Free Family Summer Events in Nashville I have gathered a wealth of resources for free fun things to do this summer with your kids!  Some are from Ms. Cheap and others are ideas I have heard from friends and family!  Who said you couldn't have fun for free this summer?   I have put most of them on my website and a link to some others.  If you know of any others I should add, please let me know!  Thanks! Visit my website here - Fun and Free in Nashville.   In Peace, Elisha   Wherever you want to call home, we can help you get there!-------------------------------------Please spread the word that we are Realtors! We appreciate the support and would be thrilled to assist anyone you may know in the next purchase or sale of their home! Elisha Mitchell REALTOR® Call Nashville HomeKeller Willia... 06/02/2008

If you're looking in the best most affordable neighborhood in Nashville, south Davidson County, look no further. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car garage. This cute 1400 square foot house has hardwood floors, a covered deck and partially fenced backyard. Built in the mid 1990s, it sits on a quiet cul-de-sac and backs to common area. All of this for $205,000!   For more information, Call Connie Harvey at  Prudential Woodmont Realty 615-661-7800 x 1300 05/30/2008

It's not often a free night on the town comes along that includes this level of culture and fun. If you haven't been to Nashville Downtown's First Saturday Art Crawl...or just haven't been in awhile; don't miss the next one on Saturday, June 7th! The event's sponsor, the Nashville Downtown Partnership, recently added 2 free shuttles that wrap around the route, which now includes 30 galleries. Most of the galleries serve free wine and other refreshments; but the real draw is the world class art showcased at the event. Galleries rotate the exhibits each month and there is always something new and different. So, if you're shopping for art to fill the walls of your new home, or just looking for an inexpensive way to fill an evening with low cost and high culture entertainment, you may want ... 05/28/2008

Tired of paying high prices at the pump? Need some relief? Try GasBuddy.com. No, they don’t have coupons for buy one tank get one tank free, would be nice if they did, but they do tell you where you can find low priced gas in your area. The price of regular runs about $3.899 here in the Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin area. But, there are areas of Nashville where gas can be purchased for $3.729. Which really makes me wonder, if these stations can sell gasoline for that price and make a profit, why can’t the others? Have you joined my birthday alarm? It is fast painless and the best part of all, you will be helping me out. Thanks, Michael Copyright © 2008 by Michael Thornton of Complete Home Inspections, Inc., All Rights Reserved. 05/27/2008

We hear the latest and greatest on HGTV and similar programs about color coordinating your house with your accessories to bring out all the pizzazz a oomph to your home. But, you knew that this was coming, color coordination is also important in electrical wiring. Having been a licensed electrician and electrical engineer, yes, licensed electricians, or supposedly so, are supposed to know what the wire color coding standards are for residential, commercial and industrial applications PEROD. HVAC contractors in the State of Tennessee must also be licensed electricians. What is common to all industries is the color green. Green is the universal color code for ground or earth ground and is not to be used for any other purpose than grounding appliances, equipment, or house hold items. The b... 05/22/2008

Whether you're an avid David Letterman watcher or you prefer to read about the best stocks to invest in, we all love those "Top 10" lists.  So why not write a fun little blog about my favorite things (in random order) about Nashville!  1.  It's central.  Whether I feel like swiming in Florida, visiting the hustle of Chicago, taking in a spa retreat in Hot Springs, Arkansas, or learning a little history in D.C., it's all in a days drive.  Even taking a trip to Canada or the Bahamas is a relatively quick flight. 2.  Low Cost of Living. Property taxes are low, business taxes are low, and our gas prices are always some of the lowest in the country (it's all relative, isn't it?). The state of Tennessee does not have an income tax.  Of course we make up for it with an average 9.5% sales tax, ... 05/22/2008

Nashville is a melting pot, and as a food lover, that means a variety of delicious restaurants to choose from.  There are good restaurants springing up all over the place (I'm dying to try Tayst and Zola's!), but these are the ones I can personally recommend.  If you are planning a visit to the Nashville area or if you already live here, I hope you have the chance to experience my favorite places to eat and drink by palate! If you've never been to Asia, Royal Thai is fine for thai food, Ichiban is fine for sushi, and P.F. Changs is fine for chinese cuisine.  However, if you want something more authentic, the shadier, hole-in-the-wall places are much tastier, inexpensive, and you'll probably get better service.  You may be the only ones in the dining room, but Chlay's in Franklin serves ... 05/21/2008

