Sex in the Back Yard Hendersonville Tennessee!

"Let me tell you about the birds and the bees

and the flowers and the trees

and the moon up above and a thing called love"

There is no place I would rather be on the first weekend of April than my five acres of pasture, ponds, gardens and log home in Hendersonville, TN. One thing that I love about Tennessee is the biodiversity of plants and wildlife that exists in the Volunteer State. That diversity is never more beautiful than on the first weekend of April.

Stepping off the back porch I startled the Chickadees that apparently have "hooked up" and are now building a nest at a very inappropriate spot on the side porch. They will soon be followed by the even messier Barn Swallows that have adopted the same spot for 2o years where they build Adobe high rises. Not long from now the eggs will be hatching and baby birds will be covering the porch with bird crap. Oh the "circle of life" now where is my pressure waser?

From the porch I can see over twenty varieties of Butter Cups in bloom, brilliant yellow Forsythias, red Hawthorn, the burst of white from the borders of Pear Trees, Purple Saucer Magnolias, hot pink Redbirds, and the first green leaves of the Weeping Willow. I think our natural attraction to flowers must be teaching us lessons in beauty and the mysteries of sexuality.

This display of color in a reawakened earth is in sharp contact, to a snowy landscape of six weeks ago. The season changes are so dramatic in Tennessee. I love the beaches, the desert Southwest, and Mountain peaks, but I could never live in an environment where there was not distinctive season changes.

The bees are buzzing today and wood bees large and small are eating our log home. The holes they bore will soon be plugged entombing a new generation of soon to be hatched baby bees to feast on the oak, cedar, and poplar logs that shield us from the elements.

Walking toward the gardens I pass the frog ponds in the Bald Cypress swamp. The frog pond is the amphibian equivalent of a disco, complete with the music of the three varieties of frogs. One variety chirps like crickets while the bullfrogs lay down a base and tuba riff. A real meeting spot for the mating dance, and yes Wild, Wild Sex. I have already seen my first tadpole.

My next backyard observation can be best expressed in today's hippty hop rabbit vernacular. A home bunnie is chasing his bitch around the field. She stops, he catches up, she runs off, hecatches up; what a tease. I can't say I observed them doing what rabbits do, but I am sure that the hare and his ho had a successful booty call. Soon there will be a gang of little bunnies eating my new lettuce plants in the garden.

All this excitement and stimulation is just too much and I sit down by the Koi pond to contemplate if there really is too much exposure to sex in our society. Well the answer came quickly. The Koi have started their spring break and it's time for "Fishes Gone Wild". If you have ever seen Koi before spawning it is quite a show. The males flash by turning sideways on the bottom, and all the males gang up and chase the female at time pushing her up and out of the water. A whole lot of splashing going on! I wonder if there is a web site for fish porn?

I could go on and on with my observations, but instead I will challenge you to make your own discoveries. It's a wild, beautiful, sexy world and there is no better time and place to observe it than in the first week of April in your own back yard in Hendersonville Tennessee...

Spring Has Arrived And The Real Estate Market Is Blooming!

Well it was the longest, coldest winter in 30 years, and all the flowers were weeks late in blooming. But spring weather is now here, and my gardens are alive with dozens of varieties of Buttercups, Saucer Magnolias, Bradford Pears, Forsythias, and Hawthornes in bloom.

It has also been a long winter in the Real Estate Business. It has been the worst Real Estate market of my 25 years in the business. And this winter of Real Estate has lasted for two and a half years. Starting in 2006 we began to see problems developing in California, Arizona and the West, Michigan and the Mid West, and Florida from the South which rolled into the Nashville, Hendersonville and Gallatin TN market like cold fronts passing through and dumping problems on Middle Tennessee. These problems started to slow our markets in August 2006 and inventories soared. Then the national economies collapsed in the fall of 2008 leaving us with the chill of foreclosures. I must confess at times I wondered if we would see improvement in my lifetime.

Then suddenly without warning starting three weeks ago in the first week of March there were signs of rebirth in the market. Our sales board which shows all the weeks sales, pendings, and closings completely filled and continued to fill for the following two weeks. In this same three weeks I received a dozen calls for listing appointments, and messages and Real Estate e-mails lit up my phone like a slot machine.

Well I know that good science and research require lots of data and large samples but from what I've seen with our company, and from my personal perspective we are seeing a return to more normal markets. So if you are reading this blog just remember you heard it here first. The Real Estate market is coming back. We have come to the end of our long Real Estate winter, and sales will soon be blooming again.

