Frequently Asked

The questions we hear most.

Grouped by service. If you don't see yours, ask, and we'll answer personally.

Residential

How much home can I actually afford?

Buying a home involves more than just the monthly payment. We help you calculate property taxes, insurance, HOA fees, maintenance costs, and opportunity costs so you understand the total cost of owning a home before you buy. Explore our home purchase guidance.

Should I sell before I buy, or buy before I sell?

Deciding whether to buy or sell first isn't one-size-fits-all. We analyze your liquidity, home equity, current market conditions, financing options, and risk tolerance to determine the smartest real estate strategy for your situation. Get help coordinating your purchase and sale. Read our Buy or Sell First Guide to compare both options, costs to plan for, and questions to discuss before your next move.

How long does a typical transaction take?

A typical home purchase or sale closes within 30–45 days from the accepted offer. From inspections and financing to closing day, we provide clear communication and guidance at every milestone. Learn about our support throughout closing.

Commercial

Do you handle both leasing and acquisition?

Yes. We represent commercial real estate tenants, landlords, buyers, and sellers across office buildings, medical offices, retail properties, industrial spaces, and triple net (NNN) investment properties. Whether you're leasing, buying, selling, or investing, we provide expert guidance tailored to your commercial real estate goals. Explore our leasing and acquisition support.

What is a CCIM designation and why does it matter?

CCIM stands for Certified Commercial Investment Member. The designation reflects advanced training in investment analysis, financial underwriting, market analysis, and property valuation. We apply that knowledge to help you evaluate opportunities and make informed decisions. Explore our commercial advisory services. Explore our commercial real estate advisory services to learn how we support your property decisions.

Can you help with a 1031 exchange?

Yes. We assist commercial real estate investors with 1031 exchanges by coordinating with qualified intermediaries and helping identify suitable replacement properties within IRS identification deadlines. Our goal is to help you defer capital gains taxes while supporting your long-term real estate investment strategy. Get guidance on evaluating replacement properties.

Property Management

What's included in your management fee?

Marketing, screening, leasing, rent collection, maintenance coordination, monthly reporting, and year-end financials. See how we support property owners. Read our Property Management Fee Guide for services to compare, potential additional charges, and questions to ask.

How do you screen tenants?

Every rental application undergoes a comprehensive tenant screening process, including credit history, income verification, employment confirmation, rental history, background checks, and reference verification. We carefully evaluate every applicant while ensuring full compliance with all Fair Housing laws and regulations, helping property owners secure qualified, reliable tenants.

Learn about tenant screening and placement.

How quickly are maintenance requests handled?

Emergencies within hours; standard requests within 48 hours. Owners are looped in for approvals above set thresholds.

Learn about maintenance coordination and owner support.

Investors

I'm brand new to investing — will you still work with me?

Yes. Many of our successful real estate investors began by purchasing their first investment property. We believe education is a key part of the process, providing the guidance, market insights, and investment strategies you need to build confidence and grow your commercial real estate portfolio over time.

Explore our real estate investment guidance for support with your first investment property.

Browse our educational resources.

Prepare for your first conversation with our first-time investor guide.

How do you find off-market deals?

With more than 30 years of experience and strong relationships throughout the Middle Tennessee commercial real estate market, we often learn about off-market commercial properties before they are publicly listed. Property owners trust us to handle confidential sales, giving qualified buyers access to exclusive investment opportunities that aren't available on the open market.
Learn how we source and evaluate opportunities.

What returns should I realistically expect?

Expected returns vary based on your investment strategy, property type, and current commercial real estate market conditions. We perform detailed financial underwriting, including base-case, downside, and upside scenario analysis for every investment opportunity, so you can make informed decisions with realistic expectations and a clear understanding of potential risks and returns. Learn how we evaluate investment risks and returns.