NASHVILLE HOME BUYERS!!! Are you looking in Davidson County on the west side of Nashville for a home with all of the amenities of upscale living WITHOUT the price??? Well, look no further... Here is 2316 Hockett Drive in Eaton's Creek! This home has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and nearly 2400 square feet!  (2380 to be exact) Built in 2005, this nearly new Fox Ridge home has over $40,000 in upgrades and is listed at only $219,900! Have a look... Welcome to 2316 Hockett Drive! This rocking chair Front Porch Keeps You Well Connected with the Eaton Creek Community! A bright, open floor plan greets you the moment you walk in!   While looking from the Added Sunroom into the Kitchen and Beyond to the Great Room, you can't help but notice the hardwoods in the kitchen, the upgraded maple cabinets ... 05/20/2008

It looks as if our ‘ol buddy Bubba has been hard at it again. While I was inspecting a house in the north east section of Nashville, TN today, I happened to notice this gas appliance venting on the house across the street that was also for sale. Yeah Buddy, with Bubba working his wizardry in the home disrepair business, I will never run out of things to write about. One just cannot photo shop this stuff. Have you joined my birthday alarm? It is fast painless and the best part of all, you will be helping me out. Thanks, Michael 05/15/2008

There is never a dull moment in my business. I ran across this redneck installation for a smoke alarm the other day. Yeah Buddy! We jes gott have them’er smoking alarm thingies properly installed. This one was about 4 feet off the floor. Oye Vay! I can’t wait to see what some idjet will come up with next. On second thought, yeah, I can. Today is a new day and there will be plenty of blog fodder out there. This post is a contribution to the Active Rain network. Have you joined my birthday alarm? It is fast painless and the best part of all, you will be helping me out. Thanks, Michael 05/09/2008

I just wanted to say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for the kindness you have shown me lately: Yesterday, Mr. and Ms. First Time Buyers and I had to meet to figure out a counter offer and you had the nerve to bring me a box of chocolates for my birthday!  How dare you?!?!  Don't you know that I am bound to work even harder for you to get you what you want in your first house?                                                                                               And what about you, Mr. Single Man Buyer.  You have now taken me to dinner TWICE!  And both times has it been my intention to pay!  And now we have an offer in on a house where the Seller is taking a hugely inordinate amount of time to get back to us... In other words, you are not being treated great by the Seller a... 05/07/2008

BREAKING NEWS:  Ruby Slippers Retired....If you are fed up with with clicking yours heels together but still no place you see feels like home then follow this "Yellow Brick Road" to 102 Whitney Park at 2010 Overhill Drive.  I think even the "Scarecrow" would have enough"Brains" to see this newly constructed home is one only a "Wizard" could design.  You will find 4 bedrooms (master down) and 31/2 baths.  At 4010 sq. ft. and all the extras that you will only get with a custom built home you won't have the "Heart" to pass this one up.  So have the "Courage" to tour this "Dream" of a home and I promise you won't miss "Kansas" one bit. Visit my website at www.mariaholland.net for a full virtual tour.  Live in Green Hills Now!  It is the best!  Maria Holland, American Heritage, Inc. Real Est... 05/07/2008

Bus Tour Wednesday May 14, 2008 Will Feature Foreclosed Homes And Tips On The "A to Z" Of Real Estate InvestingNASHVILLE, TN., - Crye-Leike, REALTORS Real Estate Owned (REO) Division and Midtown branch in Nashville real estate has organized a half-day Real Estate Investors' Road Trip for Crye-Leike Sales Associates. The half-day bus tour of foreclosed homes with tips on the A-to-Z of real estate investing will be held Wednesday, May 14, 2008. "We've had so many associates asking and looking for more information about finding Nashville home foreclosures, selling REO properties and investing in real estate," said Cindy Stanton Fey, Vice President and Managing Broker of Crye-Leike's REO Division and Midtown branch. "We decided a bus tour would be a great way to help our associates learn, e... 05/06/2008

Nashville real estate - New vs Used. I'm always answering that question.   Why buy a pre-owned Nashville Home? A used home in an established neighborhood will have little or no construction traffic. A used home may have an established yard with mature trees. A used home is usually less expensive than a new home of the same size with a similar location. Why would I buy a new Nashville home? Maintenance - Any home that's several years old has used up some of the life of the Heat and cooling systems, roof, paint, and flooring. More than likely all of those will have to be replaced much sooner in a used home than a new home. Energy cost - New homes in general are more energy efficient than old homes. Codes for most areas require more insulation, better doors and windows, and HVAC units with... 05/05/2008

