We are a military town and as such have very close ties to the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. My husband is currently deployed in Iraq (his third deployment) and I also have many friends and clients that are deployed. Some are past clients and some are clients I am currently working with. I make it a point to send out care packages to as many of them and as often as I can. When the war first began, everybody was concerned about it. There were churches, schools and other organizations geting together to prepare care packages for our deployed soldiers. Not anymore! It is a shame! Our soldiers still need our support and care just as they did when this war first started! I know the military families and organizations still continue to work on this, but the rest of the population seems to have... 07/29/2008

For those that are relocating to the Clarksville and Fort Campbell Area area, we have much to offer not only in our great city but in cities that are in driving distance. Anyone who says that there in nothing to do is simply not looking very hard. Our daughter enjoys Girl Scouts, dance and other activities.  Because of this we have opportunities to travel to cities that are not to far from Clarksville for many fun and learning activities.  One of our sister cities is Huntsville Alabama.  Huntsville is a mere 2.5 hours from Clarksville.  It is an easy drive.  In Huntsville you can enjoy taking the kids to their awesome Space and Rocket Center.  They not only have educational activities for kids and adults but they even have some fun rides.  The Space and Rocket Center also offers Space C... 07/29/2008

Please give a warm welcome to our newest Active Rain member Ms. Beverly Anderson from Sango's Crye Leike office.  I am sure that Beverly will find Active rain to be a great place to meet new associates as well as to learn some valuable tools of the trade. I am hoping that Beverly will jump right in and start blogging away with the rest of our Clarksville Crew!     07/29/2008

Crye-Leike is one of the very few agencies that are open SEVEN DAYS a week, complete with a receptionist and an Agent on duty.  Many of the citizens here in the Clarksville Real Estate Market do not realize this, but I am here to let you know that we are open and ready to serve you! That said, I am an opportunity kind of guy and like to swing by the office on the weekends if I do not have alot going on.  Yesterday was one of those days - so I stopped in and found that there was an open period for floor duty - so I took it.  Now, many agents do not care for floor duty - but again I say I see the opportunity as it ONLY TAKES THAT ONE CALL to make it all worth while. Well, I got three calls yesterday and two were rather interesting and raise some questions and or interesting thoughts.  The... 07/27/2008

 It's Coming October 9, 2008 Be sure to complete your Ballots for you choice for Best Of Clarksville. Exit Realty Clarksville would really appreciate your VOTE as theBest Real Estate Company. Ballots are due back the The Leaf Chronicle on August 1, 2008 so they can print a list of the Top Entries in each categories. Exit Realty Clarksville is a FULL SERVICE Real Estate Company located just off Exit 1. If you are looking to BUY or SELL we are here for you. We also have a Rental Department. Need to find a Rental, give us a call or stop in today.           Exit Realty Clarksville is Open 7 days a week. Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Saturday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Sunday 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Phone: 931-647-9900 07/26/2008

Clarksville, Tennessee - Exit 1 Continues to Grow ! If you have been around Exit 1 recently you will see that the area continues to Grow by Leaps and Bounds. Walgreens is near completion and will be opening soon. The are hiring as well. Having a Walgreens added to the Exit 1 area just goes to show that our area of clarksville is still up and coming. Along with Walgreens are other business planning to open as well and still plenty of room from growth.                   Fovor Fashions is located just behind Exit Realty Clarksville on Northfield Dr.  Mattress Express will be opening soon on Tiny Town Road just in front of the Great Escape movie theater.                   Moving to the area and looking to Buy a new home... Moving out of the area and need to Sell your home...... Call Roland ... 07/26/2008

Another reason I love the great city of Clarksville.  Anyone who states that public schools are not challenging our students, or are not engaged should look at the Clarksville and Montgomery County Tennessee School system as an example of how it should be ran.    I would put our schools up against any district - as a parent I believe that much in this system!  Here is yet another example why - "PowerSchool provides grade data for all students"  Yet another opportunity for Clarksville and Montgomery County Parents to get INVOLVED with their child's education.    Our daughter goes to middle school this year (6th grade) and while there was no opportunity to see ‘real time' grades and attendance for us, we did have constant email communications with her teacher, quarterly meetings and weekl... 07/25/2008

