705 Westview Ave.
It was nearly a clean sweep for Nashville in September's list. The top seven — and eight of the Top 10 — sales were in Metro (and one of the two Williamson County homes is oh-so-close to having to pay property taxes in Davidson County).
The list begins with a half-acre home purchased by an erstwhile Louisiana shipping magnate, continues to a home next door to the governor (a home once owned by a Nashville business giant) and then settles into our usual collection of financial advisers, health care execs and doctors.
As always, what follows is the Top 10 single-family home sales for September in Davidson and surrounding counties, ranked by sale price.
1. 6123 Hillsboro Pike, Forest Hills, 37215
Buyers: Christopher and Pamela Bollinger
Sale price: $4.5 million
Seller: David McCord
Seller's agent: Laura Baugh, Worth Properties
Buyers' agent: Russell Buchi, Christianson, Patterson, Courtney and Associates
A half-acre of this 3.5-acre estate is covered by the home itself, a massive, 21,000-square-foot mansion that includes a game room and a billiards room, a gym and a massage parlor, plus a theater and a wine cellar. There's also a guest house and an apartment.
Redundancy was obviously key for seller McCord, a renowned back surgeon. Mr. Bollinger is the former president of his family company, Louisiana shipping giants Bollinger Shipyards. His family has long been active in Republican politics in Louisiana, in addition to their shipping concern.
2. 815 N. Curtiswood Lane, Nashville, 37204
Buyer: Ben Hill Willingham III
Sale price: $3.53 million
Seller: Judith B. Danner Revocable Trust
Seller's agent: Gail Griel, Zeitlin & Co.
Buyer's agent: Audrey Bouvier, Benchmark Realty
The scions of one historic leader of Nashville commerce sell to the scion of another, as the family of late Shoney's founder Ray Danner sells its big-boy family home — which is on 7.8 acres adjacent to the Tennessee Governor's Mansion on Curtiswood — to Willingham, grandson of the name's-the-same late Genesco president. At 10,000 or so square feet, it's larger than most, but a Slim Jim compared to this month's top home. For the equine set, there's an eight-stall stable, more than enough space for someone who just bought his fifth quarter horse. The federal-style home has 18 rooms, plus two two-bedroom apartments.
3. 705 Westview Ave., Belle Meade, 37205
Buyer: Mark Nicol Family Trust
Sale price: $3.325 million
Seller: Steven C. Baker, trustee
Seller's agents: Steve G. Fridrich and Margaret H. Taylor, Fridrich and Clark
Buyer's agent: Nancy D. Brock, Worth Properties
A Belle Meade classic built in 1930, this home has plenty of high-end outdoor accouterments: a saltwater pool, a tennis court and an outdoor kitchen. The media room (it's inside) isn't just large: It's "mega." And just for kicks (particularly, cold kicks), the master bath has heated floors.
When it comes to real estate, buyer Nicol knows what he's doing, as he's president of Nicol Investment, which, among other things, owns Velocity in the Gulch.
4. 5004 Hill Place Drive, Nashville, 37205
Buyers: Andrew and Elizabeth Rueff
Sale price: $2.9 million
Seller: Linda D. Brooks
Seller's agent: Richard B. French, French King Fine Properties
Buyers' agent: Starling Davis, Fridrich and Clark
Agent French didn't soft-pedal the adjectives, describing this Hill Place 10,000-square-footer as "monumental," "breathtaking" and "grand."
Andrew Rueff is the Chief Administrative Officer for TransFirst. Brooks is the widow of late Renal Care founder, chairman and CEO Sam Brooks. Mrs. Brooks is active in numerous mental health and intellectual disability advocacy and charitable organizations.
5. 434 Grayson Drive, Nashville, 37205
Buyer: Tracy Marks
Sale price: $2.35 million
Sellers: Howard D. Adcock Jr. and Randy Rhodes
Sellers' agents: Tim King and Richard B. French, French King Fine Properties
Buyer's agent: Fiona Parish King, Worth Properties
No imported marble here: The terraces on this 40-year-old West Meade home are crafted with Crab Orchard stone. All four of the bedrooms, two of which are master, are en suite. The listing promises total privacy, along with a pool and spa.
Marks is the president of transportation technology giant TransCore. Adcock and Rhodes are co-owners of four cosmetology schools and have received past publicity for renovating older homes.
6. 28 Inveraray, Nashville, 37215
Buyers: Meredith and Barbara Caldwell
Sale price: $2.185 million
Seller: Theresa G. Payne
Seller's agent: Lawrence Lipman, The Lipman Group Sotheby's International
Buyers' agent: Cissy Caldwell Akers, Fridrich and Clark
Described as one of tony Northumberland's "most cherished custom homes," the 7,500-square-footer includes reclaimed features, plus a normal swimming pool and a heated dipping pool.
The next dippers in said dipping pool are the Caldwells (one of Mr. Caldwell's forebears was the owner of Belle Meade Plantation after the Harding family, so this is a family that knows something about luxury living). Mr. Caldwell is a financial adviser with Morgan Stanley. Seller Payne is the widow of late Fridrich and Clark agent George G. Payne III.
7. 203 Evelyn Ave., Belle Meade, 37205
Buyer: Janet B. Warfield Family Trust
Sale price: $2 million
Sellers: Alexander and Dorothy McLeod
Sellers' agent: Neal Clayton, Neal Clayton Realtors
Buyer's agent: Unknown
Nashville internist Alexander McLeod sells the home that's been in his family for decades. Built in 1929, the home was sold as-is — a bit unusual for Headline Homes — but it is one of Belle Meade's "grand homes," with a grand entrance hall and large, formal rooms.
8. 123 Gillette Drive, Franklin, 37069
Buyer: Timothy Wallace
Sale price: $1,807,390.38
Seller: Michael L. Murphy
Seller's agent: Lacey Newman, Parks
Buyer's agent: Allen DeCuyper, Neal Clayton Realtors
Our first out-of-town entry comes in at No. 8 with an infinity pool and a view of the Harpeth. Each of the five bedrooms has its own bathroom, and the master includes a separate sitting room. There are also in-law quarters, a four-car garage and a hobby room with its own entrance.
Seller Michael Murphy is the owner of real estate development firm Cumberland Advisors. Timothy Wallace is the president and CEO of health care REIT Community Healthcare Trust.
9. 524 Beech Creek Road South, Brentwood, 37027
Buyers: Jeffrey T. and Amy K. Dobyns
Sale price: $1.725 million
Sellers: Marshall T. and Carol B. Taylor
Sellers' and buyers' agent: Courtnay Wall, Pilkerton Realtors
This home sits on 18 acres but is surrounded by 400 acres owned either by the Land Trust or Owl's Hill and is promised to be both convenient and "nestled away." Jeffrey Dobyns is a Raymond James financial adviser; Amy Dobyns is in pharmaceutical sales. Seller Marshall Taylor is a director at Alvarez and Marsal Transaction Advisory Group.
10. 1915 Tyne Blvd., Nashville, 37215
Buyers: Mohan and Stephanie Gounder
Sale price: $1.4 million
Seller: Tyne Boulevard Partners
Seller's agent: Brent Morris, Parks
Buyers' agent: Angela Fleming, Reliant
This six-bedroom home sits on 2.65 acres. Mohan Gounder is an internist at Lebanon's University Medical Center.
