Here are a few examples of why, dollar for dollar, homeownership is a solid stepping stone to a future of financial security and the single largest creator of wealth for many Americans.

Over the long-term real estate has consistently appreciated, even through periodic adjustments in local markets in response to economic conditions. On a national level, home appreciation has historically increased 5-6 percent annually, report economists at the National Association of Home Builders.

Five percent may not meem much at first, but here’s an example that will put it in perspective: Say you put 10 percent down on a $200,000 house, for an investment of $20,000. At a 5 percent annual appreciation rate, that $200,000 home would increase in value $10,000 on an investment of $20,000 is an extraordinary 50 percent annual return. In contrast, putting that $20,000 down payment into the stock market and getting a 5 percent gain would only yield a $1,000 profit.

The soure of the above information is from the NAHB website.

‘Tis the season! I know everyone has already finished their holiday shopping and has everything organized for the joyous non-hectic days to follow.  Of course you do! Well, I have something for you to think about while you are frantically rushing around the kitchen, bumping into things, digging through drawers (wishing you had more), and rummaging through every cabinet looking for the perfect serving dish. Think about how a spacious more strategically engineered new kitchen would be – storage space galore and easy to navigate throughout.  

Now, how about the Christmas tree? How many times did you or your kids bump into it and knock off a few of your favorite ornaments? Has it crowded your living room so much that it’s more of a bother than a beauty? Of course not, but wouldn’t a larger family room be nice? Perhaps one with vaulted ceilings.

Another thought: how many people have you invited over for a nice family dinner? Do you have enough space to seat them all? Would you like a formal dining room or do you really need one? The kids could eat in your casual dining area and grown-ups in a more formal setting in the dining room if you have a lot of guests.

 What about toys? Are they everywhere? Will your kids be getting more for the Holidays? Wouldn’t it be nice for them to spend the day upstairs in a spacious bonus room discovering all the new designs to create with building blocks and so forth while you take a moment to yourself and sneak away to your extra large master bedroom. Our walk-in closets are large enough to hide in if it really gets too tough to handle. (Seriously, I have done this.) 

Take some time to think about the home you currently live in and then think about the home that you want and NEED to live in.  Give yourself and your family the perfect present. Rates are low and prices are right. Take advantage of this. At least stop by and visit our decorated models and see what you could potentially gain by purchasing a new home – one that lives the way you want it to.  And FYI…visit any of our Jones Communities by Dec 19^th and register to win an Apple iPAD. A drawing will occur on the 20^th in each community! Your chance to win is phenomenal. Click here for more details.

-If you are planning to toss away unused toys and  warm clothing that doesn’t fit anymore or you just do not need, please consider donating it to Goodwill, a needy family, or any other charitable organization. Try to do it BEFORE the 25th. A little goes a long way.

Enter to Win an Apple iPad at any JONES Community just in time for Christmas!

 Click here for more details!  

Yolanda Johnson and Family

SPRING HILL — Tina Gilbert and her family celebrated their first holiday in their new home, a home built by an all-woman team of Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County volunteers.

The home, at 630 Alex Drive in Spring Hill, was dedicated Sunday.

The first Women Build project included more than 60 local women who took part in raising the $60,000 that paid for the “bricks and sticks” and the subsequent labor effort to build the home.

“I am so looking forward to having a place to invite friends and family over to enjoy special holidays,” Gilbert said with emotion in her voice. “I haven’t had that opportunity before and this is a true blessing to see so many women helping me to realize this dream.”

There were two other dedications Sunday as well. A home at 656 Alex Drive in Spring Hill was sponsored and built by Harpeth Hill Church of Christ and Spring Meadows Church of Christ. Also, a home rehabbed with internal Habitat funding was dedicated at 610 McElmore Ave. in Spring Hill.

Groups partner to build another house

Two days earlier, another home on Alex Drive was dedicated and ready for new resident Yolanda Johnson to move in.

For the fifth time in five years, The Jones Co. and Crye-Leike Realtors partnered to build a Habitat for Humanity home.

Employees and volunteers from the two companies recently completed the home at 654 Alex Drive in Spring Hill.

