Gatlinburg Real Estate Blog

Our spectacular new listing at 3545 Carsons Ridge Way (appropriately nicknamed "Déjà View") features 30-foot cathedral ceilings with three sides of floor-to-ceiling glass to admire the unbelievable view of the Smoky Mountains and the Brothers Cove valleys. Want to get an even closer look? Step outside on the 50-foot-long wrap-around deck and soak in the panoramic vista! This area really is pristine as there are hardly any other homes in sight. Here is the actual view from the deck: The open floor plan with soaring ceilings make this large log cabin home feel even larger. Here is just a part of one of those walls of glass I was describing: There are also an abundance of fireplaces (inside and out) that this custom fully furnished home features. That's not all, "Déjà View" has 3 bedrooms and 3.5 baths (all full baths are ensuite type) and naturally, the bedrooms are also really special: Located in picturesque and gated Brothers Cove in the Waldens Creek area, you ...

Our spectacular new listing at 3545 Carsons Ridge Way (appropriately nicknamed "Déjà View") features 30-foot cathedral ceilings with three sides of floor-to-ceiling glass to admire the unbelievable view of the Smoky Mountains and the Brothers Cove valleys. Want to get an even closer look? Step outside on the 50-foot-long wrap-around deck and soak in the panoramic vista! This area really is pristine as there are hardly any other homes in sight. Here is the actual view from the deck: The open floor plan with soaring ceilings make this large log cabin home feel even larger. Here is just a part of one of those walls of glass I was describing: There are also an abundance of fireplaces (inside and out) that this custom fully furnished home features. That's not all, "Déjà View" has 3 bedrooms and 3.5 baths (all full baths are ensuite type) and naturally, the bedrooms are also really special: Located in picturesque and gated Brothers Cove in the Waldens Cr...

After selling real estate here in the Gatlinburg area for almost 18 years, I have often been frustrated that very few owners actually make a profit with their vacation homes. There are many reasons but the chief cause of their failure to make a profit is a lack of commitment to the project. It is not enough to buy a nice cabin or chalet here and then completely forget about it. There are several routes to success but they all have in common the requirement that the owners stay involved and committed to their success. Earlier this month, I received the following email from a client of ours: Mike and I bought this lovely cabin from your company March of 2011. We spent the next 12 weeks completely upgrading the interior and exterior, even creating a private "Grill Garden" just behind the cabin for an extra pop. June of 2011 "Take Me Away" was finally ready for guests and handed over to a property management company. Having very high expectations, we learned early on t...

After selling real estate here in the Gatlinburg area for almost 18 years, I have often been frustrated that very few owners actually make a profit with their vacation homes. There are many reasons but the chief cause of their failure to make a profit is a lack of commitment to the project. It is not enough to buy a nice cabin or chalet here and then completely forget about it. There are several routes to success but they all have in common the requirement that the owners stay involved and committed to their success. Earlier this month, I received the following email from a client of ours: Mike and I bought this lovely cabin from your company March of 2011. We spent the next 12 weeks completely upgrading the interior and exterior, even creating a private "Grill Garden" just behind the cabin for an extra pop. June of 2011 "Take Me Away" was finally ready for guests and handed over to a property management company. Having very high expectations, we learned earl...

While it is too early to be sure, I have a client who just may hit 300 nights booked in 2012. He purchased our Gatlinburg foreclosure listing just last year and immediately wisely spent a considerable amount of money to update the tired and neglected property. He did this by installing a new attractive metal roof, re-staining the exterior, improving the interior, and adding quality furniture. The result is a VERY attractive honeymoon cabin with a grand total investment of well less than $150,000 and almost unheard of rental income. Because the second half of the year is always the better portion for Smoky Mountain vacation rental property rentals, the final numbers could be remarkable indeed. The key components of this remarkable success story are as follows: A great location very convenient to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. A very rentable honeymoon cabin floor plan/layout. A cabin that now has excellent curb appeal due to the professional remodeling. A cabin that now has an inviting i...

While it is too early to be sure, I have a client who just may hit 300 nights booked in 2012. He purchased our Gatlinburg foreclosure listing just last year and immediately wisely spent a considerable amount of money to update the tired and neglected property. He did this by installing a new attractive metal roof, re-staining the exterior, improving the interior, and adding quality furniture. The result is a VERY attractive honeymoon cabin with a grand total investment of well less than $150,000 and almost unheard of rental income. Because the second half of the year is always the better portion for Smoky Mountain vacation rental property rentals, the final numbers could be remarkable indeed. The key components of this remarkable success story are as follows: A great location very convenient to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. A very rentable honeymoon cabin floor plan/layout. A cabin that now has excellent curb appeal due to the professional remodeling. A cabin that now has an inv...

