Germantown Plans and Condos Everywhere!

I've been touring many of Germantown's cool new developments with a client moving here from Seattle. It's been great to compare the different units and get an intimate feel for how the area is poised for continued momentum. Let me highlight some of my favorites:

Werthan Lofts- Wow! There is nothing else like it in Nashville. A true factory that is being converted into fantastic loft space with tall ceilings and nice views. Even more, they are creating a new community space complete with pool, dog run, bocce ball court and a coming-soon cafe+nightspot in the 'boiler room'. The vibe here is awesome, especially on cool evenings when folks gather outdoors.

Morgan Park Place- Like Werthan, this project is yet to be finished, however, the available units are quite stunning. Lots of upscale finishes and over-the-top efforts in 'green-building'. They've actually received top awards for their energy efficiency techniques that might save you quite a bit when it comes to your monthly utilities.

Row 8.9- This development has been complete for a few years now, but occasionally units come up for sale. It's a "Chicago-style brownstone" development, which means the units are aligned in a row with steps down the street. The units on Rosa L. Parks Blvd have unbeatable views of the capitol and downtown skyline while being literally across the street from the Farmer's Market and Bicentennial Park. All of these for a very reasonable price- lower than most of the other similar units around town.

There are many others to check out if you're interested, and it seems that there is no stopping these developers who are forging ahead in Germantown. The whole neighborhood is full of new condos and historic-looking infill homes built to reinforce the roots of the neighborhood while adding the modern amenities that people demand these days.

Guiding much of the development is a Detailed Neighborhood Design Plan that the Metro Planning Commission put together in 2002. It's quite interesting, especially if you live in the area or are considering it.

-Peter

www.NashvilleCityHomes.com

Gra-Mar Neighborhood in Inglewood is Lookin’ Good!

I’ve recently become a fan of a somewhat unknown pocket of Inglewood called Gra-Mar. It’s an area full of ranch style homes from the 1960’s, many of which were built on very large lots. Part of the area is dubbed Gra-Mar Acres for this reason.

The neighborhood is just south of Briley Parkway between Ellington Parkway and the railroad tracks closer to Gallatin Road. It extends south to Broadmoor or so.

So what makes this neighborhood look so good these days?

Price- Homes in the area average around $93 a square foot these days, less if the home needs upgrades from it’s 60’s interior. At this price a 2000 square foot family-sized home with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths will cost you around $186,000. A smaller 2 bedroom home will be priced in the lower $100’s. Compared to the rest of Inglewood or East Nashville, this is quite affordable, especially considering the following points…

Lot Size- This is one of my favorite parts- space! Room to spread out a little, and still be 10 minutes from downtown. Many of these homes are on lots of at least half an acre. It’s more to mow, but you don’t have to go to the park to see grass and mature trees.

Quality- Most homes in this area were built in the 1960’s and many were more custom with lots of tile and unique brick exteriors. They are built to last, and most are in great condition with little maintenance.

Neighbors- Homes in Gra-Mar don’t come up for sale that often. That’s because many of the residents have been here for years. They bought the homes to raise a family and they didn’t leave. Driving through, you can tell that people care about their homes and you’ll even get a friendly greeting from people you might meet.

Convenience- As mentioned above, Gra-Mar is conveniently located right off of Ellington Parkway about 10-15 minutes from downtown or Rivergate. You can quickly get to Opry Mills or even the airport by taking the new and improved Briley Parkway.

Upside- At this point, Gra-Mar is an undiscovered area that people are starting to notice as more homes get renovated or come up for sale. It’s super close to the new Inglewood Home Depot as well as the new Wal-Mart Supercenter & more that are being built across from Skyline Medical Center.

If you're looking for a solid home with lots of grass, check out Gra-Mar and some of the surrounding areas. You may need to give it some updates, but it's definitely in a neighborhood that's worth the investment.

-Peter
www.NashvilleCityHomes.com

Hope Gardens Snapshot

I just finished a Home Value Report for a home in Hope Gardens and thought that some of the information was worth sharing.

Hope Gardens is a small area just north of downtown Nashville. It's across from the Farmers Market, west of 8th Ave and south of Jefferson Street.

It has seen some revitalization that seems to have finally tipped the scale as of late. A couple notable developments have been anchors in the area including Park Place Court and the Row 8.9n which won a 'Grand Award' from Builder Magazine.

Single family home prices have averaged around $143 per square foot over the past 6 months for a renovated, and probably historic-looking home. The neighborhood is filled with a mix of renovated homes from the early 1900's and brand new infill homes of similar character.

So, purchasing a smaller 3 bedroom / 2 bath would probably cost you around $200,000. Larger homes sell up to the high $300k's.

Driving through the area today, I was impressed with the architecture which seems almost distinct to Hope Gardens or at least North Nashville. Reminiscent of homes in New Orleans, many of the homes feature large two story porches on the front of a narrow but deep home. The newer ones usually have an open floor plan on the first floor with bedrooms upstairs.

It's an area that's really shaping up and leading the way in the revitalization of North Nashville.

-Peter

www.NashvilleCityHomes.com