It started out innocently enough. We were hungry. We had money. We were feeling bad. We pulled into a specialty drive-thru, told the magic speaker we’d like “two smalls, please” and two minutes later, we were out nearly $14.00. What just happened here? Did we really just pay $14.00 for ice cream? “When did ice cream get so expensive?” I asked my husband. “I don’t know,” he replied, “but this is our supper.”

These days most of us are trying to scrimp and save. We don’t order the lobster when the tilapia will do. We realize we still get a clean car for the basic $3 wash instead of the deluxe $10. We go longer between haircuts and trips to the grocery store until we look like Fabio trying to make a recipe out of spaghetti and oatmeal.

So we ask ourselves, is luxury a tangible commodity in 2010? Can we live our life in pleasure and comfort, in sumptuous surroundings and not feel the guilt that accompanies $14.00 ice cream?

Let me tell you about my 2-week old listing, 3844 Parade Drive. First, the location: Exit 1, the Tylertown subdivision, a 15-20 minute skip and hop to Ft. Campbell, very family-friendly and quiet. Second, the schools: Hazelwood Elementary, Northeast Middle School and Northeast High School who celebrate 30 years of academic excellence this year. And third, the features: well, how much time do you have?

This 10 year-young home is brick with real hardwood floors (herringbone wood accents in foyer), ceramic tile with decorative accents in both large baths and upgraded carpet so clean you’ll think you died and gone to carpet heaven. Need more? How about 2,200 square feet of living space, an attached 2-car garage with plenty of room to tinker, a grand fireplace with mirror in the open living room, 12’ ceiling in the formal dining room, a large bonus room over garage that could convert to a 4th bedroom and an eat-in kitchen with custom cabinets? Think I’m done? I’ve yet to mention a few extras – central vacuum system, zoned heat and air, security system, crown and decorative moulding throughout, his & her closets, soaking tub with waterfall spout, storage shed, deck born for entertaining and a privacy fence around the large lot with the soft and pretty kind of grass.

Alright, so maybe you’re convinced. My language of sales and mind-control have won you over. How much? Cuanto cuesta? C’est combine? (My keyboard doesn’t speak Chinese or Japanese or I’d include those too). The Sellers are fair people. We know you want a deal and so do we. Win-win or no deal; we speak the same language, see? We’ve priced this house to sell and ahead of the market. Homes in Tylertown range from the 160’s at the low end to the 250’s+ at the high end. Most boast similar square footage but not the same amount or scale of our upgrades. Need proof? 3844 Parade Drive was part of the Parade of Homes where each builder displayed 3 of their best homes. So when you’re ready for superior construction (I even forgot to mention the soundproofed bathrooms), check us out. The asking price for 3844 Parade Drive is $196,000 and we’ve been on the market for 15 days now. We’ll take tens and twenties but prefer a pre-approval lender from a reputable lender. Call me; we’ll have a chat and I promise I’ll show you a home sweeter than the 14-dollar ice cream.

Request More Information on 3844 Parade Dr, Clarksville Home

Schedule a Showing of 3844 Parade Dr, Clarksville Home

‘Til next time.

Sarah House

Realtor®, Short Sale & Foreclosure Resource (SFR)
Keller Williams Realty
2271 Wilma Rudolph Blvd.
Clarksville, TN 37040
Cell: 931-241-7286
Office: 931-648-8500
www.HousesOfClarksville.com
To view my active listings in Clarksville, see my Featured Homes.

Tangible Luxury: 3844 Parade Drive is a post from: Houses of Clarksville

It was that time again. Time to fulfill a 4-hour Continuing Education requirement in order to keep my Realtor® designation. The pro to this was that the class was being held at the Riverview Inn across from the Cumberland River on Riverside Drive here in Clarksville. The con was that it was, undeniably, a sacrifice to give up four morning work hours on a Wednesday.

So, bright and early, at 8am, I took in the scenic views of the Cumberland River, downed two cups of hot tea with six sugars, savored a coffee cake and settled in for the class entitled “Success Begins With a ‘C’”. It was then that I began thinking to myself, what does “C” stand for anyway? Could it be a word we all love – “cash”? Or maybe a word we all hate – “credit”? Or maybe it stood for something obscure like “crazy” or “candy.” Okay, that’s not it.

It’s actually, as it turns out, “courtesy.” Success begins with courtesy. Fortunately for me (and now you!), courtesy is a topic that is interesting to learn about both because it brings up humorous scenarios and because you can never have too much of it. So here are some things I was reminded of and learned during this class:

- As a Realtor, I am the consultant, educator and counselor for my clients.
- The length of time an agent as been in business DOES NOT EQUAL doing it right. Most often, a new Realtor has had access to the most recent information.
- I need to document EVERYTHING – conversations included – in order to protect my clients.
- During a transaction, I can and should send a timeline to all involved parties (buyers, sellers, other agents) to make sure we’re all on the same page.
- Through my actions, attitude and communications, we work together towards the same goals. Everyone works in the interest of closing.
- I should never make assumptions or speak for my clients. I am just the mechanism by which communications flows through.
- A “problem” is only an opportunity for some creative thinking.

