What buyers and sellers in Tennessee ask most, plus how the insurance side fits in. If yours is not here, ask.
I represent buyers and sellers in Tennessee, mostly Middle Tennessee and the Nashville region. I am not licensed for real estate in Florida.
I am a licensed real estate agent in Tennessee, license #381811, affiliated with Keller Williams Nashville Music City Realty. I use the title Real Estate Specialist. Each Keller Williams office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Keller Williams is the brokerage that holds my license. The office is at 4101 Charlotte Avenue, Suite D160, Nashville. You work with me directly, not a team hand-off.
Some of it, since touring homes and closing happen in person. Everything around that, including the first conversation, planning and most paperwork, can be done by phone and email.
Real estate commissions are negotiable and are not set by law. How a buyer’s agent is paid is agreed in writing before we tour homes, in a buyer representation agreement. I will walk you through exactly what it says and what your options are before you sign anything.
Yes. A pre-approval from a lender tells you the price range you actually qualify for and makes your offer credible to a seller. Run the affordability calculator first for a rough range, then talk to a lender.
It depends on the loan. Some conventional loans allow as little as three percent down, and there are zero down options for eligible buyers and areas. More down means a smaller loan, and below twenty percent you will usually pay mortgage insurance. The mortgage calculator lets you test different amounts.
The fees to finalize the purchase, separate from the down payment. They typically run two to five percent of the price and cover lender fees, title, appraisal, taxes and prepaid insurance. Some can be negotiated for the seller to pay.
A deposit you put down with your offer to show you are serious. It is held in escrow and applied to your costs at closing. You can lose it if you back out for a reason the contract does not protect.
A short window after your offer is accepted, often around ten days, when you can inspect the home and decide whether to proceed, renegotiate or walk away with your earnest money. It is also when the insurance should be priced.
Because a house that is expensive or impossible to insure can cost thousands a year or end a deal, and the option period is your only real leverage to do something about it. I pull a real quote on the address during that window. There is more on this in the blog.
By looking at what comparable homes nearby have actually sold for recently, adjusting for condition, updates and location, and factoring in current demand and how quickly homes are moving. The goal is the price that draws the most qualified buyers, not the highest number on paper.
The main cost is the commission, which is negotiable, plus items like title fees, any agreed repairs or credits, and prorated property taxes. You get a net sheet up front that estimates what you walk away with.
Usually the small, visible things: paint, light fixtures, landscaping, decluttering and a deep clean. Large projects rarely return their full cost. One worth checking is the roof, since roof age affects what the next buyer can insure.
It depends on price, condition, location and the market at the time. A well priced home in good condition generally goes under contract faster, and closing then takes roughly thirty to forty five days.
Because I also write insurance, and the coverage question can change a deal. Roof age, prior claims and flood zone affect what a house costs to own and whether a lender will close. Handling both means that gets checked early rather than at the closing table.
No. There is no requirement and no pressure. The offer to quote it is there because it is useful during the option period, not because it is tied to the representation.
Yes. A real quote on a specific address usually takes a day or two, which fits inside a normal inspection window, so the real number can go into your offer.
Send a note and I will walk you through it, buying or selling.