Chattanooga Real Estate & News

Chattanooga Real Estate: The Cottages at Horse Creek Farms

Realtor Ryan — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:31:54 -0600

Located at the base of Walden Ridge is a beautiful new subdivision built on a former horse ranch that has been converted into the Cottages at Horse Creek Farms. The homes are all 1920s and 1930s style bringing back the memories of simple times and lots of history. The lush landscaping, sidewalks, and street lighting also give this neighborhood the relaxing feeling of home. In addition to the beauty of these homes, the builders have incorporated many "Green Building" techniques to save on energy and help the environment, not to mention the low maintenance and convenience of the Cottages.

Come and see these home for yourself. The investment you make in the Cottages at Horse Creek Farms would be a very wise one.

For more information you may contact me, Ryan King, and you may log on the Cottages website:

www.thecottagesathorsecreekfarms.com

Realtor Ryan, Broker

Real Estate Partners

423.265.0088

www.RealtorRyan.com

Chattanooga Real Estate: Stormy Hollow Subdivision

Realtor Ryan — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 23:23:04 -0600

The newly built Stormy Hollow subdivision located off Gentry Road in East Brainerd offers many amenities for reasonable prices. A total of 67 homes are planned for this new subdivision with at least 16 complete. The developer Stormy Hollow is Emerson Russell, who is also a builder with Emerson Properties. The average size of these homes is around 1,800 square feet, and the homes range in price from about $150,000 to $185,000 or more. Development amenities include street lights, sidewalks, a homeowners association, and very convenient to Hamilton Place Mall area. Home amenities include hardwood and tile floors, custom cabinets, vaulted and trey ceilings, walk-in closets, jetted tubs, master bedrooms on the main level, brick, stone and vinyl exteriors and double car garages. Wonderful subdivision!

For move information or if you would like to view one of the homes you may contact me anytime.

Realtor Ryan, Broker

Real Estate Partners

423.265.0088

www.RealtorRyan.com

When Buying a House: 5 Key Areas to Pay Close Attention

Realtor Ryan — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 09:36:32 -0600

Looking for a new home can be both exciting and frustrating at the same time, but if you pay close attention to these 5 key areas of the home it may same you money in the long run. Electrical, Foundation, Plumbing, the Attic, and Landscaping are the main areas of homes that have the most reported problems. Having a complete home inspection will help rule out most of the problems and point out any areas of concern. Electrical can be a problem in any home, even the brand new ones. Sometimes wiring can be done incorrectly when the house is built. Problems in foundation can be caused by many things. Trees that have "crawling" roots, the root invasion will crack the foundation over time and ruin tile. The best way to find problems in the foundation is to check the windows, and notice is they open and close easily, if they do not, that is a good sign that the foundation is shifting. Not all cracks in the foundation are problems, so it is best to get a professional home inspection. Plumbing is another concern, and since it is an area that you can't always spot it can create expensive repairs when problems go undetected. Mold is a problem that can result due to faulty plumbing and leaks. When purchasing a home always look under the sinks for areas where there might be mold forming or for any signs of past links. The Attic is very important because you can tell almost everything about a house from the attic. If you are looking at a 20 year old home and there is new insulation in places, that is a pretty good indicator that there has been a leak at some point. Also, you can tell a lot about the roof from the attic since you can see the wood directly below the roof. The other area of concern would be landscaping. If landscaping is too close to the home it could eventually cause cracks in the foundation. Landscaping should start around 12 inches away from the home. When landscaping is too close the moisture from watering will cause the soil and foundation to expand, and when no watering occurs the foundation dries and shrinks which causes cracking. The best thing to do when buying a home is to get a thorough home inspection by a licensed professional, and remember the more you know the better off you are, and the less likely you are to make a mistake that may cost a lot later.

