Sarah & John Rummage

Halloween is over and I would like to thank the neighborhoods where homeowners
make it such a fun and special holiday for kids.

Our grandson dressed as Thomas the Train (photo to the right) and went Trick or Treating in the Old Hickory area of Nashville. This village was established during the first world war, and the houses are close together, and many are decorated so festively.

The children visit their friends' homes. Homeowners love to sit on the porch and watch the children as they approach. Thanks, Old Hickory for treating our little children so well!

Another area of Nashville which hosted some children I know is the Richland area off West End Avenue. One child told me that it was so crowded in that neighborhood that they couldn't walk very fast! She had so much fun.

Sarah in Nashville

Below are statistics for single family homes (active and closed in the last month) in some of the zip codes and neighborhoods in the Greater Nashville TN area:

Antioch, 37013; Melrose, 37204; Belle Meade/West Meade, 37205; Green Hills, 37215; Bellevue, 37221; Donelson, 37214; Oak Hill/Crieve hall, 37220; Vanderbilt, 37212; East Nashville, 37206; Inglewood, 37216; Crieve Hall/Nolensville Rd, 37211; Smyrna, 37167; Murfreesboro, 37130; Franklin, 37067.

We would love to help you find a home in any of these great neighborhoods!

It would be our pleasure to help you buy or sell property in the Middle Tennessee USA area. Go ahead! Call us.

We will gladly email you a list of newly reduced homes in the Greater Nashville TN area. If you have a specific area of town in mind, be sure to specify.

Just put in the email subject line, "list of just reduced homes," and area if desired. Click on the button below. Get a new update anytime.

Sarah in Nashville

Unrealistic expectations in buying and selling real estate can sabotage results. If you intend to buy or sell real estate in six months or sooner the following information needs to be considered.

• You should price the real estate you are selling according to market conditions and the condition of your property.

If you are buying you should be willing to pay a fair price for the best choice of a home that fits your needs and expectations concerning quality and condition.

• Be clear on what you are trying to accomplish. This is particularly difficult for first-time-home buyers and sellers. You need to know where you want to buy, the minimum size and amenities that you need, the price you need to pay so that paying the mortgage will not change your present life style and unduly burden you financially. You also need to consider the distance required to travel to work, school, daycare, recreation and shopping.

When pricing your home to sell, you need to consider condition, competition and economic conditions in your area.

• You also need to be prepared to act decisively. There are more buyers than you out in the marketplace wanting to buy property. The best homes (location, condition and price) will always be bought first and quickly. First-time-home buyers are sometimes competing with buyers who have experience buying property. Experienced homebuyers know the rules and market place conditions, which gives them the advantage. The only way a first-time-home buyer can level the playing field is by having an experienced Realtor® who has your interest at heart and listening to and taking the advice they give you.

• Correct price for the local market is essential. You should not believe everything you read from ‘real estate experts' who do not live in your area. While national asking/selling price averages might seem useful, they are generally divorced from the reality of a local market. Real estate web sites do not guarantee or promise that information they present is accurate or up-to-date. MLS information is the only accurate way to judge price, condition or location. Generally prices vary across a market place and can vary street to street.

John in Nashville

Someone invited me to a lecture today at a nearby university. I went, but I wasn't sure in which of the many buildings on the campus the lecture would be. As it turned out, I parked across the campus from the location, but it was a beautiful day and the little walk was good for me.

When I found the location, there were lots of students and visitors in the stadium lecture hall. The lecture was semi-political in nature, and I was SO impressed at the polite attention the students paid and their courtesy to the speaker. Wow! I am not so sure that in my day, the students would have been this respectful. Made my day! What an upbeat experience.

Sometimes it is good to go somewhere and get totally away from real estate and have an experience that give you hope that some of the world is going in the right direction.

Now I am ready to go list a house tomorrow!

Sarah in Nashville