school reports out for Brentwood High and other Williamson County TN schools. See how the schools in Williamson County TN stack up.

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/tennessee/districts


Brentwood TN schools
Franklin TN schools

how Brentwood TN and Franklin TN schools rank

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/tennessee/districts

need an experienced agent in Brentwood TN, Franklin TN, Nashville TN?

another great home sold in Spring Hill TN

lovely home bought by clients relocating here from Maryland.  set to close at the end of the month!

3043 Sakari Circle  Spring Hill TN 37179

Buying or selling a home in Spring Hill TN

bring the horses! home with a pool! lovely Williamson County TN

Need 10 acres, a pool, horse barn and training ring??  Appr. 6,000 sqft home in the heart of Williamson County TN.  adjacent to prestigious Greg Norman designed golf course.  Second away from 840 and access to The Gallaria Mall, Franklin TN and Brentwood TN.  Downtown Nashville 30 minutes away!  Coming soon to the market.  Feel free to contact me at mike@mikeconrad.net for a private showing, if not working with another agent.

beautiful equestrian property in beautiful Williamson County TN

Beautiful equestrian property in Williamson County TN

appr. 10 acres of great pasture and partial trees.  6,000 sqft home with a swimming pool.  complete with horse barn and training ring.  seconds to 840 with convenient access to the Galleria Mall, Franklin TN, Brentwood TN and 30 minutes from downtown Nashville TN.  Coming soon!  if not working with an agent contact me directly for more information and a private showing.

looking for an equestrian property in Williamson County TN?

High End Short Sale Homes in Brentwood TN and Franklin TN

couple of really nice homes as short sales.  one short sale home in Brentwood TN 37027 and the other short sale home in Franklin TN 37067

                                                  $999,900.00 in Franklin TN 37067

                                                  $625,000.00 approved short sale, bank approved price in Brentwood TN

looking for a great deal on a short sale in Brentwood TN or Franklin TN?

Williamson County School Report Card

ASSESSMENT
District Report Card

2012 STATE REPORT CARD

Once again Williamson County Schools has plenty to be proud of according to the Tennessee Department of Education's 2012 State Report Card. The yearly report provides a profile of each school district throughout the state, using performance on various standardized assessments and collected statistics to award grades.

Below are some of the district highlights from the 2012 Report Card, linked HERE:

·         All A’s in 3-8 Achievement

·         All A’s in 5, 8, and 11 Writing

·         ACT Composite of 23.1

·         Three A’s and one B (science) in 3-8 Academic Growth

·         At or above state growth average in all 9-12 subjects

Visit IN FOCUS for more regarding the State Report Card.

ACT Results

Williamson County students continue to outperform their peers on the ACT test. The district’s graduating class of 2012 posted an ACT composite score of 23.1, up 0.3 points from 2011 and a step closer to achieving the School Board goal of 24. Williamson County Schools also outscored the state average of 19.2 and the national average of 21.1.

For more information on results, including individual school composites and college benchmarks, see IN FOCUS.

TCAP Results

Williamson County Schools is the highest achieving district in the state based on the 2012 TCAP results. According to the TCAP data posted on the Tennessee Department of Education's WEBSITE, the district ranked first in the areas of reading/language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies for grades 3-8.

The high achievement continued for high school EOCs as well, with Williamson County Schools ranking first in English I and Biology I and second in English II and Algebra II. The district also ranked high in Algebra I and US History.

Visit IN FOCUS to hear WCS Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney’s TCAP results news conference.

Achievement and Gap Closure AMOs

Prior to the 2011-2012 school year, No Child Left Behind (NCLB) required schools and districts to meet specific measures known as  Annual Yearly Progress (AYP). Tennessee has since established a new accountability system through a NCLB waiver that focuses on increasing achievement levels for all students and reduce achievement gaps that exist between certain groups of students. The achievement and gap targets under the new system are referred to as Annual Measureable Objectives (AMOs).

More information about the new accountability system can be found on the Tennessee Department of Education's WEBSITE.

As a district, Williamson County Schools met every single achievement AMO, exceeding primary targets in 8-of-9 measures. The district also met 6-of-14 gap closure AMOs, two short of the required eight for “exemplary” status.

Tennessee’s new accountability system also recognizes “reward”, “focus”, and “priority” schools based on achievement and growth. Williamson County Schools had three schools identified as a reward school for achievement and six more schools for achievement and growth. No school in the district was identified as either a focus or priority school.

Visit IN FOCUS to learn more about the district’s reward schools.

be glad for some of the problems we don't have selling homes in Brentwood, Franklin, and Nashville TN

TRACIE CONE, AP
12 hours ago

In this photo taken Monday, May 6, 2013 Robin and Scott Spivey walk past th...

