New Short Sale Guidelines Bring Changes To The Market

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In the past if you were upside down on your mortgage but still current on your payments you may have been told you would not qualify for a short sale. This could cause further hardship if you had experienced  a divorce, job transfer or other life changing event that was going to make it increasingly difficult to maintain your payments. Or, as a potential buyer interested in a short sale property listed on the market you may have heard how difficult and time consuming the process would be while waiting on the bank to make a decision. We have maintained in several previous posts that approving more short sale applications and improving the process will impact the market in a significant way by keeping foreclosures out of the market place. With encouragement from the National Association of REALTORS it seems that this is exactly what the FHFA is accomplishing. For many these situations may be a thing of the past with new guidelines being put into place as of November 1st of this year by the Federal Housing Finance Authority. Let’s see what a few of the changes are and how they will help change the situation of home owners, buyers and the market.

Certain home owners do not have to be delinquent to qualify:

The new guidelines will allow certain home owners who are still current on their mortgage to qualify for a short sale. To qualify you must have a mortgage that is insured by Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae. To verify if your mortgage is backed by one of these agencies you may visit http://www.FannieMae.com/loanlookup or https://www.FreddieMac.com/corporate/. 

After determining this you must have one of the following hardships:

• Death of a borrower or death of the primary or secondary wage earner in the household • Unemployment • Divorce • Long-term disability • Distant employment transfer/relocation (more than 50 miles one way) • Increased housing expenses • Disaster (natural or man-made) • Business failure

Less required documentation and faster processing:

In an effort to expedite the approval of more short sales many guidelines are being put into place to streamline the process. One key change is that home owners who have low credit scores and have missed several payments will be required to provide little or no documentation to prove the need for a short sale. This will also help buyers in the market as much of the delay in getting an approval has been waiting on the collection and review of endless amounts of documentation. To keep the process moving lenders will be required to adhere to strict time lines for considering short sales. They must review and respond to a short sale offer within 30 days, provide weekly status updates if an offer is under review for more than 30 days and submit a final decision within 60 days of receipt of the offer and completed documentation.

Financial changes:

Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac will waive their right to pursue a deficiency judgement after a completed short sale in exchange for a financial contribution towards the difference when the owner has the income or assets to enter into such an agreement. Evaluating this situation will now be part of the approval process. Special consideration will be given to military personnel who are being relocated. Service members will be automatically eligible for short sales whether they are delinquent or not and will not be required to contribute funds to cover the short fall on the mortgage. The last major financial change is that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will offer up to $6,000 to pay off secondary liens on the property. In the past negotiating a second mortgage could drastically slow the process down and this change will help to keep things moving forward.

These changes have the potential to benefit numerous people and we ask that if you or someone you know may benefit from a short sale of their home please reach out to us. A short sale has the potential to change someone’s financial outlook and will certainly help the real estate market by keeping a foreclosure from happening. I am a Certified Short Sale Specialist and our team has the dedication, sincerity and experience to successfully negotiate a short sale. More information about the new guidelines may be found at this website.  

Not Short Sales But Still Great Deals:

Beautiful Honeymoon Cabin Produced right at $16,000 in rental income for 2011. Tidy and cute one bedroom honeymoon cabin all on one level. Type: Single Family Home Location: Pigeon Forge Price: $109,900 Get more information >

 

Great Home Or Home Away From Home Custom built home in desirable Norton Creek. It is in such good condition, you’ll think it was just finished. Thoughtful design for year around low maintenance make it suitable for retirement, second home use or as a family home. Type: Single Family Home Location: Gatlinburg ,Tennessee Price: $259,900 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: $379,700 Get more information >

 

As The Market Improves, Warren Buffett Says Buy Houses

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We have seen many positive reports and predictions for the American housing market so far in 2012. Both nationwide and locally we continue to see positive signs of recovery and a slow but steady climb towards market stability. Some markets are seeing values rise as inventory decreases.

