Williamson County Real Estate

15 Year Loans are Popular Again

Larry Brewer (Benchmark Realty LLc) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:23:59 -0400

The changes to FHA mortgages and the low interest rates you can get with a 15 year fixed rate loan are making the smart people stop and think. Sometimes the differnce in monthly payments are minimal, but the oversll cost of the loan is over $100,000 less. Seems like a no brainer to me.

Via Brewer group - Elizabeth Franklin Tn Homes (Benchmark Realty):

15 year Loans are popular again - According to the Wall street Journal, the percent of home loans that are 15 year fixed rate mortgages is on the rise.

Between January and June, 26% of homeowners who refinanced chose a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage, according to data from CoreLogic, a provider of financial, property and consumer information. During all of 2009, 18.5% of borrowers who refinanced opted for a 15-year term.

WHy the change? Historically low interest rates for fixed-rate mortgages.

The average rate on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage was 3.86% for the week ending Aug. 26, according to Freddie Mac's weekly survey of conforming mortgage rates.

I've talked to some customers who have decided to refinance their homes instead of moving up. The low rates in 15 year mortgages in some cases allowed them to reduce the term of their loans by more than 10 years and have payments close to what they started with. The end result is a savings of over $100,000 on their house payments.

If you are interested in refinancing your home or buying a Nashville Home, contact me via e-mail, or call. I have a short list of the best mortgage professionals in the area.
The Brewer Group

Benchmark Realty

I Want More Smart Buyers

Larry Brewer (Benchmark Realty LLc) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:20:46 -0400

I want more smart buyers. You know the ones I'm talking about, they usually do a lot of research before they buy anything, they visit a lot of open houses to get a feel for the area, and then they decide to go the next step. If they are really smart, they hire a local real estate expert, instead of thinking they are the expert.

Let's face it, we all get buyers who sound like they know what they are talking about, and sometimes they do, but it's usually just buzz words. (we get those with supposed SEO experts too). But when it comes right down to it, the information they have is usually not appropriate for the area they want.

To get the best best on a great home, they need professional help.

The happiest customers I have are the ones who can describe what they want, and then let me do my job. Find the best home that meets their needs, negotiate the best price, and arrange inspections, an appraisal, and negotiate repairs. They get the home they want at a great price, and no worries.

Just think about the experience factor. Most people purchase less than 5 homes in their lifetime, A good realtor will have that many deals in a busy month. After hundreds of deals, most experienced agents have seen and resolved almost every situation a realtor can have. THe strangest thing about it is that buyers agents are paid by the seller. It doesn't cost a buyer any money, and in almost every case, saves the buyer lots of money.

Maybe it's just a control issue.

Smart customers know that a good buyers agent will save them a lot of money, the ones not so smart go find a FSBO and hope for the best.

Murfreesboro home sales for August

Larry Brewer (Benchmark Realty LLc) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:33:59 -0400

Murfreesboro is a fast growing community with a lot of small businesses and the very large college Middle Tennessee State University. The homes in Murfreesboro are affordable and most are fairly new due to the rapid growth. Land is still abundant in Rutherford county, and the city continues to expand it's city limits.

Via Brewer group - Elizabeth Franklin Tn Homes (Benchmark Realty):

Murfreesboro Home Sales for August are as follows

146 homes sold in Murfreesboro for the month of August

the average price of Murfreesboro homes sold was $191,233

average size of homes sold in Murfreesboro was 2170 square ft

average days on market for homes sold in murfreesboro was 72

148 Murfreesboro homes are currently pending sale and under contract

1414 Murfreesboro homes are listed for sale in the Nashville MLS

the absorption rate for homes in Murfreesboro is currently 9 months

Murfreesboro is located in Rutherford county approximately 30 miles southeast of Nashville close to I-24. Murfreesboro is know mostly for being the home of Middle Tennessee State University, the largest college in Tennessee. To search for Murfreesboro homes click here
The Brewer Group

Benchmark Realty

Cool Springs Home Sales for July

Larry Brewer (Benchmark Realty LLc) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 23:53:41 -0400

Cool Springs is a great place to live for those who love access to great shopping and dining, easy access to I-65 with a 20 minute commute to Nashville and the International airport, Franklin schools and parks, and some of the best neighborhood in the area.

