The Kestner Team

Nashville, TN Recent Rankings and Accolades

September 30th, 2008 5:34 PM

January 2010
Tennessee Rates 13th-Best State for Small Businesses
Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council

Tennessee rates as the 13th-best state for small businesses, according to the
Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council’s “Small Business Survival Index
2009.” The small business survival index is a comprehensive measure of
states and how friendly they are to businesses, based on taxes, various
regulatory costs, government spending, property rights, and health care and
energy costs.

January 2010
Tennessee Named 2009 State of the Year
Business Facilities
Tennessee was named the 2009 State of the Year by Business Facilities
magazine, a national economic development publication. The Hemlock
Semiconductor project in Clarksville was also named the magazine's 2009
Silver Award winner for the Economic Development Deal of the Year, with
Hemlock announcing its $1.2 billion investment and creation of 500-900 jobs.
In 2009, Tennessee had 16,700 new jobs and $3.1 billion in new capital
investments, according to the Tennessee Department of Economic and
Community Development.

December 2009
Tennessee Ranked as 4th Happiest State
Center for Disease Control

December 2009
Nashville Ranked 18th Most Literate City
Central Connecticut State University
Nashville is the nation's 18th most literate city, according to a study by Central
Connecticut State University — ahead of every city in the South except Atlanta,
New Orleans and Austin, Texas. The study ranked cities with at least 250,000
people according to their reading habits and education level.

December 2009
Nashville: Music City Still Rocking
FOX News
Karl Dean, mayor of Nashville, on why Tennessee is drawing more than country
music hopefuls.

December 2009
Nashville Ranked as One of the Best Cities for Business
MarketWatch
Nashville ranked 15th as one of the best U.S. metro for business in
the MarketWatch's 3rd annual survey.

December 2009
Nashville One of America's Fastest Recovering Cities
Forbes
Nashville ranked 19th as one of America's Fastest Recovering Cities based
on diversified industries and relatively stable housing that give residents a
measure of economic security.

November 2009
10 Best Cities for African Americans
Black Enterprise
Nashville ranked 6th as one of the Best Cities for African Americans based on
high-paying jobs, affordable homes, a vibrant social life and short
commutes.

November 2009
Tennessee Ranks #5 for Business Climate
Site Selection Magazine
Tennessee ranked as the fifth-best state in the country to do business,
according to an annual listing by Site Selection magazine. The Volunteer
State has been ranked in the top five for five of the past seven years. The
annual business climate rankings are determined by two factors: 50
percent by the state’s economic performance in Conway Data’s New Plant
Database, which tracks new and expanded business facility activity, and 50
percent from surveys of corporate site selectors nationwide.

October 2009
Nashville Ranked #4 for Best North American Cities for Live Music
The Society of American Travel Writers

The Society of American Travel Writers, the world’s largest organization of
professional travel journalists and photographers, recently polled its
members to come up with the “Top 10” best North American cities for live
music. Nashville ranked number 4 for live music.

October 2009
Nashville Named America's Friendliest City
Travel & Leisure
Nashville has been named America’s Friendliest City from Travel + Leisure
magazine. The publication asks readers to rate 30 U.S. cities based on
culture, shopping, restaurants, nightlife and more. This year, Nashville also
ranked second in the nation for live music and concerts and fourth for an
affordable getaway.

August 2009
3 Universities in Nashville Rank Among Best in the Nation
U.S. News & World Report
Three area schools landed in the top 20 on lists in the U.S. News and World Report annual rankings of the nation's best colleges and universities. Vanderbilt University came in at No. 17 on the overall list. Belmont and Lipscomb universities appeared on the "Best Universities-Master's" list for the southern region. Belmont came in at No. 7 and Lipscomb at 21. Both also appeared on the magazine's "Top Up-and-Coming Schools" list for the South, Belmont at No. 2 and Lipscomb at No. 13.

August 2009 Issue
Nashville Metro Ranks #1 Quality of Life, #6 Best Cost of Living and #9
Economic Growth Potential
Business Facilities'
Nashville receives high rankings in Business Facilities' August issue with the
Metro Rankings cover story. Nashville ranked as #1 in Quality of Life, #6 Best
Cost of Living and # 9 Economic Growth Potential.

