The Murfreesboro Buzz

Business is Booming in the Boro!

Yesterday I talked about the rising salary for Rutherford County employees.  It seems that there is a LOT of disucssion going on about the Murfreesboro commercial/business envirornment.  Here are some intersting tidbits I found about employers and businesses in Murfreesboro and Rutherford County:

Forbes Magazine ranked the Nashville/Murfreesboro area as 9th on the list for Best places for Business and Careers" and 18th on the list of "Best Cities for Jobs Index."

CNN/Money Magazine selected Murfreesboro as the 84th out of the 100 absolute BEST Places To Live in the Nation.

Site Selection Magazine ranked the State of Tennessee as 5th on the list for "Top State Business Climate" and 5th in the nation for the "2006 Top State Business Climate Rankings."

Policom Corporation ranked the Nashville/Murfreesboro area as 2nd in the United States Markets for "Economic Strength."

Business Facilities ranked Tennessee Number one in "Economic Development Achievement for 2006"

U.S. Census Bureau ranks Rutherford County as the fastest growing county in the State with population moving IN.

Expansion Magazine stated the Nashville/Murfreesboro area as one of the "50 Hottest Cities" in the nation and also stated it was a "Five-Star Knowledge Worker Metro.'

Shopping Centers Today stated that the Nashville/Murfreesboro area ranked Fifth in the nation as "Most Promising to Retail Developers."  (Stones River Mall and The Avenue are both under construction and/or renovations currently!)

It definitely looks like there is a strong opinion that Murfreesboro is a wonderful place to considering opening a business.  A strong business economy equates to a strong housing market.  If you are considering relocating to the Murfreesboro area or have any interest in the commercial real estate market, please feel free to contact me at into@soldontn.com.  Also visit my websites at www.SherriWellborn.com and www.SoldonTN.com!

Rutherford Wages Rising To Top

Rutherford County workers benefited from an average wage increase of six percent for the third quarter of  2006.  This makes the county rank as 13th in the nation for payroll growth out of more than 300 large counties.  That's great news for the workers, our economy, and everyone who lives in Rutherford County.

If we can sustain a positive wage increase for workers here, it will have a direct impact on the level of government services provided to residents while keeping our property taxes low.  Rutherford County already ranks among the lowest for property taxes!  If you would like to see where we currently rank for property taxes compared to other areas, check out my previous blog on Rutherford County Taxes. 

The chamber affiliated Destination Rutherford program has worked hard to recruit businesses to the area that would suppose higher wages for its employees.  Local business people affiliated with Destination Rutherford believe that great things can be accomplished with enough dedicated people working toward the same goal.  Rutherford County has consistently generated new, and higher paying jobs for several years now.  According to MTSU business professor David Penn, "job growth has been consistently 3% plus year after year, and this latest quarter results show that now the average weekly pay of the jobs is starting to improve." 

This is great news for the local housing market as well.  Families will now be eligible to qualify to purchase their first home, or be eligible for a larger mortgage for individuals and families who would like to move up in price point.  When the housing economy is solid, the economy benefits as well!  More more spent in Murfreesboro and Rutherford County translate into more money staying in the local economy and higher sales tax revenue being generated.  A 6% increase in salary can make a huge difference to a family who is trying to budget their income against a fixed monthly house note.  It definitely gives people a little more freedom in their budget and allows them to have some extra money that can be applied for numerous expenses, or perhaps a few luxuries!

If you are interested in buying a home, selling your existing home, or relocating to the Murfreesboro or Rutherford County area, please contact me at info@soldontn.com, or you can always call me direct at 615-566-3789.  I'd love to chat with you in detail about homes for sale in Murfreesboro and the real estate market in the middle Tennessee area.