they sell. We have had drops in average sales price over the past two months of GNAR statistics (August and September) . That means prices may have been reduced as long as four and five months ago on the homes that made it into those stats. The deals are already out there. They just haven't closed yet.

For buyers who need to buy, who are buying for the longer term (over 2 years), who can qualify for financing and who work with someone who can help them understand statistics and values in the specific neighborhoods where they are looking; there are some great properties out there. In some cases the biggest problem is narrowing down the large amount of inventory on the market into the best available options.

For sellers who don't have to sell, conventional wisdom indicates that you might want to wait out this down cycle. However, some deals may offset any downside on your sale with the upside on the purchase. Again, work with someone who can help you to identify if you can make a net gain in the entire transaction. If you can, it might be worth looking into a sale and purchase of a new home.

For investors, there are some great deals. But make sure you are prepared to put more money down than in the past and deal with much more stringent lending guidelines.

If you have questions, call. We may not have all the answers, but we are happy to help.

A Modern Edge to Germantown

Kimble Bosworth (Village Real Estate Services) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:11:25 -0500

Technically the north side of Hume Street is Salemtown. The dividing line on the community plan is in the middle of the street that separates the old Werthan Bag Factory from the homes on Hume Street. That's why I refer to this latest project as 'the modern edge'.

For some years now, the few options for the modern buyer in this area were the condo communities of Summer Street Lofts and Morgan Park Place.

Although there are many single family homes with a decidedly modern flair on the inside, the historic zoning requirements of Historic Germantown have discouraged the modern exteriors.

That's not necessarily a bad thing. The zoning has preserved the character of this historic neighborhood and resulted in dozens of fabulous infill homes that compliment their historic neighbors.

Werthan Lofts took a turn toward the modern with the Phase III top floor penthouses and 'Dog Houses' (the developer's name for the small rooftop rooms with access to rooftop deck space.) The metal siding and large windows blend nicely with the old factory. Yet the spaces are definitely a 'box-y' modern style.

Just across Hume street from Werthan Phase III comes another modern development - albeit a small one. It's a duplex built not to look like the more common row house duplexes throughout much of Salemtown. Instead, it's designed to blend with it's neighbors at Werthan Lofts and 6th and Hume Street.

Elements of both neighboring developments are visible in the exterior. Also design features of Morgan Park place are evident in the environmentally conscious interior and 'systems' choices.

A big plus - 608 Hume Street's modern design blurs the lines between duplex and single family home. Yet, the landscaping and building features strive for that 'front porch' aesthetic Salemtown is known for.

Another plus - the rooftop deck will accentuate one of the biggest positives in Salemtown...the capitol view

Third floor rooftop deck

Second Floor Living and Dining Space

First Floor extra bedrooms or office space

'Blog in' for more details on this stunning space as the structure rises from the ground at 608 Hume Street in the next few weeks.

MLS#1024079

The Heart and Soul of Werthan Lofts

Kimble Bosworth (Village Real Estate Services) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:58:09 -0500

You may remember back to the Third Annual Heart and Soul Party. That was in 2006 and it was the first year the event moved to Werthan Lofts. Here we are, two years later and this fundraiser for the American Heart Association is planning its 5th and biggest year ever!

HISTORY

Kate Bishop created the annual event because cardiovascular disease has become a very personal issue for her. It has touched her family and friends in dramatic ways from stents to stroke to open heart surgery.

EVENT DETAILS

This year’s benefit will be another fabulous evening of art, food, spirits and music, taking place at the Lofts at Werthan Mills on Saturday, January 24th from 7 - 11pm.

Attendees experience six extraordinary lofts in the community. Sponsors host wine tastings, hors d’oerves and live entertainment. Past sponsors have included Lipman, Corrieri’s Formaggeria, Vinea, The Mad Platter, Blackstone Brewery, Dulce Desserts and many others.

A $40 donation per person gains entry to all lofts and to the Late Night VIP Party, where desserts and live band await in one of Nashville’s hippest lofts!

