One of the most common questions we hear from first-time homebuyers is, “How will the realtor be paid?” Beyond not knowing how the realtor fees are covered, many buyers and sellers also don’t know exactly what a realtor does (even though they know they need one). 

The good news is, if you’re buying a home, you do not have to pay the realtor to help you. Typically the seller pays all of the fees in a real estate transaction. At no expense to you, you can have a local real estate market expert be your advocate during the home buying process. There is a lot that goes into the home buying process, and your realtor will help you every step of the way. 

Another surprising fact to some home buyers and sellers is that your realtor will not get paid…

Check out our list of upcoming Chattanooga area events happening locally from Friday, July 14 to Friday, July 21.

Friday, July 14

Collector Car Appreciation Day

When:11 am. to 1 p.m. 
Where: Coker Tire Museum, 1317 Chestnut Street
Cost: Free

Join the Coker Tire team to celebrate Collector Car Appreciation Day. The folks at Coker Tire are encouraging all collector car enthusiasts to drive their old car downtown for a free hot dog lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Coker Tire museum will be open for tours during the lunch. Coker Tire representatives will also provide free tire inspections on site, and all participants of the Collector Car Appreciation Day lunch can enjoy a discount on Coker Tire and Honest Charley Speed Shop apparel. 

July…

Nathan Torgerson of The Torgerson Team at Keller Williams Realty was named one of America’s most productive sales associates as a part of REAL Trends America’s Best Real Estate Agents, the newly issued ranking report produced by REAL Trends and sponsored by Zillow Group.  

This is the second year in a row he has been named a member of the “America’s Best Real Estate Agents,” and ranked in the top 100 for the state of Tennessee. Torgerson is one of only eight Chattanooga realtors to receive this recognition.

“I am honored to be named on this ranking of the country’s top residential real estate agents,” says Nathan Torgerson. “It represents the time and effort that we put into each client that we serve and how much work it takes to build a successful…

Check out our list of upcoming Chattanooga area events happening locally from Friday, July 7 to Friday, July 14.

Saturday, July 8

July Music in the Vineyard

When: 6-9 p.m.
Where: Georgia Winery, 6469 Battlefield Pkwy, Ringgold, GA 30736 $5

Celebrate America's independence at the Georgia Winery's July 4th themed Music in the Vineyard. There will be live music from the Ben Durham & Ethen Martin. Take some time to relax with your friends and family while celebrating the 4th of July with a glass of sweet, Southern wine. Throughout the evening a food truck will have snacks and treats available for purchase. Browse the vendor marketplace for some unique gifts and local treasures. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy a relaxing night at…

The Torgerson Team at Keller Williams Realty is sponsoring its first ever Back to School School Supply Drive beginning this month! 

For the month of July, The Torgerson Team will be collecting donations of school supplies on students’ and teachers’ wish lists including: sticky notes, EXPO markers, dry erase board cleaner, Kleenex, highlighters, pens, Clorox/Lysol wipes, paper, hand sanitizer, binder clips, pencils, Sharpie pens and paper clips. These much-needed supplies will be distributed to local teachers and students just in time for the new school year. 

“Many families locally are struggling to make ends meet, and some of them are unable to provide the basic school supplies their children need to be effective,” says Nathan Torgerson of The…

There are reasons some homes sell faster than others. We’ve seen more than our fair share of homes, having worked with a lot of clients both buying and selling over the years. So we have the secrets you need to make your home ready for resale and marketable to potential buyers! Check out our top 7 tips straight from the real estate agent: 

1. De-clutter and organize

Be sure to go through your home before photos are taken and potential buyers start coming through to tour the home. Keep only the essentials, and put everything else in storage or give it away. And don’t forget to purge closets as well! Buyers want to know there is a lot of storage space in a home, and if yours looks like it’s bursting at the seams, it’s not going to be appealing. 

Want to know where you can see fireworks and celebrate Fourth of July this year? Check out our list of all the local fireworks happening from now through the Fourth! 

Saturday, July 1 and Tuesday, July 4 

Lake Winnepesaukah

1730 Lakeview Drive, Rossville, GA 30741

Spend the day at Lake Winnepesaukah’s SOAKya Water Park and celebrate the Fourth! Featuring a lazy river and wave lagoon, as well as water slides and a toddler splash park, SOAKya Water Park is a great way to beat the heat as a family. Lake Winnie will be lighting things up July 1 and 4 with fireworks displays beginning at 10 p.m. From now until September 5, guests can purchase an all-inclusive ticket to enjoy both Lake Winnie and the water park for $34.95 ($17.95 for children 2…

Things are really starting to heat up in Chattanooga. With summer finally upon us, there is no better time than now to get out and splash into some of the area’s best blue hole spots! Whether you’re looking for adventure or fun with the kiddos, we have you covered with our top five picks:

1. North Chick Blue Hole

Hike Distance: <1 mile
Hike Difficulty: Easy 
Location: 297 Montlake Rd, Soddy-Daisy, TN 37379

For only a 20 minute drive from downtown Chattanooga to Soddy Daisy area, the North Chick Blue Hole feels like a serious oasis. North Chickamauga Creek is nestled between Signal and Mowbray mountains and features several deep swimming holes along the way. For an easy mile hike in, you can find a small secluded pool or one of the larger spots…

Check out our list of upcoming Chattanooga area events happening locally from Friday, June 23 to Friday, June 30.

Saturday, June 24

Hutton & Smith Brewing Co Second Anniversary Party

When: Noon to 11:45 p.m.
Where: 431 E. Martin Luther King Blvd. 
Cost: $15, which includes a commemorative cup full of the first beer of your choice, door prize raffle ticket and live music all day

Hutton & Smith celebrates turning two and a brewery expansion at their new production facility at 3108 Riverside Drive! Doors open at noon, and live music will start at 1 p.m. starting with Jonathan Whimpee, followed by Okinawa, Danimal Planet and headliner Strung Like a Horse. Hutton & Smith will be releasing nine new beers and doing their first ever bottle release with…

Movement Mortgage premieres new zero-down payment mortgage program

Want to buy your first home but are having a hard time coming up with that necessary down payment?

Movement Mortgage has just announced its new down payment assistance program for first-time homebuyers that allows borrowers to put nothing down on a home. 

Movement Mortgage, a top 10 retail home lender, has just introduced a financing option that provides eligible first-time buyers with a non-repayable grant of up to 3 percent. Not only that, but the program also allows for sellers to further assist the buyer by paying up to 4% of closing costs and pre paids on the home. 

For example, say you were to buy a $200,000 home. The necessary down payment costs would be about $6,000…