So what is the end point? The grand finale? The “A-Ha!” moment? It’s pretty much that age old reminder, “The Golden Rule,” if you will. Treat everyone you meet, everyone you communicate with, anyone you have a relationship with, come into contact with, drive behind, or mosey a cart behind in Wal-Mart… Treat people with courtesy – respect and consideration – and you might just be in for more success.

‘Til next time.

Sarah House

Realtor®, Short Sale & Foreclosure Resource (SFR)
Keller Williams Realty
2271 Wilma Rudolph Blvd.
Clarksville, TN 37040
Cell: 931-241-7286
Office: 931-648-8500
www.HousesOfClarksville.com
To view my active listings in Clarksville, see my Featured Homes.

Success Begins With a “C” is a post from: Houses of Clarksville

This Month in Real Estate March 2010

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Commentary

As the market continues to show shoots of recovery, experts believe that the roots will continue to grow. In his annual letter to the shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett said, “Within a year or so, residential housing problems should largely be behind us.”

After a steep run-up in prices during the first half of the decade, home values have readjusted back to normalized levels. Fixed mortgage rates are sitting near record lows and the number of homes available for sale is providing home buyers with more options. Also encouraging are indications that the high end of the housing market could begin moving again as luxury financing becomes more readily available.

Despite high unemployment and looming foreclosures, experts maintain their expectations that the economy will grow in 2010, while the government carries on its search for solutions to help both troubled homeowners and the unemployed.

The Housing Market

Existing Home Sales

Existing home sales slowed in January. According to Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, this is mainly due to the lack of urgency with the extension and expansion of the first-time buyer tax credit in November. January sales of 5.05 million remain 12 percent above the 4.53 million-unit level last year.

Median Home Price

Existing-home price was $164,700 in January, 3.4 percent below December and unchanged from January 2009. Distressed homes, which accounted for 38 percent of sales last month, continue to skew prices downward as they typically are discounted in comparison with traditional homes.

Inventory

The supply of homes continued to shrink, falling 0.5 percent to 3.27 million, representing a 7.8-month supply at the current sales pace. Compared to a year ago, there are now 10 percent fewer homes on the market. This is the lowest level of competing homes on the market since March 2006.

Mortgage Rates

Mortgage rates edged above the 5 percent threshold during the week of February 25, but remained near historically low levels. As the Federal Reserve mortgage-backed securities purchase program is scheduled to run out at the end of March, the Fed has held the door open to extending it if the economy weakens.

Affordability

Affordability remains at record levels, supported by the lowest mortgage rates in decades, low home prices, as well as the first-time buyer tax credit. So far this year, the home price-to-income ratio has fallen well below the historical average of 25 percent. The ratio now stands at 14.1 percent.

Sources: National Association of Realtors, Freddie Mac

Government Action

Jumbo Mortgages Begin to Thaw

The cost of jumbo loans, often used to purchase luxury homes, shot up during the financial crisis because lenders steered clear of anything that could be considered somewhat risky. Plus jumbo loans are too large for the government to support through the Federal Housing Administration, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac.

The good news:  The jumbo loan markets are beginning to unfreeze and return to normal.

The difference between interest rates on conventional loans and jumbo loans has decreased from higher levels seen last year.

In some cases, the down payment requirements are easing as well, but they often still depend on the level of borrowing – the more the mortgage, the higher the down payment percentage. In New York, mortgage professionals report the following common down payments:

Borrowers will still need a good credit score, typically at least 700, evidence of high income, and a sizable bank account.

Sources: Los Angeles Times, Inman News

Topics For Buyers & Sellers

2009 Tax Tips

Tax time is coming up.  Don’t forget about the following benefits in 2009 for homeowners.  What’s deductable in itemized deductions for homeowners?

1. Mortgage Interest

2. Points - paid at closing if you purchased or possibly if you refinanced this year

3. Mortgage Insurance Premiums

4. Property Tax

5. Energy Efficiency Credits – see IRS Form 5695 for qualifying projects

6. Home Buyer Tax Credit – see IRS Form 5405 to claim your credit if you qualify

For a more detailed report with additional graphs and government action, please see the This Month in Real Estate PowerPoint Report.

* $729,750 is the upper limit in the most expensive areas. Limits vary depending on median home prices in local areas. ** Based on the week of February 25, 2010.  ***According to Bank of America’s Jeffrey Appel in Inman News.

