Congratulations MTSU! 1st Place Winner of the National Homebuilders Competion in Orlando, FLA.
MTSU's national championship team members include, from left, Jonathan Jones, Mverick Green, Kelly O'Leary, Paige Parham, Patrick Turner and Andrew Ethridge.
Congratulation to the MTSU’s Land Development/ Residential Building Construction Management team for finishing first out of 40 teams in the National Association of Homebuilders Student Chapters Residential Construction Management Competition. The competition was held Feb. 8-10, 2012 at the International Builder’ Show in Orlanda, Fla.
“The competition designed to give students the opportunity to apply skills learned in the class room to a real construction company by completing a management project proposal”, said Dr. David Hatfield, professor and head of the construction management program at MTSU.
Each MTSU team member spent 400-plus hours completing the 152-page proposal, which included market analysis, sales strategy, scheduling, estimating, infrastructure/house plans, sustainability, cash flow and a management approach for the project. The MTSU team was give a 22-acre plot in a flood plain area to develop a subdivision in Huntsville, AL. The student team presented their proposal to five construction industry judges. A question-and-answer session followed with judges asking specific questions about the proposal.
Paige Parham, one of team members, said “many industries dedicated their time to our program” and specifically thanked Regent Homes, Citizen Homes, LP Building Products, Regions Bank and LittleJohn Engineering Associates” for their guidance and support.”
MTSU’s program is affiliated with Rutherford County Home Builders Association, Home Builders Association of Middle Tennessee, Home Builder Association of Tennessee and the National Association of Home Builders.
Regent Homes is on MTSU Advisory Board for Land Development and Residential Construction program.
The Nashville Crayfish, An HCP Success Story at Lenox Village
Nashville, Tennessee is synonymous with many things – country music, the Grand Ole Opry, Vanderbilt University and more! But a crayfish? The Nashville crayfish (Orconectesshoupi) is a critically imperiled, federally endangered crayfish that is only present in a small area (100-400 square miles) within the Nashville city limits. As you might guess, its remaining populations are threatened by residential development in the area, specifically the degradation of water quality due to water pollution, road and bridge construction, channel modification, and impoundment. A little over 10 years ago, one specific population of the crayfish was found in a five-acre farm pond,isolated decades previous when a dam was built on a tributary of Mill Creek. The dam that had isolated this population of crayfish was now failing and Tennessee authorities told the landowners that it had to be repaired or replaced. The new owners of this property, Regent Development, had plans to create Lenox Village, a development that would mix commercial spaces and neighborhood retail in a residential setting. With the discovery of the Nashville crayfish on their property, Regent Development began working with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop an HCP. An HCP plan was developed for 101 acres including an intermittent stream within the development. A permit was issued in 2002, and as specified in the plan, the development company restored the stream to follow a more meandering path near a forested hillside, creating pools and riffles. They established a permanent streamside buffer, protecting the crayfish habitat as Lenox Village was built and into perpetuity. Trees native to Tennessee provide a buffer along the stream and signs are posted to let residents know about the crayfish. Biologists expect the stream restoration to encourage Nashville crayfish to recolonize downstream of the restored habitat. The Nashville crayfish HCP
is a successful example of how an HCP can allow for the integration of land development activities while conserving at-risk species of plants and animals.
New Townhomes from $128,900 at Woodside in Spring Hill, TN
If you’re looking for an affordable, new EnerySmart home, you need to visit Woodside at Spring Hill. Regent Homes introduces 3 new townhome plans that are beautiful, functional and energy efficient. Select from 2 and 3 bedroom floor plJoin Us In Congratulating Two Regent Homes’ Affiliate Brokers
- Primm Springs Estate (Murfreesboro): Shelly Plahuta
- Shane Point (Nashville) and Burkitt Place
(Nolensville) Linda Halsey Yocca
Barbara Childs Shares Photos & Comments From Her Winning Realtor Promotion Trip To The Titans/Texans New Year’s Game.
New Year's Eve: Barbara Childs and her son, Cameron, on the plane to Houston, TX.
New Year's Day: View of Reliant Stadium from Barbara's hotel room.
Barbara Childs before the the Titans/Texans game on New Year's Day.
Inside Reliant Stadium during the Titans/Texan game on New Year's day.
Cameron Childs after the game with the Titans winning 23 to 22!
“As a full time relocation realtor with RE/MAX and The Ashton Real Estate Group, I show a high volume of homes to buyers from out of state. What is important to them is resale, safety, and a great product. Because of this and a wonderful working relationship with everyone at Regent Homes, I show Highpoint, Brighton Village, Shane Point, and other Regent built homes often. How surprised and happy I was to find out I showed more than any other realtor in Nashville! What a wonderful gift to give my son and me – and all expense paid weekend with the Titans, in Houston, Texas, over New Year’s! We enjoyed great seats watching our victory against the Texans at Reliant Stadium (along with 71,000 Texan fans), shopped, ate, relaxed, and celebrated my birthday! Thank you Regent Homes, LP Building Products and Go Titans!”