In an interview earlier in the year Warren Buffett praises owning homes as an investment, saying “Well, if I thought I was going to live, if I knew where I was going to want to live the next five or ten years, I would buy a home and I’d finance it with a 30-year mortgage, it’s a terrific deal. And if, literally, if I was an investor that was a handy type, which I’m not, and I could buy a couple of them at distressed prices and find renters, and again take a 30-year mortgage, it’s a leveraged way of owning a very cheap asset now and I think that’s probably as  attractive an investment as you can make now.”

Buffett also said “If I had a way of buying a couple hundred thousand single-family homes and had a way of managing—the management is enormous—is really the problem because they’re one by one. They’re not like apartment houses. But I would load up on them and I would take mortgages out at very, very low rates.”

Though most of us are not looking to purchase “a couple hundred thousand” homes, with interest rates at all time lows, it is a great time to consider adding investment homes to your portfolio. Mr. Buffett touches on the challenges of the management of investment properties, however, in the Smoky Mountain real estate market there are several options for handling the day to day care of your property. As this is a prime vacation spot, a large number of properties are used as overnight rentals which opens the door to not only making a great investment but also having a Smoky Mountain get away of your own. If you prefer a more hands on approach many investors in the area have had success with using online marketing tools and handling the rental and management of their properties themselves. With this option you may also consider the use of a company such as Smoky Mountain Homes Not Alone, which offers customized care plans for absentee owners. They work both with homes that are vacation rentals by owner and second homes that are not used as rental. They offer a wide variety of services from cleaning and maintenance to just stopping by to open the windows and make sure everything is in order. If you prefer to be less involved there are a number of vacation rental management companies in the area that will handle the daily details and offer a wide variety of services. Our team has great relationships with these companies and we will assist you in identifying the management solution that will be a fit for your investment goals.

The Smoky Mountain real estate market offers a wide variety of choices in investment properties. Why not take a look at our website to see all that is available? If you see a property that looks like it has potential to add to your investments, let us know, we are here to help you obtain additional information about rental income history, market statistics and monthly expenses.

Here Are A Few Of My Featured Investment Properties:

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: $189,900 Get more information >

 

Close To Downtown Well over $30k rental income in both 2010 & 2011! Well built cabin in excellent condition within the city limits of Gatlinburg. Type: Single Family Home Location: Gatlinburg ,Tennessee Price: $289,900 Get more information >

 

A View From Above Did over $94K in rental income for 2010 & over $97K in 2011!!! Outstanding view of Mt LeConte in Smokies, with 5 master suites, media room, close to Gatlinburg, ski resort and National Park! Fully furnished! Type: Single Family Home Location: Gatlinburg ,Tennessee Price: $699,900 Get more information >

 

The Truth About These Common Homebuying Myths

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Buying a home can seem like a daunting process. With the wide variety of information readily available on the internet it is easy to be left wondering what is true and what is not. Let’s take a look at a few of the prevailing myths about purchasing a home that may be holding you back from taking the first steps towards owning a home.

Myth 1: Owning a home is more expensive than renting. Mortgage rates are at all time lows making home ownership more affordable than ever before while rental prices are on the rise. It is true that owning your own home will mean that you are responsible for repairs but in exchange for that you gain the freedom to make your own choices about your living space.

Myth 2: You have to have perfect credit to buy a home. It is correct that the higher your credit score the more options you will have in choosing a mortgage. However, having a score in the lower ranges does not mean it is impossible to obtain a loan. If you are thinking of a purchase talking with a lender will help you to navigate your credit report and verify the loan options that are available to you.

Myth 3: You must have a 20% down payment. Sure, having a large down payment will lower your payments but is not always necessary. Many loan programs are available that will allow as little as a 3.5% or in some cases no down payment. We recommend talking with your lender about options such as an FHA or Rural Development loan.

Myth 4: Getting a mortgage is too complicated. Although lending guidelines have gotten tighter than they used to be, with the help of your lender and your real estate agent navigating the process is made much easier. There are some hoops to jump through and it may seem that your lender is asking for an endless supply of documentation but your agent and lender will assist you in making sense of it all and getting you to a successful closing on your home.

