Home construction activity in Nashville continues to build momentum, according to a new report by research firm Metrostudy. 

“Builders continue to successfully sell their existing inventory and new starts. Even model homes are being sold as inventory tightens,” Jason Brown, director of Metrostudy’s Nashville region, said in the report.
 
During the 12-month period that ended in March, Nashville saw 4,763 new home starts, a 34 percent increase over the previous year. In that same period there 4,322 new homes sold, a 20 percent jump from a year ago.
 
The number of new lots delivered during the period was up 47 percent compared to a year ago. However, Brown said, “We are already seeing shortages in certain submarkets.”
 
With demand for new homes outpacing supply, Nashville’s stock of new single-family homes has dipped to a healthy two-month supply level, down from a high of 3.8 months three years ago, according to Metrostudy.
 
“These factors combined with continued steady employment growth, the area’s lack of new home inventory, for sale listings still showing a tight supply and home values remaining stable, Nashville should expect to see continued upward movement in the new home market through the remainder of 2013,” Brown said.

Source: http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/2013/05/nashville-home-construction-activity.html

Need to move soon? The Jones Company of TN has homes under construction and Ready Now! Click here for a preview.

 Please join us for the Groundbreaking ceremonies for

LCpl Ben Maenza and SPC Andrew Wilson!

Join us as Homes for Our Troops pairs with the Nashville area community to break ground for these homes. This is a chance to learn how you, your family and friends can support this project throughout construction! 

LCpl Ben Maenza on Saturday,

April 13 at 10:00 am

5530 Kelly Road, Brentwood, TN 37207

www.homesforourtroops.org/Maenza

SPC Andrew Wilson on Sunday,

April 14 at 10:00 am

7008 Nolen Park Circle, Nolensville, TN 37135

www.homesforourtroops.org/Wilson

Prospective home buyers have the choice of two types of houses on the market: resale or new.

Home buyers planning to buy a brand-new house or condominium often cite energy-efficiency, open layout, a warranty, and being able to select appliances, flooring, paint colors and other design elements as factors driving their choice.

But builders say that buyers can be drawn to a new house for reasons that aren’t so obvious.  Below are a few more benefits of a brand-new home that you may not see in the sales brochure. 

Building a Community Together

A brand-new community is one of the built-in benefits of many new homes. When families move in to a subdivision at the same time, often lasting bonds of friendship and neighborliness are formed right away. Nobody is the “new kid on the block,” and many home builders host community block parties in new developments to help owners meet and connect.

Popular amenities like pools, walking trails and courts for tennis and basketball offer additional opportunities for interaction among neighbors of all ages. Often new communities are comprised of home owners in the same stage of life, such as young families or active retirees, so neighbors can get to know each other through carpools, PTA meetings, tennis matches or golf games.

Entertaining

Throwing a party in an older home can be a challenge because smaller, distinct rooms make it difficult to entertain guests in one large space.  Builders are responding to today’s home buyer preferences with layouts featuring more open spaces and rooms that flow into each other more easily, like the popular great room. While you are in the kitchen preparing dinner, you can still interact with guests enjoying conversation in the family room without feeling closed off. The feeling of spaciousness in today’s new-home layouts often is enhanced the higher ceilings and additional windows that bringing in more light than you would find in an older home.

A Clean Slate
For some buyers, parking the car in a sparkling-clean garage or being the first to cook a dinner in a brand-new kitchen is part of the appeal of new construction. In addition, you won’t have to spend time stripping dated wallpaper or repainting to suit your own sense of style. You can create your own home décor from the get-go!

The advantages of being the first owner of a home extend to the outdoors. Instead of inheriting inconveniently or precariously placed trees, or having to tear up overgrown shrubs, you can design and plant the lawn and garden you want.

Outlets, Outlets Everywhere

Homes built in the 1960’s and earlier were wired much differently than houses today. Builders had no way of anticipating the invention of high-definition televisions, DVRs and computers that we enjoy today — and the very different electrical requirements they would introduce. New homes can accommodate advanced technologies like structured wiring, security systems and sophisticated lighting plans, and can be tailored to meet the individual home owner’s needs.

Anyone who has ever lived in an older home can also attest to the fact that there are never enough outlets, inside or out! New-home builders plan for the increased number and type of electronics and appliances used by today’s families, so you can safely operate a wine cooler, Christmas lights or your computer.

Source: http://www.nahb.org/generic.aspx?genericContentID=177637

Kelsey Glen: Community offers ‘the best of both worlds’

When JoAnne and Bill Patterson moved to Wilson County from Charlotte, N.C., they wanted a house in the country. But they wanted a house in the city, too.

They found what they were looking for in Kelsey Glen, a growing master planned community in north Mt. Juliet off Old Lebanon Dirt Road.

“We couldn’t get Kelsey Glen out of our minds. We have the best of both worlds,” said JoAnne. “There’s a real country atmosphere. Looking out back, there’s lots of open land, deer, wild turkeys. But we’re close to Providence and all the conveniences. Nashville is just 15 minutes away.”

