In twenty five years of marriage to a second generation real estate man, I can tell you I’ve heard many tales of quirky happenings during showings and closings.  My husband, Tim, is at it again with his recollection of this preview on a day last July.   Hope you enjoy reading it as much I enjoyed hearing it.  –Leslie 

Polistes carolinus!  Are you scared yet?  No?  You should be.  RED WASPS!   Tiny little winged creatures who love to build nests under door jams to protect their colony from bad weather.  Non-aggressive insects until their little “paper” nest is disturbed, at which time these creatures become kamikaze homeland defense machines striking terror into the veins of any human to be on the receiving end of  their attack. 

I had the misfortune of accidentally disturbing a rather large nest while showing a Martin, TN property to a lovely family of  four last summer.   While innocently unlocking the door to a vacant house, I noticed a light fluttering feeling on the back of my neck and reached up to see what it was.  Suddenly, a sharp pain ran through the skin on the back of my neck causing my primal instinctive alarm system to take complete control of my body.  My senses knew a wasp attack was underway and initiated an automatic defense response without any conscious effort on my part. 

Flailing my arms and hands about my head and neck, I leapt from the front porch and ran at full speed, all the while screaming at the top of my lungs.  This instinctive evasive maneuver helped to minimize the inevitable physical damage and kept the number of stings to a minimum of six.  Yes, six highly painful wasp stings from a single attack.  Two on the back of the neck, three on the back and one on the arm. 

All efforts to maintain dignity and professionalism in the face of danger, and in the presence of my lovely family, had totally disappeared.  After all, how can you not look insanely silly running and screaming across the front yard while beating yourself about the head and neck?  However, I did manage to attract all of the attacking beasts away from my buyers who, after all the excitement, did show some sympathy and managed not to burst out laughing.  

Of course,  it was the mom who asked, with true concern in her voice,  if I was allergic to wasp stings?  Trying to make a little humor out the situation I replied “I don’t know.  Do you know CPR?”   

Tim Moore

This rather classy and attractive mom, who I think was probably internally panicking over images of mouth- to-mouth resuscitation with a male Realtor® whom she had just met, quickly held up her cell phone and said, “I know 911.” 

Are there weekend warrior home improvement plans included in your Memorial Day schedule?  A few projects to protect your investment will make your home more enjoyable now and life easier when you decide to sell.  Here’s a helpful resource and fabulous tool called houselogic® from NAR I recommend that will start you thinking on your projects.

And, while you are working away at a task or celebrating with friends and family over the long holiday weekend be sure to remember what Memorial Day is really about, and take some time to honor the courageous service men and women who died while protecting our country.    

Have a wonderful week and use this resource to help you plan ahead. As always, you can contact me for more info. on what homebuyers searching for a home in Martin and our surrounding towns are asking about.

2316 Mt. Pelia Road, Martin - Beautiful Cottage- Priced in the low $60s

Tim and I will be hosting two open houses this Sunday, May 23, from 1 to 3 p.m. 

5 Reasons to Visit These Open Houses:

  1)  Two Great Choices:  Martin offers quality housing in all price ranges.   Pick the one that fits within your budget and see the value you can get for your money!

2)  Interest Rates are Great:  Have you looked lately at what you can do with financing?  FHA, Rural Home, Conventional–Rates are low and give you a way to get the most for your money. 

3)  Country Setting-  Do you crave a peaceful backyard view of  rolling land and farms?   Both of these homes provide quick access to all of the best of Martin and still shine in a country setting. 

Gentleman's Farm- Log Cabin and 14 acres

4)  Relaxed Atmosphere – Have you scoured the internet and highlighted one of these homes?  Here’s your chance to just take a Sunday drive and preview at your leisure.  If you want to talk with Tim or me, we are there to answer your questions.  We’ve got the specific in-depth information on these two unique homes.

5)  A Chance to Win $8,000-  Century 21 is working hard to build on the benefits felt by many who got a bit of extra cash with the now expired First Time and Current Homebuyer tax credit incentive.   There is a sweepstakes for an $8,000 drawing.  Read about the sweepstakes online or visit with us Sunday and learn more about it!   Here’s the information.