Because of the large number of foreclosed Gatlinburg area real estate properties, a burgeoning used furniture market has been created here in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee.  Unless specific documents were signed in advance, foreclosing banks have no legal right to the contents of the homes that they repossess.  Property owners that are facing foreclosure are often in pretty difficult straits financially not just with regard to their vacation home here in the Gatlinburg area but also in a more general fashion with their overall financial position back home.  The proceeds obtained by selling the furniture that was in the home they used to own is welcome cash.  Because purchasers of foreclosed real estate will want to furnish the homes they have acquired, the market for this gently used furniture is quite strong indeed.  So much so that a number of shops have sprung up that cater to the buyers and sellers of used furniture. One of the larger stores of this ...

Because of the large number of foreclosed Gatlinburg area real estate properties, a burgeoning used furniture market has been created here in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee.  Unless specific documents were signed in advance, foreclosing banks have no legal right to the contents of the homes that they repossess.  Property owners that are facing foreclosure are often in pretty difficult straits financially not just with regard to their vacation home here in the Gatlinburg area but also in a more general fashion with their overall financial position back home.  The proceeds obtained by selling the furniture that was in the home they used to own is welcome cash.  Because purchasers of foreclosed real estate will want to furnish the homes they have acquired, the market for this gently used furniture is quite strong indeed.  So much so that a number of shops have sprung up that cater to the buyers and sellers of used furniture. One of the larger stores of thi...

Once upon a time, many years ago, Smoky Mountain vacation rental cabins and chalets could actually generate enough rental income to pay for themselves.  In fact, several of our clients purchased or had built multiple cabins over a period of years because they not only paid for themselves, but they also created a handsome after-tax return.  Then came the real estate bubble and prices headed out of sight and in many cases went far beyond any reasonable valuation level.  At the height of the insanity, 480 square foot Gatlinburg area studio cabins sold for well over $200,000 and of course this simply wasn't sustainable.  There are only 365 nights in a year and as a cabin owner, one can only reasonably expect to rent your property for around 200 nights a year at best (although I have personally seen rentals that generated as many as 278 nights in a single year).  After the rental management fee which is typically 40% of gross rentals, cabin owners still must pay...

Once upon a time, many years ago, Smoky Mountain vacation rental cabins and chalets could actually generate enough rental income to pay for themselves.  In fact, several of our clients purchased or had built multiple cabins over a period of years because they not only paid for themselves, but they also created a handsome after-tax return.  Then came the real estate bubble and prices headed out of sight and in many cases went far beyond any reasonable valuation level.  At the height of the insanity, 480 square foot Gatlinburg area studio cabins sold for well over $200,000 and of course this simply wasn't sustainable.  There are only 365 nights in a year and as a cabin owner, one can only reasonably expect to rent your property for around 200 nights a year at best (although I have personally seen rentals that generated as many as 278 nights in a single year).  After the rental management fee which is typically 40% of gross rentals, cabin owners still must p...

Over the past 15 years, the change in the way that Gatlinburg vacation homes are marketed to guests is truly remarkable. If you were planning a Gatlinburg vacation 15 years ago, your search probably began with your your hometown newspaper classifieds.  In a section titled Vacation Rentals (that no longer exists in many/most local newspapers), Gatlinburg cabin rental companies ran ads that went something like this: 1-10 bedroom luxury log cabin and chalet rentals in Gatlinburg!  Call 1-800-NIGHTLY for more info and a free catalog describing all of our beautiful properties. When the requested catalog came in the mail, it was a rather simple booklet with descriptions and pen & ink artist's renditions of the exteriors of cabins that the rental company managed. Potential guests then called a second time to see if the cabin they liked in the catalog was available on the dates that they wished to visit.  If it was in fact available, th...

Over the past 15 years, the change in the way that Gatlinburg vacation homes are marketed to guests is truly remarkable. If you were planning a Gatlinburg vacation 15 years ago, your search probably began with your your hometown newspaper classifieds.  In a section titled Vacation Rentals (that no longer exists in many/most local newspapers), Gatlinburg cabin rental companies ran ads that went something like this: 1-10 bedroom luxury log cabin and chalet rentals in Gatlinburg!  Call 1-800-NIGHTLY for more info and a free catalog describing all of our beautiful properties. When the requested catalog came in the mail, it was a rather simple booklet with descriptions and pen & ink artist's renditions of the exteriors of cabins that the rental company managed. Potential guests then called a second time to see if the cabin they liked in the catalog was available on the dates that they wished to visit.  If it was in fact available,...