Introducing LEED-Certified Cambridge Park

We are pleased to announce a new development listing unlike any other in Nashville. Cambridge Park is Tennessee's first LEED-Certified (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) single-family development. All homes are energy efficient and come with an extensive list of "green" options that will reduce energy consumption and support a healthier environment. Homes are designed with unique front porches to promote a sense of true community among neighbors and the development is located near plenty of retail and restaurants. Want to learn more? Sign up for Cambridge Park updates here and click here to view floor plans.

Mortgage Rates Below 5%

We've been telling you now is the time to buy, and we aren't lying! We've seen rates right at or below 5%. If your new year's resolution was to buy a new home, we strongly encourage you to start looking now so you can take advantage of these historically low rates.

Not only are rates great, but there are some unique loan programs available that are designed to make a home purchase even easier - but some are only for a certain period of time. For example, if you are a first-time homebuyer (defined as someone who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase) then you are likely eligible for the $7500 tax credit. This is essentially an interest free loan that you pay back over the next 15 years. However, you must make this purchase before July 1, 2009. Our CityLiving Realtors have all the details about this and other programs, so don't hesitate to email us with any questions you might have. We also invite you to play with our online mortgage calculator.

Nashville's Real Estate Market Bucks National Trend

Wait for the commercial to air and then check out this piece from WKRN featuring the CityLiving Team's Zach Goodyear.

Are we seeing the market turn?

Are we seeing the market turn? If I were a betting man, I would say so. Here are a few anecdotal reasons why I think it has. Traffic has increased substantially on our listings in the last few weeks. I hosted an open house last Sunday that had 17 groups of people come through, only 2 were neighbors, the other 15 were actively looking to purchase sometime in the next few months. On the buying side, I had one client end up in a multiple offer situation last week on a house that had been on the market for 12 months. That’s right, 12 months and all of a sudden two offers come in. They hadn’t lowered their price substantially and the offers weren’t ridiculously low, but both sets of buyers felt like now was the time to move. I had another set of buyers look at 2 separate homes and while waiting a few days to think about it, other full price offers came in and we lost out on the deal. Now they know the next house they find that they like, they’ll jump on it.

My belief is that while the economic news is still somewhat bad, we have been hearing it for over 18 months now and it’s not “bad news” anymore, it’s just “normal news.” When life seems normal, people get back to their normal ways. That, combined with a new year, a new presidency, unbelievably low interest rates (in the 4s in some cases!) and maybe a warmer winter than we’ve seen in a while is why I believe the market is turning. Ever heard of the term buy low? You’re watching the low go away, so don’t sit on the fence and let it pass you by!

- Zach Goodyear (zgoodyear@villagerealestate.com)

January Lunch Tour

Our January Lunch Tour is scheduled for Thursday, January 15 from 12-1pm. Have you come on one of our tours yet? If not, we'd love for you to join us. They are very laid back and give you an opportunity to check out what urban Nashville has to offer in a no-pressure atmosphere.

This month's tour destination has not yet been decided - we want YOU to tell us what YOU would like to see. On recent tours we've visited resale lofts and condos in the Downtown core, 4th & Monroe in Historic Germantown, and MC3 in East Nashville. Let us know in the comments section where you'd like this month's tour to go.

And don't forget, if you RSVP for the tour then you will get a free lunch afterwards! Please RSVP via email or call us at 615.279.7299.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from the CityLiving Team and Village Real Estate! The future is bright for Nashville and we wish everyone a prosperous 2009!