NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Considering all the negative reports about the mortgage crisis and housing slump, some people may be a little scared to put their house on the market.

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But financial expert Dave Ramsey said the numbers can be deceiving and that the outlook in Tennessee is far from bleak.

"We're in a really good economy here in Nashville," he said.

Ramsey said Nashville is not part of the national trend.

"The deal is if you take Florida, California, Michigan, Las Vegas and Phoenix out of the numbers, we have a fairly flat to growing real estate market, and the foreclosure numbers aren't alarming at all," he said.

In fact, many homes are appreciating at a competitive rate.

And if you want to sell, Ramsey said, don't be afraid.

"Be sure that you go head and live your life well. A good friend of mine put his house on the market in Nashville two weeks ago, and it sold in three days. Lots of people are doing it. It's a fairly vibrant (market) right now if you're buying or selling. It's hard to steal something in Nashville real estate-wise right now," he said.

According to recent statistics, home sales are up by about 4 percent in middle Tennessee while some places in the rest of the country are down by about 20 percent.