Whoever says that local isn’t the best has not been to Clarksville, Tennessee. We are blessed with an abundance of local eateries throughout the area that not only offer an amazing atmosphere, but delicious cuisine as well. Our Millan Leasing Agents have reviewed their top five favorite local restaurants in Clarksville, TN:
“Yada has got to be the coolest casual Cafe in Clarksville. Better yet, I’d say the vibe is better than most hip Nashville joints serving up a similar menu. The food is fresh and the staff is friendly, what more could you want? Yada is the best mix of big city energy and small town feel.” –Josh Ward, Commercial Leasing Agent.
Photo Courtesy of Yada Yada Yada Deli Instagram: @yadayadadeli
“Choppin’ Block has the best selections of butchered meats in town. They also sell a variety of side items: my personal favorite is the twice baked potato.” –Kacy Kemmer, Senior Leasing Agent.
Photo Courtesy of The Choppin’ Block Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/butcheredmeatsandhomemadeeats/
“If you’re looking for a fun atmosphere with fantastic diner food, Johnny’s is the place to go. I personally love diners that take you back in time with old school decor, cash only (they do have an ATM inside though), and extremely affordable food. Whenever my husband and I have visitors in town, we recommend getting juicy burgers at Johnny’s with them.” –Ashlynn Gansheimer, Leasing Agent. Photo Courtesy of Johnny’s Big Burger Instagram: @johnnys_big_burger
“My husband and I love gyros. We were looking for a good place for them in Clarksville and stumbled across Sam’s on Tiny Town Road. Great service and great place to eat. They have lots of sauce and topping choices for their gyros. Reasonably priced and huge portions!”
–Makenzie Wert, Leasing Agent.
“My experience was with my parents and husband. We went for some authentic seafood and we were not disappointed. It’s a fun place to eat and the service was great. You can choose your spice level and get a broil big enough to share. All in all, a great place for families or a fun night out.” –Brittany Ramsey, Leasing Agent.
Photo Courtesy of Storming Crab Instagram: @stormingcrab
A few local restaurants that were close to our top five include:
Being a military spouse is hard, but so rewarding. I knew when I started dating my husband that we would be moving wherever the Army told us to move and whenever the Army told us to move. Starting fresh in an unfamiliar area that’s hundreds of miles away from your current home is scary. A million questions pop in your head immediately after your significant other brings home their PCS (Permanent Change of Station) Orders. Where do you start? What neighborhoods are the safest? What real estate companies do I contact? Do we rent or buy? Will I make new friends easily? Will I be able to find a new job quickly? If you’re concerned about how to move to a new town, read these tips.
BREATHE FIRST, PREP SECOND.
Don’t be like me and get stuck in the vicious twister of questions in your head. Take a deep breath and exhale slowly. After your nerves have calmed, you can start prepping yourself for the move. Determine what items need to make it to your next location and what items you can sell or donate. My family always donates several laundry baskets of clothing to Goodwill before a big move. The less we have to pack and haul to our new home, the better!
Once you have gone through clothing, furniture, kitchenware, toiletries, linens, knick knacks, and everything else in your home, you’ll need to start your packing. Hobby Lobby is always my go-to place for boxes. The staff has always been very willing to save boxes to donate to your move. While you are packing, make sure to have an emergency bag packed with a first aid kit, food, and basic tools in case of an issue during your travels. My least favorite part of moving is the next—playing Tetris with your boxes to make them fit in your car. If you’re like me and have a pet, it’s even more challenging. Luckily, our dog, Riley, was happy to be moving to Tennessee. Little did she know the drive would be much longer than the 10-minute commute to the dog park.
REMEMBER THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A PERFECT HOME.
It’s easier said than done to find a new home. List out features that are deal breakers and features that can be compromised. My family always looks for a three-bedroom home with a fenced in backyard. Of course, my husband will tell you that a deal breaker would be if the home doesn’t have a man-cave space, but I think that is something that can that can be compromised. We won’t even consider a home if it doesn’t offer these must-haves.