They will soon be meeting new neighbors. The Jones Co., Kelsey Glen’s founder, is actively building new homes in the master planned community to meet growing demand. The community is adding additional amenities this year, including a pool and cabana and a new portion of a walking trail, said Perry Pratt, Jones Co. vice president.

“Kelsey Glen’s appeal is that it is a master planned community in more of a rural setting that is not immediately surrounded by commercial activity and the traffic,” he said.
The company also builds homes in Providence, a master planned community adjacent to popular shopping, entertainment and dining destinations in south Mt. Juliet.

Master planned communities are increasingly in demand, said Pratt. They often provide amenities like pools that residents otherwise might have to join a private club to enjoy. Then there’s the convenience factor.

“Kids can ride their bikes to the pool. You don’t have a long drive,” he said.
Homes in master planned communities are a good investment, said Pratt, since houses meet the community’s standards and architectural styles are coordinated. In communities like Kelsey Glen, a variety of floor plans allow residents to move to a larger home or downsize without leaving the community.

“As families grow, we have a lot of move-up buyers,” said Pratt. “They like the community. They like the schools. They can move up without moving away.”

Many home buyers like the certainty of buying a home in a planned community, he said.
“It’s planned. You know what you’re going to get,” Pratt said.

In Kelsey Glen, that means a house in the $180,000s to the $300,000s. Homes share features such as open floor plans, hardwoods and drop zones, a designated spot where busy families can recharge their cellphones and electronic devices and set down the car keys.

“It’s all in one organized area,” Pratt said.

The Pattersons’ 2,500-square-foot house has plenty of room for their extended family and features four bedrooms and three baths. A game room and three bedrooms are upstairs. The master is down. The kitchen has granite countertops and stainless appliances, “everything people want,” said JoAnne.

A major appeal of Kelsey Glen’s homes is their energy efficiency. Lights in pantries and utility areas automatically turn on and off when someone walks in and out. Compact fluorescent lights replace many ordinary light bulbs. Thermostats are programmable, allowing precise control of indoor temperatures.

Other energy-saving features are out of sight. Upgraded insulation keeps homes comfortable. The heating and cooling air ducts in each home are pressure tested by an independent third party for energy-wasting — and money wasting — leaks. The result is lower monthly energy bills. “It’s dramatic,” Pratt said.

The Pattersons like knowing that physicians’ offices and Summit Medical Center are only minutes away on Interstate 40. For residents who travel on business, the close proximity to Nashville International Airport is a major attraction, Pratt said. “Sometimes people select Wilson over Williamson County because the airport is nearby,” he said. “It’s a 15-minute drive versus 30 or 40 minutes. Wilson County’s appeal is that is has the advantages of a small community and the advantages of a metro area.”

JoAnne is looking forward to spending time at the pool with her grandchild and enjoying nature on the new walking trail, activities that she could not pursue if she didn’t live in a master planned community.

“You’re buying a lifestyle,” she said.

The Tennessean –  Bill Lewis

Summer is rapidly approaching, and the place to be is Lakeside Meadows! Live minutes away from all your favorite summer activities. Enjoy fun filled boating on Percy Priest Lake, hit the links at one of the many 18 hole championship courses nearby, or treat the family to a cool, pleasurable day at Nashville Shores Water Park! And when the long day is done, relax in your new comfortable dream home in Lakeside Meadows.

The Harrison located at 2705 Alvin Sperry Pass has 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, a soaring 2 story Great Room, Formal Dining, and a Large Rec Room. The view from the Great Room is spectacular! A wall full of Low-E energy efficient windows allows for an outward look of surrounding mature trees. The master bedroom is conveniently located on the main floor with 3 extra large bedrooms upstairs – each with walk-in closets. Your kitchen is complete with a center island, breakfast nook, stainless steel appliances, and granite countertops. Click here to view interior photos of your new home.

Call or email Jennifer for more details or to schedule a visit – Jennifer@LiveJones.com / 615-405-6425 (direct line)

Randall Fly is our Sales Manager for Lakeside Meadows, and he will be happy to give you a tour. Randall may be reached at 615-889-3062.

Randall works from our Bridgewater model home located just down the road. Stop by for a visit: From downtown Nashville, take I-40 East to Old Hickory Blvd, exit 221B (Hermitage). Turn right. Left onto Bell Rd (at the first stoplight). Right onto New Hope Rd. At the four-way stop take a left onto John Hager Rd. The Bridgewater community will be on the left.

Source:  GNAR – Greater Nashville Association of Realtors

GREATER NASHVILLE HOME SALES INCREASE
18 PERCENT IN FEBRUARY

PENDING SALES SURPASS 2,000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 7, 2013) – There were 1,784 home closings reported for the month of February, according to figures provided by the Greater Nashville Association of REALTORS®.
 
This represents an increase of nearly 18 percent from the 1,515 closings reported in February 2012. Year-to-date closings through February are 3,418, an 18.2 percent increase from the 2,892 closings reported through February 2012.
 
“The home sales data for February indicates another increase in both home purchases and pending sales compared to last year,” said GNAR President Price Lechleiter. “And this month also marks the highest amount of closings in February since 2008.   This is the eighteenth consecutive month of increased year-over-year closings.
 
