Mt. Juliet Travels is a great local travel agency that can take care of all your vacation needs.What does a travel agent do? How can they help you?According to Cassie Thompson of Mt. Juliet Travel, travel agents give you expert advice and save you time and money by planning your vacation for you. They also take care of any issues that may arise before, during, or after the vacation. Essentially, they take all the necessary steps to ensure that all you have to do is enjoy yourself. Travel agents take all the necessary steps to ensure that all you have to do is enjoy yourself. Mt. Juliet Travel has been in business since September of 2013. And they have a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate their five-year anniversary planned for this May. They provide luxury travel arrangements to clients wanting to travel to any Sandals or beach resort throughout the Caribbean. I’ve been to a sandals resort myself, and they are a phenomenal place to vacation to. If you’re thinking about making a trip to any Sandals or beach resorts in the Caribbean, don’t hesitate to give Mt. Juliet Travel a call and let Cassie do the rest. If you have any real estate questions or you’re thinking of buying or selling a home, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I’d be happy to help you. 

Keller Williams Real Estate Podcast with Brian Hammond

Plan Your Perfect Vacation With Mt. Juliet Travel

 I recently had a great talk with David Ramsey of 615 Sports Training. Here’s what we talked about.Today I’m excited to be joined by Mr. David Ramsey, owner of 615 Sports Training 615sportstraining.com to talk a little bit about his business and how they are helping out the community.David and his business partner Kevin Fitzgerald decided in 2014 that there needed to be a place in the area for athletes to improve their speed and strength. With Kevin’s background in strength and conditioning at Florida State, they thought it was a great opportunity to open their first location in Mt. Juliet. Since then, they have opened up an additional location in Murfreesboro.They work with athletes of all ages and all different sports, helping them get faster and stronger through techniques and programs. They also do individual sports training in baseball, football, soccer, and softball training for individuals. They also have adult classes.They even have adult classes for athletes like myself. If you’re going to try to improve your fitness, this is the best place to go. They’re even offering a free trial right now, which I took advantage of in the video above.If you have any further questions for David about 615 sports training, visit their website here.If you have any other real estate-related questions or needs that I can assist you with, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you.

Need Sports Training? Look no Further

Do you have some questions about home inspections? Today, I’ve got the answers.Stephen Reader of Reader Home Inspections is here today to answer a few commonly asked questions regarding home inspections. What is a home inspection? A home inspection involves a home inspector going from top to bottom through your house make sure it is in good shape. They’ll make sure the things you’ll be using every day within your house work, meaning your outlets, heating and air systems, cabinets, windows, etc. They check anything you think you’ll need to use or need to live comfortably and make sure its functioning properly. Who is a home inspector suited for? The most popular candidate is a buyer, but that’s not the only candidate. Sellers can ask home inspectors to perform pre-listing inspections so they can get an idea of what will come up when the buyer brings their own inspector. Home inspectors are also handy to inspect rental property you own but haven’t checked on in a while or a new house you bought but never had inspected. Home inspections can benefit buyers as well as sellers. Many people associate home inspections with the buyer’s side of the transaction, but the reality is they can benefit anyone. What’s one of the craziest things you’ve seen during your years as a home inspector? There was a shower that had a light switch inside of it, and instead of trying to move the light switch out of the shower, they put an exterior weather cover plate over it to try to make it waterproof. I want to thank Steve for joining me today. If you have any other questions about home inspections, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d be happy to speak with you. 

