Downtown revitalization supports new an upcoming businesses.  There is a continuous renaissance going on.  Housing is thriving and in demand.  The Riverpark with its miles of  walking and biking paths is a wonderful experience for all ages.  Riverfront beaches with soft, sandy shores beckon you.  Golf and many other outdoor activities  are in abundance.  Or if you prefer, Chattanooga has farmer’s markets featuring local artisans and fresh produce.   Free outdoor music venues offer a mix that is sure to please.  We have a stellar symphony.

The aquarium with its salt water and fresh water exhibits is the envy of many larger cities.   Children can enjoy the Discovery Museum, Coolidge Park water playground and carousel.  The Hunter Museum has a permanent wing and one featuring guest artists from all over the country.  These artists offer their exceptional talents in a variety of media. The Hunter is free the first Sunday of every month.

Our city is an example of vision, enthusiasm, and determination to make things better for everyone.   There are so many exhibits and programs from which to choose.  People working, living and making a difference for a positive tomorrow.  This has been recognized time and again by those who travel through our area.  Some are so impressed, that they return to have a better life, and find it to be so.  Retirees and young families alike find this the ideal location.

Chattanooga is known as the “Scenic City,” but that’s just the beginning.

Depending on what you want out of your home, finding the right style for you can be a lot of work – fortunately, it can also be quite a bit of fun.

Costs of New vs. Older Tennessee Homes

In the past, deciding which type of home you wanted was largely a matter of price, since most older homes came in at a considerably lower price tag than new developments. In today’s market, however, there are new and historic homes that fall into the entire spectrum of housing costs – as long as you know where to look.

Older homes with renovated interiors have the double advantage of supplying old world charm and the latest in kitchen and bathroom amenities. However, older homes that haven’t been updated with modern heating, cooling, pipes, or electricity can become a financial drain when it comes to dealing with the TN weather. In this same way, newer homes with jetted tubs and a pool out back might provide everything you need to live comfortably, but there might be a trade-off when it comes to lot size and unique architectural features.

Of course, location matters, too. Chattanooga and Hixson homes for sale that have a little bit of historic charm tend to be found within small, unique neighborhoods closer to the downtown center. New development homes and those in gated communities tend to be found further out, especially in more suburban regions where there is more room for growth. These differences in location can have an impact on housing prices, since you may have to pay more for proximity to the city.

Benefits of an Older Home

Although all older homes vary – especially when it comes to things like updates, renovations, and location – most of them provide great benefits from an aesthetic point-of-view, including:

• Craftsmanship and architectural details
• Unique layouts
• Larger lot sizes
• Centuries-old features
• Mature landscaping

Benefits of a Newer Home

New homes tend to come with a much lower level of hassle, which can be a great boon to those buying a house for the first time or for young families who may not want to put a lot of time into their residence. Some of the features of a new Chattanooga home include:

• Less maintenance overall
• New pipes, roofs, appliances, electricity, etc.
• Larger storage spaces/More square footage
• Often closer to family-friendly features like schools and parks
• Energy efficient updates

Which Home is Right for You?

If you have been considering buying a Chattanooga home for awhile, you might already have a good idea of what you want out of your house, and what types of architecture appeal to you the most. However, many of the benefits of old homes (or new homes) can’t really be appreciated until you see them first-hand.

Ask your Chattanooga, Hixson, Ooltewah Realtor to show you the best of both worlds, and you might be surprised by what really draws you in. Just remember that every house – even the new ones – will require a little bit of work before they really start to feel like home.

In the current Chattanooga real estate market, many of the things that make a house unique – its paint color, flooring, the kitchen counters, and even the size or type of the windows – are being upgraded to entice buyers. But if your home has a restricting layout, which makes the house look smaller, darker, or inaccessible, you might have a difficult time making a “quick fix” to increase your chances of a fast sale.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to make your TN home for sale more appealing. If you do have a layout that might be sending out the wrong signals, you can try the following.

Remove the clutter. Staging your house is an important part of any home selling process, but never more so than when your layout might be confining or restrictive. Extra furniture, shelves, tables, and even the rack where you hang your coats all add to the inaccessibility of the house as a whole. By displaying your space as open and clearly as possible, you are allowing homebuyers to see the house through fresh eyes.

Add room dividers. A very long (or even a tiny) living room or a bathroom that is taken up almost entirely by a washer and dryer can be a difficult sell, because buyers might not see how the space is livable. Room dividers, or screens set up in strategic locations, are one of the tricks that decorators often rely on to maximize space, since they add clean lines and more storage opportunities.

Open up the entryway. Although this task might require a little bit of construction work on your part, opening up the home’s foyer to make it more appealing and inviting is often all you need to do to allow your home to shine. Most homebuyers make a decision about a house within the first 6 seconds, so you have to make those seconds really count.

Adjust your bedrooms. If your Hixson house has adjoining bedrooms, or if your Ooltewah condo has a bedroom right off the kitchen, you might want to re-market the space. Few people want to sleep in a room that offers reduced privacy, but if you stage it and/or list it as an office, a library, a playroom, or even an add-on, homebuyers might be more tempted.

