According to the National Association of Realtors:

35 million Americans moved to new homes in the past 2 years which represented 11.7% of the population. Almost 50% moved for housing-related reasons, 30.3% for family reasons, 19.4% for employment The average age of the typical first time buyer is 31; average age of a repeat buyer is 52.

In addition NAR shows a community preference survey for buyers:

86 % value privacy from neighbors when choosing a home.

60% prefer a neighborhood with a mix of houses, stores, and businesses that are easy to walk to.

Today’s home buyers want walk-able neighborhoods that offer relaxed access to nearby amenities and a real connection to the community.

75% of small town and rural residents would still live in a rural area if they could choose any place to live.

Where can you find a home with a stream like this right outside your back door.  Just listening to the wonderful sounds of the babbling water will calm your nerves and bring you contentment.  The home needs work, but with a little bit of ingenuity, you can have the perfect paradise.  I was privileged in showing this real estate property and fell in love with it.  Not far from Cleveland, Tennessee, this property is extremely private and deep in the woods and mountains.  There are all kinds of real estate properties for sale in SE Tennessee.  Polk County has some magnificent views and wooded acreages.  Whether you’re looking for real estate in Ocoee, Benton, Old Fort, Reliance, Copperhill, Ducktown, Delano, Etowah, Cleveland, or Chattanooga, this is the place you can realize your dreams.  Call me to discuss all types of properties for sale in the River Counties area. Or feel free to go directly the MLS through the website: www.grandviewrealtytn.com,  Wishing you the best for 2015!  Carol Kamm/Grandview Realty423-338-8171

Grandview Realty of SE TN presents Mountain Stream Cabins,Mountain Stream Cabins, a commercial property and business for sale. You can’t find a more peaceful, wonderful place to live and work.  Reside in the mountains and the Cherokee National forest while operating 6 income producing cabins. Each cabin has fully equipped kitchens, wrap around porches, hot tubs, and accommodates up to 6 people.  Sale includes almost everything, including linens, furniture, and operating necessities. Local and distant guests say it’s their favorite place to relax and get away from it all.  The private residence is perfect and has 2 separate living areas and kitchens so additional guests can be accommodated.  A Bed and Breakfast could be implemented if desired.  You can enjoy tax advantages with your home residence and business venture. Mountain Stream Cabins are located just a few miles from the famous Hiwassee River, well-known for its fly fishing, rafting, kayaking, tubing, picnicking, camping, and breathtaking photography.  Those not from Tennessee are blown away by the natural resources and beauty. Come sit on the front porch and listen to the babbling brook down below.  Or enjoy the “tree house” cabins, higher on the property, and listen to the birds and wildlife while enjoying your morning coffee.  The Ocoee River, located just a few miles further is one of the most popular white water rafting sites in America.  It hosted the 1996 White Water Rafting competition in the Summer Olympics. Other nearby attractions include the John Muir hiking trail, state parks, and campgrounds.  Conveniently located to Cleveland, Tennessee, 1 1/2 hours to Knoxville, and 2 hours to Atlanta.  This area is very attractive to tourists within 1-6 hours away in nearby states, Alabama, North Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia, and Florida. The present owners have made incredible improvements to make this a pristine and profitable business.  It’s a wonderful time of year to come and take a look.  Real Estate in SE Tennessee is on the rise, and offers something that no one else can. Grandview Realty offers real estate services in Bradley, Polk, McMinn, Monroe, Rhea, and Hamilton counties.  Looking for property in Cleveland, TN or nearby areas, call and ask for a list of homes for sale.  We pride ourselves in our great reputation of service to both sellers and buyers, working with years of experience and integrity.

By Carol Kamm at Grandview Realty

Real Estate Services in Bradley, Polk, Hamilton, McMinn and Monroe Counties

My buyer down in Atlanta asked me to preview a cabin for her at Parksville Lake.  No problem I thought, but this cabin can only be accessed by boat, there are no roads leading in or out.  So not having a boat, my husband and I kayaked on over.  I certainly wasn’t complaining; I’d rather be kayaking than anything else.