Myth 5: Foreclosures need a lot of work. Though some foreclosed homes are left in a state of disrepair this is certainly not the rule. Your agent will assist you with obtaining home inspections to determine the true condition of the property. In many cases you will find that like other homes a foreclosure just needs a little TLC. If the inspection reveals major items that need repaired your agent will be looking out for your best interests and help you negotiate through the inspection results.

Myth 6: Buying a foreclosure will get me a huge discount. Yes, the banks are looking to thin their inventory but they are also trying to protect their interests as well. Though some foreclosed properties are offered at lower than market value prices this is not always the case. The bank obtains a market analysis of the property and sometimes a full appraisal prior to listing it on the market and price it accordingly to see what the market will bear. In most cases the bank would prefer to lower the price in small increments until they obtain a reasonable offer rather than accept a cut rate offer.

Myth 7: The perfect home is out there if I just keep looking. Homes are a lot like people, none are perfect in every way but when we love them we accept the flaws. When you step into the house that is right for you for the first time you will know it. Prior to viewing homes make a list of the things that are most important to you in a home and of what things would be a deal breaker. Once you have an accepted offer we encourage you to have a home inspection which will reveal if any of your deal breaker items exist or if there are simple maintenance items that you are willing to address so that you do not lose the opportunity of owning the home that was meant for you.

The goal of our team is to make your home buying process as easy and stress free as possible. Armed with a great agent and accurate advice you will find the home that is right for you and be at the closing table before you know it. Take some time at our website to see the wide variety of homes that are available and when you are ready to take the next step we are available to assist with every aspect of the process.

Here Are A Few Of My Featured Listings:

View City Lights Against The Mountains Absolutely amazing views of downtown Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Incredible close up night lights view, you can actually see people on the sidewalks with a dramatic mountain backdrop. Type: Single Family Home Location: Gatlinburg ,Tennessee Price: $359,900 Get more information >

 

180 Degree Mountain & City Light Views $14,300 rental income in 2010 with 2011 already ahead at $14,500 through October. Very private ridgetop retreat w/ wraparound covered deck that has amazing 180 degree views of the mountains & city lights. Type: Single Family Home Location: Price: $189,900 Get more information >

 

Mount Leconte Views Beautiful mountain home with view, wrap around decks, updates throughout including kitchen, new appliances, quartz counter tops and glass tile back splash. Great for permanent residence or rental. Type: Single Family Home Location: Chalet Village Price: $239,900 Get more information >

 

Continued Improvement For The Smoky Mountain Real Estate Market

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Nationally the real estate market is improving and the statistics for single family homes in Sevier County show that the Smoky Mountain region is no exception. The numbers show strong improvement over last year in most categories for the first half of the year, let’s take a look.  

June’s numbers keep 2012 ahead of last year in the category of Total Residences Sold. With a difference of 21% or 111 more homes sold than the same period last year we see that buyer activity continues to be strong.

In the Total Dollar Volume Sold category 2012 outperforms 2011 with a 7% increase. This is just under seven million dollars more real estate sold than in the first half of 2011.

The Average Sold Price is still behind 2011 but shows improvement from last month. Through June the average price is down 11%, last month it was a 14% decrease from 2011. The number of foreclosures that are being sold and leaving the market continues to help with improving this number.  

In the last category of Average Days On Market we see signs that buyers are in the market and ready, willing and able to buy. With a 7% decrease in time on the market there is no doubt that the Smoky Mountain real estate market is active.  

The market is changing for the positive at a steady pace and we believe this trend will continue. Considering the purchase of a Smoky Mountain home? This is the time to take advantage of current mortgage affordability and the wide variety of available homes for sale. Spend some time browsing our website to see everything the area has to offer. When the time is right we are ready to assist you on your path to owning a mountain home.

