865 Real Estate

East Tennessee Real Estate & Neighborhood Source

260 Lancaster Drive, Lenoir City, TN 37771 – One Level Living!!

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SOLD IN 31 DAYS! Spotless one level living. Prepare to be wowed by the floor plan, room sizes, updates, and features not typically found in a home in this price range. Stunning handscraped hardwood floors through most of the home. Granite counters, custom cabinets, and stainless steel appliances in the kitchen. 3 split bedrooms all on the one level, plus a private office. Huge sunroom and screened porch overlook the completely flat backyard bordered by a beautiful brick wall. Professional landscaping and irrigation system. 3.5 car garage (one heated and cooled) plus a breezeway/carport and extra parking pad. Perched on top of a hill offering nice views, privacy, and .82 acres. Minutes to the lake, shopping, schools, and healthcare. This is a must see!

For more information or to schedule a private showing contact me, Troy Stavros with Gables & Gates, REALTORS at 865-777-9191. Would you like to see your home marketed this way? Call me!

[idx_listing_details listing=”980209″ _=”1475196257190″]

2 Mortgage Myths That Are Effecting Home Buyers

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Fannie Mae’s “What do consumers know about the Mortgage Qualification Criteria?” Study revealed that Americans are misinformed about what is required to qualify for a mortgage when purchasing a home.

Myth #1: “I Need a 20% Down Payment”

Fannie Mae’s survey revealed that consumers overestimate the down payment funds needed to qualify for a home loan. According to the report, 76% of Americans either don’t know (40%) or are misinformed (36%) about the minimum down payment required.

Many believe that they need at least 20% down to buy their dream home. New programs actually let buyers put down as little as 3%.

Below are the results of a Digital Risk survey of Millennials who recently purchased a home.

2 Myths About Mortgages That May Be Holding Back Buyers | MyKCM

As you can see, 64.2% were able to purchase their home by putting down less than 20%, with 43.8% putting down less than 10%!

Myth #2: “I need a 780 FICO Score or Higher to Buy”

The survey revealed that 59% of Americans either don’t know (54%) or are misinformed (5%) about what FICO score is necessary to qualify.

Many Americans believe a ‘good’ credit score is 780 or higher.

To help debunk this myth, let’s take a look at the latest Ellie Mae Origination Insight Report, which focuses on recently closed (approved) loans. As you can see below, 54.1% of approved mortgages had a credit score of 600-749.

2 Myths About Mortgages That May Be Holding Back Buyers | MyKCM

Bottom Line

Whether buying your first home or moving up to your dream home, knowing your options will definitely make the mortgage process easier. Your dream home may already be within your reach. Have questions or want to get the process started? Contact me, Troy Stavros with Gables & Gates, REALTORS today at 865-777-9191 to setup a time to talk.

Where Are Home Prices Headed Over The Next 5 Years?

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Today, many of my Knoxville real estate conversations center on housing prices and where they may be headed. That is why I like the Home Price Expectation Survey.

Every quarter, Pulsenomics surveys a nationwide panel of over one hundred economists, real estate experts, and investment & market strategists about where they believe prices are headed over the next five years. They then average the projections of all 100+ experts into a single number.

The results of their latest survey:

Home values will appreciate by 4.5% over the course of 2016, 3.6% in 2017 and about 3.2% in the next two years, and finally 2.9% in 2020 (as shown below). That means the average annual appreciation will be 3.5% over the next 5 years.

Projected Appreciation | MyKCM

The prediction for cumulative appreciation increased slightly from 24.7% to 26.3% by 2020. The experts making up the most bearish quartile of the survey are still projecting a cumulative appreciation of 11.1%.

Cumulative Price Appreciation | MyKCM

Bottom Line

Individual opinions make headlines. I believe the survey is a fairer depiction of future values. If you are interested in a quick estimate of what your home is worth right now CLICK HERE. For a pinpoint value or to talk about getting your home sold, contact me, Troy Stavros with Gables & Gates, REALTORS at 865-777-9191. I look forward to hearing from you!

Where Are Home Values Today Compared To The Peak in 2008?

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This housing market has many people talking about home values; where they are and where they are headed. It’s also interesting to look back and see how home prices compare to values prior to the housing crisis.

Every quarter, Freddie Mac releases their House Price Index. The index usually provides monthly home values for:

  • the nation as a whole
  • each of the 50 states
  • 367 metropolitan statistical areas

This quarter, the report also included a look at today’s home values as compared to Pre-2008 values. Here is a graphic that breaks down the numbers on a state-by-state basis:

Real Estate Values Today Compared to Pre-2008 Peak | MyKCM

Interested in finding out how much your Knoxville area home is currently worth? CLICK HERE FOR AN INSTANT ESTIMATE. Want a pinpoint value or want to talk about getting your home on the market? Call me, Troy Stavros with Gables & Gates, REALTORS today at 865-777-9191 to schedule a time to talk.

Home Sales Are Up In All Price Ranges Above $100,000!

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The National Association of Realtors’ most recent Existing Home Sales Report revealed that home sales were up rather dramatically over last year in five of the six price ranges they measure.

Homes priced between $100-250K showed a modest increase at 3.4%. This not only points to the lower inventory of homes available for sale in this price range but also speaks to the overall strength of the housing market.

Sales of homes over $250,000 increased by double digit percentages with sales in the $750,000- $1 million range showing the largest increase, up 16.7%!

As prices in many markets continue to accelerate, it is no surprise to see the percentage of homes in the higher price ranges increasing.

Here is the breakdown:

Homes Sales Up in Every Price Range over $100K! | MyKCM

What does that mean to you if you are selling?

Houses are definitely selling. If your house has been on the market for any length of time and has not yet sold, perhaps it is time to sit with your agent and see if it is priced appropriately to compete in today’s market.  Have questions? Want to get your home on the market? Contact me, Troy Stavros with Gables & Gates, REALTORS at 865-777-9191 to setup a time to talk!