Nashville’s property market is flourishing thanks to the economic growth of the city and the influx of new residents. As a result, there's wide variety when it comes to the types of properties available in Nashville. Most long-term residents don’t live anywhere close to downtown Nashville and a major advantage of this is not only that they have access to larger, more spacious homes, but they also get more wiggle room when it comes to deciding exactly what they are looking for.
Types of property in Nashville
One thing that can be said about housing in Nashville is that it is spacious, across the board. Whether new arrivals to the city are young professionals looking for a downtown apartment, couples searching for a luxury condo, or a family looking for a comfortable home with a garden, chances are the properties found in Nashville will be larger than new arrivals may be used to, especially if they are moving from densely populated cities.
Apartments
Apartment living tends to be most common close to the downtown area. Although most long-term Nashville residents opt to move to the suburbs for a better quality of life and more space, apartments are a good choice for young people who may be just starting out in Nashville. Generally, apartment complexes in Nashville are modern and well-maintained.
Condos
Condos are similar to apartments but with a wider range of communal facilities such as gardens, swimming pools, fitness centres and laundry facilities. Condo living is a great option for those who’ve just moved to Nashville, in that there is a noticeable sense of community in these complexes, which is likely to be conducive to helping newcomers establish a social circle.
Duplexes
Duplexes and fourplexes are a type of housing that is commonly seen in Nashville. The house plans consist of either two or four living units attached to each other in some manner. These are often found in areas located close to the central Nashville such as Germantown, Vandy and West Nashville.
Houses
When it comes to houses, prospective residents will be spoilt for choice in Nashville. Sure, one will need to move further away from the city centre for the best options, but that won’t be a problem when one considers the scope of some of these stunning properties. Newcomers will have their pick of houses with a minimalist modern design, classic Victorian homes and Cape Cod-style properties, and these are just a handful of the numerous housing types on offer in Nashville. Regardless of the facade, houses in Nashville are spacious and good value for money.
Finding property in Nashville
Housing is readily available in Nashville with new buildings constantly springing up to accommodate the thousands of new residents choosing to relocate to the Music City each year. That said, we recommend prospective residents make use of online property portals to familiarise themselves with Nashville’s property market prior to the planned relocation. The internet is a fantastic starting point because one can get to grips with the types of property available in various parts of the city, as well as prices.
Other factors that prospective residents of Nashville will need to bear in mind when looking for property in Nashville include access to important transport routes, the availability of amenities and shopping hubs, proximity to places of work, and for those who have children, the location of good schooling options.
Real-estate agents are another reliable source of support for those looking for a home in Nashville. These professionals have an intimate knowledge of the local real-estate market so are well placed to help those unfamiliar with the city find a suitable home in line with their requirements and personal preferences.
Renting property in Nashville
Once new arrivals have narrowed down their preferences in terms of the type of housing and suitable suburbs, finding a property shouldn’t be too difficult. While the demand for property in Nashville is high, there is a lot of construction taking place to meet this.
Making an application
When prospective tenants have found a property they like, they’ll need to start by filing an application. Depending on the situation, they can either do this directly through the landlord or via the agent overseeing the property. As long as all the relevant checks and references are verified, a lease can be signed. Foreign nationals moving to Nashville will benefit from having their US bank account and social security number set up as this will speed up the whole rental process.
Leases
A standard rental contract in Nashville is usually valid for a year with the option to renew at the end of the initial term. Depending on where in the city one hopes to put down roots, it may also be possible for tenants to negotiate a shorter lease.
Deposits
As is the case in most places, tenants will be required to put down a security deposit when renting a property in Nashville. Although this deposit is usually equivalent to one month's rent, Tennessee law doesn’t actually place any limits on the amount. It does state that the deposit minus any deductions for damages must be returned within 60 days of the contract ending. New tenants are advised to make a detailed inventory at both the start and end of a rental period.
Utilities
Renters need to carefully check the terms of their lease to determine which utilities are included and what additional expenses they’d be liable to pay for. In most instances, the landlord covers standard utilities such as gas, electricity and water, while tenants will be expected to pay for telephone services, internet and TV.