July 2009
Nashville Ranked as One of the Best Places to Begin a Career
Forbes
Nashville ranked 13th out of 350 of the country's metropolitan statistical areas
(MSAs) in Forbes listing of the Best Places to Begin a Career.

June 2009
Hendersonville, TN Named One of the Top Cities in the US for Families
Family Circle
Family Circle announced the results of its exclusive survey to identify the best
TOWNS AND CITIES across the country FOR FAMILIES. The communities
featured in the magazine’s annual roundup of perfect places to call home
combine affordable housing, good neighbors, green spaces and A+ public
school systems. Hendersonville, TN ranked in the Top 10.

June 2009
TN Ranks #9 in State's Economic Outlook and Perfomance
American Legislative Exchange Council
ALEC reviewed state's ecnomic outlook by comparing the economic
performance over the last 10 years by evaluating state's fiscal and economic
policies, as well as the ramifications of those policies. Tennessee ranked ninth
for best economic outlook.

June 2009
TN Wins Top Honors with Gold Shovel Award
Area Development
Area Development, a leading executive magazine covering corporate site
selection and relocation, has honored the state of Tennessee with its
prestigious Gold Shovel Award. The honor is presented annually to the
state achieving the most success in terms of job creation and economic
impact.

June 2009
Nashville Ranked 14 on Next Cities List in Super City Category
Next Generation Consulting
Next Generation Consulting announced its "Next Cities™" rankings - the
best places to live and work for young professionals - in three population
categories. Nashville is ranked 14 on NGC's Next Cities List in Super Cities
Category - with population over 500,000.

June 2009
Three Nashville High School's Ranked as Top Schools in the US
Newsweek Magazine
Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Magnet High School have been named to Newsweek Magazine’s Top 30
U.S. High Schools, ranking respectively at 28 and 29. This is the fourth
consecutive year Hume-Fogg and MLK have been recognized by
Newsweek’s annual report that evaluates and ranks the nation’s top 1,300
high schools. In addition to HFA and MLK, Hillsboro High also gained
recognition for the fourth consecutive year, ranking 677.

May 2009
Nashville's The Gulch Rated One of the Best Neighborhoods in the Southeast
Men's Journal
Nashville's The Gulch neighborhood rated as one of the best eight
neighborhoods in the Southeast by Men's Journal.

May 2009
Nashville Ranks 5th for "Economic Strength"
POLICOM Corporation
Each year, POLICOM Corporation ranks the 366 Metropolitan and 574
Micropolitan Areas for "Economic Strength." Nashville ranks 5th for "economic
strength." This is the long-term tendency for an area to consistently grow in size
and quality.

March 2009
Top States for Job Growth and Business
Chief Executive
Chief Executive magazine's 2009 "Best & Worst States" survey took CEO's
pulse on what the best and worst places for jobs and business growth.
Tennessee ranked 5th. The fifth annual survey asked 543 CEOs to evaluate
their states on a broad range of issues, including proximity to resources,
regulation, tax policies, education, quality of living and infrastructure.

March 2009
The Best Places For Business And Careers
Forbes
Nashville ranks 25th on Forbes 11th annual ranking of the Best Places for
Business and Careers.

March 2009

TN ranks 3^rd for Child Care

National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies

Tennessee’s child care oversite was ranked third nationally on a report card
from the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies.
TN ranked behind the Department of Defense and the District of Columbia in
the study that reviews child care standards, safety, school readiness and health
promotion of young children.

January 2009

Top 10 Greatest Low-tax Places to Retire

U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report sifted through more than 2,000 U.S. places to find
locales that have relatively low taxes but also offer amenities important to
retirees, such as a reasonable cost of living and fine recreational and cultural
choices. Nashville ranked in the Top 10.

2009
Top States For Jobs and Business Growth
Chief Executive Magazine

Recent listing published by Chief Executive magazine named Tennessee as the
fifth best state in the United States for jobs and business growth. The list is
based on a survey completed by 543 chief executive officers, who looked at
issues like proximity to resources, regulation, tax policies, education, quality of
living and infrastructure.

2008
Top 100 Places to Live
Relocate-America
Nashville ranked among the top 100 places in live in America based on education, employment, economy, crime, parks, recreation and housing.

