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        <title>Real Estate Blog</title>
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        <description></description>
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            <guid>http://www.williamsoncountyrealestate.com/blog/february-sales-figures.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.williamsoncountyrealestate.com/blog/february-sales-figures.html</link>
            <author>louisbelote@comcast.net (Louis Belote)</author>
            <title>February Sales Figures</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ PENDING SALES SURPASS 2000…That is some of the biggest news coming from information released by the Greater Nashville Association of Realtors today!The number of transactions reported for February 2013 was 1,784, which represents an increase of nearly 28 percent over the February 2012 number of 1,515. This number also represents the highest number of closings in February since 2008, and we know 2008 was a record setting sales year!The number of PENDING sales is 2,269 compared to 1,832 at the same time last year which shows the market will probably continue in the upward trend we have been experiencing over the last few months.The inventory of homes for sale continues to fall. The inventory at the end of February was 15,651 which is down from 18,271 a year ago.What does this mean to Buyers and Sellers?? There is no question that the market is transitioning to a Seller’s market in many areas. Buyers need to be “ready, willing, and able” to compete for the best homes at all times. That means pre-qualified for a mortgage with a letter in hand or available to submit with offers and ready to close within a “reasonable” amount of time! We are seeing many multiple offer situations on homes in many areas of the market as well.For Sellers…Get your house ready and on the market NOW! There are good qualified buyers waiting for your house to become available.Be ready for this Spring market that is already becoming very active.Whether you are a Buyer of Seller, you need to CONTACT ME NOW! ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 07 Mar 2013 14:29:00 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.williamsoncountyrealestate.com/blog/how-hot-is-this-market.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.williamsoncountyrealestate.com/blog/how-hot-is-this-market.html</link>
            <author>louisbelote@comcast.net (Louis Belote)</author>
            <title>How "HOT" Is This Market?</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Just passing along how “HOT” some areas of the local real estate market are currently. There was a house last week listed in the 12th South / Belmont area. The Asking price was $325,000. There were 7 offers the first day, and the house finally sold for $340,000.Another situation I had with one of my listings last week was a bank foreclosure with 2 additional lots in the Forest Hills area near Green Hills. I listed the properties in the MLS on Monday. By Tuesday afternoon, I had 2 contracts on the house and 3 contracts on each lot.If you are planning to buy or sell real estate in this market this year, you need to call or send me an e-mail for the latest market information and possible marketing or buying opportunities. As a buyer, be aware that many homes are selling before they are listed in the MLS, so if you are not in a position to hear about homes before they come on the market, there is a good chance that you will never have an opportunity to even have a shot at them.Contact me today!!
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Wed, 27 Feb 2013 12:01:00 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.williamsoncountyrealestate.com/blog/is-it-now-a-sellers-market.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.williamsoncountyrealestate.com/blog/is-it-now-a-sellers-market.html</link>
            <author>louisbelote@comcast.net (Louis Belote)</author>
            <title>Is It NOW A Seller's Market???....</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
The Available Inventory of HOMES FOR SALE in many areas of Nashville and Williamson County (Including Brentwood, Cool Springs, Franklin, and Spring Hill/Thompson Station) is beginning to reach a stage we have not seen in many years. As this market has transitioned from a “Buyer’s” to a “Seller’s” market, we continue to see more frequent situations where Sellers are receiving multiple offers on their homes. This is a phenomenon that we have not seen much in the last couple of years. The inventory of HOMES FOR SALE recently released by the Greater Nashville Association of Realtors supports this information. As of December 31, 2012, there were 15,054 properties available in the area compared to 17,216 at the same time in 2011. This is a fairly dramatic drop. In areas such as Green Hills, Belle Meade, Hillwood/West Meade, Richland/West End, and Vanderbilt, as well as certain neighborhoods in Williamson County, the demand is as high as it has been in many years. If you are considering Selling your home in 2013, I would strongly recommend looking at getting it on the market before the level of inventory has a chance to catch up with demand. We always see a large number of NEW LISITNGS come on the market in late March and especially the first 2 weeks of April. I expect this trend to continue as a result of an early Easter this year.CONTACT ME for more information or to discuss your plans to market your property this year. Many Home Sellers have tried to sell their homes over the last 2 or 3 years and not been able to get it done, but NOW may very well be your window of opportunity!! By the way..Feel free to enter YOUR comments to this post!! What are you seeing in the market??
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:01:00 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.williamsoncountyrealestate.com/blog/january-2013-home-sales-results.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.williamsoncountyrealestate.com/blog/january-2013-home-sales-results.html</link>
            <author>louisbelote@comcast.net (Louis Belote)</author>
            <title>January 2013 Home Sales Results</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Well….January 2013 is continuing the upward trend in this local real estate market. New information released today by the Greater Nashville Association of Realtors shows that sales in January 2013 were 18.7 percent higher than in January 2012! You can see the press release from GNAR by CLICKING HERE. There were 1,634 closing in January 2013 compared to 1,377 in January 2012.This follows the release of the annual 2012 numbers in early January that showed the comparison of sales between 2011 and 2012. The total number of transactions in 2012 was 26,097 as compared to 20,624 in 2011 or an increase in the number of properties sold by approximately 26.5%.This information continues to support that fact that the Nashville and surrounding are real estate market has made a full recovery from the “lows” and is showing signs of a very active 2013.CONTACT ME for more information about the Nashville and Williamson County area (Inclusing Brentwood, Cool SPrings, Franklin &amp; Spring Hill/Thompson Station) real estate market.By the way..Feel free to enter YOUR comments to this post!!
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 07 Feb 2013 12:39:00 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.williamsoncountyrealestate.com/blog/august-sales-maintain-the-upward-trend.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.williamsoncountyrealestate.com/blog/august-sales-maintain-the-upward-trend.html</link>
            <author>louisbelote@comcast.net (Louis Belote)</author>
            <title>August Sales Maintain the Upward Trend</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
August home sales numbers have been released and prove to maintain significant momentum based on information released from the Greater Nashville Association of Realtors. These numbers come directly from the RealTracs, the local MLS. There were 2,606 closings last month as compared to 2,047 in August 2011. That is a 27.3% increase from year to year. The numbers break down to these specific categories of housing: Residential (2,132), Condominiums (295), Multi-Family (26) and Farms/Land/Lots (121) for a total of 2,574.