Realtor Ryan, Broker

Real Estate Partners

423.265.0088

www.RealtorRyan.com

Chattanooga listed in Top Ten of Healthy Places in Southeast

Realtor Ryan — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:33:37 -0600

Chattanooga is one of the top 10 Healthy Places in the Southeast for longevity and enjoying a productive retirement lifestyle, according to Retirement Lifestyles Magazine. Chattanooga was considered based on healthcare, climate, safety, ecosystems, and recreation. The Chamber and community partners are working hard to position Chattanooga as an ideal retirement community. During the past year the Chamber alone provided relocation information to over 9,500 people. Chattanooga appeals to many people looking to relocate because of all the offerings in outdoor activities, cultural offerings, moderately-priced housing, and excellent healthcare, not to mention the scenic beauty. Chattanooga keeps growing in the polls and before to long it will move to the number one spot in all areas.

For more information on Healthy Places go to:

http://choosechattanooga.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=69&Itemid=1

Also you can visit Chattanooga Chamber's Website at:

www.chattanoogachamber.com

Realtor Ryan, Broker

Real Estate Partners

423.265.0088

www.RealtorRyan.com

Repairs That Help Your Home Sell

Realtor Ryan — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:49:28 -0600

Sellers usually know of some repairs that need to be made in order to sell their home, but not all repairs are equal in the minds of the buyers. A study by HomeGain found that there are four areas to focus when preparing to sell:

1. Clean and De-Clutter the home. This mean the floors, carpets, bathrooms, kitchen and all the windows. Alot of Sellers for get to clean the windows and that is something that most buyers notice.

2. Lighten and Brighten. Buyers like to be able to see everything about the house so it is nice to have good lighting in the rooms and blinds or curtains opened to let in the natural light, this keeps the home from feeling dull and un-inviting.

3. Stage the Home for Sale. Which is cleaning, fixing any some repairs, eliminating any clutter, execute neutral colors, and de-personalize the home. Buyers do not like to see alot of personal pictures and items, it makes them feel as if the Seller has emotional attachments to the home, and if they see you in the home, they might not be able to see themselves in it as well.

4. Landscape both Back and Front Yards. The first thing a buyer sees is the front of the home. If the landscaping looks bad this sets the stage for the rest of the home. A nice manicured yard and nice curb appeal is something that appeals to all buyers.

Making these small repairs to your home can increase the value of the home incredibly. Buyers want to get the best home for the money, and Sellers want the biggest return on their investment, by making these changes in the home both sides will end up happy.

Realtor Ryan, Broker

Real Estate Partners

423.265.0088

www.RealtorRyan.com

Chattanooga Among National Georgraphic's 50 Next Great Towns

Realtor Ryan — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:50:42 -0600

Chattanooga among the "50 Next Great Towns" for living and playing. A change of address can bring instant gratification so why not try Chattanooga.

Chattanooga has a lot to offer right now. And as the magazine recognizes there is even more to come. This is a major recognition for our small town, but it is not the first mention of Chattanooga as a top place to live, to work, and to play.

We are a world class city that lives like a small town. Investment in schools, in infrastrucure, commitment to business, to controled and sustainable growth, enjoyment of nature and the art.

Chattanooga is not a secret anymore.

For more information:

http://www.chattanoogachamber.com/GetToKnowUs/americastalking.asp

Realtor Ryan, Broker

Real Estate Partners

423.265.0088

www.RealtorRyan.com

Seven Lakes New Subdivision off Ooltewah Ringgold Road

Realtor Ryan — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:37:25 -0600

Seven Lakes Subdivision located just a few miles off I-75 on Ooltewah Ringgold Road is in its first phase of construction. The new homes offer home security and many amendities of the more expensive homes but at affordable prices. The homes are in a gated community, and each home will be wired so that owners can view visitors at the gate on their television. The Seven Lakes subdivision also offers a community pool, sidewalks, and a large stocked lake with a dock. Buyers will have a choice of 6 Craftsman style home designs, usually the combination of brick and stone to make these beautiful exteriors, including the hallmark wide columns of the Craftsman style. Inside the homes residents will find a master suite on the main floor along with plenty of crown moldings and trim to highlight the vaulted ceilings, plus granite countertops, hardwood and tile floors.

The new homes in Seven Lakes will be only 12 miles from the new Volkswagen plant and very convenient to local shopping centers, businesses and schools.

Please contact me if you would like additional information about the subdivision or any other new homes in Chattanooga.

