What You Need To Know About Down Payments [INFOGRAPHIC]

Some Highlights

• If you want to buy a home, you may not need as much for your down payment as you think.
• There are various loan options for qualified buyers with down payments as low as 3.5% or even no down payment requirement. There are also thousands of programs available to help homebuyers with their down payments.
• With the right resources, your down payment may be more within reach than you realize. To learn more about your options, let’s connect.

In 1971 the interest rate for a mortgage was 7.33%. If you waited for interest rates to go down, you wouldn't have purchased a home until 1993. You would have rented for 22 years waiting for rates to go down, meanwhile the value of real estate quadrupled. 

Don't wait to buy real estate!

Buy real estate and wait!

Marry the house, date the rate!

If Your House Hasn’t Sold Yet, It May Be Overpriced

Has your house been sitting on the market a while without selling? If so, you should know that’s pretty unusual, especially right now. That’s because the supply of homes available for sale is still far lower than what we’d see in a normal year. That means buyers have fewer options than they usually would, so your house should be an oasis in an inventory desert.

So, if homebuyers have limited choices and your house still hasn’t sold, there’s a reason why. Let’s break one potential sticking point that may be turning buyers away: your asking price.

Especially with today’s higher mortgage rates already putting a stretch on their budget, buyers are being a bit more sensitive about price. As a recent article from the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) says:

“If you are serious about selling your home now, don’t get greedy with the asking price. This is still a seller’s home market as there simply aren’t enough affordable homes for sale in many parts of the country. But with average 30-year mortgage rates above 6%, buyers are much more price-sensitive than they were a year ago.”

Why Setting the Right Price Matters

While you want to maximize the return on your investment when you sell your house, you also need to be realistic based on current market conditions. The simple truth is your house is only going to sell for what people are willing to pay right now.

This can be a hard thing to accept. Especially since emotions can run high during the selling process, which only complicates matters more. After all, you may have lived in this house for years, so it’s only natural you’re emotionally tied to it – and those heartstrings can make it harder to be objective. 

But it’s important to acknowledge that a bigger-than-expected price tag deters buyers and may make them dismiss your house as a possibility before even seeing it. And if no one’s looking at it, how will it sell?

If you want to get your house sold, you’ll need to do something to spark interest in your home again. That’s where a local real estate agent comes in. They’ll help use data to find out if it’s priced too high for your local market. They balance the value of homes in your neighborhood, current market trends and buyer demand, the condition of your house, and more to find the right price for your house, so you can close this chapter and start your next one.

Bottom Line

While it’s true there aren’t that many homes available for sale right now, your home’s asking price still matters. And, if it’s not selling, it may be priced too high. 

Why an Agent Is Essential When Pricing Your House [INFOGRAPHIC]

Some Highlights

• When it comes to pricing your house, there’s a lot to consider. The only way to ensure you price it right is by partnering with a local real estate professional.

• To find the best price, your agent balances current market demand, the values of homes in your neighborhood, where prices are headed, and your home’s condition.

• Don’t pick just any price for your house. If you’re ready to sell, let’s connect to find the perfect price for your house.

Some Highlights

Some Highlights

Is Owning a Home Still the American Dream for Younger Buyers?

Everyone has their own idea of the American Dream, and it's different for each person. But, in a recent survey by Bankrate, people were asked about the achievements they believe represent the American Dream the most. The answers show that owning a home still claims the #1 spot for many Americans today (see graph below):

In fact, according to the graph, owning a home is more important to people than retiring, having a successful career, or even getting a college degree. But is the dream of homeownership still alive for younger generations?

A recent survey by 1000watt dives into how the two generations many people believed would be the renter generations (Gen Z and millennials) feel about homeownership. Specifically, it asks if they want to buy a home in the future. The resounding answer is yes (see graph below):

While there are plenty of reasons why someone might prefer homeownership to renting, the same 1000watt survey shows, that for 63% of Gen Z and millennials, it’s that your place doesn’t feel like “home” unless you own it – maybe you feel the same way.

