Fridrich & Clark Realty, LLC today announced that top-ranked Realtor® Lisa Peebles and her two-person team have joined the firm to partner with veteran Realtor® Richard Courtney and his team of six agents. The two have formed Courtney & Peebles Property Group at Fridrich & Clark.

With more than 15 years in Nashville real estate and over $140 million in transactions, Peebles is one of Nashville's top agents and a multi-year Greater Nashville Realtors Diamond Award recipient. She has a strong focus on Nashville's urban core, having represented the sale or purchase of hundreds of highrise condominiums. Peebles also specializes in single-family luxury properties and created NashvilleLuxuryEstates.com to market Nashville-area properties and the region's appeal to affluent buyers.

Peebles and her team, Realtors Sherry Stinson and Owen Canavan, were previously with Compass.

Courtney's team includes Realtors Natalie McLaughlin, operations director; Leilani Boulware; Gina Grimm; Gabby Kraemer; Becca Sempkowski; and Taitum Shirley.

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Nashville-area Realtor Richard Courtney travels to Franklin at least once a day lately to show homes to prospective clients on FaceTime. Alongside him, a handful of other realtors host their own virtual walk-throughs.

These buyers — usually from out-of-state — are increasingly purchasing homes in the greater Nashville area sight-unseen, tens of thousands of dollars over asking price and without traditional appraisals and inspections. That's just what it takes to buy a home in the red-hot Davidson and Williamson County housing markets these days, Courtney said.

Competition is especially fierce in Williamson County, where 58% of the 300 homes sold from April 20 through May 20 sold for above list price, according to a Realtracs report. With inventory of houses on the market at a historic low and strong interest in the area unwavering, it's now common for homes to receive 25 to 30 offers in less than a week on the market.

Over the last month, dozens of homes sold for at least $30,000 over asking price, with some prices stretching far above.

"It's never happened before," Courtney said. "I've been at this for 42 years, and it's never happened."

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The Nashville Ledger, Knoxville Ledger and Hamilton County Herald took 13 first-place awards Thursday in the annual Tennessee Press Association competition, with the Knoxville Ledger and the Hamilton County Herald winning "general excellence" as the top papers in their circulation categories.

"We're so proud of how all three papers performed in their categories," said Lyle Graves, associate publisher and executive editor for the three publications, headquartered in Nashville.

"We have had great success in previous years, but never two general excellence winners in the same year. It's a tribute to our great writers, designers and editors."

The Nashville Ledger won first-place awards for:

• Best business coverage: Hollie Deese, Tom Wood, Richard Courtney, Joe Morris and Jim Myers. Judgers' comments: "By far the strongest entry," and "I saw a lot of excellent art, layout and design and a good choice of story topics."

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Richard Courtney discusses the increase in Nashville home prices over the past 10 years and why it is difficult to find an affordable house in today's market. View the news clip here.

Fridrich & Clark Realty announced today that long-time brokers and past Realtors of the Year Tommy Patterson and Richard Courtney, have joined the firm from Christianson Patterson Courtney & Associates. The move brings Courtney back to Fridrich & Clark Realty, where he started in 1993 and was managing broker of the firm's Music Row office until moving to Pilkerton Realtors in 2011. Less than a year later, however, he joined what was then called French Christianson Patterson & Associates. Courtney has worked in the industry for more than 35 years. During his time at CPCA, he was part of more than 1,250 transactions worth about $325 million. He was president of GNAR in 2007 and received the Realtor of the Year award from that group in 2004 and from the Tennessee Association of Realtors in 2007. He also is a long-time member of the board of directors of the GNAR, the TAR and the National Association of Realtors. Courtney is also an author, with two books published on business and real estate. Read more...

There may not be a hotter real estate market than Nashville's right now. Property values have skyrocketed, new construction is everywhere, and small brick bungalows are being torn down and replaced by two tall skinnies. But it's not all good news. Rent continues to climb and buying a home has become a race against time. News 2 explored these real estate wars in a town hall meeting at Lipscomb University with a panel of experts to navigate through the topics, including Richard Courtney, longtime Nashville realtor, broker, authorsand columnist with Christianson Patterson Courtney & Associates; Colby Sledge, council member from District 17, one of the hottest areas to buy and sell a home; and Dr. Lindsay Dillingham, an associate professor of marketing at Lipscomb University. Watch the town hall meeting.

The Tennessean Million Dollar Homes column featured Richard Courtney's listing at 421 Avoca Avenue. This European-style townhome with its private rooftop terrace and panoramic skyline views includes all the amenities of a luxury penthouse, yet it's in a prime West End neighborhood near Centennial Park. The three-bedroom, three-and-one-half bath residence is four stories high, topped by a bi-level rooftop terrace that is the piece de resistance. A secure, gated drive leads to a two-car garage, where you choose a private elevator or stairs to access all levels. Professionally designed from the ground up, the home features great attention to detail and "custom everything." Three floors of living spaces are beautifully appointed, with custom cabinetry, high-end finishes and French doors that open onto individual terraces. The main floor is an open-concept living, dining, kitchen and bar area. The next floor is a fabulous owners' suite and the top floor accommodates office space and guests.

