The Smokies Come To Life With Spring Just Around The Corner

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Spring Wildflowers In The SmokiesThe Great Smoky Mountains offer their own beauty in every season but it is always thrilling to watch as spring approaches and gains steam transforming the mountains with new life, increased wildlife activity, the blooming of flowers and the budding of trees. There are numerous reasons to plan a visit during spring, with a multitude of festivals, activities and workshops. Today registration opened for the 63rd Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage. The 5 day event in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be held from April 23rd-27th this year and fills up quick. Let’s take a look at a few of the offerings and reasons to register now. It’s an event not to miss if you love the Smokies.

All 5 days are packed with activity. Most programs are held outdoors in the park with some classes and seminars being held at various indoor venues in Gatlinburg. This year’s program will offer 146 professionally guided walks and presentations allowing participants the opportunity explore the region’s flowers, fauna and natural history.  Many walks offer the chance to explore the back country, led by seasoned hikers. For those of you who have photography as a hobby, you are invited to enter the photography competition as well. The competition includes categories for flora, fauna and landscape. Winners will be chosen by votes of those registered for the pilgrimage and an awards ceremony will be held. Just looking to improve your photography skills? A beginner’s photography workshop will be offered with outdoor, hands-on instruction.

In recognition of the 175th anniversary of the Trail of Tears, Wednesday’s indoor events focus on Cherokee culture. There will be talks about the Trail of Tears, Cherokee Culture After The Trail and Cherokee plant lore. Prefer an outdoor experience while learning more about the Cherokee? Join Native American, Karen LaMere at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic area on Wednesday morning for “Native People’s Use Of Nature’s Garden” and listen to a history that has been passed down through the generations as well as taste and learn uses of native plants gathered from nature. Davy Arch, a Cherokee woodcarver and storyteller will also lecture on Cherokee culture and demonstrate carving, mask making and more. His presentation is a great time to learn how plants played a part in Cherokee arts all the way back to the ice age.

If you are a seasoned hiker you are sure to enjoy one of the longer, more strenuous hikes. A Wildflower Hike along Ramsey Cascades Trail will allow you to see a diverse range of wildflowers as you walk through one of the old-growth forests up to the 100′ falls. Looking for a beautiful but easier hike? Take the opportunity to walk the Noah “Bud” Ogle Trail and see many different wildflowers and American chestnut tree remnants in the fields of the homestead. Interested in the wildlife in the mountains? Join David Whitehead, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Manager as he describes the history, tracking signs, human impact and environmental issues of the areas black bears and wild hogs while enjoying a 2-3 mile easy walk at Little River Trail head.

This is just a very small sample of the wide variety of events and opportunities offered at the event this year. There is something for everyone who is interested in spending more time on the trail and learning more about the area’s heritage and the Smoky Mountains. You may download a full event schedule, register and more at the official event website.

The mountains offer year round beauty, events and chances to get closer to nature. One of the ways to make it easy to spend as much time as possible surrounded by the majesty of the mountains is to purchase an investment property or Smoky Mountain home away from home. The market is busy with homes moving at a steady pace but there are plenty of great opportunities available. Spend some time at our website searching and we are certain you will find your perfect Smoky Mountain get away.

Here Are A Few Of My Featured Listings:

Enjoy Resort Living In The Mountains Great rental income: 2012 – $32,195 & 2011- $24,226.Private three bedroom, three bath log cabin with great mountain views from three decks. Type: Single Family Home Location: Pigeon Forge Price: $299,900 Get more information >
This One Has It All Conveniently located cabin consistently produces over $40,000 in annual rental income! Just minutes to Pigeon Forge and Dollwood. Type: Single Family Home Location: Pigeon Forge Price: $199,900 Get more information >
Gone With The Wind Almost $22k in rental for the first 10 months of 2012!! If you have dreamed of having a luxury chalet on top of the mountain with sweeping views of the valley, city and mountains then you have to look at this one. Type: Single Family Home Location: Chalet Village Price: $299,900 Get more information >

 

The Smoky Mountain Real Estate Market Is Taking Off In 2013

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The Road To RecoveryThe first month of 2013 has started with positive numbers and great news. As we look at the statistical numbers we see a whirlwind of activity and gains toward improvement that are bigger than we have seen in quite some time. Let’s take a look.  

In the category of Total Residences Sold we have started 2013 with an overall increase of 8%. January is typically a busy month in the area for real estate but we see a trend towards increased buyer activity from recent years.

Total Homes Sold

Total Volume of real estate sold in the area was also up with an increase over the same period last year of over $1,000,000 or 8%.

