Top Advice For Buyers & Sellers From The Team

Posted by Gatlin on October 25, 2012

We would like to take a moment to congratulate everyone at Century 21 Four Seasons for an outstanding 2012. Our firm is ranked #1 in gross sales for the year with $48,037,391 in real estate volume to date. Our team is excited to be a part of the number one firm within the Great Smoky Mountain Association of REALTORS. Because of the support of a great company and all of our clients past and present I am able to congratulate everyone who is a part of The Jason White Team for ranking in the top three agents consistently throughout the year. As a team we offer top notch services, expert knowledge and a sincere desire to make each real estate transaction a fantastic experience for our clients.

As the market continues to change on a daily basis it is important to know that you have a team that is in the pulse of what is happening to help you navigate your real estate transaction. Today we are going to offer some top tips and advice from each member of the team to assist you as you consider buying or selling a home in the Smoky Mountain real estate market.

For sellers: As the team’s listing agent I work primarily with those wishing to get their homes on the market and sold. The following are the three things that I believe will help to prepare you for the process of having your home on the market.

*Even though the statistics show the market improving many buyers are still in the mindset of being able to purchase properties at a discount. Be prepared for low offers, even insulting offers. Don’t take it personally! Take a moment to look at it from the buyer’s side – everyone wants the best deal possible. Be willing to start negotiations and view even a low offer as an opportunity to get to the result that you are looking for.

*Make your house shine. First impressions are the most important in real estate and there is a lot of competition on the market. When we have a showing we want yours to be the one that stands out. If you were selling your car you would take the time to clean it up, maybe even have it detailed right? It’s the same for your house. A fresh coat of paint, a good cleaning and attention to needed maintenance will go a long way towards helping you get an offer.

*Stay focused on the outcome not the process. With the number of homes on the market it is important to be patient and stay flexible. It may take some time to get an offer and once you do the process from offer to closing may be demanding but we are here to help navigate the process and make it as smooth as possible. A buyer may need more time to close because of their lender, there may be repairs to be made and the closing company is going to need information. Knowing that these things may occur ahead of time will help you to avoid frustration during the transaction.

For buyers from Stephanie Huskey: Stephanie has been active in the Smoky Mountain real estate market for 7 years and is a dedicated Buyer Specialist. Here are her top three tips for those considering a purchase in the area.

*Give yourself time to look and be flexible. With this being a busy vacation area many properties you are interested in may not be available on certain days, especially weekends. Purchasing a home is a serious investment and is worth taking a few days away from other obligations when you are ready to look. Scheduling a trip during the week instead of on a weekend will make your trip much more productive as more homes will be available and there will be less traffic to delay your day.

*Know ahead of time what your “must haves” are. This will help me to condense the list of homes we view and insure that your time is spent looking at homes that have the qualities you desire.

*The market is moving at a pretty rapid pace. It is crucial to have a mortgage pre-approval or proof of funds letter in hand when you come to look. Many sellers will not even approve a showing unless we are able to provide this ahead of time.

For buyers from Suzanne Walls: Suzanne is also a Buyer Specialist and has 10 years of experience helping buyers reach their real estate goals. She says these are the three things to know when you are ready to start looking at mountain homes.

*Know that the Smoky Mountain market is a prime investment area and our prices may not reflect the discounts that are still available in other markets. Throughout 2012 the market has improved and homes are selling for an average of 93% of asking price.

*All of the areas we serve offer different amenities. Know ahead of time what is most important to you about location such as views, level roads or mountainous and proximity to town. Doing this we will help us make sure we are spending your time here at homes you will love.

*Be prepared to make an offer. When you see “the one” you want to be able to make an offer right away. If you are rating a home as a 9 or 10 someone else is too. The market here is very active and homes are moving.

We are here to help when you are ready to buy or sell. Take a look at all of the opportunites available and know you will be in great hands when the time comes to start looking or to put your home on the market.

