I previewed this home yesterday. It is listed by RE/MAX Elite.  This is a 4000+ sq ft home is on 2 acres on Hillsboro Rd, an area of estate homes.

List price $480,900, reduced from $695,899. 

There are 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, MLS 1069142. The home is down a lane on a very private site.  The home needs work, but has possibilities. A new owner probably would want to extensively renovate the home. 

This listing requires a Bank of America pre-qualification letter, and earnest money in form of cashier's check. Home is being sold 'as is.'

See on YouTube.

Call direct, 615-516-5233, or email Sarah or John Rummage to work with you as your buyer's agent to preview this home or other homes in the Middle Tennessee area.  Search homes on your own.

I have a buyer who is doing a conventional loan.  This past week the loan was in final underwriting.  The appraiser had made a comment on the appraisal that the utilities were not on when he was there. Well..the utilities were on, they were just turned off at the street (water) and at the breaker box (electricity).  I emailed the lender that I was witness that the inspector turned on the utilities and that they were working properly.

Then a couple of days later, the lender said that he needs proof of the utilities being on from the inspector.  So the inspector emailed me his certification and I forwarded to the lender. 

No, they need something on his letterhead.  So I called the inspector, when he is at another inspection, and he said that he will get it out to me as soon as he gets back to the office.

Well, bless him, he did get us the letter.  And I forwarded on the lender and that sufficed.  Finally.

I wondered, though, is this type thing, the extra scrutiny, going to cost the consumer in the long run?  Will inspectors, and appraisers, have to charge more for services because of the extras they are asked to do following the completion of their work?

Sarah in Nashville

Go to our website, www.Seller999.com and click on the button to see these mistakes sellers make everyday.

Pricing, Condition, Convenience to show, all play a part.

I met with a buyer today whose hours have been cut and he is struggling to make his house payment.  I remember the day he bought the house, how excited he was and I wanted to give him some good suggestions so that he can keep the house. 

The foreclosure scammers are abounding.  They have the noses of bloodhounds to find those in financial trouble and vulnerable.  Be very, very careful!

If you are in Tennessee, you may want to start with the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) and get their recommendations for foreclosure counselors.  They help moderate income families get into homes, and help them stay in homes.

If you go to our website, www.HouseInNashville.com, you can click to order a report which lists the foreclosure counselors recommended by THDA.  These counselors work for non-profit agencies who can counsel you in keeping your home, and in budgeting to remain in your home. And their services are free.

Good luck!

If you are thinking about how to increase the interest rate on your CD investment, stock investment or bond investment, you may want to consider rental investment property.  We have a duplex for sale that returns over 9.7% annually cash on cash.  These are the numbers:

Asking Price             $135,950

Rent income             $ 15,600

R.E. Tax                  $   1,377

Repairs                   $      500

Insurance                $      532

Net Operating Income $ 13,191

Income tax rate 15%

Here is what the duplex looks like: www.Radnor37211.com

What are CDs returning on $135,950 after taxes?

This is not tax advice.  Consult your tax preparer for exact numbers for your personal situation.

We can introduce you to a consulting firm that can help you understand the advantages of real estate investments.

There are many duplex properties for sale in the Nashville area.

Cash investments in rental real estate out performs investments that have mortgages.

We also can help you with your commercial investment property needs.

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Selecting a Realtor®

Important considerations when selecting a real estate agent

Buyers and real estate agents are partners

Choosing a Realtor® partner

Is a house a home?

John & Sarah Rummage Reference Letter 7-14-08

Buying a home is a very exciting and often frustrating process as well.  Finding the "perfect match" for what you are looking for is hard enough, but understanding the whole process can be even more difficult.

When my fiancée and I began considering buying a home in the Nashville area, we began searching the Internet and finding possible houses on the MLS to look at.  We wanted to casually get a feel for the market, without the presumed "high pressure" to buy, that we envisioned a realtor would bring to the equation.  While out driving one weekend in the Hermitage area, we were parked in front of a house for sale, just casually looking.  John and Sarah, happened to pull up to "show" the house to prospective buyers, John approached our car with a friendly greeting, asked if we were looking to buy a house, and gave us his and Sarah's business cards.  He said "call us if you want to go looking at houses sometime," no pressure, just a friendly indication they would be available if we needed them.