Total Volume

Prices have actually remained nearly even with last year. The numbers show only a $707 difference in the Average Sold Price. This is very positive news for sellers.

Sold Price

Inventory of available homes has dropped by 10%. As buyers are more active and the above numbers improve we expect to see this number continue to decrease helping prices to remain even and start to rise.

Available Homes

As supply and demand continue to balance out we believe now is the time to consider a Smoky Mountain Purchase. Take a look at our website to view all of the available homes and get started on the road to making a great investment. We are here to help when the time is right for you.

Here Are A Few Of My Featured Listings:

87 Gently Rolling Acres Await 87 gently rolling mountain top acres with outstanding 270 degree uninterrupted panoramic views of the major peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park including Mt. Cameror, Geyot, Webb, Greenbriar, and LeConte. Type: Single Family Home Location: Gatlinburg ,Tennessee Price: $1,750,000 Get more information >
Relax By The Water Waterfront living at its finest on 7.92 acres with 365′ fronting the Holston River in Grainger County! Offering a custom home featuring many updates, privacy, scenic views, wildlife, private boat ramp & more! Type: Single Family Home Location: Grainger County Price: $667,000 Get more information >
12 Acre Mountain Retreat 12 pristine acres bordering the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with direct view of downtown Gatlinburg and surrounding mountains. Cove Mountain Trail literally touches the property line. Type: Single Family Home Location: Chalet Village Price: $799,900 Get more information >

Expect Good Things For Real Estate In 2013

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Housing Recovery2012 closed out with definite signs of continued market improvement. Reports and trends are pointing to these gains continuing this year. January has started at a fast pace for the local real estate market and in recent weeks we have experienced multiple offer situations and bidding wars on homes. When we look at January’s statistics next week we expect to see an increase in activity.

New home construction is reported to have accelerated to its highest rate since 2008. As existing inventory continues to move we believe we will see new home construction continue to rise. Other reports show that repairing and remodeling of existing homes has picked up as more owners are preparing their homes for the market spurred on by positive signs of recovery.

The Joint Center For Housing Studies at Harvard University released a 32 page report on January 23rd relating to improvement of the housing industry. The report shows that in most metropolitan markets home prices have steadily risen with new home construction climbing by almost 30% in 2012 and existing home sales passing the four million mark for the first time since 2007. As momentum builds in the market it is expected that the remodeling and home improvement industry will get a boost as well. The report goes in to depth about how and why that industry will see a flurry of activity and how it relates to the current real estate market conditions. You may download a full copy at their website.

In another report released this month they go on to say that even after the housing crash, as the market begins its recovery the dream of home ownership is alive and well in America. In one survey by Pew Charitable Trusts 81% of those surveyed agreed that buying a home is the best long term investment in the United States. Using information from the National Housing Survey data from 2010-2012, Drew and Herbert found that of both owners and renters 94% of people between the ages of 18 and 44 anticipate buying a home in the future. While having the desire to own a home is different from actually purchasing, we believe that as prices are still low as long as favorable mortgage conditions remain we will see a large number of buyers entering the market this year.

There are still many opportunities to purchase a residence or investment in the Great Smoky Mountains. As conditions improve we are seeing increases in inventory as more owners are moving forward with delayed plans to sell. We believe prices will continue to rise and now is the time for buyers to take advantage of still available deals and for sellers to consider getting a to determine if now is the time to put their home on the market. We are happy to help with achieving your 2013 real estate goals. Spend some time at and let us know when you are ready to begin exploring all that the Smoky Mountain market has to offer.

Here Are A Few Of My Featured Listings:

Gone With The Wind Almost $22k in rental for the first 10 months of 2012!! If you have dreamed of having a luxury chalet on top of the mountain with sweeping views of the valley, city and mountains then you have to look at this one. Type: Single Family Home Location: Chalet Village Price: $299,900 Get more information >
Add Your Own Touches Here is your opportunity to create a mountain getaway with your own unique style and personality. High quality materials and construction are a great jumping off point to add your finishing touches. Type: Single Family Home Location: Sevierville,TN Price: $112,500 Get more information >
Amazing Views & Unique Features This charming home offers a spectacular view and some really unique features. The living room has soaring ceilings, warm wood flooring and a unique see through fireplace with the dining area on the other side. Type: Single Family Home Location: Gatlinburg ,Tennessee Price: $208,700 Get more information >

Every Season Is A Great Time To Visit The Smokies

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Rainbow Falls 2Visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will find a different kind of beauty in every season. Let’s explore a little bit of what rewards each season in the Smokies has to offer.