Hendersonville TN Real Estate Then and Now!

Real Estate Hendersonville TN

Then and Now!

The picture to the top left is the first "head shot" I could find from my Real Estate past. I got my Real Estate license in July of 1983. This picture was taken By Ed Bruchas in front of the Real Estate Review in 1989. The only thing that has changed more than my hair line in 25 years is the Real Estate market in Hendersonville.

When I first started my career each weeks Realtors received a book (no kidding) the size of a telephone book with all the active listings. Then once a quarter we received a comparable sales book. I was looking through an old comp book from the fourth quarter of 1983 and here are a few sales from that time and there current tax value today.

Address________Sq.Footage___83 Selling Price___Current Tax Value
Lake Homes:
206 Baha Mar Point------6400 sq. ft.------------$184,000--------$641,700
552 Indian Lake Rd.------5180 sq. ft.------------$180,000---------$550,000
278 Bluegrass Dr.--------- 2220 sq. ft.----------- $134,936-------$361,400

New Executive Homes:
195 Jefferson Dr.----------2580 sq. ft.------------ $108,000--------$244,200
117 Choctow Dr.---------- 3060 sq. ft.------------ $115,000------- $308,400
252 Hidden Lake Rd.---- 2550 sq. ft.------------- $119,000-------$381,900

Affordable Homes:
1050 Peninsula------------ 1425 sq. ft.------------ $48,372--------- $136,700
109 Southburn------------ 1725 sq. ft.------------ $51,880----------$144,800
111 Wessington------------ 1300 sq. ft.----------- $52,335---------- $130,600

From this small sample you can tell the best bet for appreciation is buying a lake home. A resident once told me when he bought his home on Lake Terrace he could have bought the lake lot on the lakeside of the road for $15,000 more than the non lakeside. Today the lake home would sell for $600,000 and up while the same home across the street would sell for $200,000 to $225,000. They are just not making new lake front property 30 minutes from downtown Nashville, and lake front property is still a great value today. It is no longer uncommon to see lake front purchased for $600K to 900K to be torn down for the lot.

Another big change that I noticed looking through the 1983 comp book was the changes in Real Estate Companies. What I believe to be the top Real Estate Companies in 1983 were: Tom Moore Realty, Dobson & Johnson, and Folks Jordon. None of these companies are in existence today!

The only three companies doing business in Hendersonville in 1983 that are still around today are -- 1. One Stop, 2. Lakeside, and 3. Almany Realtors. The #1 company in Hendersonville and Sumner County today is RE/MAX Choice Properties. The company was not started until 1997 and I am proud to say that I was one of the five original members.

So lots of things have changed in my 25 years in Real Estate; but some things never change:
1) People still want to buy their own home in which to live and raise their families.
2) A home represents most peoples largest purchase and greatest investment.
3) The US Government and The Banking System make ownership accessible to a large percentage of the NationalPopulations.
4) And the 4th thing that has not changed in 25 years is that I still enjoy the satisfaction of working in an industry that has a product everyone wants with a service that everyone needs.

I still love this business and who knows I may have another 25 years in me. Don't think it's imposable. It's certainly no less unimaginable than buying a lake home on Bara Mar Point for $189,900.

Hendersonville's Top 5 Non Franchised Restaurants!

Before I declare the top non-franchise restaurants in Hendersonville, TN, I should probably include disclaimers.

Disclaimer #1: I am not a professional food or restaurant critic. My only qualifications are that I enjoy a good meal and I have 63 years of eating experience.

Disclaimer #2: I don't even eat out that much. My dining habits are much like the Italians. I visit the grocery store everyday and cook fresh and simply at home. Most eating out occurs at the lunch time meal.

Disclaimer #3: When I go out to eat it is usually to get a meal that I would not cook at home. At home I eat a healthy diet but, I'm a Southern man and fried foods are in my DNA. While I don't fry at home, from time to time I need to lubricate the genes of my Southern heritage with a deep fried non healthy dish.

Disclaimer #4: I am not related to any of the owners in the picks for Top 5 restaurants or the honorable mentions. And I have not been offered cash, food or other valuables for my recommendations. However I am not beyond accepting a meal, discount, or other gift if they feel so moved.

Now that we have covered the disclaimers can I get a drum roll?....

