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Ranch Home on Acre Park Like Setting

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37128-Murfreesboro (Lynnford Oaks)

FOR SALE Park Like Setting

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	Address: 301 Lynnford Drive Type: Residential Style: Single Story Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2 Suite: No Living Area: 1,352 square feet Year Built: 1992 More Details

	Description
	Beautiful home sits in a park like setting on over an acre with huge trees located on a quiet dead end street! This charming ranch home is in a wonderful location just minutes from I24. There is even a walking trail to Barfield Crescent Park at the end of the cul-de-sac. This home is zoned for Rutherford County and pays no city taxes...even though it is approximately 3 miles to I24. Well maintained home offers a huge family room, big kitchen with lots of cabinetry, master bedroom with double closets and double vanities, two additional bedrooms and a spacious guest bath. Hobby or car enthusiast will love the heated garage with a built-in sink and workbench. Current seller used this as a workshop and made custom wood flower boxes and planters that adorn the patio area. Real estate in Murfreesboro TN is hard to find with an acre lot! This lot is not only large but beautiful. If you enjoy gardening, have kids that love to play outside, or just appreciate your own space, then you will love this home and land.  You can even host your own campfire cookout this fall! This great home is zoned for Barfield Elementary, Christiana Middle School, and Riverdale High School. If you are searching for a great piece of real estate in Murfreesboro TN, then don't let this home get away - call Sheri Wellborn today at 615-566-3789! More Description

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Hot New Listing Off Sam Ridley - Walk to LaVergne High

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37086-La Vergne (Chaney Woods)

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	Address: 256 Chaney Blvd. Type: Residential Style: 1 1/2 Story Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2 Suite: No Living Area: 1,839 square feet Year Built: 1996 More Details

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	Location, location, location! Great home in Chaney Woods just off of Sam Ridley and I24. Walk to LaVergne High! Beautiful open contemporary design shows like new! Spacious floorplan features a family room with two story vaulted ceilings that opens to a large cook's kitchen with pantry, breakfast room with bay windows, and hardwood floors! The formal dining room can also be used as an office or extra sitting area. You will love the zoned bedrooms which provide privacy for the master suite. This homes is packed with upgrades and special features! The home is on a water filtration system that will remain. You will appreciate the freshly painted walls that are a warm neutral color. Like hardwoods? This home has hardwood floors in the kitchen, breakfast room, foyer, and the entire upstairs bonus room! Both bathrooms feature a faux tile tub enclosure. If you like to entertain outdoors that you have to check out the deck on this home! Approximately 1200 square foot deck is found in the fenced backyard of this gorgeous home. All you need is patio furniture, a grill, and a LOT of friends! If you are looking for a great deal on real estate in Smyrna TN or real estate in LaVergne TN then you really need to preview this home! This is the best bargain in Chaney Woods and in move-in condition! Available for immediate possession! For more information, please visit:  www.SherriWellborn.com, www.SoldonTN.com, or www.RealEstateinMurfreesboroTN.com More Description

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Great New Listings in Murfreesboro, Smyrna, LaVergne

Real Estate Market Stable in Murfreesboro

Home buyers and real estate investors continue to look at purchasing homes and Real estate in Murfreesboro. The housing market in other parts of the country have hit some serious lows with significant drops in home values. Despite the many negatives that real estate markets in other parts of the country are facing, first time home buyers, existing home owners, and real estate investors in this area still find purchasing real estate in Murfreesboro TN to be a solid investment. The housing market in Murfreesboro shows a steady gain in price appreciation with little, or no, drop in home values.

While the average number of days on market has increased, home sellers appear to be receiving close to their list price for homes that are listed for sale on the market. Home sellers are aware that it may take longer to sell their homes, however, they are not taking huge price reductions or accepting offers that are significantly less than list price. Investors and home buyers who are searching for fantastic deals must be willing to wait for homes that are listed for sale by homeowners that are highly motivated and truly “need” to sell in order to secure an excellent bargain in this market. This requires patience by the potential homebuyer as well as being open minded in their search parameters. Buyers who are willing to wait for the deal are able to secure some excellent investments in our current market. Overall, we are not in a true buyer’s market and home sellers are able to secure a fair sales prices for their home.

