Home of the Week

June 26-July 3. 2008



This townhome is located in South Nashville near Rutherford County. This townhome features: 2 master suites, 2 ½ bathrooms, over 1200 sq. ft. and tons of storage space. It won't last long at the price of $131,500. There is a lease option purchase available on this townhome. If you would like to view more pictures of this home or for more information, please visit www.denisejbeard.com.

My article for the Tennessee Tribune June 26 -July 3, 2008

A lease purchase contract or lease option contracts is a form of real estate purchase which combines elements of a traditional rental agreement with an exclusive purchase option of a home at a future pre-determined date. These types of contracts are commonly used when a buyer wants to purchase a home, but due to credit issues would not qualify for a conventional, FHA or VA mortgage financing. Since obtaining financing for a home is becoming increasingly difficult with lending changes, a lease purchase option is a great way to take advantage of the above average home inventory in Middle Tennessee.

Usually, the buyer chooses the home and seeks a seller to serve as an investor. The buyer then agrees to a lease period which typically ranges from 12 to 24 months. During this time the buyer has the exclusive right to purchase the home at a previously agreed-upon price. The buyer pays to the seller a non-refundable option deposit that is applied to the purchase price of the home. The buyer then pays to the seller a sum that is typical to the rental amount, of which a portion of that monthly payment may or may not be applied to the purchase price of the home, but covers the mortgage amount owed by the seller.

Should the buyer have a change of heart and decide not to or is unable to purchase the house, the buyer and seller can agree to extend the option period, convert the lease purchase contract into a traditional rental agreement, or end the contract with the would be buyer moving out and seller seeking other buyers.

If you think a lease purchase option is for you, make sure you a hire a Realtor® to market your home as a lease purchase. Untraditional marketing methods are used to find a buyer interested in participating in a lease purchase. Participants in a lease purchase should also hire a real estate lawyer to draw the documents and explain each parties rights, including those of possession and default consequences

Denise J. Beard is a Real Estate Broker with Crye-Leike, Realtors in Nashville, serving the Middle Tennessee area. She can be reached at 615-373-3456 or at www.denisejbeard.com. If you have a real estate question or a topic that you would liked covered, please e-mail Denise at denise@denisejbeard.com.

My favorite moments from the BET Music Awards 2008

Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE good R&B and neo-soul. One of my favorite male singers, Maxwell, sang a song of one of my favorite musicians, Al Green.




Also, I absolutely love Alicia Keys and En Vougue.

Our New Sign

On May 1, 2008, we moved into our hip new urban office in the Midtown area of Nashville. Today, we got our brand new sign installed. Our sign is HUGE. While driving by you wont be able to pass by our new office without noticing that Crye-Leike, Realtors is here and is ready to "Paint the Town Red".

We will be having our grand opening very soon. I will keep you posted on when it will be, I can't wait to show off our new office. GET EXCITED!!!!

Home of the Week

June 19-25. 2008


This home is located off Music Row and within walking distance of The Gulch. This home features: 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1000 sq. ft. and 4-sides brick. Mature trees shade the quarter acre lot. It won't last long at the price of $214,500. If you would like to view more pictures of this home or for more information, please visit www.denisejbeard.com.

There will be an open house for this home on Sunday, June 22, 2008, from 2-4 p.m.

My article for the Tennessee Tribune June 19 -25, 2008

On any given Sunday in Nashville, hundreds of Nashvillians flock to open houses to see what their neighbors’ homes look like or to look at a home they have been interesting in buying but hesitant to contact a real estate agent about. An open house is when the general public is able to view a home that is for sale without an appointment. An open house is a great way to look for a home because it allows a buyer to view a property without making prior arrangements. It also allows a seller of a property to maximize their market exposure by allowing a wide variety of prospective buyers to visit the home with a real estate professional that knows the property and neighborhood very well. Typically during an open house, the seller’s agent will give a guided tour of the home and answer any questions about the home and the neighborhood. Below are six tips for buyers looking to find their next home during an open house.

1. Look for open houses in your area.

Open houses are usually advertised in the Sunday paper and on the internet. Crye-leike.com, realtor.com and realtracs.com are great resources to use to locate open houses in the Middle Tennessee area.

2. Have a game plan.

Make a list of the homes you would like to visit and know the route you will be using to maximize the time you will have during peak open house times. Open houses in Davidson and surrounding counties usually occur on Sunday’s between 2-5 p.m.

3. Don’t be embarrassed to ask questions.

The real estate agent working during the open house is there to answer any questions you may have about the property. Use them at your disposal; don’t be afraid to ask any question even if you think it’s a silly question.

4. Have a pre-approval letter with you.

I cannot stress the importance of being pre-approved for a home loan prior to searching for a home. Having a pre-approval letter will help you search for homes in your price range and you know what your monthly payment will be prior to writing an offer on a home.