Buying a home is usually a lot of fun and an exciting time in a person’s life, especially when you work with people who care.  We listen and connect.  Come by Sunday.    Here’s the details on both homes:

2316 Mt. Pelia Road

 Directions:  Turn west onto Mt. Pelia Rd at the BP.  Stay on Mt. Pelia Rd approx. 4 miles to the Mt. Pelia community.  House is located on the right on the corner of Mt. Pelia and Poynter Rd. 

• Craftsman style brick cottage in the country features nine ft. ceilings, hardwood floors, wide moldings and French doors.
• Three bedrooms, central heating and cooling and spacious rooms. In addition, you’ll love the roomy shop, workshop drive-in basement and low maintenance exterior. 
• Priced in the low$60′s, don’t miss this exceptional home ownership opportunity. 

303 Collier Road

Directions:  Turn west onto Mt. Pelia Rd. at the BP station.  Stay on Mt. Pelia Rd. to Collier Rd.  Turn left onto Collier Rd.  House will be approx .3 mi on the left. Watch for signs! 

• Custom log home on 14.6 acres.  Country living at its finest! 
• Large wrap-around porches overlooking a stocked pond with fishing pier.  Custom built throughout. 
• Ceramic tile, salon bath with jetted tub and tons of custom cabinets and vanities. 
• Guest house or mother-in-law cottage comes with full kitchen and bath. 
• Land is ideal for horses or cattle.  40 x 80 shop plus RV and boat storage. 

Need more information.  Feel free to contact me at 731-225-2619 or leslie@lesliehaywood-moore.com.

See you Sunday.

One of the most charming streets in our town is Poplar Street, a residential historic district off of Main Street and a quick stroll from downtown.  Although small in size with only twenty-eight homes, Poplar looms large for anyone who appreciates older homes and a residential area surrounded by schools and shopping.

Warner Pace is a Martin resident and Chairman of the Board of the Martin Historic Zoning Commission.  He has lived on Poplar Street since the late 1980′s when he bought a dilapidated, historic home on a run-down street.  I asked him his thoughts on reviving this neighborhood and living here:

Poplar Street Beauty

What do you like most about living in the downtown area of Martin and on Poplar Street?      “It’s close to area schools with the elementary and primary within walking distance.  Downtown  is only a block away, so you can walk to work and/or shop.  Plus, the neighbors are wonderful.”

What prompted you to buy an older home? “I love the charm and warmth a period  home offers.  When I first bought my house it was in ruins, with windows out, dogs living in it, etc.  The street was mostly rental property with the larger homes being divided into apartments.  There were only four family homes in 1987.  This was all before any historic zoning overlay was established.  With the families and I who were left, we worked on establishing Poplar Street and later downtown into historic districts with zoning overlays.  With this established, future residences (homes) on Poplar Street would have to be single family homes.  As of 2010, the whole street has been restored, except one property, back to their original state and are single family properties. It has been a long journey, but worth the effort.”

Springtime On Poplar St. Lovely Older Home

Since Poplar is part of the Martin Historic district, I know there are guidelines provided to help maintain the integrity of the “historic district” title.  How restrictive are these guidelines and what challenges, if any, did you run into with them while renovating your home? “The Martin Historic zoning is an overlay zoning to the city’s regular zoning laws.  It protects the property owners from new development that would not be period to the area.  The guidelines address anything that is on street view.  The theme is to restore, not remodel.  The Historic board will work with the property owner prior to the board meetings to offer suggestions and show samples of what has been approved in the past.  A Certificate of Appropriation (COA) must be submitted on each project.  The board was very helpful during the process of restoring my  home.”

You have taken a huge role in renovating buildings both downtown with your businesses, The Lindell and The Gallery, and on your home on Poplar.  You recently provided me so much support while I was working with a prospective new business owner on a building downtown.  Speaking from experience, what do you think are the most important factors someone needs to consider before buying an older home or building? “First, do you really love it?  Next, do you have the passion and the finances to see it through?”

Historic Home Marker, Winter 2010

What are the best resources for people who want more information about historic homes, etc.  I know you mentioned the link to city hall I can provide.  Any others?    ”There are state and national websites and agencies that we work with who will provide expert advice.”

Warner’s home now is a shining example of a successful restoration.  His example led others to join in recreating an area offering the closeness of downtown living within a well-kept and desirable neighborhood.  Like many Martin streets, Poplar offers an eclectic blend of styles from two bedroom cottages to sprawling two story homes.  The problem is homes don’t go for sale that often on Poplar.  Perhaps, this neighborhood is just too comfortable to leave.

