Celebrating the Great Smoky Mountains National Park 75th Anniversary in a Musical Tribute

 

Banjo (Photo courtesy of lisaschafferphoto at flickr.com)
Banjo (Photo courtesy of lisaschafferphoto at flickr.com)

Enhancing a calendar of events that has something for everyone is the 5th annual StringTime in the Smokies sponsored by the City of Pigeon Forge, WDVX radio and numerous local businesses.  This free musical event is part of the National Park’s 75th Anniversary Official Celebration.  StringTime in the Smokies is a two evening concert of American and Bluegrass music held in Pigeon Forge.  Nationally acclaimed musicians skilled in banjo and fiddle playing will be featured, giving the concert a local flavor.  Below is the schedule of events for both days. If you want more information on the musicians, click on the appropriate website next to their name.

 

 

 

Entertainment Lineup:

Friday, August 14th  at Old Mill Square 

7:00 pm Wild Blue Yonder            www.wildblueyonderband.com/music.htm 8:00Timberwinds                                 
9:00 pm Gary Biscuit Davis and Company        www.banjochamp.com/cds.htm

Saturday, August 15th at Patriot Park
6:00 pm Timberwinds           
6:45 pm Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper   www.myspace.com/michaelclevelandflamekeeper
8:30 pm Steeldrivers                                         http://www.myspace.com/thesteeldrivers

For additional information, details and updates visit: http://www.mypigeonforge.com/events_stringtime.aspx

For buying or selling Real Estate in the Great Smoky Mountains Area where this fun-filled calendar of events becomes part of your everyday life, contact The Jason White Team .

One of a Kind Gatlinburg TN Home For Sale

Gatlinburg TN Home For Sal
Gatlinburg TN Home For Sal

A completely refurbished home in 2008 that added an extra 3,000 square feet to the original structure is now available in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

This one of a kind Gatlinburg TN home for sale was mainly used as a second home, but would be a fantastic income producing vacation home or residence.

Four levels of living and deck space, as well as five bedrooms and bathrooms, will give the future residents of this 4143 total square footage home plenty of room to see the tremendous views of Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains.

Interior details include a brand new chef’s kitchen, oak flooring, luxury baths, and a spacious recreation room.  Over $100,000 was spent to revamp the exterior details to include additional parking, landscaping and irrigation, and an amazing screened deck.

This unique piece of Gatlinburg TN real estate will not be on the market long.

For more information on this Gatlinburg TN family home or other Smoky Mountain real estate, please contact the local Smoky Mountain real estate agent, Jason White.

Summer Actvities in the Smoky Mountains

Summer Smoky Mountain Sunset (Photo courtesy of Lee Coursey on flickr.com)
Summer Smoky Mountain Sunset (Photo courtesy of Lee Coursey on flickr.com)

Now that we are in the middle of July, here are some great summer activities in the Smoky Mountains. 

When you are looking for something to do besides hiking, mountain biking, or fishing, go elk viewing.  Smoky Mountain elk are often spotted in the Cataloochee Valley and on Highway 321 between Gatlinburg and Cherokee NC. 

If an adventure is more of your thing, try white water rafting with your friends and family.  The rafting season begins the first week of March and no experience is necessary.  Look for local outfitters on the Upper and Lower Pigeon Rivers. 

If you are looking for local culture, there are always festivals going on in the Gatlinburg TN area.  Currently the 5th Annual Festival of Native Peoples & Cherokee Art Market is going on this weekend, but the Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair will continue until July 26th.  The summer activities in the Smoky Mountains are sure to keep you and your friends and family busy. 

For more information on other Gatlinburg TN activities or Gatlinburg TN real estate, please contact the local Gatlinburg TN real estate agent, Jason White.

Selling your Smoky Mountain TN Home

Smoky Mountain TN Home (photo courtesy of rsam001 at flickr.com)
Smoky Mountain TN Home (photo courtesy of rsam001 at flickr.com)

When selling your Smoky Mountain TN home, it is extremely important that a top real estate agent is on board. 

