The average price on this month’s list, about $2.3 million, is a bit higher than usual, but that’s likely more a reflection of this month’s top-heavy nature than an indicator of any trend.

Two $3 million sales are rare enough, but both were capped by a $5.3 million eye-popper by some mysterious purchaser.

The now common new builds make appearances again — this time in the form of pre-sales not due for delivery until the fall. In addition, someone wants to live near the governor by moving into a house built with a fortune made on light consumer durables.

As always, we offer the Top 10 home sales, ranked by price, for January in Nashville and surrounding counties:

 

1. 39 Bancroft, Nashville 37215

Buyer: Allen Lentz, trustee for unnamed trust
Sale price: $5.3 million
Sellers: Jason and Elizabeth Sheer
Sellers’ and buyer’s agent: Richard B. French, French Christianson Patterson

Tin Roof owner Jason Sheer sold his palatial Bancroft estate, one of the priciest homes on the market in some time. Coming in at nearly 20,000 square feet on 8.5 acres, the home has a kitchen that features, for some reason, four ovens.

No one’s talking on the potential buyer. Lentz represents a number of health care interests, but is also a respected real estate attorney.

 

2. 1636 Whispering Hills Drive, Franklin 37069

Buyer: Larry Beckwith
Sale price: $3.42 million
Sellers: James A. and Barbara C. Meystedt
Sellers’ agent: Laura Baugh, Worth Properties
Buyer’s agent: John Lott, Main Street Real Estate

Eco-Energy CEO Larry Beckwith buys this three-year-old Laurelbrooke home from Jim Meystedt, a former president of Edgcomb Metals and the local franchisee of Paul Davis Restoration.

The European-style, 13,000-square-foot home sits on four private acres in the already private Laurelbrooke subdivision. The listing also lauds the home’s green certifications, but doesn’t flesh out what they mean.

But, hey, an infinity pool!

 

3. 874 Curtiswood, Oak Hill 37204

Buyer: Jeffrey Mobley, trustee for 874 South Curtiswood Lane Trust
Sale price: $3.3 million
Sellers: Thomas and Toni Oreck
Sellers’ agent: Richard B. French, French Christianson Patterson
Buyer’s agent: Jeanette Nelson, Parks Properties

Who wants to live by the governor? We may never know, as they’ve hidden their identity behind a trust. The Orecks — yes, those Orecks, of vacuum fame — had their Curtiswood home on the market for more than nine months. Built in 1935, it features a nearly 10,000-square-foot main house (pictured above), plus 1,700 square feet in the guest house.

Whoever it was, they got a great deal. Originally listed at nearly $4 million — the listing said even that was “$2 million below cost and renovation” — it sold for $3.3 million.

 

4. 811 Lynnbrook Road, Nashville 37215

Buyers: Paul and Barbara Hagood
Sale price: $2.3 million
Sellers: Philip and Barbara Templeton
Sellers’ agent: Vicki Marchetti, Fridrich & Clark Realty
Buyers’ agent: Louis Belote, Fridrich & Clark Realty

Quick sale here. No official days on market listed, and during that vast time span, the price came down $99,000.

The Hagoods get a relatively new home — just three years old — and the Templetons make a pretty penny on their investment. They paid just $550,000 for the land, and a mortgage shows the building loan was even less than the final sale price.

 

5. 450 Cotton Lane, Franklin 37069

Buyer: David Cox, trustee for Family Trust MMXII
Sale price: $2 million
Seller: Douglas Durr
Seller’s and buyer’s agent: Louis Belote, Fridrich & Clark Realty

These trustees are getting better with their naming. Roman numerals? What does it mean? A Super Bowl champion? An antiquarian? It’s probably best not to speculate.

For what it’s worth, Durr is a self-storage magnate in Middle Tennessee. He is the owner of Nashville Space Center, which has nothing to do with rockets and everything to do with putting all your junk in one convenient location.

 

6. 1504 Cedar Lane, Nashville 37212

Buyers: Jason and
Elizabeth Sheer
Sale price: $1.51 million
Sellers: Josh and Susan Tyler
Sellers’ and buyers’ agent: Richard B. French, French Christianson Patterson

The Sheers return, making the rare double appearance on the august list.

After moving out of their $5 million-plus Bancroft mansion, they move into something with a little character: a spacious 1920 bungalow in 12South. The home was the 2011 winner of the Metro Historical Commission’s preservation award.

 

7. 4409 Warner Place, Belle Meade 37205

Buyers: Michael and Catherine Hayes
Sale price: $1.5 million
Sellers: Jason D. and Mary Hickey via National Residential Nominee Services
Sellers’ agent: Tim King, French Christianson Patterson
Buyers’ agent: National Residential Nominee Services

C.B. Ragland vice president and SoBro futurist Michael Hayes moves to Belle Meade with this purchase.

It was formerly the home of managed-care whiz kid Jason Hickey, who worked with ex-Gov. Phil Bredesen in the private and public sectors before taking a job with Blue Cross Blue Shield. National Residential is a firm hired to handle home sales for corporate relocations.

 

8. 9307 Exton Lane, Brentwood 37027

Buyers: Steven and Sheila Priest
Sale price: $1.45 million
Seller: Grove Park Construction
Seller’s and buyers’ agent: Susan Gregory, Bob Parks Realty

A new home for Steven Priest — dialysis center operator DaVita’s senior vice president.

This one goes in as a pre-sale. The home itself — slated for 6,700 square feet with a pool and all the amenities that come along with living in Annandale — will be completed in mid-September.

 

9. 1507 Kimberleigh Court, Franklin 37069

Buyers: Thomas W. and Lesley K. Nabors
Sale price: $1,287,500
Sellers: Bruce and Susan Bittles
Sellers’ agent: Bill E. Henson Jr., SilverPointe Properties
Buyers’ agent: Joel Seals, Century 21 Lakes, Land & Auction

Thomas Nabors is a Nashville dentist, and he found a house with more nooks and crannies than even the most crowded mouth.

The home features a “clever butler’s door … to transfer goods from the garage directly into the kitchen” and “three secret compartments behind bookcases.” Not sure why a dentist would need all those hiding places.

Bruce Bittles is one of the top investment strategists at Robert W. Baird.

 

10. 9255 Carrisbrook Lane, Brentwood 37027

Buyers: Sean and Lisa Whelan
Sale price: $1,249,052
Seller: Legends Homes
Seller’s and buyers’ agent: Sarah A. Kilgore, Pilkerton Realtors

Another pre-sale on a new build. The Whelans’ new home will be ready in early August and comes in at 6,775 square feet.

Sean Whelan is the CFO of mega-law firm Pillsbury and is relocating to Nashville ahead of the firm’s expansion into Music City.