2008
Top 25 Art Destinations
AmericanStyle Magazine
Nashville ranked 22nd in AmericanStyle magazine's annual Top 25 Arts Destinations reader poll.

September 2008
America's Favorite Cities 2008
Travel + Leisure and CNN Headline News
Nashville ranked 2nd most affordable and 4th friendliest city in a survey that asked travelers to rank 25 top U.S. cities in 45 categories, ranging from food and shopping to people, culture, nightlife, and more.

May 2008
America's Friendliest Cities
The Today Show
The Today Show named Nashville one of America's five most friendliest cities.

May 2008
2007 Competitiveness Award
Site Selection Magazine
Tennessee is the most competitive state in terms of attracting economic development, according to an annual ranking made by Site Selection Magazine, which rates states on their actual success in bringing new jobs and industry.

May 2008
Best Airports in Customer Satisfaction
J.D. Power and Associates
Nashville International Airport ranked sixth in its size class in a survey on customer satisfaction.

April 2008
100 Best Places to Live and Launch
CNNMoney.com
Nashville is ranked No. 79 based on business friendliness and lifestyle offerings.

April 2008
Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Tennessee is ranked No. 4 based on entrepreneurial startups over the past decade.

March 2008
Thompson 100 Hospitals: National Benchmarks for Success
Thompson Reuters Top Hospitals

Hospital Category

Vanderbilt University Medical Center Major Teaching Hospitals

Maury Regional Hospital Large Community Hospitals

Centennial Medical Center Large Community Hospitals

The 100 Top Hospitals: National Benchmarks for Success and 100 Top Hospitals: Cardiovascular Benchmarks for Success identify the nation's top providers, using the two most recent years of data. These studies benchmark the industry's management and clinical outcomes to help hospital boards and executives ask the right questions about organizational performance and assess the effectiveness of their own strategies and execution.

February 2008
Best Places for Business and Careers
Forbes
Nashville ranks as the No. 15 best city for business and careers based on job and income growth, as well as migration trends.

January 2008
Top Cities for Cultural Amenities
bizjournals.com
Nashville ranks nationally as the No. 3 best city in terms of cultural amenities behind New York City and San Francisco.

January 2008
Top Cities for Apartment Investing
National Multi Housing Council
The Nashville-Middle Tennessee area ranks nationally as the No. 4 best city for apartment investing.

January 2008
Best Cities for Jobs
Forbes
Nashville ranks as the No. 14 best city for jobs in 2008.

2007 Digital CIties Survey
Center for Digital Government
Nashville ranks as the No. 4 best city for technology based on how it uses technology to create a seamless environment between local government and constituents.

2007
Top 25 Places to LIve and go to School
Relocate America
Nashville ranks as the No. 22 best community across the nation that offers families a great place to live based on quality of schools and choices in educational offerings.

2007
10 Best Cities for African Americans
Black Enterprise
Nashville ranked as one of the Best Cities for African Americans based on high-paying jobs, affordable homes, a vibrant social life and short commutes.

2007
5-Star Business Opportunity Metros
Nashville ranks as the No. 18 best city for business opportunity in the U.S.

October 2007
Fastest Growing Wine Regions
The Orbitz Food & Wine Index
Nashville ranks as the No. 7 fastest-growing wine regions in the U.S.

September 2007
Top 10 Cities for Business
MarketWatch.com
Nashville ranks as the No. 6 best city to do business because of robust industry sectors ranging from music to health care.

September 2007
Top Sports Towns
Sporting News
Nashville ranks as the No. 16 top sports towns in the U.S.

September 2007
Top 50 Best Adventure Towns
National Geographic
Nashville is nationally ranked as a top city to live and play based on an ideal mix of terrain, activity and opportunity.

August 2007
2007 Economic Strength Rankings
POLICOM
Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro MSA ranks No. 4 nationally for economic strength based on long-term tendency to grow in size and quality.

August 2007
America's Friendliest Cities
Travel + Leisure
Nashville ranks among the top five friendliest cities in America.

June 2007
Top 10 Metro Areas for Per-capita Income Growth
Bizjournals
Nashville ranks No. 8 nationally for per-capita income growth. Per-capita income was determined by salaries, dividends, interest payments, rental income and government checks, including Social Security.