Jason White, a top Gatlinburg, Sevierville, and Pigeon Forge TN area real estate agent, is just that person to have on your team. 

He will evaluate your home and place in a Smoky Mountian TN selling price range, and will market your home to all available buyers.  Jason White or a member of his team will also do a walk through with you to make sure that the house is staged for it’s maximum potential. 

Jason White will also give you the benefit of years of working with real estate contracts and his up-to-date knowledge of real estate laws, Tennessee statutory disclosure requirements, or house inspections you should have done to ensure a smooth closing. 

Jason White can be contacted by email or at 877-678-2121.

The 1031 Exchange-Another Tool For The Savvy Real Estate Investor

Invest (photo courtesy of Gnerk on flickr.com)
Invest (photo courtesy of Gnerk on flickr.com)

The 1031 Exchange is named for the section of the Internal Revenue Code that permits the existence of this unique real estate transaction.  The easiest description of the 1031 Exchange allows real estate owners to sell a property and legally defer any federal or state income tax when the proceeds are reinvested into another “like kind” property within the specified time frame.  Key words in the 1031 Exchange are “defer taxes on capital gains” NOT “avoid taxes on capital gains”.  However, the “1031” grants a flexibility on several levels to one’s investment.  First, is the flexibility to better time and plan the payment of the tax owed on your capital gains over a longer time frame.  Second, is the flexibility to exchange your investment into a wide variety of “like-kind” properties. “Like-kind” properties include any real estate property held for business or investment, such as; commercial real estate, raw land, rental properties and could even become one’s personal residence.  A third flexibility in the 1031 Exchange is the ability to shift an investment around the country to take advantage of better business opportunities or personal geographic/climatological preferences.  Another obvious flexibility in the 1031 Exchange is time required for the process to occur and even though there are specific rules set forth by the Internal Revenue Code there is flexibility in when you close on the property you own, etc.  

As in any matter involving a degree of financial complexity, one must consult with reliable legal assistance to assure proper compliance with the tax codes and a proper fit in your personal financial/investment situation.  The rules of the 1031 Exchange are being refined by on-going tax rulings so be sure to obtain reliable advice.  On 1031 Exchanges and other real estate matters be sure to consult The Jason White Team to get a broad range of real estate investments and the backing of reliable advisors to fill your real estate needs.

Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair

Smoky Mountain Vista (courtesy of Marcy Reiford on flickr.com)
Smoky Mountain Vista (courtesy of Marcy Reiford on flickr.com)

Towards the end of July on the 17th through the 26, a great Gatlinburg TN community event will be hosted at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. 

The Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair is the perfect occasion for art, craft, and music lovers to come together and enjoy over 200 booths featuring arts and crafts from around the nation.  The artisans and crafts people will be on hand in their booths to demo their skills, answer questions, and sell their wares. 

Don’t forget about the country and bluegrass afternoon music shows either! 

The Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair will be open daily from 10am – 7pm and on Sundays from 10am – 5pm.  Adult admission is $6.00 and children 12 and under are free. 

Jason White, a Gatlinburg TN real estate agent, can tell prospective Gatlinburg TN real estate buyers more about other Gatlinburg TN community events. You may contact him at 877-678-2121 or by email.

Impressive Home for Sale in Sevierville TN

Home For Sale: 5055 Riversong Way, Sevierville TN
Home For Sale: 5055 Riversong Way, Sevierville TN

This home for sale in Sevierville TN is a must see!  The gated, 4192 square foot, 5BD/4.5BA mountain estate home on 2.76 wooded acres with great mountain, valley, and even river views – should provide the nature loving family with plenty of room to roam. 

A private yard surrounds the multi-leveled home with paved parking and a 2 car attached carport as well.  The interior boasts great details throughout the house such as the gourmet kitchen with granite counter tops, stainless appliances, and cherry cabinets. 

Hardwood floors flow throughout this home, as well as cathedral ceilings, 3 stone fireplaces, a fully finished basement, and even a walk through shower that opens to a large private balcony in the master bedroom.  Just in case you need more room, an unfinished studio apartment with a 2 car garage sits on the back of this incredible property. 