LAKEPORT, Calif. (AP) — Scott and Robin Spivey had a sinking feeling that something was wrong with their home when cracks began snaking across their walls in March.
The cracks soon turned into gaping fractures, and within two weeks their 600-square-foot garage broke from the house and the entire property — manicured lawn and all — dropped 10 feet below the street.
It wasn't long before the houses on both sides collapsed as the ground gave way in the Spivey's neighborhood in Lake County, about 100 miles north of San Francisco.
"We want to know what is going on here," said Scott Spivey, a former city building inspector who lived in his four-bedroom, Tudor-style dream home for 11 years.
Eight homes are now abandoned and 10 more are under notice of imminent evacuation as a hilltop with sweeping vistas of Clear Lake and the Mount Konocti volcano swallows the subdivision built 30 years ago.
The situation has become so bad that mail delivery was ended to keep carriers out of danger.
"It's a slow-motion disaster," said Randall Fitzgerald, a writer who bought his home in the Lakeside Heights project a year ago.
Unlike sinkholes of Florida that can gobble homes in an instant, this collapse in hilly volcanic country can move many feet on one day and just a fraction of an inch the next.
Officials believe water that has bubbled to the surface is playing a role in the destruction. But nobody can explain why suddenly there is plentiful water atop the hill in a county with groundwater shortages.
"That's the big question," said Scott De Leon, county public works director. "We have a dormant volcano, and I'm certain a lot of things that happen here (in Lake County) are a result of that, but we don't know about this."
Other development on similar soil in the county is stable, county officials said.
While some of the subdivision movement is occurring on shallow fill, De Leon said a geologist has warned that the ground could be compromised down to bedrock 25 feet below and that cracks recently appeared in roads well beyond the fill.
"Considering this is a low rainfall year and the fact it's letting go now after all of these years, and the magnitude that it's letting go, well it's pretty monumental," De Leon said.
County officials have inspected the original plans for the project and say it was developed by a reputable engineering firm then signed off on by the public works director at the time.
"I can only presume that they were checked prior to approval," De Leon said.
The sinkage has prompted county crews to redirect the subdivision's sewage 300 feet through an overland pipe as manholes in the 10-acre development collapsed.
Consultant Tom Ruppenthal found two small leaks in the county water system that he said weren't big enough to account for the amount of water that is flowing along infrastructure pipes and underground fissures, but they could be contributing to another source.
"It's very common for groundwater to shift its course," said Ruppenthal of Utility Services Associates in Seattle. "I think the groundwater has shifted."
If the county can't get the water and sewer service stabilized, De Leon said all 30 houses in the subdivision will have to be abandoned.
The owners of six damaged homes said they need help from the government.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors asked Gov. Jerry Brown to declare an emergency so funding might be available to stabilize utilities and determine the cause of the collapse. On May 6, state Sen. Noreen Evans, D-Santa Rosa, wrote a letter of support asking Brown for immediate action. The California Emergency Management Agency said Brown was still assessing the situation.
On Wednesday, the state sent a water resources engineer and a geologist to look at the problem. Sen. Dianne Feinstein sent a representative the next day.
Lake County, with farms, wineries and several Indian casinos, was shaped by earthquake fault movement and volcanic explosions that helped create the Coast Ranges of California. Clear Lake, popular for boating and fishing, is the largest fresh water lake wholly located in the state.
It is not unusual for groundwater in the region to make its way to the surface then subside. Many natural hot springs and geysers receded underground in the early 1900s and have since been tapped for geothermal power.
Homeowners now wonder whether fissures have opened below their hilltop, allowing water to seep to the surface. But they're so perplexed they also talk about the land being haunted and are considering asking the local Native American tribe if the hilltop was an ancient graveyard.
"Someone said it must be hexed," said Blanka Doren, a 72-year-old German immigrant who poured her life savings into the house she bought in 1999 so she could live on the rental income.
The home shares a wall with her neighbor, Jagtar Singh — who had two days of notice to move his wife, 4-year-old daughter and his parents before the hill behind the back of his home collapsed — taking the underside of his house and leaving the carpet dangling.
Doren is afraid that as Singh's house falls it will take hers with it. Already cracks have spread across her floors.
Damaged houses in the subdivision have been tagged for mandatory removal, but the hillside is so unstable it can't support the heavy equipment necessary to perform the job.
"This was our first home," said Singh, who noticed a problem in April when he could see light between the wall and floor of his bedroom. A geotechnical company offered no solutions.
"We didn't know it would be that major, but in one week we were gone," he said.
So far insurance companies have left the owners of the homes — valued between $200,000 and $250,000, or twice the median price in the county — dangling too. Subsidence is not covered, homeowners said. So until someone figures out whether something else is going on, they'll be in limbo.
"It's a tragedy, really," contractor Dean Pick said as he took photos for an insurance company. "I've never seen anything like it. At least that didn't have the Pacific Ocean eating away at it."


looking for a REALTOR to help you buy or sell a home in Brentwood, Franklin or Nashville TN
———

