It’s July and we are so excited to announce this month’s LOLO gifts! There are so many unique, wonderful local businesses in Middle Tennessee and we are so ready to celebrate them this month!

LOLO, Locals Supporting Locals, is an amazing program for your Parks realtor to give to you! Each month, a completely free, new gift comes to your cell phone for you to enjoy. The gifts are selected by county and are only for local businesses, no nationwide chains!

LOLO helps remind us to shop local and support our friends and neighbors! Here are July’s gifts to you!

Stroud’s Barbeque

Williamson County

Owned and operated by a life long resident of Middle Tennessee, Stroud’s has locations in Franklin, Lebanon, and Cookeville. They have dine-in or

When it comes to energy -saving, planet-helping home changes; little things add up. Not only do the little things add up in energy savings for your own home, but for the environment, as well. Let’s all do our part (and save some money in the meantime!), and think about implementing some of the energy tactics below:

Filters, and More Filters

Not only does changing filters mean healthier air and water, but changing air filters can reduce the energy it takes to heat and cool your house, as well. A win-win.

Lighting

Check each light bulb to make sure they are the correct wattage for the fixture, replace burned out bulbs, and think about converting to LED for reduced energy and heat. Bonus: Don’t forget to use natural light when possible – no

Nestled on an 18-acre gorgeous mini-horse farm, this newer home is a rare and lovely find that makes a perfect everyday getaway! With its green pastures fenced for horses, red barn, pond, trails, bridges, and creeks, this property is the closest you will get to a country oasis. Throughout the home, you will find special touches like leathered granite, restoration hardware, reclaimed hardwood floors, an expansive screened porch, and a swim spa!

Listed by Marsha Mauney & Lee Lunsford

Click Here to Learn More About This Home! 

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Click Here to Learn More About This Home!

Luxury homes are … luxurious. But what about them makes them so? Aside from price point, and the usual beauty that comes with, luxury homes are usually on the forefront of amenities for the more traditional market. So whether you’re buying, selling or interested in luxury homes, or just wanted to see home trends are on the horizon, we’ve compiled a few of this year’s top luxury trends:

Embedded Technology

Smart home technologies, like Nest, have become more and more popular – but what about ALL systems being connected? Now, a home embedded with technology for all systems is not only a bonus, but is also expected in luxury real estate. Buyers expect to be able to see every home system, as well as security from their iPhones.

Wellness & Work

When your home is short on square footage, decorating can be challenging. It may seem more practical to focus on making your home fully functional, but in the long run, you’ll be happier living in your home if it’s cleverly decorated. Our 10 tips for making a small space feel big will transform your small home.

1.) Choose light, neutral hues.

It is a generally accepted rule that lighter colors contribute to an open, airy feel. By contrast, dark colors tend to absorb light, creating a close, cozy feel.

To fully benefit from this wizardry, decorate in soft, off-white and neutral hues. Lighter, brighter walls will recede from the contrast of your furnishings, making your room feel instantly larger.

Installing soft, light flooring will further

Known as the beautiful house with the big pond on Wilson Pike, this iconic Brentwood estate offers a secluded country feel while still being in the middle of everything! With features like spacious rooms, a full-house audio system, a vineyard, and an elevator shaft, this home has it all.

Located in scenic Williamson County, Brentwood, Tennessee is home to abundant recreational amenities, quality schools, and premier suburban and residential living. Because of its exceptional land use, development, easy access to Nashville and small-town feel, Brentwood has quickly grown to become one of the most attractive and desirable communities in Tennessee.

With shopping opportunities including national retailers and local shops and boutiques, and ample

The typical advice for first time home buyers is to purchase a starter home –that is, the home that’s one step away from their larger “forever” home. But is that always the best route to go? With just about 45 million millennials entering the real estate buying age, that’s something that’s on our minds too.

Potential Problems with a Start Home

There are two significant problems on the horizon for first-time home buyers in the market for a starter home, and both have to do with demand. As we said, there’s a lot of first-time buyers all entering the market at the same time. With so many looking for the same thing, properties that fit the bill will be scarce.

The other event that puts a strain on the availability of homes is that many of the

A simple way to understand what home equity is is to think of it as the portion of your home that you truly own, that is, the value of your home not included in your current home loan. Home equity is what makes homeownership such a great investment. The opportunity to increase equity can be quite significant, making it one of your most valuable assets.

Find out how to build it up and how to use it to its full potential.

Building Equity  

Repaying your loan: Increasing your equity is as simple as making your monthly mortgage payments. How much increase you can expect depends on several factors, including how much of your payment goes towards the principal and interest. The great news is your rate of building equity increases with every passing

Located just a short walk away from shops, schools, and the resident’s center, this all-white, modern-day farmhouse just feels like home! With its fantastic finishes, spacious open layout, and tons of natural lighting, this home has everything you need.

Known for its picturesque main street, historical attractions, antique shops, and lively music scene, Franklin (fondly known as “Small Town, USA”) was voted the number one small town in Tennessee.

Main Street in downtown Franklin bustles with southern hospitality, historic preservation, and modern sophistication. There, you can catch an outstanding performance or screening at the historic Franklin Theater, enjoy a craft cocktail at one of the many bars, indulge in local cuisine, snag an

Hendersonville is known around the state as one of Middle Tennessee’s top communities for families. With a top-ranked school system, plenty of parks and lakefront shoreline, and unique shops and restaurants all less than 20 miles from downtown Nashville, Hendersonville is a neighborhood to be considered by homebuyers. Watch our Local’s Guide to Hendersonville video to take a look at this wonderful community!

One thing that is evident is a sense of community. The town hosts several annual events such as a 4th of July fireworks show and a Christmas parade, plus regular concerts, movies in the park, and theatrical productions. The Streets of Indian Lake, perhaps the best place for a night out, is home to an array of shops, restaurants, dancing