Kirk Herbstreit lives in Franklin, Tennessee, an affluent suburb roughly 40 minutes south of Nashville. His home sits inside LaurelBrooke, one of the most exclusive gated communities in the greater Nashville area. The property, purchased in 2013 for approximately $3.3 million, has since appreciated to an estimated $6.1 million. But the story of how he got there involves a controlled burn, an IRS dispute, and a departure from Ohio that made national headlines.
As someone who has spent over a decade evaluating luxury residential properties, I find Herbstreit’s real estate timeline uniquely revealing. Every home tells a story about its owner’s priorities, and each property reflects a distinct chapter of his career and family life.
Quick Facts About Kirk Herbstreit’s House
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Current Residence | Franklin, Tennessee (Nashville metro) |
| Neighborhood | LaurelBrooke, a gated luxury subdivision |
| Home Size | Approximately 11,000 square feet |
| Bedrooms / Bathrooms | 6 bedrooms, 8.5 bathrooms |
| Estimated Current Value | Approximately $6.1 million |
| Purchase Price (2013) | Approximately $3.3 million |
| Year Built | 2007 |
| Lot Size | Approximately 1.2 acres |
| Previous Residence | Upper Arlington, Columbus, Ohio |
| Spouse | Alison Herbstreit |
| Children | Jake, Tye, Zak, and Chase Herbstreit |
The Ohio Years: A Custom Estate and an Unforgettable Departure
Herbstreit’s Upper Arlington Home
Before relocating to Tennessee, Kirk and Alison Herbstreit lived in Upper Arlington, an affluent suburb of Columbus, Ohio. Their home at 2321 Onandaga Drive was a substantial 9,686-square-foot property featuring seven bedrooms, seven and a half bathrooms, an outdoor basketball court, and a dedicated theater room. The home was listed at $3.75 million after the family decided to move in 2011.
The Controlled Burn That Made National News
Years before listing the property, the Herbstreits made headlines for a highly unusual real estate decision. In 2004, they donated their previous home on the same Onandaga Drive property to the Upper Arlington Fire Division for a controlled burn training exercise. The fire department used the structure for live fire drills, a practice that provides invaluable hands-on experience for firefighters. Herbstreit retained the land itself and later built the larger custom home on the same lot.
What turned this into a national story was the tax deduction that followed. Kirk and Alison claimed a $330,000 charitable deduction for the donated structure. The IRS rejected the deduction after an audit, resulting in approximately $134,606 in back taxes and interest. Herbstreit sued the IRS in 2009, but a federal judge in Columbus ultimately ruled that homeowners could not claim charitable deductions for structures donated to fire departments for training burns. This case became a cited reference in tax law discussions about the limits of charitable contributions involving partial property donations.
Why Kirk Herbstreit Left Ohio for Tennessee
In March 2011, Herbstreit confirmed to Bob Hunter of the Columbus Dispatch that he was moving his family from Ohio to Nashville, Tennessee. The reason was the relentless criticism and harassment from what he described as a vocal minority of Ohio State fans who felt he was not sufficiently biased toward his alma mater during his ESPN College GameDay broadcasts.
Herbstreit, a former Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback, had been a target of fan frustration for years. The harassment extended beyond social media into his personal life, making the family’s Ohio residence feel untenable. His statements to the Dispatch were direct: the constant pressure from a segment of the fanbase was the catalyst for the move. This relocation is a striking example of how public-facing careers can impact residential choices in ways that have nothing to do with property preferences. The Herbstreits did not leave Ohio because they found a better house in Tennessee. They left because the social environment had become hostile.
Inside the Kirk Herbstreit House in Franklin, Tennessee
Location and Community
The Herbstreit home is located in LaurelBrooke, a gated luxury subdivision in Franklin, Tennessee. Franklin sits within the greater Nashville metropolitan area and has become one of the most sought-after residential corridors in the Southeast. LaurelBrooke is known for its privacy, mature landscaping, and concentration of high-value properties, making it a natural choice for public figures seeking both security and community prestige.
Franklin’s real estate market has seen substantial appreciation. Tennessee’s lack of state income tax, proximity to Nashville’s business corridors, and excellent schools have driven consistent demand. Herbstreit’s purchase at approximately $3.3 million and the current estimated value of $6.1 million reflect this broader trend, which has particularly benefited luxury properties in gated communities.
