865 Real Estate

East Tennessee Real Estate & Neighborhood Source

Expert Forecasts on Mortgage Rates for 2022 and 2023

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If you’ve been thinking of buying a home in East Tennessee, you may have been watching what’s happened with mortgage rates over the past year. It’s true they’ve risen dramatically, but where will they go from here, especially as the market continues to slow?

As you think about your homeownership goals and decide if now’s the time to make your move, the best place to turn to for that information is the professionals. Here’s a summary of the latest mortgage rate forecasts from housing market experts.

Experts Project Mortgage Rates Will Stabilize

While mortgage rates continue to fluctuate due to ongoing inflationary pressures and economic uncertainty, experts project they’ll start to stabilize in the months ahead. According to the latest projections, mortgage rates are expected to hover in the low to mid 5% range initially, and then potentially dip into the high 4% range by later next year (see chart below):

Expert Forecasts on Mortgage Rates | MyKCM

That could bring you some welcome relief. So far this year, mortgage rates have climbed over two percentage points due to the Federal Reserve’s response to inflation, and that’s made it more expensive to buy a home. And wondering if the rise in rates will continue is keeping some prospective buyers on the sidelines.

But now that experts say mortgage rates should stabilize, this gives you a bit more certainty about what they think the future holds, and that may help you feel more confident about your decision to buy a home.

Bottom Line

Whether you’re looking to buy your first home in East Tennessee, move up to a larger home, or even downsize, you need to know what’s happening in the East Tennessee housing market so you can make the most informed decision possible. Let’s connect to discuss your goals and determine the best plan for your move.

Have questions or want to talk about buying or selling a property in East Tennessee? Contact the Troy Stavros TEAM today at 865-999-0925. We look forward to serving you!

Luxury Southern Living Charm on 1.94 Acres in Deep West Knoxville

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Luxury Southern living charm on 1.94 acres in deep West Knoxville located at 313 Wooded Lane, Knoxville, TN 37922. Every time you come home on the quaint country road with 4 board fences (yet still minutes from Kingston Pike and the highway) and turn onto the private cul-de-sac street, you’ll look forward to pulling onto your long driveway flanked by Crepe Myrtles & Dogwoods with your private sanctuary located at the end. Whether it’s relaxing by the custom firepit overlooking your property, playing frisbee golf on your private 3-hole course or relaxing on the covered back porch with your feet up watching your favorite movie in front of the roaring fireplace, this is the home you’ve been looking for. Over 4000SF with 4 total bedrooms (3 on the main level) plus an oversized bonus room. Everything you’ve been looking for and so much more.

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Homes for sale in East Tennessee : MARCH 2022 Housing Market Update

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In today’s video, we dive into the East Tennessee real estate data for the month of March 2022 to see how the East Tennessee housing market is doing compared to one year ago.

We will look at the inventory of active homes for sale in East Tennessee. Homes for sale in Knoxville TN, homes for sale in Farragut TN, homes for sale in Knox County TN, homes for sale in Loudon County TN, homes for sale in Anderson County TN, homes for sale in Roane County TN, homes for sale in Blount County TN, and homes for sale in Sevier County TN. We will also look at what has happened to the median sales price of homes over the last year in those areas of East Tennessee. We will discuss the real estate data and how it affects buyers and sellers in today’s East Tennessee housing market. We discuss the extremely hot market for real estate investing in Sevier County and the areas of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and the Smoky Mountains.

Here is some basic real estate data and news in regards to the East Tennessee housing market not covered in the video that covers the housing market ending in 2021 and the last few months:

Seasonally adjusted home sales in the Knoxville TN Area declined 6.1% in March despite continued year-over-year gains.

Key Highlights:

-Knoxville, TN area home sales were strong in March — up from the prior month and 13% from a year ago.

-Median home sales price in East Tennessee was $301,880 in March — up 21% from a year ago.

-Total housing inventory in Knoxville TN declined for the sixth consecutive month — down considerably from a year ago and enough to last less than one month at the current sales pace.

-Half of the homes sold in Knoxville TN in March were on the market for less than 4 days.

Bottom Line: Seasonally adjusted home sales in East Tennessee declined for the fourth consecutive month, a clear sign that lack of supply is constraining the market and hampering further gains. Rising sale prices in Knoxville TN combined with further median DOM decreases suggest demand remains high — and likely to remain elevated throughout the year. At this point, there are no indications that supply will rise in the short term.

A scientific poll commissioned by KAAR (Knoxville Area Association of REALTORS) in March shows more than 1 in 3 registered voters — 34 percent — indicated housing affordability in the Knoxville TN area was a very or fairly big problem. 28 percent said the same about housing availability. That being said, Urban Land Institute’s Terwilliger Center Home Attainability Index for 2021 ranks Knoxville, TN as the 5th most affordable region in the United States.

In their latest migration trends report comparing cities across the country, U-Haul ranked Knoxville No. 7 on its list of top 25 U.S. growth cities.

Have questions or need help in today’s crazy East Tennessee housing market? Contact the Troy Stavros team at CornerStone Realty Associates at 865-999-0925 today. We are here to serve you! #chimein #888388DOOR

The Perks of Putting 20% Down When Buying a Home in East Tennessee

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The Perks of Putting 20% Down on a Home | MyKCM

If you’re thinking of buying a home in East Tennessee, you’re probably wondering what you need to save for your down payment. Is it 20% of the purchase price, or could you put down less? While there are lower down payment programs available that allow qualified buyers to put down as little as 0%, it’s important to understand the many perks that come with a 20% down payment.