SPONSORS AND LOFTS

Team Green and Lightning 100 are teaming up as this year’s Event Sponsors. And it’s not too late for other Werthan residents or businesses to participate as sponsors or loft hosts!

Loft owners will be paired with sponsors and volunteers, who contribute food/drinks and staff the event.

Additionally, this year’s Loft Tour Program features details about the homes on the tour and ads from local businesses. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or opening your loft for the tour, please contact Kimble Bosworth at (615)715-0545 or kimble@AreYouReadyNashville.com.

'Mater Madness

Kimble Bosworth (Village Real Estate Services) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:48:09 -0500

The poor tomato...so misunderstood. Maligned by the fruit world for it's decidedly vegetable taste and frequent pairing with more savory foods. Yet, outcast from the vegetable world because of a silly technicality - seeds. And why pick on the tomato? When other fruits are equally confused (i.e. cucumber)?

It has oft been said that the tomato is singled out because of it's appearance. Unfortunately, mankind can be so cruel! Just ask John Merrick, who shared a similar plight.

Whatever the reason, the friendly neighborhood of East Nashville has embraced this special cause and worked tirelessly for the past 5 years to elevate the tomato to the status it truly deserves - removing the classifications of fruit or vegetable and instead, immortalizing the misunderstood orbs as ART!

Started as a way to get Nashvillians to a gallery opening in a hot, metal art gallery in August; Art and Invention's Tomato Art Festival has grown exponentially in the past few years. The event now draws crowds of up to 10,000 people to the gallery and surrounding businesses, located in the Five Points area of East Nashville.

The crowds promise to be entertaining, as the event is billed as "Fun, Free and Costume Friendly."

This year's sponsorship art - t-shirts and website - are the popular and extremely talented Nashville artist, Sheila B.

There will also be bushels of entertainment, including:

The second-line parade
Children's carnivals,
Bloody Mary competitions,
Recipe contests,
The Tomato King and Queen pageant,
Music, and more!

The festivities begin at 10:00 AM on Saturday, August 9th - unless you plan to participate in or view the Tomato 5K at 7:30 AM. (I promise to keep the coffee warm for you!)

Stay tuned to the official 2008 Tomato Art Fest website for more details and we hope to see you there!

the bozTEAM is an equal opportunity promoter of the beauty, purity and taste of tomatos. We do not discriminate against any tomatoes no matter what shape, size, color, spelling or seed stock.

Bocce: As Close as You Can Get to Curling Without the Ice

Kimble Bosworth (Village Real Estate Services) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:23:19 -0500

Are you ready to play bocce ball...

Bocce is an ancient game, whose modern adaptation most closely resembles lawn bowling. It requires skill, strategy and just a little luck. Bocce ball is a great game to play outside on a beautiful day. It is highly popular among seniors, but youths (and the residents of Werthan Lofts) are sure to enjoy this accuracy game.

...How to play

Equipment

Two sizes of balls are used to play bocce. The balls are usually made of a tough, composite material like small bowling balls (without the finger holes). The target ball is called the pallina or pallino and is about 2.25 inches in diameter. The team balls are called bocce's and are about 4.25 inches in diameter. Four bocce's are used for each team and are color-coded by team. The pallina can be white, cream, or yellow but contrasts in color with the bocce balls. or

The Rules

Teams can consist of from 1 to 4 players on each side.

When multiple team members are present, a playing rotation is maintained throughout the game.

The first player (choose by coin toss or whatever), throws the pallina into the opposite court. That player also rolls the first bocce ball. The idea is to get as close to the pallina as possible. It doesn't matter if you hit the pallina, as long as you don't knock it out of the court. If that happens, it must be re-tossed by the opposing team.

Now the opposing team throws until they get a ball closer to the pallina. This is called getting "inside" your opponent's ball.

Play then returns to the first team who must try to get a ball "inside" that ball.