I believe that there are several factors that contribute to our healthy and stable real estate market in Murfreesboro TN, as well as the real estate in Nashville and surrounding areas. First, and probably the most important factor, is the substantial growth that is occurring in Murfreesboro, and Rutherford County has experienced phenomenal growth and is projected to add an additional 5000 residents each year for the next few years. This growth in population is certainly fueling a positive housing and real estate market in Murfreesboro. The growth rate maintains a positive market for existing homes as well as encouraging new development and creates a large number of new homes offered by local custom home builders.

Home builders appear to have cut back slightly on new construction, and this should impact our housing market in the future. I believe that with scaled back new construction and continued population growth, the real estate market in Murfreesboro TN will soon be back on track and driving appreciation rates up once again. Supply and demand has always been the major driving factor in real estate prices! If you are considering buying a new home in Murfreesboro TN, I would strongly advise you to secure the services of a qualified and knowledgeable buyer’s agent today! I believe real estate prices in Murfreesboro will be on the rise by Spring 2008!

Just Listed - Berkshire Beauty!

If you are looking for a new home in the Blackman School Zone in West Murfreesboro, then this is it!  This stunning home is located in the extremely popular Berkshire subdivision.  It has one of the best floor plans I have seen and makes efficient use of all square footage.  The media or bonus room in this home is massive!  The formal dining room is large enough for a large dinner party, yet cozy enough to be utilitized regularly for an intimate gathering of family or friends.  This gorgeous home features FIVE bedroom, a THREE car garage, and has approximately 3227 square feet.  The interior has plantation blinds and decorator colors - the decor is simply stunning!  The owners have spent thousands of dollars on the landscaping and the backyard looks like it could be featured in Better Homes an Garden Magazine. 

This all brick home has been meticulously maintained and truly shows like a model! 

• Extensive hardwood floors
• Elegant trim
• Huge cook's kitchen with stainless appliances
• Wrought iron spindles
• Soaring two story ceilings in the family room
• Romantic Master with Spa Like Bath
• Charming breakfast room overlooks lush backyard
• Vinyl Privacy Fence
• TWO Bedrooms on Lower Level
• THREE Bedrooms on upper level
• Zoned Blackman Elementary School, Blackman Middle School, Blackman High School
• Minutes to new Medical Center Parkway I24 Exit
• Minutes to new The Avenue Mall in Murfreesboro
• Berkshire Community Pool
• Sidewalks

To view more photographs and to see a virtual tour, please visit my websites, http://www.SoldonTN.com or http://www.SherriWellborn.com

Registration for Alternative Murfreesboro City Schools

It is hard to believe...but it is almost time for kids attending Murfreesboro City Schools that follow the alternative calender to go back to school!  Registration will be held on July 17, 2007.  The first day of school, which is an abbreviated day, is scheduled for July 23, 2007. 

The Murfreesboro City Schools that follow the alterantive calendar are:

Bradley Academy

Bellwood Preschool

Cason Lane Academy

Erma Siegel Elementary

Hobgood Elementary

Scales Elementary

The Discovery School at Reeves Rogers (formerly Bellwood Discovery School)

I'm sure there are some parents that will be glad to see this day arrive!  However, students will barely be back in school when they will have their first holiday!  August 10, 2007 is scheduled for systemwide Inservice and students will not attend classes on that day.  September 3, 2007 will come soon thereafter which is, of course, Labor Day!  Fall break has been scheduled for October 1 through October 12, 2007.

Many of the Murfreesboro City school zones have been changed for the 2007 - 2008 school year to accomodate the new Pittard Elementary which will be opening this fall on DeJarnette.  If you have questions regarding school zones, or bus transportation, you can view the Murfreesboro City School Zones Map by clicking on this link:  http://cityschools.net/CitySchoolsZones200708_w_dualzones.pdf. 

As always, if you need to buy a new home, or sell a home, in order to have your child attend a specific school, please contact me at 615-566-3789.  I'll be happy to assist you in buying a new home, or selling an existing home in the Murfreesboro area. 

The Path To Buying A Home - In Murfreesboro

I have clients moving here from New York and have learned so much about their home buyer and selling process. It seems to me that the road to home ownership is more of a roller coaster ride in other parts of the country than it is here in Murfreesboro Tennessee. However, no matter where you live, purchasing a home and investing in real estate is a big financial decision! My job as your Realtor is to provide professional guidance along the way and make the trip an enjoyable experience instead of an unpredictable roller coaster ride with unpredicted dips and turns.