Tim Tebow moving to Nashville TN

not really, just thought i would see what kind of traffic might be generated by such a headline.  What if the Tennessee Titans picked him up?  Would home prices in Brentwood TN or Franklin TN or Nashville TN go up?  I doubt it, our star power here in little old Nashville is already pretty high and big names like to buy homes in Nashville TN, Franklin TN or Brentwood TN because they are not hassled and are left to lead fairly ordinary lifestyles.  by Mike Conrad

buying a home in nashville, brentwood or franklin tn

Homes for Sale in Brentwood TN

f you plan to buy a home this spring, expect competition. Demand from homebuyers is growing faster than the supply of homes for sale, according to data from the National Association of Realtors. "It's creating a little bit of a shortage and a mismatch between supply and demand," says Jed Smith, managing director of quantitative research for the National Association of Realtors.


real estate expertise in Brentwood TN

Cool Springs TN homes for sale

Cool Springs is one of those areas that is part of the Nashville locals library of places to live and work as well as spend most of the weekend shopping, but try to find it on a map or search for homes using "Cool Springs" as the city name and you are going to be out of luck.
Cool Springs is an area that is really part of Brentwood and Franklin. It's well know to residents of the Nashville area as the home to Cool Springs Galleria which is the local shopping attraction for the Brentwood/Franklin area. There are alos some residential homes for sale in the immeadiate area, which are known either as Franklin or Brentwood, which is how they are listed in the MLS, but locals would say they are in Cool Springs.  by Mike Conrad

looking for an agent familiar with cool springs TN

Brentwood TN, Franklin TN and Nashville TN, short sale information Wells Fargo lender

With a short sale you may have the option to sell your home for less than the amount owed on your mortgage. By doing this, you may be released from your obligation to pay back your primary mortgage under its original terms. And as your mortgage servicer, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage may accept the proceeds of the sale as payment in full. This option can help you avoid a foreclosure sale and may be considered even if the foreclosure process has started.

Depending on your situation, you may be eligible for a short sale through the federal government’s Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives program, or through a different program.

As the homeowner, you:

• Avoid a foreclosure sale — in some cases the foreclosure sale may be postponed once a written, signed offer is received and approved by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
• Can live in your home until the new owner closes, giving you time to make other living arrangements
• May be released from your obligation to repay your mortgage balance                                             agent with short sale experience in Brentwood, Franklin, and Nashville TN

best cities to flip a house

More investors are rehabilitating homes and looking to sell them for profit, a move known as flipping.
RealtyTrac recently evaluated more than 600 metro areas to find where flipping single-family homes offers some of the highest returns based on the investor’s gross profit. The top eight metros for house-flipping are:
Orlando
Average purchase price: $103,701
Average flipped price: $168,677
Gross profit percent: 63 percent
Las Vegas
Average purchase price: $133,198
Average flipped price: $203,945
Gross profit percent: 53 percent
Phoenix
Average purchase price: $146,528
Average flipped price: $210,290
Gross profit percent: 44 percent
Tampa, Fla.
Average purchase price: $79,538
Average flipped price: $113,676
Gross profit percent: 43 percent
Memphis, Tenn.
Average purchase price: $68,318
Average flipped price: $96,870
Gross profit percent: 42 percent
Miami 
Average purchase price: $138,064
Average flipped price: $189,291
Gross profit percent: 37 percent
Lakeland, Fla.
Average purchase price: $68,444
Average flipped price: $93,715
Gross profit percent: 37 percent
Nashville, Tenn.
Average purchase price: $108,851
Average flipped price: $146,872
Gross profit percent: 35 percent
Source: “Best Markets for Flipping Homes,” HousingWire (May 2, 2013)

SHORT SALE HOMES IN BRENTWOOD TN

What is a Short Sale?

A Short Sale, also known as a pre-foreclosure sale, is when you sell your home for less than the balance remaining on your mortgage. If your mortgage company agrees to a Short Sale, you can sell your home and pay off all (or a portion of) your mortgage balance with the proceeds. Fannie Mae’s program is called Short Sale/HAFA II.
A Short Sale is an alternative to foreclosure and may be an option if:

• You are ineligible to refinance or modify your mortgage
• You are facing a long-term hardship
• You are behind on your mortgage payments
• You owe more on your home than it’s worth
• You have not been able to sell your home at a price that covers what you still owe on your mortgage
• You can no longer afford your home and are ready or need to leave  by Mike Conrad

Brentwood TN short sales, Franklin TN short sales, Williamson County TN short sales

A “short sale” is when you sell your house at a price that is lower than the balance you owe on your house.  Because the proceeds from the sale of your house falls short of the principle balance you owe the bank, it is referred to as a “Short Sale”.  This type of sale occurs when a homeowner cannot afford the mortgage payments and the value of the property drops so that the homeowner cannot refinance his home.  The Bank decides that selling the property at a loss is better than forcing you into foreclosure.
 
The Banks have loss mitigation departments that will look at each deal and decide if the bank will agree to a short sale.  Each Bank will have their own requirements for approving a short sale.  Typically a Bank will have the home appraised and based on that appraisal they will decide if it is better to have you sell the home for less than you owe or if they will make more money foreclosing on you and then selling the house themselves.