An Expert Answers Your Home Inspection FAQs

2017 is over, and the data is in. What has happened in our market? Find out right here.Have you bought a home or thought about making a move in the last couple of years? If you have, you’ll want to pay attention to this market update.Now that 2017 is over, the data is out. What has happened in the Nashville/Middle-Tennessee housing market? What are our trends? The data provided to you today is presented as recorded through our MLS of single-family homes over the past couple years.Closings in the Nashville metropolitan area have gone from just over 27,000 in 2015 to over 29,000 in 2017. That’s about a 9% increase.In that same period, prices have gone from just over $302,000 all the way up to $359,000, nearly a 19% increase. What are we seeing here? We’re seeing our volume continue to grow, but our pricing and what homes are selling for on average is growing at a far greater clip.Williamson County in that same period has seen about 5,000 closings go to just over 5,000, a 3% or 4% increase. Prices in that period went from $473,000 to almost 542,000. That’s almost a 14% increase in pricing.The same trend continues in Wilson County. Closings there went from 2,669 to just over 3,000 by the end of 2017, jumping up about 13%.The average price around that same time went up over 20%, from $261,000 to almost $315,000.What does this data mean? It’s becoming more expensive to purchase a home in and around Nashville at a pretty consistent rate of increases. Well, our market continues to see a steady increase in closing volume, but all these counties we’ve talked about today are seeing an even greater increase in pricing. It’s becoming more expensive to purchase a home in and around Nashville at a pretty consistent rate of increases.We’re offering a free market analysis to all of our friends and family. That’s at no cost and no obligation whatsoever. If you’re interested in seeing how much your home value may have changed as a result of the trends of the past couple years, we’d be happy to provide that for you. Feel free to reach out and give us a call. Make it a great day!

What Trends Have We Seen in the Market Lately?

 This Christmas, head on down to the Gaylord Opryland Resort for all kinds of fun and entertainment for the entire family. Christmas is a big tradition at the Gaylord Opryland Resort, and today we’re joined by Jenny Barker, the director of public relations and marketing for the hotel, to share what events they have in store this holiday season. One of the biggest is their “A Country Christmas” celebration, which runs from mid-November all the way to the beginning of January. This celebration features many signature attractions, including two million pounds’ worth of ice sculptures. There are around 15,000 poinsettia plants around the hotel, and they start hanging their three million Christmas lights as early as July. Christmas isn’t the only time of year to visit this hotel, though. They’re open all year long, and locals can enjoy many other fun activities, such as a tropical walk through their nine-acre indoor gardens, where the temperature is kept at 72 degrees at all times. Their spa is also open all year long, and by booking an appointment, you can enjoy their indoor pool, outdoor pool, fitness center, and sauna. You can also enjoy a round of golf at the Gaylord Springs Golf Links, which is just a five-minute drive from the hotel. According to Jenny, they’re constantly making changes and improvements within the hotel, and they have a total of 20 restaurants and bars all under one roof. Not only will they validate your parking, but there’s free entertainment in the hotel as well. “We’re a great place to bring your family out,” she says. They’ve also started construction on a $90 million indoor/outdoor luxury waterpark. It’s expected to open in late fall of next year. For more details on this project, you can visit http://www.gaylordhotelsnews.com/SoundWaves.Whether you’re a local or from out of town, there’s plenty to do at Opryland.Whether you’re a local or from out of town, there’s plenty to do at Opryland. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to speak with you.

This Christmas, Head on Down to the Gaylord Opryland Resort

There are some great holiday events to attend this season. Here are some of our favorites.Christmas is nearly here in Nashville. We’ve already got our ugly sweaters on and our stockings hung by the fire. If you’re looking for some fun holiday events that the entire family can enjoy, look no further. We’ve got a great list of the best holiday activities in Nashville to share with you today.On Saturday, December 9 at 11 a.m, we have the Mt. Juliet Christmas parade. It will start at West Wilson Middle School and continue its route north on Mt. Juliet Road all the way to Mt. Juliet Middle School. Keep in mind that if you’re going to be in the area and not attending the parade, Mt. Juliet Road will close at about 10:45 a.m. that same morning.One of the biggest hubs of holiday entertainment around here is the Gaylord Opryland Resort's "A Country Christmas" event. You can check out everything they have going on right here on their website, but here are a few of the highlights:A gorgeous display of holiday lights, both indoors and outdoorsA stunning ice sculpture exhibit. This year’s theme? A Charlie Brown ChristmasIce skatingSnow tubingHorse-drawn carriage ridesPictures with SantaMuch more!Finally, don’t miss out on the Dancing Lights of Christmas out in Lebanon at the Wilson County Fairgrounds (exit 239 off Interstate 40). It’s a nice little drive and the best part is that it’s all choreographed to a classic Christmas soundtrack you can listen to on your radio."There’s quite a lot going on this month."As you can see, there's quite a lot going on this month. If you have any questions about any of the events mentioned above, don’t hesitate to reach out and give me a call or send me an email. I’d be happy to help you in whatever way I can.

