Gatlinburg Real Estate Blog

February is typically the coldest month here in the Gatlinburg area but this year it has been a very mild winter. While our February weather was relatively gentle, the pace of Gatlinburg real estate sales has been anything but mild. The members of the Great Smoky Mountain Association of Realtors combined for 126 residential sales, a 34% increase when compared to the depressed level of a year ago and this is just the preliminary count. The final total will probably be even higher when all of the dust settles and all sales are recorded. This continues the trend that began in January of significant positive comparisons versus the sales of a year ago: There is no doubt that market conditions are starting to improve. Although most hard assets (gold & other precious metals, oil, etc.) have appreciated sharply during the past 10 years, real estate prices nationally are at about the same level as they were almost 10 years ago. Mortgage rates are at long term (if not all time) lows and the...

February is typically the coldest month here in the Gatlinburg area but this year it has been a very mild winter. While our February weather was relatively gentle, the pace of Gatlinburg real estate sales has been anything but mild. The members of the Great Smoky Mountain Association of Realtors combined for 126 residential sales, a 34% increase when compared to the depressed level of a year ago and this is just the preliminary count. The final total will probably be even higher when all of the dust settles and all sales are recorded. This continues the trend that began in January of significant positive comparisons versus the sales of a year ago: There is no doubt that market conditions are starting to improve. Although most hard assets (gold & other precious metals, oil, etc.) have appreciated sharply during the past 10 years, real estate prices nationally are at about the same level as they were almost 10 years ago. Mortgage rates are at long term (if not all time) lows and the...

March 2011 Gatlinburg area real estate sales were something of a disappointment although there will certainly be more sales recorded in the next week to ten days.  While last year's March sales tallied 144 units (thanks in no small part to the first time home buyer tax credit), this year's total (so far) as reported by our Great Smoky Mountain Association of Realtors MLS is only 109.  While that is the best number reported in 2011, the real news is that we are not as much above the previous months as is typical.  Again, it is important to remember that March sales haven't all been reported yet and I suspect that the final number will be more like 125, this still isn't a great showing.  Not since 2008, which was the very worst year for Sevier County residential property sales in MANY years, has the March total been so little better than the always slow January and February values.  To be sure, things are picking up and April looks like it may be a much ...

March 2011 Gatlinburg area real estate sales were something of a disappointment although there will certainly be more sales recorded in the next week to ten days.  While last year's March sales tallied 144 units (thanks in no small part to the first time home buyer tax credit), this year's total (so far) as reported by our Great Smoky Mountain Association of Realtors MLS is only 109.  While that is the best number reported in 2011, the real news is that we are not as much above the previous months as is typical.  Again, it is important to remember that March sales haven't all been reported yet and I suspect that the final number will be more like 125, this still isn't a great showing.  Not since 2008, which was the very worst year for Sevier County residential property sales in MANY years, has the March total been so little better than the always slow January and February values.  To be sure, things are picking up and April looks like it may be a much ...

It always takes about 2 weeks after month end for all the dust to settle allowing us to get a more meaningful measure of monthly residential sales for our Gatlinburg area real estate market.  Now that we are about there, I thought that I would update the numbers for December and for the full 2010 year.  One would certainly have to describe 2010 as being a pretty good year, at least when compared to 2008 & 2009.  While the first portion of the year was slow, the pace of sales did increase in the second half of the year and with the exception of October & November finished quite nicely.  Government attempts to positively influence the national real estate market did in fact cause more sales during the summer months but these gains were pretty short lived - When the incentives ended so did the bump.  Gatlinburg area sales pretty well followed the national trends and foreclosures continue to be a major part of our overall market.  Al...

It always takes about 2 weeks after month end for all the dust to settle allowing us to get a more meaningful measure of monthly residential sales for our Gatlinburg area real estate market.  Now that we are about there, I thought that I would update the numbers for December and for the full 2010 year.  One would certainly have to describe 2010 as being a pretty good year, at least when compared to 2008 & 2009.  While the first portion of the year was slow, the pace of sales did increase in the second half of the year and with the exception of October & November finished quite nicely.  Government attempts to positively influence the national real estate market did in fact cause more sales during the summer months but these gains were pretty short lived - When the incentives ended so did the bump.  Gatlinburg area sales pretty well followed the national trends and foreclosures continue to be a major part of our overall market.  ...

Although the Titanic Museum attraction in Pigeon Forge has been open for about 6 months, tonight was my first visit.  The walk through at your own pace tour was very informative and my wife Karen and I enjoyed it quite a bit.  We had reservations for 4pm and there was a good crowd in attendance when we arrived at about 3:45pm.  Our tour began right on time and we progressed past the exhibits, the ice water sample, and the video but just as we were approaching the portion of the tour where you see the passenger list to find out if your person survived or not everything changed suddenly. I had just seen a demonstration of how the Titanic's lights flickered and than she sank only a couple of hours after striking the iceberg when the lights in the large room we were in actually did go out!  This was not in any way a planned part of the exhibit.  Only the emergency lighting was on and there was a good deal of confusion among the staff as to how we were...

Although the Titanic Museum attraction in Pigeon Forge has been open for about 6 months, tonight was my first visit.  The walk through at your own pace tour was very informative and my wife Karen and I enjoyed it quite a bit.  We had reservations for 4pm and there was a good crowd in attendance when we arrived at about 3:45pm.  Our tour began right on time and we progressed past the exhibits, the ice water sample, and the video but just as we were approaching the portion of the tour where you see the passenger list to find out if your person survived or not everything changed suddenly. I had just seen a demonstration of how the Titanic's lights flickered and than she sank only a couple of hours after striking the iceberg when the lights in the large room we were in actually did go out!  This was not in any way a planned part of the exhibit.  Only the emergency lighting was on and there was a good deal of confusion among the staff as to how we we...

