Get ready for the February thaw! - 01/30/10 09:06 PM
Here in Nashville TN, we don't usually get much snow.  A few winter seasons have LOTS of snow, and below freezing temps, and the snow will hang on and on. School is out for days and days. But this is only occasionally.For the most part, we have a comfortable, pleasant climate. Cold, yes, but not bitter cold very oftenThis weekend, though, we have had snow, probably 6-8 inches.  Right now it is 25F and most church services are canceled for tomorrow, because of slick, icy roads.  What I have noticed about our city is that our residents get cabin fever.  They want that big … (3 comments)

Oh, Gross! TripAdvisor Travelers Rate World's Dirtiest Hotels - 01/28/10 10:59 AM
I checked this list published by TripAdvisor and I don't think I have stayed in any of their infamous hotels, but I have stayed in some questionable ones.  Not often, but occasionally.  Once in India, there was a hotel with a bathroom which reminded me of a so-so clean gas station bathroom in the states.  The blanket on the bed looked like a horse blanket. Do you have any hotels you would like to add to TripAdvisor's list?
Sarah in Nashville
 
… (0 comments)

Nashville TN Has A High Inventory of Real Estate Listings - 01/28/10 10:04 AM
The Nashville City Paper reports that according to James Hagerty at the Wall Street Journal, Nashville TN has one of the highest housing inventories of any major city. 
Indeed, I just did a MLS search for Nashville Davidson County TN.  There are (at this minute) 4,244 listings, and in the last month (since 12-25-09) there have been 296 closings.  So that makes approximately a 14.33 supply of homes on the market.  That is high.  It should be no more than a 5 month supply to have a healthy buyer/seller market.Sellers need to get realistic about price, and buyers have lots of opportunity! Go get … (0 comments)

Two Opportunities To Put Your 'Still Good Items' To Use In Nashville TN - 01/27/10 09:44 PM
Here are two opportunities to put your usable items, which you no longer need, to good use.1.  CCSI needs donations of new or gently used children's and women's clothing, toys, children's items, and home decor to consign in Encores Consignment sale to raise money to support their programs.  All items must be clean and in good condition.  Women's clothing should be in-style, upscale brand clothing.
They are also looking for donations of wire hangers, safety pins, and volunteer time to help tag the items.    All items must be received by Wednesday, February 10, 2010.Days of Sale: Saturday, February 20 Noon - 8pmSunday, February 21   … (2 comments)

Reminder: Closings with FHA payoffs should close at the end of the month. - 01/26/10 08:42 PM

Just a reminder that if you have a seller who has an FHA loan to be paid off, close near the end of the month.  No matter what day of the month you close, the FHA payoff is going to include interest for the whole month.Usually we think that the timing of the closing affects the buyer more than the seller, because the buyer is charged prepaid interest on the remaining days of the month after closing.  But if your seller is just squeaking by to get enough equity out of her sale to purchase another home, and almost a … (1 comments)

A Great Chinese Japanese Asian Bistro in Murfreesboro TN! - 01/23/10 08:56 PM
A friend asked me to lunch today, and our group went to the Cathay Asian Bistro in Murfreesboro, TN.She had ordered Peking Duck (it has to be reserved 24 hours in advance).  That was delicious.  We also sampled a steak lunch cooked on a Hibachi grill. The building is gorgeous.  It reminds me of the Forbidden City.  There is marble and granite everywhere.  There is also a fish pond (I believe there is a fancier name for it but I can't remember what it is) in front of the front door with a little bridge over it.  Inside there is lots … (1 comments)

What Amount Should Be On Mortgage Preapproval Letters? - 01/22/10 04:10 PM
You may be a buyer who is approved for $250,000.  What if you are writing an offer on a home for $200,000. Do you have your lender write the approval letter for $250,000 or for $200,000?  Some feel that the letter should reflect the amount of the offer, the lower amount.  Why let the seller know that you CAN go up on the offer? This may hamper negotiations for a lower price, they feel.Others feel that your letter should be for the higher amount.  That way, the seller knows that you have a cushion between the contract price and the approved amount.  They also may … (69 comments)

Help A Child In Haiti In A Small Direct Way - 01/20/10 09:04 AM
Have you been touched by the tragedy in Haiti, but didn't know quite how to help?  Founding Family Charitable Foundation (FFCF) would welcome a small donation to help bring a waiting child home. John and I are on the board of FFCF, a 501c3 non-profit, which was founded in 2005.  FFCF is an all volunteer organization, whose primary mission is to provide grants to adoptive families to pay initial adoption expenses.  We are in contact with several families who are adopting from Haiti.  Due to the earthquake, their waiting children have been granted "humanitarian parole" by the United States and Haitian governments.  This means that they can come live with … (0 comments)

Update Your Adobe Acrobat - 01/15/10 08:37 PM
One of the techies in my neighborhood posted a helpful hint on our local listserv regarding reports this week that Google is threatening to leave China over a cyber attack, perhaps to steal intellectual property, computer programs' source code, email access rights, etc. He said:  "The method of delivery of the attack is reportedly by sending specially crafted Adobe PDF files to the target, who opens them believing they are from someone they know and trust.  All of use PDFs.  Yesterday, Adobe released a security update to help prevent such malicious use of its products.  It is recommended that you update all of your Adobe Acrobat products.  You can do this … (2 comments)