The new homeowner has three sons and has lived in Williamson County most of her life. Johnson works in the health-care industry as an insurance analyzer and has earned her certification as a nurse assistant. After settling into her new Habitat home just inside Maury County, she plans to complete her bachelor’s degree in nursing. Quin, 8, and Kani’, 4, attend New Hope Academy, and 2-year-old Gavin attends Pembroke Preparatory Preschool.

This home is a result of a longtime partnership between the two companies representing a $70,000 commitment, with more than 100 volunteers.

“We are very grateful for all of the people involved with this build and how they have devoted their time and energy to make this possible for my family,” Johnson said.

Habitat built 105 homes

Since 1992, Williamson County Habitat for Humanity has partnered with 105 lower-income families to provide them with the opportunity to purchase their own home.

Home construction and neighborhood development is funded through tax-deductible financial contributions and in-kind donations from local businesses, churches, civic organizations and individuals.

For more information, on the program, see www.habitatwilliamson.org.

Source: http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=201011260312

As promised, I am giving you some more examples of the possible objections/roadblocks you might be facing right now to buying a new home, and then showing you how we have a corresponding program to help with that problem! 

PROBLEM:  Say you REALLY want to BUILD your home – so you think that to do that, you’ll need to wait for a long time while it’s being built. And, with the all the negative press out there, you think…I’ll just wait until things settle down to build because I am not in any hurry anyway…right?  WRONG!  There are so many reasons NOT TO WAIT…including the fact that interest rates are actually beginning to show an uptick. Plus it seems that many markets are showing signs of improvement (including Nashville) which means that if you are waiting for the bottom…it may have been and gone!   

SOLUTION:  The Jones Company’s FAST START TM PROGRAM – If you want to build, but want to move in quickly to take advantage of the tax credit – Give us your deposits, selections, and your signed start order, and we’ll start your home within 30 days, and we’ll guarantee your move in within 120 days! (Just ask us!)

PROBLEM/OBJECTION:  I would really like to have a GREEN, or simply a MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT home to save on my energy bills…but I cannot afford that!  I read somewhere that it can add up to 10% to the cost of the home…?

SOLUTION:  While GREEN Certification and ENERGY STAR Rated features can be costly when you price other builders…JONES builds EVERY HOME with these certifications – meaning that you could see a substantial savings on your energy bills – and you don’t have to pay ONE CENT MORE FOR IT because it comes STANDARD on every Jones home!

Quote heard from a Realtor just the other day:  “With all the great programs Jones offers – if we can’t sell a JONES home – we just can’t sell!” Wow…what a testimonial!

Learn more about how happy our homeowners are…see our channel on YouTube – www.youtube.com/livejonesdotcom and go to “Favorites”…you’ll find our homeowners’ OWN VIDEOS about their Jones home and the great experience of building with us!

OK, so I promised to provide you with more objections and SOLUTIONS to those objections today!  I wasn’t kidding when I said that we really have thought of just about every possible objection one could make if they are in the situation to WANT a home – but don’t think now is the right time (for whatever reason)…

Objection:  I am afraid I won’t be able to sell my current home.

SOLUTION:  The Jones Company’s Secured SaleTM Program.  Jones will help you pay taxes, interest, and insurance on your old home, until it sells – for up to 6 months…for a max of $5,000! (ask for details)

Objection:  I need to rent somewhere while my home is being built – but I can’t afford to pay for rent and a mortgage!

SOLUTION:  The Jones Company’s Secured Sale TRANSITION(tm) Program.  Jones will ease the transition from leasing to closing on your Jones home, by paying your remaining lease – up to $5,000! (ask for details!)

Objection:  When it comes to financing – I don’t even know where to start!  And – I don’t know how I will pay closing costs!

SOLUTION:  JONES’ Preferred Lender & Closing Cost Assistance Programs – Our Preferred Lender makes the financing of your new home easy and in many situations – we will assist with your closing costs! (ask for details)

More objections & SOLUTIONS…tomorrow!  Stay tuned. 