May 2007
Best Large City for Relocating Families
Worldwide ERC & Primacy Relocation
Nashville is named the No. 2 best large city for relocating families based on economic, educational, quality of life and climate factors.

May 2007
Top MBA Employers
Fortune
Nashville ranks No. 8 nationally based on the percentage of MBA candidates who voted where they would most like to work.

April 2007
Top 100 Places to Live
Relocate-America.com
Nashville and Brentwood rank among the top 100 places to live based on education, crime, employment and housing.

April 2007
Best Places for Business and Careers
Forbes
Nashville ranks No. 9 nationally based on job and income growth, business and living costs, education of the workforce, migration trends, and quality-of-life issues such as crime rates and cultural opportunities.

April 2007
Tax Friendly Places 2007
Tax Foundation
Tennessee is named the No. 3 Tax Friendly Places nationally based on average tax payer's total state and local tax burden.

March 2007
Top Metros
Site Selection
Nashville ranked ninth among the top 10 metro areas in the U.S.

February 2007
"Best Places for Artists in the U.S."
Business Week
Nashville ranks No. 7 nationally based on metro areas that have the highest concentrations of artistic establishments.

February 2007
America's 50 Hottest Cities
Expansion Managment
Nashville is ranked again as one of the nation's top hottest cities for business relocations and expansions.

October 11, 2006
"Best Cities for Relocating Singles"
Worldwide ERC & Primacy Relocation
Nashville named the No. 1 Best City for Relocating Singles of 2006.

October 2006
"5-Star Logistics Metro"
Expansion Managment
Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro, Tenn., has been given a "5-Star Logistics Metro" designation based on 10 logistics categories including road and bridge conditions, interstate highway access, and air cargo service.

August 31, 2006
Brainiest Cities in the United States
CNNMoney.com
Nashville-Davidson ranks among America's smartest cities based on highest concentration of college degrees.

August 2006
Hot Cities for Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneur magazine
Nashville ranks No. 8 nationally based on "entrepreneurial activity index."

August 2006
The 2006 Inc. 500 List
Inc. magazine
Six Nashville-area firms included on annual ranking of fastest-growing privately held companies in America.

August 2006
2006 Economic Strength Rankings
POLICOM
Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro MSA ranks No. 2 nationally for economic strength based on long-term tendency to grow in size and quality.

July/August 2006
Five-Star Business Metros for Business Expansion
Expansion Management magazine

June 2006
Best Cities for Relocating Families
Primacy Relocation
When it comes to suitable cities for relocating families, Nashville ranks among the top five.

June 2006
Top 50 Smart Places to Live
Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Low cost of living, high quality of life, reasonable home prices elevate Nashville to No. 1.

May 2006
Best Places for Business and Careers
Forbes
Nashville cited among the top 10 cities in America.

May 2006
America's Best High Schools
Newsweek
Two Metro Nashville public schools crack the top 50.

April 2006
The South's Ten Top Headquarters Markets
Southern Business & Development

March 2006
America's 100 Fastest-Growing Counties
U.S. Census Bureau
Three Nashville-area counties (Williamson/No. 59, Rutherford/No. 84 and Montgomery/No. 96) claim spots on the list.

February 2006
Lowest State-Local Tax Burden Per Capita
The Tax Foundation
Tennessee ranked among the top five most "tax-friendly" states in this analysis of state and local tax burdens of residents.

January 2006
America's 50 Hottest Cities
Expansion Management
Nashville repeats No. 1 status as the nation's hottest metro for business relocations and expansions.

December 2005
Big Deals 2005
Business Facilities
Nissan HQ relocation garners "Editor's Choice" recognition.

October 2005
"Seven Cool Cities"
Kiplinger's
Nashville is ranked as one of 7 locations that are perfect for young professionals.

October 2005
"Hot Spots"
Entrepreneur
Nashville ranked 8th in the Entrepreneurial Hot Cities ranking.

October 2005
"Best Cities for Relocating Singles"
Worldwide ERC & Primacy Relocation
Nashville named one of 2005's Best Cities for Relocating Singles.

