Franklin Real Estate News: November 2007

Every year I spend a night checking out my neighbors Christmas lights in Franklin and Brentwood. Some people take this very seriously and seem to be competing with each other.

I'll attach a few pictures from last year, and ask for some comparisons from around the country.

This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property and opinions of Elizabeth Payne Brewer of Keller Williams Realty. Providing real estate services to clients in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Spring Hill, Green Hills, and the middle Tennessee area

  For a lot of people, the quality of the school system is the most important factor in buying a home. Franklin real estate has always had great appreciation because of it's excellent school system. Here is some of the information provided by the Williamson county school system about Franklin High School.

School History

Franklin High School has a long and rich history of providing education to the young people of Williamson County.  It began in 1910 with twenty students and two teachers in a few upstairs rooms of the Franklin Institute, the old Franklin Elementary School, located at Five Corners.                                                           

 That first Franklin high School graduated three students in 1912.  In the fall of 1926, the new Franklin high School opened its doors on a site atop a hill on Columbia Avenue. G.E. Craddock was the principal when this move was made and he carried with him a staff of ten teachers and a senior class of 33.  Courses taught included English, math, history, science, French, Latin, home economics and manual arts, taught by Mr. Craddock, the principal.  In 1936, W.C. Yates became principal of Franklin high School.  In addition to serving as principal, Mr. Yates also taught agriculture.  In 1941, when FHS first became accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, it had 13 teaching staff members and a senior class of 53. 

Franklin High School's tradition of excellence established over the past 93 years has continued.  Over the past five years, 11 students have been named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, and test scores have remained well above state and national averages.    Franklin High also excels outside the classroom, with a nationally recognized band program, active forensic and vocal music programs, numerous student clubs and organizations, and competitive athletic programs in every sport sanctioned by the TSSAA, including 10 state championships in women's soccer in the past 11 years.  Today the school numbers over 1700 students.

Academics
Franklin High School was named the fourth best high school in the State of Tennessee in 2005 by U.S. News and World Report. Franklin High School's daily schedule allows students to take six (6) classes and a study hall or seven (7) classes and no study hall. The school year has 180 days. Over the past 80 years Franklin High School has established a tradition of excellence. Test scores on ACT and SAT remain well above state and national averages. The average score for the ACT, which students are required to take in order to graduate is 22.7. 

This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property and opinions of Elizabeth Payne Brewer of Keller Williams Realty. Providing real estate services to clients in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Spring Hill, Green Hills, and the middle Tennessee area

 Spring Hill real estate - Thompson's Station were settled in 1799 by pioneers from Virginia and North Carolina who had received land grants for service in the Revolutionary War. The community, officially became Thompson's Station in 1856 in honor of Dr. Elijah Thompson, who provided the land on which the village was built. Dr. Thompson secured funds for the railroad, making Thompson's Station a prosperous shipping center for southern Williamson County.

Thompson's Station's central location makes it easy to enjoy all  the area has to offer. The  town of Spring Hill, home to Saturn's headquarters, is just a few miles south on Columbia Pike. To the north on I-65 is the abundant  dining and shopping options of Cool Springs.  Also to the north, along state hwy 31, or Columbia Highway as the natives would say, is the Historic town of Franklin with it's beautiful architecture and restored historic buildings. A short 30 minute drive north on I-65 will take you to downtown Nashville, Home of the Tennessee Titans, Vanderbilt, and the Nashville Predators hockey team. 

Several New communities are under construction in Thompsons Station with Prices ranging from the $300's to over $700,000.

Search for Thompons Station real estate by clicking the button

This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property and opinions of Elizabeth Payne Brewer of Keller Williams Realty. Providing real estate services to clients in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Spring Hill, Green Hills, and the middle Tennessee area

Dallas Downs is a small neighborhood on the south side of Franklin with all brick single family homes priced between $275,000 and $500,000. Most of the homes were build in the early to middle 1990's and have 1/4 acre lots, 3 or 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, and 2 car garages.  A community pool and playground make it a family favorite 

click on the button for current homes for sale in Dallas downs

This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property and opinions of Elizabeth Payne Brewer of Keller Williams Realty. Providing real estate services to clients in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Spring Hill, Green Hills, and the middle Tennessee area

Why do people continue to pay high prices for Franklin real estate. One answer is a great school system. Just take a look the report card provided by the Tennessee Department of Education. The Williamson county  Schools rank considerably higher than the state average in every catagory.

Academic Achievement Grades

 

Grades 3-8: TCAP Criterion Referenced Academic Achievement

View Chart ?

