Knoxville TN Real Estate Blog

TRADE UP! 5 Reasons why this is the BEST market to upgrade!

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 07:49:03 -0600

Via Daniel Dima Batsalkin (Boulevard Realty):

Have you thought about getting that bigger, better house in a better neighborhood?

NOW IS THE TIME!

Whether you need more space, want to upgrade your location, or for any other reason, the current real estate market presents a unique opportunity to capitalize by trading up!

5 reasons why this is the best market to trade up!

1. You will make money NOW on the trade!

Here's how this works. You currently own a condo that was worth $1,000,000 three years ago, and now it's worth $700,000 (that's right, it's gone down 30%!). You may be thinking, I've lost $300,000, right? Wrong!

What you do is go out and sell your condo and purchase the home of your dreams for $1,400,000. That house, three years ago, was worth $2,000,000 and you probably couldn't have afforded it. By buying it now, what you've just done is bought your new home at a $600,000 discount! Just like that, on the trade, you've made $300,000! This doesn't even take into account the money you'll save on property taxes because you're paying taxes on a $1.4M house, and not on a $2M house.

2. ... AND you will make money LATER when you sell your new home!

OK you've listened to my advice, bought that new home of your dreams and traded up. YES! Fast forward five years and the real estate market has gone up 20%. Let's take a look at what has happened. Your old condo is now worth $840,000, for a $140K gain over today's value. Your new home is worth $1,680,000, or $280,000 more than when you bought it today. Just like that, you've made an extra $140,000 on the trade!

3. You can likely buy a house you otherwise could not have afforded, and may not be able to afford again!

Going back to my example above, you probably couldn't have afforded that $2M house three years ago when you bought your condo. You also may not be able to afford it again in 3 - 5 years when the market rebounds. If you've been dreaming about a bigger home or one in a nicer area, now is really the time to capitalize.

4. It's much easier to trade up in a down market than in an escalating market!

I've had clients say that they will trade up when the market "goes back up." Let's take a close look at that. Let's say that 5 years from now, the market is back up 20% from today's values. You then sell your condo for $840,000 and your dream home is now worth $1,680,000. You've gained $140K on your condo (from today's values) BUT your dream home is now worth $280,000 more! That means that, by waiting, you've now spent an extra $140K to buy that house!

5. You'll probably get a better house by trading up in a down market!

The current market presents some very unique opportunities. In most areas, inventory is pretty high and buyers have a lot of great choices. By shopping in this market, you can really get the home of your dreams and take your pick of all the inventory available. In most cases, you can get a good deal on a great property in a terrific area.

The bottom line is that if you can afford it, now is a terrific time to upgrade! Interest rates remain at historic lows and there is plenty of financing available.

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Specializing in Los Angeles area residential real estate, including Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Bel Air, Santa Monica, Sherman Oaks, Valley Village, Studio City, Encino, Tarzana and more!

Hire me or send me a referral because I have a defined and proven plan of action that I follow every day to help my clients achieve their real estate goals!

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DANIEL DIMA BATSALKIN

Principal Broker | C.E.O. | Boulevard Realty

310.933.4281 | dima@blvdrealty.com

www.blvdrealty.com

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Instantly search for all Homes For Sale in Knoxville , Farragut, Powell TN, Alcoa TN, Lenoir City, Maryville, Oak Ridge, Corryton, Louisville, Blaine, Seymour, Strawberry Plains

Please visit us at www.HomesForSaleKnoxville.com and www.KnoxvilleReal-Estate for additional information about the Knoxville TN area, Knoxville Relocation, and Selling and Buying Knoxville Real Estate.

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Breakfast with Santa at the Brand New Jefferson Park YMCA- Saturday, December 19, 2009

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:13:41 -0600

Looking for something to do other than being stuck in traffic or waiting in lines at local retail stores? The brand new (and I mean new, this place is not even open yet!) Jefferson Park YMCA is hosting a Pancake Breakfast with Santa for kids.

What a great opportunity to not only check out Knoxville's newest fitness center, but also enjoy some nice photo opts with Santa.

If you are not already a YMCA member you can also take this time to become a membership. This could be a great family Holiday present. As a current YMCA member myself, I highly recommend it- this was our family present 3 years ago.

Here is a breakdown of the event:

What: Pancake Breakfast with Santa

Where: Jefferson Park YMCA in Farragut TN

When: Saturday, December 19, 2009 8:00-10:00am (New membership signups from 8:00-11:00)

Why: Fun for the Kiddos! Great opportunity to check out the new facilities as the grand opening is not occuring until January 2, 2009.

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December 2009- This Month In Real Estate- Keller Williams Realty Knoxville TN

