Tagged : Real Estate RSS Feed

If you’ve kept up with the real estate market over the last few years, you’ve probably noticed it has been anything but what we would consider “normal.” Historically low interest rates, property values increasing exponentially, and houses selling within hours! In the last half of 2022, we saw an increase in interest rates which caused the market to shift a bit. 

We are currently still in a sellers market as there are still many buyers looking for a home and not enough sellers. While it is incredibly unlikely that we will see interest rates drop to 2% and 3% again, those low interest rates seem to still have an effect on our current market. Many people who purchased or refinanced in the last several years locked in the lower rates and now they…

Hello, first day of Spring! The weather may not have gotten the memo, but that won’t deter us from starting our spring cleaning. With the new season comes the time to refresh your home and tend to any home maintenance items you may have been putting off. Spring cleaning usually consists of decluttering every room, detailed scrubbing around the house, and changing out seasonal decor. The lists of to dos can sometimes be longer than we anticipated, which can make it easy to miss a few items. 

To help you keep up with your spring cleaning, we’ve put together a list of areas that are commonly missed to add to your checklist.

Ceiling fans and light fixtures

Ceiling fans and light fixtures can often get overlooked especially if they are constantly…

1. Inspections

The most common reason for buyers backing out of a contract is due to the results of a home inspection. The home inspection notes any issues in regards to safety, structure, and functionality. It allows the buyer to make an informed decision about what they are purchasing. While typically the buyer will negotiate with sellers on repairs to be done or money to go towards repairs, if a buyer has an inspection contingency in their offer they have the right to walk away. A buyer is most likely to walk away if they cannot come to an agreement with the seller or a major issue like water intrusion or foundation issues pop up. 

Seller tip: There are two things a seller can do to help prevent a buyer from walking. Fixing necessary items…

The past few years have been something else when it comes to selling your home. In a heavily weighted market, sellers were getting top dollar and then some for their homes with very few negotiations happening. As 2022 comes to an end, we have shifted away from a seller’s market and things have balanced out between buyers and sellers. What this means is there are more options for buyers and longer days on the market for sellers. This is what most would consider “normal” when it comes to buying and selling real estate.

Now that buyers have more options, pricing your home correctly is key when it comes to selling your home. Here are our top 6 ways to help you find the right price to list your home.

1. Consider the current market

Knowing what…

Colder temperatures have officially hit Chattanooga and the North Georgia area. While you may or may not have been prepared since the temperatures have been back and forth, there is no time like the present to prepare your home for the temperature drop. 

Colder weather means higher risks for your home and potentially higher costs. As we are turning on heaters and dealing with freezing temperatures, the risk of fires or water damage increases significantly.  We've put together a list of ways to help you protect your home and wallet throughout the fall and winter seasons. 

1. Cover spigots & drain the hoses 

Now that the temperature has dropped, you won’t be needing much accessible water outside the home. Be sure to cover all of your spigots on…

Over the past couple of years, interest rates on home loans have been historically low and you may have heard a lot of talk about how it was a great time to refinance your home. In today’s market, with interest rates rising, you may hear less about refinancing now and more about buying now and refinance later. If you are wondering, what does it mean to refinance and how will it help me later, we are here to help! 

What is refinancing?

Simply put, refinancing is changing your current loan terms. Common goals for refinancing are to lower one's fixed interest rate to reduce your monthly mortgage payments, change the duration of the loan, switch the type of loan you have, or cash out on your home equity. Many people recently refinanced their…

It’s that time of year again when the summer break has come to an end and families are gearing up for the beginning of the school year. Whether your children will be attending school in person, online, or home school, preparing your house is one of the best ways to set your child up for success. Here are our top 6 favorite ways to prepare your home for your students to have the best school year yet!

1. Message board/family calendar

Between your work schedule, appointments, sports, and after-school activities keeping up with everybody’s schedule can be chaotic and overwhelming. The best way to organize your week is with a family message center. Keeping a family calendar will help keep up with everybody’s events and also make sure you don’t have…

In the recent months, the real estate market has begun to shift. What does that mean for you as a buyer? Should you wait for rates to go back down? Should you wait for house prices to drop? Here is what we are seeing in this market shift and why it is a good time to buy. 

1. Housing prices are starting to balance

You may have noticed some homes sitting on the market longer than 48 hours or sellers are dropping their prices in order to sell. This does not mean that the value of the home is decreasing. It means that we have reached the peak of this crazy, rapidly climbing market. Over the past few years, housing prices have increased faster than we've ever seen before. House values were increasing tens of thousands of dollars if not more in just a…

Check out our list of upcoming Chattanooga area events happening locally from Friday, July 15th to Friday, July 22nd.

July 15th - July 31st

Christmas in July Toy Drive

When: At your convenience
Where: Children's Hospital at Erlanger, 975 E. Third St.
Cost: Cost of item donated

Children’s Hospital at Erlanger is hosting a Christmas in July Toy Drive throughout the entire month of July. When a child has to stay at the hospital, it can be scary and overwhelming. The Child Life Specialist’s job is to help comfort and ease your child as best possible while they receive care. This can include music, ipad, bubbles, and toys to play with. Our Marketing & Administration Assistant, Anna, knows first hand how important a Child Life Specialist’s role…

Is moving into your new home on your to-do list? Not just I-have-never-lived here-before new, but no-one-has-ever-lived-here-before new? Whether you're a current homeowner or a first-time home searcher, a newly constructed home could be just what you need to make your property dreams a reality this year. Here are four reasons why new builds could be worth your downpayment and/or putting your current living space on the market.

1. Unleash Your Creativity

If you've ever played the popular computer game The Sims, you know how much it is to design your own space. Depending on when you enter the building process, new home construction can be just like that, but in real life! Whether you're working with a contractor to fill an empty plot or you're…