If the Bank does agree to the short sale you are still not out of the woods.  You will still be responsible for the difference between the short sale proceeds and the remaining balance of your mortgage unless you have it clearly stated in the agreement that you are not responsible for any remaining balances.   Even after you get the Bank to forgive the debt you sill have to deal with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  When you have any debt “forgiven” the IRS considers it to be income.  So while you are losing you house because you can’t afford to make the payments the government expects you to pay taxes on the gains you receive.  You should always ask a tax professional what the impact of the Short Sale will have on your personal income taxes since there are some exclusions that have recently been put into effect.

Hopefully, the goal of making the definitions of a Short Sale Simple has been achieved.  You should seek the services of a licensed real estate professional that specializes in Short Sales before you contact the bank.  These Professionals can negotiate with the Bank for you.   Also remember to consult with a tax specialist before signing any agreement.  by Mike Conrad

Brentwood TN short sale specialist

short sale homes

We represent a number of short sale properties.  These can present a great opportunity for the right buyer.  Look to the right and you will see a number of short sale homes.  If you are an investor or looking for a great deal, a short sale, pre-foreclosure or foreclosure may be right for you.  Give me a call on 615.429.6785 or email me at mike@mikeconrad.net and let's begin your search today.  We have Brentwood TN short sale homes, Franklin TN short sale homes, Williamson County short sale homes and Spring Hill TN short sale homes.  We also have Nashville short sale homes, Bellevue short sale homes and more short sale homes.
If you are already working with a REALTOR please be aware that all sales are subject to the seller's lender approval.  Buyer's Agent will receive between 1 - 3 percent cooperating compensation depending on final approval of the short sale by the lender.
by Mike Conrad


what is a short sale home?

Short Sales in Brentwood TN 37027

Someone help me out here, I am struggling to understand some of my fellow REALTORS and their buyers here in Brentwood TN 37027.  I have a lovely home listed as a Brentwood TN short sale.  It is a approved, cooperative short sale with a list price (lender approved and directed) of $485,000.  Yes, the home needs some work, but why in the world would someone offer $345,000.00 when they knew I already had an offer of $460,000.00??? 

Why do REALTORS  not do a better job of educating their buyers on the logic and structure behind the sale of a short sale home?  I have worked hard to educate my short sale buyers that going after a short sale is not a way to get way more house than you could ever possibly afford without the short.  That becomes a recipe for disaster as the day to day expenses of running a home otherwise way over your budget eventually catches up to you.  Rather, when looking at a short sale, stay within the general confines of your budget, maybe a little over and go and get a really good price for that home.

example   bad way    only approved for a loan/purchase price of $400,000  don't go looking at $500,000 - $700,000 and try to get it for $400,000.

correct way  same approval as above, look at homes priced at or below $425,000.  assuming that the listing agent knows what they are doing, you might be able to get this short sale home for $375,000 - $400,000

Give me a call if you need to list or want to buy a short sale home in Brentwood TN 37027
by Mike Conrad

short sale homes in Brentwood TN

Housing market starts

	"I'm always making a comeback but nobody ever tells me where I've been." Billie Holiday. And the evidence continues to show that the housing market is making a comeback. Read on for details and what they mean for home loan rates. Housing Starts spiked by 7 percent in March to 1.036 million units on an annualized basis, well above the 930,000 expected. This was the largest rate since June 2008. In addition, Housing Starts were up a whopping 47 percent since the same period last year. Building Permits, a sign of future construction, did decline by nearly 4 percent to 902,000. But overall, this was a strong report and further evidence of improvement in the housing sector. In other news, the Labor Department reported that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) declined by 0.2 percent in March, showing that inflation at the consumer level remains tame. Weekly Initial Jobless Claims rose by 4,000 to 352,000, with no clear signs of any significant move lower as the labor market continues to muddle along with no meaningful growth. And in the manufacturing sector, the Empire Manufacturing Index was much weaker than expected, falling to 3.1 in April from 9.2 last month. What does all of this mean for home loan rates? The Fed has noted that inflation remains in check and they expect this to continue for some time. The recent inflation and weak jobs data gives the Fed cover to continue its Bond purchase program known as Quantitative Easing, which should continue to benefit Bonds and home loan rates (since they are tied to Mortgage Bonds). The bottom line is that home loan rates remain near historic lows and now is a great time to consider a home purchase or refinance. Let me know if I can answer any questions at all for you or your clients.