Spring offers the ever changing display of wildflowers. This year the 63rd Annual Wildflower Pilgrimage will be held from April 24th through April 28th. Participants will enjoy seminars, guided tours and more. Dating back to 1951, the event offers over 150 programs with something for everyone from the serious botanist to the weekend gardener.

Summer hiking gives you the opportunity to follow a trail to a cool retreat in a mountain stream or enjoying the numerous water falls throughout the Smokies. Abrams Falls is a popular spot for hikers. At only 20 feet high it may seem inconsequential, however there is a huge volume of water rushing over the falls making it a fantastic experience. Trillium Gap Trail offers you the opportunity to stand behind the 25 foot high waterfall after wandering through old growth hemlock forest. These are just a few of the nature experiences that await summer visitors.

Fall is a favorite time of many to visit the mountains as they show off a brilliant display of color as the leaves change. The change usually spans over seven weeks with different elevations showing its unique variety of trees and colors at different times. Mid September is a great time to view colors at higher elevations from a location such as Clingman’s Dome. A hike to higher elevations such as Mt. LeConte or Andrews Bald would be sure to deliver beautiful autumn views. Early through mid October provide a wide diversity of colors as the mid and lower elevations begin to change and include many varieties of very colorful trees.

Not to be dismissed, winter in the Smokies offers it’s own kind of sparkle. With many trees bare, mountain vistas open up that are normally hidden. It is a great time to see stone walls, chimneys and snow capped mountain peaks. Not up for a winter hike? Enjoy time at Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort tubing, ice skating, snowboarding or skiing. Sevierville, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Dollywood all offer a wide variety of winter activities as their Winterfest festivals kick off. You can enjoy parades, shows, brilliant light displays and much more.

The market is picking up so far for 2013. Why not schedule a winter or spring visit, relax in a mountain cabin and take a look at a few that are ? You may just find yourself purchasing a second home in the mountains so you can easily enjoy all four seasons.

Here Are A Few Of My Featured Listings:

Rustic Log Cabin W/Amazing Views! Authentic & rustic log cabin with breathtaking mountain views. Located in desirable Chalet Village, this cabin is just minutes from Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort and downtown Gatlinburg. Type: Single Family Home Location: Chalet Village Price: $139,900 Get more information >
Updated Condo In The Mountains Perfect affordable family mountain get-away in this totally refurbished studio unit at the Gatlinburg Summit Condominiums. Updated with tasteful furnishings and decor. Type: Single Family Home Location: Chalet Village Price: $48,900 Get more information >
Money To Be Made!!! Income potential with consistent rental history. $25,737 in 2009, $26,127 in 2010 & $20,352 in 2011. Don’t miss out on all these features! Type: Single Family Home Location: Chalet Village Price: $149,900 Get more information >

 

Sevierville – A Great Place To Make Your Smoky Mountain Home

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seviervilleNamed after John Sevier, the first governor of Tennessee, Sevierville is proud to be the eighth oldest town in the state and the largest city in the county. The city boasts a Heritage Museum, located in the historic downtown area, and a one-mile Riverwalk along the banks of the Little Pigeon River.

While capturing the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape, this modern mountain town offers a diverse selection of real estate options that is sure to please even the most discerning of tastes. Once farmland, the City of Sevierville is now an urban metropolis and suburban paradise with residential properties ranging from the cozy condo to the sprawling estate.

Sevierville was founded in 1795 and later incorporated in 1901. One of the more charming aspects of the city is the Trolley system that serves the area on two trolley routes, one extending into Pigeon Forge.  Sevierville is conveniently located near I-40 and the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited park in our great nation.

Festivals abound in the eastern Tennessee mountains, and there is no better place to be than in Sevierville, with community involvement and enthusiasm showing throughout the city. A few of the festivals and events to enjoy are:

*Bloomin’ BBQ & Bluegrass Festival in May

*Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival in October

*The Annual Christmas Parade in December

*TN Smokies baseball

These are only a few of the reasons why residents love living in the great City of Sevierville. If festivals celebrating life in Sevierville are not reason enough, the vistas surrounding the city and the recreational options they provide are another reason to call Sevierville home. Residents in Sevierville can enjoy golfing, fishing in Douglas Lake, hiking on more than 650 miles of trails, and camping in the untouched forests around the city. Horseback riding and canoeing along the French Broad River are action-packed options for a great day in Sevierville. Other forms of recreation are scattered throughout the city including shopping, dining, theaters and museums, just to name a few.