Feel free to contact Warner at wpace@utm.edu for more information or visit the sites he suggested:  http://www.cityofmartin.net/historic.htm;      http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/hist/

___________________________________________________________________________________

Here are the Poplar Street stats*:

Current Listings:                 1

Asking Price:                          $118,900
Htd. Square Footage:         2430

________________

Current Pending: 0

______________

Closed Sales (Past Year Jan. 2009-Jan. 2010): 0

Every one of our neighborhoods has its own story.  Join in the conversation and comment on what you love about our area.  Looking for more information?  Send me a note, and I’ll be happy to provide you with a detailed report on the homes on this street or other neighborhoods in Martin and surrounding areas.  And, if you know of a neighborhood you would like to see highlighted, just let me know.

*Stats Info.from MLS Data -Reelfoot Regional Association of Realtors

Wanted:  A comfortable neighborhood tucked back into fields and yet close to everything.  Found:  Plantation Estates just off of Hawks Road in Martin.  

Homeowners here have told me, over the years, that location and convenience are just a few of the many benefits of living in Plantation Estates.  Turning off the bypass at the University Commons business district, you only have to drive a few minutes along Hawks Road to reach this u-shaped subdivision. 

A little history-   Stan McMinn, a former engineer with the Weakley County Municiple Electric Service, began development of Plantation Estates in 1978 when he purchased the property from Ms. Marjorie Gill.   With interest rates sky-rocketing during the late 70s,  the subdivision took its time finding itself.  Once the economy leveled out, lots began to sell and people began to build.  Now, this neighborhood is grown up and well established.   Thirty plus homes on Wheat Street, Cotton Boll Circle, Sugar Lane and Tobacco Drive, as well as the stately homes that front the subdivision on Hawks Road, make up this area.   To help you get a feel for the neighborhood,  I’ve selected a few of the great homes styles here to highlight. 

Colonial Styling

Traditional style-  Here’s an example of a spacious home with Colonial styling.  These traditional homes generally offer bedrooms on the second floor and windows are often alike with many small, square panes.  This home has a twist with a bonus room downstairs between the main part of the home and the garage instead of the usual second story bonus room.  And like many of the homes in Plantation Estates, the exterior is vinyl siding which provides time saved in maintenance compared to traditional painted or stained wood siding. 

Contemporary Highlights

Another Beauty with Contemporary Styling

A variety of styles-    A special set of more modern styled homes sit among their traditional neighbors and shine with their own personality.  The first example is of a wonderfully kept home built in the mid-80s.  Notice the stone facade and the skylights accenting the front entrance.  These features are characteristic of  a more contemporary design known for its combination of exterior materials–stone, wood and/or brick and its trend toward simple lines.  Many of the homes built in this style also feature exposed interior beams and a exterior that blends well with the landscape.  The second home also possesses a more contemporary flair.

Charming Design

It’s the wide open covered front porch that invites you into this unique home in Plantation Estates.  The clean lines and farmstyle accents illustrate a charming updated look to country living. 

Classic Lines

These classic one story homes provide spacious floor plans, built-in garages, side and front gable roof lines and, usually, a set of sliding glass doors or french doors opening onto a back porch or deck.  Here’s a fine example of a traditionally styled home that highlights Plantation Estates. 

Easy to find-  Turn onto Hawks Road off Skyhawk Parkway at University Commons.  Drive to Wheat Street on the right.  University Commons includes Comet Cleaners and Laundry, Hinds Clinic, Extendicare Home Health, Tennessee Quality Homecare & Hospice and Edward D. Jones.  Regency Park Condominiums and Hampton Inn are also located in this area.  The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball and intramural fields are across the highway from Hawks Road.  Restaurants and shopping are located just minutes away.

University Commons

 ________________________________

Here are the Plantation Estates neighborhood stats*:
Current Listings:                 1

Asking Price:                         $144,900

Htd. Square Footage:        2512 sq. ft.

