"There's a difference between having insurance and truly being made whole." — Preston Akers

Insurance is no longer an afterthought in real estate transactions — it has become one of the most important parts of protecting a property investment.

In this informative episode of the Real Estate Mail Bag, the hosts sit down with Preston Stroop of Lockeland Insurance Advisors, Preston Akers, Vice President of Centennial Roofing, and Dori Howarth, sales and project manager at Centennial Roofing with a background in public adjusting, to discuss the rapidly evolving property insurance landscape and what homeowners and real estate professionals need to understand right now.

The conversation explores rising homeowners' insurance costs, how market changes are impacting buyers and existing homeowners, and why understanding policy details matters more than ever. The group also breaks down the three primary types of homeowners' coverage, common misconceptions about policies, and the critical difference between simply "having insurance" and having the right protection when disaster strikes.

Listeners will also learn:
• Why carrier selection matters more than many people realize
• What public adjusters do and when they can be invaluable advocates
• The biggest mistakes homeowners make during the claims process
• What insurance carriers evaluate during underwriting
• Practical ways to secure stronger coverage at competitive pricing

Whether you are a homeowner, investor, Realtor, developer, or industry professional, this episode offers practical insight into one of the fastest-changing and most important aspects of property ownership today.

"When it comes to real estate specifically, the biggest thing, of course, is title—making sure you have clean title and making sure you know who owns the property." — Blaine Smith

What happens to real property when an owner dies? And how can something as simple as omitted language in a will derail a real estate closing?

In this intellectually rich but highly practical episode of the Real Estate Mail Bag, we sit down with prominent Nashville trusts and estates attorney Blaine Smith of Bass, Berry & Sims to unpack the estate planning issues that most often surface in real estate transactions. Blaine works with high-net-worth individuals on estate planning, estate administration, and related legal issues, and he regularly advises trustees, executors, and beneficiaries on probate and fiduciary matters.

In our conversation, Blaine explains how title controls what happens to property at death, why Tennessee law can create unexpected complications for heirs, and what language in a will can empower an executor to sign documents and keep a transaction moving. We also discuss common pitfalls involving trusts, joint ownership, and out-of-state property, along with the tax consequences that can arise when someone tries to avoid probate by simply adding another person to a deed.

Whether you are a real estate professional, homeowner, or attorney, this episode offers practical guidance on how proactive planning can protect estates, reduce delays, and bring clarity to complicated transactions. If you have ever wondered whether a trust makes sense for holding title to real property, this is an episode you will not want to miss.

"As an appraiser, I feel like I'm a little bit of a private investigator—just for properties."
— Joe Pat McGuigan

Nashville has been called a "supernova city," and rapid growth means property values are constantly changing—but not always in the same way, or at the same pace.

In this episode of the Real Estate Mailbag Podcast, hosts Angie Lawless, Brandon Miller, and Steve Morris sit down with Joe Pat and Kevin McGuigan of McGuigan & Associates, two of Nashville's most respected appraisers. Specializing in residential and commercial real estate, these brothers break down how appraisals really work, why comps still matter, where algorithms fall short, and how human judgment continues to shape value in a fast-moving market.

They also share insights on current Nashville market conditions, emerging trends, and how appraisers can be powerful—and often underutilized—resources for real estate professionals.

If you've ever wondered why a property is worth more (or less) than a Zestimate—or want to better navigate the appraisal process—this episode is for you.