In each case, throwing by each team continues (in rotation) until a ball gets "inside" or all four balls are tossed.

The remaining balls of the opposing team are then rolled to try to get inside any opposing balls for points.

For "official" play,1 and 2 player teams play to 12 points. 4 player teams play to16 points. For casual play you can go to 21 and, optionally, a "win by 2 points" rule can be used.

Scoring

Scoring is done after all bocce balls are thrown by both teams. There is no minimum distance to the pallina. One point is awarded for each ball that is closest to the pallina and "inside" of any opponent's ball. Therefore, at least 1 and as many as 4 points may be awarded to a team in each frame.

Red scores 2 points

Strategies

This is where experience and skill really pay off in bocce. There are a bunch of tactics, both offensive and defensive, that can be employed to out-manuever your opponent. Here are some examples:

Spot your ball directly in front of the pallina. Although this often invites a bomb (see next), it makes it difficult for your opponent to get around your ball and be closer.

"Spocking" or bombing. This involves intentionally knocking your opponent's ball away from the pallina. If this is done with skill, you can end up with your ball closest to the pallina while your opponent's ball rolls down the neighbor's driveway :-)

You can also spock the pallina if you wish to move it away from your opponent's ball and against the other three balls that you've carefully positioned in previous rolls.

Sometimes you have to sacrifice. If an opponent's ball is in a solid position against the pallina, you can spock it out of contention, taking your ball with it. The starting team must now re-establish the point ball which (hopefully) will be in a better position for you to get inside.

If you're playing on a bocce court with backstops and sides, all kinds of bank shots are possible, making ball placement more critical. Ideally, you knock the pallina into a corner and surround it with your balls.

...Now Featured at Werthan Lofts in Germantown, Nashville

Enjoy the Firepit During the Fireworks - A bozTEAM Open House Event

Kimble Bosworth (Village Real Estate Services) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 07:15:40 -0500

Where will you be during the 'Rocket's Red Glare' this July 4th? In Nashville, you have a lot of options.

You could fight the traffic and the crowds and make your way to the riverfront. Crane your necks and cover your ears to see the fireworks just overhead.

Or you could join one of the local neighborhood events in Brentwood, Gallatin, Hendersonville, Franklin, Hermitage, Lebanon, Pegram, White House or Watertown.

OR - there is one place you could be where you can see almost all the events near and far from your perch, high above the city.

It's called Nevada Heights. You may have seen the modern houses that are filling in this neighborhood on the drive down Interstate 440 near the West End exit.

You've probably wondered what's the story behind the new construction at the top of the hill.

Or you've wandered into the neighborhood by driving down either Charlotte or Murphy Road and twisting up side streets until you found your way.

For one night, you have a chance to see the 'Heights' in a different light - Nashville's 4th of July lights!

Join the bozTEAM for:

Toasts and Toasted Marshmallows

Location: 307 and 253 33rd Avenue

Nashville, TN 37209

The evening starts at 8 PM at 307 33rd Avenue. Enjoy the sunset views from both levels of the rooftop deck. 'Smores and More' is the theme of this cookout. Make your own smores while enjoying the riverfront simulcast and the city views.

At 9:00 we will make our way to the top of the hill for the best views in town of all the festivities.

So save the date for this year and see first hand what life at the top of the heights can be like year round.

What to do in Nashville When You're Hungry

Kimble Bosworth (Village Real Estate Services) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 07:06:25 -0500

Hungry for something new to do in Nashville? Not the usual movies, music, shopping or arts - but some actual FOOD?

On most days in Nashville, you may find yourself racking your brain for which of our city's finest eateries you will choose.

On most days, once you get all gussied up and get to that place you chose, you have one more choice...which of those fabulous meals you will pick.

Sadly, although you have enjoyed the pleasure of that scrumptious meal prepared by that famed chef; you may have regrets about the meal you couldn't venture to try out. You may not have room for tastes of other meals or that dessert you saw carried to someone else's table.