Realtor Ryan, Broker

Real Estate Partners

423.265.0088

www.RealtorRyan.com

Christmas in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Realtor Ryan — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:56:49 -0600

I just did not realize all the cool Christmas stuff Chattanooga has to offer for adults and for children. We have some fun stuff coming up this Saturday December 13th that parents might want to check out for the kids. Chick-fil-a is having breakfast with Santa on Saturday morning from 8am to 10am, and after that you can take the kids to Lowe's for Kid's Activity day(www.lowesbuildandgrow.com). Every other Saturday of the month, Lowe's offers a Kids day from 10am until 12pm. The kids participate in little projects, this Saturday Dec. 13th they will be building a Gingerbread house. Fun Fun!! Other activies in Chattanooga for Christmas include Ruby Falls's "Deck the Falls" which is a holiday light show in the underground falls, and Rock City a top Lookout Mountain has its annual Enchanted Garden of Lights with nearly a million lights. If you enjoy Christmas parades, Chattanooga still has several coming up for more information on these local parades you may contact the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce at 423.756.2121 or visit their site at www.ChattanoogaChamber.com

Plus, Do not miss "The Nutcracker" presented at the Tivioli Theater on December 12th and 13th, 8pm. For tickets and additional information contact the Tivoli Theater at 423.265.0617

You may also contact Ruby Falls for information on the Deck the Falls Events at 423.821.2544 or visit: www.RubyFalls.com

For Information on Rock City's Enchanted Garden of Lights visit www.SeeRockCity.com or call 800.854.0675.

Have a Fun, Safe and Happy Holiday Season.

Realtor Ryan, Broker

Real Estate Partners

423.265.0088

www.RealtorRyan.com

Whisper Creek of Windstone Ooltewah, Tennesseee

Realtor Ryan — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:40:09 -0600

Developed by Ival Goldstein, the new homes of Windstone's Whisper Creek Subdivision are bringing in a lot of attention. The homes are beautiful Garden, Carriage, and Townhomes with a very traditional style of architecture. The advantages of living in Whisper Creek are many, including Membership to Windstone Golf Club. Also, residents will have access to a walking trail, zero lawn-care, private pool, private clubhouse with fitness, meeting rooms, playrooms and a kitchen. The homes are priced in the high $200s to low $400s, and these homes are very convenient to the Hamilton Place Mall area, not to mention many restaurants.

For more information on the Whisper Creek Homes please visit their website:

www.WhisperCreekatWindstone.com

Realtor Ryan, Broker

Real Estate Partners

423.265.0088

www.RealtorRyan.com

Chattanooga Realtor is Dancing on Green Flooring!

Realtor Ryan — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:57:37 -0600

The green, eco-friendly movement has made its way into the Flooring industry. Shaw Industries has introduced new eco-friendly flooring to the market. The Eco-Choice flooring comes in Carpet, Carpet Cushion, Hardwood, Cork, and Bamboo. They have a wide variety of styles and colors. All of the new flooring products are made of recycled content that was normally thrown into landfills. These new products are all recyclable, they help manage forestry, they help with conservation of the earths natural resources, they improve the indoor air quality of your home, and they use natural renewable resources. Another wonderful bonus of this environmentally friendly flooring is that for every purchase, Shaw is donating money to the National Arbor Day Foundation, and they are offering great warranties for the products.

For more information on the Eco-Choice flooring you can visit this website:

www.EcoChoiceFlooring.com/default.aspx

Realtor Ryan, Broker

Real Estate Partners

423.265.0088

www.RealtorRyan.com

Why Does Low VOC Paint Matter to Me?

Realtor Ryan — Fri, 02 May 2008 09:12:47 -0500

If you have recently been involved in any type of remodeling project or even made a quick stop at your local Home Depot or Lowe's, then you should have heard the term "Low VOC Paint". What is Low VOC paint and why does it matter to me? Did you know that indoor air is actually 3 times for polluted than outdoor air. No wonder sitting in the house tends to make me crazy. Read the following article for some very interesting information.

http://www.eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_paints.htm

Realtor Ryan, Broker

1st Annual Earth Day Chattanooga.