A few weeks later, we were ready to really get serious in our search, called Sarah and John, gave them some houses we were interested in seeing, and some basic guidelines of what we were looking for.  That evening, Sarah, had made appointments to view the houses we had stated, plus, found some similar ones for us to look at.  In viewing these houses the next day, Sarah and John were very friendly and helpful in providing information about them, but more than that, they asked us questions in terms of what we liked and disliked about each house, and they "listened" to our answers. They did not pressure us in any way, and made us feel comfortable in expressing our opinions, positive or negative.  The next day, driving through a neighborhood that was near some houses we had suggested for viewing, John found a house that fit the description of all the "likes" we had from the previous day's viewings.  It was because he had listened so well the day before, that he knew it was the house for us!  We went and looked at it, and made an offer that day.

Throughout the process after finding the right house, John and Sarah, have provided a wealth of information and guidance.  From the "offer negotiations," home inspections, mortgage financing, and closing process, they have been there to answer any questions and gather needed information we needed.  They have been a true "partner" in this process.

For someone looking for a realtor that is in it for the right reasons, "helping you buy a home, not just sell you a house," John and Sarah are your realtors.  They are very knowledgeable and are great people to work with.  In the end, we got the "home" we were looking for and made a couple of great new friends.

Sincerely,

Chris & Misty B...

American Realty Resources’ Mission Statement

Steven K. Scott wrote a book titled The Richest Man Who Ever Lived King Solomon's Secrets to Success, Wealth, And Happiness and in the book talks about the importance of partnering.  Buying a home is the most important decision you will make, only after choosing a marriage partner, so you need a good faithful partner to help you find the perfect home for your family.  I've summarized Steven Scott's ideas, 

Examine their walk before you listen to their talk.  What do their lives tell you?  Do your due diligence.  It's your life they may be messing with. 

•Think about your own knowledge and experience.  When you partner, pick a partner that expands your knowledge and experience. You want your partner to compensate for your weak areas.

•Can your partner understand what you want to accomplish.  There is more to finding a home than finding a house.  Will your partner listen to what you have to say?

•Will your partner sticks with you to the end of your search?

•Will you enjoy working with your real estate partner.   

•What has your real estate partner done in his or her lifetime. Are their experiences rich with accomplishments?  Goggle them and see what information is available.

My wife Sarah and I have lived in many place, and we made each place a home starting with our first apartment.  We didn't consciously think about making a home, but still it just didn't happen.  Several years ago Sarah and I read a book that made the process of creating a home, a safe port in the storms of life, more understandable.  I will summarize what the author says about creating a home. 

Frederick Buechner in his book The Longing for Home talks about how what we do as adults is shaped by our experiences as a child.  The kind of house we look for as adults, more often than not, reflects the best of the best qualities of the home that our parents provided us.  Even children that have unfortunate childhoods still have a vision of a happy home.  The houses that Sarah and I always buy have to have lots of trees, because my happiest childhood memories are of our house backing up to a forest and exploring that forest day after day, rain or shine.  The kitchen and having an office is important to Sarah.  Her father worked at home and she has good memories of his desk, books and his stacks of papers.  I can't wait to get to my subdivision and drive down the tree-lined streets and pull into my driveway and see my trees.  And Sarah loves coming home, retreating to her office and her things.  I think she could fore go the kitchen, but not feeding her family is not a reality so she wants a big spacious kitchen with lots of counter space and cabinets with doors on them.

Buechner also says that home is a vision of what is best about us as mothers and fathers and husbands and wives.  Our home, which is the part and parcel of the house we choose to live in, is our safe harbor from the storms of life in the world.  For us it was also being able to know when our sons left the house and came home and being able to hear them and being close to them at night when the things that go bump in the night frighten them and they needed to be reassured that all was well.  We still talk about the first time they climbed out of their baby bed and their little feet go bump and how they knew how to find our bedroom in the dark and climbed up in our bed to kick and thrash around all night deep in their own little dreams.  And all those qualities are still important when our grandchildren spend the night with us.  