I am WAY premature to post this as even my own office has sales that we haven't closed in the MLS yet but October Gatlinburg area residential real estate sales numbers for our Great Smoky Mountain Association of Realtors don't really look that good right now.  Because for the most part the month ended on Friday there were certainly a good number of sales that closed during the last day but which aren't yet in our totals.  With these disclaimers firmly in place the VERY preliminary count for home sales in our Smoky Mountains community is only 109.  Suspect that we will finish up near last month's 132 sales but nowhere near last October's 150.  More information will be available on Monday...

I am WAY premature to post this as even my own office has sales that we haven't closed in the MLS yet but October Gatlinburg area residential real estate sales numbers for our Great Smoky Mountain Association of Realtors don't really look that good right now.  Because for the most part the month ended on Friday there were certainly a good number of sales that closed during the last day but which aren't yet in our totals.  With these disclaimers firmly in place the VERY preliminary count for home sales in our Smoky Mountains community is only 109.  Suspect that we will finish up near last month's 132 sales but nowhere near last October's 150.  More information will be available on Monday...

It happened yet again: A great nearly new Gatlinburg area cabin listing on a large lot that another real estate agent had as a very attractive short sale listing was assigned to me as a new foreclosure.  While a lot of people were putting a tremendous amount of time into trying to arrange a short sale, a different bank employee of the same bank (but in a different state probably) was working on completing the foreclosure process.  As so often happens, the foreclosure occurred while the short sale was supposedly being considered.   This is going to be a great listing, but it likely won't be available for a while because of the considerable quantity of personal property that is inside.  The contents may or may not be sold with the property but I wouldn't bet on them staying.  For more pictures of this superb log cabin on a nice lot with an exceptional view please click here !

It happened yet again: A great nearly new Gatlinburg area cabin listing on a large lot that another real estate agent had as a very attractive short sale listing was assigned to me as a new foreclosure.  While a lot of people were putting a tremendous amount of time into trying to arrange a short sale, a different bank employee of the same bank (but in a different state probably) was working on completing the foreclosure process.  As so often happens, the foreclosure occurred while the short sale was supposedly being considered.   This is going to be a great listing, but it likely won't be available for a while because of the considerable quantity of personal property that is inside.  The contents may or may not be sold with the property but I wouldn't bet on them staying.  For more pictures of this superb log cabin on a nice lot with an exceptional view please click here !

August is usually our hottest month in East Tennessee but it's generally cooler in Gatlinburg than in other parts of Sevier County.  It HAS however been the hottest summer here in a long while! The temperature sensor in the rear view mirror of my truck is generally superbly accurate but it WASN'T really this hot in Sevierville yesterday: Extended idling on a very hot day caused the temperature reading above which was about 40 degrees higher than the actual outdoor temperature.  Fortunately, our summers here aren't normally this steamy and autumn is on the way - I for one can't wait!  If you have never visited Gatlinburg in the fall you've missed a real treat.  Cooler and crisper, the views are better and the scenery is fantastic due to the large number of brightly colored hardwood trees.  If you prefer near 100 degree weather, come as soon as you can - the weather forecasters are predicting a couple more weeks of very warm weather here in the...

August is usually our hottest month in East Tennessee but it's generally cooler in Gatlinburg than in other parts of Sevier County.  It HAS however been the hottest summer here in a long while! The temperature sensor in the rear view mirror of my truck is generally superbly accurate but it WASN'T really this hot in Sevierville yesterday: Extended idling on a very hot day caused the temperature reading above which was about 40 degrees higher than the actual outdoor temperature.  Fortunately, our summers here aren't normally this steamy and autumn is on the way - I for one can't wait!  If you have never visited Gatlinburg in the fall you've missed a real treat.  Cooler and crisper, the views are better and the scenery is fantastic due to the large number of brightly colored hardwood trees.  If you prefer near 100 degree weather, come as soon as you can - the weather forecasters are predicting a couple more weeks of very warm weather here in the...

This remarkable Southern Living design home in the town of Seymour (between Sevierville and Knoxville) has every feature you can imagine and a few more as well.  The builder may have made this home a little too nice to be a spec residence but that can be your gain!  Priced below replacement cost, this executive home boasts quality custom touches throughout.  Walk along the pea gravel walkway viewing the large (all usable) yard and you will notice the top quality Anderson windows and doors.  Continue toward the double front door and step inside where you will be greeted by an impressive entryway with tall ceilings and the luxurious baseboard and crown molding trim that is throughout this home.  On your right you will see the library/office with coffered ceiling and next a very grand dining room.  Past the spacious living area (again with coffered ceiling) and continue to the kitchen where you will admire the hand built cabinets by a...

This remarkable Southern Living design home in the town of Seymour (between Sevierville and Knoxville) has every feature you can imagine and a few more as well.  The builder may have made this home a little too nice to be a spec residence but that can be your gain!  Priced below replacement cost, this executive home boasts quality custom touches throughout.  Walk along the pea gravel walkway viewing the large (all usable) yard and you will notice the top quality Anderson windows and doors.  Continue toward the double front door and step inside where you will be greeted by an impressive entryway with tall ceilings and the luxurious baseboard and crown molding trim that is throughout this home.  On your right you will see the library/office with coffered ceiling and next a very grand dining room.  Past the spacious living area (again with coffered ceiling) and continue to the kitchen where you will admire the hand built cabinets by ...