Well, on June 21st ALL THAT WILL CHANGE! For, on that one special night, Nissan brings all the greatest food of Nashville downtown. (and much of the drink, too).

Nothing beats the backdrop of our beautiful city from the Gateway Bridge - except maybe the food! And the bite sized portions leave room for experiencing all the tastes this city has to offer.

Get your tickets early and save a little. They are $45 online and $55 at the door. So, for a fraction of what that trip to the actual restaurant might cost, you can enjoy over 37 restaurants (at last count).

There's more good news! You won't just leave feeling full; you'll also feel fulfilled, knowing that a portion of your ticket price benefits the Second Harvest Food Bank of Nashville, bringing food to the tables of Nashville's less fortunate.

If you haven't seen the changing skyline in awhile...

If you have been meaning to try that restaurant but haven't found the time...

Or if you just want a night of jazz and crowds of other foodies...

Rumors of Nashville's Real Estate Market's Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

Kimble Bosworth (Village Real Estate Services) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 08:24:36 -0500

Untitled Document

Reports Of My Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

Mark Twain said it then about his own demise. Local market research in Nashville is saying it now about our own Real Estate Market. To put the news in perspective, see excerpts from market news below:

Historic Home Sales Trend - 2000 to Present

HOME SALES DECREASE; PRICES RISE IN MAY

NASHVILLE, TN
GNAR News Release, May 2008

"Home sales in the Greater Nashville area remain consistent, as do median prices for both residential and condominium closings. As a matter of fact, the residential median prices have increased, which is a positive sign based on the market trends in other locations," said Mandy Wachtler, 2008 President of the Greater Nashville Association of Realtors. "This region's diverse economy has softened the impact of national economic and housing trends and we continue to anticipate positive trends in the months ahead."

There were 2,508 home closings in Nashville in May. That's a decrease of 28.4 percent from 2007's 3503 closings. The median residential price during May was $189,975 and for a condominium it was $159,000. That compares with median residential and condominium prices at this time last year of $185,405 and $160,334 respectively. The average number of days on the market for a single-family residence was 82 days. That's up 2 days more than last month's average.

You can see by Mandy's comments in the GNAR press release that:

1) The sky is not falling.
2) Neither are home sales prices in Nashville.

Stable prices are good news for you if you are a seller. Monthly median prices have been higher than previous years' averages for 10 of the last 12 months.

The rising home inventory, however, is a problem for sellers. For fear of an uncertain market, because of more stringent lending rules, and because of hesitation regarding the current economy - fewer people are buying homes.

SELLERS, WHAT'S THIS MEAN FOR YOU

Kimble Bosworth , April 2008

Those who are buying have access to lots of stats - and they are smart! They know what the market price is. A home priced too high above other similar homes may not make it to the short list for showing appointments. Fewer showings = fewer offers. Price your home right and someone will buy it.

Because of this rising inventory, its not enough to price right. Now is the time to take steps to get your home noticed. How can you do this?

Staging: Work with a professional to stage your space for maximum impact to potential buyers. Emphasize curb appeal, reduce clutter, neutralize the decorating to appeal to the broadest range of tastes of your home's target buyer.

Marketing: Each home is different - its marketing should be, too. Consider the best marketing for the home's location, size and price range. Hip, downtown home should be marketed in hip downtown publications...you get the idea.

Preparation: Now is not the time to leave things 'undone'. Make it easy for any buyer to move right in. Cover all the outlets, fix the broken tile, touch up the paint, remove all the boxes. It may seem like a small thing to you, but it says 'MAINTENANCE issues' to a buyer. If it's a such a small thing, just fix it.

Pictures: Technically, this falls into the marketing category; but it deserves a special mention. With extra inventory of homes, buyers narrow choices on the internet. Give them the tools to see your home in it's best light: a professional photographer, virtual tour, floor plans. Do not list until all the pictures are ready, the websites are updated, the ads are placed in appropriate venues. You only have one or two clicks to make that first impression.