Why You should have Title Insurance  7/22/2008 When you purchase a home, their is a title search or abstract that is completed to ensure you have a clear DEED to your property. When your home is financed, the lender recieves the Mortgagee's Policy and the Title Company or Real Estate Attorney will offer the buyer what is called the Owner's Policy which can be issued at the closing or a few days later as a simultaneous isse which is at a discounted rate during this time.  You may ask why you need this or what does it cover. Below I have attached a form I use to help explain. I recommend that everyone have a owners policy when purchasing a home. This original post was created yesterday and just today the local news broke out that will explain why I recommend home owners to purchase a Owne... 07/23/2008

I've had the opportunity of working with Wes Stamey at Crye-Leike, Realtors here in Clarksville, TN for almost a year now, and it is with pleasure that I introduce you to him as a new member of our wonderful Active Rain community.  Wes is a great guy and an excellent agent.  Please welcome him as I know only AR can!    07/23/2008

This fabulous 4 bed home features hardwood in the entry, kitchen dining area,& has a huge master suite . formal livingroom features a fireplace, crown molding & upgraded carpeting plantation blinds. The home sits on a large lot landcaped lot, with fruit trees and a green house.  The seller is offer a $500. gas card with a full price offer and successful closing.  Call Deb for more details.... 931-206-8551 This home is offered by:   Deb Wilson, Realtor Crye-Leike Realtors 2204 D Madison St Clarksville TN  37043 USA 931-648-2112 931-206-8551 07/22/2008

"The Comparitable Market Analysis shows what?"  Said the prospective clients during our listing interview a week back.  We had prepared a thorough CMA and also provided statistics on - active similiar homes in the area - price per square foot (high/average/low) - days on market (same as above) - those pending and the same stats "That can't be right - we have put all this work into the home recently and 2 years ago it appraised for X!"  Well, while the Clarksville Real Estate Market has not seen a decrease in price due to inflated valuation, we have seen a steady state on values of homes - this partially because of the economy and partially because we are a Military Real Estate Market and thus have ebs and flows. "We certainly thought that the home is worth X, we have a few other Realto... 07/22/2008

 Are you Ready for the 2008 Best of Clarksville ? The Ballots are in todays Sunday paper. Yes it is that time again to vote for The Best Of Clarksville. There are several categories to select your favorite business. Complete and mail your ballot to: March of Dimes/The Leaf Chronicle Best of Clarksville P.O. Box 3456  Clarksville,TN 37043 The Event will be held on October 9, 2008 at Saturn of Clarksville Tickets $10 Advance or $15 at the door. You get to pick who will have bragging rights for the next year. This has been a great event over the past 12 years and is a great fund raiser for the March of Dimes     They always seem to announce the Best Real Estate Company till the end of the night. Here are the 2008 Categories Be sure to Vote Exit Realty Clarksville as your Favorite Real Esta... 07/20/2008

 Just to let everyone know in case you have not heard the IRS announced an increase in the optional standard mileage rates for the final six months of 2008. We may use the optional standard rates to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.  I for one and glad to see this, we've been getting some good increases the past couple of years and it does make a difference when you spend as much time on the road as we do. The rate will increase to 58.5 cents a mile for all business miles driven from July 1, 2008, through Dec. 31, 2008. This is an increase of eight (8) cents from the 50.5 cent rate in effect for the first six months of 2008, The increase is due to the rising gas prices. The optional business standard mileage ... 07/20/2008

I gotta admit that Clarksville Tennesse is a great town to live in. Our daughter Ashley has so far been to Photography Camp offered by the schools for free. What a great opportunity and experience that was. We keep involved at the YMCA where she enjoys interacting with many other children, swimming and has been to their awesome camps. The Parks and Recrecreation Department of Clarksville work hard to have plenty of activities for our young children. No parent can say they can not find something to entertain their kids and activities to help teach in Clarksville Tennessee - if they do, they simply are not looking. They offer Tennis, golf, swimming and much more. Ashley loves the Theatre camp. We have a very nice down town area here in Clarksville and alot of resources have been put into ... 07/20/2008