That emotional draw is further emphasized when you look at the reasons why Gen Z and millennials want to become homeowners. For all the financial benefits homeownership provides, in most cases it’s about the lifestyle or emotional benefits (see graph below):

What Does This Mean for You?

If you’re a part of Gen Z or are a millennial and you’re ready, willing, and able to buy a home, you’ll want a great real estate agent by your side. Their experience and expertise in the local housing market will help you overcome today’s high mortgage rates, low inventory, and rising home prices to find your first home and turn your dream into a reality.

Working with a local real estate agent to find your dream home is the key to unlocking the American Dream.

Bottom Line

Buying a home is a big, important decision that represents the heart of the American Dream. If you want to accomplish your goal, let’s connect to start the process today.

3 Reasons To Sell Your House Before the New Year [INFOGRAPHIC]

Some Highlights

• Here are a few reasons you may not want to hold off until the new year to sell your house. 
• Buyers looking right now are highly motivated, the supply of homes for sale is still low, and you may find buyers are more flexible with showings this time of year.
• Let’s connect to determine if selling your house now is the right move for you.

Blake Shelton brings more country to Gatlinburg

YES!! He certainly is doing just that. On the Gatlinburg Parkway you will find Blake Shelton’s Ole Red, his lifestyle branded restaurant. It will open sometime in the spring of 2019. It will be multi-level 16,000 square foot exciting entertainment setting. There will be a performance area along with a dance floor. You will be able to satisfy your retail therapy. A two-story bar and restaurant plus an outside terrace will round out the venue. 

Remember Shelton’s hit song, “Ol’ Red?” Well, that was the inspiration for the restaurant. The menu will be Shelton making the menu reminiscent of his Southern roots with classics like BBQ, burgers, Hot Chicken and Waffles and a lot of other Southern classics. As for the entertainment, there will be organized concerts and performances by up and coming talent. All this will be heard on the venue’s state of the art equipment. 

Blake Shelton said that Gatlinburg was one of his all-time favorite places and when he heard about the space there, he jumped on it. He wanted to give the people in the area another locale to have fun at night, to give Gatlinburg the feel of a late-night party. He believes that the country lifestyle people live here in the Smoky Mountain area is the perfect place for Gatlinburg’s residents and visitors to enjoy the entertainment of country music with good food, wonderful music and a whole lot of fun. 

There have been several new and exciting businesses that have appeared over the last year, Margaritaville Resort, Savannah Bee Company and Anakeesta the outdoor family oriented theme park. With a lot of growth and visitor appeal, Gatlinburg will probably be very high on your bucket list of places to visit. After checking out homes and cabins in Gatlinburg real estate you will find yourself able to rest and relax at Ole Red, that is unless you decide to tear up the dance floor!

Ole Red Restaurant and Entertainment Center

511 Parkway (currently the vacant Riverbend Mall)

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Opening February or March 2019

Fall In The Smoky Mountains

 There is so much going on Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and the Smoky Mountains in the fall that I honestly don’t know where to start telling you about them. So, I’ll just pick a few from each city so that you can make the decision where to go and what to do after looking at all the Smoky Mountain real estate for sale.

 I do have to begin with the Fall color changes in the Smokies. Mid-October thru the end of November is peak time for the color change. It starts at the highest elevations and works its way down the mountainsides. This means you will be able to see the colors for approximately 7 weeks. Most are saying that the peak colors this year will be the last week of October thru the first week of November. There are several easy to moderate hikes thru the forests for those of you that want to walk thru the colors and avoid the vehicle traffic which include Baskins Creek Falls, Old Settlers and Porters Creek Trails. For those of you who are of the hardy brand of hikers there is the Appalachian Trail, Mt. Sterling and the Goshen Prong Trails. Also, there are roads that provide beautiful displays of the fall color such as Newfound Gap Road, Cove Creek Road and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.

 Sevierville, TN

Although Sevierville is not as famous as Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, there are still a lot of things to do and well worth taking the time to visit.