Preconstruction value: bozTEAM's Luxury Penthouse - the Glen in Hillsboro Village

Kimble Bosworth (Village Real Estate Services) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:26:27 -0500

Come home to dramatic views, impressive finishes and unparalleled space in this towering penthouse, located in the Glen.

This is a rare chance to live in one of Nashville’s most desirable new communities near the heart of Hillsboro Village. An exclusive development of only 38 units, The Glen brings quality construction and true urban living to Hillsboro Village in the heart of Nashville. Walk to trendy boutiques, fine dining, night clubs and countless services.

The bozTEAM has teamed up with Core Developement to upgrade THE Penthouse at the Glen. Unit 407 is located on the corner of 18th and Wedgewood in Hillsboro Village. The space includes a balcony facing the Village, a green rooftop deck facing downtown and almost 2400 square feet of pure luxury featuring Bosch appliances, designer tile, custom lighting and cabinets straight from the pages of Architectural Digest:

2 Bedrooms / 2.5 Baths
Open floor plan, perfect for entertaining with amazing views
2nd Floor owner’s retreat with wet bar, master suite and vaulted 18 foot ceilings
Master bath includes custom shower and spa tub.
Architect's floorplan upgrades include designer cabinetry, additional storage, wet bar areas on both levels.

Enjoy a preview below of the custom cabinets, created by local Mennonite cabinet makers, using environmentally conscious materials and superior craftsmanship.

Imagine the luxury lifestyle of the Glen Penhouse Unit 407:

Stash your outerwear in the coat closet just off the main entry.
Serve a drink or snack from the wet bar in the open living area.
Enjoy a casual meal at the breakfast bar or formal dining with a view - both dining areas, illuminated with the soft light of George Kovacs chandeliers.
Entertain in the expansive, open living space and enjoy the entertainment of wall mounted flat screen. Hide all the media components and more in the media closet and storage area under that stairs.
Ascend the stairs to spactacular 18 foot vaulted ceilings and rooms drenched with natural light through clear story windows.
Save a trip downstairs late at night with a drink or snack from the wet bar in the media room off the master suite.
Enjoy the breeze and the views on the green rooftop deck.
Retreat to a soak in the oversized spa tub.
Retire to a restful night's sleep in the master bedroom
Wake up to coffee at the coffee bar.
Pick out your attire in a perfectly organized custom closet.
And speed off to a new day from one of your two covered garage parking spaces.

The condo will be completed in October, 2008. It is available for contract prior to construction completion at $699,000.

For more information on how you can buy this prior to construction completion, please contact Chris Bosworth at 615.479.8715. Private, hard hat tours available by appointment only.

Don't Miss it! First Saturday Art Crawl

Kimble Bosworth (Village Real Estate Services) — Wed, 28 May 2008 07:28:28 -0500

It's not often a free night on the town comes along that includes this level of culture and fun. If you haven't been to Nashville Downtown's First Saturday Art Crawl...or just haven't been in awhile; don't miss the next one on Saturday, June 7th!

The event's sponsor, the Nashville Downtown Partnership, recently added 2 free shuttles that wrap around the route, which now includes 30 galleries.

Most of the galleries serve free wine and other refreshments; but the real draw is the world class art showcased at the event. Galleries rotate the exhibits each month and there is always something new and different.

So, if you're shopping for art to fill the walls of your new home, or just looking for an inexpensive way to fill an evening with low cost and high culture entertainment, you may want to check this out.

Learn more at Nashville Downtown Partnership's website or visit a few of our favorite galleries:

HOME is not always just the inside of your HOUSE

Kimble Bosworth (Village Real Estate Services) — Fri, 23 May 2008 08:21:13 -0500

A confession: When I bought my first home with a large garden - a cottage garden to be specific - I had plans to level it and plant something I considered more low maintenance. I soon discovered that a cottage garden truly is low maintenance, if you choose to treat it that way. I also discovered that I had no desire to treat it that way.