In July 2011, one year ago, the breakdown was: Residential (2,177), Condominium (299), Multi-Family (20), and Land/Farms/Lots (110) for a total of 2,606.


Year to date closings for the area are 17,174 which is an increase of 25.4 percent over the same time last year’s number of 13,699.


The market momentum is showing very strong consistency at all levels of houseing. A recent article (Click Here to view the article) in The Tennessean newspaper highlighted the strength of the Green Hills market specifically.


Our objective is to continue to provide you with the most up to date and relative market data on a regular basis.


For more detailed information about your home’s value, recent sales in your neighborhood, or if you are a Buyer and need in depth market evaluation, feel free to contact me anytime at (615) 804-9999.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 06 Sep 2012 13:44:00 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.williamsoncountyrealestate.com/blog/july-home-sales-number-released.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.williamsoncountyrealestate.com/blog/july-home-sales-number-released.html</link>
            <author>louisbelote@comcast.net (Louis Belote)</author>
            <title>July Home Sales Number Released</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
July sales results continue on the upward trend based on information released from the Greater Nashville Association of Realtors. These numbers come directly from the RealTracs, the local MLS. There were 2,574 closings last month as compared to 2,021 in July 2011. That is a 27.4% increase from year to year. The numbers break down to these specific categories of housing: Residential (2,132), Condominiums (295), Multi-Family (26) and Farms/Land/Lots (121) for a total of 2,574.


In July 2011, one year ago, the breakdown was: Residential (1,692), Condominium (219), Multi-Family (14), and Land/Farms/Lots (96) for a total of 2,021.


Year to date closings for the area are 14,568 which is an increase of 25 percent over the same time last year’s number of 11,652.