July 2005
"The 20 Hot Headquarters Metros for the 21st Century"
Business Facilities
Nashville is the No. 1 metropolitan area for corporate headquarters.

June 2005
"Average Disaster Premiums By State"
Expansion Management
Tennessee ranks as the 18th best state for disaster insurance premium paid per business establishment.

May 2005
"Top US Cities for Doing Business"
Inc.
Nashville is the 47th best city in which to work, based on job growth.

May 2005
"2005 Knowledge Workers Quotient"
Expansion Management
Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro, Tenn., is listed as a five-star knowledge worker city due to its well-educated workforce that attracts high-tech companies and entrepreneurs.

April 2005
"Top 25 Art Destinations in America"
AmericanStyle
Nashville ranked 19th in AmericanStyle magazine's eighth annual Top 25 Arts Destinations reader poll.

January 2005
"America's 50 Hottest Cities"
Expansion Management
Site consultants across the country chose Nashville as the hottest city for business relocation and expansion.

They ranked the various metro areas according to business environment, workforce quality, operating costs, incentive programs, worker training programs, ease of working with local politicians and economic development officials.

November 2004
"U.S. Biotechnology's Leading Locations"
Business Facilities
In a study released by the Battelle Memorial Institute and the State Science and Technology Insitute for the Biotechnology Industry Organization, Tennessee ranked as the 11th best place in the country to locate a biotechnology business.

October 2004
"Top 40 Real Estate Markets"
Expansion Management
Nashville ranked 12th among the top 40 hottest real estate markets in the United States in this survey.

October 2004
"Attorney Counts, Economic Growth and Malpractice Measures"
Expansion Management
Tennessee is ranked the 39th state with the most lawyers per capita and ranked the 25th state with the best legal system.

January 2004
"Top 50 Hottest U.S. Metros"
Expansion Management
The Nashville MSA ranked No. 2 in Expansion Management's poll of 60 prominent site location consultants, based on their experiences over the past two to three years.

2004
"Best Performing Cities"
The Milken Institute
Nashville ranked 68th in the Best Performing Cities index.

November 2003
"U.S. Biotech's Top 40 Locations"
Business Facilities
The Nashville MSA ranked No. 21 overall for biotechnology companies, including life sciences and pharmaceuticals, through careful measurement of 13 separate factors.

November 2003
"Top 25 State Business Climate Rankings"
Site Selection
Tennessee moved up to No. 3 overall in the annual business climate
rankings.

September 2003
"Five Star City for Logistics"
Expansion Management
Nashville ranked No. 2 overall for logistics-friendly cities based on categories such as transportation and distribution industry climate, available workforce,
road infrastructure and conditions, taxes and fees, waterborne commerce and
air cargo.

August 2003
"Top Locations for Plastics Industry"
Business Facilities
Tennessee was ranked third hottest plastics location for expansions and relocations by professional site consultants who deal with the industry on a regular basis.

July 2003
"Most Promising Locale for a New Automotive Manufacturing Facility"
Business Facilities
Tennessee ranked seventh among the top sites picked by consultants, site selectors, and real estate professionals as the most promising locale for a new automotive manufacturing facility.

June 2003
"Most Diversified Local Economy"
Moody's Investors Service
Nashville ranked eighth among the top 10 most diversified local economies.

June 2003
"Top 20 Best Places to Live & Work in America"
Employment Review Magazine and BestJobsUSA.com
Nashville ranked sixth in the “Top 20 Best Places to Live & Work in America.”

May 2003
"5th Annual Quality of Life Quotient"
Expansion Management
Nashville ranked second in the "Best Metros for Standard of Living" category and was hallmarked as a four-star community.

May 2003
"Top Places for Business and Careers"
Forbes Magazine
Nashville ranked 25th in Forbes Magazine's fifth annual listing of top places for business and careers.

May 2003
"Most Competitive State Economic Development Agency"
Site Selection
Tennessee Economic and Community Development Department won Site Selection magazine's inaugural award as the most competitive state economic development agency.

April 2003
"Most Generous Metropolitan Area"
The Chronicle of Philanthropy, via cnn.com
Nashville ranked seventh most generous metropolitan area. The poll measured by percentage of disposable income donated to charity.