Realtor Ryan — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:50:10 -0500

The first annual Earth Day Chattanooga is finally here. There will be many activities and things to see along Main Street, so come on out and join us for this celebration. Interesting speakers that we all might could learn something from. Click on the link below for more detailed information.

www.EarthDayChattanooga.com

Realtor Ryan, Broker

Home Equity Loans the Pros & Cons.

Realtor Ryan — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:08:15 -0500

You are constantly hearing about home equity loans or what are also referred to as H.E.L.O.C.'s (pronounced He-Locks). The bank advertises them to me every time I go through the teller and I am constantly receiving promotional materials in the mail about how I qualify for a H.E.L.O.C. I am very familiar with how they work and actually have a couple on properties that I own. To educate my readers and provide the simplest explanation of a H.E.L.O.C. please click on the link below. If you have any questions beyond this, you can call me. And as always, if I can't answer your questions then I can certainly steer you in the right direction.

http://www.ahahome.com/aha_side_42_pub.cfm

Realtor Ryan, Broker

How "Green" is your Chattanooga Realtor?

Realtor Ryan — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:02:44 -0500

I have decided to devote a little time to providing my readers with "Green" information and links that can make them live happier and healthier lifestyles. I will try to keep all information relative to real estate and definitely keep it helpful. The first link that I am posting is about Energy Efficient Appliances. If you are considering making an appliance purchase, please take a look here and see how to rate your appliances efficiency. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to blog.

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/appliances.html

Realtor Ryan, Broker

Realtor's Must Learn the Mortgage Side of the Business.

Realtor Ryan — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 10:23:41 -0500

Real Estate is a constantly changing enviroment and it seems that since this market has cooled off a bit, the terms are changing at an even faster pace. The mortgage business and the appraisal side of this business can sometimes be the bain of our existance, but a necessary bain. As we all know, the mortgage business has been turned upside down and continues to try and find its way. The sub-prime market is pretty much gone and the days of the 80% / 20% loans are bleak. Three years ago, I didn't even have to really think about the mortgage business. Today, I have to stay on top of the available mortgages in order to get my buyers into homes. I am constantly talking with different mortgage lenders about the available products out there and what they see coming down the pipeline. FHA is huge and going to be even bigger. Two years ago, nobody wanted to touch FHA and now it seems to be the mac-daddy of all mortgages. Friday, I discovered an older loan program that deals with Rural Developments. It's a great program that has been around for a while, but was over-shadowed by the 80/20's. This market is a whole different ball game for Realtors and we HAVE to stay up with the market or we will get left behind. Blog or call me if you have any specific questions. I am not at all saying that I am an expert on the matter, but I will say that I have a lot better education now. The mind is like a sponge, you either soak it up or it dries up. Of course, occasionally I have to ring mine out.

Realtor Ryan, Broker

Chattanooga, Tennessee Avoids the Mess.

Realtor Ryan — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:47:24 -0500

Did everyone see the article that was printed in the USA Today last week? I have been telling everyone in my posts, that it wasn't as bad here as the media typically lets on. Click on the link and take a look for yourself. Keep the e-mails and posts coming. Love to answer any of your questions that you may have.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/closetohome/2008-03-17-chattanooga_N.htm

Realtor Ryan, Broker

Out of This World House Goes Up for Auction.

Realtor Ryan — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 12:13:54 -0600

I had actually previously blogged about Chattanooga's only UFO being up for sale. Well, now the sellers have decided to take a more "Worldly" approach and auction the extraterrestrial house off. I have actually seen it advertised recently on CNN and various places on the web like MSN.com. The auction will take place on March 15 and should be an out-of-body experience. Click on the link to see pictures and learn more about what Trekkie's around the globe are talking about.

http://www.auctionzip.com/cgi-bin/photopanel.cgi?listingid=403897&feed=1

Realtor Ryan, Broker

Ryan King is the first Eco-Broker in Chattanooga.