I preferred to use that cottage garden to teach myself the habits of the Tennessee flowers I had inherited from decades of dedicated and gifted gardeners.

I named that first treasure trove of native plants "Annie's Garden" after the previous person who had tended it. I documented all the plants in a journal, noting when they bloomed, what colors, how to take care of them. And I left that journal for the subsequent owners, along with a newly sculpted river of heirloom irises woven in and out of other plants and arranged to bloom in a carefully documented succession of colorful display throughout most of the spring into early summer.

Just as that cottage garden became such a part of my spring and summer at Cedar Lane, so too has the cottage garden become a part of 1008 Falls Avenue in the Montague Neighborhood of Madison, TN.

The current owner is a designer, who indeed has a deep appreciation for the colors and textures of the garden. This spring, when the flowers began to bloom, we carefully timed an update of pictures to coincide with the stages of the garden's explosion into spring.

This cottage display starts at the street with the plantings around the mailbox:

Soon, the hollyhocks will bloomwith great stalks of colorful flowers up to 8 feet tall.

The green will be replaced with a colorful display of red, white, purple and pink.

A wide assortment of flowers will crowd the space with color and fragrance.

NOT to be outdone, the rest of the front yard also includes pockets of garden among the trees and along the front of the home:

And then there is the back yard - the real treasure of this garden. It includes irises, hollyhocks, roses, sedum, day lilies, and so much more. It also includes a patio off the living and dining rooms and french door from the downstairs master (currently used as a den) - so the home's residents can bring the outside in.

See more of this fabulous home in this video or at the bozTEAM Blog!

Suspicious of Traditional Methods? So Are We.

Kimble Bosworth (Village Real Estate Services) — Mon, 19 May 2008 18:37:47 -0500

A speaker in a recent Real Estate Coaching Class commented that the past few years of real estate have been a little too easy on real estate agents. He went on to say that our listing skills might have gotten a little lazy and maybe we should re-evaluate...sharpen some skills that might be necessary for a changing market.

Got me thinking (I know, I really need to stop that. I could break something.) Too late. It got me thinking about our own bozTEAM listing marketing and one of our first upside-down ads created by the brilliant marketing team at firecracker:

What does this ad mean? It's not that traditional methods don't work. It's just that, because we limit the number of buyers and sellers we work with; we have to be SURE to spend our time and money wisely on the RIGHT METHODS FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROPERTY.

We DON'T:

Throw money at a homes magazines or register tape ads or bus bench marketing.
Place weekly ads in a laundry list of print or websites because of a promise we made in a listing presentation so our list could be longer than some other agent's list.
Hold an open house every weekend.

Why not?

Because ads everywhere won't sell your house. And many of those ad locations are about publicizing an agent, not a house. That works for agents who want a lot of business. But we work with a limited number of buyers and sellers at a time. We don't want to market US. And, while it does make sellers happy to see their house in lots of print locations...if the house doesn't sell because it's not placed in the right locations and there's not enough money left because of all those wrong locations and all that personal marketing; the seller won't be happy for long. We'd rather target the marketing to the RIGHT places and have them be happy because their house SOLD. So a balance of selective print ads will do more work for our sellers than ads everywhere, every week.
Because we don't have 'list' envy. We don't want our website list or print publication list to be longer than someone else's list. It takes time, even with the available time-saving tools to build all that marketing and distribute to all those places. Our goal is to find out where the BEST places are and spend our time and money OPTIMIZING those places for maximum exposure to the target market for THAT house.
Because open houses rarely sell houses. They help agents find new buyers to work with. Ok, that's maybe a little oversimplified. But our goal is to market LESS open houses MORE specifically. We make sure our open houses bring VALUE to the potential buyer and/or buyer's agent, not just to people who want to see the inside of our seller's home. We make sure that our open houses are well suited to the home's target market. That the open house is an EVENT. Example: Art opening in artsy loft, croquet party on the big lawn of the country house...

