There's quite an interesting mix in this month's look at Nashville's most expensive homes. It starts out with a giant in Laurelbrooke — not all that unusual in and of itself — but also includes the former corporate retreat for Cracker Barrel and a historic home from the 1840s that sits on an historic site that goes back much further. There's also a bit of a musical feel to the list. A hotshot producer and a songwriter who recently struck gold are both included.
As always, what follows is the Top 10 home sales in February for Davidson and surrounding counties, ranked by sales price.
1. 1049 Vaughn Crest Drive, Franklin, 37069
Buyers: Lynn and David Gwin
Sale price: $3.225 million
Sellers: John R. and Marsha J. Simoneaux
Sellers' agent: Beth Molteni, Fridrich & Clark Realty
Buyers' agent: Jim Lukens, SilverPointe Properties
This month's top home is an 11,302-square-footer in Laurelbrooke, a former Home of Distinction. Custom built for the Simoneauxs in 2004, it includes stain-grade wood throughout, a pool and spa, and "fantastic porches with panoramic views."
Buyer David Gwin is the treasurer and senior vice-president for finance at HCA.
Seller John R. Simoneaux (better known as Randy) is the chief revenue office of Ingo Money — formerly Chexar, which bought Clear Payments, a deposit technology venture he founded, in 2012.
2 (tie). 6636 Cairo Bend Road, Lebanon, 37087
Buyer: Paul Burch
Sale price: $3.1 million
Seller: D.W. EvinsSeller's agent: Fiona Parish King, Worth Properties
Buyer's agent: Greg Dugdale, Greg Dugdale Properties
The former Cracker Barrel corporate retreat — the late D.W. Evins is the restaurant's founder — was originally listed at just under $6 million and was on the market for more than two years before selling at nearly half that under an executor's deed, after Evins died in early 2012. The 400-acre property includes five cabins in addition to the 13-room, 9,000 square-foot main house. Though the home is described as a "musician's dream," the Paul Burch who purchased it is not the same Paul Burch who plays with local band The WPA Ballclub.
2 (tie). 2031 Old Natchez Trace, Franklin, 37064
Buyer: William Chapman IV, trustee for the Saponi Trust
Sale price: $3.1 million
Seller: Old Town 2031 LLC
Seller's and buyer's agent: Steve G. Fridrich, Fridrich & Clark Realty
The 1846-built Old Town is sold by a corporate seller to a trust with unknown lineage (Chapman, as usual, protects his clients, and the trust, borrowing its name from a small Native-American tribe, offers little clue). Old Town is technically the name of the Mississippian mound site upon which Thomas Brown built his home in the I-House plan. Beach-country-rocker Jimmy Buffett owned the home in the 1980s. The property also includes two guesthouses and a barn.
4. 13 Oxmoor Court, Brentwood, 37027
Buyers: Nicholas and Andrea FerraraSale price: $2.775 million
Seller: Schumacher Homes LLC
Seller's agent: Kimberly Schumacher, Zeitlin & Company
Buyers' agent: Terry Stevens, Fridrich & Clark Realty
This new build in the tony Governors Club includes not only a normal garage, but also a golf-cart garage. The home has a "romantic European design," and the wood floors are of the reclaimed variety. There are five wood-burning fireplaces and 12-foot ceilings throughout. Nicholas Ferrara is a partner in boutique music business law firm Serling Rooks Ferrara McCoy & Worob.
5. 3721 Woodmont Blvd., Nashville, 37215
Buyer: Mary Patton
Sale price: $1.95 million
Seller: Vintage South
Seller's agent: Emily Gillett Rosen, Worth Properties
Buyer's agent: Anne Ruark, The Lipman Group/Sotheby's International
This Tudor built in 1935 was recently restored by Vintage South as part of an ongoing project in that section of Woodmont.
6. 100 Balleroy Drive, Brentwood, 37027
Buyer: Kevin R. and Kathryn S. Phillips
Sale price: $1.75 million
Sellers: Mark and Anna Bright
Sellers' agents: Jimmy Pilkerton and Dana Griscom, Pilkerton Realtors
Buyer's agent: Dana Griscom, Pilkerton Realtors
Another home that promises "European grandeur," this one includes a paneled library and a covered terrace, both of which, admittedly, do seem grand and European. Kevin Phillips is a principal at health care communications firm Jarrard Phillips Cate & Hancock. Kathryn Phillips is an attorney, a former candidate for the General Assembly and has worked for various Republican campaigns, including as general counsel for Lamar Alexander's presidential bid. Mark Bright is a well-known country music producer, notably collaborating on Carrie Underwood's albums.
7. 1007 W. Main St., Franklin, 37064
Buyers: Bert and Beth Moses
Sale price: $1.7 million
Seller: Thrive Homes Tennessee LLC
Seller's agent: Scott Evans, Parks
Buyers' agent: Danny R. Anderson, Bob Parks Realty
This home is part of Historic Ledgelawn, which is something of a misnomer. The homes are all new builds, but get that "Historic" appellation by virtue of being "within blocks" of Franklin's downtown.
8. 9579 Liberty Church Road, Brentwood, 37027
Buyers: Kevin P. and Brandon J. Kadish
Sale price: $1.495 million
Seller: Timothy J. Gaetano
Seller's agent: Andy Beasley, Brentview Realty Co., and Edward L. Newsham, Southern Land Realty
Buyers' agent: Leah Crutchfield, The Wilson Group
Songwriter Kevin Kadish, who co-wrote Meghan Trainor's ode à la derrière "All About That Bass," as well as its follow-up "Your Lips Are Moving," and his wife Brandon, part of the group Coldwater Jane, purchased this country home on six acres in rural Williamson County from the estate of the late Timothy J. Gaetano, a songwriter himself.
9. 615 Westview Ave., Belle Meade, 37205
Buyers: Paul and Leigh Ann Gravette
Sale price: $1.475 million
Sellers: Robert H. and Sylvia Elman
Sellers' agent: Starling Davis, Fridrich & Clark Realty
Buyers' agent: Steve Fridrich, Fridrich & Clark Realty
This home was "custom built," which is unusual for a house built more than 35 years ago. In any event, it includes a pool house, tennis court, five bedrooms and a "large light-filled sunroom." Seller Robert Elman is the former president of stereo manufacturer KLH, co-founder of DESA Industries and senior vice-president of AMCA International. He is also the former president of the American Jewish Council.
Buyer Paul Gravette is a self-described "serial entrepreneur" and co-founder of "premium lifestyle brand" La-Vel.
10. 1606 Championship Blvd., Franklin, 37064
Buyer: Kelly L. Worman, trustee for 1606 Championship Boulevard Trust
Sale price: $1.4 million
Sellers: Brandon and Christie Binkley
Sellers' agent: Leanne Vande Kamp, Bob Parks Realty
Buyer's agent: Kelly Dougherty, Village Real Estate Services
This Tuscan facsimile was built in 2011 in Franklin's Westhaven. It has a stone fireplace and antique heart-pine floors. The Binkleys are the owners of popular local outdoor store Bink's Outfitters.