TOP FIVE:

#5 - Dickey's Hickory Pit, 1622 Stop 30 Rd: First of all Dickey's is officially a bar and not a restaurant, so you can take your gun to lunch. Dickey's should have a historical marker since it was one of only 2 bars that was grandfathered to serve beer when Hendersonville was orignially incorporated as a dry city. The Bar B Q is good, but they are best known for Hot Chicken on Friday at lunch only. Now hot chicken is a misnomer. It should be called spicy fried chicken since it is often served less than hot and is not really spicy hot like say Price's Chicken in Nashville.

#4 - Ruby's Kitchen, 75A New Shackle Island Rd: If you are from another region of the country you may not be familiar with the term meat and three restaurant. To explain, it's Southern comfort food that may have been served to your great granddaddy by his wife down on the farm at lunch time. Ruby's menu changes daily, but if you go there be sure to save room for dessert.

#3 - The China Wok, 247 West Main at Walton Ferry Rd: There are a few tables at the China Wok because it is primarily a take out restaurant. They have about 129 dishes that have been posted on the wall for many years. All dishes are prepared on the spot with the sauce of your choice. No food in thoughs here, just good food individually prepared.

# 2 - September's Cafe the Streets of Indian Lake: September's Cafe was started in a dismal strip center where it was transformed into a charming bistro by September Norman. She moved the business and it is now the jewel of The Streets of Indian Lake Center. September's is the best spot for elegant dining in Hendersonville. The creative dishes and excellent wine selection are crowd pleaser, but I usually cannot get past the dinner salad selections which are the best in the greater Nashville area.

# 1 - Cafe Rakka, 71 New Shackle Island Rd: Cafe Rakka is located in the previous location of September's Cafe, so you know it started off with some good karma. This family owned restaurant features great Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes based on old family recipes. The hummus bar with various toppings is a great start, and I have tried every main course and never been disappointed.

I appreciate the hard work and difficult uphill battle to start a successful independent restaurant. Here are a few runners up that definitely make the grade:

#1 - Steamboat Bills: Best fried catfish, oysters, shrimp and crawfish around.

#2 - Blue Goose: Great breakfast - try the Kitchen's Omelet and a good meat and 3 lunch.

#3 - Barefoot Charlies: Beach food served up in a great setting. Love the chicken nachos.

#4 - Cafe La Crumbs: Great chicken salad sandwiches and salads.

#5 - El Rodeo: Very good Tex Mex dishes.

#6 - Knead Dough Pizza: Hand tossed New York Style Pizza

#7 - Center Point and Whitts Bar B Q: We Southerners love our smoked pork and both serve good hickory smoked

Bar B Q.

BON APPETIT!

Snow Days A Southern Holiday

It is such a cliche' but so true that the world has become a smaller place. You see it on a drive by fast food row how local and national cuisines have spread to all ends of the earth. You can now get Le Big Mac on the Champs-Elysees or a Starbucks triple skinny cappuccino in China's Forbidden City.

What were once regional cultural differences have been exposed and adopted around the world. In doing so our lives have been enriched, but our unique regional cultural differences have been diluted.

As a Realtor I do not need a demographer to tell me that populations are moving south. Thanks to the invasion of the "blue plates" (slang for our northern neighbors who all have blue car tags) Nashville has become a NHL city. I like Hockey although I don't know a hat trick from icing. It still does not offer the same thrill as the opening of SEC football season, but I don't put hockey down.

While I appreciate what my friends who settled here from lands north of the Mason Dixon line have contributed to the local culture, I do have one complaint... their complete misunderstanding and ridicule of the uniquely Southern Holiday known as Snow Days.

Now I know what my Yankee friends say about southerners. We don't know how to drive in the white stuff, we don't even have snow blowers and other snow removal equipment, we wipe out grocery stores, and close schools with a mere forecast of a few flakes. Well these things may be true, but you miss the point! A Snow Day is a Southern Holiday, and it's time to understand this tradition, celebrate, and enjoy it.

Let me explain the holiday...

First get ready, by which I mean get a 2 week supply of food and include all the goodies you swore off with your New Years resolutions. My Northern friends don't snicker when Publix and Kroger come to life at Christmas and Thanksgiving. Food is important to the celebration of all Holidays especially Snow Days.

Second, a Snow Day is a time to stay home and be unproductive guilt free. You can call your boss and say you can't make it in even if you live 2 blocks away. It's not a lie, it's just part of a myth of the holiday like Santa Clause and Easter Bunnies. Your boss will understand.

And third, celebrate! Nothing is more beautiful in the winter than a blanket of snow, so relax, eat, find a make shift sled and rejoice with your family. Transplanted Snow Buds chill out and by the way....

Happy Snow Days!

I Got A New Listing And It's A Real Cream Puff!