The most important first step in buying a home is to become pre-approved with a local, reputable lender. Don't fall prey to Internet lenders or deals that sound too good to be true!  Mortgage lending is very competitive and local lenders want to earn your business! They depend on future referrals to not only remain in the business but to thrive in the business.  A local lender will work hard to make sure that you are a satisfied client.  And, if something goes wrong, it is priceless to be able to walk into their office to sit down and discuss the problem with them in person.  Unfortunately, I have been to closings where out-of-state lenders were used, only to have problems arise and not be able to reach the "lender" in person.  Sometimes fees are charged on the HUD that the buyer claims they were unaware of.  Worst case was a closing where the mortgage was simply not funded and the loan did not close!  This is a huge problem because Tennessee does not allow dry closing and the contract becomes void at midnight on the the agreed closing date. The seller can renegotiate the purchase price or even has the right to sell the house to another buyer if a backup offer is on the table!  Home sellers should insist on receiving a pre-approval certificate from a reputable lender before entering into negotiations on the sell of their home with a potential buyer.

Once a purchase and sale agreement is executed by both buyer and seller, it becomes a legally binding contract. The home cannot be sold to another buyer. However, until all parties have agreed to all terms of the contract, and the contract is executed, the seller and the buyer both have the right to walk away from the deal and stop negotiations. The negotiation process is possibly the most stressful portion of the home buying and selling process.

An executed contract can be void if:

• The buyer is unable to secure financing.
• The appraisal comes in at a lower price than the agreed purchase and Sale Agreement price.
• There are unforeseen problems that are discovered with the Title during the title examination.  This is very rare!  (P.S.  Once a home is closed and title is transferred, title insurance will protect the home buyer if any undiscovered liens, judgements, or blurbs are found with the title after closing!)

Buyers are sometimes concerned when they continue to see their home on the Internet and fear that another buyer will bump them out! Rest assured that this cannot happen once the home is under binding agreement!  Homes are typically not moved to the pending status until financing is secured, appraisal is completed, and the home inspection has been done.  Until these pieces of the puzzle are in place, the home will show as Active - Contingent in the Realtor MLS system and will also have a yellow highlighted banner.  This information, however, it not visible on most of the consumer home search programs available online.

The seller may accept a back-up contract that will come into play if a problem arises with the existing Purchase and Sale Agreement that causes the first contract to be void. If the agreement has a contingency clause on the sale of an existing home, the seller will usually negotiate for a 24-48 hour kick out clause. This allows the seller the continue to market the property and try to find a cash buyer. If an offer comes in that is not contingent on the sale of a home, the seller, or the seller’s listing agent, will notify the buyer that there is a second offer and the buyer has 24 – 48 hours to remove the contingency and provide proof of their ability to close on the home and secure a loan by the agreed closing date. If the buyer cannot remove the contingency, then the first contract would be void and the seller would be allowed to sell the home to buyer number two.

It is wise to have a home inspection completed on any home that you are purchasing...even new construction.  Home inspectors can find hidden or unknown problems so that they can be corrected by the seller prior to closing,.  It is rare to have a home inspection that does not result in something being discovered.  It is a way to resolve minor items before they become major problems.  On new construction, it can ensure that codes were met and there was nothing overlooked by the contractor or subcontractors during the construction phase.  The time frame to complete a home inspection in Murfreesboro is generally within 7 to 14 days of the binding agreement date.  If there is a contingency on the sale of another home, then the inspection would be completed within 7 - 14 days of the binding agreement date of the home that must be sold.

Once there is a binding agreement, the contract is sent to the closing attorney to start the title search.  They will prepare all closing documents and work closely with the lender and the Realtors and advise everyone involved if any problems arise that may prevent or delay closing.   Unlike other parts of the country, the average time frame for closing on a home in Murfreesboro, is 30 days from the binding agreement date.  Closing dates can be negotiated, but long time-consuming closing are not the norm for this area!  Once you find your home, be prepared to own it within a month or slightly longer.

This long post can actually be wrapped up in ten easy steps to buying a home in Murfreesboro.

