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MRK LOCALLY KNOWN INTERNATIONALLY CONNECTED
onwrd
Real Estate
A Complete Relocation Guide  ◆  Franklin, Tennessee

Your New Life
Begins Here

Where Southern warmth meets clinical precision. A guide built from twenty years of daily life in Middle Tennessee's most sought-after address.

20Years in Franklin
Relocated Personally
0%State Income Tax
No. 1TN School District
Educate  ◆  Advocate  ◆  Navigate
Your Guide Has Lived This

I Have Been Exactly
Where You Are

I moved to Franklin in 2006 as a corporate relocation client, three times over, with no family nearby, two young children, and a husband who traveled four days a week. I know what breaks down in this process because I lived every version of it.


Before real estate, I was the Administrator of the Division of Cardiology at Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan. That world taught me to treat every detail as if someone's health or life depended on it. I brought that same standard to every transaction I have handled since returning to real estate in 2021.


I am a solo practitioner by deliberate choice. One expert. One relationship. One phone number from first conversation to closing table. No handoffs. No assistants who do not know your file.

Educate. Advocate. Navigate.  ◆  "Cream always rises. It always does."

20Years in Franklin
Relocated Myself
$1M+Avg Transaction
ABRLRS Certified
Manjiri Rao-Kostas, Affiliate Broker, Onward Real Estate, Franklin TN
MRK
Manjiri Rao-Kostas
ABR, LRS  |  Affiliate Broker, Onward Real Estate  |  Franklin, TN
Where You Will Live

Franklin's Most Sought-After Communities

Two decades of daily life here means I know each community from personal experience, not a data sheet. These are the neighborhoods where my clients most often find their place.

01
Historic District
Downtown Franklin
Main Street with Victorian architecture, independent restaurants, boutiques, live music, and a genuine farmers market. A walkable daily life that actually delivers on the promise, paired with some of the most distinctive homes in all of Middle Tennessee.
Architecture spanning Cape Cod, Colonial, and Greek Revival styles. Proximity to Civil War history, arts, and the full pulse of Franklin's community calendar. Properties here appreciate steadily and rarely stay available long.
From $1.2M – $3.5M+
02
Planned Village
Westhaven
A village-style community built around walkability and neighborhood life. Town center with shops and dining, a packed community events calendar, and a 15,000 sq. ft. Residents Club at its center. The kind of neighborhood where front porches are actually used.
Housing types from single-family homes to townhomes, condos, and a 55+ enclave. Golf and pool access. Well-positioned for the commute to Nashville and Franklin's corporate corridor.
From $700K – $2.5M+
03
Established Family Community
Fieldstone Farms
Franklin's largest established neighborhood — more than 2,000 homes, generous green space, and a swim and tennis club that anchors community social life. Multi-generational and welcoming, with strong school district assignment throughout.
Includes a gated enclave and a 55-plus community. Homes range from accessible family-sized options to estates near 6,700 sq. ft. One of Franklin's best value propositions for the breadth of amenities offered.
From $550K – $1.8M
04
Luxury Enclave
LaurelBrooke & Hidden River
Franklin's most private and prestigious addresses. Gated, guarded, surrounded by natural landscape. Where executives, physicians, and serious investors settle when they are ready to stop looking. Properties here rarely reach public listing sites.
Custom-built estates, off-market opportunities, and a level of privacy the broader market cannot deliver. Two decades of local relationships give my clients access that public search does not surface.
From $2M – $8M+
05
Pastoral & Rural
Leiper's Fork
For those who want land, quiet, and the pastoral character of old Tennessee without sacrificing access to Franklin. An artistic and creative community that has attracted some of the region's most interesting residents. An address that rewards patience.
Horse properties, farmland, and custom builds on genuine acreage. Roughly 15–20 minutes from downtown Franklin. The kind of address that holds its value because nothing else quite replicates it.
From $1.5M – $10M+
06
Golf Community
Forrest Crossing
A 650-home neighborhood centered on Franklin Bridge Golf Club, with a clubhouse, pool, and tennis and pickleball courts built into the fabric of daily life. Green space throughout and a community feel that makes recreational living genuinely convenient.
Homes from 1,200 sq. ft. upward, many built in the 1990s–2000s. A well-positioned entry into Franklin for buyers whose priority is the golf and recreation lifestyle at a more accessible price point.
From $450K – $900K
For Your Family

Williamson County Schools

Williamson County Schools consistently rank among Tennessee's top-performing districts — high graduation rates, extensive AP course offerings, and strong college placement. For relocating families, this is often the deciding factor. It should be.

No. 1
Williamson County Schools
Public School District
Tennessee's consistently top-ranked public district. High graduation rates, extensive AP course offerings, and strong college placement across every high school in the system.
K–8
Elementary & Middle Schools
Zoned Public Schools
Multiple strong options throughout Franklin. School zoning is neighborhood-specific — and one of the most consequential factors I walk every relocating family through before we ever pull a listing.
9–12
Franklin & Independence High
Public High Schools
Both offer robust academic programs, competitive athletics, and active arts departments. Choosing between them often comes down to zoning and specific program priorities — a conversation worth having early in your search.
K–12
Battle Ground Academy
Independent Private
Franklin's most established independent school. College prep curriculum, strong academic reputation, and an alumni network deeply embedded in Middle Tennessee's professional community.
K–12
Montessori & Faith-Based
Private & Supplemental
Williamson County offers Montessori, classical, and faith-based private options at every level. Worth exploring based on your family's educational philosophy and where you see your children thriving.
Note
What I Tell Every Family First
From Your Advisor
Choose your neighborhood after you understand the school zoning map, not before. I walk every family through this before we look at a single listing. The right house in the wrong zone could mean years of difficulty nobody anticipated.
Rates Change. Markets Move. Be Informed.

New York & California vs. Franklin

The families I work with most often are making exactly this move. The numbers are compelling — but they are only part of the story.

New York Metro
State Income Tax
Up to 10.9%
Median Home Price
$750K+
Effective Property Tax
~1.7%+
What $1.5M Buys
~1,200 sq. ft.
Daily Commute
60–90 min
California (Bay Area / LA)
State Income Tax
Up to 13.3%
Median Home Price
$1.2M–$1.8M
Effective Property Tax
~1.1–1.3%
What $1.5M Buys
~1,000–1,500 sq. ft.
Daily Commute
45–90 min+
Manjiri Rao-Kostas, Affiliate Broker
onwrd
Real Estate
Manjiri Rao-Kostas
Begin the Conversation

Let's Find Your Franklin

I have been where you are standing. Three times. I know what it costs to build a life somewhere new, and I know what it looks like when it goes right. I would be genuinely honored to be part of that journey for you.

NameManjiri Rao-Kostas, ABR, LRS
TitleAffiliate Broker, Onward Real Estate
Address5000 Meridian Blvd, Ste 300
Franklin, TN 37067
LicenseTN LIC# 366387
Start the Conversation Send an Email
Your Goals. Our Guidance. Buy Strategically. Educate. Advocate. Navigate.