Meet Nathan: He Wants to Buy Your East Nashville House

These days in Nashville’s most sought-after neighborhoods, nearly every offer is accompanied by a personal letter from a potential buyer about why the homeowner should choose to sell. 

Realtor Zelda Sheldon has left a thousand letters on East Nashville doorsteps describing her client, house-hunter Nathan — a young doctor wanting to adopt a rescue dog. He’s a qualified buyer ready to close in 28 days.

Some people think the letter is a joke, just a ploy to get more listings. But Nathan Rock is a very real buyer, who enjoys the neighborhood’s walkability and proximity to Shelby Park. And, as the letter says, he’s narrowly missed out on some East Nashville properties.

“The way things are moving so quickly is really challenging, and so some days are frustrating,” Rock tells WPLN. “But I do feel like something is going to come along eventually and it will be the right thing.”

This isn’t just a problem for Rock and his realtor. Realtor Mark Kiker has created his own 1950s-themed advertisement, inviting people to list their homes and saying that he will be there for his clients through every step. He says this is especially important now, when inventory is so low that buying and selling a house is a very intimate process.

“Home buying has become a very personal thing,” he says. “I think it’s the HGTV generation, where your home is more than four walls and a ceiling. Your home is an expression of yourself.”

Kiker says that without forming these personal relationships, the hurdle is greater for making a deal. So homeowners, expect more letters on your doorsteps.

The area’s official home sales report for June is set to be released this week.