IMPORTANT INFORMATION: 2009 Homebuyer Tax Credit
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS provided and sourced by the National Association of Realtors. Please review the following LINK.
Sharing Quotes of Persistence!
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race” Calvin Coolidge
“Persistence is the twin sister of excellence. One is a matter of quality; the other, a matter of time.” Unknown
“Some guys they just give up living, others start dying little by little piece by piece, some guys come home from work and wash up, and go racing in the streets.” Bruce Springsteen
“Did you know the pen is stronger than the knife: they can kill you once but they can’t kill you twice.” Damian Marley
“Being defeated is only a temporary condition; giving up is what makes it permanent.” Marilyn vos Savant
“Keep on going, and the chances are that you will stumble on something, perhaps when you are least expecting it. I never heard of anyone ever stumbling on something sitting down.” Charles F. Kettering
“If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces, never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again.” Flavia Weedn
“If you have made mistakes, there is always another chance for you. You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call ‘failure’ is not the falling down, but the staying down.” Mary Pickford
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” Thomas Edison
“No trumpets sound when the important decisions of our life are made. Destiny is made known silently.” Agnes De Mille
A Taste of Cool Springs – April 19th!
A Taste of Cool Springs
Don’t Miss the Tastiest Event of the Year!
April 19, 2009
Time: 7pm – 9pm
http://www.tasteofcoolsprings.com
Location: Cool Springs Galleria, Franklin, TN
Phone: 615-771-2312
Admission: $35 advance / $40 at the door
For one night only, the area’s best chefs unite to raise money for United Way of Williamson County and its partner agencies.
The seventh annual Taste of Cool Springs happens Sunday, April 19, 2009, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at CoolSprings Galleria. Where else can you taste the best restaurants that Williamson County has to offer all in one night?
Franklin Synergy Bank and Vanderbilt Williamson are sponsors of this tasty event where a portion of each ticket price is a tax-deductible charitable donation. Tickets for the event are $35 in advance, ($40 at the door) and are available at United Way agencies, Guest Services at CoolSprings Galleria, Brentwood Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce, First Farmers & Merchants Bank, Franklin Synergy Bank, Reliant Bank and Cadence Bank. In addition to the great food your ticket gives you two drink coupons to sip on your favorite beverage (beer, wine or soft) during the tasting. Entertainment for the evening will be provided by classical guitarist, Carlos Enrique; pianist, Jim Hayden and big band singer Matt Belsante. Pairing the tastiest of foods with a great night out and the added bonus of helping support a worthy cause; how could you not want to attend?
More than 35 restaurants are expected so you are getting your money’s worth and spending less than $1 per restaurant. A sample of the merchants signed on so far include: Bosco’s; Chef on Call Catering; Criallo’s Bistro & Bar; GLACEAU vitaminwater; Noshville Delicatessen Cool Springs; Old Hickory Steakhouse at Gaylord Opryland; Rainforest Café; Swanky’s Taco Shop; Sweet Dreams Cookie Company; Texas Roadhouse; Wild Ginger; and Wolfgang Puck Express.
Visit www.tasteofcoolsprings.com to learn details on which delicious foods the restaurants intend to serve, entertainment for the evening, ticket locations and prize giveaways. You may also contact United Way of Williamson County, 615-771-2312.
Sharing Quotes of Growth for Week of April 13th
“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” Benjamin Franklin
“Ambition is the germ from which all growth of nobleness proceeds.” Oscar Wilde
“Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.” John F. Kennedy
“All change is not growth, as all movement is not forward.” Ellen Glasgow
“Education is a social process. Education is growth. Education is, not a preparation for life; education is life itself.” John Dewey
“There are no great limits to growth because there are no limits of human intelligence, imagination, and wonder.” Ronald Reagan
“Those who improve with age embrace the power of personal growth and personal achievement and begin to replace youth with wisdom, innocence with understanding, and lack of purpose with self-actualization.” Bo Bennett
“Happiness is neither virtue nor pleasure nor this thing nor that but simply growth, We are happy when we are growing.” William Butler Yeats
“All growth depends upon activity. There is no development physically or intellectually without effort, and effort means work.” Calvin Coolidge
“Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man’s growth without destroying his roots.” Frank Howard Clark
March Statistics Released by the Greater Nashville Association of REALTORS®
MARCH HOME SALES CONSISTENT WITH YEARLY TRENDS
There were 1,521 home closings reported for the month of March, according to figures provided by the Greater Nashville Association of REALTORS®. This figure represents a 31.7 percent decrease compared with 2,227 closings in March of 2008.
Numbers for the first quarter were 3,762 closings, down 34.6 percent from the 5,763 closings during the first quarter of 2008.
“The seasonal increase in home sales over the past couple months is certainly a welcome sign, but our housing market has a long way to go to a full recovery. We’ve heard a lot of ‘good news’ lately concerning the market, but as March numbers show, we need to be sure we are making correct and meaningful comparisons when evaluating the data,” said GNAR President Mike Nichols. “Regardless, March home sales are consistent with, and maybe a little better than, the trend we’ve seen so far this year. And consistency and small improvements are good news. Many people are beginning to realize the combination of historically low interest rates, government incentives and available inventory makes this a very good time to consider purchasing a home.”
There were 1,731 sales pending at the end of March, compared with 2,308 pending sales at this time last year. The average number of days on the market for a single-family home was 89 days.
The median residential price for a single-family home during March was $158,000 and for a condominium it was $155,704. This compares with last year’s median residential and condominium prices of $178,388 and $160,573, respectively.