Property Specifications and Design
The estate spans approximately 11,000 square feet across multiple levels on a 1.2-acre lot. It features six bedrooms, 8.5 bathrooms, and was constructed in 2007. Key elements include a grand three-story curved staircase as the visual centerpiece, a residential elevator, a state-of-the-art home theater, a home gym, and a swimming pool with outdoor living spaces.
The 8.5-bathroom count for a six-bedroom home is notable. In luxury residential design, a bathroom-to-bedroom ratio exceeding 1:1 signals the home was built with guest accommodation and lifestyle flexibility in mind. For a family of six with frequent visitors from the sports media world, this ratio is both functional and intentional.
The three-story curved staircase is a signature element that signals the home’s pedigree. Curved staircases require significantly more structural engineering and skilled craftsmanship than straight runs. The builder allocated premium square footage to a feature that serves an aesthetic purpose rather than a purely functional one, a hallmark of Southern luxury residential architecture.
The home reflects traditional Southern architecture consistent with LaurelBrooke: brick or stone exteriors, symmetrical facades, gabled roofs, and generous porches. Inside, expect high ceilings, crown molding, hardwood floors, and open-concept living areas. Homes built in this style during the 2006 to 2008 period in Nashville frequently used structural brick veneer with manufactured stone accents, solid wood casings, and coffered ceilings that age well when maintained.
The Cincinnati Chapter: Splitting Time for Family
While Franklin remains the family’s primary residence, Kirk Herbstreit also spent time in Cincinnati, Ohio during recent years. This was not a permanent relocation. Herbstreit temporarily rented in Cincinnati to support his youngest son, Chase, during Chase’s high school football career at St. Xavier High School, a perennial Ohio football powerhouse.
Chase Herbstreit transferred from Nashville to Cincinnati as a ninth grader and eventually became the starting quarterback at St. Xavier. In December 2024, he committed to play college football at the University of Michigan, a decision that generated significant attention given his father’s Ohio State legacy. As of recent reports, Herbstreit has returned to Nashville full-time now that Chase has moved on to his college career.
This temporary arrangement illustrates a common pattern among families with elite young athletes: maintaining a primary residence while renting near a training hub. Renting was the financially sound approach for a temporary need.
How His Sons Shaped Where He Lives
Kirk and Alison Herbstreit’s four sons have been the driving force behind nearly every residential decision the family has made. Jake and Tye Herbstreit (twins) attended Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville and both walked on at Clemson University. Zak Herbstreit also attended Montgomery Bell Academy before walking on as a tight end at Ohio State, where he was part of the 2025 national championship team. Chase Herbstreit moved to Cincinnati to play quarterback at St. Xavier High School, then committed to the University of Michigan.
The Nashville location was strategic when three of the four sons attended Montgomery Bell Academy, one of Tennessee’s premier private schools. The school’s proximity to the family’s Franklin home made daily logistics manageable even with Herbstreit’s demanding travel schedule for ESPN College GameDay and Amazon Prime’s Thursday Night Football.
Career Demands and Strategic Home Bases
Herbstreit’s professional schedule is one of the most demanding in sports media. During college football season, he travels every weekend for College GameDay, then calls ABC’s Saturday Night Football game. Midweek, he broadcasts Amazon Prime’s Thursday Night Football. This routine requires reliable airport access, which Nashville’s BNA International Airport provides exceptionally well. The Franklin location is approximately 40 minutes from downtown Nashville and even closer to airport access via Interstate 65, a practical advantage often overlooked in celebrity home coverage.
As of recent reports, Herbstreit’s contracts with both ESPN and Amazon are set to expire after the 2026-27 football season. Any changes in his broadcast responsibilities could influence future residential decisions, though Franklin has served the family well for over a decade.
Value Assessment: How the Property Has Performed
The Herbstreit home’s appreciation from roughly $3.3 million in 2013 to an estimated $6.1 million represents an approximate 85 percent increase over thirteen years. This aligns with broader Williamson County, Tennessee trends, where median home values more than doubled between 2013 and 2025.
Several factors support this valuation. LaurelBrooke maintains strict architectural standards and lot size minimums, which protect property values. Franklin’s continued population growth sustains demand for move-in-ready luxury inventory. The home’s 11,000-square-foot scale and six-bedroom layout position it in a price tier with limited comparable supply.
From an investment perspective, the property has performed well, but the gains are largely market-driven rather than improvement-driven. Homes in this segment that retain their original 2007-era finishes may face renovation expectations from future buyers, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms where design preferences shift over a fifteen-year span.