1.    There is the Apple Barn Cider Mill and General Store. It’s a very popular dining and shopping area. It sits beside a 4000+ apple tree orchard. The Apple Barn has some of the most delicious desserts such as fried apple pies, apple cinnamon donuts, and old-fashioned apple stack cakes. Besides the Cider Mill and General Store you will find a winery, a Christmas Shop, a creamery, a candy store and a couple of outstanding restaurants. The Apple Barn is a great place to rest and refresh yourself after a morning of looking at Sevierville real estate for sale.

2.    You can take a walk around downtown Sevierville to the Sevier County Courthouse and take a selfie with the bronze statue of the one and only Dolly Parton, the Queen of Country Music. It was sculpted in 1987 by a local artist, Jim Gray. Jim Gray spent more than 2,000 hours working on this project. He used a steel skeleton and then about 300 pounds of clay. Once he finished with the sculpting of it, he shipped it from Knoxville, TN to the Wagner Foundry in Fredericksburg, VA. There it was cast in bronze.

3.    At the Deer Farm Exotic Petting Zoo in Sevierville, you can pet and feed some of the animals there such as, deer, kangaroos, camels, wallabies, and zebras. There is also horseback riding with pony rides for your little ones. There are well-maintained trails for you to enjoy the beautiful mountain views. Admission for those 13 and up is $10.95 and children are $5.95. however, you do need to call ahead as prices are subject to change. 478 Happy Hollow Lane, Sevierville, TN.

4.    Would you like to walk the same area that was used by the Eastern Woodland Indians hundreds of years ago? You are in luck! There is a place just like that in Sevierville, TN. It’s called Forbidden Caverns. This cave was used by the Indians as a good source of water and a place to stay out of the winter cold so you may see some drawings engraved on the walls of the caverns. From around 1920 until 1943, the cave was used to house homemade moonshine operations. In June of 1967, after 3 years of development, a group of business men opened this natural attraction to the public. There are guided tours of the caverns that last about 55 minutes. You can take photos inside during your tour.  Parking is free for cars and buses, there is also a picnic pavilion, a souvenir shop and refreshments. Take a light jacket since it’s always at 58 degrees It’s open Monday – Saturday, April – November opening at 10am to 6pm. The last tour leaves at 5pm. Prices are adults $16. Children 5 -12 are $10 and children under the age of 5 are free. Closed Thanksgiving Day, December, January, February and March. Forbidden Caverns is located at 455 Blowing Cave Rd in Sevierville, TN.

5.    Smoky Mountain Knife Works is an interesting blend of old and new one of a kind store that not only has 120+ brands of knives but, also has a wildlife trophy display, Native American relics and a Civil War display. In their relics area, there are several dinosaur bones, an antique non-working ‘pirate’ lock, and many arrowheads. It can take a while to see everything in this 55,000 square foot building. There are three floors stocked with thousands of knives, outdoor tools, martial arts weapons, and kitchen utensils. Approximately 1.2 million people visit the store every year from all over the world. They have clothing, belt buckles, money clips, kitchen accessories, kitchen gadgets, military surplus, firearm accessories, flashlights, lighters, axes and so much more. Located at 2320 Winfield Dunn Pkwy in Sevierville, TN you can call them at 865-453-5871 to get their hours. They are open different hours depending on the season.

  Pigeon Forge, TN

Fall in Pigeon Forge is loaded with many events and activities. It will be hard for you to decide what to do first.

1.    One of the best ways for you to enjoy Pigeon Forge is to get outside and play. The weather is gorgeous, the changing leaf colors will delight your eyes, and the magnificent mountain views will have you snapping photos all day. You can go fly fishing, you can take ATV tours, you can soar thru the trees on a zip line, or you could go horseback riding.

2.    Kyker Farms is a fun fall thing to enjoy. Take the whole family and just see how much fun you can have getting lost in one of the five corn mazes. They also have hayrides, a pumpkin patch, a zip line, a zombie paint ball adventure, corn cob swing and so much more. They have bonfire sites and concessions. All this fun is located 1.7 miles off TN Hwy 66/Winfield Dunn Pkwy. Their phone number is 865-679-4848.