Via Brewer group - Elizabeth Franklin Tn Homes (Benchmark Realty):

Cool Spring Home Sales for July are as follows -

34 cool springs homes sold in July

the average price of Cool Springs homes sold in July was $449,527

the average days on market for homes sold in Cool Springs was 88

the size of cool springs homes sold in July was 3439 square ft

43 Cool Springs homes are currently pending

237 homes are currently available for purchase in Cool Springs

Cool Springs in located in Williamson county between Franklin and Brentwood. Known for the best shopping and dining in Tennessee, Cool Springs also has become the home for major businesses and residential communities.

Click here to search for homes in Cool Springs
The Brewer Group

Benchmark Realty

Courtside at Southern Woods

Larry Brewer (Benchmark Realty LLc) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:12:57 -0400

Courtside is a beautiful community of affordable Brentwood homes with great schools and good location that makes the morning commute to Nashville easy a pie.

Via Brewer group - Elizabeth Franklin Tn Homes (Benchmark Realty):

Courtside at Southern Woods in Brentwood,TN is a neighborhood in northern Williamson County . It boasts some of the best schools in Tennessee. Edmondson Elementary School, Sunset Middle School and Ravenwood High Schools all accommodate this area. These Brentwood schools are all award-winners. Just minutes from I-65 and I- 24, it is ideal for commuting professionals in Nashville

Homes in Courtside were built from 2002-present. There were several different custom builders along with some larger companies that have built in the community. Having a good buyers agent will help you make sure that you can see true quality. Square footage of the homes in Courtside vary from 2800 square feet - 4200 square feet. Prices range from $380,000- $550,000.

The community (saltwater) pool, tennis courts and playground are gathering areas for friends and Courtside neighbors. The Southern Woods and Shadow Creek neighborhoods are also part of the HOA and work together to keep our Brentwood community beautiful.

With the Brentwood library, Concord Road YMCA and Cool Springs Galleria just minutes away, Courtside has a quiet feel without being far away. Common area behind homes is often expansive (uncommon in Brentwood) with many old-growth trees and the cul-de-sac properties have very little traffic. For more information on Courtside at Southern Woods, feel free to contact me at 615-512-7853

The Brewer Group

Benchmark Realty

Courtside at Southern Woods

Larry Brewer (Benchmark Realty LLc) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:37:34 -0400

Courtside at Southern Woods in Brentwood,TN is a neighborhood in northern Williamson County . It boasts some of the best schools in Tennessee. Edmondson Elementary School, Sunset Middle School and Ravenwood High Schools all accommodate this area. These Brentwood schools are all award-winners. Just minutes from I-65 and I- 24, it is ideal for commuting professionals in Nashville

Homes in Courtside were built from 2002-present. There were several different custom builders along with some larger companies that have built in the community. Having a good buyers agent will help you make sure that you can see true quality. Square footage of the homes varies from 2800 square feet - 4200 square feet. Prices range from $380,000- $550,000.

The community (saltwater) pool, tennis courts and playground are gathering areas for friends and Courtside neighbors. The Southern Woods and Shadow Creek neighborhoods are also part of the HOA and work together to keep our Brentwood community beautiful.

With the Brentwood library, Concord Road YMCA and Cool Springs Galleria just minutes away, Courtside has a quiet feel without being far away. Common area behind homes is often expansive (uncommon inBrentwood) with many old-growth trees and the cul-de-sac properties have very little traffic. For more information on Courtside at Southern Woods, feel free to contact me at Juliemcleland@kw.com.

To search for Brentwood Real Estate or Brentwood Homes For Sale, click on the button.

Open House 2712 Brenda St Thompsons Station

Larry Brewer (Benchmark Realty LLc) — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:36:55 -0400

Open house Sunday 8/23 for this beautiful home at 2712 Brenda st in Thompsons station. Come visit and sit by the pool, enjoy the private acre lot, or the screened porch. This home has one of the most private lots in Williamson county. Yes the kitchen could use a little updating, and the carpet is at the end of it's life, but we can talk about it.

For a private showing of this wonderful home and property, give me a call, or visit my website at www.tennhouses.com

Why a Strategic Short Sale May Make Sense.

Larry Brewer (Benchmark Realty LLc) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:19:16 -0400

Once again Broker Bryant is writing about a situation that could hit anybody. If you get caught in this situation in the Nashville area, give me a call and we will work our way through it.

Via Bryant Tutas-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc:

Hi folks. Let's talk about this Strategic Short Sale thing a little. I know there are many people that just can't understand why anybody would do a Short Sale if they can afford their mortgage payment and they do not have a hardship. In fact, there are those that would call this immoral. Well OK then.

