Walden Open For Business in East Nashville

I got a chance to see some of the condos in the new Walden Development the other day and I was quite impressed. They advertise it as a 'true mixed-use' development and that's what makes it so cool. They are building a live/work community and already have the requisite coffeeshop, Ugly Mugs Coffee and Tea, and the Fresh Blends Smoothie and Juice Bar with more to come.

Walden is located on Eastland Avenue at Chapel Ave between the Lockeland Springs and Eastwood Neighborhoods. There is a main entrance for business patrons, but condo residents will like the more private second entrance which allows you to park a few steps from your front door on the back of the building. Even though they are on the second floor, there isn't an long flight of steps to get to your unit.

Having seen many of the condo projects around town, this one will really appeal to someone wanting to live in a pedestrian friendly neighborhood, close to restaurants like the Rosepepper or Eastland Cafe and still be only a few minutes from downtown, universities or music row.

The units themselves are high-quality with polished concrete floors, high-end quartz countertops and designer everything. It's not like some of the other condos around town that might have a great location, but the cabinets are low-grade. These are consistent from the impressive glass-tiled backsplashes to the marble topped vanities.

The prices start at $184,900 for a 712 sq. ft. 1 bedroom to the incredible corner residence above the coffeeshop with 1518 sq. ft. and 2 bedrooms for $339,900.

East Nashville has made some major progress over the past 5-10 years, but with projects like this and Martin Corner underway, it appears that things are just beginning for this growing neighborhood. March Egerton, the developer for Walden, has many more plans for the site, beginning with the adjacent building that may soon be overhauled to become home to more commercial space.

If you are looking for your place in Nashville give me a call.

-Peter

www.NashvilleCityHomes.com

Doral Country Condos- Affordable West Nashville

West Nashville is in high demand these days. Overall, it’s the priciest part of town, though there are sections that are more affordable. Bellevue is one of these pockets, but even within Bellevue, single family homes tend to start in the $170k’s and go up from there. If you don’t have that much to spend, you might check out the Doral Country Condos.

I got to know the Doral Country development over the past few weeks as I had a client purchase one last month. For a little more than $100k she got a 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo that was in great shape after some deep cleaning. There are several currently listed between $110-140 in varying condition and size. There’s even a HUD home for sale at $89k, which is a great price for West Nashville.

The Doral Country Condos are off Bellevue Rd, just south of Highway 70S near the Bellevue Center Mall. The development is a little older, built in the late 70’s, but they have an active homeowner’s association that keeps them in great shape. Most of them have just been repainted and received a new roof.

The people I met throughout the neighborhood were incredible and very helpful. My client’s neighbor even came over to help her install a dishwasher. Many of the neighbors have been here for a very long time with no plans to move.

One other nice thing about these units is that they are all attached to only one neighbor. No residents above or below you, only on one side. They each have their own off-street parking pad and a patio in the back. Some of the patios have privacy fences, which makes a great space for grilling and outdoor living.

There’s a pool and tennis court if you want to stay active outside and the homeowner’s association fees are around $190 per month. This includes all the yard maintenance and the exterior of your unit as well as upkeep of the pool/tennis courts. So, if your roof leaks it’s not your problem, you call the HOA. If you like grass, but want someone else to mow it, this might be the place for you.

Someone looking for his or her first home, or a great community to downsize to, might want to check out this development. It’s hard to beat it for the money in West Nashville.

-Peter

www.NashvilleCityHomes.com

Loft or Condo?

I've been showing some of our fine new loft/condo developments in downtown Nashville lately, and I've noticed that it has become more difficult to define exactly what a loft is and how it is different from a condo. The words have unfortunately become more interchangeable, many times loosing their specific meanings.

So what’s the difference? Here’s how I think of it: A loft is a type of condominium that is basically one large room, often converted into residential space from some other use. Sometimes there are partitions or curtains to separate the bedroom, but generally it's one large space. Lofts are often more industrial looking, (especially if it's a conversion) with exposed ductwork and beams and other utilities.

The loft concept has gained popularity to the point where we also have "loft-style" condos. These may be a little more conservative, but still offer a large open living space. There are many variations of this.

A good loft example may be the Werthan Lofts which have been converted from the Werthan bag factory built in 1850. Here’s a picture:

I’m a big fan of lofts, but I also like having some grass. It’s a hard mix, I know.

Shopping for a loft or condo? Call me today.

-Peter
www.NashvilleCityHomes.com
REALTOR. City Home Specialist