Here are 4 reasons why putting 20% down may be a great option if it works within your budget.

1. Your Interest Rate May Be Lower

A 20% down payment vs. a 3-5% down payment shows your lender you’re more financially stable and not a large credit risk. The more confident your lender is in your credit score and your ability to pay your loan, the lower the mortgage interest rate they’ll likely be willing to give you.

2. You’ll End Up Paying Less for Your Home

The larger your down payment, the smaller your loan amount will be for your mortgage. If you’re able to pay 20% of the cost of your new home in East Tennessee at the start of the transaction, you’ll only pay interest on the remaining 80%. If you put down 5%, the additional 15% will be added to your loan and will accrue interest over time. This will end up costing you more over the lifetime of your home loan.

3. Your Offer Will Stand Out in a Competitive Market

In the East Tennessee market where many buyers are competing for the same home, sellers often like to see offers come in with 20% or larger down payments. The seller gains the same confidence as the lender in this scenario. You are seen as a stronger buyer with financing that’s more likely to be approved. Therefore, the deal will be more likely to go through.

4. You Won’t Have To Pay Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)

What is PMI? According to Freddie Mac:

“For homeowners who put less than 20% down, Private Mortgage Insurance or PMI is an added insurance policy for homeowners that protects the lender if you are unable to pay your mortgage.

It is not the same thing as homeowner’s insurance. It’s a monthly fee, rolled into your mortgage payment, that’s required if you make a down payment less than 20%. . . . Once you’ve built equity of 20% in your home, you can cancel your PMI and remove that expense from your monthly payment.”

As mentioned earlier, if you put down less than 20% when buying a home, your lender will see your loan as having more risk. PMI helps them recover their investment in you if you’re unable to pay your loan. This insurance isn’t required if you’re able to put down 20% or more.

Many times, home sellers looking to move up to a larger or more expensive home are able to take the equity they earn from the sale of their house to put 20% down on their next home. With the equity homeowners have today, it creates a great opportunity to put those savings toward a larger down payment on a new home.

Bottom Line

If you’re looking to buy a home in East Tennessee, consider the benefits of 20% down versus a smaller down payment option. Let’s connect so you have expert advice to help make your homeownership goals a reality.

Contact the Troy Stavros TEAM at CornerStone Realty Associates today at 865-999-0925.

Historic Home for Sale on the Historic Downtown Loudon Square

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How about a Historic 100+ year old home on the square in Historic Downtown Loudon? Along the banks of the Tennessee River, you can take a step back in time and enjoy all the comforts of small-town living and then some. This charming multi-use facility was built in 1900 and has been remodeled/restored and is in outstanding condition. Located on the busy and revitalized Downtown Loudon Square, it sits directly across from the Loudon County Courthouse. Within a 5 minute stroll, you can enjoy multiple restaurants, shops, professional services, an ice cream parlor and more. Currently zoned commercial and on the docket for a possible zoning change to residential, this property could serve multiple uses. Office, coffee shop, antique shop, possible short-term rental, long-term rental, private residence, or shop/office with private residence above. Lots of possibilities. Public street parking in front and a private parking lot in the back. Don’t miss this amazing opportunity on a one-of-a-kind property. 

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The Average Homeowner in Tennessee Gained $53,000 in Equity over the Past Year

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When you think of homeownership, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Chances are you might focus on the non-financial benefits, like the security or stability that a home provides. But what about equity? While it can be overlooked, a homeowner’s equity helps build long-term wealth over time. Here’s a look at what equity is and why it matters.

For a homeowner, your equity is the current value of your home minus what you owe on the loan. So, as home values climb, your home equity does too. That’s exactly what’s happening today. There aren’t enough homes on the market to meet buyer demand, so bidding wars and multiple offers are driving prices up. That’s because people are willing to pay more to buy a home. Right now, this low supply and high demand are giving current homeowners a significant equity boost.

Dr. Frank Nothaft, Chief Economist at CoreLogic, explains it like this:

“Home price growth is the principal driver of home equity creation. The CoreLogic Home Price Index reported home prices were up 17.7% for the past 12 months ending September, spurring the record gains in home equity wealth.”

To find out just how much rising home values have impacted equity, we turn to the latest Homeowner Equity Insights from CoreLogic. According to that report, the average homeowner’s equity has grown by $56,700 over the last 12 months.

The Average Homeowner Gained over $56,700 in Equity over the Past Year | MyKCM

Curious how your Tennessee stacks up? Check out the map above and you’ll see our average is $53,000 in equity gained.

How Rising Equity Impacts You

If you’re already a homeowner in East Tennessee, equity not only builds your wealth, it also opens doors for you to achieve your goals. It works like this: when you sell your house, the equity you built up comes back to you in the sale. You can use those proceeds to fuel your next move, especially if you’ve decided your needs have changed and you’re looking for something new.

If you’re thinking about becoming a homeowner in East Tennessee, understanding the importance of equity can help you realize why homeownership is a worthwhile goal. It builds your wealth and gives you peace of mind that your investment is a wise one, not just from a lifestyle perspective, but from a financial one too.

Bottom Line

Whether you’re a current homeowner in East Tennessee or you’re ready to become one, it’s important to know how equity works and why it matters. If this inspires you to make a move, let’s connect to explore your options and find out what steps you need to take next.

Contact the Troy Stavros TEAM at CornerStone Realty Associates today at 865-999-0925.