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:23:39 -0600


This Month in Real Estate December 2009 Keller Williams Realty www.KW.com ............................................................................................................................................... Commentary Small steps to economic recovery continued last month. Among the positive readings was the report of a third quarter GDP growth rate of 2.8 percent, which followed four consecutive quarterly declines. This advance comes in well ahead of that of our Canadian neighbors, whose economy was once anticipated to be the first country out of recession, and by significant margin. Canada posted marginal 0.4 percent growth. Unemployment fell in November for the first time since April 2008. A strong rebound in home sales activity from year ago levels also points to a firmer stabilization. With the extension of the $8,000 federal housing tax credit into spring 2010, first-time buyers will now have an additional few months to purchase their dream homes. Expansion of the income restrictions now gives possibilities for higher earners to participate too. And the $6,500 tax credit now available to established homeowners with five consecutive years or more in their homes broadens the opportunity landscape. This in turn will allow the housing market more time to find a more solid footing on a sustainable recovery. Although economists continue to debate the overall shape of the recovery, it is widely agreed that the U.S. economy will take a long time to rebound. Unemployment is expected to remain high for several quarters and the number of underemployed is expected by some economists to remain a drag on growth prospects. On the brighter side, according to some economists, a slow and steady growth will likely fair better for the long-term well-being of the economy. Slower, sustained growth can help prevent dangerous asset bubbles, like the recent housing and technology bubbles, from growing and bursting. The Housing Market Existing Home Sales - Up 24% from last year Existing home sales recorded another strong gain in October with many buyers rushing to beat the deadline for the first-time buyer tax credit scheduled to expire at the end of November. Sales surged 10.1 percent to 6.1 million units over September sales of 5.54 million and are 23.5 percent above the 4.94 million-unit level seen last year. Sales activity is at the highest level since February 2007 when it reached 6.55 million. Median Home Price - Very favorable Low home prices are contributing to extremely favorable affordability conditions. Existing-home price was $173,100 in October, 5 percent higher from its low in January but still 7.1 percent below October 2008. Distressed properties, which accounted for 30 percent of all transactions in October, continue to hold down the median home price, as they typically sell for 15 to 20 percent less than traditional homes. Inventory - Lowest level in more than 2.5 years "We are getting closer to a general balance between buyers and sellers," according to Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. The supply of homes is now at the lowest level in more than two and a half years. Total housing inventory at the end of October fell 3.7 percent to 3.57 million existing homes available for sale, representing a seven-month supply at the current sales pace, down from September's eight-month supply. Compared to a year ago, there are now 15 percent fewer homes on the market. Mortgage Rates - Back at 4.78% Remaining at attractive levels for people looking to buy a home or refinance, historically low interest rates are boosting the market. Rates for 30-year fixed loans fell to 4.95 percent in October from 5.06 percent the month before. During the week ended November 25, rates again dropped to the low 4.78 percent reached in the spring. As the economy enters its recovery phase and concerns over inflation come back, mortgage rates are expected to go up. Affordability - Best since 1970s Unprecedented interest rates, low home prices, as well as the first-time buyer tax credit are lifting the housing market. All these factors combined are "adding to the buying power of the typical family, with affordability conditions this year at the highest on record dating back to 1970," according to Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. So far this year, the home price-to-income ratio has fallen well below the historical average of 25 percent. The ratio now stands at 15 percent. Sources: National Association of Realtors, Freddie Mac Government Action New Fannie Mae Policies "First Look" In many markets dominated by distressed properties, buyers jumped off the fence in droves and as a result the number of homes for sale in the first tier of the market decreased significantly. When a new foreclosure becomes available for sale, it often is snapped up by investors with cash on hand, leaving the average home buyer looking for a place to live out of luck. Fannie Mae introduced a new "First Look" initiative to address this and aid in the stabilization of neighborhoods. During the first 15 days a Fannie Mae REO is on the market, only buyers who will live in the home and public entities committed to the best interests of the community may purchase it. Buyers will have 45 days to close, up from 30 days. Earnest money requirement may be reduced. This will hopefully give the average home buyer a greater chance of purchasing foreclosures and provide support to hard-hit neighborhoods, because owner-occupants are more invested in the long-term vitality of a community whereas investors typically are more invested in their monetary return from the property. Increased Credit Scores Fannie Mae is raising its minimum credit score from 580 to 620. This risk management measure will help protect Fannie Mae from future defaults and foreclosure by raising their standard and accepting less risky loans. While risk management is a sound and healthy approach for an entity that the economy depends on, this underscores the importance that potential home buyers check their credit report early in the process, allowing more time to clear up any errors. Earlier this year, Experian, one of three major credit-reporting bureaus, began exclusively providing complete credit report information when purchased directly from Experian or obtained from the government annual credit report. Source: National Association of Realtors FHA Signals Efforts to Manage Risk In an effort to secure its financial health, the Federal Housing Administration plans to require borrowers to have more "skin in the game" soon. Over the past three years, FHA's market share has boomed from about 2 percent of all new loans to about 30 percent of all new loans this year and 20 percent of refinances. The escalading volume that the administration is currently handling calls for stricter requirements as evidenced by FHA's capital ratios falling to nearly 0.5 percent well below the minimum of 2 percent. The agency is still analyzing the levels and time frames it wishes to tighten its standards but they expect to: Increase minimum down payments Increase minimum credit scores Increase insurance premiums Lower the amount of seller concessions As one of the major players in the mortgage market, the health of FHA is imperative to the housing market and flow of credit to home buyers, as well as to the health of the overall economy. Taking measures to safeguard the agency from needing a government tax payer-funded bailout is a notable risk management measure. According to a Keller Williams research study, the typical first-time buyer put down 3.5 percent this year. Those who want to take advantage of the tax credit before the April 30 contract, June 30 closing deadline may want to beef up their savings and check their credit report now in anticipation of any changes. Sources: National Association of Realtors, KW Research First Time Home Buyer Survey Topics For Buyers & Sellers First Time & Distressed Property Home Buyers What are other first time buyers doing? The tax credit extension and expansion in November has fueled new discussion about home buyers and the housing market in 2010. Here's a look at first-time buyers in 2009. The median age is 28, significantly down from where it was in 2005 at 32. Location or Neighborhood was the No. 1 "must-have" for 36% of buyers. 2 out of 3 sellers paid at least part of the buyer's closing costs. 76% used their own savings for the down payment. 1 in 4 had help from their family for the down payment. As elevated levels of distressed properties are expected to continue for the next few years, here is a glimpse of buying a distressed property: 27% of foreclosures* were purchased by investors. 47% of distressed* properties were purchased by first-time buyers. 89% of those first time buyers that purchased a distressed property were motivated by the $8,000 tax credit. 7 in 10 agents have seen an increase in multiple offers. Approximately 3 out of 5 agents discuss the differences between buying distressed and traditional properties at the buyer consultation. *** Distressed - Short Sale and REO, Foreclosure - REO Only**

For a more detailed report with additional graphs and government action, please see the This Month in Real Estate PowerPoint Report. In an effort to reduce the impact on the environment, This Month in Real Estate PowerPoint Report is now also available in email newsletter format. Please consider the environment before printing.