I am seeing the market momentum continue at all price levels. The most popular sales price in the west Nashville (For example Belle Meade, West Meade, Hillsboro/Belmont/12th South, Green Hills/Forest Hills) and Williamson County areas appears to be about $300,00 to about $600,000, in general, but there have been several sales well over $1 Million.  As expected, some areas are “hotter” than others, and I am seeing some isolated situations where Sellers are dealing with multiple offers on their homes.


Our objective is to continue to provide you with the most up to date and relative market data on a regular basis.


For more detailed information about your home’s value, recent sales in your neighborhood, or if you are a Buyer and need in depth market evaluation, feel free to contact me anytime at (615) 804-9999.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Fri, 10 Aug 2012 09:48:00 -0500</pubDate>
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        <item>
            <guid>http://www.williamsoncountyrealestate.com/blog/june-home-sales-numbers-released.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.williamsoncountyrealestate.com/blog/june-home-sales-numbers-released.html</link>
            <author>louisbelote@comcast.net (Louis Belote)</author>
            <title>June Home Sales Numbers Released</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
The home sales numbers for June 2012 have been released, and it shows the market continues to increase momentum and is way beyond the “recovery” stage. While I don’t want to just throw a bunch of numbers at you, I think it is critical to point out that these numbers represent a very strong local market.


The numbers show there were 2,453 homes sold in Middle Tennessee in June, a 20.8% increase over the numbers (2,031) of June 2011. Second quarter numbers show there were 7,139 closings, or a 24.7% increase over the same period last year when there were 5,723. Year to date closings are also up 24.7% compared to the first half numbers in 2011.


The median residential price for single family homes sold during June was $182,000 and for condominiums it was $160,000. Last year’s median numbers were $176,300 and $150,000, respectively. The inventory of homes for sale in June 2012 was 19,136 compared to 22,043 in June 2011.


This is information that proves real estate is a “locally” driven business. I listen to analysts and so called “experts” on these financial and 24 hour new channels talking about foreclosures and how terrible the housing market continues to be, and that is true in some areas. As we have talked about here before, local housing market trends can even very within a city or area. I can show you parts of the Nashville and surrounding area where prices are still declining, but I can also show you areas and neighborhoods where there is no inventory of homes for sale and people lined up trying to buy into.


Contact me any time (Phone: (615) 804-9999) to discuss the market and to see how we can make your housing needs work best for you.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Wed, 04 Jul 2012 10:23:00 -0500</pubDate>
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        <item>
            <guid>http://www.williamsoncountyrealestate.com/blog/historic-downtown-franklin.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.williamsoncountyrealestate.com/blog/historic-downtown-franklin.html</link>
            <author>louisbelote@comcast.net (Louis Belote)</author>
            <title>Historic Downtown Franklin</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
One of the most popular pages for visitors to my website is Downtown Franklin Homes For Sale. The Downtown area of Franklin has really changed – for the better - over the last 20 years. When I was in high school in Franklin in the mid 1970’s, the biggest event on Main Street was the driving of tractors to the town “Square” on Friday nights. That is when Franklin was a sleepy, little farming/agricultural town and area. It is nothing like that today. Tourists and locals flock to the area now to see the family shops, eat lunch and dinner on the sidewalks, and just sit on a bench and “people watch”. The family drug store and local banks are long gone. Today you get everything from a chain store like Chico’s to local meat and three restaurants like Puckett’s, or more upscale dining at The Red Pony. People many times ask me “What is a meat and three”? When I hear that question, I immediately know that they are not from around here. To answer the question…It is a meat and 3 vegetables plate!


The downtown area is surrounded by Civil War era history, which brings a lot of people to the area as well. Many of the old, historic homes and buildings are listed on the National Historic Register and offer incredible “charm”. Some of the most popular historic places to visit are the Carnton Mansion or the Carter House, both of which have deep roots in the Battle of Franklin, one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. Some of the favorite streets with the historically significantly houses to live in are Fair Street, West Main Street, Third and Fourth Avenue South, and Lewisburg Avenue. The charm and character of these mostly restored homes is amazing, and the quality of life in Downtown Franklin will remind you of Mayberry from the 1960’s Andy Griffith Show.