3.    As you can tell, fall is a busy time of year in Pigeon Forge. There is the Fall Harvest Festival at Dollywood and you know Dollywood knows how to celebrate autumn in the Smokies. There is live gospel music, thousands of illuminated pumpkins, and incredible fall decorations. There are also Smoky Mountain crafts demonstrations going on.  Your children will enjoy getting candy in a non-scary event. There are interactive displays by local vendors who will hand out the candy to all the little super heroes and beautiful princesses. Take a ride to Wears Valley and attend the Fall Fest where you will see craft-making, art displays, live music and entertainers, story telling and some of the best southern food around. While you are there you can look into some of the Wears Valley real estate for sale.

4.    Can you imagine October without a few spine-tingling thrills? You don’t have to here in the Smoky Mountains. You might be interested in Ripley’s Haunted Adventure or maybe take a tour of the Mysterious Mansion. You could even enjoy a Gatlinburg Ghost Tour. One of the new scary attractions in Pigeon Forge is OUTBREAK, a zombie adventure at the Hollywood Wax Museum.

5.    So many Scenic Smoky Mountain Drives that it will be hard to choose just one. While you are here looking at cabins for sale in Pigeon Forge check out at least a couple of these drives. In the Smoky Mountain National park - On the Roaring Fork Motor Trail you will see historic home and beautiful waterfalls. You can see incredible mountain views on the way to the tallest peak in the Smokies on your way up Clingman’s Dome Road. There is the Cades Cove Loop which can become crowded but, you can see old historic homes and mountain views and maybe a bear. Outside the national park – try the Foothills Parkway - gorgeous drive with views of the mountains, the Dragon – a very interesting ride near Fontana Dam that’s a very popular motorcycle route, and there is the Gatlinburg By-Pass, a short scenic drive with views of Gatlinburg.

6.    Over 100 years ago, the Old Forge Distillery was an old historic barn that housed a farm supply store. Now, moonshine made from mountain spring water and fresh-ground grains are turned into original moonshine and flavored moonshines. Some of the flavored moonshine are Chocolate, French Toast, and Coffee. The moonshine is made in small 80 proof batches. The Old Forge Tasting Bar is open daily. There is a gift store that has hand forged knives made by the resident blacksmith. You can also purchase moonshine jugs handmade by Pigeon River Pottery. The Old Forge Distillery is located at 170 Old Mill Ave, Pigeon Forge, Tn. As the hours may vary please call 865-774-4126 for the hours of operation.

Gatlinburg

Gatlinburg is a fun place to visit year-round but, there’s something special in the air when fall arrives. The leaves begin to change colors, the fall festivals begin, and all this happens when you start to feel a slight chill in the air.

1.    CLIMB Works Smoky Mountains is a place where you can spend the whole day. There are 9 world-class ziplines that allow you to soar thru the trees with breathtaking views. What an incredible adventure at CLIMB Works!! There are 9 ziplines with 3 sky bridges with a surprise a ending. You can ride the mountaintop zipline and have a higher vantage point while you ride side by side with family or friends. The mountain biking supplies all you will need to go for a ride – the bike, the trail and the experience.

2.    According to the ‘experts’, the fall colors should peak toward to the end of October and continue for a bit into November. Sounds like the best time to get the most out of your scenic drives through the Smokies is right around Halloween!! You can keep an eye on the progress of the leaf change by tuning in to one of the Smoky Mountain webcams. Here’s one for you.

https://www.air-resources.net/grsmnfgapfor

3.    As beautiful as the fall foliage is, there are other things you can do in the fall here in Gatlinburg. Halloween is a big event here. There is the annual Trick or Treat Kick Off Karnival on October 31 from 1 - 5 pm. Head on over in your costume with your family to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies Plaza for a fun filled afternoon with costumed characters, candy and contests. It’s one of the most popular things to do in Gatlinburg in October.

