Just updated status on MLS to “Active with Financing Contingency.” In case you’re wondering, showings will continue and backup offers will be considered while our prospective buyer works on securing financing (at which time the status will change to “Pending”). Contact me if you have questions.
5706 Burgess Avenue
Tennessean Article and OPEN HOUSE
Friday, April 17th, 2009
5706 Burgess was featured in today’s Tennessean (‘Demand increases for modern-style homes’) There was supposed to be an online slideshow, too, but I don’t see it on the site. Come out to the open house this Sunday, April 17, and I’ll tell you all the stuff that didn’t make it into the article, including a fuller discussion of financing options. (Many buyers, especially first-time buyers, will want to look into an FHA loan, which only requires a 3.5% down payment.)
Update
Saturday, April 4th, 2009
So after the real estate equivalent of an ad agency review last week, I’m pleased to report that I’ve retained the 5706 Burgess listing. When a property has been on the market for a while, one of the only things a seller can do—and by far the easiest—is “switch horses,” so I appreciate Dan’s vote of confidence.
We had another pretty good month last month–a steady stream of showings, an offer that we worked but that ultimately fell a little short, and several verbal/trial balloon “offers”–but we’re not going to be satisfied with more of the same in April. Dan and I are both highly motivated to get Burgess under contract THIS MONTH. Bring us an offer on this amazing house and let’s see what we can work out.
All This Talk About SXSW …
Sunday, March 15th, 2009
… got me thinking about Austin and what seems from 700 miles away to be a large and thriving market for modern homes in the Texas capital. (Much bigger than the local market, sadly, despite the fact that Nashville and Austin are almost exactly the same size and have other similarities.) I knew about Agave (in fact, the extensive use of carports in the designs for this development influenced our decision to do a carport at 5706 Burgess), but somehow the even more amazing—but somewhat unfortunately named—Sol development had escaped my attention. Sol is a “net-zero energy community” with 38 affordable modern homes designed by Austin firm KRDB.
More information here.
Open House This Sunday, 2-4
Friday, March 6th, 2009
Saw some blossoms on the fruit trees in the back today—should be blooming like crazy by Sunday with this warm weather.
Don’t forget about the time change; daylight savings time begins at 2:00 A.M. Sunday.
Time’s Running Out
Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009
February was a good month for showings, including some second and third showings—our best month yet. But it was still another month without an acceptable offer, and that means another check to the bank. Carrying costs can turn a project with only modest profit potential (remember, we set out to build not just a cool modern house but an affordable one) into a money-loser in a hurry—especially following a $25,000 price reduction. Builder Dan’s fallback position for 5706 Burgess has always been to move in himself. That option is growing more attractive every day. So, those of you who’ve been watching … waiting … thinking about it, consider yourselves forewarned: I need to hear from you soon.
“Modern architecture is a nuisance”
Thursday, February 26th, 2009
Seattle Post-Intelligencer architecture critic Lawrence Cheek explains why building a modern house is (usually) so expensive:
Why should custom building cost so outrageously? There’s a panoply of underlying issues, but at bottom is the nature of the homebuilding business. Contractors are not artists who thrive on innovation and challenge; they’re tradespeople who want to get the job done and roll rapidly on to the next one. They hate tackling anything they haven’t done before, so if they have to do it, they build in a hefty nuisance surcharge. Modern architecture is a nuisance.
Not that I had forgotten, but this is a good reminder of what an amazing price $168/SF is for this house.
New Price: $299,950
Thursday, January 29th, 2009
January has been a pretty good month in terms of traffic and buyer interest, but builder Dan is ready to move on to other things, so we’re lowering the price from $324,900 to $299,950. Someone’s about to get a helluva good deal.
Virtual Tours and Quick Update
Monday, January 12th, 2009
Just added some virtual tours to the floor plan. Dan is finishing up the backsplash in the kitchen today; photos to come.
Open House Tomorrow, December 7
Saturday, December 6th, 2008
2-4
If you can’t make it, call or email me anytime for a ZERO-PRESSURE private showing.