Holiday Events Around Nashville for the Whole Family

 If you have been looking for a place to get in shape and have fun while doing it, look no further than CrossFit Mt. Juliet.I’d like to welcome you to the first installment of a new series I’m going to be doing. In this series, I’ll be visiting local businesses to discuss what they do and what they bring to our community. Today, I’m here at CrossFit Mt. Juliet, where I’ve been a member myself many years. If you want to get in shape, have fun doing it, and meet great people, you absolutely need to check it out. To help me explain what CrossFit is, and what this business is all about, I’m joined by owners PK and Seth. According to Seth, CrossFit is basically personal training in a group setting. They use Olympic weightlifting, gymnastics, cardio, and more. The best part is that CrossFit is for everyone. It doesn’t matter what your current fitness level is—CrossFit Mt. Juliet can help you get in a good workout no matter your prior experience."CrossFit is for everyone."Unlike traditional gyms, everything is done in classes here at CrossFit Mt. Juliet. There are five classes in the morning, starting at 5:15 a.m. and running until 10:30 a.m., and then five classes in the afternoon and evening, from 3:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.There’s something out there for everyone. So why wait? Now is the perfect time to begin. You can visit www.crossfitmtjuliet.com to get started. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Visiting a Great Local Business: CrossFit Mt. Juliet

 If you are thinking of selling, there are three steps you need to take to determine whether that is a sound decision. This applies whether you’ve owned your home for 12 months or 12 years.Recently, I received an interesting question from a past client: “I know we’ve only owned our home for less than a year. However, in light of the continued strength of the Nashville and surrounding areas’ markets, and the continued price appreciation, is a resale and a move something we should consider?”Basically, this boils down to whether reselling a property shortly after buying it is a good idea. Actually, I would approach this decision the same way I would when consulting anyone who’s thinking of selling a home. I’d like to break down my answer into three steps. First, you need to ask yourself why. Why is a move something you’re considering in the first place?Based on what they stated in their question, it sounds like the motivation from my past client comes from wanting to earn a profit. For others, it may be the desire to upsize, downsize, or get into a different school zone. No matter the reason, clarifying your “why” is the first step anyone should take in making this decision.After that, the second step is to consider the “what.” What would a home sale look like financially? What is a realistic sales price based on comparable properties in the area, and what is the realistic profit you could potentially make? A Realtor like myself can assist you with determining these numbers."Whether you’ve owned your home for 12 months or 12 years, the steps are very similar."The third and final step is to ask yourself where you would go. You also need to ask yourself if you can make a move to a different area or home within your financial capacity. Whether you’ve owned your home for 12 months or 12 years, the steps are very similar. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

The 3 W's of Resale

Small changes in interest rates can reduce your borrowing power by as much as 10%.If you’re a homebuyer, small changes in interest rates can have a dramatic effect on how much money you can borrow.  For example, let’s assume you want to maintain a monthly mortgage payment of approximately $1,150. Let’s also assume you want to take a 30-year loan. At an interest rate of 4%, you can borrow about $240,000.  If that interest rate rose from 4% to 5%, your loan amount, to maintain the same monthly payment, would decrease to approximately $215,000. That’s an 11% to 12% reduction in borrowing power—all because of a tiny 1% rise in interest rates. This is a lesson I tell all my clients.This is a lesson I impart to all my clients, so beware of small changes in interest rates and how they impact your purchasing power.   If you’re in the market to buy or sell a home, I would love the opportunity to earn your business, so don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I look forward to speaking with you.

