I am open to help all in their real estate needs. Whether selling, buying or renting. If you know of anyone that needs a Realtor, please send them my way for an interview.

Have a blessed week!

Because growth is a community’s responsibility, the School System did not try to address how to best manage the increase of student population without the community’s help. A little over one year ago, Chief Operations Officer Jim Sumrell invited a group of community representatives to take part in a project team’s work of identifying attendance boundaries for the school district’s future. Obviously, school rezoning is necessary when opening a new school – which will happen in August 2012 with Carmel Elementary. But this team looked at more than opening a new school. The members looked at being prepared for increasing populations in specific areas of the County. A university political science professor helped with data and statistics, the local expert on regional planning identified future housingsubdivisions, and parents representing different school zones shared their perspectives.

Through research and the input of school system specialists in academics, transportation, technology and mapping, a recommended plan has been conceived. The proposed zoning maps are available in the schools impacted, at Central Office and on the school system website. Feedback can be received from the community through an online survey located here, via email to feedback@cmcss.net, or at a public hearing, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Sept. 6. All feedback will help guide the committee if any adjustments to the recommendation should be made prior to the School Board’s vote on the plan, Sept. 13. This plan would not take place until August 2012 and would provide allowances for eleventh and twelfth grade students to remain at their high school. Please share your thoughts through any of these venues.

School Board Reviews Rezoning Plan

Tylertown Subdivision

Monroe Estates Subdivision

Arbour Green South

All 3 subdivisions are close to Exit 1 and Ft. Campbell, KY.

Another RECORD time in this market and out off of Old Hwy 48!

18 DAYS! SOLD!!

If you are in the market to put your house up for sale, please contact us and we would be honored to interview to be your Realtors to market your property!

There are 4 reasons why your home might not be selling in todays market….

1. Price (There are 4 prices that could affect the sale of your home)

2. Condition of home, which includes curb appeal

3. Location

4. Terms of the Sellers

To find out more information on the 4 different prices that could be affecting your home from selling, contact us today!

We loved this home. It was our first major purchase as a family and the kids heights were drawn on the door frame leading into the kitchen. We had an attachment. Our home sold in less than 7 days.

So how do you know if it’s time to make a move because you have outgrown the home or rental you are in now? Chances are you were just as excited as we were, with being qualified for a home, that you didn’t take the time to ask yourself questions about what you were wanting in a home.

You might have looked at the kitchen and thought, it’s kind of small, but it will be alright. Your dining area might be just big enough to get a table and chairs but you can make it work. No matter why you chose the home you are in now, you have probably lived in it long enough that you have some equity built up and it’s time to move on to bigger and better things. You have sacrificed long enough in that tiny kitchen or that bedroom that can’t hold the bedroom suit you got for your anniversary.

So here are the 10 Signs That You Have Outgrown Your Home….

1. When you keep your salt and pepper shaker on your coffee table.

2. When you have already changed the carpet to hardwood and back again.

3. When the girls/boys who share a room are always arguing and want their space.

4. When your car window is shot out while in your driveway.

5. When the light pitter patter of feet have become stomping grounds.

6. When the trip to the sink from the stove is just a heel turn away.

7. When you have to put socks in your kitchen junk drawer.

8. When your replacement furniture for a larger family doesn’t fit.

9. When you have to use your neighbors bathroom to get ready.

10. When you know you can have better and it’s alright!

If you find that it’s about time to move on up to something bigger and better, then let us help with your needs of getting you where you want to go! We are well trained to ask the questions you might have forgotten the first time and help you to not settle just because you can. We want our clients to be happy in the long run with their decisions.

Please call us or email us with any questions you might have to getting started!

If you have a better top 10 sign that is hilarious, please comment and I will put it on my list!

This is a question that is interesting to me.  Some Real Estate licensees see themselves as sales people but according to TAR, Tennessee Association of Realtors, the law sees that differently.  To clear up any misconceptions you might have, I am writing information that has been provided by TREEF*, to explain that Realtors are NOT sales people.

What are we?

We are Representatives, according to the law.  The legal and fiduciary nature of Realtor/Client relationship is too often forgotten.