___________________

Current Pending: 0

___________________

Closed Sales (Past Year Nov. 2008-Nov. 2009): 1

Asking Price: $133,500
Sales Price: $125,250
Median Sales Price: $125,250
Average % of List Price to Sales Price: 94%
Average Days on the Market: 87

Free free to join in the conversation and add your thoughts in the comments below.  If you need additional information on Plantation Estates or know of a neighborhood you would like to see highlighted as a Neighborhood of the Week in MartinTNLiving.com, feel free to call me or send me a note. 

*Info.from MLS Data -Reelfoot Regional Association of Realtors 

 Also, a special thanks to April Jones in the County Register of Deeds office for her assistance.

The updated Homebuyer Tax Credit, as it is called now, isn’t just for newbies anymore.  In its place is an extension of the previous first-time homebuyer credit and an additional incentive for current homeowners. 

As the deadline approached for the initial homebuyer credit, I worked with several clients who were overjoyed to move from renting to owning and happy to get a check back, thank you very much.   I’ve seen first-hand how the incentive helped push buyers toward a decision to act now. 

In fact, I worked with one couple whose window of opportunity for this tax credit was closing fast due to processing time of the loan they’d chosen.  We were high-fiving when we got to contract because we’d made it in the time-frame required, and it was so important to these buyers to take advantage of the incentive before it ran out.  The  extension and update gives others, who thought they had missed out, another chance.

Money Plans  This couple and others I worked with acted because by getting up to 10% of the cost of the home bought, up to $8,000, as money in their pocket they felt better about their purchase.   They planned on using their tax credit money as a fund for emergencies or repairs for their new home, such as funding replacement windows or a new heating and cooling unit.  One client earmarked his credit to pay off his motorcycle loan, so he wouldn’t have that payment every month in addition to his new house payment. 

New Version   Now, I am wondering how the updated homebuyer tax credit allowance for current homeowners will play out.   In the updated version, there is a credit for up to $6500 for homeowners who have owned their home and lived in it for five consecutive years out of the last eight.*

$6500 is nothing to sneeze at, especially these days.  Working with buyers and sellers who are counting every penny, this extra money could help make the decision on a specific property a little easier.

If you are a current homeowner, how will this tax credit affect you?  Take a minute to answer the poll to the right.

Want an easy way to get the latest from MartinTNLiving.com?  Subscribe through the RSS feed  for an easy way to stay informed.   And as always, please feel free to join into the conversation and add your thoughts, or contact me if you have questions.

*NAR Tax Credit Comparison Chart, Nov. 2009

Tucked in the north corner of Martin, Green Hills is a shining example of a variety of styles and comfortable living in our town. There are five diverse streets in the neighborhood: Weldon Drive, N. Virginia Ave., Roma and E. Roma Street, Lake Park Drive and Parish Road.

Cliff Weldon and his wife, Virginia, both former Martin mayors, started the neighborhood in the mid 1960′s with Mr. Weldon naming Weldon Drive after the family name and the streets, Virginia and Roma, after wife and daughter.

Ideal for Neighborhood StrollsThe first home was built on Weldon Drive and development continued on Lake Park Drive, Parish and Roma. Roma is a delightful street for daily exercise because of the tree-lined island in the center separating the homes there. This common area provides privacy and imparts a park-like setting for homeowners. Well-built three bedroom brick homes make up the majority of properties, and neighbors have a full circle to walk around before turning into Weldon Drive or N. Virginia. Parish Road affords a second entrance into the neighborhood and homes there have quick access to the bypass and a thick tree break across the road from their front doors.

A Mix of Styles Homes on Weldon Drive are built on spacious lots and echo several architectural styles. As in many of our neighborhoods in Martin, it took years for the subdivision to fill up and changing housing designs now provide an eclectic feel to the neighborhood.

The newer section of N. Viriginia includes homes built in the 80’s and 90’s and reflect a lean toward vinyl and cedar-sided homes. Medium sized lots provide plenty of room for big backyards and a cul-de-sac promises a quieter and less traveled area.

Wonderful Neighborhood  Extras Tim and I have lived in two homes we built here when our boys were little. I‘ve spent many mornings walking in the neighborhood enjoying the pleasant setting with trees, wide streets and light traffic. A herd of deer startled me one morning walk as I reached the small rise at the intersection of Virginia and Weldon. Never having been that close to so many deer, the sight made me catch my breath and drink in the beauty of the manicured lawn and at least fifteen deer running toward the back of the yard and into the neighboring field.

