Archive for the ‘Real Estate’ Category

Nashville, Tennessee- Home to Good Food

Saturday, October 10, 2009
posted by Frank Stevens

Nashville, Tennessee- Home to Good Food

Nashville Tennessee draws country music fans from all over the country who want to be in the heart of Grand Old Opry land. While the music may be one of Nashville’s most famous draws, travelers also come for the beautiful weather, the old South charm of the city, and the fantastic restaurants that Nashville has to offer. Nashville is famous for a wide variety of cuisines from fresh seafood to traditional Southern fare. Here are some of the best spots to grab a bite in Nashville:

The Loveless Café at 8400 Highway 100 has been a local attraction and celebrity magnet for over fifty years. The menu includes all the Southern specialties you would expect: fried chicken, chicken-fried steak, and country ham and grits. The atmosphere is laid-back and comfortable, like Mom’s kitchen. The Loveless offers a full breakfast all day long and diners can choose from big breakfast platters piled high with sausage, bacon, eggs and grits, to omelets and pancakes dripping with maple syrup or fresh Loveless preserves. For those with larger appetites, an “all you can eat” option is available. The Loveless Café is open from 7 am to 9 pm seven days a week. Expect it to be a little more crowded on weekends.

If you are looking for something a little more upscale in the evening, Flyte World Dining and Wine at 718 Division Street provides an elegant and intimate atmosphere for couples or groups. Flyte’s menu brings together dishes from all over the world and pairs them with exotic wines from the far reaches of the planet. The menu at Flyte changes with the seasons and incorporates fresh local produce and humanely raised meats into its dishes. One unique menu item at Flyte is its “Soup Flyte” and “Salad Flyte”, small portions of all of the restaurant’s soups and salads respectively. Flyte is open Tuesday to Thursday from 4:30 to 11 pm and Friday to Saturday 4:30 to midnight. Reservations are recommended.

Caney Fork Fish Camp serves up reasonably-priced seafood in casual “fish camp” atmosphere. Caney’s is at 2400 Music Valley Drive and is open from 11-10 Sunday through Thursday and 11-11 Fridays and Saturdays. Fried catfish is the star of the menu and Wednesday nights are “all you can eat” catfish nights. Caney’s also serves seafood pot pie, baby back ribs, meatloaf, corn fritters, and many other “down home” Southern specialties. Half the fun of Caney’s is looking around the restaurant and discovering some of the hundreds of unique artifacts and collectibles including a 1939 fully-restored Dodge truck cab and a 3,100 gallon stocked fish pond in the middle of the restaurant.

Finding a great place to eat in Nashville is almost as fun as actually dining. There are so many great restaurants offering authentic hand-made foods and it is impossible to fit them all in to a single trip to Music City. Just another reason to visit often.

Fixing the Wedding Bell Blues

Thursday, September 17, 2009
posted by Frank Stevens

Fixing the Wedding Bell Blues

Planning a wedding is one of the most time-consuming, nerve-shredding, and difficult events most of us ever have to plan. There are literally a thousand details from the flowers to the meal to the invitations. Deciding who to invite on both sides of the family can result in multi-party negotiations that can last weeks.

One of the most expensive wedding decisions you will make is where to put up out-of-town guests. Traditionally, guests who live too far away to drive back home the day of the wedding or who are staying to visit for several days are offered hotel rooms. This can add up quickly as you need a separate hotel room for each family unit and perhaps even adjoining rooms if children come along. Even if money is no object, trying to book hotel rooms for multiple nights can be a nightmare, potentially resulting in families having to move to a different room every night to accommodate the hotel’s booking schedule. And, while hotel rooms can be exciting in the short term to kids, they often are not to adults who have to adjust to having no amenities like cooking facilities or laundry and having no space to spread out and relax.

There is, however, an alternative when booking accommodations for friends and family coming to your wedding. Wynne Residential Corporate Housing (www.wynneresidential.com) specializes in temporary accommodations in almost every major city in the country. Wynne offers fully-furnished apartments that include all of the amenities of home, including a fully-commissioned kitchen, laundry facilities, all linens, and utilities. Most of the Wynne properties are in secured condominium complexes which also offer workout facilities and a pool. And even Fido can come along as all Wynne properties are pet friendly.

Choosing temporary housing over a hotel room has many advantages, both to you and to your guests. It is often less expensive to book temporary housing than booking multiple nights at a hotel. Your guests are guaranteed to not have to play musical accommodations and can relax in their apartment as if it was their own. They do not have to go out to a restaurant three times a day during their stay and can make their own meals on their own schedule.

There is also more room in a Wynne apartment than a hotel room. Apartments are available from studio to three bedrooms in many different configurations to suit the needs of your guests. Family units can pair up in an apartment to catch up with what’s going on with their lives or have all of the solitude they need.

Booking with Wynne is easy. They co-ordinate all of the utilities and services so that you only have to pay a single bill and have a single point of contact. If you have family or friends who are continuing their travels after attending your wedding, Wynne can co-ordinate their stay in one of their apartments in another city.

Organizing accommodations for your wedding guests can be less stressful for both you and your guests by booking with Wynne.