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Just Listed in Lenoir City, enjoy the peacefulness of country living but just minutes from Farragut

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:50:29 -0600

500 Misty Ridge Dr.
Lenoir City, TN 37772
WOW!!! You Are In For a Treat...

Christine McInerney

EcoBroker®, e-PRO®

Office:	865-694-5904
Christine:	865-237-5289
Website:	Visit Website

Price	:	$215,000
Bedrooms	:	3
Bathrooms	:	2
Square Foot	:	2,033
Lot Size	:	23,958
Community	:	Misty Ridge
County	:	Knox
Property Type	:	Detached
Year Built	:	2003

click for more information and pictures

Property Description

Don't let the simple exterior fool you. This home will WOW you! Immaculately kept ranch with huge upstairs bonus room - the perfect "man cave" or rec room with an amazing projection system with surround sound wiring plus an additional work out room attached to it. Home also has a great split bedroom floor plan, spacious kitchen that opens to living room, and tons of windows that flood this home with natural light. All of this on an amazing .55 acre private lot. Give yourself some elbow room and escape to peaceful Lenoir City - just mins from Farragut. Did we mention the awesome bonus room?

Equal Housing Opportunity.

Keller Williams Realty Knoxville : 5616 Kingston Pike Ste. 201 - Knoxville TN 37919 : 865-694-5904

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Basement Rancher with an 1858 square foot unfinished basement- Amazing Potential

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:47:10 -0600

8111 Canter Ln.
Powell, TN 37849
Wonderful Ranch with HUGE Basement

Christine McInerney

EcoBroker®, e-PRO®

Office:	865-694-5904
Christine:	865-237-5289
Website:	Visit Website

Price	:	$214,000
Bedrooms	:	3
Bathrooms	:	2
Square Foot	:	1,808
County	:	Knox
Property Type	:	Detached
Year Built	:	2005

click for more information and pictures

Property Description

Extremely rare opportunity to own a nearly new, immaculate ranch home with an enormous 1800 sq. ft. unfinished walk-out basement. Imagine the possibilities as you transform the basement into tons of great living space - it's already plumbed for a full bath then use the rest for more bedrooms, a rec room and never run out of storage space. One of the only basement ranches available in this area. The rest of the home is delightful with soaring cathedral ceilings, an elegant formal dining room, a gas log fireplace, lots of recessed lighting, a spacious open kitchen, a split bedroom floor plan, plus a nice sized lot with amazing mountain views from back deck. Located in Powell and zoned for all Powell schools. The total package!

Equal Housing Opportunity.

Keller Williams Realty Knoxville : 5616 Kingston Pike Ste. 201 - Knoxville TN 37919 : 865-694-5904

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Beautifully Remodeled Chillhowee Hills Home- Must See Inside

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:40:25 -0600

415 Seneca Rd.
Knoxville, TN 37914
Remodeled Masterpiece!

Christine McInerney

EcoBroker®, e-PRO®

Office:	865-694-5904
Christine:	865-237-5289
Website:	Visit Website

Price	:	$129,900
Bedrooms	:	3
Bathrooms	:	2
Square Foot	:	2,100
Community	:	Chilhowee Hills
County	:	Knox
Property Type	:	Detached
Year Built	:	1958

click for more information and pictures

Property Description

Beautiful remodel of this spacious basement ranch home on a wooded and private lot tucked back in a quaint neighborhood across from Holston Hills. You won't believe your eyes when you see what this owner has done to this precious home! Lots of living space at a great price. Just move right in and enjoy!

Features List

Brand new windows	New carpet	Refinished hardwoods
New tile in kitchen	New tile in bathroom	New carpet- recroom
New kitchen cabinets	New kitchen counters	New appliances
New fixtures	Fresh paint	2 fireplaces
Maintenance free	attached garage	Master on main
2 Decks

Equal Housing Opportunity.

Keller Williams Realty Knoxville : 5616 Kingston Pike Ste. 201 - Knoxville TN 37919 : 865-694-5904

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Green Building with Superior Wall Panels- Hardin Valley TN

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:34:41 -0600

Yesterday we had the pleasure of meeting with a gentleman about selling his Knoxville area home. The homeowner is a contractor and it is his home that is up for sale. The homeowner took great pride and joy in the construction and built his home using a great product known as "Superior Walls".

So what exactly is a superior wall? While these walls are not that commonly used in the Knoxville TN area (yet), these walls have many benefits including:

Energy friendly- unfinished basements can account for up to 33% loss in household energy (this particular basement was warm and cozy even though it has high ceilings, concrete floor, is unfinished, and had no heat running to it- outside temp was about 45 degrees). These panels also help eliminate on-site soil contamination, save valuable natural resources, and reduce jobsite waste.
Reduced Energy Leakage- Superior walls are pre-engineered with built in insulation and high strength concrete.
Enjoy Lower Energy Bills- without ANY added insulation these walls have an R value of 12.5! If you add insulation between the panels you could increase the R value to over 50!!!
Have Better Indoor Air Quality- the seamless design and low concrete to water ratio prevents moisture penetration and leads to a dryer basement which can reduce mold and mildew growth. No stinky and damps basments!

