About Nashville's Hermitage

NASHVILLE, TAKE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER OUR FALLEN HEROES--OUR FREDOM IS BORNE OF THEIR BLOOD. This Day of Memorial is about those who DIED in defense of our Liberty. As many businesses have "Memorial Day Sales" and promote saying thank you to those of us veterans yet alive: hear us--TODAY IS NOT ABOUT THE ONES OF US WHO ARE HOME FROM WAR--it is ABOUT THOSE NEVER TO RETURN!!!

This is not a National Holiday to commerate the opening of the local parks and swimming pools; but to take pause of the price of Fredom. Total US Casualties from the Revolutionary War to the current action in Afghanastan approximates 1,343,812 souls.

To hear the current press reporting on casualties in Iraq, Afghanastan and Pakistan: one would assume the body counts are at all time highs. Truth is: this is a lower body count than any of the ten other major US conflicts. (The War on Terror is now the longest military conflict involving US troops--the Revolutionary War was 8 years.) Every soul is precious, and that is WHY we should pause in memorial.

War on Terror 5,796 [less than 10% of the casualties suffered in Vietnam].

Vietnam 58,209 Korea 53,686 WWII 405,399 WWI 116,516

Philippine-America War 4,196 Spanish-American War 2,446

Civil War @ 625,000 [The highest number of casualties were inflicted as Americans fought Americans] Whether they wore blue, or grey, they were mostly poor young men caught in a conflict they did not start. All fought for their homeland, for their beliefs, and maintained honor, showed courage, and shed that precious blood. Mothers grieved their loss, and families were never the same.

Confederate Cemetery on the grounds of the Hermitage [President Andrew Jackson's Home].

Mexican-American War 13,283 War of 1812 @ 20,000 Revolutionary War @ 25,000

To all who have sacrificed a loved one for Fredom's call: THANK YOU!

The figures used in this post came from "United States military casualties of war" from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_military_casualties_of_war#cite_note-71 The photos are mine.

Residential real estate sales in the Greater Nashville area are down 19% from 2009. Investors are making up the majority of the sales that are taking place. How long before we start gaining some momentum in the Nashville area with regards to real estate sales? I am not going to predict. Looking back over the last three years, most predictions of the "experts" have not come true. So why would I even think to make a guess. The only thing I do know is that people will make decisions to make large investments, such as real estate, when they feel like they are on solid ground financially. When you feel like your job is here to stay and you feel like your savings has you where you need to be for a secure future, big financial decisions are easy to make. When you fear these things are not secure, large investments will not happen.

Sometimes I have found that education can conquer fear. Many feared that they would fall off of the earth if they sailed too far west. Once Columbus showed them they would not, they discovered a new continent. I have heard of many people that fear foreclosure, especially first time home buyers, and therefore they are not going to buy a home. However, many of the homes that are being foreclosed on were bought at the top of the real estate market with loans that are not even available any more. You can still get assistance on your down payment, but the state of Tennessee will give you that money in the form of a grant that you do not have to pay back. They give you 4% for your down payment and closing costs, so your loan amount is about 3% less than you pay for the home. As an added security, if for some reason you must sell your home in the first year after you own it, I offer to sale it for free. This will save thousands if something bad happens before a buyer has time to build equity.

Every day is a new day. One day I feel like the economy is on the rise and the next it seems to be heading south. Your economy is what is important to you. If within your real estate economy you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call or email.

No its not!

All this doom and gloom about the credit crunch and bursting of the real estate bubble would have you thinking that home prices are crashing, home inventories are rising, buyers aren't to be found, banks don't want to lend and we maybe in a recession. So, bend over hold on to your ankles because its going to be a bumpy ride!

Ok...so I admit, most of the apocalyptic writings of the over zealous columnist and journalist are more accurate on this subject than not, it doesn't necessarily mean that real estate here in the Nashville area is as described on your national news network.

Here in Nashville and the surrounding areas, we have seen home prices fair steadily. In fact, depending on the condition and location of the home, it isn't uncommon to even have multiple offers and end up selling a home for more than listed. So what makes Nashville real estate so resilient?

1. Government Regulations: Zoning restrictions, ordinances, taxes and other government regulations have a strong impact on the resiliency of a housing market to weather a housing crisis. Basically, the more open the local authorities are to development, the more likely development will be created and, as you know development creates demand!
2. Employment Opportunities: If the area in which you live is creating jobs, then its creating demand for real estate. When you area is creating well paying jobs then it is likely those workers will buy homes. Granted, I am sure some rent and to some degree that is based on the quality of pay however, it doesn't negate the fact that those jobs will create supervisors, managers, directors, and other high paying salaried jobs for people who will be Ready, Willing and Able buyers.
3. Area Statistics: Good stats like low crime, good schools, multiple churches, plenty of recreation and such are great ways of keeping a community strong through a slumping housing market. Here in the Nashville area this works greatly to our advantage.

So, my advice to you on how to create a robust housing market in a nation wide slow down is to create jobs! This single action is most likely the number 1 reason home prices rise, in my opinion. Simply put, job creation creates a demand on housing supplies and therefore, prices rise or supply increases due to new construction, or in rare situations both end up happening at the same time.

As a community my advice to you is to take care of your neighborhood. Keep it clean and well maintained. Watch out for crime and mischief, a reputation for being a "bad" are isn't what any of us can afford right now.

Last but not least, elect officials who are pro-development. Local, county and state law makers who create jobs, lower taxes and focus on raising community standards like education, health care could be worth their weight in gold when it comes to keeping a strong housing market while the rest of the country is struggling