And we didn't just make this stuff up. We based our marketing choices some basic marketing analysis provided by the experts:

WHERE ARE BUYERS LOOKING? WHERE ARE BUYERS BUYING?

print ads: 20%                                                           Agent: 36%

yard signs: 22%                                                         Internet: 24%

internet: 28%                                                             Yard sign: 15%

agents: 30%                                                              Friend: 8%

   Builder: 8%

   Print ad: 5%

   Seller: 3%

   Home book: 1%

So, on the bozTEAM, we will remain suspicious of traditional methods and ever-alert for methods that will help sell our clients homes faster and smarter. And this may be more challenging as the market changes.

307 33rd Avenue North: Modern Takes Hold of Nashville Neighborhood

Kimble Bosworth (Village Real Estate Services) — Mon, 19 May 2008 07:29:36 -0500

There are pioneers in Nashville. No, this is not a blog about Rachel Donelson. (Bonus points for those of you who knew she was an original settler who later became Mrs. Andrew Jackson. Half credit for those who googled to find this out.)

The pioneers to whom I refer are those who havecreated the modern enclave of homes high atop the hill overlooking Interstate 440 in an area known as Nevada Heights. The original visionary braved construction delays, an early fire that destroyed one of the original homes and much more to bring his vision for this modern hillside to life.And over the years, a brave few (about one per year was the going rate of construction for some time) settled the hillside...lured by the spectacular views and convenient commute.

There are a wide variety of homes on this hill. The neighborhood has evolved over the years; it now promises something for everyone.

Now is your chance to see if the newest listing in Nevada Heights is for you! 307 33rd Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37209 is a stunning contemporary home. Completed in 2007, this home is ready:

Ready to wisk you up to the third floor Entertainment Level in a private elevator
Ready to envelope you in the warm seclusion of a luxurious Master Retreat with stunning city views from bed and bath
Ready to thrill you and your guests with TWO spectacular Rooftop Decks
Ready for your kids or hobbies with large additional bedrooms on the Residence Level
Ready for a feast prepared in the chef's kitchen with Jenn-Air Pro Series appliances

ARE YOU READY...NASHVILLE?

Marketing Your Neighborhood with Your Home

Kimble Bosworth (Village Real Estate Services) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:30:34 -0500

Sellers, does your neighborhood have a singular, sensational feature? Or many? Something that makes your home special because of the small square block area in which it sits? You've lived there awhile. Maybe you take this thing (or these things) that make your neighborhood special for granted.

Like the courtyard (left) with a public grill in a building where grills would otherwise be a codes violation...Where the grass is so plush it beckons a picnic:

When you're selling your home, you have to remind yourself - your potential buyers - your Realtor - of this these little (or big) things that make your neighborhood special.

Buyers are nervous. They are making a big change. They are leaving friends, sometimes family, to go to a new place. They are taking on financial risk in an uncertain real estate market. Something about the place they were has been motivated them to take this giant step into a new home - potentially to your current home.

Give them a reason to feel comfortable in their new place. Give them some new experiences to look forward to in this new environment.

One of the exercises I go through with sellers when listing their home is to give them a disposable camera and leave them alone for a few hours with an assignment: Take pictures of the things that you love about your home and your neighborhood.

There are no rules. The pictures can be close up or panoramic, details or scenes. The pictures that come back give me a perspective on what makes that home or that neighborhood special - local restaurants, a favorite tree planted years ago, heirloom iris...

These pictures help us to create the marketing materials that put buyers at ease, like the Montague video, which highlights a little known secret of a neighborhood just 7 minutes from Nashville where so few homes actually go on the market that only 6 homes have sold in 5 years.

Although the final product may not include the actual pictures - it does include the stories and sentiments that those pictures helped to convey - of a neighborhood steeped in tradition, secluded near the river, yet so convenient to the city. I'd live there. Wouldn't You?

See more and subscribe at the bozTEAM Blog