Tis the season to be jolly for those considering selling their homes, as this year’s sales numbers will reflect the fifth consecutive year of positive growth as far as the units sold.

Even more important to those buying or selling is that the prices continue to rise. The buyers that missed homes in the fall will see spring pricing that will be discouraging.

During this time of year, sellers are often reluctant to place their houses on the market, as the grass is greener on the other side of the calendar. Conversely, it can also be argued that this time of year is better as there is less competition.

Statistically speaking, January and February are certainly the slowest months of the year with sales that amass only half of those sales experienced in the hot months in the spring and summer.

For example in 2012, January had 1,377 sales with February improving slightly to 1,515. However, the summer months provided sales of 2,600.

The year 2013 followed the same pattern with January closing 1,634 and midyear had 3,100 homes close in a couple of months. In 2014 1,779 closed in January and 3,100 later in the year.

Based on those numbers, a house is only half as likely to sell in January as it is in May or June. However, it has a zero percent chance of selling if it is not on the market, so the odds improve 50% by testing the market.

In fact, the odds are actually even more in favor of the sellers as there is much less inventory as sellers await the blossoming of the vegetation along with the market.

Additionally, the masses relocating to Nashville are not taking the winter off. Certainly, in some of the northernmost states the markets slow as the snow drifts, so those requiring their homes to sell may ease the intensity of their searches, but overall, they are coming.

Sale of the Week

The Belle Meade Highlands, a.k.a. the Highlands of Belle Meade, are located to the west of Belle Meade proper with homes constructed originally in the 1940s through the early 1960s.

Beginning in the early 2000s, the area began to fall prey to the “teardowns” and was one of the first neighborhoods to experience this phenomenon with a developer/homebuilder named Michael Shears, no relation to Billy.

At that time, homes were selling briskly and the properties in the area had surpassed the $500,000 mark if the homes had been renovated and on half acre lots.

There were a few flippers, in the area who were buying homes in the high 200,000s and adding new kitchens, master bathrooms, pouring some money into landscaping, and updating the décor and selling them in the high $400,000s, and occasionally, cracking the $500,000 mark on some of the larger homes.

For the most part, the houses were ranch style homes on the flat terrain that rose behind the Belle Meade Country Club golf course.

Enter Michael Shears who purchased houses like 125 Page Road and promptly sent the bulldozer over. Neighbors and Realtors were stunned, especially when Shears announced that he intended to sell the new construction for $835,000.

As construction began, more doubt as to the likelihood of success of the product followed for the house did not fit the neighborhood having a second story, a true second story, and the ceilings on the first floor were high and the house had 4,000 square feet.

Then it happened, the first one sold and sold quickly and for list price, so Shears did it again and again.

The model was so successful others began to imitate the process and more and more 4,000 square foot homes of traditional design started to dominate the Belle Meade Highlands landscape with prices often surpassing those in Belle Meade itself.

Now the sky is the limit with homes selling for over $2,000,000.

Last week, the home at 125 Page Road sold for $1,500,000 after Rick French of French–King Fine Properties listed it for $1,550,000.

Now boasting 4,786 square feet with a pool and pool house, this Michael Shears home was purchased in 2004 for the then-exorbitant price of $835,000.

With the area booming, the owner was confident to improve the property no doubt investing well over $150,000 adding the what French described as a “Page/Duke designed oasis complete with a pool house and gym that overlooks Belle Meade Country Club.’’

Page/Duke refers to the highly regarded landscape/architect firm of Ben Page and Gavin Duke, two of the city’s best.

Jennie Garth Lovvorn, herself a Highlander for years and a former inhabitant of a similar home, delivered the buyer to her old stomping ground. She is with Fridrich and Clark Realty and sells several homes in the area each year.

Richard Courtney is a licensed real estate broker with Christianson, Patterson, Courtney, and Associates and can be reached at [email protected].