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
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: $329,900
Get more information >

 

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
Get more information >

 

The Smoky Mountain Real Estate Market Is Active

Posted by Gatlin on

As we take a look at our month end statistics for Smoky Mountain real estate we continue to see a reasonably active and healthy market. Using data published by The Great Smoky Mountains Association of Realtors let’s explore how things are looking as we move towards year-end.  The GSMAR data we use is year to date and it compares this year to the same timeframe for last year. Though come select areas are still outperforming last year, we will look at the overall view of the entire residential market in this area through November.

In the category of Total Residences Sold, this year is down from 2010 by only 69 residences sold or 5% less.

Total Residential Dollar Volume Sold was also lower in 2011 with $225,111,411 or 9% less than the same period in 2010.

The average 2011 residential sale is still not far off from the 2010 average at  5% or $7,577 lower.

In the last category of Active Listings, 2011 shows plenty of inventory available with 6,870 homes available. This is a 10% increase over the same period in 2010 with 641 more homes on the market.

The real estate market in The Great Smoky Mountains is active. With plenty of Smoky Mountain homes to choose from and mortgage rates still very low, it could be the perfect time to start shopping. Contact your lender to see what kind of great rates are available, visit our website to look at the variety of homes available, then contact our team of professionals to take care of the rest!

Here are a few of my featured homes:

 

Functional Work Of Art W/Stunning Views
Once you see this functional work of art that doubles as a spacious home you’ll never want to leave.
Type: Single Family Home
Location: Chalet Village
Price: $950,000
Get more information >

 

New Construction Full Of Style
Newly built this one is full of style & character. Native stone accents outside with a great exterior color combination. Hand made kitchen cabinets andbathroom vanities crafted from super rare wormy chestnut.
Type: Single Family Home
Location: Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Price: $159,900
Get more information >

 

Handcrafted Custom Home W/Views!
$35,999.58 Rental Income from June 2011 forward. This custom home overlooks the golf course and has amazing mountain views. All the custom features you are looking for are found right here.
Type: Single Family Home
Location: Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Price: $1,500,000
Get more information >

 

Contemplating That Gatlinburg Home For Sale?

Posted by Gatlin on

Some of my sources suggest that mountain homes could be at a good time to buy. Recently, The Wall Street Journal printed an interesting article by Jack Hough of smartmoney.com. Mr. Hough puts forth some intriguing ideas on why it could currently be a great time to buy a house. United States home prices have dropped almost 1/3 since 2006 and homeownership rates are falling like they were in the great depression. This may appear alarming, but there is a silver lining. First, lower prices are bringing value to home ownership and there is plenty of home inventory to consider. Number crunchers dance the line between renting vs. buying. The benefit of renting over buying changes with current market conditions. Home price/rent ratios are much like stock price/earnings ratios. Lower price/rent ratios favor owners over renters. Moody’s Analytics reports that price/rent ratios at the peak of the bubble were 18.5. Now the ratio is down to 11.3. For comparison from 1989-2003 the national average was approximately 10. Mortgage rates are a primary factor in overall home costs. Rates across the country are close to all time lows. The rates move from 3.94% to 4.12%. This makes house payments more affordable than in years. The hurdle comes in qualifying for today’s tighter lending standards.

It is important to factor in the location of the housing market you are considering. Some, like Detroit or Miami are bargains, while New York or San Francisco are in demand and command a premium. The author favors a “buy and hold” position and discourages an invest and flip position. He also recommends careful shopping as prices could decline farther. However, high yields are challenging in many of today’s investments, so homes offer a firm, reasonable opportunity.

If you want to explore your options in today’s East Tennessee Smokies, begin on our website. There are ample options available to explore at your own pace in the privacy of your own home. Begin today to explore these exciting opportunities.