Here Are A Few Of My Featured Listings:

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: $189,900 Get more information >

 

Two Acre Mountain Retreat Charming log cabin on a private two acres. Type: Single Family Home Location: Pigeon Forge Price: $189,900 Get more information >

 

Great Home Or Home Away From Home Custom built home in desirable Norton Creek. It is in such good condition, you’ll think it was just finished. Thoughtful design for year around low maintenance make it suitable for retirement, second home use or as a family home. Type: Single Family Home Location: Gatlinburg ,Tennessee Price: $269,900 Get more information >

 

 

Owning A Home And The American Dream

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National Association of REALTORS President, Moe Veissi, said “Homeownership is an investment in our future, but it’s also a gateway to our past. The homes of our country’s founders offer insights into their characters and values and reflect the spirits of their owners, just as our homes do for us today”.  As the Fourth of July steadily approaches we turn our thoughts to fireworks, parades and other traditions that are carried out each year in celebration of Independence Day. Today we would like to reflect on how homeownership has played a part in the history of our nation and the phrase “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”.

The American Dream is a set of ideals which allows everyone the opportunity for prosperity and success according to their abilities and hard work. From early settlements in America forward to today, owning a home has been seen as a building block in achieving the height of these ideals. Certainly owning your own home creates freedom and independence simply by having a place to call your own. Along with pride of ownership you gain the freedom to choose the elements that go in to making your house a home. Economic changes have delayed this dream for many but surveys show most Americans still wish to own their own home. In a recent National Housing Survey from Fannie Mae we see that Americans still view owning a home as a positive thing. 64% of those surveyed said that if they were going to move they would be more likely to rent rather than buy. Why? Although modern day America is much different than it was in the 1800’s our ideals have remained fairly constant. A large number of those surveyed cited control over what you do with your living space, freedom to choose a community where people share your values and motivation to become a better citizen as top reasons they aspire to owning their own home.

Owning a home has numerous benefits not only to the owner but to the entire nation. Many have quoted Abraham Lincoln as saying, “The strength of a nation lies in the homes of its people”. This simple truth is still valid today. Owning a home provides security and stability as well as enhances communities. It encourages participation in schools, government and community because owners have a vested interest in improving their homes and neighborhoods. All of these things work to strengthen the social fabric of the nation. The overall value to the nation’s economy from increased homeownership is priceless.

The dream of homeownership has not changed in America. With the low interest rates that are currently available housing affordability is at an all time high making the American Dream obtainable for more and more citizens. We wish everyone a happy Fourth of July and as you are celebrating our nation’s independence we hope that you will take a moment to consider how much owning your own home could add to your own pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. There are numerous home choices available and we are here to help through every step of your journey towards being a homeowner.

Here Are A Few Of My Featured Listings:

Custom Home On Douglas Lake Custom built home on a lake front peninsula surround by water on three sides with expansive views. Type: Single Family Home Location: Douglas Lake Price: $975,000 Get more information >

 

A Taste Of Appalachia Consistently produced $21,000 in rental income over the last few years. A log home with true Appalachian feel. Take a look and fall in love. Type: Single Family Home Location: Chalet Village Price: $149,900 Get more information >

 

Close To Downtown Well over $30k rental income in both 2010 & 2011! Well built cabin in excellent condition within the city limits of Gatlinburg. Type: Single Family Home Location: Gatlinburg ,Tennessee Price: $289,900 Get more information >

 

A Step Back In Time At Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales

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Gatlinburg’s seventh annual Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales begins on June 15th and goes on through August 11th. This summer long event features musical performances, storytelling and artisans portraying characters from the 1800’s forward. It is an interactive event that is educational and fun for the whole family. As you walk through downtown Gatlinburg after 6:00 PM you will be drawn in to as many as 12 nightly acts along the streets of Gatlinburg.

Enjoy many acts including clogging groups that will perform seven nights a week for the duration of the event. Musical performances will include the older Appalachian sounds of acts like Rattlesnake Holler & the Whiskey Bent Valley Boys to traditional bluegrass of Flicker Tail Holler and the Holloway Sisters.

You will be able to take advantage of educational opportunities such as how mountain and lap dulcimers and gourd banjos are made by local craftsmen like Denton Bragg and Mark Edelman. You can even learn a few fun moves and steps from the Back Porch Cloggers. Appalachian characters like Miss Nan and Quiltin’ Annie also teach the young and old about their old-time Smoky Mountain ways. After enjoying music and learning about a few Smoky Mountain trades, you can settle in and enjoy stories of the Great Smoky Mountains from characters like Ol’ Rowdy and Whitlin’ Joe.