For more information on this fabulous home for sale in Sevierville TN or other Sevierville TN real estate, please contact Jason White.  His expertise the local Gatlinburg real estate market will prove to be priceless.  He can be contacted at 877-678-2121 or by email.

In a Challenging Economy, Real Estate is Still a Wonderful Investment in the Great Smoky Mountains

Let us examine some data to gain perspective on current residential real estate for this area.  June 2008 saw 430 homes listed with 133 sold or 30.93%. The average sale price sold was $199,545, with average “days on the market” at 146.  Figures for June 2009 show 540 homes listed with 19.07% or 103 residences sold.  The average sale price sold was $187,824, with average “days on the market” at 157. With half a year data now available, 2008 saw 2,586 homes listed with 29.04% sold at 751.  The 2008 average sale price sold was $194,617 with an average “days on the market” of 157.  The same year to date time frame of Jan-June 2009 saw 3,177 residences listed with 18.63% or 592 homes sold.  The average sale price sold was $190,690 at an average “days on the market” of 163.  

In digesting this data some trends are apparent.  Inventory of residences for sale is up, average sale price sold is slightly longer.  Given the fact that there is alot of foreclosure property mixed into these figures, prices are holding up well and days for sale on market for selling residences is not radically longer.  This bodes well for those listing residential property to sell. 

However, this is awesome news for those interested in real estate in the Great Smoky Mountain area.  Increased inventory of homes for sale combined with an in flow of bargain-priced foreclosures keeps pricing reasonable and allows for ample opportunities to find your dream home or investment property. When you look at the current, historically low mortgage rates and the Obama First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit, today’s real estate market looks better than many current investments.  So check out the web or contact Jason White for solutions to your real estate needs. 

There Is A Window Of Opportunity Open In Today’s Real Estate Market

One of the hottest segments in the current real estate market is the purchase of foreclosed property.  Year to date figures in Sevier County’s MLS show 105 foreclosed single family homes sold at an average price of $160,853 with an average days on the market of 125.  When you combine the low cost of foreclosures with today’s historically low mortgage rates it can be a recipe for opportunity.

Trends indicate that foreclosure inventory is modest and steadily being absorbed, but prices for this type of property are going up.  Foreclosures are a low percentage of homes (only 3.4% currently)  on the market.  Current figures reveal 116 foreclosures out of 3,454 available homes on the MLS and the current average foreclosure price is $238,563 with an average days on the market of 91. 

News out of Washington DC indicates that foreclosed home supply, at least for the present, should continue.  The Obama Administration has allowed the Freddie Mac/Fannie Mae moratorium on foreclosures to expire on March 1st of this year.  This should allow more foreclosed properties to enter the market and become quickly absorbed.  If this opportunity for bargain-priced homes, combined with historic low mortgage rates sounds great, then be sure to contact Jason White a realty professional with foreclosure experience.

Pigeon Forge TN Area 4th of July Activities

Fireworks (courtesy of A Million To One on flickr.com)
Fireworks (courtesy of A Million To One on flickr.com)

There are many great activities celebrating our nation’s independence during the next week or so in Pigeon Forge, TN. 

These Pigeon Forge TN area 4th of July activities are kicked off by the 3rd Annual Smoky Mountain Music & Heritage Series.  This event on July 3rd begins at 6:30pm at the Old Mill Square.  Free admission gets you in to see Logan Murrell – just remember to bring your own lawn chair. 

July 4th offers plenty of activities in the local Pigeon Forge TN area to enjoy.  The 19th Annual Patriot Festival from July 4-8 will feature music, food, children’s games, and of course, fireworks in Patriot Park. 

A fireworks show will also be lit off in downtown Gatlinburg. 

With so many great 4th of July community activities in the Pigeon Forge TN area, it will be hard to fit them all in this weekend. 

For more information on other Pigeon Forge TN community activities or Gatlinburg TN events, please contact Jason White, a Pigeon Forge real estate agent.