Nashville, TN real estate: buy or sell with a local AXEN agent
Nashville and Davidson County are one consolidated government, but the tax bill splits in two: the Urban Services District and the General Services District pay different rates for different services. On top of that, six small cities sit inside the county with their own rates, and a short-term rental permit here can die the day the house sells.
Nashville neighborhoods buyers ask about
Every one prices differently. Ask your agent for the latest sales in the ones you like.
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Buying a home in Nashville: what to know
The rules that apply everywhere in Tennessee are on the Tennessee page. These are the Nashville details that trip people up.
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Urban or General Services District changes your bill. Davidson County has two main tax districts. The Urban Services District pays a higher rate and gets more: rubbish pickup, street lights, sidewalks. The General Services District is everything outside that line and you pay for those services yourself. Your assessment notice has a tax jurisdiction box that says which one you are in.
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Six small cities sit inside the county. Ridgetop, Goodlettsville, Belle Meade, Berry Hill, Forest Hills and Oak Hill are separate municipalities inside the General Services District. Property there pays the district rate plus that city's own rate, and their services differ from Metro's.
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Non-owner-occupied short-term rentals are barred in most houses. New not-owner-occupied permits are only issued in listed mixed use, office and commercial zones. They are not permitted in the residential zoning districts that cover most single-family Nashville.
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Historic overlays mean a preservation permit. The Metro Historic Zoning Commission reviews work in neighbourhood conservation overlays and historic preservation overlays, and each district has its own design guidelines. Check the overlay layer on Metro's parcel viewer for your address.
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Floodplain rules here are stricter than federal. Metro Water Services requires every residential structure built in the floodplain to sit with its lowest finished floor four feet above the 1% annual chance flood elevation. Any fill placed in the floodplain has to be matched by an equal volume of cut, and building in the floodway is prohibited with few exceptions.
Selling a home in Nashville
Your short-term rental permit does not transfer.
Existing not-owner-occupied permits in residential districts may be renewed by the current holder, but they are not transferable if the property is sold. Do not price the home as if the permit conveys.
Pre-1865 homes and demolition holds.
If a building is listed or eligible for the National Register, the historical commission or a council member can start a 90-day hold on a demolition application. For buildings built before 1865, demolition can be denied outright. Flag this early to any builder-buyer.
Have the elevation certificate ready.
Metro Water Services and the planning commission's parcel viewer keep elevation certificates on record. Pulling yours up front removes a common flood-zone stall.
Nashville real estate questions
What is the difference between the Urban and General Services Districts?
The Urban Services District pays a higher Metro rate and gets rubbish pickup, street lights and sidewalks. The General Services District is everything past that line, and you buy those services yourself. Your assessment notice names your district, so check it rather than guessing.
Can I run an Airbnb in a Nashville house I do not live in?
Almost never in a normal neighbourhood. New not-owner-occupied permits are only issued in listed mixed use, office and commercial zones, not in the residential districts. Owner-occupied permits require the owner to permanently reside there, and companies or trusts cannot hold one.
Do I need permission to change my windows or siding?
If you are in a historic overlay, yes. The Metro Historic Zoning Commission adopts design guidelines for each district and reviews preservation permits. Neighbourhood conservation and historic preservation overlays each have their own rulebook.
How does the stormwater fee work?
Metro Water Services bills stormwater monthly based on how much hard surface your lot has, in tiers. Driveways, patios and compacted gravel all count. Condominiums are billed per unit at a flat rate.
What are those six small cities inside Davidson County?
Ridgetop, Goodlettsville, Belle Meade, Berry Hill, Forest Hills and Oak Hill are separate municipalities that never merged into Metro. Property there pays the General Services District rate plus that city's own rate, and the services are different.
Buying or selling in Nashville? Talk to a local agent.
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