REALTOR Roundup

Under all is the land. This is the first line of our REALTOR® Code of Ethics Preamble, and while it is often read as philosophy, in Nashville, we take it very literally. Before zoning maps, before development plans, and long before today’s skyline, the physical landscape was already influencing where and how this city would grow.

When people say real estate is “political,” they often picture partisan arguments or catchy slogans. But those aren’t the things that impact your bottom line.

The Greater Nashville Area’s housing market has shifted from breakneck competition to a more balanced, opportunity-rich phase. However, affordability and local demand still influence every transaction. Average sale prices remain higher than the national average, and inventory has also increased, resulting in homes staying on the market longer than they did last year at this time.

As a REALTOR® who works closely with families, investors, and first-time buyers, I’ve noticed more and more conversations surrounding a new trend in home financing, the 50-year mortgage. Yes, you read that right. Half a century of payments. So, let’s unpack what this means for you, the pros, cons, and what to really consider before signing on that dotted line.

Housing affordability remains a central focus in Washington, DC, and Nashville has felt the crisis firsthand. Following significant public and industry pushback on the proposed 50-year mortgage, the administration has shifted its focus to exploring portable and assumable mortgage options. A portable mortgage would allow a homeowner to transfer their existing loan – and its lower interest rate- to a new property, potentially easing the “lock-in” effect that keeps many homeowners from selling. More than half of US homeowners currently hold rates below 4%, creating a major barrier to mobility.

As we end this fall season post-Thanksgiving, it’s a good time to pause with grateful hearts. We’re blessed to live in a country where—despite our challenges—we enjoy freedoms, opportunities, and the ability to build a life rooted deeply in the place we call home. For many families, including our veterans and active-duty service members, that dream of homeownership is one of the greatest blessings of all.

As a twenty-something Realtor in Middle Tennessee, few headlines have hit me quite like the recent report naming 40 as the new average age of a first-time homebuyer. It’s a statistic that stopped nearly everyone in our industry in their tracks, but for those of us on the ground, it only confirms the reality we've been living in since post-COVID.

That half-empty office building on your commute with a shiny “Coming Soon: Luxury Apartments” banner isn’t just another facelift—it’s part of a nationwide transformation. In 2025 alone, a record 70,700 office units are being converted to housing, reshaping urban markets and creating new opportunities for residential brokers.