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Looking back on 2017, we can see just how booming Chattanooga’s real estate market really is. With low home inventory and plenty of people either relocating here or choosing to buy a home, there are great opportunities for both buyers and sellers in todays market. Here’s what we know looking back on 2017: 

1. Over $2 billion sold in the Greater Chattanooga and North Georgia areas

Chattanooga and North Georgia’s real estate market was busy for 2017, with no signs of a slowdown as we make our way into the new year! It’s a great time to be either a buyer or a seller in our local market. 

2.  The Torgerson Team sold homes in an average of 25 days on market (compared to Chattanooga’s overall average 59 days on market)

Because home inventory is…

We're excited to have again earned the distinction of being handpicked by Three Best Rated as one of the Top 3 Real Estate Agents in Chattanooga. 

The candidates for this honor are chosen through a 50-Point inspection that includes everything from checking reputation, history, complaints, local reviews, nearness, satisfaction, trust and cost to general excellence. From this, the highest rated agents are chosen. This isn't a distinction you can buy; it's one you have to earn! 

"We love what we do here at The Torgerson Team, and it's always nice when someone notices," says Nathan Torgerson. "Thank you to our clients for all of your positive reviews and for trusting us with your business!"

For more information or to see the Three Best Rated listing,…

Is it bad to sell your home during the holidays? It’s a question we get a lot. There is a myth surrounding the idea of listing that sellers should wait until spring to put their home on the market. In reality, this couldn’t be farther from the truth! Here are some reasons why NOW is the best time to list your home: 

1. During the holiday season there are typically fewer homes on the market. Less supply means less competition. Less competition means more money in your pocket. 

A study by online brokerage Redfin found that on average, sellers net more above asking price during the months of December, January, February and March than they do from June through November. Not only that, but the study found that homes listed in winter sold faster than…

Buying or selling a home is one of the most important financial decisions you’ll ever make, and the real estate agent you choose to help you is going to make all the difference! But with a market flooded with Realtor and real estate agent options, how do you choose? Here are the most important boxes to check in the process: 

1. Make sure the agent is full-time, not one who does real estate part time on the side

You want to choose an agent that is fully invested in their business, and therefore, you! Someone who does real estate on the side is not going to be fully committed to working for you and will instead have other things—like their full-time gig—taking priority. 

2.  Avoid hiring a relative

It can get a little personal when you mix…

If you were looking to buy a home or refinance, you might want to start thinking seriously about it soon! 

Mortgage rates are holding at a low for 2017, with a 30-year fixed loan at 4% interest. To put it into perspective, the average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage in June 1987 was 10.54%!

Although not the lowest they’ve been this year, this rate is exceptional, and it seems to be holding for the time being. However, the lack of movement by fixed mortgage rates may be the pause before they begin to ascend once again. 

"Experts in the field expect that mortgage rates will remain at this plateau for now or will rise in the near future," says Christina Lane, senior mortgage loan officer with Movement Mortgage. 

Redfin has now updated its…

You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to improve your home value! There are some simple and inexpensive projects you can do that will give you a great return on your investment. You also don’t have to be a true handyman to do all of these projects. With a little effort and money, you can make a huge difference! 

1. Make sure your kitchen is cooking

In terms of sale value, one thing that can really make or break a home is the kitchen! The kitchen is thought of as the heart of the home, so if it isn’t up to snuff, it can really devalue your home. One thing you can work on is giving outdated cabinets a new appeal with a crisp white semi-gloss paint. For a little elbow grease and a bucket of paint, you can totally transform your kitchen. If your…

Whether you’re buying a home or looking to sell yours, chances are you’ll come across your fair share of real estate jargon. Oftentimes realtors will use acronyms as part of their listings, and rather than having to look up every word, we wanted to bring the complete list of most-used terms to you! Check out our collection of real estate lingo so you look like a pro for your next move. 

3B/2.5B - Three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms. In order to be called a bedroom in our area, the room must be a sleeping area with a window and a closet. A full bath is a room with a toilet, sink and bathtub. A half bath otherwise known as powder room only has a toilet and a sink. 

Appraisal - An appraisal is an unbiased professional opinion of a home's…

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…

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…

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.