Sevierville, Tennessee offers the finest choices in residential living including urban condos, rural country homesteads, private gated communities, lakefront homes, golf course homes, affordable single family houses and mountain chalets all with modern amenities and conveniences home buyers are searching for to make a house the perfect home. Sevierville has it all, and more!

Here Are A Few Of My Sevierville Area Listings:

Large Lot & Ready To Move In To Very nice neighborhood with quality homes on big lots in a scenic setting. Easy access to both Sevier County and Knox County via pretty country roads. Type: Single Family Home Location: Sevierville,TN Price: $219,900 Get more information >
Custom Built Home On The River Custom built home on the Pigeon River with year around mountain views in one of Sevierville’s most sought after neighborhoods. Type: Single Family Home Location: Sevierville,TN Price: $349,000 Get more information >
Busy Location for Office/Residential! Great, busy location ideal for commercial office site. Has a separate entrance for lower level so could be used for two businesses or in-law quarters if used for residential. Type: Office Location: Sevierville,TN Price: $249,900 Get more information >

Discover More Wonders Of The Mountains At Wilderness Wildlife Week™

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Mt. LeConte Llama TrainThis weekend in the Smokies boasts a weather forecast with temps near seventy degrees. It will be a beautiful weekend for Pigeon Forge to kick off it’s 23rd Annual Wilderness Wildlife Week™. Slated to begin on Saturday the 12th at Music Road Hotel & Convention Center, the week long event offers a wide range of learning opportunities with many workshops, hikes and demonstrations. The event is designed to offer activities for every age level and interest. Let’s take a look at a few of the topics and excursions that will be available.

The Keynote Program will be held on Saturday at 7:45 PM. Presented by Sam Venable, a humor columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel it is titled “How to Tawlk and Rite Good: An Introduction to the Native Tongue of Southern Appalachia.” Mr. Venable is the author of 10 books and holds more than three dozen writing awards. If you are looking for a bit of Southern humor you won’t want to miss this presentation.

Each day is packed with a wide choice of events. Sunday at 12:30 the Lost Mill String Band will perform Kids’ Track! Kiddin’ Around: A Concert For Kids of All Ages. At 1:00 Steve Garrett will present Smoky Mountain Llama Treks: Hiking With Llamas In The Smokies. Llamas are used to take supplies to LeConte Lodge and they love eating pancakes when they get to the top – you can find a great video here.

If you wish to spend part of the week in the outdoors the event offers numerous hikes and field trips throughout the week. For the early risers, Sunday at 6:00 AM begins a bus trip titled Cades Cove Photo Trek. If you enjoyed the llama video above why not take a hike with them? Wednesday from 10:00-4:00 and Friday from 10:00-5:00 will be a llama hike. Spaces for hikes and field trips fill up fast, all hike sign ups will be held at Holiday Inn Express, located directly across the street from Music Road Hotel & Convention Center. Hiking rules and the sign up procedure may be found here.

This is just a small listing of the many things this annual event offers. Take a look around the event website, you may find something that has to go on your “must do” list. If you participate in the event we are confident that you will find even more reasons to fall in love with the Smoky Mountain region. Want to make it easy to spend time in the mountains? A Smoky Mountain home away from home may be the answer. You can browse all of the homes for sale in the area at . If you decide it may be time for your mountain home purchase, let us know. We are happy to schedule an appointment to begin your search process.

Here Are A Few Of My New & Reduced Listings:

Perfect Cabin – Perfect Location Almost $20,000 rental income for 2012! Here is a perfect log cabin with all the amenities! Gorgeous yet rustic decor with a perfect location in the private & exclusive Riversong area. Type: Single Family Home Location: Pittman Center Price: $199,900 Get more information >
Stress Free Mountain Living Panoramic Mt. Leconte view and the stress free living that only a condo can offer. Sprawling three bedroom unit offers high ceilings, two spacious master suites and much more. Type: Condo Location: Chalet Village Price: $344,900 Get more information >
Private Chalet Minutes To Downtown Produced $23,207 rental income for 2010 & right at $20,000 for 2011! Great location only a mile from the 441 Parkway and about 1.5 miles to downtown Gatlinburg. Type: Single Family Home Location: Chalet Village Price: $169,900 Get more information >

A Summary Of The 2012 Smoky Mountain Real Estate Market

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The Road To Recovery

 

We hope each of you had a great New Year! As we move in to 2013 we would like to look at the final statistical numbers for 2012 that the Great Smoky Mountain Association Of REALTORS has released. If we go all the way back to the statistics early in the year we know 2012 started with a whirlwind of activity and the trend continued all year. Let’s take a look.