FIRST. Do you know what ANWR is?ANWR = Arctic National Wildlife Refuge...Now. A comparisonAnd some perspective.NOTE WHERE THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA IS.(it's in the "ANWR Coastal Plain")THIS IS WHAT THE  "GREENS" SHOW YOU WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT ANWR.and they are right. these ARE photographs of ANWRISN'T ANWR BEAUTIFUL? WHY SHOULD WE DRILL HERE (AND DESTROY) THIS BEAUTIFUL PLACE?.WELL. THAT'S NOT EXACTLY THE TRUTHDo you remember the map?The map showed that the proposed drilling area is in the ANWR Coastal PlainDo those photographs look like a coastal plain to you?WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?.....................THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE.THAT IS NOT WHERE THEY ARE WANTING TO DRILL!THIS IS WHAT THE PROPOSED EXPLORATION AREA ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE IN THE WINTERAND THIS IS WHAT IT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE IN T... 07/18/2008

Tips for Moving Whether you have moved once or a dozen times, it never seems to get any easier. Here are some hints that I hope you will find helpful as you prepare for moving day.  Make agreements with buyers about possession of the home and moving date. Having sellers and buyers meet on the front walk - each with a house full of furniture - is not a happy situation. Start planning early. Once you are confident that you will be proceeding with the sale, start weeding out your current possessions. Toss (or give away, sell at a yard sale, or on-line) things that you don't want to move. Remember GoodWill and don't forget to get your receipt for tax purposes. Make a list on any important items you will need to buy for your new house. Examples: draperies, blinds, shower curtains, etc. Havin... 07/18/2008

Closing In the old days, everyone dressed up for the Closing on the sale or purchase of their new home.  Not the case now, most people just come in ready to sign!  Of course the buyer is going to be signing alot more documents than the Seller, so in many instances, the Seller signs first and then the Buyer.  Closing in Clarksville, TN is a very easy process on most transactions, we have some great title companies and attorneys that we work with. Closing -- or "settlement" or "escrow" -- is essentially a meeting where the closing agent (the party who conducts settlement) takes in money from the buyers, pays out money to the owner and makes sure that the purchaser's title is properly recorded in local records along with any mortgage liens. All papers have been prepared by closing agents, ... 07/18/2008

Home Inspections, a vital key to Purchasing a Home. Your home is in escrow, and the buyer has scheduled a home inspection. A home inspection is a thorough visual examination of the home and property. The process usually takes two to three hours, during which time the house is examined from the ground up. The inspection includes observation and, when appropriate, operation of the plumbing, heating, air conditioning, electrical, and appliance systems, as well as structural components: roof, foundation, basement, exterior and interior walls, chimney, doors, and windows. It's important to remember that a home inspection does not detect every conceivable flaw. It is an inspection of those areas and items that can be seen. Home inspectors cannot see through foundations, floors or walls, and c... 07/18/2008

Financing by the Seller If a seller helps to finance a real estate transaction by taking back a second note or even financing the entire purchase if the seller owns the home free and clear it is called seller financing. Usually sellers do this when a buyer has difficulty qualifying for a conventional loan or meeting the purchase price.  We don't have as much seller financing today in Clarksville, TN as we did a few years ago due to the mortgage crisis.  Their is just too much risk for Sellers. Seller financing differs from a traditional loan because the seller does not give the buyer cash to complete the purchase, as does a lender. Instead, it involves extending a credit against the purchase price of the home while the buyer executes a promissory note and trust deed in the seller's favo... 07/18/2008

Negotiating the deal When a buyer is ready to make you an offer they will contact their agent who will get in touch with me, I'll let you know as the Seller.  Buyers should present their offer formally with a contract of purchase and sale. Most home buyers and home sellers want to arrive at a win-win agreement, but that's not to say either side would regret getting a bigger "win" than the other. Successful negotiating is more than a matter of luck or natural talent. It also encompasses the learned ability to use certain skills and techniques to bring about those coveted win-win results.  That's why using an experienced Real Estate Agent is so important.  1. Start with a fair price and a fair offerThere's no question that significantly overpricing your home will turn off potential buyers... 07/18/2008