March 2003
"Top Metros: Picture Perfect Metros"
Plants Sites & Parks Magazine
Nashville was ninth in the magazine's "Picture Perfect Metro" list.

February 2003
"Internet Growth"
Nielsen/NetRatings, The Tennessean
Nashville ranked second in Internet growth.

2003
"Best Cities for Entrepreneurs"
Entrepreneur Magazine
In 2003, Nashville was the 45th best city for entrepreneurs.

2003
"Cities with Best Business Climate in the U.S."
Business Opportunity Index
Nashville was ranked as having the third best business climate in the nation.

October 2002
"Best Cities for Black Families"
Bet.com
Nashville was ranked the 10th best city for black families based on quality of life factors.

April 2002
"Best Cities for Women"
Ladies' Home Journal
Nashville ranked as the 46th best city for women to live and work.

2002
"Top Recession-proof Cities"
Business Development Outlook
Nashville ranked as the second most recession-proof city in 2002.

April 2001
"100 Best Cities for Families"
Child
Nashville was ranked the 82nd best city for families in the United States.

July 2000
"Top 10 Big Metros for Start-up Companies"
Site Selection
Nashville was ranked the 10th best large metropolitan area for new companies.

Posted by Nina Kestner and Kevin Lennon The Kestner Team on September 30th, 2008 5:34 PMPost a Comment (0)

Nashville Ranks in the Top 10 Most Affordable Places to Live, According to Forbes magazine!!

September 30th, 2008 11:15 AM

"The cost of buying and maintaining a home is pretty reasonable if you live in certain Midwestern or Southern cities, according to Frps magazine's new report.

To determine America's least expensive places to own a home, Forbes used data from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2008 American Community Survey, released Tuesday.

The survey reported the 2007 median monthly housing costs in the country's metro areas with a population over 65,000. Housing costs include monthly mortgage payments, real estate taxes, various insurances, utilities, fuels, mobile home costs, and condominium fees."

Here are the top-10 cheapest cities to own a home:

Cleveland, OH: $978 a month
Columbus, OH: $1,060 a month
Pittsburgh, PA: $1,187 a month
San Antonio, TX: $1,216 a month
Indianapolis, IN: $1,232 a month
Nashville, TN: $1,256 a month
New Orleans, LA: $1,296 a month
St. Louis, MO: 1,299 a month
Charlotte, NC: 1,336 a month
Cincinnati, OH: $1353 a month

Posted by Nina Kestner and Kevin Lennon The Kestner Team on September 30th, 2008 11:15 AMPost a Comment (0)

Just Listed! 1345 Bell Rd Antioch, TN 37013

September 24th, 2008 11:18 PM

$135,000.00
1345 Bell Rd
Unit 437
Antioch, TN 37013

Beds: 3.0	Rooms: 3
Baths: 2.00	Sq. Ft.: 1419.00
Garage: 1.0	Built: 2005

This is a new listing that
I thought you might be
interested in. Visit this
listing online to see more
photos of the property,
Google Earth satellite
images, and much more.

If you have any questions
about this property or
require more information,
please feel free to call.

Nina Kestner and Kevin Lennon The Kestner Team
Nina Kestner & Kevin Lennon
615-289-1340
www.thekestnerteam.com

Visit this listing at Here

Posted by Nina Kestner and Kevin Lennon The Kestner Team on September 24th, 2008 11:18 PMPost a Comment (0)

Is it Time to Refinance Your Home Mortgage???

September 23rd, 2008 12:16 PM

Time to Refinance?

Much thought should go into the idea of refinancing your home. Like anything else, refinancing has its good points and bad.

The most common reasons to refinance: to lower interest rate, to reduce the length of mortgage, to make home improvements or cover other expenses, to lock in a constant interest rate if you have an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM), to convert to an ARM to lower monthly payments, to escape a mortgage with a balloon provision and no conversion option, and/or to consolidate debt.

While all the above refinancing reasons are reasonable, there are many factors to consider. This process, as you already know, is time-consuming and often expensive.

Calculating Your Savings:

Figure out the following: your current monthly payment, the original cost of the home, an itemization of refinancing costs, monthly payment after the refinance, length of time you plan to live in the house after the refinance, the amount still owed on the house, and the break-even point (calculate this by dividing the total cost of the refinance by how much you’ll save each month on your payment).