Forecast for the Week

	This week contains a full slate of important news from start to finish. The housing market will be front and center the beginning of the week, with Existing Home Sales on Monday and New Home Sales on Tuesday. We'll get a sense of how the economy is doing with Wednesday's Durable Goods Orders, which tracks orders on big ticket items used for an extended period of time, and Friday's 2013 Q1 Gross Domestic Product (First Estimate). As usual Thursday brings us weekly Initial Jobless Claims. We end the week with the Consumer Sentiment Index for April. In addition, earnings season continues and the markets will be watching these reports closely for signs regarding whether our economy is improving. Remember: Weak economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve, while strong economic news normally has the opposite result. The chart below shows Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS), which are the type of Bond that home loan rates are based on. When you see these Bond prices moving higher, it means home loan rates are improving -- and when they are moving lower, home loan rates are getting worse. To go one step further -- a red "candle" means that MBS worsened during the day, while a green "candle" means MBS improved during the day. Depending on how dramatic the changes were on any given day, this can cause rate changes throughout the day, as well as on the rate sheets we start with each morning. As you can see in the chart below, Bonds and home loan rates remain near record best levels. I'll continue to monitor this closely. Chart: Fannie Mae 3.0% Mortgage Bond (Friday Apr 19, 2013)

The Mortgage Market Guide View...

	Five Ways to Get More Business From Your Website Many small to midsize local businesses have ineffective websites and often still rely on traditional media to get leads and drum up new clients. But online search analysis company Chitika reports over 43 percent of all internet search queries are now local. Combine this with declining readership in print publications and Yellow Page use, and local businesses may be looking at a serious problem. Here are five ways to make sure your website keeps up with the rapidly changing face of technology: Go mobile. According to Google and Bing, over 50 percent of web searches made from a mobile device are local and yet 93.3 percent of local business websites are neither mobile compatible nor render correctly from most smartphones. Mobile compatibility is critical as customers will usually move on to the next site within a few seconds if they are required to "pinch and zoom" for information. Be social. According to Marketecture, Inc., a company providing websites for small businesses, 80.5 percent of small businesses don't provide social media links on their website, even if they have a social media presence. Social media is potentially one of the largest sources of free traffic, so make sure your website communicates your presence there. Answer quickly. Email is convenient, fast, and ubiquitous. Getting in touch with you should be the same. Make sure your website has contact information, including email, where it can be easily seen on every page of your website. The same is true for your phone number: make sure it's everywhere on your site and not just the Contact page. Be a resource. If you don't have an "information request" form on your website, connected to both your email and CRM, you're missing out on a great avenue for leads. Make it easy for people to ask questions and receive quick answers, and you will always be rewarded with new business and stronger referrals. SEO is essential. Woody Allen once quipped that 80 percent of success is just showing up. But if your website doesn't show up in search results, you're 100 percent out of the race. A significant source of customers can result from the traffic directed to you by search engine results. Search engine optimization (SEO) using proper keywords, site optimization, and link building are necessary to get search engine ranking. If you don't know how to do it yourself, it's worth hiring specialists. Address these areas on your website and you'll capture a bigger share of local website traffic, improve your customer engagement and, of course, get more leads and new business coming in the door than ever before. Please pass this along to any clients and colleagues who might benefit from these tips. Economic Calendar for the Week of April 22 - April 26 Date ET Economic Report For Estimate Actual Prior Impact Mon. April 22 10:00 Existing Home Sales Mar NA 4.98M Moderate Tue. April 23 10:00 New Home Sales Mar NA 411K Moderate Wed. April 24 08:30 Durable Goods Orders Mar NA 5.6% Moderate Thu. April 25 08:30 Jobless Claims (Initial) 4/20 NA 352K Moderate Fri. April 26 08:30 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Q1 NA 0.4% Moderate Fri. April 26 08:30 Chain Deflator Q1 NA 1.0% Moderate Fri. April 26 10:00 Consumer Sentiment Index (UoM) Apr NA 72.3 Moderate

The material contained in this newsletter is provided by a third party to real estate, financial services and other professionals only for their use and the use of their clients. The material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment and/or mortgage advice. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, we do not make any representations as to its accuracy or completeness and as a result, there is no guarantee it is without errors.

As your mortgage professional, I am sending you the MMG WEEKLY because I am committed to keeping you updated on the economic events that impact interest rates and how they may affect you.

In the unlikely event that you no longer wish to receive these valuable market updates, please USE THIS LINK or email: Craig.E.Newby@Wellsfargo.com

If you prefer to send your removal request by mail the address is:

Craig Newby
License# 450444
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Referrals For Nashville TN short sales

Got a call yesterday from a REALTOR in Colorado asking me if I would take on a referral short sale in Nashville TN.  of course i said i would, i love having someone find me on the internet and refer business.  We talked a bit about short sales and my methodology toward selling homes under a short sale environment.

part of my process in selling a short is getting the homeowner in the right mindset to let the process work as efficiently as possible.  we all know by its very nature a short sale is a tedious and trying undertaking, but can be done if everyone (buyer and seller and their respective agents) enter into it with the right mindset and same goal.  that being, get the home sold for a fair price with the lender's blessing and minimize the strain and stress on everyone.

more to come on this one

by mike conrad

short sale homes in nashville tn

HARP extended

Good news for the Brentwood TN, Franklin TN and Williamson County TN home market.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has announced the extension of the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) by two years to December 31, 2015

Finding a Top Agent to list and sell your home 

What is a Short Sale??