In the category of Total Residences Sold we finished out 2012 with an overall increase of 12%. Buyers were very active throughout the year and took advantage of all time low mortgage rates.

Total Smoky Mountain Homes Sold

In conjunction with the above category Total Volume of real estate sold in the area was also up with an increase over last year of over $11,000,000.

Total Volume Sold

Prices were still down at the close of the year but have continued to show improvement. As supply continues to dwindle prices will keep pushing towards positive numbers.

Average Sold Price

The amount of time homes spent on the market showed a decrease of 2.5%. As market factors continue to stabilize we expect to see this number continue to improve.

Time On Market

We would also like to note that 2012 finished with only a 3% increase in inventory vs. 2011. This is an improvement from the 2011 vs. 2010 number which showed a 9% increase. If financing continues to stay at low rates, which we expect it to, inventory will continue to decrease resulting in a balancing of supply and demand in the Great Smoky Mountain region.

It’s a fresh new year and we expect 2013 to continue the upward trend for real estate. It may be the right time to consider an investment or second home purchase in the mountains. Take a look at what the market has to offer by visiting our . We are happy to help with making your Smoky Mountain real estate dream become a reality!

Here Are A Few Of My Featured Properties:

Old Time Charm On 6 Acres!! Charming vintage log cabin updated with modern conveniences but with old time charm sitting on 6 beautiful wooded acres. Type: Single Family Home Location: Pittman Center Price: $179,900 Get more information >
Beautiful Mountain Sunsets Incredible large diameter log construction creates a special, solid, and timeless appeal. Type: Single Family Home Location: Pigeon Forge Price: $450,000 Get more information >
Charming & Authentic Log Cabin Did $22,907 in rental income from April – December of 2011. Charming and authentic log cabin located in desirable Sky Harbor community between tourist centers of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Type: Single Family Home Location: Gatlinburg ,Tennessee Price: $169,900 Get more information >

Economists Continue To Report Good News For Real Estate

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© 2012 WDeanBrown.com No use allowed without photographer's permissionIn a news release on December 20th the National Association of Realtors shows that market conditions continued to improve in November, with lowering inventory and rising prices. The article states that total existing home sales including single family homes, town-homes, condos and co-ops rose 5.9% in November which reflects a 14.5% increase from November of 2011. Lawrence Yun, NAR Chief Economist, said “Momentum continues to build in the housing market from growing jobs and a bursting out of household formation”. Let’s take a more in depth look at the breakdown of the numbers.

One of the big factors contributing to the market recovery is the lowered inventory of distressed homes on the market. Foreclosures and short sales only made up 22% of the sales in November, down from 24% the previous month and 29% in November of 2011. These properties were only showing average discounts of 16-20% from market value, a sign of increased demand. Yun said “The market share of distressed property sales will fall into the teens next year based on a diminishing number of seriously delinquent mortgages”. The current low interest rates and availability of programs to assist home owners will continue to contribute to the reduction of this type of home inventory.

Total housing inventory at the end of November represented a 4.8 month supply with sales at their current pace. This is the lowest supply the market has witnessed since September of 2005. We are also seeing time on the market decrease both nationally and locally with the national stats showing a 28.6% decrease from the same month last year.

As demand increases prices are expected to continue their steady rise. The national median price for existing homes was $180,600 last month. This is not only the ninth consecutive month of year over year gains but also represents a 10.1% increase in price from last November. The last time we were able to see price increases sustained for this many months in a row was from September of 2005 through May of 2006.

We believe that this positive trend will continue through the end of the year and in to 2013. Next week we will take a look at how 2012 finished out for the Smoky Mountain real estate market. The following months of January and February are traditionally a flurry of activity for our area when a large number of buyers visit to view homes. If you have been thinking of coming to explore the market give us a call or email, we are happy to schedule an appointment. If you have a home to sale, now may be the time to ask for a , you may find that now is the time to list.

Here Are A Few Of My Featured Homes:

Relax & Enjoy The View A true opportunity to own a relaxing and stress free home away from home in the mountains. This is a very attractive unit with stunning mountain views from it’s top floor location. Type: Condo Location: Chalet Village Price: $92,500 Get more information >
Custom Built Home On The River Custom built home on the Pigeon River with year around mountain views in one of Sevierville’s most sought after neighborhoods. Type: Single Family Home Location: Sevierville,TN Price: $349,000 Get more information >
Tucked Away Above It All What a great deal on a nice, clean & spacious mountain get away. Type: Single Family Home Location: Chalet Village Price: $112,000 Get more information