Visit the superior walls website for more information

This fine home located in Hardin Valley is currently having a portion of the basement finished out and will be on the market in January and listed at $289,900. If you are interested in finding out more about this fine home contact us at Info@HomesForSaleKnoxville.com

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Wordless Wednesday- World's Fair Park Knoxville TN

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:22:38 -0500

In 1982 Knoxville TN was home to the World's Fair. The Sunsphere was designed and erected for the event and still stands in Knoxville TN as the unofficial city symbol. Since the World's Fair the park grounds have undergone a series of renovations and are now home to the Knoxville Convention Center, Knoxville Outdoor Symphony Amphitheater, World's Fair Fountains, Veterans Memorial, World's Fair Playground, and the Knoxville Museum of Art.

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Knoxville TN First Time Home Buyer Tips- Setting up Utilities in Your New Home

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:23:54 -0500

Now that you have found the home of your dreams and your loan is being processed so begins the waiting game. At this point you should be relaxed and be confident as you are hopefully in the hands of a great Knoxville Buyers Agent who will be orchestrating the efforts of the mortgage professional, home inspector, title company, appraiser, termite company, sellers, and the Selling Agent and making sure everything comes together.

As a Buyer your duties are actually quite simple. First of all, as the sales contract states, you have to agree to cooperate with your chosen mortgage professional and make sure they have all the financial documents they need. If you fail to do so you could be in breech of contract, lose out on your home, and potentially lose your earnest money. However, as long as you have a good Buyer's REALTOR® they will facilitate this process and make sure you stay on track.

Moving day will be filled with lots of activity and will most likely be a busy day so make sure that you don't forget one critical item- applying for and getting utilities turned on. While the utilities may currently be on in your new home, most Sellers have the utilities scheduled to be turned off the day of closing. This means that if you fail to set up utilities you could find yourself left in the dark.

Luckily, setting up utilities in Knoxville, TN is quite simple.

Find out what utility company your new home has service with- your REALTOR® will be able to supply you with this information. (Keep in mind that depending on where the home is located- you could have up to 3 different companies).
Contact the Knoxville Utility Companies- some allow you to apply by phone or fax, while others require you to physically go into the office (see chart below for contact information)
Make sure you bring your ID, copy of your Purchase and Sales Agreement, and check book- as an application fee is generally involved.

ELECTRIC COMPANIES

Knoxville/ Knox County	Knox County
Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB)	Lenoir City Utility Board (LCUB)
865-524-2911	865-986-6591
http://www.kub.org/	http://www.lcub.com/

GAS SERVICE

Knoxville/ Knox County

Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB)

865-524-2911

http://www.kub.org/

WATER AND SEWAGE

Knoxville/ Knox County	Knox County
Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB)	West Knox Utility District
865-524-2911	865-690-2521
http://www.kub.org/	http://www.wkud.com/

Knox County	Knox County
Northeast Knox Utility District	Luttrell-Blaine-Corryton Utility District
865-688-4070	865-992-8611
http://www.nekud.com/

Knox County	Knox County
Knox Chapman Utility District	Hallsdale - Powell Utility District
865-577-4497	865-922-7547
http://knoxchapman.com/	http://www.hpud.org/

Knox County

First Utility District of Knox County

865-966-9741

http://www.fudknox.org/

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Energy Bills on the Rise? Why Not Buy A Gun and Shoot Them Down Yourself??

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:06:53 -0500

As the weather is getting cooler and energy bills across the country are on a rise (in the state of TN they have raised in the past year) homeowners (and renters for that matter) may find their energy bills are getting more and more frightful.

Sure you could just suck it up and pay more or just complain about it. However, I suggest a more proactive approach, take matters into your own hands and get a good gun and shoot down the energy costs yourself. A good gun is one of the best purchases you will ever make in lowering your energy bills; a good caulking gun that is.

In a home air leaks are perhaps the biggest cause of energy loss (read more about air leaks and how to do a DYI Home Energy Audit here).

With just a simple caulk gun (about $5) and several tubes of caulk (polyurethane is often recommended) you are loaded and ready to seal up air leaks. Leaks and cracks can be found in many places and below is a good list of places to start:

Around windows
Around Doors
Electrical outlet entrances
Phone lines
Cable and satellite lines
Outdoor water faucets and nozzles
Around dryer vents
Around HVAC systems
Around Fans and vents
Brick, siding, foundation
At corners of home (especially anywhere two different types of materials are found)

In the State of TN you can expect to save up to $270 in yearly energy bills simply by caulking and adding insulation. Be sure to check back soon for additional information about insulating your home.

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Wordless Wednesday

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:15:57 -0500

The State of TN is known as the "Volunteer State" and is home to the University of Tennesse Volunteers. This picture was taken at the Knoxville Worlds Fair Site. In the background you can see the University of TN campus and the top of Neyland Stadium.

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Celebrate the Fall with the Foothills Fall Festival in Maryville TN

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:37:37 -0500

Perhaps nothing is more breathtaking then the beautiful fall colors in East, TN. What better way to celebrate the fall season than the Foothills Fall Festival. The Foothills Fall Festival is fun filled celebration that takes place on Friday October 16th - Sunday October 18th.