My job is not to judge. My job is to inform people so they can make a decision based on facts, their needs and what's best for them. And as much as it sucks a Strategic Short Sale MAY be the best option. Just because someone can afford their mortgage payment does not mean continuing to make it is the best way to go.

This post will give you some hard cold financial data. Do with it what you may.

First, you have to remember that in my area property values are down 75% and in some communities as much as 85%!!!! Folks that purchased from 2003-2007 with 20% down are still way up side down. Just to put our decline into perspective.....the average house in Poinciana, in the year 2000, sold for $81,000 and $56 per sq ft. Today, 2010, they are selling for $72,500 and $41 per sq ft. Unfortunately our MLS data only goes back 10 years so I can't see how far back values have gone. But we do know houses are worth less today than they were 10 years ago!!

If you purchased a house in Poinciana Florida in 2006 at $220,500 (average 2006 selling price) and put 20% down ($44,100) today, that house is worth $72,750! Your PITI (principle, interest, taxes, insurance) payment, if you have an interest rate of 6.75%, would be roughly $1,450 per month. You would still owe $168,000. This is 232% of what the house is now worth (LTV). So just to be EVEN on your mortgage, values would have to increase by 132%!! Of course this doesn't include the $44,100 you put down.

So.....should you continue paying? Only you know the answer to that question. Just remember that until values increase by 132% you will STILL be upside down on your mortgage.

If you did decide to do a Strategic Short Sale today and rent a similar house you would save approximately $700 per month. If you invested $400 of that savings at 5% you would have almost $28,000 at the end of 5 years. If you kept your mortgage instead you would still owe $150,500. What would your house be worth in 5 years? I have no clue. But I can only guess that it would not have appreciated 100%. That means if you needed to sale in 5 years you would SILL have to do a Short Sale. Do you take the hit now or take it later?

The numbers are staggering. What say you?

Are you facing foreclosure in Florida?

Do NOT be foreclosed on! Avoid foreclosure. Short Sales DO close.

Want to find out more? www.CentralFloridaShortSales.com

***I am NOT an Attorney nor do I play one on TV. Click the button below for my Bio.

Copyright © 2010 http://www.brokerbryant.com/ | All Rights Reserved

Williamson County TN Home Sales for July

Larry Brewer (Benchmark Realty LLc) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:45:23 -0400

Williamson County Tn Home Sales For July 2010 are as follows -

268 Williamson county homes sold in the month of July
278 Homes in Williamson county tn are currently Pending
The average sales price of homes sold in Williamson county was $435,122
The average days on market was 102
The average size of Williamson county homes sold was 3341 square feet
The current absorbtion rate of Williamson county homes is 8.6 months at the current sales rate.

click here to search for Williamson county TN homes

Nashville Luxury Home Sales for July

Larry Brewer (Benchmark Realty LLc) — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 10:14:55 -0400

Nashville luxury Homes

Sales for July were still a little slower than most of us realtors would like. homes are moving, but the very best deals are the first to get sold. If you are planning to sell you Nashville Luxury home in the near future, make you price it right, and be prepared for tough negotiations. Here are the stats for Nashville Luxury homes for the month of July

25 luxury homes sold in the Nashville area for the month of July
The average sales price of Nashville luxury homes was $1,149,650
The average asking price of Nashville luxury homes sold in July was $1,304,836
average days on market for homes sold in the catagory was listed at 141 days, but was probably a lot more
15 luxury Nashville homes are currently pending
636 Luxury Nashville homes are currently available for purchase

To Search for Nashville Luxury Homes, click on the Button

Do I Need a Hardship to do a Short Sale?

Larry Brewer (Benchmark Realty LLc) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:32:24 -0400

Broker Bryant esplains short sales in an easy to understand post.

Via Bryant Tutas-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc:

Well that's a good question. What do you think? Most folks would probably answer this question with a resounding YES! But...what if I told you the answer is "No....you don't necessarily need a hardship to qualify for a Short Sale. You may be able to do a Strategic Short Sale"? Heck, big buisness and lenders do then all the time.

One reason lenders/investors still approve the Strategic Short Sale is that the hardship in no way changes the financial outcome of the Short Sale for the lender. The numbers are still the same. In fact, the numbers may even be better for the lender on a Strategic Short Sale because the Seller is in a financial position to contribute. So why wouldn't they approve it?

Now while you may not have to have a hardship to do a Short Sale you may very well be required to be delinquent on your payments. This is mostly due to government intrusion into the process. For example HAFA (Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternative) requires the mortgage to be: "delinquent or default is reasonably forseeable."