(3 year average)

2005

2006

2007

2007 State

CRT

Score

Grade

Trend

Score

Grade

Trend

Score

Grade

Trend

Score

Grade

Trend

Math

67

A

NC

69

A

NC

71

A

NC

57

A

+

Reading/Language

65

A

NC

66

A

NC

68

A

NC

56

B

NC

Social Studies

65

A

NC

66

A

NC

68

A

NC

54

B

+

Science

63

A

NC

65

A

NC

67

A

NC

55

B

+

(Note: 3-yr average of state CRT NCE's, basis 1998.)

 

Grades 5 & 8: TCAP Writing

View Chart ?

(3 year average)

2005

2006

2007

2007 State

Writing

Score

Grade

Trend

Score

Grade

Trend

Score

Grade

Trend

Score

Grade

Trend

Writing 5th

4.6

A

-

4.6

A

NC

4.6

A

NC

4.1

A

NC

Writing 8th

4.7

A

-

4.6

A

NC

4.7

A

NC

4.2

A

NC

(Note: Based on 3-year averages.)

 

Grades 11: TCAP Writing

View Chart ?

(3 year average)

2005

2006

2007

2007 State

Writing

Score

Grade

Trend

Score

Grade

Trend

Score

Grade

Trend

Score

Grade

Trend

Writing 11th

4.4

A

-

4.3

A

NC

4.4

A

NC

4

A

NC

(Note: Based on 3-year averages.)

Academic ACT Achievement

Grades 9-12: ACT - 3 - Year Averages	View Chart ?
(3 year average)	2005	2006	2007	2007 State
Composite	22.2	22.2	22.3	20.6
English	22.4	22.4	22.5	20.7
Math	21.5	21.5	21.6	19.8
Reading	22.7	22.7	22.7	21.0
Science/Reasoning	21.7	21.7	21.6	20.3
(Note: Based on 3-year averages.)

Grades 9-12: ACT - Individual Years	View Chart ?
(Individual Years)	2005	2006	2007	2007 State
Composite	22.0	22.4	22.4	20.7
English	22.2	22.6	22.7	20.8
Math	21.2	21.7	21.8	19.9
Reading	22.4	22.9	22.8	21.1
Science/Reasoning	21.5	21.7	21.7	20.4
(Note: Based on individual years as reported.)

Click Here to search for Franklin Real Estate

This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property and opinions of Elizabeth Payne Brewer of Keller Williams Realty. Providing real estate services to clients in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Spring Hill, Green Hills, and the middle Tennessee area

Franklin real estate - Christmas Decorations and the story of my friend Jerry. It's a lesson for us all.

 My friend Jerry loves to decorate his home every year for Christmas. So about this time of the year, you could see him on his ladder putting up lights on the 2 story home. His home is on a hill, and is very visible to the neighbors in Franklin.

Several years back, his ladder slipped and he fell on his elbow. It wasn't a long fall, but it the force was enough to shatter his elbow, and now after several years, he only has about 20 percent use of his left arm.

He still decorates his home. He had hooks put on his home, and he takes a long pole and pushes the lights up to the hooks. He says it's a lot faster, and he doesn't ever leave the ground.

If you put Christmas lights on your home, be careful, and be smart.

This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property and opinions of Elizabeth Payne-Brewer of Keller Williams Realty.  Providing real estate services to clients in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Spring Hill, Green Hills, and the middle Tennessee area.

 Spring Hill real estate - For those of you who have seem the movie, and hear people say that they got the whole nine yards and didn't know what that means. According to my sources, the belt feed ammo that is used for machine guns, came in lengths of 27 feet. Some targets got the benefit of the whole belt of ammo. or the whole nine yards. I've never shot a 50 cal machine gun, but I imagine that a continuous burst of shots that long would reduce a building into a pile of rubble.

What does that have to do with real estate?

I feel like my Spring Hill real estate customers aren't giving me their best shot at getting a transaction completed. Instead of the whole 9 yards, I'm getting one shot. I need something to inspire them to take action. They need to attack instead of being defensive all the time. This is serious business for me and my clients. They have an opportunity to buy Spring Hill real estate at a price that may never be this low again, ever. They have a chance to make a lot of money, but they must take action. Why can"t they see it.

This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property and opinions of Larry Brewer of Keller Williams Realty. Providing real estate services to clients in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Spring Hill, Green Hills, and the middle Tennessee area

 Polk Place is a great all brick neighborhood on the south side of Franklin, close to the Carnton Plantation and Franklin Battle Ground. Homes average a little more than 3000 square ft, are priced between $379,900 and $499,000.

2 homes were sold in Polk Place in October.

221 Karnes dr 3092 square ft at $360,000

229 Karnes dr 2940 square ft at $385,450

on 11/17 14 homes are for sale at an average price of $450,000, average days on market is 73, average size is 3326 square ft.

To search for Polk Place real estate, of homes for sale in Polk Place, click on the button.

This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property and opinions of Larry Brewer of Keller Williams Realty. Providing real estate services to clients in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Spring Hill, Green Hills, and the middle Tennessee area