The Foothills Fall Festival is filled with fun-filled events and has something for all ages including:

Musical events (tickets currently sold out)- Theater in the Park in Maryville -see www.FoothillsFallFestival.com for schedule of events.
Family Adventure Land - Maryville Green Way in Maryville, TN - featuring 16 acres of attractions, shows, activities, and inflatable games.
ArtWay Show - Downtown Maryville - containing over 85 artists and craftsman

What: The City of Maryville's Foothills Fall Festival

When: Festival Dates: October 16, 17, and 18

Where: Theater in the ParAdmission is FREE to the ArtWay Showcase and the family

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Thinking of Buying a Home in Knoxville? Check out Knoxville's Best Kept Secret- Holston Hills / Chilhowee Area

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:30:07 -0500

Conveniently located just minutes from Downtown Knoxville and the University of Tennessee Knoxville, lies a quaint and often overlooked subarea known as the Holston Hills / Chilhowee area.

The Holston Hills / Chilhowee Hills area can be easily accessed from Interstate I-40 from the Asheville Highway exit and runs alongside the beautiful Holston River. Many of these homes boast beautiful historic architecture, mature landscaping, large lots, and pristine views.

View Larger Map

Nestled in Holston Hills and running along side the scenic Holston River lays the Holston Hills Country Club which consistently ranks as one of the top 3 golf courses in the state by Golf Digest.

The Holston Hills County Club is home to an 18 hole, Donald Ross designed course and measures 7082 yards and plays to a par 72 with a slope rating of 129. The property course stretches over 150 acres of old farm land and offers great scenery but little visual golfing distractions. The County Club also features a PGA staffed pro-shop, putting range, short play area, Olympic sized pool, and several tennis courts (8 outdoor courts, 4 lighted Rubico courts, and 2 hard courts).

The Holston Hills area is perhaps Knoxville's best kept secret and is ideal for those in search of beautiful historic quality built architecture, estate like lots, city convenience with a countryside-estate feel. However, buyers better hurry as prices are currently at an all time low which creates the perfect opportunity for the sophisticated and price conscious buyer.

Pack your bags and bring your boats and golf clubs as there is no other place in Knoxville where it is possible to purchase beautiful homes, located on or near the water, that are in such close proximity a top notch County Club at these almost ridiculously low prices.

However, you better hurry as new developments are currently underway alongside the Holston River which will surely drive prices up in the Holston Hills / Chilhowee Hills area.

Click Here To view all homes for sale in the Holston Hills / Chilhowee Hills subarea.

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Energy Bills across the United States

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:25:48 -0500

The other day I attended a Green Building Design class and the instructor brought up a great point. He asked for a show of hands to tell him how much a gallon of gas cost....most everyone raised their hand and knew the answer.

Then he asked how much we pay for a KWh of energy- hardly anyone raised their hand.

In East TN we are lucky to have relatively low energy costs- just about $.084 /Kwh. Other areas are not so lucky. He posed an interesting correlation, "is the green movement in East TN not that big because the energy costs are still so low?"

I am curious, what are some of the energy rates in other areas in the United States. Please share in the comment section below. Also, please comment if "Green is In" in regards to residential real estate in your area.

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Just Listed- Custom Built Home in the Heart of Hardin Valley

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:43:27 -0500

2424 Staplehurst Ln.
Knoxville, TN 37932
All Brick Custom Built Beauty!

Christine McInerney

EcoBroker®, e-PRO®

Office:	865-694-5904
Christine:	865-237-5289
Website:	Visit Website

Price	:	$374,900
Bedrooms	:	4
Bathrooms	:	4
Square Foot	:	3,429
County	:	Knox
Property Type	:	Detached
Year Built	:	1999
MLS Number	:	681970

click for more information and pictures

Property Description

High quality, custom built, all brick masterpiece! Newly remodeled kitchen with granite counters new fixtures. Brand new incredible screened-in porch overlooking your private backyard. 4BR + office + 4 full baths, formal dining room and master on main. Home has no carpet and upstairs flooring is reclaimed wood floors from the old Lady Vols arena. Rare opportunity to get into desirable Brighton Farms. Brighton Farms has a neighborhood pool and clubhouse and is within walking distance to Hardin Valley schools.

Equal Housing Opportunity.

Keller Williams Realty Knoxville : 5616 Kingston Pike Ste. 201 - Knoxville TN 37919 : 865-694-5904

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One of the best backyards of all of Knox County TN

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:33:39 -0500

10309 Castlebridge Ct.
Knoxville, TN 37922
Spectacular Yard, Spectacular Home!

Christine McInerney

EcoBroker®, e-PRO®

Office:	865-694-5904
Christine:	865-237-5289
Website:	Visit Website

Co-listed by:

Jennifer Halinkowski

Keller Williams Realty

Direct:	865-621-3658
Website:	Visit Website

Price	:	$369,900
Bedrooms	:	4
Bathrooms	:	2.5
Square Foot	:	3,330
Lot Size	:	0
Community	:	Wexford at Lake Loudon
County	:	Knox
Property Type	:	Detached
Year Built	:	1995
MLS Number	:	682000

click for more information and pictures

Property Description

Possibly the best backyard in West Knox! Located at the top of a low traffic cul-de-sac, this home has 4 bedrooms + HUGE bonus room , a study/office, a formal dining room, a stone stacked fireplace 3 car side entry garage. It has a very open and well designed floor plan with an enormous family room and a spacious kitchen and breakfast nook. This prestigous home sits on a very private .65 acre backyard featuring a huge deck with outdoor living area, patio w/ pond water features & under deck storage. Located in perhaps the friendliest West Knox neighborhood complete w/ neighborhood pool. Directly across the street from Lake Loudon and Carl Cowan Park! ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!

Equal Housing Opportunity.

