Spring Hill~ (Columbia: for sale, real estate market, foreclosures)

[bnsilly]

Has there been any more thoughts on the future of Spring Hill since the auto plant closed or is closing? I see a lot of nice houses there in reasonable prices, but was not sure it is a good place to buy right now..thoughts??

[Big TR]

Foreclosures will be coming in rapid succession. Property taxes will be going through the roof. I personally would stay away from the area.

[Debb J]

I'm interested in any thoughts on this as well.

I have family who listed their Spring Hill house for sale back in November. Their realtor *assured* them their house would be snapped up right away due to all the fine ammenities it offered, blah, blah, blah. They moved into Nashville and bought a brand new 3 story house with a monster price tag. Now they're paying for *two* houses! My husband and I tried soooo hard to talk them out of buying the "new monster house" before their old house sold. We were viewed as "old fools" who were totally out of touch.

My DH and I can't help but wonder, with the bad news concerning the Saturn plant, just what will happen to the people of Spring Hill? We hear about the many houses for sale and also hear other jobs are being lost as well. I'm so sorry people's dreams are being shattered!

[Steve_TN]

Originally Posted by Debb J

I'm interested in any thoughts on this as well.

I have family who listed their Spring Hill house for sale back in November. Their realtor *assured* them their house would be snapped up right away due to all the fine ammenities it offered, blah, blah, blah. They moved into Nashville and bought a brand new 3 story house with a monster price tag. Now they're paying for *two* houses! My husband and I tried soooo hard to talk them out of buying the "new monster house" before their old house sold. We were viewed as "old fools" who were totally out of touch.

My DH and I can't help but wonder, with the bad news concerning the Saturn plant, just what will happen to the people of Spring Hill? We hear about the many houses for sale and also hear other jobs are being lost as well. I'm so sorry people's dreams are being shattered!

Any realtor whu ASSURES their customer that their home will be snatched up is a complete idiot!!! No reputable realtor would do that. When a house is listed, it's anyone's guess as to how fast or slow it will sell. Moderator cut: snip

Spring Hill is going to go downhill quickly, IMO.

[bnsilly]

Thanks for the info...Moderator cut: snip The buyers apparently made a bad decision. That is too bad about Spring Hill...They actually have some nice houses in our budget...hmmm...would probably rent for a while anyways...will see what happens in the next several months...

[supernerdgirl]

Crash and burn is how I see it. They did nothing but haphazard development and have relied too heavily on one industry as well as tons of retail. The city had no concern for the way it was developing (once upon a time I interviewed the mayor and city "planner" [ha!] and they pretty much weren't worried at all about how subdivisions and strip malls were taking over), and I feel no sorrow if people leave - whether it's people leaving because of GM, or people finding a way to move closer to their jobs up in Cool Springs & Nashville.

Oh, and revoking their property tax was the DUMBEST move ever ... now residents complain if it goes up PENNIES, while also complaining about not having adequate city services.

I've got my popcorn ready for this one.

[kpellatiro]

While I am usually ready to jump on the critical side of the real estate market news, it actually surprises me that the common perception of Spring Hill's future is so tough. Plenty of open lots and inventory (red flags), but there is also a lot of demand still working right now (check the inventory levels, and the direction they are moving in).

<< Obviously, don't buy two houses if you can avoid it at all. Sound advice that Debb J tried to pass on, and Steve_TN's comment (what I can still see of it) is dead on. >>

Still, the 'number of available homes' seems to be curbing, and I recently helped a family sell in 30 days. We were honestly shocked and had planned for a much longer time on market, but we had a couple of interested folks come close to writing an offer even sooner than our 'quick' sale.

Are we sure that the moderate price range in Spring Hill, and for those name brand Williamson County Schools, can't help stabilize values? Isn't our region an attractive target for additional automotive investment, especially given the technological investment already spent on the former GM plant? Do you see the same rise in demand -- from the stimulus package, deflated prices, and REO sales -- for your friends that are first time homebuyers?

[yank283]

Originally Posted by supernerdgirl

Crash and burn is how I see it. They did nothing but haphazard development and have relied too heavily on one industry as well as tons of retail. The city had no concern for the way it was developing (once upon a time I interviewed the mayor and city "planner" [ha!] and they pretty much weren't worried at all about how subdivisions and strip malls were taking over), and I feel no sorrow if people leave - whether it's people leaving because of GM, or people finding a way to move closer to their jobs up in Cool Springs & Nashville.

Oh, and revoking their property tax was the DUMBEST move ever ... now residents complain if it goes up PENNIES, while also complaining about not having adequate city services.

I've got my popcorn ready for this one.

While I share your contempt for suburban sprawl and the almost zero amount of planning of strip malls that are randomly plopped down in these communities, the zeal and pleasure you take from others misfortunes is rather disconcerting. Were talking about families here. I get the idea that no one was upset when you moved to the "model city", Chicago, despite what brilliant urban planning ideas or thoughts you may have exhibited. Now you spend your time on your computer two states away trolling middle Tennessee communities on this website. Pretty pathetic.

As far as Spring Hill, it still does have one of the most well equipped, with the newest technology, automobile assembly lines in the country. So it's not a given yet that this area will go downhill. Another auto plant could move in or GM could find a new use for it. But, I think buying a house is a bit like playing the stock market, you have to make sure your neighborhood (like your stock portfolio) is diversified. If the majority of the town depends on one employer, then things can and might go downhill real fast. Add to that another possible spike in gas prices, it doesn't look good. Even if a new use for the autoplant is found, most of your eggs are still going to be in that basket.

[supernerdgirl]

Originally Posted by yank283

While I share your contempt for suburban sprawl and the almost zero amount of planning of strip malls that are randomly plopped down in these communities, the zeal and pleasure you take from others misfortunes is rather disconcerting. Were talking about families here. I get the idea that no one was upset when you moved to the "model city", Chicago, despite what brilliant urban planning ideas or thoughts you may have exhibited. Now you spend your time on your computer two states away trolling middle Tennessee communities on this website. Pretty pathetic.

Wah wah... sorry there, buddy. I lived in Spring Hill/Columbia for 13 years before I moved up here, so I saw it go from a charming little town to a sprawl nightmare. I'm not making fun of the people that might lose their jobs and homes, I make fun of the completely ridiculous "leadership" that's been shown in that find "city."

by the way, I read the Tennessee forums because my family still DOES live there, thank you very much.