‘Tis the season of festive lights and decorations everywhere you look, the smell of freshly baked gingerbread cookies and rugelach filling the air, and gifts ‘a plenty! We hope you take time to enjoy the magic of the season. There are endless events planned in every corner of Middle Tennessee this month. Here are a “few” you may enjoy! Snow Birds at Rare Bird (Fridays & Saturdays through December) Reindeer Games at Headquarters Beercade (throughout December) Ice Skating in LaVergne (now through 12/11) Metro Police Christmas Charities Toy Drive with Lightning 100 (now through 12/18) The El ..read more

The Cottages at Woodland Pointe Living Local Nashville at Benchmark Realty is proud to present this “Hip Donelson” condo in the Cottages at Woodland Pointe, just minutes from Percy Priest Lake, Nashville International Airport, and a short commute to Downtown Nashville. This one-owner home boasts a gorgeous teak wood tile patio at the main entrance, spacious living areas on the main level with crown molding, bamboo hardwood floors, a guest bath, and laundry (the washer and dryer remain with the unit, as well as the refrigerator). The primary suite on the main level features a walk-in closet and ..read more

The past year and a half brought about significant life changes for many of us. For some, it meant entering retirement earlier than expected. Recent data shows more people retired this year than anticipated. According to the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis, 2021 saw a retirement boom: “At least 1.7 million more older workers than expected retired due to the pandemic recession.” If you’ve recently retired, your home may not fit your new lifestyle. The good news is, you’ve likely built-up significant equity that can fuel your next move. According to the latest Homeo ..read more

As a renter, you’re constantly faced with the same dilemma: keep renting for another year or purchase a home? Your answer depends on your current situation and future plans, but there are a number of benefits to homeownership every renter needs to consider. Here are a few things you should think about before you settle on renting for another year. 1. Rents Are Rising Quickly Rent increasing each year isn’t new. Looking back at Census data confirms rental prices have gone up consistently for decades (see graph below): If you’re a renter, you’re faced with pay ..read more

Many people have questions about home prices right now. How much have prices risen over the past 12 months? What’s happening with home values right now? What’s projected for next year? Here’s a look at the answers to all three of these questions. How much have home values appreciated over the last 12 months? According to the latest Home Price Index from CoreLogic, home values have increased by 18.1% compared to this time last year. Additionally, prices have gone up at an accelerated pace for each of the last eight months (see graph below): The increase in the rat ..read more

In today’s housing market, the number of homes for sale is much lower than the strong buyer demand. As a result, homeowners ready to sell have a significant advantage. Here are three ways today’s low inventory will set you up for a win when you sell this season. 1. Higher Prices With so many more buyers in the market than homes available for sale, homebuyers are frequently getting into bidding wars for the houses they want to purchase. According to the latest data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), homes are receiving an average of&nbs ..read more

With mortgage rates climbing above 3% for the first time in months, serious buyers are more motivated than ever to find a home before the end of the year. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR), puts it best, saying: “Housing demand remains strong as buyers likely want to secure a home before mortgage rates increase even further next year.” But the sense of urgency they feel is complicated by the lack of homes for sale in today’s market. According to the latest Existing Home Sales Report from NAR ..read more

Rents have increased significantly this year. The latest National Rent Report from Apartmentlist.com shows rents are rising at a rate much higher than the three years leading up to the pandemic: “Since January of this year, the national median rent has increased by a staggering 16.4 percent. To put that in context, rent growth from January to September averaged just 3.4 percent in the pre-pandemic years from 2017-2019.” Looking back, we can see rents rising isn’t new. The median rental price has increased consistently over the past 33 ye ..read more

The FDA has finally approved pediatric vaccines for children between ages 5-11, which includes the youngest in our family. Our hearts will be extra full of gratitude this Thanksgiving and we are beyond excited to start getting back to normal! One thing we’re really looking forward to this month is being able to start our Christmas shopping in person. Shopping locally and supporting small businesses will be even more convenient with all of the holiday markets coming up! Many other holiday attractions will begin opening soon, such as Cheekwood’s Lights, and as always there will be an abundance o ..read more

There’s a lot of talk lately about how challenging it can be to find a home to buy. While housing inventory is still low, there are a few important things to understand about the supply of homes for sale as we move into the end of the year. The Number of Homes for Sale Usually Peaks in the Fall In the residential real estate market, trends generally follow a predictable and seasonal pattern. Typically, the number of homes available for sale (or active monthly listings) peaks in the fall. But in a chapter where so little feels normal, the question becomes: should we expect a fall peak ..read more