The license permits someone to represent another party in the purchase or sale of real estate, to safeguard their interests, to treat them honestly, to serve them with professionalism.*

I have always felt that I was on the defense for my position to prove I am not a “sales person”.  I take my profession seriously and know that I am bound to the law of Tennessee and the Code of Ethics.  A car salesman/woman is completely different than a Realtor. I give them as the example because we are often compared to them.  Yes, I ”sell” homes but I am representing those owners in the sale of their home. In doing so I am also offering my services, which include marketing.  The houses that I sell to the buyer aren’t always the houses I have listed.  In the event they are, I default to facilitator status.

Facilitator status may advise either or both parties in a transaction but cannot be considered a representative or advocate to either party.*

Each home is represented by an Office.  You will know what office by the sign in the yard.  From that office there is usually a designated agent that has listed the home. That agent is representing the owner of the home.  They aren’t representing you.  If you think calling the agent that has it listed will get you a better deal, remember that they aren’t looking out for your best interest but their client, the seller. That is why it is important to have your own agent representing you in the transaction. In my case, I do not charge my buyers a fee to work with me. In the end I am paid for representing the buyer by our company.

Here is the break down:

Our company is paid by the listing agents company, who is paid by the seller for representing them.  In the agreement between the seller and the company, that lists their home, they agree to pay a commission, what is negotiated, and out of that commission the listing company will pay the selling company. The selling company pays the buyers agent the reduced amount, which is their commission split.  The buyers agent can only receive payment through their company, not directly from the seller or listing company.

The first step in purchasing a home isn’t finding the home or being qualified but finding the agent that will represent you.

For a lot of people, they might be a little skittish with leaving the future of where they will be laying their head at night, in the hands of someone they don’t know.  “Are they providing all the homes or the ones they want me to see?” You might ask yourself.  I now I did when we bought our first house.  A Realtors legal duty is to provide everything you ask for.  If they don’t and they only provide homes they have listed, that is unethical. If you want to know that as of today, August 1, 2011, there are 1757 homes for sale in Montgomery County and out of those homes, the price ranges are from $24,995 to $1,680,000. BUT not ALL 1757 homes will fit your criteria.  Do you want a new home with 1800 square feet or more and under $150,000? Then out of that 1757 there is only 58 listed!  Do you want it to be in a certain school zone? Let’s say Rossview High School? Then there are only 12 out of that 58.  You would do hours and hours of searching to find that information out, where it only took me less than 1 minute!

Once you find the home you want, then the Agent represents you in negotiating your wishes. Once you have a contract, your agent takes care of timelines and makes sure that the contract stays valid and most importantly you close on your home.

If you would like to interview Todd or I to represent you in the purchase of your future home or the selling of your home, please give us a call at 931.206.2156 and mention this article or you can email us. We would be happy to schedule a time to meet with you and discuss how we can make your experience a pleasant one.

To view more pictures and amenities of this home, please click here.

If you are in the market to be purchasing a home, whether you are relocating or sizing up or down, please do the same and call, text or email us today.  It is definitely a Buyers Market and you have much to choose from.

585 Bridgette Dr.

Mr. & Mrs. Woomer

and

208 Lakeview Dr in Hohenwald, TN

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas

Congratulations to my Buyer:

Mr. Scott Kimmle

on the purchase of his home!

It’s the Holidays and thieves are already on the prowl.  Is your neighborhood safe? Is your home safe?

When you live in a neighborhood that you feel comfortable in, it becomes easy to forget to lock the door while you’re home.  You also become an easy target.

I had a scare at 2:30 in the morning.  I was letting one of my dogs out to use the bathroom and when I let her back in, I couldn’t go to sleep. So, I sat at my computer and starting surfing the web.  I heard something on my back deck and thought it might be a cat jumping on the grill.  Then I heard one of the chairs dragging a little over the wood.  I got up slowly, thinking that if the person was watching I didn’t want to give it away that I heard them, so I walked slowly to my bedroom to look outside.  When I did, I saw a man standing there on the deck, relaxed and just looking over my yard like it was his!  I didn’t see him too long, I was on the phone with 911.  I had a great response from the Clarksville Police Department, 3 squad cars were here looking for the guy.  He got away.  Nothing was stolen and he didn’t get in.  I shouldn’t have kept it to myself, but I did.  I didn’t let a lot of my friends who live in the neighborhood know because I didn’t want to scare anyone but I did tell the neighbors next to me and across the street.