I got a new listing and I was searching for the perfect words to describe it in a real estate ad. So I did what many Realtors do. I picked up "Buy A Home" a real estate publication and I plagiarized all my favorite ads. So here goes.

Owner Says Sell!

This charming unique historic home with a beautiful lake view could be a real cream puff with a little TLC. The home features a great floor plan and a comfortable front porch. This 1/2 acre mini farm has immediate possession and is the lowest price per sq. ft. in the neighborhood. This property is loaded with character, call today it won't last long.

Well I may be accused by my fellow Realtors of giving away the secrets of our industry, but as a public service I will try to show how to interpret the real meaning of a real estate ad. So let's break it down starting with the title "Owner Says Sell." This may be my favorite real estate ad line. It speaks the truth and says nothing! If the property is listed and advertised the buyer just might be assured the seller says sell it!

The first sentence of the ad has imaging that would make a poet jealous.

"Charming unique historic home." Charming and unique are the perfect words for describing the ugliest girl in class.

"Historic" Realtor speech for old and decrepid.

"Lake View," climb the cell tower behind the house... if it's winter and the leaves are off the trees you may be able to see a lake. You can also substitute walk to the lake for this clause. Needs a little TLC simply put means bring the bulldozers.

The second line "great floor plan with comfortable front porch.

"Great floor plans it's got all the rooms you would expect (family, kitchen, bedrooms, etc.)

"Comfortable front porch." Comfortable like the shoes you wore out and threw in the trash.

The third and fourth lines as explained below.

"Mini farm" If it's not a condo it could be a mini farm.

"At the lowest price per sq. ft in the neighborhood." The lowest dollar per square foot means that the Realtor used tax record data which was 40% higher than the real square footage.

"The property is cozy." Isn't cozy a cozy sounding word.

"Loaded with character." Describes the ugliest boy in the class.

"It won't last long." Listing will expire in two weeks.

Well that breaks down just one ad to show the true meanings behind the language of a Real Estate ad. You may also want to reread my previous blog "It Makes Sense If You Really Don't Think About It." for further insight about buzz words, facts and their relationship to the truth.

I may write an entire dictionary of Realtor ad terms one day but for now happy house hunting...

Getting Drunk And Throwing Up!

Have you ever gotten drunk and thrown up? I didn't think you had. But I must confess it has happened to me a few times .


The first two times if happened I was a student at U.T. In my defense Playboy Magazine had voted U.T. Knoxville the number one party school in the nation, and I felt an obligation to uphold the schools reputation and traditions. I'm kind of responsible about things like that!


Two other times were on trips to New Orleans. I love the Big Easy; it's architecture, history, music, food and the spirit of "Laissez Le Bon Temps Roulet." Can I be forgiven if I got caught up in the spirit of the culture?


Then there were 2 or 3 times partying with friends. No excuses here. You are having a great time; your getting better looking and more humorous with every cocktail and then.... you are holding on to the bed while laying down. You make a serpentine path to the bathroom where you kneel at the alter of the porcelain bowl and well... you know the rest of the story.


Well during the 2nd term of the Bush Administration the banks threw down on a big party. Admit it... we all had a great time.


The public was getting dizzy on the soaring real estate values. Realtors got the big buzz selling large homes to customers that could not afford them. Mortgage bankers got knocked out loaded on commissions, and wall street traders just went crazy out of their minds selling junk AAA rated paper around the world. Unfortunately regulations peaked early and passed out in the corner oblivious to the party going on around them. And of coarse the banks that hosted the party were high on profits, bonuses, and stock dividends.


If you party too hard you are going to get sick and the banks were wasted. Some died, and some of the biggest and strongest were in the ICU on life support. Still in 2010 most are still looking puny. Banks take my advice and throw up the bad loans and foreclosed inventory. I promise it feels bad when it happens, but you will start improving immediately.


An article in "The Residential Specialist" http://www.crs.com/ "In The Shadow" concludes that banks have no incentive to unload their foreclosed inventory because of a recent change in federal accounting rules. This allows banks to hold foreclosed properties at valuations from 3 to 4 years ago. Losses are not taken until the sale of the foreclosed property takes place. There are also 7 million home owners behind on their mortgages. Bank held properties and bad mortagage loans that have not been dealt with have created a shadow inventory. This shadow inventory continues to increase supply and suppress prices and continues stalling a recovery in the real estate market.


It's time to deal with the back log of foreclosures and bad loans. Get them up, get them out. Then maybe we can then see values improving and return to a stable real estate market.