Carole Fields

Franklin, TN-- In Top 10 Cities for Startups

Well, Franklin, TN did it again.  We are ranked by Bloomberg Businessweek magazine as one of the top 10 cities of any size to start a business. We are the only city in the top ten located in Tennessee and not in the Eastern or Western part of the U.S.

Education was one of the key factors important in this selection process.  Franklin, TN  statistics indicate that "52.6 percent of residents 25 or older have bachelor's degrees."

Franklin, TN has been recognized with other recent awards. Franklin, TN was ranked as the fifth best small town by readers of "Southern Living" magazine last year, and the American Planning Association named Downtown Franklin as one of the 10 "great neighborhoods" in their Great  Places in American Program. "

Franklin, TN is a great place to live.  We have history, tourism, and start- up business opportunities. Please read this article in The Tennessean has more information on this latest development.

10 Home Buying Mistakes

Buying a home can be one of the most important decisions anyone makes. From trying to do too much on their own to getting tangled in messy financing issues, consumers can make mistakes when buying a home. For information on how to avoid these issues, please read this article  by Broderick Perkins, April 8, 2010, Realty Times)

March 2010 Home Sales for Williamson County, TN

The Williamson County Association of Realtors has released the data for home sales for March 2010.  This information is obtained from RealTracs, the Multiple Listing Service for Middle Tennessee.

  Closings   Median Price Average Price   DOM

Residential    219    $345,000     $396,357     99

Condos   16    $215,200     $242,775    128

“The March 2010 sales figures offer encouraging news for both the housing market and the local economy.  In addition to benefiting potential buyers and sellers, increased home sales produce a tremendous ripple effect throughout the economy, impacting a variety of businesses ranging from local hardware stores to national retailers.  This positive momentum will hold as the number of pending sales continues to increase, carrying us forward into the busy summer months” said Karen Baker, 2010 WCAR President.

Williamson County, TN: One of the Wealthiest Counties in the U.S.

With a majority on the East coast, Loudoun County, Virginia tops the list of the twenty-five wealthiest counties based on income averages from Forbes. Our own, Williamson County, TN made the list, also. We know what a great place this is to live, and Keith and Nicole, Alan Jackson, the Judds, other entertainers, sports figures, and business leaders agree. For additional information view this slideshow. (Francesca Levy, March 4, 2010, Forbes.com)

Spring Forward!

Remember to set your clocks ahead one hour when going to bed tonight.  It is time to "Spring Forward."

Happy day and Spring is just around the corner.

February 2010 Sales in Williamson County, TN

The Williamson County Association of Realtors released the February sales data complied from RealTracs, the Multiple Listing Service used in Middle Tennessee.

    Closings    Median Price    Average Price DOM

Residential   151     $340,000   $391,836     94

Condos 11     $189,500   $201,045    150

After reviewing this data, Karen Baker, 2010 President of the Williamson County Association of Realtors, made the following comments: "The local real estate market continues to show signs of steady, incremental improvement.  This is the fifth consecutive month to post an increase in the number of transactions over the previous year.  Our inventory continues to fall and the current number of pending sales exceeds the total number of closings for March 2009.  With interest rates remaining low, we anticipate first quarter sales to [position us for better year in 2010."  

Home Improvements: Which Ones Are DIY?

Home improvements can enhance the value of your home, and bring great enjoyment to your family if they are properly installed and executed. Some improvements are best left to the professional.  Anything involving electricity and gas lines can be problematic and potentially dangerous. Heavy, complicated tools and  installations involving significant heights can have issues, also. While most of us are interested in saving money, some projects are just too complicated and dangerous to be cost effective if we try to do them ourselves.  For additional insight into these issues, please click here .

Home Improvements That Are Cost Effective

Spring is just around the corner and some homeowners get the urge to improve their habitat. With the questionable economy, it is more important than ever to make wise decisions when considering home improvement. From programmable thermostats to smart switches and appliances, there are a variety of simple updates a homeowner can make to save money in the long run. Check out this slideshow of 13 maintenance updates for homeowners and see if they meet your criteria for cost effective improvements.(Christopher Solomon, MSN Real Estate)

Kitchens Are Tops for Buyers

KITCHEN TOPS BUYER LIST FOR 2010 Large kitchens top the list for buyers this year, according to the recent International Home Builders Show. Home offices, energy-efficient appliances and outdoor living spaces also made the list. View all ten preferences and determine if these are important products and improvements for your home.(Steve Kerch, February 5, 2010, Market Watch)

Williamson County, TN Closings for January 2010

The Williamson County Association of Realtors announced the sales data for January 2010.  This data is complied from RealTracs, the Multiple Listing Service for Middle Tennessee.

  Closing    Median Price    Average Price   DOM

Residential     110    $312,450   $361,678 104

Condos    13    $186,500   $165,546   83

Karen Baker, 2010 President of the Williamson County Association of Realtors, reviewed the sales data and made the following comments:  "We are encouraged that the market is slowly gaining ground.  This is the third month in a row that we have seen an increase in the number of transactions over the previous year.  Much of our current activity has been driven by first time home buyers who are purchasing less expensive homes than the typical move up or transferee buyer.  I don't expect to see and increase in the median price until at least the middle of the second quarter after the tax incentives expire.  Historical trends show that as sales increase, the median sales price goes up as well."