About a week later, one of my friends was in the house with her baby in the living room.  It was around 11am in the morning.  Normally she didn’t keep her doors locked but for some reason her back and front door was locked.  All of a sudden there was a man on her back deck with his hand on the door trying to open it.  She screamed and grabbed the baby and ran to her bedroom.  Her scream scared the guy so bad that he ran over her deck furniture trying to get out of there.  She believes that he didn’t think anyone was home.  She learned alot about her actions when this happened.  She couldn’t believe she ran to her bedroom and not out the front door.  Her husband said she was running to a safe place and her bedroom feels safe to her.

The two incidents were two different men.  I believe the one that was at mine came back to the house in the daytime, a couple of days later, to ask me questions about a possible burglary that was reported on the 911 log in the paper. He said he was with CSI Security? I have never heard of them.  I told him it wasn’t me and the man was commenting on things he was seeing in my home, he was still on the front porch! So he was scoping my place out.  I called the police back and gave a description of this man’s vehicle and what he looked like and they have it on file.

My friend called 911 also when her burglar was at her back door and when the police got there, they didn’t even dust the door handle for fingerprints, which I found odd.  Isn’t that what they are suppose to do?  I am kind of confused about that.

So just a little advice for you to stay safe in your home:

• Keep your door locks during the day and night.  If you have a storm door, keep it locked too.  You never know when someone knocks on your door if that person is a friend or foe.
• If you have sensory flood lights on the corners of your home, keep them on at night.  It might deter the peeping tom or whatever he is from continuing on with his plan.
• Always know where your phones are and make sure they are charged.
• Be alert at all times.  Even when you are driving home. Don’t always drive home the same way every time.  Criminals love people that are predictable. I was speaking to a business owner and she has someone following her home and she didn’t pull in her drive but kept going and trying different routes to see if they would continue to follow, which they did. So she left the neighorhood and drove to the police station and parked.  They kept going.
• Keep in touch with your neighbors.  I know sometimes people just want to be left alone but when it comes to safety, you want to have someone you can call to look out their window and see if they see something.
• If you neighborhood doesn’t have a crime watch program, start one.

There is so much more that you can do.  If you know of some good tips, please comment and let me know.  We are here to help each other.  If you have had any experiences, what did you do?

It took me a good 2 weeks to start feeling somewhat safe.  I was scared to leave my home.  So, I have felt victimized but it has taught me to be even more alert.  I shouldn’t have kept it to myself, so maybe my experience might help you to maybe change some things that you are doing right now that will make you and your home safer.

Be safe and Happy Holiday, Merry Christmas and have a safe New Years!

If you are currently living in Clarksville and are thinking about selling your home, wondering what you could possibly list it for, you have come to the right site to get more information!

You can find a lot of agents online that will have the FREE CMA button for you to click on but do you want someone you don’t know anything about to work up numbers and give you a figure? Or would you rather have someone you know more about, that will schedule a time to come over and view your home and look at all you have done to take care of it and improve it?  Someone who will sit down with you and show you how they came to the conclusion of the price laid out in front of you?

If you think that a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) can be done without even viewing the home in person, you are doing yourself a disservice. Allow me to schedule a time to view your home and provide a market analysis on it. I offer this service as a complimentary report to my Sellers.

When you decide the time is right to start preparing for the sale of your home, contact me and I will provide you with my marketing plan.  Looking forward to hearing from you!

Thea Long (931) 206-2156 or email: thealong@me.com

that the Internet and Real Estate Professionals were their most popular resources. 87% used the Internet, while 85% used a Real Estate Agent.  When it comes to where buyers found the home that they purchased, more than one-third found it through a Realtor. Why only one-third?  Alot of buyers are afraid, due to misconceptions, to “hire” an Agent to represent them.  I believe that the public is not aware what our job as a Real Estate Professional entails.