1. Get pre-approved with a local lender
2. Go house hunting for your dream home with your Realtor
3. Check the comps in the area to help you decide the best negotiating tactics.
4. Negotiate the purchase and sale agreement.  This is where it will really pay off to have a qualified Realtor on your side!
5. Make formal application for your loan with the lender and pay the appraisal fee.
6. Schedule and attend the home inspection.  The cost of this inspection must be paid at the time of the inspection and will be collected by the home inspector.
7. Negotiate for any repairs found during the inspection with the seller.
8. Work with the lender to finalize your file and provide any necessary documentation requested.
9. Confirm that negotiated repairs have been completed and do a final walk through on the home.
10. Bring your driver's license, certified funds, and attend closing.  Congratulations....you are now a homeowner!

Of course, each of the steps above have many different levels that need to be addressed.  The home buying process can be complicated and you should never try to go down this path without representation.  The listing agent represents the seller - and NOT the buyer!  Never, ever buy a home without the services of a qualified Realtor on your side!

If you are considering buying a new home in Murfreesboro, or selling your existing home in the Boro, please contact me at info@soldontn.com or on my cell at 615-566-3789.  I'd love to help make the path to homeownership an easy journey for you!

Successfully Staging Your Home

Let's face it, few of us live in perfect homes where everything has a place, and everything stays IN that place.  But, if you are thinking of selling your home, or perhaps just having guests over for a special event, you need to know a few tips on how to stage your home successfully.  Staging your home is actually a lot easier than you think!

1.  Make your entrance WELCOMING!  Never, ever forget the 7 second rule!  Home buyers (and your guests) will decide within 7 seconds of walking up to your home if they are impressed, or disappointed in your home.  A messy and unkept exterior conjures up visions of an inside in disarray.  Make sure your front door sparkles with a fresh coat of paint or has been cleaned and waxed. Make sure the hardware is up-to-date and in good condition.  Check your shutters, mailbox and house numbers to make sure they are affixed tightly and in excellent condition.  Weed and mulch your flower beds, edge your yard, and make sure your turf is lush and green!  Add some nice urns or planters to your front porch with vibrant greenery.  Last but not least, make sure you have a new WELCOME MAT instead of an old worn out go-away mat!

2.  Control the clutter.  Less is best when going over your home decor.  If you have things sitting around that have not been used in the last year, then give them away!  Box up anything that hasn't been used regularly in the last three months.  Use baskets or attractive containers to hide magazines, toys, and knick-knacks!  Check your mantle and make sure it isn't clutters.  A bare mantle shows better than a mantle covered with distracting decor!  No more than 3 to 5 items should remain on your mantle...preferably less!

3.  Minimize your furniture.  This one is really hard for some people to do!  You really need to take a step back and look at your space.  Think less is more when going over your furniture arrangements.  Placing some pieces in storage will help your room feel larger and open up the space.  Furniture blocking walkways and hallways is the biggest mistake I see with homeowners.  Furniture left in foyers can make a potential buyer feel that the space is tight or closed in as soon as they walk in the front door.  Remove any unnecessary pieces!

4.  Rearrange your furniture!  So many homeowners line their walls with furniture.  This can be a huge mistake and make it hard for buyers to visual how the room could be used.  Make sure to pull large pieces of furniture out away from the walls.  Group your pieces together to make warm conversational sitting areas.  Move your area rugs to an angle and let your furniture follow that pattern.  Break away from an old square shape and keep the perimeters clear.

5.  Take a fresh approach!  So many homeowners leave their furniture and decor arranged in the exact same arrangement, in the exact same position, day after day, after day.  Remove everything from the room and look at the space as a clean slate.  Slowly begin to rebuild this space, but make sure that everything that goes back in the room is placed in a different position.  You will end up with a totally different room that has a fresh feeling!  Remember not to clutter and consider leaving some pieces out of the decor for a change.

6.  Use all your space!  Have a little niche at the top of your stairs or an empty corner that holds a floor lamp?  Look at these spaces as a place to hold a fantasy area.  Closets can become efficient hidden offices, niches can become the perfect reading loft, corners can become gaming areas or homework stations.  Make sure that you make wise use of all of your square footage!  You want your home to appear open with an efficient use of space.

7.  Walk toward the light!  Never underestimate the power of light in selling a home.  Open all your blinds and pull back your drapes to let the light shine in!  A room filled with natural sunlight will seem twice as large as a dark drab room.  Make sure you make good use of all lighting including overhead and lamp lighting.  Transform your space instantly by simply adding light from every possible source.