Here a few of my new & featured listings: 

 

Great Four Level Chalet/Nice Ridge View
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: $279,900
Get more information >

 

A-Frame w/Serene Setting/Incredible View
Total privacy with this A Frame home with incredible mountain vista and mature native mountain laurel. Located in Gatlinburg and walking distance to community pools, tennis courts, and Ski Resort.
Type: Single Family Home
Location: Gatlinburg ,Tennessee
Price: $159,900
Get more information >

 

Great Price For Beautiful Mountain View
Plenty of community amenities, private, yet close to town. Enjoy nature and wildlife at this tastefully furnished log cabin from three covered decks, all with mountain views. Spacious for family gatherings, with two game rooms as well as a living room.
Type: Single Family Home
Location: Pigeon Forge
Price: $325,000
Get more information >

 

Let Old Man Winter Fade Into Memory As You Embrace Our Smoky Mountain Springfest

Posted by Gatlin on

 

Spring Flowers

It seems that everyone I talk to, has a story to tell of an unusually cold winter that is still gripping parts of our country. Despite the duration of cold temperatures, that combined with a prolific variety of precipitation, winter is slowly giving way to spring.  If you desire an escape into spring,  join us for the Smoky Mountain Springfest.  This three month celebration has already started, but Mother Nature is just beginning to participate.  Springfest continues into the second week of June and is focused upon Gatlinburg and neighboring communities in the East Tennessee Smokies.  Visitors will find city streets loaded with baskets of beautiful blooming flowers and plants.  Now the forces of nature are joining in to amp up the festivities.  The daffodils and tulips are bursting into spring glory and are supported by the early blooming trees and shrubs.  Quince, forsythias, Bradford Pears, and Star Magnolias are coming into flower.

As the season progresses, the wild flowers and dogwoods join with Eastern Redbuds to color in the oncoming green of our woodland forests.  For the upcoming Easter weekend, weather looks sunny and quite warm.  Area churchs welcome visitors to services throughout the Smokies.  Gatlinburg will have their annual Easter morning Sunrise Service at Ober Gatlinburg set among the splendor of the Great Smoky Mountains. The Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community has their annual Easter show from March 31st through April 3rd. 

The warmer weather also heralds a new season of great southern barbeque.  April 22nd will be a date for Gatlinburg’s Ribfest & Wings.  Vendors from all over the Southeast will tempt you with their secret receipes for ribs and wings as the sweet scent of hickory smoke perfumes the air.  Simultaneiously, from April 21st through April 25th you can join in the 60th Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage and Greener Living Expo.  This event offers nature hikes of varying degrees of physical challenge that allow you to explore plants and wildflowers of the Great Smoky Mountains.  There are classroom lectures and automobile excursions that compliment the hikes. 

May’s entries in the Springfest includes, Gatlinburg’s Scottish Highland Games and Festivals May 14th through 16th.  Scottish games, bagpipe music, dancing, and food, combine with a parade to create a great time.  This event shares center stage with Gatlinburg’s Fine Arts Festival on May 15h & 16th.  Both events are family oriented with activities and food for everyone.  You can find details of the Fine Arts Festival in one of my earlier blogs or by visiting http://www.gfaf.net/.  My wife Jessica Weiss will have a booth displaying her custom jewelry.

If you are really looking to extend your fun in the Tennessee Smokies and have some incentives to visit often, consider buying real estate in the area.  We have a multitude of options from; rental cabins, to primary, and secondary homes. Whatever you desire in mountian property, we can most likely supply.  Currently, there are tax incentives that expire the end of April for  home buyers, and low mortgage rates that will probably increase throughout the year.  Now is a good time to purchase from many perspectives.  Our website is an ideal location to begin your property search.  You can select your parameters for selection and set up a filter that brings in time-saving possibilities that match your criteria.  Log on our website or call the Jason White Team today 877-678-2121 and get high-ranked realty professionals to assist in your property search. 

Here are a Couple of  My Current Listings:

Spectacular Smoky Mountain View!!
Unique opportunity to own a lot like this! Spectacular mountain and city view, with level building site.
Type: Land
Location: Gatlinburg ,Tennessee
Price: $125,000
Get more information >
Gorgeous Mountain Views and Private!
This totally secluded log cabin has incredible mountain views and lots of space. The unfinished basement/garage has hugh potential to become an extra living area.
Type: Single Family Home
Location: Gatlinburg ,Tennessee
Price: $149,900
Get more information >

Real Estate Outlook: Warning of Slow Down?