Here Are A Few Of My Featured Listings:

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 >

A Place To Remember Step inside this beautiful mountain home and you will quickly see why it is named A Place To Remember. Features five private master suites and did over $30,000 in rental income for 2011! Type: Single Family Home Location: Chalet Village Price: $389,900 Get more information >

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: $329,000 Get more information >

December Shows Smoky Mountain Homes For Sale Are Still Moving

Posted by Gatlin on January 5, 2012

We wanted to take this time to look at how the last month of 2011 shaped up for the Smoky Mountain real estate market. We are still seeing a reasonably healthy market with only minor changes from 2010 and plenty of homes in inventory. If you are looking at purchasing investment property now may be the time. A recent article by www.WBIR.com says Pigeon Forge is getting more national attention as a top travel destination. The article notes that Trip Advisor recently released its 2012 list of the “Top 15 US Destinations on the Rise” with Pigeon Forge making the list at number four. Trip Advisor said one of Pigeon Forge’s advantages is its close proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and its outdoor activities as well as other attraction options like Dollywood. Let’s take a look at the numbers and see if the Smoky Mountain area may be the perfect place for your next investment.

In our first category, Total Residences Sold, we see that 2011 is only down by 64 homes from the previous year.

Total Residential Dollar Volume is also down from last year showing a decrease of 9%.

The Average Residential Sale shows only a small decrease of $8,647 from 2010.

Our last category, Active Listings, still shows an increase from last year with 7,071 homes available on the market to choose from. This is a change of 659 homes for sale.

It would seem that the Smoky Mountain area market is still somewhat stable. With plenty of homes on the market as well as all of the national attention as a top destination, this could be the perfect time & place to look at a potential investment home. Get started by looking at the wide array of homes available at our website.

Here are a few of my featured listings:

Smoky Mountain Views Found Here!
Magnificent mountain views but just minutes to downtown Gatlinburg. This mountain get away is perfect for the buyer looking for a prime location at a great price.
Type: Single Family Home
Location: Chalet Village
Price: $154,900
Get more information >

Beautiful Ridge Top Property! Great Deal
Beautiful ridge top property with level building site. Clear a few trees to have a wonderful mountain view. Gravel driveway to the top of the ridge. VERY MOTIVATED SELLERS!
Type: Land
Location: Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Price: $39,900
Get more information >

Walk To Arts & Crafts Community
A very unique and artistic log home. Very private yet within walking distance to the arts and crafts community in Pittman Center. Beautiful mountain view from the stone patio,covered front porch w/hot tub, and lots of stained glass throughout.
Type: Single Family Home
Location: Gatlinburg ,Tennessee
Price: $168,500
Get more information >

Homes For Sale In Gatlinburg Could Be In A Warm Market

Posted by Gatlin on October 20, 2011

This blog works to provide relevant data on Smoky Mountain homes and how that ties to the overall U.S. real estate market. The National Association Of Realtors reported in late September of this year that August 2011 pending home sales had declined nationally. However, the pending home sales index remains above August of 2010. The PHSI is a future oriented market indicator. It focuses upon signed home sales contracts which are not officially closed. These typically close in 1-2 months. Our interest is not centered exclusively upon this news but on material related to this story.

Four regions comprise the PHSI. Pending home sales here in the South was the only region across the country to have an increase in August 2011. NAR Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun feels that Hurricane Irene certainly impacted home sales in some parts of the nation. In addition, Mr. Yun is concerned that overly strict mortgage underwriting standards are rejecting a sizable number of financially qualified potential home buyers. The Chief Economist is hopeful that standards will be relaxed to allow more qualified buyers to enter the market.

For some time , we have advised our blog readers to get pre-approved for financing. This simplifies the home buying process by eliminating some of the guesswork. Go on our website today to get started finding your dream property in the Tennessee Smokies.

*Information was obtained from: http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2011/09/phs_august

Here are a few of my new listings:

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 >

Mt. Leconte Views On A Pond
$17,832 rental income for 2010 & $17,444 already for 2011. Fantastic Mt. Leconte & community pond views.
Type: Single Family Home
Location: Gatlinburg ,Tennessee
Price: $179,900
Get more information >

Unparallelled View of Great Smokies!!
Contemporary home with many interior updates and incredible view of ski slopes at Ober Gatlinburg and Great Smoky Mountains.
Type: Single Family Home
Location: Gatlinburg ,Tennessee
Price: $224,900
Get more information >

Smoky Mountain Real Estate and Gatlinburg Home Sales Mirror the U.S. Housing Market

Posted by Gatlin on August 11, 2010

Our country’s housing market, like our Smoky Mountain real estate, is still adjusting to life without stimulus money. My news sources at the National Association of Realtors in Washington, D.C. are confirming widely predicted results for the country’s property sales. “Pending Home Sales” tracks homes under contract, but not officially closed. July 2010’s pending home sales index moved lower by 2.6% from June 2010. NAR’s chief economist, Lawrence Yun had predicted this pullback in housing activity, earlier in the year. Yun felt that the congressional extension of the homebuyer tax credit would amplify the normal spring homebuyer surge. The stimulus incentives did bring hesitant buyers into the market. It worked well at accelerating home purchases across the nation. In the short term, home prices have stabilized in most areas, as inventories of homes for sale have dropped.