Our two boys, Nick and Harrison, learned to ride their bicycles on Virginia. I remember letting go of the back of Nick’s bike and watching him sail wobbly, at first, toward the cul-de-sac and then crash because we hadn’t practiced turning yet!  After a few tries, he was riding like a pro.

A Sparkling Pond Another highlight of the neighborhood is the glittering pond on Lake Park Drive that ebbs and flows with the seasons. Feeding the ducks on the pond was always a treat for our then four and five-year-old boys—when they weren’t trying to throw sticks at them. While living in Green Hills, as new homeowners, we landscaped our entire yard by ourselves, and I remember planting my aunt’s daylilly bulbs in our sideyard as an extra feature. I also remember spending a magical Christmas morning playing outdoors when we woke up to a sunny and very snowy landscape. It’s treasured memories like these that make me so fond of this neighborhood.  And, it’s the quality and maintenance of the homes in this neighborhood that make the subdivision a well-kept secret of comfortable living in Martin.

Expect a variety of home styles and prices here. Starter, move-up and luxury all coexist in this small corner of Martin. As always, let me know if you need any additional information. Also, you are so welcomed to add to the discussion on this neighborhood and post your comments below.

Unique Location Green Hills provides homeowners with easy access to the bypass and is just minutes from downtown and other shopping. Located adjacent to the Northtown Business District, its entrances are flanked by the Weakley County Animal Clinic, the Northwest Tennessee Development District office, Century 21 Overton Real Estate, First Choice Auto Body Repair, Martin Self Storage and Weakley County Motors.

To Get There Just drive north from downtown toward Fulton, turn left at the Weakley County Animal Clinic onto Weldon Drive.

________________________________

Here are the Green Hills neighborhood stats*:
Current Listings:                 2

Asking Price:                          Range from $109,500 to $262,500
Htd. Square Footage:        Range from 1344 to 3845

________________

Current Pending: 1
Asking Price: $99,500

________________

Closed Sales (Past Year Oct. 2008-Oct. 2009): 4
Average Asking Price: $108,625
Average Sales Price: $103,875
Median Sales Price: $104,000
Average % of List Price to Sales Price: 90%
Average Days on the Market: 83

*Info.from MLS Data -Reelfoot Regional Association of Realtors

Update on the first time homebuyers’ tax credit.  Read more about the changes that could be coming up.

Are you interested in finding out more about  the new First-Time Homebuyer Federal Income Tax Credit? There is a great consumer guide in my blog on Trulia.com.

It was love at first sight! Over ten years ago, when we drove into the driveway of the log home, my client, after several visits to houses throughout the area, found her dream. The rich, deep auburn color of the logs inside and out, the mountain resort feeling that whispered, “retreat” sealed the relationship. It was personal.

And so it is with log home owners. Maybe its the scent of fresh cut pine or other wood, the emphasis on natural materials or the idea of owning a home “closer” to nature but with today’s features that draws some to this unique style of construction.

The types of log homes range from manufactured to hand crafted log construction, and the number of companies offering log homes seems limitless. According to the Log Home Council, National Association of Home Builders, there are over 26,000 log homes built every year and the majority of these homes are the owners’ main residence.

Building a log home is similar to stick-frame homes when it comes to doing your homework. Invest the time to research the type of construction you want, the company you buy from, the quality of materials used and where they are coming from, as well as testimonials of people who have purchased the homes. I’ve listed several resources at the bottom of this entry where you can link into additional information.

Local contractor Randy Edwards built a Lincoln Log Homes International residence here in Martin in 2006. Randy says the home was hand-constructed with each log being placed individually. It took five months to build. The home’s exterior shell is completely logs, and the home’s plan name is The Waco. It features warm and natural pine log exterior walls with a mixture of traditional and log home interiors. When asked about the benefits to a home owner, Randy highlighted energy efficiency and maintenance. The walls have an insulation factor of R-40. “The finished, sheet rock walls in the home are built on top of the log walls adding to the energy efficiency.” Randy said. If you need more information about the construction of this type of home, you can contact me or email Randy at: RBTS1@msn.com.

For other facts and information, link into these websites.

Fast Facts: Log Homes and www.loghomes.com

Different Types of Log Home Construction