Parksville Lake is a hidden gem in SE Tennessee.  It is in the heart of the Cherokee National Forest, not a ritzy populated lake, nor overly developed by commercialism.  Serene and tranquil would be my definition of this place.  As for the cabin, it was quite simple and unpretentious and probably had seen better days in the past.  I can only imagine the fun times family and friends must have shared at this place.  It needs a new homeowner to love it now.  The boat dock was inviting, I couldn’t help myself but to dive off for a quick swim. You never have to worry about someone showing up uninvited, a visit to this cabin would definitely be well planned ahead.

I love my job and doing this was the icing on the cake.  The Ocoee Region, TN offers so much for recreation, including white water rafting, hiking, fishing, camping, or just simply enjoying doing nothing at all at the lake.  If you know anyone interested in purchasing or selling a home in Cleveland, TN, Ocoee, or Polk County, give me a call.  I love the many aspects of my job, in any fashion or form. Southeast Tennessee is a wonderful place to live and work with all types of properties for sale, even if you have to kayak to it.

By Carol Kamm at Grandview Realty

Real Estate Services in Bradley, Polk, Hamilton, McMinn and Monroe Counties.

According to the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB), homebuyers over age 55 are expected to continue to grow in 2014.  NAHB projects that the share of U. S. homes owned by people over age 55 will increase from 43.3 % to 46.6% in 2020.

“The 55-and over population….will steadily rise over the next several years, and the need for housing to accommodate that group will also rise,” says Paul Emrath, NAHB’s VP of survey and housing policy research.

Other research shows that the 55 and older buyers prefer to downsize to a one level home. However, they will not compromise on upgrades and neighborhood amenities.  We are currently seeing this trend in the homebuilding industry.

Featured Listing: 2214 Old Federal Road, Ocoee, Tennessee

A comfortable cabin off the beaten path, yet convenient to grocery store, local churches, and fabulous restaurants. Knotty pine wood floors and interior walls.  Wrap around porch.  Very private and comfortable.

2 Bedrooms plus loft on over 1/2 acre.  $109,900

Call me for additional photos or for a showing appointment.

By Carol Kamm, GRI, CRS, ABR

Real Estate Services in Bradley, Polk, Hamilton, McMinn and Monroe Counties.

Grandview Realty – 423-790-4547

By Carol Kamm at Grandview Realty

Real Estate Services in Bradley, Polk, Hamilton, McMinn and Monroe Counties.

Market News

 Low housing inventory equals buyers concessions and strategies

Home inventory fell from a 9.4 months’ supply in 2010 to a 4.9 months’ supply in August 2013. (Source, National Association of Realtors)

With home inventory at a low for 2013, sellers are receiving multiple offers from buyers.  Who would have thought 3 or 4 years ago that we would see these statistics from the National Association of Realtors.  But according to NAR, here’s what buyers are willing to do to get the home of their dreams:

Offer to pay the seller’s closing costs -25%

Bid  1-5 percent over asking price – 25%

Write a letter to the seller – 17%

Borrow enough money from family and friends to get a 20% downpayment – 12%

Bid 6% – 10% over asking price – 9%

Remove all contingencies-8%

Borrow enough money from family and friends to make an all-cash offer -5%

Bid more than 10% over home’s asking price -4%

Prices are gradually rising along with interest rates.  Buyers are seeing the urgency to buy now, especially since stricter loan regulations are about to come into play.

By Carol Kamm at Grandview Realty

Real Estate Services in Bradley, Polk, Hamilton, McMinn and Monroe Counties.

My husband and I decided to try our chances at building our “dream” home in 1995.  Even though I was in real estate, I really didn’t have a clue as to the nuts and bolts that new construction entailed.  So we decided to take a home construction class at our nearby community college.  There was so much to grasp, we took it twice.