The Tennessean Million Dollar Homes column featured Richard Courtney's listing at 3605 Hoods Hill Road. This storybook, English stone cottage is tucked away on a secluded street in the heart of Green Hills. Built in 1940 by the Buford Jennings (lumber) family, this charming home is well-constructed with Harpeth River stone, beautiful hardwoods and divided-light, iron windows. The house was thoughtfully renovated to offer the latest amenities yet preserve important, original features. Old and new blend beautifully to provide spacious, open living with formal living and dining rooms, a beautiful kitchen, a large owner's suite with a luxury bath, and an enormous sunroom/family room addition. Step outside for treehouse entertaining, where a series of adjoining decks, set among spectacular maples, overlook the perennial gardens. A walking path through the garden leads to an added treasure — a detached studio/office with a large sauna. Serenity!

The Tennessean Million Dollar Homes column featured Richard Courtney's listing at 3606 Hampton Avenue. This beautifully renovated home features light-filled rooms, lovely architectural details and hardwoods throughout. Abundant entertaining space includes formal living and dining rooms that flow to an open kitchen, large family room, cozy gathering room and sunroom. Step into the gorgeous screened porch with a large wood-burning fireplace for year-round enjoyment. Homeowners will appreciate the completely updated, first-floor owners' suite with an elegant new bath featuring dual vanities and heated marble floors. Outside, a flagstone patio leads from the gated backyard entrance to a fire pit and seating area — the perfect spot to enjoy conversation and a view of the manicured yard.

The Tennessean Million Dollar Homes column featured Richard Courtney's listing at 2708 Valley Brook Place. A rare find in Green Hills, this beautiful, traditional home is only five years old, yet reflects the timeless charm of the neighborhood with high ceilings, fine finishes and quality craftsmanship. Perhaps even rarer is the privacy offered by the one-plus-acre lot with numerous, mature trees and extensive landscaping. The five-bedroom, five-and-two-half-bath residence is spacious and light-filled and offers ample room for family and guests — from the large, professional kitchen to the enormous bonus room. Indoor-outdoor living and entertaining is a breeze, with French doors opening from the living room and breakfast room to the stunning, screened-in porch and adjacent landscaped patio, all with stunning views of the secluded backyard.

REALTOR Magazine reports on successful strategies to market high-end listings and features commentary and examples from Richard Courtney. Excerpt: Richard Courtney, broker and co-owner of Christianson Patterson Courtney & Associates in Nashville, Tenn., recently hosted a Frank Sinatra-themed open house at one of his listings. He calls the house a "mid-century time capsule" -- the perfect setting for such an event. He hired two entertainers who performed music by Sinatra and Keely Smith while martinis and hors d'oeuvres were served to the guests. Courtney says they spent approximately $2,000 on the evening. "In marketing, I always try to surprise people with something they're not accustomed to," he says. Courtney's clientele consists of Nashville producers, writers, and other music industry employees.

In the Sunday Tennessean, writer Bill Lewis revealed what luxury home buyers expect when they pay millions for a home -- plenty of room for living, but with rooms that fit the way they live. The article features a luxury "smart home" listed by Richard Courtney that combines beauty, function and sustainability. The custom Rogan Allen Builder home includes expansive rooms with custom-made furnishings, an infinity pool, two outdoor kitchens, three expansive covered porches, a cistern for watering the lush landscaping, and much more.

[Richard's] favorite painting is a photograph. It is an image created by German photographer Astrid Kirchherr taken in Hamburg, Germany, in the art studio of her fiance Stuart Sutcliffe. The subjects of the photograph are members of Stuarts rock and roll band that had come to Hamburg two years prior, in 1960, having been unable to find work in Liverpool, England. This band called themselves the Beatles and were a rough, unpolished, crude lot upon their arrival. The group consisted of Stuart Sutcliffe, Pete Best, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and a 17-year-old George Harrison.

The National Association of Realtors has appointed Richard Courtney federal political coordinator for Rep. Jim Cooper, announced Steve Harding, executive vice president for the Tennessee Association of Realtors®. The TAR nominated Courtney for this volunteer leadership position.

The Tennessee Association of Realtors (TAR) is proud to announce Nashville Realtor Richard Courtney as 2013-2014 Division Vice President of the Tennessee Association of Realtors, representing the middle region of the state. Courtney was elected and installed at the state association's 93rd annual convention held recently in Kingsport.

Real estate veterans Ellen Christianson, Tommy Patterson and Richard Courtney have formed the residential real estate company of Christianson Patterson Courtney & Associates, announced Ellen Christianson, principal broker. Patterson will serve as managing broker and Courtney as director of sales. The three principals are joined by 27 Realtors and four office management professionals, all previously with French Christianson Patterson & Associates.