Also, if you have an FHA loan: "At the time the PFS (pre-foreclosure sale) closes the loan must be in default (i.e. delinquent more than 30 days)." FHA DOES require a hardship.

If you are way upside down on your mortgage and see no light at the end of the tunnel then you have to ask yourself some hard questions. The reality is that most of us will have to move for some reason over the next 5-7 years. So ask yourself:

If I'm upside down on my mortgage today will I still be upside down in 5 years if I have to move then?

Would my family be better off if I took the financial hit today instead of waiting?

If I did a Strategic Short Sale today would I be able to rent a property for my family and save a substantial amount of money each month?

How will going through a Strategic Short Sale affect my credit and will my interest rates on my credit cards go up drastically?

How will a Strategic Short Sale affect my job (security clearance)?

Ask yourself hard questions. Seek legal advice from an experienced Attorney. Talk to your CPA. Have a family meeting.

Then if you decide that a Strategic Short Sale is the option for you, remember, there are no guarantees it will work. You may be asked to contribute to the "Short". What I tell potential Sellers when they ask the question is... "If you have no hardship and you have assets or sufficient income the bank may very well want some of it. You may have to bring a cash contribution to closing and they may also want you to sign a promissory note. But you may very well have your Strategic Short Sale approved."

These are difficult times and they require making difficult decisions. Let me know if I can help.

Are you facing foreclosure in Florida?

Do NOT be foreclosed on! Avoid foreclosure. Short Sales DO close.

Want to find out more? www.CentralFloridaShortSales.com

***I am NOT an Attorney nor do I play one on TV. Click the button below for my Bio.

Copyright © 2010 http://www.brokerbryant.com/ | All Rights Reserved

Westhaven Home Sales for July

Larry Brewer (Benchmark Realty LLc) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:50:49 -0400

Via Brewer group Franklin Tn Homes (Benchmark Realty):

Westhaven Home Sales for July are as follows -

14 Westhaven Homes closed in July 2010

11 Westhaven Homes are currently pending

89 homes in Westhaven are currently listed in the MLS and available

The average sales priced of Westhaven Homes sold in July was $535,171

The average size of homes sold was 3222 square ft

Average days on market for homes in Westhaven is 126
a href="http://tennhouses.com/wp-content/uploads/Westhaven-Home-Sales-for-July.jpg">
The Brewer Group

Benchmark Realty

Nashville Real Estate Sales For June

Larry Brewer (Benchmark Realty LLc) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:17:07 -0400

Sales of Nashville homes decreased 21 percent in July for the first time this year. It was totally expected due to the first time home buyer tax credit and move up tax credits expiring in June.

For the year, Nashville home sales are up 11.5 percent, and should now go back to a more balanced market.

Nashville home prices continued to rise with the median price of homes up 5.7 percent over last year at $181,000 compared to $171,100.

To search for Nashville Homes for sale, click on the link. Nashville Homes.

Nashville Homes.

Franklin TN Home Sales for July

Larry Brewer (Benchmark Realty LLc) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 10:10:44 -0400

Franklin has been ranked by many national publications as one of the best small towns in the country.

Via Brewer Group Julie McLeland (Benchmark Realty):

Franklin Tn Home Sales for July are as Follows

121 Franklin homes sold for the month of July

The average price of homes sold in Franklin for the month was $431,005

The average days on market for homes sold in Franklin was 105

The average size of homes sold in Franklin Tn was 3287 square ft

131 Franklin Tn homes are currently pending

1046 Homes are currently for sale in the Franklin Tn MLS

Franklin Tn is located in Williamson county just 20 miles south of Nashville. Known for great schools, low taxes, and an easy commute to downtown Nashville, Brentwood, and Cool Springs. Franklin is a very popular community. To search for homes in Franklin Tn, click on the link FRANKLIN REAL ESTATE
Julie McLeland - The Brewer Group

Benchmark Realty

www.juliemcleland.com

Franklin Tn home Sales for June

Larry Brewer (Benchmark Realty LLc) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:04:12 -0400

Franklin TN Home Sales for June are as follows

151 Franklin TN homes sold in June
The average price of Franklin Homes sold was $395,498
The average days on market was 82
The most expensive home sold in Franklin was $2,000,000
155 Franklin TN homes are currently Pending
1020 Franklin Tn homes are available for purchase

To search for Franklin Tn Homes, or Franklin real estate, click on the links, or visit my website