“The housing market recovery in this region is proving to be sustainable, particularly in light of the seasonal increases in home sales activity anticipated in the coming months. The current trends are certainly positive, but long-term planning is needed to keep our city and region vibrant and attractive in the future. With that in mind, GNAR is fully engaged in the NashvilleNext initiative and commends those who are leading that process.”

Click here to read full article.  

Spend any time in Nolensville and you will absolutely fall in love with the charm that embraces the spirit of small town with an affluencey and diversity that you will see nowhere else in our state. (written by a proud  resident of  The Reserve of Bent Creek.)

7168 Nolen Park Circle located in Nolen Park, Nolensville TN / Williamson County

Ready for Move In!

This Danbury features a stately all brick exterior with a 2 Car Side Entry Garage. Do you like open floor plans? Great! You will love the Danbury. 3 Large Bedrooms, 2 1/2 Baths, a Formal Dining Room complete with wainscoting and crown molding, a private study with french doors, large casual dining area, and a gourmet kitchen. The kitchen features Stainless Steel Appliances, Double Ovens, Gas Cooktop, Granite Countertops, and Upgrades Cabinets. The Master Bedroom has a beautiful trey ceiling, a luxury Master Bath, and a LARGE Closet. The two secondary bedrooms also have walk-in closets. 5′ Hardwood flooring in the family room, kitchen, dining, study, and hallway. Stacked Stone Fireplace in the Great Room.

Click here to view interior photos of this lovely home!

This is one of the last opportunities to live in Nolen Park.

If you would like to take a tour of this gorgeous home call

Cyndi McKinney at 615-668-3782

Build Your JONES Home Now and Get

The FREE DELUXE KITCHEN PACKAGE!
 
Stainless Appliances ~ Granite Countertops
Staggered Height Cabinets ~ Hardwood Floors
 
Click here to learn more!
 
Hurry! Offer ends February 28, 2013.

 

 
*Offer subject to change without notice. Offer varies depending on the particular Jones home community you are interested in. See Sales Manager in the community that you are interested in, for further details. Offer cannot be combined with other offers or exchanged for any cash value equivalent. Photo shown does not represent what is offered and may show other features which are optional and may have additional fees associated with them.

Sales of new, used properties expected to show further gains

By Jeffry Bartash, MarketWatch

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — Consumers are feeling pinched by higher taxes and business investment has been choppy, so it’s a good thing the housing sector continues to build up speed.

Construction on new properties rose in December at the fastest clip in four years and the sale of new homes in the last month of 2012 is likely to remain at a two-and-a-half-year high. What’s more, existing homes are selling at their strongest pace in three years.

Sales of existing home for December will be reported Tuesday by the National Association Realtors. Sales of new homes — the most important economic lodestar of the week — comes out Friday. They are the highlights of a holiday-shortened week.

Nick of time

The rebound in housing is a big deal. The manufacturing sector, which led the U.S. out of recession in 2009, cooled off considerably in the second half of the year. Businesses also became more skittish about hiring and investment. So some other sectors have to take up the slack. ….

Economists at Bank of America/Merrill Lynch estimate that spending on residential construction will increase to 17.5% in 20013 from about 12% in the prior year.

Super-low interest rates have been a spur for new home sales and construction. And as more homes are sold, prices rise and bring in other buyers who don’t want to wait until bids go beyond their reach.

What’s also helping is a decline in the sale of distressed homes, whose low prices have attracted buyers who might otherwise purchase a newly built property. Such sales fell to 22% in November from 29% one year earlier as the number of foreclosed homes dwindles.

“There couldn’t be a better time for housing to kick in,” said senior economist Ryan Sweet of Moody’s Analytics. “Overall 2013 is going to be a very good year.”

Read more: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/housing-rebound-gives-economy-more-pop-2013-01-20

From: Marketplace Economy -  Chris Farrell

Now that the fiscal cliff deal has been signed into law, the next round of fiscal fights is already taking shape in Washington. First up, the battle over the debt ceiling, followed by a fight over spending, capped by a budget fight.

But Marketplace Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell says there is one bright economic spot to look forward to: the housing market. Farrel shares his predictions on just what to expect in the coming year.

On the mood of the market:

“You are starting to see increases in prices and that’s feeding a sense that, ‘Hey, interest rates are really low, prices are going up, and I’m noticing that for-sale signs are coming down in my neighborhood, maybe now finally is the time to make a move.’ There seem to be fewer foreclosures in the market, so I think a big part of it is the psychology of the market has changed.

On the economic health of homeowners and buyers:

“The financial obligation debt ratio — this is the number where you take all of your debt payments and you compare it to your disposable income — peaked in 2007. Now, it’s back to the level where it was in the early 1980′s. We are going to be surprised by how many households are out there that actually have the ability to do some borrowing, and they are more credit-worthy. The household balance sheet has been repaired over the past five years.”

Read more… http://www.marketplace.org/topics/economy/housing-market-gradually-move-2013