If you are unable to plan a trip to your new city to hunt for yourself, see if a friend or family member can check out homes in your place. Ask them to take pictures and videos to send to you. I’ve signed leases sight-unseen before and regretted it. Don’t put yourself in that situation because then you will be stuck in a legally-binding contract for at least a year.
Try your hardest not to get frustrated during your hunt. I’ve been there—so frustrated that you just want to scream. Nothing is in your budget. Nothing is big enough. Nothing is good enough. Just like before, take a deep breath and relax. You’ll find one that fits your family’s wants and needs. I promise. Don’t forget that there is no such thing as a perfect home.
ENJOY YOUR NEW ADVENTURE.
Moving to a new place doesn’t have to be difficult or depressing. You’ll make new friends. You’ll find the amazing, hole-in-the-wall restaurants that you’ll take all of your visitors to. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll continue to build your life with your family. Moving is all about what you make it. If you put your anxiety and worry aside, you’ll see that it is a fun adventure.
I don’t know about you, but owning a home was always on my radar. In my mind, the question was not, “if,” but, “when!” After all, owning a house is a major piece of the American Dream. For my wife and I, our dream of homeownership was a bit delayed. After college, we acquired a mountain of student loan debt ($80,000 total!) and had a baby in the mix. The odds of us owning a home were at best, not great. Against the odds, we made our dream come true. Here’s what we learned along the way:
Think with your head, not with your heart!
Typically, I hate the above advice because we as humans have a hard time separating our emotions form the decision-making process. The truth is, it’s almost impossible to remove our feelings from any equation. I learned, though, when buying a house, it’s kind of a necessity.
Like most people, we wanted our daughter to attend THE BEST schools in THE BEST neighborhood. Our emotions were totally wrapped up in giving our daughter THE BEST! In reality, we could not afford a, “premium package house.” So, we set a budget, and gave our daughter the BEST we could afford.
Lesson Learned: Untie my emotions from the house I can afford.
You WILL be disappointed!
I remember closing day like it was yesterday. We signed the papers (a sea of papers) and the attorney handed us the keys. We then entered what I like to call, “the honeymoon phase of homeownership.” For the first month, the house could do no wrong. 3 months in, a shift occurred. We started noticing things, small things. The fridge was louder. The hardwoods squeaked. The fireplace didn’t work! I actually started second guessing our purchase until my wife hit me with some much needed perspective: There’s no such thing as a perfect house. She went on to say: “I don’t want to live in a glass house where everything has to be perfect.”
Lesson Learned: There’s no such thing as, “the perfect house.”
Unload debt before unpacking bags.
As I mentioned in the first paragraph, we had $80,000 of combined student loan debt. I won’t mention who had more (it was her) because it does not matter. In fact, our student loan payment was MORE than our RENT payment! Before we could get serious about owning a home, we HAD to cut some of those monthly expenses. So, we stopped making the minimum payments and threw everything we could at our debt. We weren’t totally debt free at the time of purchase, but we had it beat down to only $5,000.
Lesson Learned: “Debt and Deeds do not mix!”
The journey is long and hard, enjoy it!
I hope I’m not painting a pretty picture of my attitude during the house buying process. I experienced a lot of stress and disappointment. Putting in an offer, getting rejected. Seeing a house, its suddenly gone. Liking the photos online, not-so-much in person. All of these elements can cause frustration but looking back, I wish I would have taken a HUGE chill pill. We’ll likely only get to experience buying a house once or twice in a lifetime. The highs and the lows, the good and the bad, its all worth it.
Home Buying Lessons Learned: “Owning a home is AWESOME! Enjoy the rollercoaster ride of highs and lows.
Economic Boom: Why NOW is the Time to Lease Retail Space in Clarksville TN
Information released this month from the U.S. Department of Labor shows Tennessee’s economy is growing. State unemployment dropped to the lowest level in nine years in March 2016 and jobs are being added at twice the national pace, according to an article in the Times Free Press.