Finding a Buyer who Appreciates your Home’s Worth

Thursday, August 20, 2009
posted by Frank Stevens

Finding a Buyer who Appreciates your Home’s Worth

When assigning value to a home, real estate agents look at comparable homes. They count off the number of bedrooms and baths, the number of square feet of living space, acreage, how many cars fr in the garage, and a number of other statistical measures. Then they look for homes with similar numbers that have recently sold or are currently on the market. The recommended selling price of your home will generally be based somewhere within the range of similar properties. Some homes, however, have additional value that doesn’t show up in the comparable property study.

For example, if your home is adjacent to a golf course, that can add value, but only to certain buyers. If the property is being marketing to people who are interested in the community at large, but have little interest in golfing, then the unique benefits that your home’s location offered will not receive the appreciation or the valuation that it deserves.

To get the best value for your golf course home, the value that it deserves, your realtor must market it specifically to people to are willing to pay for the convenience and status of living next to a golf course. That means your realtor needs to be able to find area golfers, and be willing to pitch the home to them whether or not they have come looking for a golf course home. Orange County Golf Course Homes, for example, maintains a large data base of golf enthusiasts. Whenever a golf course home comes onto the market, they contact this list and let them know about the opportunity to buy a home that is right next door to a golf course.

These are people for whom the golf course location, not only adds significant value, but may actually be the most important characteristic of the property. In other words, these are the potential customers who are going to give you the fair value for your golf course home. If your realtor seems to be undervaluing your golf course home, or is comparing it to other homes that may be in the general area, but don’t enjoy the direct golf course access that your home enjoys without an added location premium, then they are likely not considering the extra appeal your home has to golfers, and they are probably not planning to market your home to golfers.

If you find your golf course home not being viewed and valued as a property with special value, it may be time for a change of realtors. Don’t settle for an underpriced quick sale; you could be giving up a substantial amount of money by selling your premium golf course home to the wrong people. Orange County Golf Course Homes specializes in matching golf course homes with buyer who understand and appreciate everything your home has to offer. If that’s the type of buyer you’re looking for, then you’ve just found the right realtor.

Where to Eat in Scottsdale

Thursday, August 20, 2009
posted by Frank Stevens

Where to Eat in Scottsdale

Scottsdale Arizona has grown from a small farming community into one of the most glamorous and luxurious cities in North America. The city is known for its sunny weather, its golf courses, and its thriving arts community. Scottsdale is also the home of many world-renowned chefs and their restaurants. When dining in Scottsdale, there is a bounty of choices encompassing every cuisine and every food style imaginable. Here are some of Scottsdale’s most popular eateries:

Sea Saw is located at 7133 E. Stetson Drive. This modern Japanese restaurant is helmed by Chef Nobuo Fukada, rated by Food & Wine Magazine as one of the 10 Best New Chefs in America in 2003. Sea Saw specializes in Japanese fusion food, with a penchant for sashimi. Here you will find traditional Japanese fare but also carpaccio, gravlax, and lamb curry. The most amazing feature of Sea Saw, however, is its wine menu. At over 3,000 vintages, the wine offerings at Sea Saw are among the most extensive in the country. Sea Saw is open Wednesday to Sunday from 5:30 until 10 (Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday) or 11 (Friday and Saturday). Reservations are always recommended.

Medizona, at 7217 4th Ave in Old Town close to many of the city’s art galleries, offers a unique pairing of Southwestern favorites with Mediterranean cuisine. The atmosphere is formal but comfortable and the menu is eclectic to say the least. From eggplant tacos to scallops in pastry and rabbit with baklava, Medizona offers up unusual and unique cuisine combinations. They are open from 5 pm to 10 pm nightly.

The Rancho Pinot Grill at 6208 N. Scottsdale Road is all Southwestern, all the time. Chef Chrysa Kaufman has won several awards for her Southwestern cuisine and she brings all of her food knowledge to the Rancho. Steak and chicken dominate the menu in several combinations. The Rancho is known for its commitment to using local and organic ingredients whenever possible, and Chef Kaufman is the local chapter head of Slow Food, a movement to focus on the enjoyment of wholesome foods.

The Salt Cellar is all about seafood. Located at 550 N. Hayden Road, the Salt Cellar offers fresh fish and seafood from all over the world. The restaurant has won numerous awards for its fare, including Best Seafood awards from Arizona Republic, Citysearch, Scottsdale Magazine and Arizona Business Magazine among others. Menu choices include Sauteed Maryland Soft Shelled Crabs, Alaskan Halibut, Australian Barramundi, and Maine Lobster. The Salt Cellar is open from 4 pm to 11 pm nightly.

For those looking for vegetarian fare in Scottsdale- sometimes not an easy task in the Southwest- Fresh Mint is one of the most popular vegetarian spots in the city. Fresh Mint serves predominantly Asian cuisine, but with a blend of Californian flare. Favorite menu items at the restaurant include Lemongrass Eggplant and the Curried Apple Tofu. Many of Fresh Mint’s dishes go beyond traditional vegetarian fare and offer up culinary surprises for even the most jaded meat-eating palates. Fresh Mint is located at 13802 N. Scottsdale Road.