Inventory at the end of March was 23,886, up slightly from 23,730 in March 2008.
“We continue to have a strong, but stable inventory, and that is great news for buyers looking to take advantage of the ideal buying climate,” added Nichols. “With the busy spring home sales season, sellers should make sure their home is in the best possible condition and priced correctly. And calling on a Realtor is a great way to make sure you have done just that.”
Source: Greater Nashville Association of REALTORS®, press release 040909.
It’s Time for the World’s Biggest Fish Fry!
It’s Time for the World’s Biggest Fish Fry…a great tradition!
Each April, many Middle Tennesseans travel a couple of hours to Paris, Tennessee located in West Tennessee for the official World’s Biggest Fish Fry. This week long festival is not just about eating fish. The entertainment includes parades, rodeo, beauty pageants, carnival rides, shopping, and meeting new friends as you enjoy the spring in Tennessee. This year’s festival is scheduled for April 20-26, 2009.
Over 12,500 pounds of catfish are served at the Bobby Cox Memorial Fish Tent during the World’s Biggest Fish Fry, a Paris and Henry County tradition which kicks off the festival season in West Tennessee.
The “Fish Fry” evolved from “Mule Day”, which originated in 1938 with the Paris Post Intelligencer as the first sponsor. Farmers came to town on the first Monday in April to trade their mules and other farm products, do their shopping and enjoy the fellowship of their friends. Early in the 1950′s the Chamber of Commerce took over “Mule Day” and the tractor started taking the place of mules. The Chamber of Commerce started looking for another event to replace “Mule Day”.
In 1953, the Chamber of Commerce held the first “Fish Fry”. The event was not as successful as hoped. The fish were not from Kentucky Lake, and just did not please the fish eating public. The parade was short but sweet, and the event was held on Barton Field for one day and night.
In 1961, the Paris-Henry County Jaycees took over the “Fish Fry” from the Chamber of Commerce.
Since 1961, the “World’s Biggest Fish Fry” has grown considerably, from 1600 pounds of catfish to over 5 tons of catfish being cooked and served at the Robert E. “Bobby” Cox Memorial Fish Tent.
Community participation and support of the “World’s Biggest Fish Fry” brings the community together in many ways. Community involvement by attending one of the five beauty pageants, buying souvenirs, eating fish dinners, attending the rodeo, entering or watching the Grand Parade, or the Small Fry Parade, and going to the carnival, makes the event successful.
The history of the “Fish Fry” started with the farmers and their mules. Each past “Fish Fry” makes new history with trying new and different things, bigger crowds, more catfish served ad more community involvement.
For further information, please visit Paris, Tennessee’s chamber of commerce at www.paristnchamber.com.
Sharing Quotes of Success!
Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom. - General George Patton
Motivation will almost always beat mere talent. - Norman R. Augustine
They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you make them feel. - Carol Buchner
A mind troubled by doubt cannot focus on the course to victory. - Arthur Golden
It is time for us to stand and cheer for the doer, the achiever, the one who recognizes the challenge and does something about it. - Vince Lombardi
After the game, the king and the pawn go into the same box. - Italian Proverb
Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing. - Abraham Lincoln
Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are. - Malcolm Forbes
Success is never final. Failure is never fatal. Courage is what counts. - Sir Winston Churchill
What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal. - Albert Pike
Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. - Winston Churchill
April 2009 Tip – Grill Maintenance 101
GRILL MAINTENANCE 101
To prevent food from sticking, lightly coat the grate with a high-smoking-temperature oil such as peanut oil before turning on the grill. Cooking spray works too.
Grills clean up best when slightly warm. After cooking, scrub the grate with a wire brush or a ball of heavy-duty aluminum foil held between tongs. Use brass wire brushes on stainless steel grates and stainless steel ones on cast iron.
When the grill is completely cool, wipe up spills with a damp paper towel. Grease and salt accelerate corrosion.
For charcoal grills, discard ashes after they have completely cooled. For gas grills, regularly clean or change the catch-pan liner.
Place a water-resistant cover over your grill after every use.
GET FIRED UP
When the temperature outdoors rises, a jar of barbecue sauce, a package of fresh chicken, and a backyard grill offer an enticing alternative to slaving over a hot stove. Cooking out is casual and simple, but don’t let that fool you into taking your grill’s upkeep lightly. Knowing how to properly clean and maintain a grill will ensure great barbecues for years to come.
ANNUAL UPKEEP
Give your grill a thorough cleaning once a year. If you cook out year-round, clean your grill in the spring and fall.
Combine one part distilled white vinegar and one part water in a spray bottle, and then coat the interior of the grill. Close the grill lid and allow to stand for one hour. The solution will break up burnt particles, making them easier to remove with a brush. Wipe clean with a wet cloth.
Clean the grate with a sponge and mild dishwashing soap, or try an oven or grill cleaner, following manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Note: Use oven cleaner only on the grate because it can damage painted surfaces.
To remove rust on the exterior, use a fine steel-wool pad to gently rub spots. Spray area with paint made for grills.
GRILL SAFETY
Using proper precautions is just as important as cleaning. Take these four steps to avoid common grilling mistakes.
- Be sure to open the lid before lighting your gas grill.
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Make sure your grill is at least 10 feet away from your house and any other flammable materials. Never fire up your grill in an enclosed area.
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If you’re out of charcoal lighter fluid, never substitute gasoline or kerosene. Once you start the grill, be patient. Do not add more lighter fluid to speed up the heating process.
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Store propane tanks outside, sheltered from direct sunlight.
Source: Southern Living magazine, 2009
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