Updated Form 5405 Released By IRS For 2010 Homebuyer's Tax Credit - 01/15/10 04:37 PM
An updated Form 5405, the form which first time home buyers and repeat home buyers file to get their tax rebate, and the related instructions, are now available. Eligible home buyers can now start to file their 2009 tax returns. Taxpayers claiming the homebuyer credit must file a paper tax return because of the added documentation requirements.
In addition to filling out a Form 5405, all eligible home buyers must include with their 2009 tax returns:
a copy of the settlement statement showing all parties' names and signatures, property address, sales price, and date of purchase. Normally, this is the properly executed Form … (2 comments)

Health Services Available - Nashville TN - Sliding Scale Pay - 01/09/10 10:33 AM
WALLACE ROAD FAMILY CLINIC, (at Southern Hills Hospital), 395 Wallace Road, Suite B-307, Nashville TN, opened Tuesday, December 22, 2009.
United Neighborhood Health Services opened the Wallace Road Family Clinic to make primary medical care available for members of the community, without regard to their income or insurance. The goal is to provide a medical home for patients with comprehensive, high quality service, prevention, and education.The clinic will offer primary care, OB/GYN, family medicine and pediatrics. Walk-ins are welcome. Private insurance and TennCare are accepted; uninsured individuals pay on a sliding fee scale.Wallace Road Family Clinic hours will be 8:00 a.m. - … (0 comments)

Order Services Online From Public Works Department, Nashville, Davidson County TN - 01/08/10 04:14 PM
The Nashville, Middle Tennessee area has had a little snow and ice the last few days... just enough to make neighborhood streets slick. The Public Works Department of the city has cleared the main streets very well, but if your side street is slick and needs salting, you might try calling The Metropolitan Department of Public Works of Nashville and Davidson County, (615) 862-8750. Or, you can go online and order services.
This is the direct link, if you need to copy and paste. http://www.nashville.gov/pw/talktous/default.aspx  Go here and make a selection from the drop down box (request snow removal, alley clean-up, report graffiti, traffic signal … (0 comments)

Nashville Zoo To Hold Docent Open House Sunday, Jan 17, 2010 - 01/06/10 12:05 PM
Nashville Zoo will hold a docent open house Sunday, Jan. 17 at 2 p.m. in the Zoo’s Croft Center, 3777 Nolensville Pike, Nashville TN. Docents are specialized volunteers who educate, and excite, guests about the Zoo’s animals as well as conservation and wildlife issues using live animals, fossils and other hands-on materials. Docents must volunteer at least 70 hours per year, attend meetings every other month, pay a one-time training session fee of $55 and attend the training series beginning on Feb. 6. Interested parties should contact Chris Kline at 615-833-1534 ext. 146 or ckline@nashvillezoo.org. Applications are online at http://www.NashvilleZoo.org
… (0 comments)

Thanks Dan and Tom for lunch! - 01/05/10 03:38 PM
Last summer we worked with two brothers to buy a home.  They wanted to look at foreclosures, and boy oh boy, did we see the foreclosures! They did buy a house (not a foreclosure), and one brother moved here and the other stayed out of state.   Today the 'out of state' brother and their sister came into town and all three took John and me to lunch.  It was like a reunion.  We talked about the houses we had seen, the ones we made offers on, and what some of them finally sold for.  We talked almost 2 hours.It great to make a living in … (0 comments)

It's COLD here! Tips to keep pipes from freezing. - 01/04/10 02:24 PM
I have a couple of listings that I am concerned about during this frigid weather.  Now, Nashville Middle Tennessee may not be the coldest point in the country or the world, but we are cold enough now, and will be for several more days, to freeze pipes and cause real damage and expense if we don't take precautions.
It is smart to winterize properties, but if we have not, read today's Tennesseean Newspaper, and tips from Jenny Upchurch:
1. If you leave water dripping, run from both hot and cold lines.2. Use a cover for outside faucets.
3. Disconnect hoses from outside faucets.
4. Open cabinet … (5 comments)

 
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Sarah Rummage, BPOR, ePro

Nashville, TN

More about me…

Benchmark Realty LLC, Brentwood, Nashville TN 615.516.5233

Address: 2500 - 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37212

Office Phone: (615) 432-2919

Cell Phone: (615) 516-5233

Email Me

I like to share insights about real estate, but we also like to write about life outside of real estate. We also love to read the wisdom and inspiration of others. Nashville TN is an exciting city with many types of restaurants, several colleges and universities, and many styles and prices of housing. We love living and working in Nashville, and invite you to email or phone us with questions about living in the area, or just to talk about your future plans. We have a diverse clientele; some are investors who want to buy more properties; some are investors who want to sell their portfolio; some are seniors who want to downsize; some are relocating executives who need a spacious home for entertaining and living comfortably. We have bank customers whose foreclosure & REO properties we list and sell. We never rush our clients to make a decision, as we work on your schedule, not ours. We can refer you to private lenders, mortgage lenders, and other vendors in the area. And, of course, we never accept a fee for referral to a vendor or lender. Even though vendors come highly recommended to us, or we have had personal experience with their work, you should always interview them and get other references and come to your own comfort level with them. Our work helps support Founding Family Charitable Foundation, a 501-C-3 nonprofit.


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