Realtor Ryan — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:10:53 -0600

Yes folks, I am blazing a new path in the area of Chattanooga Real Estate. I have just received my Eco-Broker Designation and I am the first one out of over 1,500 agents to obtain such an honor. The closest other Eco-Broker would be in Atlanta.

The Eco-Broker Class has taught me many things about Green Building practices and how to cut your energy almost in half by using passive solar power (basically the direction your house sits). I also have learned how we can all make better choices when buying appliances, HVAC units, water heaters and many other items for our homes.

I truly feel that one day, Americans will have to find alternative fuel sources and we will also HAVE to be educated consumers in the Energy Efficiency category. The Eco-Broker designation will put me ahead of the pack in educating my buyers and sellers about the potential benefits and pitfalls of the home buying purchase.

If you would like more information about how you can make your home more "Green", please don't hesitate to call me or log onto the website http://www.ecobroker.com/ Also, I can e-mail you some great websites that you could check out on your own for energy efficiency.

The Chattanooga Enviroment does matter to me and my number one goal is to provide my buyers and sellers with more knowledge (than my competitors) so that they can make the most educated decision possible. Check out these sites, you may find the information very useful:

http://chattanoogausgbc.blogspot.com/ and http://www.envirolinkhandbook.com/www/docs/9/

Realtor Ryan, Broker

Chattanooga MLS December Numbers Have Arrived.

Realtor Ryan — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:40:42 -0600

The Chattanooga Association of Realtors have just released their December numbers for year end 2007 and it is actually not that bad. The Chattanooga MLS has market numbers of 427 units sold, down 3.5% from November. Doesn't sound that bad to me, taking into consideration the numbers usually fall during the month of December because of the holidays. We are still off 18.8% from 2006 during the same month. Remember, that we are comparing these numbers to December 2006, which was the biggest real estate year in history. The year 2007 shaped up to be the third best year in Chattanooga Real Estate.

Realtor Ryan, Broker

www.RealtorRyan.com

Chattanooga Short Sale or Pre-Foreclosure.

Realtor Ryan — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:26:43 -0600

I wanted to briefly add to my last post about short sales, now known as pre-foreclosure sales. I actually have 3 pre-foreclosure sales working right now in the Chattanooga area. From extensive conversations with several lenders, this can be the way to go to save you from foreclosure. The lenders are telling me that they are will to take a loss of at least 20% of the mortgage to keep the home from going into foreclosure. A number like 20% could make or break your financial future and credit score. I will say however that this can be a timely process and there are no guarantees on whether or not it will work. Once you have an offer in place, the lender may accept the offer, the lender may counter the offer or the lender may reject completely and start the foreclosure proceedings (depending upon your particular deliquency). If you plan on doing a pre-foreclosure, please be prepared to jump through paperwork hoops and meet all deadlines. This still doesn't give you the for sure on whether or not it will work, but it sure beats the heck out of the alternative. Call me if you have any questions.

Realtor Ryan, Broker

www.RealtorRyan.com

I May Can Save You From Foreclosure!

Realtor Ryan — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 13:18:32 -0600

Recently, I took a class that was sponsored by Legal Title and a company out of California that addressed the future of the foreclosure market. The new term used by all the mortgage companies and banks is "Pre-Foreclosure". This is what we used to call "short sale". The class provided us with the tools to potentially negotiate your mortgage down to below what you owe, put your home on the market and get it sold before you lose the property to foreclosure. This is not a guarantee, but with diligence, hard work and the knowledge and research that I have obtained we may be able to get it done. In getting the home sold through a pre-foreclosure sale, the seller (you) may be able to hold onto a credit rating that can put you in a home in the near future. If your home is foreclosed on, you will have many years before you will be able to own property again. If you feel like foreclosure is in your future, please give me call for a consultation and I will see what we can do.

Realtor Ryan, Broker

www.RealtorRyan.com

Chattanooga Real Estate Numbers for November.