Depending on your ultimate goal in refinancing, the above numbers should give you a good idea of whether or not it makes sense. If it still looks like a jumble to you, there are many online “calculators” that can assist you in investigating refinancing: www.reficenter.com and www.smartmoney.com for example.

A Cautionary Tale:

Gary had racked up $30,000 in credit card debt while starting a new business. Since the value of his house had doubled since purchase and interest rates were low, he decided to pay off the high-interest credit cards and take out cash to do some home improvements.

Gary paid off all the credit cards with a home refinance and had $20,000 left for improvements. But he and his wife took a vacation, bought several expensive pieces of furniture, and used more refi money to splurge on Christmas gifts. Six months later, not one home improvement had been made. Gary’s credit card debt soon reached $30,000 again, he’d burned up all his equity, and his house payment was $400 more than before. Many refinancers find themselves in the same embarrassing and costly situation. If you want to refinance, it’s a good idea to plan carefully before you do so:

1. Close your credit card accounts after consolidating debt.

2. Make home improvements right away.

3. Leave some equity in place for your security.

Posted by Nina Kestner and Kevin Lennon The Kestner Team on September 23rd, 2008 12:16 PMPost a Comment (0)

Moving Checklist

September 11th, 2008 2:33 PM

We found this article in the Nashville Scene. It a nice checklist of all of the things you need to do when you are moving. Having a good list can help avoid panic and confusion as you get closer to your moving date. There will be enough of that already.

Moving Checklist

Get a Change of Address Kit from the Post Office.

Also Notify:

Friends and Family
Banks
Insurance Companies
Credit Card Companies
Change Magazines and Newspaper Address
Cancel Local Newspaper Delivery
Doctors, Dentists, and other providers - transfer drug prescriptions
Past employer - for W2 forms.

Take a Look Around Your House and Start to Purge.

Use Up Perishable Foods.
Sell, Donate or Hold a Garage Sale for Unwanted Items

Start a List of What You Want to Move.

Appliances
Patio Furniture

If You Plan to Hire a Moving Company:

Get Written Estimates From Several Moving Companies.
Will the Movers Pack for You?
What Items Won't They Move?
Get Appraisals of High-Value Items in Case of Future Claims.

Make Arrangements for Truck Rental and Moving Help if You Are Moving Yourself.

Boxes
Packing and Masking Tape
Markers
Newspapers
Twine

Start packing boxes. Mark Boxes Clearly as to Contents and Room to be Placed In.

Dishes
Pots and Pans
Alarm Clock
Bedding
Plates
Tools

Services to Discontinue

Electricity
Water
Gas
Cable
Newspaper

Posted by Nina Kestner and Kevin Lennon The Kestner Team on September 11th, 2008 2:33 PMPost a Comment (0)

Our Investment Property of the Month - September 2008

September 4th, 2008 12:13 AM

Our Investment Property of the Month

Purchase Price: $265,000
Current Monthly Cash Flow: $319

Interest Rate: 5.875%

REDUCED FROM $273,500 TO $265,000!!! AND SELLER PAID 2% RATE BUY DOWN AND ONE YEAR HOME WARRANTY!!! That's a $15,000 incentive!!! One level four-plex! Each unit is 2 bedrooms/1.5 baths. Tenants pay all utilities. Landord does grounds maintenance. Unit D has new a/c unit, Unit B has new kitchen floor. Unit A new carpet and paint. Owner spent over $9,000 in 2007 for improvements. As of 6/2 - 1 vacancy. This property should yield over 21% return on your investment. Estimated Cash Flow with full occupancy: $934.

Posted by Nina Kestner and Kevin Lennon The Kestner Team on September 4th, 2008 12:13 AMPost a Comment (0)

Tips to Keep Your Air Conditioner Running Smoothly

September 3rd, 2008 11:48 PM

Air Conditioning Maintenance

Have a professional check your system periodically.

Keep an eye on the refrigerant level.

Oil the blower motor and fan on both the condensing an the evaporation units annually.

Keep the condensing-unit pan free of bugs, leaves and dirt.

Check the tension on the condensing and evaporation unit blower fan belts each spring.