However, it was expected among real estate economists that this artificial acceleration of buyers into homes, would lead to a period of lower home sales, when the federal stimulus ended. What we are seeing in the current real estate market, is the lull as the market re-adjusts. NAR’s Yun anticipates some months of reduced home sales during this re-adjustment period. The chief economist expects a pick-up in home sales later in the year, as long as the U.S. job market continues to improve. In the short term, inventory of homes for sale may increase, but Yun feels pricing on homes has reached justifiable levels where they should not change meaningfully from today’s levels. He sees some local markets across the country showing price improvement. Mortgage interest rates are also expected to remain at these historically low levels for most of this year. The critical factor in a strengthening U.S. housing market lies in serious job creation across the nation. NAR’s chief economist feels employment growth is paramount to lasting improvement in the U.S. housing and real estate markets.

It seems as though most of today’s national real estate news was expected and not surprising at all. The current real estate environment is still favorable for investment in the East Tennessee Smokies. Prices are off their highs. Inventory of properties for sale offer a great selection. Qualified buyers can obtain historically low mortgage interest rates. The Smokies provide; a beautiful , centrally-located destination, with great climate, and a reasonable cost of living. If you are considering a real estate investment, we have everything from; rental cabins to primary and secondary homes. Jump on our website today and see how the Jason White Team can help you find the property you always wanted.

OPPS!! Our latest figures for the month of July are incorrect. Unfortunately, the figures included commercial and there was a very large sale in the commercial side of real estate which threw off my figures. I usually have figures for residential only. I will have the correct figures in next weeks blog. My apologies!

Here are a Couple of My Latest Listings:

Ridgetop Property/Heart of Pigeon Forge
If you want peace and quite on top of a ridgetop with phenomenal mountain views, then this is the property for you. Located in the heart of Pigeon Forge.
Type: Single Family Home
Location: Pigeon Forge
Price: $159,900
Get more information >

Pristine Mountain Views!
Located in heart of Pigeon Forge with all the amenities this property offers a pristine mountain view as well!
Type: Single Family Home
Location: Pigeon Forge
Price: $189,900
Get more information >

Call today to view these properties or any others! 877-678-2121

Navigating the Minefields of Today’s “Distressed Property” Market

Posted by Gatlin on May 19, 2010

Today’s real estate market participant needs to be savvy to the wide variety of terms used to describe “financially distressed” real estate in the U.S. As buyer or seller, there are legal steps for disposing or acquiring certain types of “distressed real estate”. Sellers of “distressed property” can have their credit score adversely impacted, depending upon the type of liquidation process that is used on their property. With all this being said, deeply-discounted property from; foreclosures, short sales, etc, helped drive the 2009 real estate market in the U.S. This was especially powerful, when combined with federal tax credits geared to motivate new and repeat homebuyers to enter the market. The impact of these “financially distressed” properties may be a significant part of our country’s real estate picture for some time into the future.

For these reasons, I feel this week’s blog/newsletter should kick off an examination of the various terms used for “distressed property” in today’s realty arena. Please be aware that laws governing “distressed property” and real estate in general vary from state to state. There can be federal IRS tax consequences hidden in these “bargain properties” as well. For the best advice possible, utilize a CPA and an attorney with real estate experience in the area that you are buying or selling real estate. The Jason White Team can refer you to professionals in East Tennessee’s Smokies that can assist with complex property issues on a sale or purchase here. In order to keep this blog/newsletter reasonable in length, look for the upcoming examination and definition of “financially distressed properties” like foreclosure and short sale in my website, www.smokymountainlifestyle.com, under the categories of; “For the Buyer” and “For the Seller” across the top of my home page. This project should be complete within the next week or so.

Here are a Couple of My Latest Listings: (These are not foreclosures or short sales!)