By now, in this market…we’ve heard just about every objection you can imagine…just as most homebuilders, I am certain.  However, we’ve tried to take away every road block, every concern, every objection that could possibly stand in the way of our potential clients and their new Jones home!  We’ve packaged all these great programs into one big one – and called it the “BUY NOW with CONFIDENCE” PlanTM. 

Some of the objections we’ve encountered: 

OBJECTION: My current home needs work before I try to sell it, but I don’t know how to get that done, or how I will ever afford it!

ANSWER:  We’ve developed a program called “Set the Stage” where we will arrange for you to have a Professional Stager and Home Repair Specialist come to your current home, and advise you on ways to get your home sold. We’ve even arranged our repair techs to give you OUR COST pricing!

OBJECTION: I am afraid that the value of the home I buy will decline right after I sign the dotted line!

ANSWER:  The Jones Company’s PURCHASE PRICE GUARANTEE PROGRAM - We’ll actually guarantee, that if after 5 years of home ownership, your home has declined in value from its original sales price – we’ll pay you the difference – up to 10% of your home’s value! WOW.

MORE OBJECTIONS & ANSWERS TOMORROW…Stay Tuned!

• Don’t throw away the holiday leftovers.  Put them in plastic containers or bags and send them home with guests, or donate to food banks.
• When going shopping, be sure to take your own shopping bags.  You can also Consolidate your purchases into one bag rather than getting a new bag at each store.
• Rather than piling up “stuff” under the tree, think about what friends and family really want or need. Try giving gift certificates if you don’t know what someone wants, or simply make a donation in his or her name to a favorite charity.
• Donate unwanted gifts, along with last year’s gifts that the kids have outgrown, to charity.
• Get the kids to make their own tree ornaments out of things you already have around the house, or from materials they might find in the backyard.
• Send e-greetings to family, friends and business associates who are on-line.
• When buying gifts you will send by mail, pick items that are easy to ship and won’t require excess packaging. 
• Reuse packing cartons and shipping materials such as peanuts, wood shavings, shredded newspaper and bubble wrap.
• Wrap gifts in old maps, newspapers, Sunday comics or fancy holiday gift bags. Kids’ art work can also be a great wrapping for presents.
• Get a tree that can be planted or mulched afterward, or buy an artificial one.
• Compost your food waste. Fruits and vegetables and their peels, pits and seeds are all perfect for composting – a great natural fertilizer.

Source: Tips for Living Green / www.use-less-stuff.com

Tour two gorgeous homes no more than 5-10 minutes away from each other located in Franklin/Cool Springs. Which one suits your lifestyle?

The Hanover, located in Broadgate within the master planned community of McKay’s Mill. 4 beds, 2.5 baths and approximately 3201 sq ft. – Master Up (1242 Broadgate Drive, Lot 1508)

The Georgetown V, located in The Villages of Clovercroft. 4 beds, 2.5 baths and approximately 3081 sq ft.  – Master Down (204 Verde Meadow Dr, Lot 57)

Visit these homes this weekend! Get a feel for how they live. How will you live in them? What works for you? Do you want a smaller community or would you prefer a larger master planned community with conveniences like Publix and Walgreens within your neighborhood?

Be sure to tell Jessica at The Villages of Clovercroft and Randall at Broadgate that Jennifer says hello!

Directions to The Villages of Clovercroft: From Nashville, Take I-65 South to Exit 65 (Hwy. 96) and take a left at the light, going east on Hwy. 96. At the 2nd light, take another LEFT onto Clovercroft Road. Follow Clovercroft until you come to The Villages of Clovercroft – which will be up ahead on your right. From this location, you are just one exit away from Cool Springs!

Directions to Broadgate in McKay’s Mill: From Nashville, I-65 S to Cool Springs Blvd. (Exit 68B) Left on Mallory Lane. Left on Liberty Pike. McKay’s Mill is approx. 1.5 mi. ahead. Continue following Liberty Pike all the way to Broadgate Drive, turn left. The model home/sales office will be directly on the right

Google directions: From VOC to Broadgate: Right (East) on Clovercroft, Left on Market St, At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit onto Habersham Way, Left at Waverly, Continue on to Broadgate Drive.

Models open Monday – Saturday 10-5, Sunday Noon – 5