5. Have your real estate agent on speed dial.

If you are working with a real estate agent let them know what homes you will be visiting and ask if they will be willing to meet you at that home to write an offer if you find one you love during an open house.

6. Done be afraid to make and offer.

If you fall in love with a home you visit during an open house, be prepared to write an offer on the home. A lot of effort is put into preparing a home for an open house. A seller will be more inclined to accept an offer less than the asking price if received the day of the open house.

Denise J. Beard is a Real Estate Broker with Crye-Leike, Realtors in Nashville, serving the Middle Tennessee area. She can be reached at 615-373-3456 or at www.denisejbeard.com. If you have a real estate question or a topic that you would liked covered, please e-mail Denise at denise@denisejbeard.com.

The song stuck in my head

Spotlight
Uploaded by Denise J Beard

This song has been stuck in my head since Monday. I wish I would sing like her. :-)

Home of the Week

June 12-18. 2008



This home is off of Ashland City Highway in the established neighborhood of Clintondale on Jordan Drive. This home features: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2100 sq. ft., a study, 4-sides brick, 2-car garage, oversized den, formal living and dinning room, a fenced back yard, and covered patio.

Tennessee Tribune June 11-18, 2008

This year commemorates the 40th Anniversary of the historic 1968 Fair Housing Act. On April 11, 1968 President Lyndon Johnson urged congress to approve the Fair Housing Act just one week following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as a tribute to Dr. King's legacy and commitment to civil rights. One of the Act's central objectives was to prevent discrimination based on race in the sales or rental of housing. This historic Act has since empowered people from all races and ethnicities to pursue the dream of equal access to housing.

In 2002 President George W. Bush enhanced our nation's commitment to equal housing opportunities for all by designating June as National Homeownership Month, with the goal of increasing minority homeownership in America by 5.5 million by 2012.

Today, Realtors work hard to provide fair access to affordable housing and homeownership year-round. By commemorating Fair Housing Month in April and National Homeownership Month in June, Realtors take extra time out to focus on the education of members, as well as consumers. By spending time on areas like homeownership counseling, new FHA and conforming loan limit programs, avoiding predatory lending pitfalls, workforce housing initiatives, diversity and smart growth initiatives, Realtors and consumers alike gain knowledge and become closer to achieving the ultimate goal of equal housing access for all.

Home of the Week

June 5-11. 2008



This home has it all; 3 Bedrooms, 2 ½ bathrooms, 2800 sq. ft., big open kitchen, 2 story foyer, vaulted ceilings, tons of windows, wooded lot, ALL appliances included, a HUGE Recreational Room, and $7,000 towards closing cost. Won't last long at this price!!! It’s also zoned for the Cane Ridge School Cluster. Priced at $229,500. If you would like to see more pictures of this home, please visit www.denisejbeard.com.

My article for the Tennessee Tribune June 5 -11, 2008

As a real estate broker, I am often asked, “Where can I find a good deal?” Since it is a buyers market, “good deals” can be found all over Nashville. The key is to take advantage of the opportunity when it presents itself. Often buyers will pass on a very worthwhile purchase because they think something bigger and better will come along, only to be disappointed when they realize they missed out on a very good opportunity.

If you think you can purchase a home for pennies on the dollar in Nashville, you are sadly mistaken. Understanding the fundamentals that makes a good buying opportunity will help you when deciding to take advantage of it. Weather you are purchasing a foreclosed, HUD or existing home, if you are able to purchase it for 85-90% of its fair market value, the odds are in your favor that you are making a very good investment. Your agent should be able to provide you with the homes fair market value.

Since there is a shortage of qualified buyers in the market, sellers and their agents’ are coming up with creative ways to lure prospective buyers to their homes. Sellers are willing to pay all of the buyers closing cost and leave behind major appliances. Although it is very uncommon, I have seen some instances where a seller will include cars, gas cards, plasma televisions and vacations with the purchase of their home.

The Nashville market is strong when compared to other markets in Tennessee and the expectation of purchasing a home for less than 70% of its value does not happen here. The good news is that when purchasing a home, you and your agent will be in the pilot’s seat when negotiating the terms of your contract. Use this negotiating power to require the seller to leave home appliances and pay most of your closing cost. If the seller is not willing to comprise with the terms of the contract, a buyer has tons of options due to the large inventory of homes on the market.

Denise J. Beard is a Real Estate Broker with Crye-Leike, Realtors in Nashville, serving the Middle Tennessee area. She can be reached at 615-373-3456 or at www.denisejbeard.com. If you have a real estate question or a topic that you would liked covered, please e-mail Denise at denise@denisejbeard.com