4.    There is an evening hayride in Cades Cove during the fall season. The national park rangers guide these tours so you know you’ll learn a lot of interesting things about the Smoky Mountains. Tickets are $14 per person. The rides are every Tuesday from 4:30 to 6:30 on a first come, first served basis so, I’m sure arriving early is a good idea. If you have other things to do in the late afternoon, you can go to Cades Cove Riding stables where they have other hayrides daily. These aren’t led by a park ranger but, they do offer the chance to see the beauty of Cades Cove in the fall.

5.    From September 21 to October 28, the fall season is celebrated in Gatlinburg with fun, German food, and music. OBER GATLINBURG celebrates October Fest with entertainment, outdoor games and authentic German food. You can not only enjoy German food at Oktoberfest in Gatlinburg like German Bratwurst, Schnitzel, and Strudel, there is the Bavarian Funmakers Oompah Band that performs daily during Oktoberfest at the Seasons of Ober Restaurant. Most of their performances are at 1pm, 3pm, and 5pm during the week plus 7pm on the weekends.

6.    You can attend the Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair. The event I held at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. You will see many talented artisans and craftsmen from all over the country. Some of the crafts highlighted at this event are pottery, painting, metal works and glass blowing. There are also country and bluegrass concerts from the Dennis Lee Band.

7.    If you’re of a mind for a creepy and spooky memorable evening, you can attend Ripley’s Fright Nights that go on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday during October. The shows begin at 6pm with a parade of characters at Ripley’s Haunted Adventure in Gatlinburg. It’s located at 908 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN.

Wears Valley

This is an unincorporated community in Sevier County, Tennessee. It’s located in a valley known as Wear Cove and runs parallel to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are many new businesses about to open in Wears Valley. Some of them are Cades Cove Corner, Mountain Brothers General Store and Laporte Archery. At the corner of Lyon Springs Road there will be an antique shop and the much awaited Cades Cove Distillery.

One of the most fun things to do in Wears Valley is the Fall Fest October 19-21. There are three full days of fun things to do with your family – pumpkins, entertainment, crafts, and incredible southern food. There is pumpkin carving, running thru an obstacle course, jumping in inflatables, and a lot of other crafts. The stage will be filled throughout the weekend with southern gospel music, country, Elvis and folk music. There are many artisans showing their traditional and some newer crafts. The food! Oh, the food! Steak on a stick, grilled corn on the cob, Greek and Italian foods, and of course BBQ. To round out your meal there are gourmet caramel and candy apples.

These are but a few of the fun and exciting things that go on in the Smoky Mountains during the fall. After you are done looking at real estate for sale in the Smokies, Search Here for All Real Estate drive on into any of these cities to check on the autumn events for you to enjoy. 

FIVE OAKS FARM KITCHEN

Located at 1638 Parkway in Sevierville, TN, you will discover a relatively new restaurant devoted to you, the hungry visitor with true southern-style meals. Five Oaks Farm Kitchen is the place to go for southern hospitality and good southern cooking. They have breakfast, lunch, and supper menus. Breakfast is from 7:30am to 2:30pm, lunch is from 11:30am to 2:30pm and supper is from 2:30pm until closing which is 9pm Sunday thru Thursday and 10pm on Friday and Saturday nights. 

For breakfast you can have something sweet like the large handmade cinnamon roll with a sweet cream icing to a large serving of southern homemade biscuits and sausage gravy. More traditional is the French toast and griddle cakes. Many ways to have your eggs or your omelets. Should you go with one of the harvest morning bounty selections you will be served two eggs, grits, potatoes, biscuits and gravy and a griddle cake with warm syrup. That by itself would be enough to fill you but, you still get to make your bounty selection. Maybe rainbow trout or a ground chuck steak with sausage gravy. Perhaps a pan-fried pork tenderloin with sausage gravy? 