8.  Neutralize your colors.  Buyers may not like candy apple green or vibrant red on their walls.  Make sure your home has a fresh coat of paint in a warm neutral color.  Neutral doesn't mean off-white!  A warm beige or soft gold will allow any buyer to visualize the space with their own decor.  However, it will also provide a warm welcoming color scheme to the room.  You can always add punch of color through accessories, or possibly painting a small accent area. 

9.  Accesorize for maximum potential.  While keeping the minimalist theme in mind, consider adding a few large accessory pieces to really add some drama to the area.  A coffee table with one large arrangement always adds impact.  If you group items, form a triangle pattern and keep groupings to no more than three items.

10.  Bring the outdoors in!  Whatever the season, bring a little bit of the outdoor elements inside your home.  In the fall, some twigs and vibrant leaves will add charm to a dining room, in the spring a glorious bouquet of fresh flowers on the kitchen table really adds warms.  Don't worry about being fancy, just add a few natural elements to your home to really make potential home buyers connect with your home. 

Remember, buyers buy on emotion.  Make sure your home is sparkly clean and staged to tug at those heartstrings!  If you are considering selling your home in Murfreesboro, Brentwood, Franklin, or the middle Tennessee Nashville area, please contact me for an in depth analysis of your home.  I'll be happy to help you get your home staged and ready to sell quickly!  For a current market analysis of your home, feel free to email me at info@soldontn.com or call my cell at 615-566-3789.   

NO Tax Increase In Rutherford County!

Rutherford county residents should be thrilled to learn that the County Commission has passed the budget for 2007/2008 which allows for NO TAX HIKES!  The property tax rate for Rutherford County will remain at $2.44 for $100 of assessed value.  (See my website for details on calculating your assessed value!)  The county was able to take 9.3 million from the "rainy day fund" and anticipates the revised basic education program will add another 15 million to fund county schools.  In addition to keep the existing property tax rate in check, there will be no increase to the wheel tax which was originally suggested.  Homeowners in Rutherford County have some of the lowest property taxes in the state.  Thanks to the passing of the new budget, they will continue to enjoy living in an area that has some of the most affordable housing prices in the entire Middle Tennessee area, has an environment that promotes an excellent quality of life, provides top-rated schools, and is still able to allow extremely affordable home owner property taxes.  Homeowners here are often spoiled to our extremely low property taxes.  When working with clients relocating here from other parts of the country, it is easy to see how very fortunate we are to live in Rutherford County where taxes are still a minimal expense for homeowners.  Our low tax rates are usually one of the main reasons why individuals and families are choosing to relocate to this area from all across the country.  Kudos to our County Commission for maintaining our current property tax rate and wheel tax with no increase for the next year!   

HGTV My House Is Worth What

HGTV was back in town this week to tape three more episodes for their extremely popular show, My House Is Worth What?  We had so much fun this time taping the shows.  I suppose it gets a little easier each time around.  This time the network selected homeowners in Gallatin, Murfreesboro, and Bellevue for the show.  Each home was very different and the sellers had a variety of renovations.  It is so interesting to visit various homeowners and see the renovations and improvements that they have made to their homes.  Unfortunately, not all homeowners make wise choices when it comes to renovating their home.  It is SO easy to overspend on renovations.  It is also extremely improtant to make sure that your home is located in an area that will support the renovations when it comes time to resell.  You never want to be the most expensive home in the neighborhood if your main goal is to maximize your return and increase your home's equity.

When updating your home, look at the "bones" of your home and see if you can work with the existing materials.  For example, the homeowners in Gallatin need to update their kitchen to maximize its value.  However, the existing cabinets are made of solid hardwoods and already have a great layout.  By simply painting, glazing, and distressing the existing cabinets and then updating the hardware, they will be able to achieve the look of a complete transformation in their kitchen on a relatively small budget.  Before you rip out and redo components in your home, make sure that you cannot simply change the feel of what you already have through paint or hardware upgrades.

We don't have an air date yet for the next three shows but I'll be sure and post them as soon as I have the tenative schedule.  HGTV loves the Nashville area, so if you know anyone who may be interested in being on My House Is Worth What or National Open House, please let me know!

If you have questions on renovations for your home, post your comments here or send me an email!