Selling Lifestyles - Middle TN Real Estate Blog - Equestrian Properties

Do Open Houses Really Sell Homes in Middle Tennessee?

What Sellers Should Know Before Deciding to Host an Open House

Open houses are often viewed as a standard part of selling a home in today’s real estate market, but they are optional and not required for a successful sale. In my experience working with sellers across Middle Tennessee, most homes sell through private showings with qualified buyers who are already working with a REALTOR®. If you are preparing to sell a home in Middle Tennessee, understanding how buyers actually view and purchase homes can help you make better decisions when listing your property.

In the Middle Tennessee real estate market, buyer behavior varies depending on price point, neighborhood layout, and inventory levels. In some entry-level or highly walkable areas, open…

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The Seller’s Role in Buyer’s Agent Compensation

How Buyer Representation and Compensation Affect Home Sellers in Middle Tennessee

If you are selling a home in Middle Tennessee, understanding the Seller’s role in Buyer’s agent compensation is now an important part of the listing process. Changes in how Buyer representation and compensation are discussed have brought more transparency and clearer choices for Sellers. This guide explains what has changed, how Buyer representation affects your sale, and how compensation decisions are addressed in Tennessee listing agreements so you can make informed decisions from the start.

What Has Changed for Home Sellers and Why Does it Matter?

If you are selling a home, you may have noticed more discussion around Buyer representation and Buyer Agent…

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Buyer Representation and Agent Compensation Explained

What Home Buyers Need to Know Before Touring Homes

Buyer representation and agent compensation are now discussed earlier in the home-buying process than in the past. This guide explains how buyer representation works, why agreements are required before touring homes, and how compensation is addressed so buyers understand their options from the start.

Why Do I Need to Sign a Buyer Representation Agreement Before Touring Homes?

This requirement is the result of recent legal actions involving the National Association of REALTORS® aimed at increasing transparency around the topic of representation and compensation. Courts and regulators emphasized that buyers should clearly understand who represents them and how agents are paid before touring homes,…

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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 are searching for horse properties for sale in Middle Tennessee, EquineHomesByKimBlanton.com is the resource built specifically for that search. While national real estate sites cover everything, this site focuses entirely on equestrian real estate across Middle Tennessee, giving buyers and sellers a targeted, experience-driven platform that general property search tools cannot replicate.

Kim Blanton is a working equestrian, horse owner, and trusted local REALTOR® with over 30 years of experience in Middle Tennessee real estate. Her background combines hands-on knowledge of farm and rural living with deep familiarity with the counties, communities, and land…

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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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