Sarah and I promise to make your search for "a place that you feel uniquely at home" a safe and productive search and at the end of your search we can all be proud of our accomplishment and our friendship.

John and Sarah Rummage

Nashville TN is a good place to make a home.

Home values in Nashville and Middle TN remains strong according to

The Wall Street Journal.

Finding the right house makes it easier for you to create a home.

It is easier for you to make a home when you find the right neighborhood and schools.

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FHA rules are changing (again!)  One that I just learned about is that the lender cannot select the appraiser, cannot know who it is.  FHA has just started selecting the appraiser, and the appraiser contacts the listing agent, I presume, to get into the house.

I ran into a problem today that listing agents, lenders and buyers need to be aware of.  A first time buyer and I went to an inspection and found that the appraiser had already been there the day before (we couldn't turn on the water at the street and when I called the listing agent, she told us that the ‘appraiser had had no trouble turning it on the day before').  

The house was a cream puff, but has some ‘issues,' particularly under the house with the supports.  The buyer may be getting cold feet.  But he is concerned about having to pay for two appraisals, if he decides to back out of this house and look for another.

Not long ago, the lender would always hold off on ordering the appraisal until the inspection was done, and we knew that the buyer was OK with it.   I think we should all be careful when we know that the appraiser is coming to ask ourselves, ‘Has the inspection been done?' and then ask the appraiser to hold off until it IS done.....particularly with all the first time buyers who are out there and who are watching every penny to get into a house.

One of my preferred lenders, Martin Harris, of Regions Bank, sent me an email very recently with information from THDA (Tennessee Housing and Development Agency).  

Beginning next month THDA will offer a 2nd mortgage to first time home buyers. This will give borrowers access to part of their $8,000 (up to) tax refund at the closing table. Regions Bank will participate.

This solves the problem of those first-time homebuyers who are caught in a catch 22.  They qualify for the $8,000 tax credit, but they have problems coming up with the initial 3.5% down payment.  Instead of taking the THDA Great Start program at 6.125% whereby the state gives them funds for the down payment, now, they can use this tempoary loan for the down payment, and get the THDA Great Rate program at the lower 5.125%, and simply pay the state's second loan off after they've received the $8,000 tax credit from the federal goverment.

If you would like more information on the program, call Martin Harris, Regions Bank, 1604 21st Avenue
S, Nashville, TN 37212.  (615) 748-2440 office. (615) 748-2441 fax
http://www.regionsmortgage.com/martinharris 

Tell him that Sarah and John Rummage referred you to him to get more information.  If you and he think that this is a good program for you, call us back to get started on finding a home.  (John, 615-945-1838 or Sarah, 615-516-5233).

To search properties in the Middle Tennessee area, go to www.HouseInNashville.com and on the home page you will find a search button.

A home I previewed this week at 890 Rodney Dr, Nashville TN, 37205, is a lovely contemporary, built in 1987.  The home has over 3,000 sq ft, and is priced at $509,900.   This home is listed by Chris Lambos of The Realty Association.   

Chris and I first met a few years ago when he was the agent for his sister who bought a condo I had listed in Bellevue.  It was a pleasure to work with him then, and I wanted to see his new listing last weekend.  

This home has an open floor plan, on 3 levels. There is a gorgeous view of the ‘West Meade Lake,' especially from the upstairs windows.  This lake was formed, the neighbors say, before the subdivision was built when there was a rock quarry there.  The workers hit a spring while digging one day, and the hole filled up quickly with water.  Luckily the workmen got out safely, but some equipment was covered in water and never retrieved.    

This property has a decorative iron fence around the back yard, so that the lake can be viewed but is not easily accessed by little ones.    

Click here for a MLS printout. 

Call us if you would like to see this home. 
It would be my pleasure to work with you as your buyer's agent.  I would like to work with Chris again!