Living in Encinitas, California

Thursday, August 20, 2009
posted by Frank Stevens

Living in Encinitas, California

Encinitas California is every surfer’s dream. Lying on the California coastline just north of San Diego, Encinitas was immortalized in the Beach Boy’s song, Surfin’ USA. Surfers have been riding the waves here for decades drawn by the sand, the water, and the laid back atmosphere of the place.

Today’s Encinitas consists of five formerly independent communities: Old Encinitas, New Encinitas, Cardiff-By-the-Sea, Olivenhain, and Luecadia. Each area still has its own distinctive feel and rhythm and residents find themselves drawn to one of the five areas.

What truly draws residents to Encinitas is the relaxed atmosphere that has been largely unmarred by the unrestrained building frenzy that so many other Southern California beaches have seen over the years. Encinitas, especially the beach areas, remains much as it was in the 1960’s when the Beach Boys fell in love with it.

The surf culture in Encinitas also spawned a thriving arts community and a diverse collection of shops, stores and restaurants. These in turn have attracted commuters into San Diego and biotech businesses. The beach itself, however, remains untouched by time.

The current lull in the real estate market has made life difficult in many ways but it is a boon to home buyers, especially those considering a beachside home in a community like Encinitas. The inventory of available houses is large and the prices have come down substantially from their peak. You can find almost any style of house you are looking for from a beachside cottage to an Italianate mansion. The eclecticism of the city extends to its houses. No cookie-cutter suburbs here.

Encinitas is also famous for its flowers and it has been dubbed the flower capital of the world. The city’s largest industry is flower-growing, especially poinsettias. Backyards are filled with the sweet scent of jasmine and pink and white oleander bob in the ocean breeze. Encinitas is perfect for growing flowers or vegetables as the average temperature is 72 degrees Fahrenheit and it rarely gets below freezing. The 10 inches of rainfall the city averages keeps vegetation healthy and hydrated and makes for a riot of bloom all over the city in the summer time.

Living in Encinitas requires tolerance for tourists as surfers from all over the world descend on the city’s beaches in the summer. It makes for a strong local economy and allows for businesses and restaurants that otherwise couldn’t be supported solely by the resident population. It can, however, crowd the main beaches like Swami’s, during the height of the season. Wise residents know that a short drive north or south of the main beaches will land them on more secluded and quiet ones.

Whether you’re a surfer, a gardener, or simply love to live by the ocean, Encinitas is the perfect spot. Wide open spaces for children, lots to see and do for retirees, and a place under the sun for everyone, it is worthy of its praise in song.

Luxury Homes in Atlanta

Sunday, August 9, 2009
posted by Frank Stevens

Luxury Homes in Atlanta

Atlanta is one of the most dynamic and fast-paced cities in the South. It is a hub for technology, media and communications, and health care. The city draws new residents from all over the United States every day to enjoy Atlanta’s unique confluence of Old South Charm and modern urban sensibilities.

Those looking for luxury homes in Atlanta will be in for a treat. The city offers a veritable buffet of large scale beautiful residences that meet many tastes and personal styles. Atlanta’s districts and neighborhoods showcase urban chic condos, artistic villas, rambling Victorians and modern mansions.

One of the most popular areas in Atlanta for luxury homes is Buckhead. Buckhead lies in the northern area of Atlanta and has a population of around 100,000. Buckhead has been in existence since the early 1800’s under the name Irbyville. The district ranks in the top ten wealthiest zip codes in the United States with an average house price of around three quarters of a million dollars. Buckhead has grown exponentially in the past twenty years and new construction can be seen everywhere. While the main housing market in Buckhead consists of single detached houses, new condos are going up with fervor. Buckhead offers every house style from Queen Anne to townhouse. Many styles and eras converge here to make Buckhead an interesting and luxurious neighborhood.

If a home with history is what you are looking for, Grant Park is the area to start your search. Grant Park is Atlanta’s oldest community and one of the oldest planned communities in the country. The district was purchased by the city of Atlanta after the Civil War from Colonel Lamuel Grant. Its original 100 acres was augmented with an additional 44 in the late 1800’s. The neighborhood was built around what is now the oldest park in Atlanta and included several house styles including craftsman and Victorian. Although Grant Park fell into disrepair during the 1950s and 60s, most of the houses have since been refurbished to their original luster. If you have never owned a historic home before, keep in mind that rooms tend to be smaller on average and often additional bathrooms must be added to accommodate modern standards and tastes.

For newer custom built luxury homes, Druid Hills provides everything a resident could want. While the neighborhood itself is historic, modern building designs have woven their way into the area’s housing construction. Gorgeous Italianate mansions overlook Tudor style architecture. The lot sizes are larger in Druid Hills than in many other parts of Atlanta, allowing ample room to enjoy the luxuries the area offers.

If Atlanta has any downside, it is that there are so many choices when looking for a luxury home that you could get caught up in the search. Whether it is an elegant downtown loft with all the amenities you are seeking, or a wraparound porch with a swing and a wide expanse of lawn, Atlanta has it for you.