There are some newer construction housing options in Downtown Franklin. A few “Brownstones” were recently built just a few blocks off Main Street. These properties offer updated, more luxurious living on multiple levels with porches and outdoor spaces and garages.


For more information on the housing options and Downtown Franklin, call me directly at (615) 804-9999 or click any link on my website to send me an e-mail.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Mon, 02 Jul 2012 10:42:00 -0500</pubDate>
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        <item>
            <guid>http://www.williamsoncountyrealestate.com/blog/march-home-sales-numbers.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.williamsoncountyrealestate.com/blog/march-home-sales-numbers.html</link>
            <author>louisbelote@comcast.net (Louis Belote)</author>
            <title>March Home Sales Numbers!</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 


The latest Home Sales figures for March 2012 have been
released by the Greater Nashville Association of Realtors. There were 1,973
during March 2012 as compared to 1,673 in March of 2011. That represents an
increase of 17.3% over the same period a year ago.




In the first quarter of 2012, there were 4,855 closings
compared to 3,908 in the first quarter of 2011. This shows an increase of 24.2%
from a year ago.




The number of Pending sales, those currently under contract
awaiting a closing, remains above the level of the same time last year which
means the trend should continue in the coming months.




This continues to show that the Nashville and surrounding area real estate
market remains very strong and gaining back some of the momentum of years past.




Inventories of Homes For Sale is slightly lower than it was
a year ago.




It remains somewhat of a “Buyer’s Market”, but this could
change if the trends continue.




For more information about this market or help Buying or
Selling real estate in Middle Tennessee, give me a call (615-804-9999) or send
me an e-mail. You will be amazed at what kind of time and effort I can save
with your local real estate experience!


 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Mon, 09 Apr 2012 12:43:10 -0500</pubDate>
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        <item>
            <guid>http://www.williamsoncountyrealestate.com/blog/attention-home-sellers.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.williamsoncountyrealestate.com/blog/attention-home-sellers.html</link>
            <author>louisbelote@comcast.net (Louis Belote)</author>
            <title>ATTENTION Home Sellers...</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Many potential Home Sellers are reluctant to put their homes on the market right now. I know that for a fact as a result of a recent experience with one of my clients who is a CASH BUYER. I met with these new clients a couple of weeks ago. They had a pretty good idea of what kind of house they wanted and some specific neighborhoods that particularly appealed to them because of their location to schools. We looked on the MLS and what did we see?? NOT MUCH AVAILABLE! As an example, there were actually 2 houses listed in the MLS in one of the neighborhoods that we targeted. One of those listed was just not going to work, and the other, while a very nice house, is listed for sale for almost $2M. The current owner bought the house for almost $1.7M in early 2009. Are you kidding me? Can you say OVER PRICED?? How can your house, as a Seller in this market, increase in market value over 20% in a market like we have experienced since 2009??...AND why would a Realtor take a listing and basically agree with the value of the house?? It boggles the mind and sets up a course of failure for both parties! Only time will tell that I am right!


But to get to my point about the current market and Sellers hesitating to put their homes on the market. I sent a letter to other homeowners in that same target neighborhood advising that I am currently working with a qualified home buyer that would be interested in looking at a home that was not currently listed for sale to consider buying it. Keep in mind, this is a neighborhood of no more than 40 houses…at the very most. My mailing resulted in 2 home owners contacting me to ask me to either show their house, or come by and take a look and see if I thought my clients would have an interest. I have already shown one of them to my clients and will probably show the other one in the next few days. The moral of the story is that there are qualified buyers in the market looking for homes to buy right now. Many Home Sellers have made the decision they are “going to wait for the market to recover or get better before attempting to sell”. I hear the phrase a lot  “ I will sell if the right buyer comes along with the right circumstances”. Well, there is a good chance that buyer is out there right now, but your home will never be seen by a potential buyer unless you MARKET IT!


Realtors, in general, will not take the time to do the work to uncover additional options for their home buyers. I do it all the time. It is the difference in a professional Realtor that treats real estate as a business and a Realtor that happens to have a real estate license and sells homes for a hobby!


Contact me and I will show you the difference. 
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:07:59 -0500</pubDate>
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