What is a Short Sale? A short sale is when the bank agrees to take less than what is owed on the mortgage to close on the sale of a home.(there are not fees to the seller)  A short sale is a common solution for people that owe more than their home is worth, can't afford the monthly payments or don't have the money to bring to closing to complete the sale of their home.   PLUS a lot of banks are now paying home owners as much as $5,000 to $30,000 for relocation costs if they maintain the home during the sale!  They pay this because it’s cheaper than the foreclosure process! 

(We are not licensed attorney's or CPA's so cannot advise on tax consequences but there is relief if you sell short, see Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007. The IRS could consider the loss as income but the tax act may forgive it!)

There is no cost to you and we will never ask you for any money at anytime!

The bank will pay our compensation for getting the property sold. At the same time we will look out for your interests and take the pain and confusion out of doing a short sale. We provide, at no cost to you, an ethical and professional solution. While it is possible to negotiate on your own most often the bank will want your property listed with a real estate professional.

I have done many short sales so we can guide you through the process. Many times it takes 60 - 90 days and hours of time spent on the phone tracking down the right people and processing the deal. You do not want to risk losing a buyer due to long processing times. (No money comes out of your pocket since the bank takes less than what is owed.)

THE KEY TO A FAST, SUCCESSFUL SHORT SALE IS TO TAKE THE TIME UP FRONT AND GATHER ALL OF THE PAPERWORK WE'LL NEED TO PROCESS THE TRANSACTION.

Brentwood TN and Franklin TN short sales

Nashville TN Short Sales

Short Sale and Foreclosures in Brentwood TN

 

 Short Sale vs. Foreclosure? What are the Consequences

You make the call!

I get the question from people all the time: short sale or foreclosure, which is the better option? My knee-jerk reaction is always “Are you kidding? Short sale, of course!” This has been mostly because I was always under the impression that a short sale, although still a ding on your credit, was gentler on the score than a foreclosure.
But according to a recent blog post by FICO Banking Analytics, there is no real difference in the affect a short sale or a foreclosure has on your credit score. Both the impact in points and the time to fully recover is about the same for both events.
This put me in a precarious situation. All this time I had lauded the short sale as vastly superior to foreclosure, largely because of its less adverse affects on credit. So I was forced to do further research into which was the better option. In doing so I learned about benefits of a short sale I wasn’t even aware of, and found that the FICO blog was way off.
Each borrower’s credit situation is different, and the way that a creditor reports a short sale to bureaus is different. The reality is that hundreds of thousands of distressed Nashville homeowners who have chosen a short sale have experienced a lesser impact on their credit than those who have chosen foreclosure.
Here is the big difference: In a short sale, some or all of the debt could be completely forgiven, wiped out, and gone forever! In a foreclosure, the debt could be hanging over a homeowners head for years. A short sale allows the homeowner to control how the remaining debt, i.e. the deficiency balance, will be handled. This is huge as it could impact a homeowners financial future for years to come.
In a short sale, a distressed homeowner may be able to obtain another mortgage sooner than someone who has a foreclosure on his or her record. Also, more and more employers pull credit before hiring a potential employee, and a foreclosure can keep you from getting a job. Some employers pull credit reports on existing employees, and a foreclosure may not bode well in certain industries.
These benefits stacked against the negatives of foreclosure, including the embarrassment of public announcement and literally being kicked out of your home, make, in my opinion, short sale the reigning champion.

DON'T JUST SIT THERE, GET OUT THERE AND SELL SOMETHING!!

COMPLIMENTS OF JOHN WATKINS WITH NASHVILLE HOME INSPECTIONS

 

 

Read On And Rock On!

 

Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success

Van Deeb
You have the ability to incorporate into your life these seven decisions that will determine your personal success. Here are very brief excerpts of each decision; I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
I have never met Andy Andrews, the author of one of my new favorite books, The Traveler’s Gift. However, I feel a very deep connection with his story of the seven decisions that determine success. His book is, by far, one of the best self-development, motivating, and inspirational books I have ever read (besides Common Sense Selling).
Reading about these decisions motivated and inspired me so much that I decided to share some of the main points with you.
You have the ability to incorporate into your life these seven decisions that will determine your personal success. Below are very brief excerpts of each decision; I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
1.    THE BUCK STOPS HERE: I will not let my history control my destiny. I accept responsibility for my past. I am responsible for my success. My decisions have always been governed by my thinking. I control my thoughts. I control my emotions. My thoughts will be constructive, never destructive.
2.    I WILL SEEK WISDOM: I will train my eyes and ears to read and listen to books and recordings that bring about positive changes. I will read and listen only to what increases my belief in myself and my future. I will choose to associate with people whose lives and lifestyles I admire. I will listen to the counsel of those who are wise. By learning from other people’s wisdom, I add their knowledge and experience to my own and dramatically increase my success. I will not look for someone to open my door; instead, I will seek to open the door for someone else.
3.    I AM A PERSON OF ACTION: I will create a new future by creating a new me. I inspire others with my activity. I am a leader. Knowing that laziness is a sin, I will create a habit of lively behavior. I will walk with a spring in my step and a smile on my face. My activity will create a wave of success for the people who follow me. As a leader, I have the ability to encourage and inspire others to greatness. I do not fear failure, because failure exists only for the person who quits. I do not quit. I am courageous. I am a leader. I seize the moment. I choose now.
4.    I HAVE A DECIDED HEART: I am passionate about my vision for the future. The power to control my direction belongs to me. Today I will begin to exercise that power. I will awaken every morning with an excitement about the new day and its opportunities for growth and change. Yes, I have a dream. It is a great dream. My hopes, my passions, my vision for the future are my very existence. A person without a dream never had a dream come true. My course has been charted, and my destiny is assured.
5.    TODAY I WILL CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY: Happiness is a choice. I am enthusiastic about each day. I am alert to its possibilities. I will become the master of my emotions. I will greet each day with laughter. I know that enthusiasm is the fuel that moves the world. The world belongs to the enthusiastic, for people will follow them anywhere! My smile has become my calling card. It is, after all, the most important weapon I possess. I am the possessor of a grateful spirit.
6.    I WILL GREET THIS DAY WITH A FORGIVING SPIRIT: By the act of forgiving, I am no longer consumed by unproductive thoughts. I will forgive those who have criticized me unjustly. I now understand that forgiveness has value only when it is given away. I forgive their lack of vision, and I forge ahead. I now know that criticism is part of the price paid for leaping past mediocrity. I will forgive those who do not ask for forgiveness. From this day forward, my history will cease to control my destiny. I have forgiven myself. My life has just begun.
7.    I WILL PERSIST WITHOUT EXCEPTION: I possess the greatest power ever bestowed upon mankind. I hold fast to my dreams. I stay the course. I do not quit. I acknowledge that most people quit when exhaustion sets in, but I am not “most people.” I am stronger than most people. Average people compare themselves with other people, and that is why they remain average. I compare myself to my potential. I am not average. I see exhaustion as a precursor to victory. By persisting without exception, my outcome—my success—is assured.BUYING AND SELLING HOMES IN BRENTWOOD TN, FRANKLIN TN AND WILLIAMSON COUNTY TN

Selling Luxury Homes

Posted by: Guest Contributor on June 19th, 2012

If you’re looking to sell your luxury home this summer, it might be a challenge with the current economy to close the deal quickly. There is good news however, many people are currently buying homes, and if you need to sell, there is a fairly good chance of finding a buyer for your home. To help you sell your home quicker, there are some simple things you can do to not only maximize your home’s value, but also close the deal faster.

1. First impression is everything. A buyer can sometimes decide whether he is even going to consider placing an offer on your home in the first thirty seconds. Since the outside is the first part of your home a buyer views, increase your curb appeal. Take extra care to manicure your lawn, plant fresh flowers, and clean your yard of any junk. A thorough cleaning of the inside of your home is important before showings; nobody likes a dirty or smelly home.
2. Stage your home! On average staged homes sell for 6-10% more than their counterparts and almost twice as fast. Consider hiring a professional in order to prep your house for showings. Even small items as fresh flowers or removing personal items make a huge difference in the buyers mind.


3. Don’t waste your time with unqualified buyers. When selling luxury homes in Middle Tennessee unfortunately there are heaps of potential buyers looking for luxury living accommodations that they simply can’t afford. Have your realtor make sure buyer who are submitting offers are first qualified before considering them. This will not only save your time, but also keep you from experiencing an emotional rollercoaster.
4. Make sure you highlight the focal points and amenities of your home. Luxury homes are about one thing, luxury. If you have a pool, hot tub, tennis courts or other luxury features, make sure they are marketed to prospective buyers. These features make the difference in the sales of luxury homes.
5. Hire a realtor that is familiar with not only the area but luxury real estate as well. The sale of luxury homes can be more complex and require specific attention to certain details than your average home. Your realtor should be knowledgeable in luxury home construction, negotiation, as well as financing in order for you to fetch top dollar for your property.

Luxury Home Sales in Brentwood TN, Franklin TN and Nashville TN

all about Williamson County TN, Brentwood TN, Franklin TN, Davidson County TN and Greater Middle TN homes and living

here's a great link to all kinds of info for the above

http://mikeconrad.featuredwebsite.com/schools.asp

about MIke Conrad Brentwood TN and Franklin TN homes for sale

•  Mike is a veteran sales executive with over 25 years of success and experience.
  
•  Mike has held numerous senior positions with companies in both the U.S. and Canada including Regional Vice President at a major telecommunications company.
  
•  Mike is a member of the National Association of REALTOR (NAR), The Greater Nashville Association of Realtors (GNAR) as well as the Franklin TN, Cool Springs and Brentwood TN  Chambers of Commerce.
  