Gatlinburg is truly a unique mountain town rich with Appalachian history and unique events. Special Events Manager, George Hawkins, said of Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales, “Our intent is to take what we feel is one of Gatlinburg’s greatest assets – the walkability of the community – and provide something that is fun and somewhat different than what most places are doing.”

With these types of events throughout the year in a unique town like Gatlinburg it is no wonder that this is such a top vacation destination. Gatlinburg is not only a great place to visit but also a unique and charming place to live sitting against the wonders of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The real estate market is moving, there is plenty of inventory to choose from and we believe Gatlinburg is a great choice of locations to consider for purchasing a second home or investment. You can see the wide variety of choices the area has to offer by visiting our website and browsing available homes for sale. It is a great time to plan a visit, enjoy an evening stroll through Gatlinburg to enjoy the performances of Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales and schedule a time to visit a few homes in the mountains.

Here Are A Few Of My Featured Listings:

View City Lights Against The Mountains Absolutely amazing views of downtown Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Incredible close up night lights view, you can actually see people on the sidewalks with a dramatic mountain backdrop. Type: Single Family Home Location: Gatlinburg ,Tennessee Price: $359,900 Get more information >

 

Close Up City & Mountain Views Over $40,000 rental income for 2010 & 2011! This is designed to be a year around home or an income producing rental. Type: Single Family Home Location: Gatlinburg ,Tennessee Price: $459,900 Get more information >

 

Your Key To Prestigious Riversong Own this lot in a premium neighborhood for 25 cents on the dollar! Over an acre with Mountain Views, river access and more! Type: Land Location: Pittman Center Price: $15,000 Get more information >

 

The Forecast Calls For An Improving Housing Market

Posted by Gatlin on

As we have mentioned in previous articles, this year has remained steadily busy and we are seeing higher home sales prices than have been evident in quite some time. We see the Gatlinburg and Sevier County markets moving steadily and economists are pointing to improvement in the national real estate market as well. We would like to apologize for not providing the monthly market statistics for March. Our local MLS system is experiencing technical difficulties and is not reporting accurate numbers. We hope this issue can be remedied soon. In the meantime we would like to share a little bit about what is going on overall in the real estate market.

In a recent article, Lawrence Yun, NAR Chief Economist, said the recovery is in the process of settling into a higher level of home sales. Existing home sales were slightly down in March but are still 5.2% above the same period in 2011. The National Association of REALTORS reports that inventory has tightened and home prices continue to show signs of stabilizing. Mr. Yun stated, “The recovery is happening though not at a breakout pace, but we have seen nine consecutive months of year-over-year sales increases. He went on to say, “Existing home sales are moving up and down in a fairly narrow range that is well above the level of activity during the first half of last year. With job growth, low interest rates, bargain home prices and an improving economy, the pent-up demand is coming to market and we expect housing to be notably better this year.”

Nationally, the median existing home price for all housing types was just under $164,000 in March. Short sales and foreclosures made up 29% of March sales compared with 40% in March of 2011. In the South, existing home sales are reported at 3.6 percent higher than one year ago.

Freddie Mac reports that the national average commitment rate for a 30 year, conventional, fixed rate mortgage was 3.95 percent in March, down from 4.84 percent in March of 2011. This makes financing very attractive for homebuyers and is opening up options for many.

All of this points to a steady move towards a positive outcome for the 2012 real estate market. Locally we are seeing a shift in buying patterns with more buyers present in the market and able to procure financing. Now is the time to enter the market, take advantage of extremely low mortgage rates and great housing deals available in inventory. With many financing options it may be a prime time to speak with a lender, see what is available and get pre-approved. Having a pre-approval in hand will put you in a great position when you find your “Smoky Mountain Dream”. There is a lot to choose from, start at our website and view all that the Great Smoky Mountains have to offer.