Update w/ Spectacular Views of Mountains
This updated, meticulously maintained home is a beauty! Enjoy the spectacular northern view of the mountains from a level yard on one of many decks.
Type: Single Family Home
Location: Gatlinburg ,Tennessee
Price: $248,500
Get more information >

Up Close and Personal w/ Mt LeConte
Level yard and totally updated with panoramic views of Mt. LeConte and Gatlinburg’s city lights. Excellent location-close to downtown Gatlinburg and all the amenities!
Type: Single Family Home
Location: Gatlinburg ,Tennessee
Price: $239,900

Pending Home Sales Slows, But Remains Above 2008 Levels

Posted by Gatlin on January 13, 2010

My blog readers may recall this expected market action from earlier news reports out of the National Association of Realtors in Washington, D.C., NAR chief economist, Lawrence Yun reaffirmed that the drop in the Pending Home Sales Index was anticipated. Home buyers scrambling to beat the initial deadline for the tax credit caused a wave of activity that crested with the origional deadline for the tax credit. Many analysts at the NAR predicted that the rise in the PHSI would halt as the old tax credit ended and its’ new expanded replacement builds momentum. Yun is optimistic that another surge of new home buyers will enter the market this spring. Although Pending Home Sales backed off its streak of consecutive increases, the Index remains above last year’s levels. NAR’s chief economist thinks the U.S. home market is building momentum on its own, but expects another 900,000 first-time home buyers to utilize the extended tax credit along with 1.5 million repeat buyers. Yun feels that low mortgage rates and increases in job growth will help the real estate market. Excess housing inventory will continue to decrease. All this should help in stabilizing home prices in 2010.

The Pending Home Sales Index fell in all 4 regions of the country. Home sales in the West fell the least. Next in line is in the South, where the Index fell 15.0% to a reading of 97.8, but stayed 14.7% above 2008’s levels. An index level of 100 is equal to the average level of contract activity on homes in 2001. This was the first year the index was used.

If you are considering a real estate purchase in the Smokies, now is a great time. Mortgage interest rates are at historically low levels and will probably increase. Inventory of properties for sale is up, so selection is good. The tax credit is in effect through April 30th and it could put $6,500-$8,000 in your pocket, if you qualify. So if you are seriously thinking about buying or selling Smokies real estate in 2010, contact the Jason White Team. Our expertise and knowledge of the area has made us a leader in helping people buy or sell property in the Great Smoky Mountains. Contact us online or by phone to get started today.

Here are a Couple of My Latest Listings:

Incredible Smoky Mountain/Valley Views!
This home is truly Above and Beyond. Even has an elevator! The mountain and valley views are worth viewing this home! Incredible log details throughout.
Type: Single Family Home
Location: Wears Valley
Price: $699,900
Get more information >

Lots of Windows to Enjoy Mountain View!
Beautiful views from this contemporary home. Lots of windows bring the outside in. If you need storage this home is for you with plenty of closet space and even a separate living space in the lower level with it’s own entrance. Great in-law quarter!
Type: Single Family Home
Location: Gatlinburg ,Tennessee
Price: $135,000
Get more information >

Pigeon Forge TN Real Estate

Posted by Gatlin on February 22, 2009

Resting between the Smoky Mountain towns of Gatlinburg and Sevierville along the west fork of the Little Pigeon River, lies Pigeon Forge.

This small town is the gateway to Dollywood and other Great Smoky Mountain attractions, thus Pigeon Forge TN real estate has great value to investors and long term homeowners alike.

Pigeon Forge TN Real estate ranges from homes in town to Pigeon Forge cabins for sale sitting in the mountains above the valley. Pigeon Forge TN real estate is a great opportunity for any outdoors lovers or anyone who has ever wanted a beautiful view outside their kitchen window.

For more information on Pigeon Forge TN real estate or other Smoky Mountain real estate, please contact Smoky Mountain real estate agent, Jason White.

Pigeon Forge TN Real Estate

Posted by Gatlin on January 24, 2009

Located in the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee is Pigeon Forge. Known as an affordable family vacation or honeymoon destination, beautiful homes lie snuggled into the forest and mountain surroundings.

The beautiful views and woodsy atmosphere can be cherished from any number of the available Pigeon Forge TN real estate options in the area.

This area of TN real estate can be a great investment or utilized as a vacation or retirement home.

With plenty of activities in the area, especially for the great outdoors-man, buying Pigeon Forge Tennessee real estate can be something you and your family can enjoy in the years to come.

For more information on how to purchase Pigeon Forge TN real estate or other Smoky Mountain TN property, please contact Pigeon Forge TN real estate agent, Jason White.

Tag: TN REAL ESTATE