To become a Realtor, we have to go to a Real Estate School that is approved by NAR. We become educated on the law, ethics and much more that is required to being a Real Estate Agent.  The test we take to prove we understand what we have learned and receive our license is 3 hours long, at least that is what they give you to take the test. The school can be anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 weeks long.  It’s the pace you decide to make.  Alot of Realtors do not pass the test the first time. Either because of their fear of tests, maybe a language barrier or they just didn’t understand what they were taught.  To become a Realtor we have to have 90 hours of education.  We have to continue our education every year. So, the time, the money, the education and the pride we put on our title as a Real Estate Professional is real.  We aren’t someone that a company just interviews off the street and hires on the spot.  We are our own business. Hence why you see marketing at different levels. My marketing is with Last Train To Clarksville and the Monkeys. Realtors work under the umbrella of the Real Estate Company because that is the law. We can only be paid by the Brokerage, not directly.  So, we find the company that we are comfortable working with and helps our business with training, advertising, guidance and much more. To be the best morally and ethically for all customers who in turn become our clients.

Why are Buyers afraid to call on a Realtor when the search begins?  Could it be that they are afraid the Realtor will bring pressure?  Each Realtor is different and have their own uniqueness.  Some are very busy and come across that if your aren’t ready, don’t waste my time.

With me, I am working with customers that are still a year out to moving to Clarksville.  I keep in touch and anything they want to view on their computer, I can get it to them in less time it takes for them to search through all the sites that aren’t always up to date.  I have had customers say they want to see a home they found on realtracs.com and I check the MLS number to find out it closed 4 months ago.  So, working with me, I have the market conditions in real time.  Some Realtors don’t want to work with someone that far out, they want to work with them when they are within 3 months.  I want to build the trust and loyalty of my customers who will in turn become my clients and have a smooth transition with their relocation.

Another reason why a Buyer might not call a Realtor to begin their search is because they might like to be in control.  Some want to say; we found the home ourselves, we didn’t need anyone. That is how I was when I started my search over 10 years ago with our first home.  Our Realtor was very busy. I knew what we were looking for but the agent didn’t really ask us what our criteria was.  She just knew our price range and sent us homes to look at on the internet. When we would ask about a certain subdivision our answer was that is out of your price range.  I took it upon myself to get out and go look at the homes to see if they are what we might want and if there were any in this subdivision in our price range. I found the home we bought in that subdivision that was out of our price range but it was because our Realtor didn’t communicate with us. She was busy. I am the type of person that I want to be your top priority. Buying a home is an important step and it’s not something to take lightly. Our Realtor might have been relaxed and not seen that we were nervous and wanted this to be right.

From my experience as a Buyer, I know how I would want to be serviced.  I have had the experience of working with a Realtor when purchasing my home.  I know that the Realtor YOU choose will either make the deal pleasurable or stressful.  The key to working with anyone is the communication.  With me communicates and is upfront.  I give you the black and white, no gray! So, if you have decided to start your search for a new or existing home and you have a criteria that needs to be met or you really don’t have any stipulations, then I am the Realtor for you.  I can be your last stop, the Last Train To Clarksville.

How much are our services as Licensed Professionals dealing with legal issues?

My services are not free but they are to YOU. I get paid from our Brokerage, who gets the commission for the seller of the home.  So our Buyers don’t have to pay me any money up front or later.  My goal is to get you the home you are wanting, with the terms you are wanting and getting it closed.  I work for my commission that will come within 48 hours after the home is closed.  So my time that I spend with you, sometimes a year out, will all be paid for at closing when you are moving into your dream home!

So, my next question is:

If you liked this blog, please click on the monkey to your right and subscrbe.  We would love to hear what you have to say about this post, please comment below!

Should I get a Real Estate Agent from the start, or should I look around on my own?

If you are knowledgeable about a region, it wouldn’t hurt to start driving around.  Identify neighborhoods in which you might want to live.  It would be great to visit those neighborhoods at many times of the day, including weekends and here’s why.  Imagine you find the house that  you love and you decide to drive by on Sunday afternoon and stop in on Wednesday afternoon. During both visits, the neighborhood seems peaceful and quiet. You buy the house, and on your first Monday morning there, at 7 a.m., horns blare and tires screech.  It happens that your street is a good rush-hour shortcut around the town’s business district.  There go your peacefull mornings and dinner hours. So, it might be important for you to visit at all hours of the day. In the morning, around lunch time and in the evening.  I am not saying go over there every day of the week in the morning, afternoon and evening.  Just check out an early morning, if you can or if you even care about the issue of a busy neighborhood.  Definitely check out the evenings, especially friday and saturday nights.