•  Mike is a licensed Broker in the State of Tennessee.  Mike is also accredited with the National Association of Realtors as a Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource (SFR). Mike is also a Corporate Relocation Specialist as well as Luxury Home Specialist.  Mike is also accredited under the Resource Collaborative Specialist program specializing in "Divorced" houses. (RCS-D)
  
•  Graduate - Leadership GNAR
  
•  Multi-Million Dollar Producer!
•  Full time REALTOR since 2005
•  Mike and his wife Sue live in Brentwood TN. Their son, Zac, is a 2010 graduate of the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Business Administration and majors in Intl. Business and Spanish. They are members of Brentwood United Methodist Church and are actively involved in the local swimming community.

kudos for short sales and other real estate activity

Mike,

I want to say a major "thank you" for all your help and guidance in the sales process of my home in Franklin TN.  You have always been informed, professional, quick to follow up on requests and questions, and very helpful in the development and presentation of marketing materials and listing information that led to multiple showings and offers.  Your professional experience was a key factor in my selection of you as my agent, and I was very fortunate to work with you.  Again, thank you for all your service and I would highly recommend you to future, potential clients.

Jonathon Esarey
Franklin TN

Short Sale Homes in Brentwood TN and Franklin TN



 
 "We  gave you FIVE STARS on Zillow!"

"We decided to list our home in Brentwood TN and chose Mike to be our REALTOR.  Mike went above and beyond what was expected of him.  He worked tirelessly during the listing, marketing and negotiating process and we were very pleased with the results.  He gave us top notch personal service and handled the entire process very professionally.

We would definitely recommend him to anyone looking for a first class REALTOR."

                                                                            Peter and Chivon Dechelle

What is a Short Sale?

What is a Short Sale?

What is a short sale? A "Short Sale" or "negotiated settlement" or "short pay" occurs when
a Lender agrees to accept less than the amount owed to payoff a loan as an alternative to
foreclosure. If the property is worth less than the amount owed on the loan, then even if the
Lender forecloses and takes back the property; they know they are going to take a loss. We
can often convince a Lender that they will "do better" if they take less than what is owed now
rather than taking the property back by foreclosure and trying to sell it later.
How long will it take? The Short Sale negotiation process is a lengthy one. It may take
several weeks or more likely several months to get an approval. Many Lenders have several
layers of bureaucracy, insurers, and investors that we will have to maneuver through in order
to get the Short Sale approved. So it is important to be patient during this long process.
But my house is going to foreclosure, will I have enough time? Maybe, maybe not. Just
starting a Short Sale does not automatically stop a foreclosure. However, many times we can
convince a Lender to stop the foreclosure to let us attempt to negotiate the Short Sale. So,
while there are no guarantees, it is in your best interest to try the Short Sale.
Can I stay in the house? The key word in "Short Sale" is sale. The purpose of a Short Sale
is to get the property sold. This is not a program that can stop foreclosure and allow you to
keep the house indefinitely. It will be easier to sell the house if it is vacant, so you should
make plans to move as soon as possible.
How do I know this will work? You don’t. We cannot, have not, and will not make any
promises to you that the Lender will accept a Short Sale. Once you missed a payment, the
Lender is in charge and can proceed to foreclosure if they want to. But we know they do not
want to and we are very good at presenting alternatives to the Lender that they often prefer to
accept rather than foreclose. We are very good at what we do, but NO PROMISES or
GUARANTEES are being made as to whether or not the Lender will accept a Short Sale –
they may or may not.
Will I get any money from the sale? NO. A universal requirement of Lenders granting a
Short Sale is that the borrower will not get any proceeds from the sale of the property. The
Lender is going to take a loss on your loan – they are not going to let you get any money.
What happens if this doesn’t work? Your house will likely go to foreclosure. A Short Sale
is something we try after you have exhausted your other options.
What is the difference between a "RELEASE" and a SATISFACTION? A Release is
where the Lender may offer to "release" its security interest against the property in exchange
for less than the amount of the note. However, the remaining debt on the property is still owed. A
Satisfaction is where the Lender agrees to accept less than you owe on the balance of your
mortgage as a complete and final "satisfaction" of the debt and the mortgage lien on your
property.
If the Short Sale is successful, it is a win-win situation for all of us. You win because you save your credit from a tremendous hit since a foreclosure will remain on your credit for ten years. This makes buying another house impossible for a long time. And yes, you will have late payments showing on your credit report, but as long as foreclosure does not occur, after twelve months of good rental history, you will be able to get a new mortgage and buy a house once again. We win because once the short sale is approved, and we buy the property or find a buyer for the property and make our profit that way. Bottom line is, if you don’t win, neither do we! The Lender wins because they can dispose of the property quickly instead of holding onto a non-performing asset which in the long run hurts them financially. Besides, the Lender is in the business of lending money not selling real estate.   by Mike Conrad
 What is a Short Sale