The first step was to hire an architect to put our ideas on paper, professionally.  We realized early on that making phone calls and getting estimates, (on everything!) saves tons of money in the end.   Finding a good framer is one of the most important decisions in the whole process.  Don’t be afraid to get references right up front….and call them.  Do your research, it will make life so much better down the road.  Second big tip:  Treat your contractors as if they were kings, and they will reward you in small ways in return.  In the winter we bought them new work gloves and brought them hot coffee and donuts.  In the spring we offered sandwiches and ice tea.  It’s amazing how many extras they did for us at no cost.

Another good tip: Get a survey of your lot with the proposed blueprint in place.  You’d be horrified to hear the stories where a new house was built partly on the neighbor’s lot.  It’s a mistake that could have been avoided so easily with a survey.

Be prepared to have to work with contractors’ schedules.  We found out quickly that we weren’t their only project, nor their number one project.  If one contractor didn’t show up, that affected several other contractors’ time table too.  Keep names and numbers handy and be prepared to call them in advance to make sure you are still on their schedule for the day.  Have an estimated time frame and stick to it the best you can.

Ask for copies of liability insurance on each subcontractor.  Your homeowner’s insurance will expect to see that if there are any accidents or mishaps.  Don’t take their word for it.  Be diligent and get copies.

If you’re on a tight budget, know which extras you can save till later.  Perhaps wire for ceiling fans and wait until later to install.  Items which cannot wait would be, brick vs. vinyl, quality cabinets, and higher quality windows.

So here’s what I remember for categories and time frame for work:7

1.  Architect draws plans

2. Survey with blue print and lot boundary lines

3.  Land cleared and leveled

4.  Footers poured. (Our teacher taught us to always use rebar for reinforcement)

5.  Foundation laid

6. Framers begin their work, including roofing

7. Plumbing and electrical wiring laid

8. Heat and air plumed

9. Insulation laid

10.  Dry wall hung

11.  Continue with plumbing, electrical, and heating & cooling

12.  Trim work completed, interior

12.  Exterior siding completed

13.  Boxing of eaves, etc.

14.  Interior painting

15.  Plumbing fixtures

16.  Appliances

Then celebrate with a party and include all your subcontractors.  They will love seeing their part in the finished product.

Our home was so successful that our city newspaper, The Charlotte Observer, did a feature story on us.  The reporter mentioned that building can be quite stressful but was relieved we had a happy ending. Attached is a photo of our family and all our subs.

By Carol Kamm at Grandview Realty

Real Estate Services in Bradley, Polk, Hamilton, McMinn and Monroe Counties.

Considering buying a vacation home?  Check out the 2013 trends; you will be surprised at what buyers are doing these days.  Vacation homes are great investments and they don’t have to cost a fortune.  The ideal vacation home is a place for the family to create memories and get away from it all. This type of investment is a good discussion to have with your accountant. He can advise you financially and see if it’s a right fit for you. View details: http://grandviewrealtytn.com/vacation-homes-latest-trends.

By Carol Kamm at Grandview Realty

Real Estate Services in Bradley, Polk, Hamilton, McMinn and Monroe Counties.

According to the National Association of Realtors’ 2013 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey, here’s how the current trends look.

1.  The median vacation-home price in 2012 was $150,000 compared with $121,300 in 2011.

2.  Nearly half of vacation-home buyers paid cash for their properties in 2012.

3.  The typical vacation-home buyer in 2012 was 47 years old and had a median household income of $92,100.

4.  80% of vacation home buyers said they purchased their property for vacations or as a family retreat.

5.  45% of vacation homes purchased were in the south.

6.  The typical vacation home buyer last year purchased a property a median distance of 435 miles from their primary residence.

Vacation homes are becoming more popular with buyers who are tired of the hotel scene and rising prices, yet want a “home away from home”.  They appreciate getting away from jobs and the monotony of everyday life back at home. Many decide to convert later to an income producting investment by renting out through vacation home websites. Always discuss with your accountant to work with your particular financial goals.  And be cautious that vacation rentals are sometimes required to pay sales tax or a lodging tax just like hotels.  In the long run, vacation homes can make lasting memories and can be passed down through generations.