If you are the customer who doesn’t want to have an agent in the early stages of house hunting and you have found the neighborhood you want to live in, then give us a call and we can get you into every home that is for sale in that neighborhood, whether the home is listed with us or with another company.  If, however, you are moving to this area and are new and don’t have a clear sense of where you want to live, you can speed up the house-hunting process by asking an agent (that is me ) to take you around.  The agent cannot tell you what neighborhoods are the best or if the neighborhood is high in crime.  That will have to be searched out by you due to legal issues for the agent. Even at the very beginning of the process, it is important to work with an agent you feel you can communicate with.  Search the web if you are out of state or even a current resident, which I believe you already are doing since you are reading my Blog, and learn as much as you can about the agent you might be interested in working with.  You can search their company name, their name, and see what is going on with this agent. (You will be able to read about me following those links.)

Most importantly, when you are looking for an agent, I can’t stress enough that you will not be paying this agent for the work they are doing to help you in your house hunting, negotiating the best deal and closing on your future home!  Your agent, which negotiated the deal to close in your best interest, is paid by the agent’s brokerage.  Some buyers who don’t know this are worried to choose a Realtor to work and be committed to working with because they fear they are paying for them to help.  That is not the case with me.  I have never been paid by our buyers and never will. Just like you interview agents to work with, we interview our customers to work with.  I want to make sure that the communication is good and that way the experience of buying a home will be a joyful one!

If you have any questions, please feel free to call/text or email me.  I would be happy to answer, free, any questions you might have, if I can legally do so. If not, I will share with you real estate attorney’s that can.

It comes will all appliances, covered back deck, privacy fence, side drive (boat doesn’t come with the house ), and so much more!

Click on picture to view more information on this property’s website.

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  (New!)

  Pet Odor Can Chase Away Buyers

  Don’t let pet odors derail your home sale. Read

Mace Home Builders

Just listed is a home that still has time for you to choose features that you would like.  You can still choose carpet, hard wood, counter tops, cabinets, appliances and much more. All wet areas are tiled and they do real 3/4″ hardwood floors, that are stained!

This home is located inside of Nicks Ridge Subdivision.  Only minutes from Exit 11, if you find that you need to take the high way to work either going to Nashville or Clarksville/Ft. Campbell areas, this home could be the perfect location for you.

Built by Mace Home Builders, you can be reassured that this company will answer any questions you might have and do all they can to make you happy with your choice.  It comes with a 3 car garage, 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath. It is a Split Foyer and it is on .454 acres.

If you would like to get more information on this home, please call/text 931-206-2156 or email me today. You can view 23 pictures of this home and what the inside is looking like at the home’s website.  Remember, there is still time to pick your choice from the options the builder is giving. It is very exciting to be able to choose your cabinets, light fixtures, etc…

Located in Shelton Estates, you will be close to Gate 10, which leads to Ft. Campbell.  Estimated drive time is about 10 minutes to the gate.  You are also close to down town Clarksville, maybe a 15-20 minute drive depending on traffic.

With this home you have brand new carpet all through the home, both down and upstairs. A new roof.  The master is located downstairs with a full bath. Upstairs are 2 bedrooms and a full bath.

Seller’s will be paying closing cost and have recently lowered their price to $93,900!  So, if you would like to view more pictures, please click here.  If you would like to set up an appt. to view this home please call 931-206-2156 or email.

Beautiful lake view property located in Hohenwald, TN. This home is beautiful in rich tones and has been decorated with class. Great view of the lake with dock on property. Master bedroom has 2 walk in closets a 15×8 bath, Detached 20×30 garage w/Storage. Upstairs 15×70 multifunctional area, Home office & den w/Fireplace. Lake is shared area.

Click on picture of home to go to virtual tour. If you or someone you know needs to purchase or sale their home, please contact me  today!

We have a beautiful lake view property with over 3,300 sq ft priced to sell quickly.

Another property is located within minutes of Gate 10 for those who work on Ft. Campbell.

Lastly a property in Monroe Estates off Tiny Town/Peachers Mill.

Looking forward to hearing your comments on these homes for sale.

College St to Kraft St coming over Red River Bridge

Riverside Drive. In the middle is the walk bridge

Two Rivers Mall

Vulcan Rock Quarry filling up with water

Dunbar Cave Golf Course