Clarksville’s outlook is also good. The Hankook Tire tire plant will open later in the year and is expected to create 1,800 new jobs when it is fully operational in 2018. The company recently announced it will be moving its United States headquarters to Nashville, adding approximately 200 more jobs to the Tennessee economy. In addition, Google announced it will be opening a new data center in Clarksville.
“The data processing, hosting and related services industry has grown significantly in Tennessee,” said Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd. “Clarksville, in particular, has seen a considerable surge with employment increasing by 305 percent in less than five years.”
The city of Clarksville and Montgomery County have both increased in population by 30 percent since 2000, making it the fastest growing city in Tennessee.
These positive economic indicators make now a great time to start or expand a business in Clarksville. Whether your company is retail or service oriented, having a great location to direct your customers will add to your success. We have newly completed retail and office space available on Wilma Rudolph Boulevard. This commercial space features modern design with all steel and block construction. Remaining spaces can be divided into separate units and built to suit the incoming business. For more information or to schedule a showing, please contact us at 931-538-6049 today.
Don’t miss out on this rental walkthrough checklist when viewing homes for rent!
There are plenty of amazing rental homes in Clarksville, TN, but not every house in town will fit your needs exactly. The best way to protect yourself from a rental disaster is to ensure that you use a rental walkthrough checklist. A thorough list will include these items:
The Entry
Take a look at the entrance to the home. Do the locks work? Do you have the desired amount of privacy?
If you are interested in having a security door, this is the time to ask the landlord if this is a possibility.
Look at the sealing of the front door. Is there anyway water or wind can come in?
The Bathroom
Turn on the water faucets, checking for the right amount of water pressure to suit your needs.
Always check for evidence of water damage. We are happy to fix issues that arise, and the walkthrough is a great place to pinpoint them early.
The Kitchen
Check out the appliances, ensuring that they meet your needs. If you are passionate about a gas stove, now is the time to notice whether the house offers gas or electric.
The Rest of the House
Open each window. Some windows can get painted shut in the process of fixing up the home to rent, and it’s best to fix this problem early on.
This is also a great time to make sure each window has screens. You may rely on them if you have children or pets.
Check out each electrical outlet by plugging in a phone charger to ensure each one is working.
Outside
Do you feel safe outside the house? Consider the lighting situation outside, and how comfortable you will feel coming home at night.
Do you have questions about renting in Clarksville? Want to know how to find a great rental that meets your needs? Contact us to learn more about your options at 931-538-6049!
Homes for Rent in Clarksville TN Near Parks for Active Kids
Most children have a lot of energy, and one of the factors parents must consider when looking for a new home is whether there are outdoor recreation opportunities where children can be active. There are many homes for rent in Clarksville TN near some great parks where kids can run off their energy.
Liberty Park at Clarksville Marina (Cumblerland Drive) offers a sports field for children to kick a ball around and hone their skills. It also features a 10-acre fishing pond, community-built playground, a walking trail, boat ramp and dog park.
Valleybrook Park at 213 Crossland Avenue has sand volleyball courts, a walking trail, playground equipment, and open space to run.
Clarksville Greenway is great for families who like to hike or bike. The wooded trail will make you feel like you’re really getting away from it all, but it’s located conveniently on Pollard Road.
Before you know it the warm weather will be back and kids will be looking for a place to cool down and have fun. Beachaven Swimming Pool on Gaylewood Drive offers two pools for community members to use for either exercise or recreational use.
When looking for a new home, if there are children in the family it’s important to consider what facilities are close by for them to find exercise and amusement. Clarksville offers many parks that children and adults alike can enjoy when the weather is nice. They provide kids a way to burn energy and get fit while having fun.
If you’re looking for a new home, we have many options of houses or apartments of different sizes in the Clarksville area. If you are looking for something close to one of these parks, please contact us at 931-538-6049!