How Is Your Borrowing Power Affected By Interest Rate Fluctuations?

To help you navigate the market as a first-time homebuyer, I’ve got three tips for you.Buying a home can be an exciting but somewhat stressful time, and requires the buyer and the agent to coordinate well in order for it to be a success. I have come up with three tips that can help homebuyers navigate the market.1. Know what you can afford. Buying a home is more than just a monthly principal and interest payment. There are closing costs, monthly insurance costs, taxes, maintenance expenses, and possibly even HOA dues. Make sure you thoroughly assess the true cost of homeownership, so that you can compare that to your income and purchase at a level that you are financially comfortable with.2. Choose your lender wisely. Deciding on a lender should be more than just shopping for the lowest interest rate. Also consider closing costs associated with whichever loan you choose. A competent agent will understand your situation and be able to pair the right loan product with your specific needs. You can find the right agent and lender by looking online, speaking with family, or giving us a call. We work in the area every day and can help you make the right decisions when buying your home.Deciding on a lender should be more than just shopping for the lowest interest rate. 3. Don’t overlook the details. One example would be a home inspection. It may cost $300 to $400 upfront, but it could save you thousands down the road. Additionally, you need to make sure that you read the fine print on the contract. We as your agents want to make sure that you’re comfortable with paperwork and what it means to you in regards to the transaction.If you have any questions about this topic or you’re looking to buy or sell a home, give us a call. We’d be happy to help!

3 Tips for Homebuyers

What are some things you can do to help sell your home? Today I’ve laid out five staging tips for you to try.There are five simple things that you can do to help you sell your home quickly and for the most money possible:1. The first impression is the only impression that matters. You want the outside, entryway, and foyer to be as welcoming as possible to buyers when they walk through your home. Declutter your foyer, freshen up the paint, trim back bushes, and put down fresh mulch outside.2. Always be show ready. Take special effort before you leave for work to tidy up the kitchen and put away unnecessary items because you never know when a potential buyer will walk through the home while you’re away. Do your best to keep the home in a show-ready state.Do your best to keep your home in a show-ready state. 3. Kitchens and bathrooms sell homes. There are some minor updates you can do to these rooms to make the home look as current as possible. These include a new coat of paint or update fixtures on the cabinets.4. Take the home the out of the house. When you’re living in your home, you make changes to the home that appeal to yourself. When you sell your home, it becomes a house — a product that needs to appeal to the most buyers possible. Decluttering and depersonalizing your home is very important in that case.5. Hire an informed agent. Hire someone who can price your home right and has an informed marketing plan so that you can sell your home quickly and for top dollar.If you have any other questions about this or any other real estate topics, or you’d like to buy or sell a home, give me a call. I’d be happy to help!

5 Tips for Staging Your Home to Appeal to the Most Buyers

Many homebuyers don't understand the difference between home inspections and appraisals. Today I’m here to explain the difference.What's the difference between a home inspection and an appraisal? Many potential homeowners get the two confused, not realizing that there is actually a big difference between them. The truth is, the two processes are done for very different reasons.First, we’ll discuss the appraisal. The primary purpose of an appraisal is to determine the value of a property. This is set in place to protect the lender. If the lender is going to originate a loan on a specific property and hold it as collateral, they want to know the reasonable value of the property in the current market.The truth is, the two processes are done for very different reasons. An appraiser is hired by the bank to visit the property and take note of the condition. They’ll then compare the property with other homes that have sold in the area with similar square footage and features. Ultimately, this is all done to assign the property a fair market value and protect the lender. Home inspections however, are for the benefit of the homebuyer. The buyer will hire a licensed inspector to examine and determine the condition of the property.  A general inspector will check out the roof, the structure, the electrical components, and the plumbing to name a few things. This gives the future homeowner a clear picture of the condition of the home, preparing them for any potential future maintenance.If you have any questions about these two real estate processes, please feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you!

What’s the Difference Between Home Inspections & Appraisals?