Here Are A Few Of My Featured Listings:

Heirloom Quality Throughout Not often does a living piece of history come available for sale, perhaps once a generation. Such a time is this. Heirloom quality throughout this solidly built stone cottage boasts quality not often seen in homes built today. Type: Single Family Home Location: Pittman Center Price: $395,000 Get more information >

 

Private Mountain Retreat Private three bedroom, three bath Log Cabin with great mountain views from three decks. Type: Single Family Home Location: Pigeon Forge Price: $320,000 Get more information >

 

Character, Details & Views! Pictures do not do justice to the view! Picturesque home with tons of space and lots of windows. Wine cellar/tasting room are just one of the many unique features you will enjoy. Type: Single Family Home Location: Gatlinburg ,Tennessee Price: $384,200 Get more information >

 

February Ushers In Beautiful Weather & An Active Smoky Mountain Market

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As we move out of February into March we are seeing amazing spring weather with temps in the 60’s and above. February’s real estate market in The Great Smoky Mountains also closed out with some positive activity and movement signaling good things to come for home buyers & sellers along with the spring weather. Let’s take a look at what the numbers have to say.

In the first category of Total Residences Sold, we see an increase from last year of 9% with 186 homes sold.

In the category of Total Residential Volume Sold, we have a slight decrease of 10%. We believe this relates to the number of lower priced foreclosures the banks are still working to liquidate from the market.

Relating to the previous category, the Average Sales Price also shows a small decrease of 17%. As more of the lower priced properties are closed and off the market we will begin to see these numbers move closer to positive.

In the last category of Number Of Active Listings we show an increase of 330 homes available on the market over last year.

With signs of spring all around and plenty of deals still available on Smoky Mountain homes, this is a great time to plan a visit and start searching for your Smoky Mountain dream. There are almost 3,000 homes to choose from making it easy to find the Smoky Mountain cabin, chalet or other residence that is perfect for you. Begin at our website  to view all of the Sevier County, TN homes available.

Here are a few of my featured listings:

Your Smoky Mountain Dream
Smoky Mountain dream cabin for a great price. Wrap around covered decks w/vaulted ceilings and exposed beams. Level yard, patio, spacious rooms and walking distance to Arts & Crafts shops.
Type: Single Family Home
Location:
Price: $239,900
Get more information >

 

High on a Ridge outside of Gatlinburg
Log cabin high on a ridge with spectacular views of the Smokies. Excellent location- only 5 mins to Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge. Cozy log construction.
Type: Single Family Home
Location: Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Price: $129,900
Get more information >

 

Fantastic Rental Income & Mtn View!
Almost $37K rental income for only 8 months of 2011! Furnished rental with fantastic Mt LeConte view. Lots of decks w/hot tub to enjoy the view. Bedroom suites w/rec room and kitchenette for entertaining. Lots of room for large groups. Sleeps 18.
Type: Single Family Home
Location: Sevierville,TN
Price: $399,900
Get more information >

 

A Very Busy Start For Smoky Mountain Real Estate In 2012

Posted by Gatlin on

2012 saw a flurry of activity in January with February picking up even more momentum. There was a marked increase in the number of buyers in the area looking at property and offers being written. So how did January end up for the Smoky Mountain real estate market? Let’s take a look at the numbers released by The Great Smoky Mountain Association of REALTORS. Please note that in an effort to provide the most accurate data available with a focus on our specific area, going forward our monthly market statistics will exclude any properties outside of Sevier County.

In the category of Residences Sold we see great numbers with only 7 less residences sold than the same month last year.

Residential Dollar Volume for January is down $3,911,688. This may seem like a large number however, with the end of the year this may be largely attributed to foreclosure listings that went under contract in December and closed in January or received price reductions as the banks work to get them off the books. This is actually positive news, knowing that other properties on the market will be competing with less foreclosures in inventory.The Average Sold Price was also down somewhat from last year with a 17% decrease. This may also be related to the liquidation of foreclosure properties.

The category of Active Listings for January 2012 shows an increase of 13%. With the increase of buyer activity and the relative stability of our market the beginning of this year has proven to be a great time to list property for increased exposure to qualified buyers.

