Middle Tennessee - One of the BEST Places to Live in the South

What It's Really Like to Live in Middle Tennessee

If you’re relocating to Tennessee and want more than just lower taxes or a bigger backyard, the Middle Tennessee lifestyle may check more boxes than you expect. This region blends natural beauty, opportunity, and a strong sense of place in a way that’s hard to replicate.

While Nashville often grabs the spotlight, there’s much more to this region than country music and hot chicken. From its booming economy to its natural charm, here are six compelling reasons to live in Middle Tennessee — and why so many are moving here.

1. Small Town Feel with Big Time Growth

Middle Tennessee is growing fast—but it’s not losing what makes it special. Places like Franklin, Murfreesboro, Gallatin and Columbia are…

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Why Homes Are Showing Available When Already Under Contract

Contingency Contracts

Why That “Active” Home May Already Be Under Contract: Understanding Contingency Contracts in Tennessee Real Estate

In today’s fast-moving real estate market—especially in Nashville and across Middle Tennessee—it’s common for homebuyers to get excited about a listing they’ve found online, only to find out later that the home is already under contract.

This frustrating experience usually comes down to a common misunderstanding: contingency contracts and how listings are displayed on third-party websites.

What Is a Contingency Contract in Real Estate?

A contingency contract means that a seller has accepted a buyer’s offer, but certain conditions must be met before the sale becomes final. These conditions—or…

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Determining Square Footage vs Usable Space in a Home

Bigger is Not Always Better

When shopping for a home in Middle Tennessee, many buyers are quick to focus on one number:  Total square footage:  

While that number may seem important, it doesn’t always reflect how functional or livable a home truly is. In fact, a smaller home with a smart floor plan can feel more spacious than a larger one with poor layout design.

So, how do you evaluate a home's true usability beyond square footage? It starts by looking at linear footage—the amount of usable wall space within each room.

Square Footage vs. Usable Space: What's the Difference?

• Square footage is calculated using the exterior dimensions of heated living areas. It generally excludes non-living spaces such as garages, unfinished attics,…

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Best Website for Horse Properties in Middle Tennessee | Equestrian Real Estate

Best Website for Horse Properties in Middle Tennessee: EquineHomesByKimBlanton.com

If you're searching for the best horse properties for sale in Middle Tennessee and the greater Nashville area, you’ve found your go-to resource. EquineHomesByKimBlanton.com is the leading website for discovering equestrian real estate across Middle TN. Whether you're a seasoned rider, trainer, or simply dream of owning a peaceful farm with your horses, this site is designed with your lifestyle in mind.

Kim Blanton, a trusted local REALTOR® with deep ties to the Tennessee horse community, brings decades of real estate experience and equestrian knowledge to every listing. Her website focuses exclusively on horse properties, giving buyers and sellers a highly targeted,…

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How to Find an Off-Market Property in Middle TN

How to Find Off-Market Homes in Middle Tennessee:
A Guide for Frustrated Home Buyers

If you’ve been tirelessly searching online for off-market properties in Tennessee or pocket listings, you’re not alone. Many home buyers feel frustrated when search results take them to real estate websites that fail to deliver what they promise—no real off-market listings in sight.

The fast-paced real estate market in recent years has made it especially difficult for buyers to find homes before they hit the open market. Fortunately, there's a solution: working with an experienced REALTOR® in Tennessee.

Why You Can’t Find Off-Market Listings Online:

True off-market properties- homes not yet listed on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)—aren’t typically…

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How to Choose an Equestrian REALTOR®

Use an Equestrian REALTOR® Specialist When Buying or Selling a Horse Property in Middle Tennessee

If you’re buying or selling a horse property in Nashville and Middle Tennessee, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing the right real estate agent and using an Equestrian REALTOR® Specialist.  Many buyers make the mistake of working with the agent who happens to be listing a property they like—or worse, with a well-meaning friend or family member who may lack equestrian experience.

When it comes to equestrian properties, having a knowledgeable, horse-savvy real estate professional by your side can mean the difference between a smart investment and a costly mistake.

Why You Shouldn’t Work With Just Any Agent

It’s not…

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A Win Win Strategy for Buyers and Sellers

Tackling Higher Interest Rates in 2024

Use the StepUp Mortgage from Acopia Home Loans

2022 and 2023 have seen a lot of changes in the real estate market.  We have experienced a timeframe where there were multiple offers on the same home.  Those offers were often well over asking price and with few to no contingencies.  If a buyer needed financing, often their offers were not considered if the seller received cash offers.   Fast forward to end of 2024 where homes are staying on the market longer, few or no multiple offer situations and few to no cash offers.  Buyers are once again able to make offers contingent on appraisals, home inspections and financing. 

Now let’s throw in the rapid rising of interest rates over the course of 2022 and 2023, …

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What is Home Staging?

 Home Staging Goes Beyond Decorating and Cleaning...

It is about adding the small details and dressing the house for sale. Staging makes the house look bigger, brighter and warmer; making home buyers WANT to buy it.

 Professional Stagers are highly skilled artisans. They possess skills of a top level designer without breaking the bank. Stagers create dramatic visuals that appeal to all five senses.

 The idea behind staging is to allow the rooms of a house to show potential and what they truly have to offer a buyer. A vacant, un-staged, home is a home without a soul and buyers sense this. You will also need to make sure the outside of your home and especially the front entrance is warm and inviting.  Make the buyer want to walk inside your home!

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A House for a Daughter in a Wheelchair

I would like to tell you my story as a Realtor trying to help a family find a new home.  As a Realtor, you normally will find a happy family excited about finding their new home.  Now lets add one defining fact....one daughter is in a wheelchair.  I have been a real estate agent for almost 17 years.  This situation has come up from time to time, but never with a child. 

I had never realized until this past month just how difficult it is to  maneuver around in many homes.  You would think that the newer homes might have some considerations such as a bathroom door wide enough to accommodate a child's wheelchair!  Not so!  So many floorplans have spacious kitchens, open floor plans, and all the most modern conveniences.....except access to the…

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Purchasing a Home With a Septic System

Not Familiar With How a Septic System Works?

 Wondering what you should do when you purchase a home that is not connected to public sewer?

If you are working with REALTOR, he/she should be aware of the laws regarding septic tank disclosures and make sure your offer/contract addresses the septic system.  Some real estate agents are not familiar with them because they sell properties mostly on public sewer, so be sure to ask about their knowledge of septic systems.

In the Tennessee area, septic systems are based on number of bedrooms, not bathrooms.  The tank holds the solid waste and the liquids drain from the tank out into the field lines(filled with gravel and also underground) The number of field lines determines the number of bedrooms that…

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