Keller Williams Realty Knoxville : 5616 Kingston Pike Ste. 201 - Knoxville TN 37919 : 865-694-5904

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The Incredible Shrinking House

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:17:03 -0500

In many cases, less is more and for many the home is no exception.

Via Heather and Jeff Rickert Realtor®; RSPS (Keller Williams Real Estate):

Did You Know?

For the first time in almost 15 years, the size of new homes built in the United States is shrinking. New homes are now 7% smaller, or the size of one averagesized room. To be precise, the median square footage of newly built homes fell to 2,065 square feet in the first three months of this year, compared with the same period last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

2008 marked the first year of declines since 1994. That could indicate that the romance between Americans and morbidly obese McMansions has finally cooled. "A new ethic is arising right now that will become commonplace," said Sarah Susanka, author of the book, The Not So Big House. "As more and more people build or remodel homes that satisfy in quality rather than quantity, there will be a huge shift in what we perceive as desirable."

She believes the current shrinking trend mimics one of 100 years ago, when simple bungalows supplanted elaborate Victorian homes as the design choice for many Americans. But, it could also just be the recession. "Home size gains flatten out or decline during recessions, and we're in the midst of the most serious housing recession in decades," said Kermit Baker, the chief economist for the American Institute of Architects.

Keller Williams Real Estate
601 Bethlehem Pike
Building B, Suite 100
Montgomeryville, PA 18936
Main Office: 215-631-1900
Direct: 215-850-9640 · Contact Form

http://www.pahomesmontgomerycounty.com/

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A Day in the Life of a Recycled Plastic Bottle...

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:34:18 -0500

Before you toss that plastic water bottle into the trash, think about recycling it.

Via Mike Hogan, MBA, EcoBroker (Pioneer Realty):

Ever since the 80's when officials became increasingly aware of quickly filling landfills, recycling of plastic bottles has become as normal as throwing the trash out. In fact...nearly 80% of all households now have access to curbside or site recycling for plastics. But exactly what's it like for a day in the life of a recycled plastic bottle.

Step 1 Bottles are deposited in recycling bins

Step 2 Trucks carry the discarded bottles to a recycling center also known as a MRF(Materials Recovery Facility).

Step 3 Bottles are sorted by type(water, detergent, yogurt, soda, ketchup, etc)

Step 4 The bottles are then condensed into large 1000 pound bales that contain 7,000 to 8,000 bottles.

Step 5 Reclaimers then buy the bales by the truckload and have them shipped to their own manufacturing center

Step 6 At the manufacturing facility the bales are ripped apart with machinery and raked onto conveyor belts.

Step 7 The plastic is the shredded, washed, rinsed and dried

Step 8 The shredded plastic is then fed into an extruder which melts the plastic and forces the melted plastic into strands kind of like a big spaghetti maker.

Step 9 The strands are chopped into tiny pellets.

Step 10 The pellets are then sold to plastic product manufacturers. Depending on the product- the pellets are melted again, color added, etc.

That water bottle that you recycled is now a park bench, a deck board, a shoe, a lunch tray or even a T-shirt. There are literally thousands of uses for recycled plastic. And when the user of that product is done- the cycle can be started all over again....

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Powell TN Market Report Update August 2009

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:13:51 -0500

Powell, TN Market Snapshot- January 1, 2009- August 31, 2009

These statistics show homes located in the Powell TN subarea that had a list price of $130,000-$160,000.

Closed Listings- 40

Closed Price/List Price- $145,581 / $141,256 = Sellers are selling at 97% of list price
All comps have at least 3 Bedrooms and 2 Bathrooms between 1200-2000 square feet with Avg. Square footage of 1631- foreclosures are NOT included in these comps

Avg. list price = $97.5 / sq ft

Current Active Listings- 42

Current New Listings- 2

Current Pending Listings- 5

Expired or Withdrawn (did not sell during listing period) - 26

Absorption Rate:

The absorption rate is a statistical estimate based on the number of properties actively on the market verses the number of closed properties. This number shows the rate at which the inventories of homes for sale are being sold. The absorption rate helps determine, based on market trends, how many months it will take to your Powell TN home to be absorb (aka- for homes to go under contract and close) what is currently on the market.

Absorption Rate for last 8 months = 8.4 months worth of inventory

About 5 homes selling each month

Absorption Rate based on last month of sales

8 Closed properties past 2 month (about 4 homes selling each month)
42 Active Listings

Absorption Rate = 10.5 months worth of inventory

Analysis:

The housing market in the Powell TN has been pretty consistent in this price range and is still a Buyers Market.
Knoxville, TN historically experiences cyclical season-based selling cycles, with the months of June-September having the highest number of sales.
With only 4-5 homes selling each month in this price range, having your home in good sellable condition is a MUST- good condition, clean and declutter, fix all defects/eyesore- if unwilling to provide improvements must be priced below market value or you could expect to still be on the market next summer.

All data is derived from the Knoxville Association of REALTORS® and does not include non-MLS sales. Information is deemed to be reliable, but not guaranteed- all information taken from the Knoxville MLS.

Curious about what is happening in your neck of the woods? Contact us today at 865-237-5289 for a complimentary Knoxville Market Report specific to your area and price range.

Visit us online at www.HomesForSaleKnoxville.com, www.KnoxvilleReal-Estate.com, www.KnoxvilleHomeExpert.com

If you are looking to buy a home in the Greater Knoxville TN area instantly search all homes for sale at www.MyKnoxvilleHomeSearch.com. If you are looking for a luxury home in Knoxville TN visit http://knoxvilleluxuryhomesellers.com.