 If you listen very carefully I think you may hear this house is posing a question.  It sounds like it is asking what more could anyone want from me?  I've got the Green Hills location everyone dreams about and I have the charm of an original tudor style home with all the amenities of new construction.  I have had a gut renovation and my wise surgeon added a brand new downstairs master suite that will captivate anyone in the know.  My new garage and playroom as well as 3 more bedrooms and 4.5 total baths really make me the bomb.  My new kitchen and 2 private patios will be more than you can resist.  If you come to Whitney Park you will see that I indeed have everthing anyone could want.   An article appeared just this week in the Tennessean about The number of $1,000,000 plus homes in t... 05/03/2008

The issue is Dress.  Should we as Real Estate Agents try to have an established dress code?My personal thought on this is that one should NEVER judge another person based on what they wear.  Who is to say that the person wearing a business suit has any more intelligence, knowledge or character than the one dressed in the blue jeans?Currently, I differentiate what I wear according to my client.  If they are the most comfortable in their business suit, then I wear a business suit.  If they are more the blue jeans and t-shirt type, then I think "yippee!" and put my blue jeans on!As a Real Estate Agent, I am a chameleon.  I am all things to all people.  It seems to be a necessity to be this way.   I am THE MOST COMFORTABLE in any comfy shirt, my favorite pair of blue jeans, some hip sneaker... 04/29/2008

It seems as if here lately I have been running into many 40 gallon electric water heaters in my inspections, especially in new construction and rehabs. Depending upon the application, I write these up as being improperly sized. Here’s why. The selection of a particular type hot water supply system for a house is determined by several factors including the utility connections available, utility rates, hot water demand, and builder or owner preference. There are several methods used to calculate the hot water demand, each possibly giving different results. No one single method is a perfect indicator of the actual hot water needs. Actual demand can vary widely depending on the particular house and occupancy. The number of people living in a house, occupant ages, lifestyles, work schedules... 04/27/2008

 CMA Music Fest 2008 - LP Field June 5-8,2008If you like country music this is one event you will not want to miss ! From past experiance this is 4 fulfilled days of great music. This year there will be 400 artist performing at LP Field. You can purchase a 4 day pass or select your individual day tickets.This event is full of activities for the entire family. For a complete list of activities visit the CMA Music Fest website                              To see Appearing Artist click here    Here are just a few of the Artist performing this year Nightly Lineups:Thursday, June 5: Jewel, Montgomery Gentry, Kellie Pickler, Sugarland and Taylor SwiftFriday, June 6: Faith Hill, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Josh Turner and Carrie Underwood Saturday, June 7: Trace Adkins, Rodney Atkins, Al... 04/27/2008

It was headline news in Sunday's Tennesseean.  The next wave of foreclosures is coming and there are many Nashville Residents that will be in that Real Estate Foreclosure Wave.Do you feel like THIS is where you are headed?Well, it doesn't have to be that way!!!There is something called a SHORT SALE.  When I originally heard that term I immediately assumed it meant selling your house quickly.  But what it actually means is that you get to make a deal with the bank where THE BANK AGREES TO TAKE LESS THAN WHAT YOU OWE ON YOUR HOME!!!There are, of course, many guidelines which you will have to abide by, but you will be able to salvage some of your credit and won't have a foreclosure in your history!              Banks are becoming increasingly aware that foreclosures cost them a WHOLE LOT M... 04/25/2008

While inspecting a two year old townhouse in Nashville, TN's west side, I saw this unusual installation for the water heater. The fan unit is not what is unusual, as it is not uncommon to see this forced systems on gas water heaters in this area. What is unusual, is that the unit is plugged into a GFCI protected outlet which controls the exterior outlets. If the GFCI circuit should experience a fault, the power for the fan will be turned off, and if the gas water heater is running, CO will spill into the property. Gas fired units that incorporate a fan such as this need to be on a dedicated circuit, most of which are a single outlet designed for this purpose. As I look into my crystal ball, I see a visit from a licensed electrician in this home owner's future.  This posting and the cont... 04/24/2008