Inspect the blower ducts and joints for leaks and insulation slippage annually.

Clean or replace air filters in both window (monthly) and central units (quarterly).

Clean window units completely each year. Oil the blower motor and fan.

Check the joint between the window frame and the unit to be sure it is properly caulked and weather-stripped annually.

Keep the blower motor fan blade free of mold and mildew.

Set your a/c fan speed on high except in when it’s humid.

Use a whole-house attic fan.

Don't crank your thermostat as low as it can go when you turn on your air conditioner.

Set the thermostat high as comfortably possible in summer.

Don't put electronic equipment near the thermostat. It senses heat, which causes the a/c to run too long.

Posted by Nina Kestner and Kevin Lennon The Kestner Team on September 3rd, 2008 11:48 PMPost a Comment (0)

Setting the Right Rent for your Investment Property

September 3rd, 2008 11:43 PM

Setting the Right Rent for your Investment Property

Property owners dream of the easy life as a landlord - renting out their properties, raking in the dough, no longer part of the rat race. However, we all know the reality: owning investment real estate is not simple. Determining the proper rent for your property can bevery complicated. Management of the property is essential to insure that tenants don't destroy the place, get behind on rent payments, decrease area property values (and thereby anger neighbors) by trashing the yard, etc., etc. Ongoing maintenance - guaranteeing the comfort and safety of your tenants - is another concern. But often the most difficult and illusive task is setting the proper rental rate. If the rent is too high, qualified applicants will be scared away--and even if it is rented, chances are the length of residency will be short. If the rent is set too low, decreased cash flow and deferred maintenance will result, as well as an increased probability of deadbeat or even destructive tenants.

If you are an out-of-state Landlord, a property manager is a must. There are property management companies in abundance ready to take the burden off your shoulders. In the Middle Tennessee area, property management fees generally run between 7 - 10% of the monthly rent. Some companies may charge additional fees for advertising, etc. There are many advantages to using management services - they place and maintain the advertising for you, show the property to prospective tenants, give a sales pitch, review applications, screen applicants, conduct background checks, prepare lease documents, and stay aware of all of the legalities.

There's no scientific method to setting rent - it just takes some research, market savvy, and legwork. The best place to start is by looking in the real estate section of your Sunday newspaper. It's a good idea to look at similar properties (of comparable square footage, amenities, and age) in your area and determine what the rent range is. Is your property in a trendy part of town? Close to the freeway? Near good schools? Within walking distance of a shopping center? All these factors can influence the rental range. However, looking in the newspaper a couple of times is not enough. It pays to consistently track the local market. Supply and demand are factors to consider too. If your property is near a large college campus, for example, there is a constant high demand for rentals. However, even if your property is in a trendy or high-demand area, common sense dictates that if your property is in disrepair you will not be able to ask the same price as a tidy, well-kept, and regularly maintained property. Other concerns include your property features. Square footage, floor plan, and even the view influence the rental rate. Basic amenities like dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers (or hookups), balconies, fireplaces, covered parking, and cable TV have a great effect on rental rates. A simple way to increase the value is to add some of these amenities to your property. It can often be as simple as a coat of paint, some extra flowers on the grounds, or making sure the property is sparkling clean. There are market factors to consider as well. For instance, when interest rates are low, more people will be in the market to purchase a home. When rent is equal to or exceeds a mortgage payment, tenants will do the math and realize it makes more sense to buy.

After all is said and done, testing and tracking is a time-honored way of setting rent prices. Err on the high side, however - it's easier to lower prices than to raise them. And finally, don't be afraid to offer incentives when the market is soft - even small offers like a free month of cable TV, one day rental for a U-Haul, or a gift basket can tip the scales in your favor.

Again, we do not recommend self-managing property. Even if you live in the same town, being a landlord is not to be taken lightly. Owning investment property has many advantages and can lead to many financial benefits. However, becoming a property manager can add many more headaches than you are ready for. We highly recommend the use of a professional property manager and are happy to help you find one. Nina was a commercial property manager for 20 years and knows how difficult a job it can be.

Posted by Nina Kestner and Kevin Lennon The Kestner Team on September 3rd, 2008 11:43 PMPost a Comment (0)