Top 5 Reasons to Buy a Home in 2012
by Jonathan Slappey on JANUARY 6, 2012 in Home Buying
The American dream of homeownership is a very feasible aspiration for 2012.
There are many benefits of owning a home. Yet some first-time buyers are skeptical of purchasing with the uncertainty surrounding the housing market.
The uncertainty many reference when speaking about the housing market involves a specific date when home values will increase. Since no one can pinpoint this date, the word uncertainty (when paired with the housing market) often reveals a negative connotation.
There are some factors we can be certain about in this housing market such as home values rebounding. This is true; the housing market often moves in cycles.
It’s safe to assume that many Americans harbored the same uncertainty during the George H. W. Bush administration in the early 1990s when the national homeownership rate fell from its previous historic high of 64.4 percent in 1980 to a low of 64.1 percent in 1991.
In the 1960s Lyndon Johnson illustrated a correlation between homeownership and accountability by stating “owning a home can increase responsibility and stake out a man’s place in his community…The man who owns a home has something to be proud of and reason to protect and preserve it.”
This statement is still true more than 50 years later. There are many reasons to take pride in homeownership such as:
- Appreciation – Buying a home now (at the current rates) can almost ensure your home’s appreciation in the future. Mortgage rates are near historic lows and home prices in many parts of the country are down. This is the perfect recipe for home appreciation. Additionally, many foreclosed homes are available for a fraction of the original cost. This can translate to a higher profit if you decide to sell once the market rebounds.
- Property Tax Deductions – For income tax purposes, real estate property taxes for a vacation home and first home are fully deductible. The IRS (Publication 530) provides detailed tax information for first-time buyers that may answer many questions about what deductions homeowners are eligible for.
- Preferential Tax Treatment – If you own your home for more than a year and receive more profit than the allowable exclusion after the sale of your home, the profit will be considered a capital asset. Capital assets are given preferential tax treatment.
- Equity Building – Many factors such as credit qualification, loan flexibility, and annual percentage rate (APR) contribute to the final decision of what type of mortgage loan best fits your goals. Yet, a new trend being used by some homeowners is to actually add money to their monthly payment to decrease the principal balance of their loans at a much faster pace. This trend is called equity building. Equity builders usually select a home loan with a lower interest rate (and a shorter term loan such as a 15-year fixed) to help build equity faster. This rapid payment process allows borrowers to:
- Pay off the principal balance faster
- Lock in near-record-low interest rates
- Shorten the length of their home loan
- Own their home faster
- Pay substantially less mortgage interest
Equity building is a beneficial trend that’s becoming more and more popular with fiscally responsible homeowners. Also, home equity is the largest single source of household wealth for most Americans.
- Pride – Homeownership offers many benefits to many different types of people. For some homeowners, playing your music as loud as you want and painting the walls the color of your choice is a perk. For me, homeownership will permit me to build an NBA regulation size basketball court on my own property. For my coworker Joel Jarvi, home ownership may allow him to build the indoor slide of his dreams. No matter who you are, homeownership is a purchase, commitment, and journey that’s sure to bring you pride.
Furthermore, when the uncertainty surrounding the housing market fades and the market rebounds, homeownership may in fact transform that pride to profit through a home sale.
Jonathan Slappey is a writer for Quicken Loans, a company whose clients believe it’s Engineered to Amaze.
Congratulations to Annette Miller-Cole, Winner of 2 tickets to the Titans/Jaguars Game at LP Field on Christmas Eve.
Shown left to right: Rusty Carroll, LP Building Products respresentative; Joshua Miller; Annette Miller-Cole, winner; Rick Blackburn, Vice-President of Regent Homes; and Hailey Blackburn.
Congratulations to Annette Miller-Cole of Columbia, Tennessee! Regent Homes and LP Building Products 8th winner of the “Take It To The House” promotion. Annette won 2 Titans tickets and a parking pass to the last home game at LP Field on December 24 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. It was a beautiful, sunny day, and the Titans won 23 to 17. Regent Homes and LP Building Products would like to thank all those who register and participated in the “Take It To The Homes” promotion.
Wishing You A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!
We wish you health, comfort, and prosperity this holiday season. Happy Holidays from Regent Homes.
Register For A Chance To Win 2 Tickets & A Parking Pass To The Titans/Jaguars Game On 12/24/11 At LP Field.
Congratulations to Terry Blackman, the 7th Winner of Titans Tickets during Regent’s “Take It To The House” Promotion
Shown left to right: Jeffrey Caruth, Affiliate Broker at Regent Homes; Terry Blackman, winner, and Daphnee Pearsall; and Rusty Carroll, LP Building Products representative.
Congratulations to Terry Blackman of Nashville, TN! Regent Homes and LP Building Products 7th winner of the “Take It To The House” promotion. Terry won 2 Titans tickets and a parking pass to the December 11 game at LP Field against the New Orleans Saint. Don’t miss out on a chance to win tickets and $10,000! Only 1 home game remaining. To register visit one of Regent Homes communities or log on to www.RegentTakeItToTheHouse.com for details.