Should you not have time for breakfast there’s always lunch at Five Oaks Farm Kitchen. There are many salad selections with several types of dressings to choose. Chicken and scratch-made dumplins – omygoodness! All that with any of the lunch entrees – fried chicken, open face pot roast, meatloaf, chicken casserole, sugar cured ham steak, and if meat is not your thing there is a veggie plate. There is also a full rack of hickory smoked pork ribs or a pulled pork plate. You may have to return more than a few times to try all that’s on the menu for lunch! For dessert you can try the banana pudding, a southern delight, a caramel apple served on a stick, or the purple cow. I’ll let you think about that. 

You’re probably not a work weary farmer at the end of a busy day but I’ll bet you’ll be hungry for supper at Five Oaks Farm Kitchen after a busy day of searching for Pigeon Forge real estate or Gatlinburg real estate. 

Always seerving a delicious salad made with fresh ingredients. They have added an incredible potato soup to the supper menu along with the chicken and dumplins and slow cooked pinto bean and ham soup. For supper, they have added rainbow trout, fried chicken livers, stuffed peppers, fried catfish, and a chicken casserole. Multiple sides for you to choose from – cole slaw, green beans, stewed cabbage, creamed corn, deviled eggs, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob and fried green tomatoes. There are too many sides to list. Should you prefer smoked meats, there’s chicken, pork ribs, beef short ribs, prime rib of beef and a smokehouse sampling. For dessert and you know how southerners love their sweets, you can choose from blackberry dumplings, window sill cobbler, and of course the three desserts from lunch. 

Five Oaks Farm Kitchen has two floors of seating with a kitchen on both. There is plenty of private dining for family reunions, school trips, meetings, parties, and receptions. There is easy access for buses and tour group and all parking is free.  

Make Five Oaks Farm Kitchen a place you plan on visiting when you come to the Smoky Mountains to visit the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area. I’m sure you will go away full and eagerly wanting to return. 

Five Oaks Farm Kitchen

1638 Parkway

Sevierville, TN

865-365-1008

SNOW TUBING IN JULY?

Yes, you can! Right here in the Smoky Mountains in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee! As the first attraction in the United States to use cutting edge snow making technology, Pigeon Forge Snow converts 35,000 square feet of its indoor space into 15 lanes of the coolest place you can be when the outside temperatures are in the 80s and you need to cool off after looking at Pigeon Forge homes for sale. The slopes at Pigeon Forge Snow are covered with bona fide real powder! For those of you who don’t care to hit the slopes, there is a SnowPlay area for you. There you can build snowmen, make snow angels, and almost like at the beach, you can make snow castles. Should snow not be your thing, you can go up the 2nd level and watch your family and friends have fun with their tubing time. There is a place to relax and also grab something to eat and drink at the snack bar.

Pigeon Forge Snow is open every day from 10 am to 10 pm. The last ticket is sold at 9:30 pm so, get in there early to have as much fun as you can. For 1 hour of tubing for any and all ages, as long as you are at least 38 inches tall and 3 years old, the cost is $21.99. should you or your little one just want to play in the snow, it’s $7 for 30 minutes of Snow Play. To enjoy both snow tubing and snow playing, the best value is a combination of the two at a discounted price of $26.99.

Now you might think it’s going to be cold inside Pigeon Forge Snow but, due to technology they are able to maintain a comfortable temperature of between 65 and 70 degrees. For the most part, whatever you are wearing when you come here, after looking at Pigeon Forge cabins for sale, Is perfect. It’s preferable that you don’t wear flip flops, though. A long sleeved shirt or very light jacket wouldn’t hurt if you get chilly easily.

There are a few rules that must be followed so that you can enjoy a fun and safe time at Pigeon Forge Snow. They are common sense rules in place for your safety not to spoil your fun. No snowballs, pushing, running, or horseplay, don’t eat the snow, only one person per tube, no eating or drinking on the snow, no loose objects, maximum weight of 375 lbs.# and you have to be able to sit securely in the center of the tub. Like I said, common sense rules for safety.

Pigeon Forge Snow is located at 2533 Teaster Ln, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863. The phone number is 865-366-1334.