New Homes

There's nothing quite like that new home smell. Owning a home can be overwhelming in itself, but a new home, properly built, makes the job practically hassle-free. It's no-muss, no-fuss in terms of maintaining the actual structure, at least for quite awhile.

No matter where you live, circumstances will arise that are absolutely beyond your control, be it tornado, flood, or tidal wave, but worry not about wiring, roofing, plumbing, or leaks in a new home.

Instead of testing the outlets and checking around for nightmarish cracks in the walls of old Memphis homes, feel free to set up shop and find your favorite cozy corner.

An added bonus comes in the form of going green and saving energy where it really counts, in the place where you spend most of your time. A new home is much more adaptable to green standards, and many helpful items will come standard, such as a new, more energy-efficient furnace and hot water system. Properly fitted windows also minimize heating and cooling costs right away, while modern insulation in the attic and walls will add to comfort as well as energy-efficiency.

The materials used to build and insulate new homes are a vast improvement over the asbestos from days of yore. Removing and then replacing hazardous materials is quite costly and dangerous. Toxic matter be gone! Your family can rest assured that no health problems will arise from old-fashioned ideas.

Plus, amazing technological advances have made it so that modern appliances can all be utilized by remote! Raise the blinds, start a bath, and make a smoothie all with a (perhaps rather complex) touch of a button, just like on MTV's Cribs. Sure, robots won't bring you breakfast, and we still aren't up to The Jetsons' level quite yet. All jesting aside, the incredible self-sufficiency of a new home is exactly what makes it an ideal prospect. New appliances help to streamline your resources and make your life that much easier.

There's always the option to build it from the ground up. If that's the case, you can craft a veritable Barbie Dream House, budget permitting. Put those creative juices to the ultimate test, showing the world and especially your community the way you prefer to live, in the modern age.

— Ashley Johnston

Old Homes

I bought my first house four years ago, and there was never, ever a doubt in my mind that I was going to live in a historic home.

Okay, so "historic" might sound a bit grand for the 1920s mission-style house I fell in love with on first sight. Let's just say it's old. As far as I know, no presidents or world-changing events occurred within my cracked plaster walls. But that doesn't mean there's not plenty of untold history there.

I can't tell you how many times growing up I heard my elders disgustedly discarding many "modern" items with an insouciant flip of the hand, sniffing, " 'They just don't make 'em like they used to."

I get it now.

When my house was built, each part was created by craftsmen who honed their skills in individual aspects of home building, whether it was plastering, creating leaded or stained glass, woodworking, or building fireplaces. The result? A one-of-a-kind home that can't be replicated, not some cookie-cutter that could be Anywhere, USA. There are some things that I demand be new and untouched when I get them (underpants, for example, or entrees). A house isn't one of them.

My "media room" consists of a floor-to-10-foot ceiling built-in bookshelf. My tub doesn't have jet faucets sending out soothing streams of water pressure, but it does have beautiful ivory handles that you just don't see anymore. And the trees and landscaping? You can't buy old growth for any amount of money.

Don't get me wrong, I've seen my fair share of gorgeous new homes, slick and shiny and decked out with the latest-and-greatest amenities, and I'd be lying if I said that as I lugged out the toolbox to undertake yet another repair my 90-year-old home required, I didn't fleetingly wish that I had a newly built dwelling once or twice. But for almost a century, my home has weathered the elements, and though the old gal's showing some wear, she's still plenty solid. Sure, she's timeworn, but also time-tested. Heck, same can be said for me.

With an old house, you can have the best of both worlds. You can upgrade or add any new gadget you'd like to help modernize your historic home, while still getting the benefits of old-world craftsmanship. Old? I'm sold.

— Mary Helen Randall

By the Numbers

1971 — Year that Elvis Presley Blvd. was dedicated, on June 29th

1982 — Year Graceland opened to the public, on June 7th

27,000 — Number of people who live in downtown Memphis

65,000 — Number of people who work downtown

12 — Percentage of Greater Memphis Area businesses located downtown

35 or older — Average age of downtown residents

June 2nd — Annual Bubba Day, honoring everyone named Bubba. And really, isn't it about time?

June 22nd — National Chocolate Eclair Day

6 — Number of shows presented at this year's Live at the Garden series, beginning June 5th

1910 — Year of first (unofficial) Father's Day celebration, held in Spokane, Washington.

7 – Number that Alice Cooper's first major hit single, "School's Out" reached on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart

27 – Day Bananarama released "Cruel Summer" in June 1983

1972 — Year Father's Day became an official national holiday

18 — Number of chart-topping songs performed by Diana Ross

12 — Number of those songs Ross performed as a member of The Supremes

2 — Number of PGA titles won by Brian Gay before he took the 2009 St. Jude Classic

21 — Number of years the Memphis PGA tournament has been played at TPC Southwind