Free Buyers Tools

Instantly search all properties for sale in the Knoxville TN and surrounding areas now!
www.MyKnoxvilleHomeSearch.com

Visit Christine McInerney and Jennifer Halinkowski with Keller Williams Realty on-line at:
www.HomesForSaleKnoxville.com and www.KnoxvilleReal-Estate.com
Office: (865) 694-5904
Christine (865) 237-5289 and Jennifer (865) 621-3658
Mail to: McIn-Kowski@HomesForSaleKnoxville.com

Instantly Search For All Knoxville, TN Homes , Condos , and land For Sale!!

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Searching for the Best Value in West Knoxville - Shhhh Here it is!

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 22:37:44 -0500

Are you in the need for a large home but, but don't have hundreds of thousands of dollars to spend?

Do you want to live in the West Knoxville area and enjoy the conveniences of West Knoxville living including easy access to interstates, restaurants, parks, churches, schools, West Town Mall, and the infamous Turkey Creek Shopping and Entertainment mecca?

Are you interested in living in the school zone for Knox County's newest and most talked about high school, Hardin Valley Academy?

If you answered yes to any of these questions then we got the home for you!

This beautiful home is new on the market and features 2800 square feet a large level and completely private fenced in backyard. Best of all the price is only $199,900 that breaks down to ONLY $71/square foot, in an area where above $100+/square foot is not uncommon.

Sure this home could use some cosmetic kitchen upgrades (although it is as clean as a whistle), but with a little elbow greece, this huge kitchen area (40 cabinets and tons of counter space) can easily be a showcase kitchen that would be the envy of all your friends and family (not to mention add major equity as up to 95% invested in kitchen upgrades can be reclaimed in resale).

Your home should be your sanctuary, a place to relax, and entertain if so desired. What better place to relax after a hard day's work other than in your own private hot tub located on private decking overlooking a level fully fenced backyard with 6' wood privacy fence surrounded by mature trees, the upper level balcony perfect for reading a nice book or enjoying a drink, the relaxing and cozy sunroom, or perhaps the chalet style living room with soaring ceilings and chalet-like stone fireplace?

This home has it all and is ready to accommodate a large family, those needing separate living space (perhaps a parent, teenager, or those who work at home), or just someone looking for a lot of room to roam. This large home features 4 bedrooms (3 on the main level) and 3 full bathrooms.

The upstairs has a brand new Master Suite with gleaming hardwood floors, a super large walk-in closet, and huge bathroom with separate standup tiled shower and clawtooth tub. There is also a large upstairs rec-room with private balcony access.

Take a look for yourself and see in the video just HOW MUCH this home has to offer!

For more information and pictures visit this homes personal website at www.8405RichlandColony.com.

Free Buyers Tools

Instantly search all properties for sale in the Knoxville TN and surrounding areas now!
www.MyKnoxvilleHomeSearch.com

Instantly Search For All Knoxville, TN Homes , Condos , and land For Sale!!

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Speechless Sunday- Breaking the Species Barrier- Who Said Dogs and Cats Don't Get Along

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:24:42 -0500

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The Computer Graveyard

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:55:32 -0500

Do you have an electronic device that no longer works or are thinking of throwing away. Before you sent it on it's way to the landfill please read on.

Via Terry Chenier (Homelife Glenayre):

Ever wonder where your old computer,

keyboard and other periphials go when you discard them?

I've watched several documentaries on this subject; it was an eye-opener.

Investigative reporters interviewed, or in some case, "tried to interview",

owners of several recycling plants that dealt in E-waste. They all said the same

thing. The process was done safely and within regulations. American firms

insisted the stuff was being shipped to Canada; Canadian firms insisted the

waste was being shipped to the States.

Everyone was lying through their collective teeth.

The reporters traced several containers, and they

all ended up in the same place.

Click on the link below to see where your stuff ends up.

http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2009/03/photo-series-villages-full-of-e-waste/

In some villages in China this is THE industry.

Entire families are engaged in this, including small children.

Ground water is so polluted, you can develop film in it;

it's certainly not potable. Birth defects are way above normal.

This will be the "normal" soon enough.

Now, here's the amazing "rest of the story":

The Canadian and American governments-BOTH;

know where this stuff is going. It's illegal, but hey,

it's not our problem anymore!

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How to Buy a Home in Knoxville TN - Step 5- The Ins and Outs of Inspection Contingencies

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:32:35 -0500

Knoxville TN is a great place to live. If you are looking to buy a home in Knoxville TN you need to consider getting a home inspection on your new home. If you are just starting your Knoxville home buying process make sure you go back and revisit these important first steps:

How to Buy a Home in Knoxville TN- Step 1- Secure Your Financing
How to Buy a Home in Knoxville TN-Step 2- Determining the Best Knoxville Neighborhood For You
How To Buy a Home in Knoxville, TN - Step 3 - Determining Your Wants and Needs
How to Buy a Home in Knoxville, TN - Step 4 - Researching Comps & Preparing The Offer

As a Knoxville Buyer it is imperative for you to protect yourself with the home inspection contingency. Even though the home might look great to you and your Uncle Joe says it is solid as a rock we always recommend that you get a thorough home inspection by a Licensed Home Inspector.

Sometime Buyers balk at the idea of spending a few hundred dollars on a home inspection, but considering you are spending thousands on the home it is not a smart place to try to save money.

In fact, I like to refer to the section on the Purchase and Sales Agreement where you waive your rights to a home inspection as the "idiot box". Even the investors I work with, who in many cases gut the entire home, have an inspector check out their homes before they buy.

During the inspection contingency period, you as a buyer can get any inspection that you want, but it is usually considered a Buyer's expense. Keep in mind that a home inspector is not a structural engineer, an electrician, a plumber, a roofer or a HVAC professional, so if you are concerned about anything specific you may want to have a specialist check it out as well.