The TN real estate market is on its way up, but selling a home can still be a challenge – especially if you own a challenging home. By taking a little extra time to adjust the way you see your house, as well as the way it is presented to others, it is possible sell that house faster and with a higher price point.

http://www.realtor.org/wps/wcm/connect/cc5d7e8041b3684b8626ffa3819af93a/lmr_tn_chattanooga_Q12010.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=cc5d7e8041b3684b8626ffa3819af93a

The question is a good one in today’s real estate market. While buying a house was once lauded as the best choice for people of all backgrounds, the truth is that buying a home is a big investment that takes time, preparation, and careful planning.

Reasons to Buy a House in the Current Market

It doesn’t matter whether you’re considering a Chattanooga house or a Hixson condo – the reasons for buying a house are good ones regardless of what type of real estate you’re after. Why?

• Interest rates are low right now. With so many foreclosed homes on the market and more sellers than there are buyers, banks and mortgage companies are offering added incentives for homebuyers. If you plan on taking out a 15- or 30-year mortgage, this can translate to savings in the tens of thousands of dollars.
• Foreclosed properties offer great deals. Although the TN real estate market is doing fairly well these days, there are still more foreclosed and discounted homes on the market than there were five or even ten years ago. If you are in a financial position to buy, you may be able to get more home for your dollar than in another economy.
• You can make an investment in the future. Given the state of the current economy, most house values are set to rise over the next few years. If you do purchase a Ooltewah home or a house in any of the outlying areas, you’re likely to see an increase in your home’s resell price within five to ten years.

Reasons to Rent a House in the Current Market

While we always encourage individuals interested in potentially buying a home to contact us to discuss their options, there are some key triggers that might indicate you’re better served as a renter. These reasons include:

• Little to no down payment saved up. Although there are zero-down programs available (particularly for first-time State homebuyers), it’s always a better financial decision to put some money into your home purchase.
• The possibility of moving or relocating soon. Chattanooga homes for sale provide a great bargain right now – but they may not increase in value enough to immediately resell it. Buying a home and then needing to sell it right away can be a strain, since it’s likely to remain a buyer’s market for at least a few more years.

Contact Barry Evans For More Information

If you’re ready to start looking at Chattanooga or Hixson homes for sale, or if you’d like more information on the benefits of buying a home versus renting one, call us today. Sometimes, it’s impossible to know if buying a home is right for you until you sit down with one of our trusted professionals and get all your questions answered.

Downtown Chattanooga will be hosting a Saturday market at Ross’s Landing Plaza, at the aquarium.  Starting June 5^th, one can stop by from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to listen to live music and enjoy the artistry of talented vendors.  Also being discussed is the possibility of organizing a produce market during this time as well.

This market is a Saturday public market to showcase Chattanooga’s finest and most successful local artists, craftspeople and local producers.  It will be a complement to the Sunday Farmer’s market at the AT&T pavilion.

So come and enjoy the day in a beautiful setting and see what Chattanooga has to offer in both community spirit and affordable real estate.  See you there!

www.chattanoogahasfun.com

On Sunday we went to The Terminal Brewhouse for lunch. http://terminalbrewhouse.com .  It sits beside the Chattanooga Choo Choo and apparently has quite a history before its recent refurbishing. The pie shaped 3 story exterior creates a cool interior with the upper floors forming a mezzanine that is open from the first to the top floor. There is also an outdoor patio on the second floor with grass. Too cool. The menu is quite an interesting read and offers some unique mouth watering options. My tastes are simple and I loved the philly and sweet potato fries.

An Accredited Buyer’s Representative like Diane Evans, with Keller Williams Realty , stands out in the crowd.

Because Diane Evans, REALTOR® holds the ABR® designation, you can trust that she has the extra edge when it comes to 

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE.

See Barry and Diane Evans listings of homes www.Chattanoogahomes.com

An Accredited Buyer’s Representative:

The ABR® designation is awarded by the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council (REBAC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Association of REALTORS®.

To learn more about REBAC and access various homebuyer resources, please visit www.REBAC.net.

The ABR® designation is only awarded to licensed real estate professionals who complete specialized training that gives them the edge in understanding a buyer’s perspective and protecting and promoting their buyer-clients’ interests. Before earning the ABR® designation, buyer’s reps must also demonstrate proven experience in representing buyers. Further, they are committed to maintaining their professional edge by staying current on the latest issues and trends in buyer representation.

When you work with an ABR®, you’ll be served, not sold. Your interests become their interests. They’ll make your home buying experience go as smoothly and successfully as possible.

You can expect your ABR® to:

• Understand your specifi c needs and wants, and locate appropriate properties

• Assist you in determining how much you can afford (pre-qualify your mortgage)

• Preview and/or accompany you in viewing properties

• Advise you in formulating your offer

• Help you develop your negotiating strategy

• Provide a list of qualifi ed vendors (inspectors, attorneys, lenders, etc.) for other services you may need

• Keep track of every detail throughout the transaction—to closing and beyond

Not all buyer’s representativesare equal.  Only a buyer’s rep who has earned the Accredited Buyer’s Representative designation has made the extra effort to raise the bar, with additional training and experience.

If you work with an ABR®, you can feel confident that you’ll receive the highestlevel of buyer-representation services.

The ABR® designation is awarded by the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council (REBAC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).

Call Barry and Diane Evans at Keller Williams Realty for all you real estate needs.