Posted by Gatlin on

Smoky Mountain CabinThough some economic analysts are warning that the housing market’s rebound will slow down as the weather turns colder, this week’s numbers show no hints of that. In fact, they’re actually pretty warm.

Start with house prices. The Clear Capital Home Data Index, which tracks price movements in thousands of neighborhoods and ZIP codes across the country, reported a 6.3 percent gain for the period covering August 27th through September 25th.

The latest index found prices up for the first time since 2006 in two of the hardest-hit real estate markets – Riverside-San Bernadino, California, and Orlando, Florida. Though the gains weren’t big – just 1.2 percent in Orlando, and half a percentage point in Riverside- San Bernadino – just the fact that they’re finally bottoming out has got to be good news for property owners and sellers there. Baltimore also saw its first positive price change in seven quarters on the Clear Capital Index, while other major markets continued their multi-quarter strings of gains.

Dallas-Ft. Worth, for example, saw prices rise by an average 2.3 percent. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale was up 3.4 percent, Houston 3.1 percent and even New York, which has had a tough time recently in Manhattan, posted a 1.6 percent jump. Meanwhile, the mortgage market continued to provide plenty of financing fuel for home buyers looking to use the $8,000 tax credit before it possibly disappears at the end of November.

The Mortgage Bankers Association says average thirty year rates dropped again last week in its national survey — hitting 4.89 percent — the lowest they’ve been since May. Fifteen year fixed rates decreased to just 4.3 percent, which is the lowest ever recorded in the mortgage association’s survey history. Not surprisingly, record low rates are pulling in massive numbers of new loan applications. Overall applications were up by 16 percent last week. Loans to people planning to buy homes jumped by 13 percent, while refinancing applications soared by 18 percent.

And here’s a truly amazing statistic: New mortgage applications to buy houses using FHA loans were 52 percent higher last week than they were a year ago! With mortgages flying out of banks with interest rates in the mid -to -upper four percent range, you don’t spend a whole lot of time worrying about a slowdown in the real estate rebound. Unless, of course, Congress doesn’t extend the $8,000 tax credit into next year. 
Feel free to contact the professionals at the Jason White Team for an in depth look at the Gatlinburg real estate.

                    Here are a couple of Jason’s Latest Listings!!    

 

 

 

 

Cozy Condo w/ Balcony Overlooking Stream
This conveniently located condo is only 1.5m from downtown Gatlinburg’s shopping and dining. Even has a woodburning fireplace and balcony to enjoy the beautiful mountain stream.
Type: Condo
Location: Gatlinburg ,Tennessee
Price: $86,900
Get more information >
This Spacious Home Has Lots to Offer!!
This spacious home has a wrap around deck with hot tub and covered front porch to enjoy the beauty of nature. Homeowner has included the vacant lot next door in the price and if you finish off the basement it would add 948 sq ft to this property.
Type: Single Family Home
Location: Gatlinburg ,Tennessee
Price: $185,000
Get more information >

Homes for Sale in Gatlinburg TN

Posted by Gatlin on
Gatlinburg TN Waterfall
Gatlinburg TN Waterfall

Homes for sale in Gatlinburg TN display all the natural wonders of living near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Nature and beauty surround many of the homes for sale in Gatlinburg Tennessee, and the area is full of fun activities. Since so many of the Gatlinburg TN homes for sale are in such a beautiful environment, many of the best things to do are outdoors.

With over 1,000 Tennessee fishing lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds that flow around or through Gatlinburg TN, fisherman will be at no shortage of places to reel in the big one.

For fishermen that don’t want to travel far, some homes for sale in Gatlinburg TN offer streams in the backyard or close to the house.

For Gatlinburg, TN housing specifications like this, please contact Gatlinburg TN real estate agent Jason White for Gatlinburg TN homes for sale that meet your criteria.