Not every home sale is a success. Here’s how to ensure your next attempt is.Have you had a failed home sale in the past? Maybe you didn’t receive any offers, had few showings, or a generally poor selling experience. If you’ve failed to sell in the past, that doesn’t mean you still can’t make it happen. I have three tips to share with you that will greatly increase your chances of selling the second time around:1. Reevaluate your price. This is the key factor in ensuring your home sells quickly. Overpriced properties never get looks from savvy buyers or their agents because they won’t overpay. Take a look at the real-time market data in order to find a realistic price.Overpriced properties get passed over often. 2. Reassess the condition of your home. Take the emotions out of it and look at your home through the eyes of a buyer. Is the home depersonalized and decluttered? Take a moment to step back and assess these things. It can be challenging to live in a home while you’re selling it, but making sure it's spotless when buyers walk through will help it sell much quicker.3. Reinvigorate your marketing plan. There are multiple things you can do to ensure this. One way is by simply looking at the pictures that are used to present your home to the public online. Are they high-quality pictures? Do they capture the unique benefits and features of your property? If not, you need photos that do. Another way a great Realtor can help you is by being connected to other agents around town. If they are in a network where a lot of buyers are looking for homes, they will be able to get your home better foot traffic, more offers, and a higher sale price.If you have any questions about this topic or anything else relating to real estate, give me a call or send me an email. I’m always glad to help out.

How to Approach a Home Sale After a Failed Attempt

Is Nashville in a buyer’s market or a seller’s market? The latest market conditions are actually great for both, and I’ll explain why today.People always ask me, “Are we in a buyer’s market or a seller’s market?” Today, I’ll go over the latest market conditions from both a buyer’s and seller’s perspective.If you are buying a home in today’s market, you should know that interest rates continue to remain at historic lows. That means buyers have more purchasing power, so we are seeing a lot of buyer activity in the real estate market right now.Interest rates and inventory are at historic lows! As for sellers, inventory remains incredibly low, especially in certain price points. Because of the shortage in inventory, homes are selling very quickly and some are drawing multiple offers. Sellers are seeing phenomenal success in our current market.Ultimately, whether you are buying or selling a home, there are many positive reasons for you to be involved in the real estate market right now. If you have any questions or would like to know more details about your particular price point, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Nashville Real Estate Market Update

If you’re buying a home, you should hire an agent to represent you. If you don’t, you will be vulnerable at many points throughout the transaction.If you’re looking to purchase a home, is it wise to hire an agent to help you with the process? A lot of people have been asking us this question, so we wanted to set the record straight. We believe it’s a great idea to hire a buyer’s agent for many reasons, and here are a few:1. Listing agents are not on your side. Many people think that they will just hire the agent whose name is attached to the listing they are thinking about purchasing. While you can do this, remember that the listing agent who is advertising that home has already been hired by the seller. They represent the seller, and they work for that seller too. That being said, it would make sense for a buyer to have that same, equal level of representation.2. Buyer’s agents are on your side. They will help you sort through all the available inventory to find the perfect fit for you. That way, you won’t waste time looking at properties that are already sold or under contract, which you would do a lot if you search for a home on your own. A buyer’s agent will help you sort through all those listings to find all the homes that are actually for sale in your area.Listing agents work for sellers. 3. They fully understand the buyer purchasing process. They will go over everything you need, from your ideal  price to your location, mortgage rate, and home features. Then they will help you with all the forms and documents involved to help you from the home search process all the way through closing.4. They bring a wealth of experience. A buyer’s agent offers an additional, unbiased set of eyes after seeing many homes. A full-time professional agent does this every day, and in doing so, they will inevitably provide insight that your average buyer doesn’t have.These are just several of the reasons why you should consider having someone in your corner when buying a home. If you have any questions for us, don’t hesitate to reach out and give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Do You Really Need a Buyer’s Agent?

If you are looking to buy or sell a home, get all the information and the latest updates, tips, and tricks from Brian Hammond - your professional Keller Williams Real Estate Agents.

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Keller Williams Real Estate Podcast with Brian Hammond

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