This Month in Real Estate March 2010 is a post from: Houses of Clarksville

Located at the end of a residential road and off a residential area, the Clarksville Greenway is a wonderful addition to Clarksville! I love to go jogging here with my husband and also on a walk with my dogs. It’s also great for bike riding since it’s paved! My dogs love being in the middle of nature with running squirrels and bird noises all around them. The Greenway used to be a railroad and has been converted into paved trails… I believe the trails span more than 3 miles. The are places to sit and relax, picnic tables and also portable toilets. The foot bridges are nicely constructed. The only problem I forsee is that there is very limited parking and it’s difficult to maneuver or turn your vehicle around. If there are cars parked along the left side of the road, turn around right away and park ahead of those cars on the left and walk to the openings of the trails.

Clarksville Greenway is a post from: Houses of Clarksville

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Ask a Realtor Anything is a post from: Houses of Clarksville

1. Large kitchens, with an island. “If you’re going to spend design dollars, spend them where people want them—spend them in the kitchen,” McCune said.

2. Granite countertops are a must for move-up buyers and buyers of custom homes, but for others “they are on the bubble,” Cardis said.

3. Energy-efficient appliances, high-efficiency insulation and high window efficiency. Among the “green” features touted in homes, these are the ones buyers value most, said Cardis. While large windows had been a major draw, energy concerns are giving customers pause on those. The use of recycled or synthetic materials is only borderline desirable.

4. Home office/study. People would much rather have this space rather than, say, a formal dining room. “People are feeling like they can dine out again and so the dining room has become tradable,” Cardis said. And the home theater may also be headed for the scrap heap, a casualty of the “shift from boom to correction.”

5. Main-floor master suite. This is a must feature for empty-nesters and certain other buyers, and appears to be getting more popular in general. That could help explain why demand for upstairs laundries is declining after several years of popularity gains.

6. Outdoor living room. The popularity of outdoor spaces continues to grow, even in Canada. The idea of an outdoor room is even more popular than an outdoor cooking area, meaning people are willing to spend more time outside.

7. Master suite soaker tubs. Whirlpools are still desirable for many home buyers, but they clearly went down a notch in the latest survey. Oversize showers with seating areas are also moving up in popularity.

8. Stone and brick exteriors. Stucco and vinyl don’t make the cut.

9. Community landscaping, with walking paths and playgrounds. Forget about golf courses, swimming pools and clubhouses. Buyers in large planned developments prefer hiking among lush greenery.

10. Two-car garages. A given at all levels; three-car garages, in which the third bay is more often than not used for additional storage and not automobiles, is desirable in the move-up and custom categories.

By Steve Kerch Print Article (c) 2010, MarketWatch.com Inc
See full article here.

Top 10 Must-Have Features in Today’s New Homes is a post from: Houses of Clarksville

A recent survey of home buyers, conducted by the California Association of REALTORS, has lessons for the rest of the country. When the survey explored what home buyers are asking for from their real estate agent, buyers put the greatest value on:
• A better understanding of the direction of the market;
• An improvement in the agent’s negotiation skill; 82% were dissatisfied;
• More assistance in the mortgage approval process;
• A good understanding of purchasing distressed properties; and
• A faster response time from the agent.
Also, even though the buyers can now access a world of information on the Internet, “54% of them still think the information they gathered on the Internet was less useful than that provided by their real estate agent.”
Training and knowledge obviously remain valuable assets!

By Stefan Swanepoel, Real Estate Trends Update

What Buyers Are Looking For is a post from: Houses of Clarksville

Beachaven Vineyards & Winery is located at 1100 Dunlop Ln, Clarksville, TN. See their website here: Beachaven Vineyards & Winery and more information about Jazz

Wine Tours and Jazz on the Lawn is a post from: Houses of Clarksville

Chi-Town Hot Dogs is located at 1057 S Riverside Dr, Clarksville, TN. You might not see this carry-out restaurant from the road, but it’s not to be missed; it’s the small brown building to the right of Big Lots on Riverside Dr. It’s not a long menu, but everything sounds good! Choose from authentic Chicago-style vienna beefs, polish sausage, Italian beefs, bratwursts, chili, and more toppings than you could think of. See their website: Chi-Town Hot Dogs

Hot Dogs! Get Your Hot Dogs! is a post from: Houses of Clarksville

Looking Glass Restaurant and Gourmet Bakery is located at 329 Warfield Blvd, Clarksville, TN. If you need a morning breakfast with a specialty coffee or smoothie, a light lunch, or a sweet treat, the Looking Glass is a perfect choice. Sit inside the cozy dining area or out on the patio to see the fish pond on a warm day. I especially enjoy the little touches like a sprig of mint, lemon and lime slice in the water pitcher which give this boutique that warm and inviting feeling. See their website here: Looking Glass

Best Lessen the Stress Breakfast or Lunch is a post from: Houses of Clarksville