No part of a home, no matter how expensive, is made to last forever. Even a brand new HVAC system could fail after a year. For this reason it is often recommend that the Buyer either ask the Seller to supply, or purchase themselves, a home warranty.

Types of Inspections:
Many buyers simply get a basic Home Inspection- however, as a buyer you have to right to get as many inspections as you wish during the inspection contingency period.

- Home Inspection- make sure they are actually licensed in the state of TN
- Radon Inspection
- Mold Inspections
- HVAC Inspection
- Electrical Inspection
- Structural Insepction
- Environmental Inspection (i.e. soil analysis)

Interested in going back and reviewing the steps involved in Buying a Home in Knoxville TN take a lot at the rest of the Knoxville Home Buying Series:

Instantly search all properties for sale in the Knoxville TN and surrounding areas now!
www.MyKnoxvilleHomeSearch.com

Free Knoxville TN Buyers Tools

Instantly Search For All Knoxville, TN Homes , Condos , and land For Sale!!

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Time Running Out For First-time Buyers Tax Credit Program

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:02:14 -0500

Are you a first time home buyer looking to take advantage of the $8000 offer from Uncle Sam???? Your time is limited.

Via Kathy O'Neal (The Kathy O'Neal Team - RE/MAX Premier):

If taking advanage of the First-time Tax Credit Program is part of your plan, please know that the clock is ticking down.

If you plan on taking advantage of its generous tax credit, remember that the program expires November 30, 2009. Also, be aware that the time you'll need to close on a transaction can be up to 60 days.

From about now, you would have a little less than 6 weeks get the contract signed.

The First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit program was part of the 2009 economic stimulus plan. It provides up to an $8,000 tax credit if you quality. A big chuck of money, by any standard.

Who qualifies? Here are the basics:

Buyer may not have owned a "main home" in the past 36 months.

Can't buy the home from a parent, spouse, or child.

Your adjusted gross income for the household must be below $95,000 for single tax filers and $170,000 for joint tax filers.

Also be aware that not everyone who is qualified will get the full $8,000. The credit can not exceed 10 percent of a home's purchase price. And, if your income is close to the limit you will get a reduction in the full benefit.

But remember that this is a true "Tax Credit." It is not just a deduction. For example, someone claiming the $8,000 credit who had a normal tax due of $5,000, would be entitled to a $3,000 refund from the IRS on April 15, 2010.

You can check the program's criteria if you are in the market, but if you are serious about taking advantage, don't wait much longer. If you can't settle on the property by end of November, you won't be able to qualify.

[The Kathy O’Neal Team serves home buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia, with special focus on Chantilly, Centreville, and the communities of the Western Fairfax region.]

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How to Buy a Home in Knoxville, TN - Step 4 - Researching Comps & Preparing The Offer

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:10:58 -0500

You've been pre-approved, you've researched your neighborhoods, you've determined your wants and needs and you have found the house you want to buy. So what happens next? It's time to talk with your Realtor to start the offer process. Make sure you have a buyer's agent representing you. It is not recommended to use the listing agent as they represent the seller and are looking out for the seller's best interests, not yours.

The first thing to do is have your real estate agent research the comparable sales from the past 3-6 months. Based on the recent sales in the area, your real estate agent will help you come up with a good starting offer. While researching the comps, your agent will let you know how many competing homes are for sale, how many homes have closed in the past 3-6 months, what is the absorption rate for the area, what is the average percentage of the list price sellers are getting for homes in the area and any other information pertaining to that particular property.

Other things to consider when putting in an offer:

Find out why the owners are selling.
How long has the property been for sale?
Has there been a price reduction and when?
How much did the seller pay for the property and how long ago?
How much does the home owner owe on the home?
What is the motivation for selling? - job transfer, downsizing, relocation etc.
Are other parties interested in the property; is it getting a lot of showings?
When does the seller want or need to close?

All of these questions will help you formulate a realistic starting offer. If you are asking the seller to pay for some or all of your closing costs make sure you factor that amount into your offer as this amount comes off of the seller's bottom line.

Decide how much earnest money you want to put down with your offer. Earnest money demonstrates to the seller your seriousness about buying a home. It needs to be substantial enough to show the seller good faith. This amount is usually around 1% of the purchase price. If the offer is negotiated successfully and you go under contract your earnest money will get deposited into the real estate company's escrow account and held in that account until closing. If your offer is rejected and you don't end up under contract, your earnest money check will be returned to you. If you successfully make it to closing your earnest money will be credited towards the purchase price of the home or towards your closing costs. There are also several contingencies that may be built into the contract to ensure you get your earnest money back in the event that the contingencies cannot be satisfied. Examples of these contingencies may be an acceptable home inspection, your ability to secure your financing and the appraised value must equal or exceed the sales price. If you back out of the deal for any reason not covered by a contingency you may forfeit the entire amount.

Now that you and your Realtor have done your research and come up with an offer price and terms you submit the offer and the negotiations begin!

Knoxville Home Buying Series:

How to Buy a Home in Knoxville TN- Step 1- Secure Your Financing
How to Buy a Home in Knoxville TN-Step 2- Determining the Best Knoxville Neighborhood For You
How To Buy a Home in Knoxville, TN - Step 3 - Determining Your Wants and Needs

Free Buyers Tools

Instantly search all properties for sale in the Knoxville TN and surrounding areas now!
www.MyKnoxvilleHomeSearch.com

Instantly Search For All Knoxville, TN Homes , Condos , and land For Sale!!

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