Franklin

Around a 20 minute drive south of Nashville, historic downtown Franklin is an oasis of southern history and hospitality. The Main Street area, complete with brick sidewalks and Victorian architecture contains over 70 unique shops and is a treasure in middle Tennessee. Complimenting Main Street is an eclectic mix of arts and crafts homes, boutiques and restaurants. Traditional southern is the theme here but some shops also feature high fashion brands. Outside of downtown, Franklin features many different residential neighborhoods and covers a grand total of 41.4 square miles. Franklin is a great spot for couples looking to start a family with its close proximity to Nashville and its superior public school system.

Franklin covers a lot of ground, more than 41 square miles, and the housing market splits along lines that aren't obvious from a visit to Main Street. For the buyer, it helps to think about the area as several fundamentally different experiences. First is historic downtown, which is its own small world of restored 19th-century homes, limited inventory, seasonal festivals and premium prices. Head toward Cool Springs and the setting becomes much more commercial, with restaurants, conventional shopping, offices, apartments, condos and newer residential development. Elsewhere around Franklin and Williamson County, master-planned communities and subdivisions offer everything from established homes to new construction, often with neighborhood amenities, parks, and more predictable inventory. Continue west into the countryside around Leiper's Fork and the landscape changes entirely, with larger lots, acreage, equestrian properties, and rural homes operating in a very different market.

Two things buyers should understand about Franklin are the commute and the level of demand. Downtown Nashville is roughly 20 miles north via I-65, a manageable drive outside peak periods that can become considerably longer during weekday rush hour. Second, Franklin has remained one of Tennessee's most sought-after housing markets, and the prices generally reflect the combination of location, amenities, established neighborhoods and proximity to Nashville. Buyers looking at Davidson County may be surprised just how high the entry point is into Franklin and Williamson County.