As we see lending rules getting tighter we are seeing that getting a property from accepted offer to closing has been taking a little longer than it used to. Because of this we would also like to note that an additional 97 properties went under contract in January but have not yet reached closing. Most will likely close in February and we will begin to see the positive effects of how busy January turned out to be in terms of buyer activity.

 Are you thinking of purchasing your own Smoky Mountain dream? Now may be a great time to start looking. With the expansive inventory of property available and extremely low mortgage rates there are many great opportunities to take advantage of. Take the first step by visiting our website to see if your perfect Smoky Mountain get away is already on the market waiting for you.

 Here are a few of my featured listings: 

Hot Buy On Authentic Log Cabin
Over $30,000 in rental income for both 2010 & 2011!! Soaring ceilings and three walls of glass create a dramatic feel and bring the expansive views into the living space of this modern day cabin.
Type: Single Family Home
Location: Pigeon Forge
Price: $149,900
Get more information >

 

Smoky Mountain Dream Come True
Produced $24,329 in rental income for 2011! This is what Smoky Mountain dreams are made of, the perfect mountain get-away that combines the best features the area has to offer.
Type: Single Family Home
Location: Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Price: $259,900
Get more information >

 

Come Home To A Resort Setting
Just one mile from Ober Gatlinburg is where you will find this super affordable condo. Nestled in a resort like community you will enjoy all of the best amenities the Smoky Mountain area has to offer.
Type: Condo
Location: Gatlinburg ,Tennessee
Price: $75,000
Get more information >

 

 

More Positive News For Gatlinburg Investors And Sellers

Posted by Gatlin on

Along with seeing signs of positive trends in the housing market nationwide and a reasonably stable market in the Sevier County, Tennessee area, we have just come across more good news.

Frommer’s began as a travel guide-book series that started in 1957 and is one of the best-selling travel guides in America. They have an award-winning travel website, http://www.frommers.com/, that covers over 3,500 destinations. They have just announced that The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the 2012 Top Family Destination in the world. They are giving the Great Smoky Mountains a large amount of publicity with their article about the area.  How does this affect you as a seller or investor in Gatlinburg?

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has the highest park visitation in the United States with over 9 million visitors each year. With the help of Frommer’s designation and with the fact that Gatlinburg is the gateway community to the park, we look forward to even more visitors than ever before.

As a seller, this kind of exposure is sure to bring more people to the area. Many visit Gatlinburg and are taken with all that the community offers; easy access to the park, numerous activities, shopping etc. Many buyers we come in to contact with say that they recently visited the area and are now looking to buy a second home here. With more people in the area, interest in real estate will spike and more people will begin to look. If you are thinking of selling let us know, we are happy to provide a free market analysis to help you determine the potential value of your property.

As an investor, the area is known for beautiful vacation rental properties and mountain cabins with that special Smoky Mountain feel to them. There has been a decline in hotel stays as more people are renting condos or cabins when they visit. They are looking for an authentic mountain experience. As we begin having more and more people visiting the area, now may be a great time to look into purchasing a vacation rental for yourself. We are happy to obtain rental income history for any property you may be interested in as well as providing direction every step of the way. We can assist with statistics, picking a rental management company, a cash flow analysis and more.

Whether you are thinking of buying or selling, this designation is a very positive thing for Smoky Mountain real estate. Stop by our website to see what’s going on in the market.

Here are a few of my featured listings:

 

Great Four Level Chalet/Nice Ridge View
Did $25,344 gross rental income in 2010 & $24,445 in 2011. Your own Mountain Escape. Very large 4 level chalet that sleeps 16. Big open space in all rooms and 4 levels of decks. Nice mountain views and walking distance to owners club and pools.
Type: Single Family Home
Location: Chalet Village
Price: $239,900
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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: $329,900
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Mt LeConte View w/Large Open Floor Plan
5 bedrooms all with in suite baths for privacy. Huge great room for those family gatherings and could walk to trolley to take to town or to Nat’l Park.
Type: Single Family Home
Location: Gatlinburg ,Tennessee
Price: $315,000
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