Why increasing attendance is a priority for new Vanderbilt basketball coach Mark Byington

New or existing, one-level homes are in demand

Bill Lewis
Special to The Tennessean

Realtor Jonny Lee recalls selling the house at 142 Gail Drive in Hendersonville seven years ago. Now the home is on the market again, and he expects it to sell quickly thanks to its location near Old Hickory Lake and its split-level floor plan.

The home at 142 Gail Drive in Hendersonville is on a third of an acre and has an open floor plan with 1,825 square feet of living space.

“The one level and split-levels have become attractive for first-time buyers and for people moving into the area,” said Lee, an owner of the Ashton Real Estate Group of RE/MAX Advantage.

One-level homes place the entire living area on the main floor. Split-levels have space upstairs for bedrooms and a bath.                                               

Many new-home buyers are choosing designs that provide one-level living, like David Weekley Homes’ villas in Durham Farms. Goodall Homes built villas in Foxland Harbor with an optional bonus room or bedroom area upstairs. In both neighborhoods, they sold quickly.

But you don’t have to buy a new home to get the advantages of split-level and one-level living. The house at 142 Gail Drive was built in 1965, for example. Gary Ashton, the leader of the Ashton Group, has the listing.

Those floor plans are the choice of many buyers who want an existing home, said Jennifer Moss, principal broker and Realtor for the EXIT Realty Garden Gate Team.

“Last year, 62 percent of my office’s residential sales were existing, one-level homes. This year, existing, one-level homes have made up 66 percent of our office residential sales. Any given year, existing one-level homes comprise anywhere from 60 up to 75 percent of our residential sales,” said Moss. 

Broker/Realtor Jennifer Moss, EXIT Realty Garden Gate, had a listing on main level living home on Lyon Drive, which recently sold for $6,000 over listing in 24 hours.

When a one-level home hits the market, buyers are acting quickly. Moss’ listing at 404 Lyon Drive in Portland was on the market for less than 24 hours. It sold for $6,000 over the list price, she said.

“It’s rare to get a request for a house with stairs,” she said.

One-level ranch homes, also known as mid-century moderns, and split levels were extremely popular throughout the region in the 1960s and 1970s. Today they are popular with families looking for room to grow and older buyers who want a home where they can age in place.

Broker/Realtor Jennifer Moss said her listing at 1928 Grider Pond Road is a 1970s one-level, ranch home with great remodeling potential.

Spacious lots that provide privacy and room for kids to play are another attraction, said Moss.

EXIT Realty Garden Gate Broker/Realtor Jennifer Moss said last year, 62% of her office's residential sales were existing, one-level homes. This year, existing, one-level homes have made up 66% of her office's residential sales.

“A sprawling ranch home, the older ones usually have the better lots. People are looking for more space in the yards,” she said.

Lee said the house at 142 Gail Drive is on a third of an acre. The house has three bedrooms, two full baths and an open floor plan with 1,825 square feet of living space. It is located about a mile from Anchor High Marina.

Attainable pricing is another attraction, he said. The house on Gail Drive is listed for $269,900. It has a dedicated space for a home office, which could also be used for remote schooling.

“I flip a bunch of properties every year, and this is the kind of floor plan we look for,” said Lee.