Realtor Ryan — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:42:33 -0600

Sorry, it has taken me so long between posts. I have been extremely busy with Christmas and the New Year. I am very excited about 2008 and ready to get back into the groove. The Chattanooga Association of Realtors just released their Chattanooga MLS housing numbers for November 2007. Take into consideration that we are comparing these numbers to a record setting housing year of 2006. Chattanooga Realtors closed 489 homes in the month of November, compared to 618 for November 2006. There was a 16 percent drop from October 2007 to November 2007 (568 homes in October compared to 489 homes in November). Something that we need to consider is that there has been historically a 15% drop from October to November, which puts our recent 16% drop into perspective. On a very good note is that our median home price has not really changed much and we are hovering around the $140,000 mark. This proves that we here in Chattanooga didn't see the over-inflation of pricing that a lot of other markets throughout the United States saw over the last few years. This a great market to buy in and still a great market to sell a home. One of my goals is to post more blogs for your information in 2008, so you will be hearing from me a lot more this year. Happy New Year!

Realtor Ryan, Broker

http://www.RealtorRyan.com/

Chattanooga Real Estate Held its Ground in October!

Realtor Ryan — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 14:45:57 -0600

Can you believe a title like this when the end of the real estate world is coming? The Chattanooga Association of Realtors just released their monthly numbers. In the month of October, real estate actually remained steady and sales increased slightly. Yes, that's right I used increased in the same sentence as real estate. Total home sales reported by the association was 568 in October, up from 538 in September. Could we be seeing a turnaround? Maybe, but not quite yet. We're still off from 2006's numbers, but you have to remember that 2006 was the best year on record. The Chattanooga Association of Realtors also announced that the median home price in our area went from $136,190 in September to $137,200 in October. I will have to say that this is promising news and it continues to back up some of my previous posts that we're not as bad off as the media makes us out to be. It's still a buyers market, so buy!

Realtor Ryan, Broker

http://www.RealtorRyan.com/

Buyer's Market or Seller's Market? What's the Difference?

Realtor Ryan — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 23:10:53 -0600

These two terms to describe market conditions are used loosely in the real estate industry. Many people don't know exactly what determines whether a market is leaning towards being a buyer's or seller's market. Don't be alarmed, because many Realtors don't exactly know what this means either. A "buyer's market" is simply defined as the condition of the real estate market in an area where there are more homes for sale than people wanting to buy them. Buyer's in this market have more choices and less competition for the available properties, resulting in sellers lowering prices. Seller's market would be the polar opposite where there is a large amount of buyer's looking for homes when homes for sale are scarce.

The conditions that we are seeing in Chattanooga is definitely a buyer's market. In saying this, I do want to make the point that homes are selling. Yes, there is a longer Days On the Market (DOM) for homes, but there are still quite a few buyer's out there and they are making out like bandits by snatching up some really good deals. It's all about supply and demand and it seems like I remember something about that in school.

Everything that we see on the news would make us wonder if the real estate market isn't just falling apart. I might would believe this if interest rates weren't staying so low and I didn't have multiple families looking for homes. The National Association of Realtors just ranked 2007 as the fifth-best year on record for real estate. Low interest rates combined with 2007 being a record year for real estate? Come on everyone, don't believe everything that you see on television, because we don't live in California or Florida.

Realtor Ryan, Broker

http://www.RealtorRyan.com

Networking Using the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce

Realtor Ryan — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:49:10 -0600

Recently, I started participating in the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce for networking purposes. I wasn't sure how well this avenue of marketing was going to work out, but it has become a viable entity for getting my listings out there. The chamber is constantly having events that you can participate and get involved in. A lot of new businesses that are coming to the area from outside Chattanooga start their marketing with the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce. The employee's may be new to the area or just new to the chamber and all the benefits that it offers. Whatever the reason for them being there, they bring new prospects to my listings and give me some face-time to talk to them about the different properties I have that may fit their needs. The Chattanooga Chamber has monthly meetings for the different sub-areas that it encompasses. Being a member, you can attend any of the sub-area meetings and promote your listings in that area to those who might be most interested. As Realtors, we all know that word-of-mouth can be some of the best marketing that even money can't buy. My aim is to get those houses out there and find a buyer for them. Check out the chambers website for more infomation at http://www.ChattanoogaChamber.com.

Realtor Ryan, Broker

http://www.RealtorRyan.com