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April 2025 Knoxville & East Tennessee Housing Market Update: What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know

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Are you planning to buy or sell real estate in Knoxville or East Tennessee in 2025? With the latest housing market data in hand, you can make informed decisions that align with current trends in the area. In this market update, we’ll break down the key insights from April 2025, including inventory levels, price trends, and market conditions for both buyers and sellers.

Whether you’re a first-time buyer, seasoned investor, or a homeowner ready to sell, here’s everything you need to know about the Knoxville and East Tennessee real estate markets.

Knoxville Housing Market: Cooling but Still Favoring Sellers

The Knoxville housing market is showing signs of cooling, but it remains a slight seller’s market. Here are the latest stats comparing April 2025 to April 2024:

  • Home Sales: Down 15.4% year over year.
  • Pending Sales: Up 10.9%, showing steady buyer interest.
  • Inventory Growth: Up 61.4%, giving buyers more options.
  • Median Sales Price: Increased 4.94% to $404,000.
  • Average Price Per Square Foot: $234 per square foot.
  • Absorption Rate: Rose to 2.38 months, reflecting a slight shift toward balance but still favoring sellers.
  • Days on Market: Average days on market increased by 44.12% to 49 days, signaling a slower pace for home sales.

What This Means for Sellers in Knoxville

Sellers in Knoxville need to adapt quickly to changing conditions by pricing homes competitively and ensuring properties are well-prepared for listing. While prices are still rising, the increase in inventory and absorption rate indicates growing buyer leverage.

What This Means for Buyers in Knoxville

With more inventory and slower sales, buyers have greater negotiating power. However, desirable homes are still selling quickly. Acting decisively on well-priced properties is key to securing your dream home.

East Tennessee Housing Market: A Steady Transition Toward Balance

Compared to Knoxville, the East Tennessee market is transitioning more gradually, moving closer to a balanced market. Here’s the year-over-year data for April 2025:

  • Home Sales: Down 12.5% compared to April 2024.
  • Pending Sales: Up 13.7%, reflecting active buyer interest.
  • Inventory Growth: Up 39.4%, giving buyers more options.
  • Median Sales Price: Increased 6.23% to $375,000.
  • Average Price Per Square Foot: $227 per square foot.
  • Absorption Rate: Rose to 4.07 months, nearing a balanced market.
  • Days on Market: Average days on market increased by 16.98% to 62 days, while the median rose 53.33% to 23 days.

What This Means for Sellers in East Tennessee

Sellers in East Tennessee can take a more patient approach compared to Knoxville. With homes taking longer to sell, focusing on property presentation and strategic pricing is crucial. The market is nearing balance, but sellers can still benefit from price appreciation.

What This Means for Buyers in East Tennessee

Buyers have more time to evaluate properties as the market stabilizes. While the slower pace offers more flexibility, competitive pricing means there’s less room for dramatic discounts.

Key Trends Driving the Knoxville and East Tennessee Housing Markets

1. Growing Inventory Levels

Both Knoxville and East Tennessee are experiencing rising inventory levels, providing buyers with more options. However, Knoxville’s faster absorption rate increase (52.2% year over year) suggests a more rapid market adjustment compared to East Tennessee’s slower pace (29.25%).

2. Seasonal Market Upswing

Spring is the busiest time for real estate, and both markets are benefiting from seasonal demand. Pending sales have increased significantly in Knoxville, jumping from 488 in February to 666 in April, highlighting strong buyer activity.

3. Pricing Trends

  • Knoxville: Median sales price rose by 5.19% to $405,000, while the median list price declined by 3.25%. This suggests sellers are adjusting expectations to attract buyers.
  • East Tennessee: Median sales price increased 6.23% to $375,000, with a modest 1.24% rise in list prices. Sellers here are maintaining steadier pricing strategies.

4. Affordability Challenges

Rising prices and high mortgage rates (currently hovering around 6.92%) are creating affordability challenges for many buyers. The “lock-in effect” is also keeping some potential sellers on the sidelines, as 72% of homeowners with mortgages have interest rates below 5%.

County-Specific Market Insights

Here’s a quick overview of housing trends in surrounding East Tennessee counties:

  • Knox County: Inventory up 57.6%, pending sales up 12.2%, and median sales price up 7.08% to $401,547.
  • Roane County: Inventory up 29.3%, pending sales down 12.3%, and median sales price down 1.5% to $319,000.
  • Anderson County: Inventory up 37.6%, pending sales up 14%, and median sales price down 0.5% to $297,500.
  • Loudon County: Inventory up 65.8%, pending sales down 4.3%, and median sales price up 4.98% to $527,500.
  • Sevier County: Inventory up 18.1%, pending sales down 5.7%, and median sales price down 3.81% to $525,000.
  • Blount County: Inventory up 51.2%, pending sales up 19.6%, and median sales price up 6.84% to $406,000.

Opportunities and Challenges for Buyers and Sellers

For Sellers

  • Knoxville: Price your home competitively and prepare it well to stand out in a cooling market.
  • East Tennessee: Be patient with longer selling times, but focus on presentation and pricing to attract buyers.

For Buyers

  • Knoxville: Leverage increased inventory and negotiate strategically, but act quickly on desirable properties.
  • East Tennessee: Take advantage of a balanced market to explore more options, but don’t expect deep discounts.

National Market Context: How Knoxville and East Tennessee Compare

Nationally, the housing market is seeing more metro areas with falling home prices. However, Knoxville and East Tennessee continue to experience year-over-year price appreciation.

Despite low national home sales (near historic lows since 1995), East Tennessee’s resilience reflects strong local demand and steady market conditions.

Final Thoughts: Steady as She Goes

The Knoxville and East Tennessee housing markets are adapting to increased inventory and shifting buyer behavior. Knoxville is cooling faster, while East Tennessee’s transition is more gradual.

Whether you’re buying or selling, understanding these nuanced trends is key to making informed decisions. If you’re ready to take the next step in the Knoxville or East Tennessee real estate market, contact Troy Stavros with Cornerstone Realty Associates for expert guidance.

Looking to buy or sell in Knoxville or East Tennessee? Let’s make your real estate goals a reality. Reach out today for personalized advice and support!

Contact Troy Stavros, Cornerstone Realty Associates
📞 Phone: 865-999-0925
📧 Email: troy@865realestate.com

Year Over Year Change in Rent Prices in Tennessee’s Biggest Cities

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The latest insights from Rentometer.com reveal that the average rent for three-bedroom single-family rentals (SFRs) in Knoxville hit $2,235 in Q3 2023, marking a 3% increase from last year. In contrast, a 3-BR apartment averaged $1,799 during the same period. Notably, Knoxville leads the five largest Tennessee cities with the largest year-over-year rent increase for single-family units!

The trend highlights Knoxville’s growing appeal and rising housing costs, especially when compared to other cities. For instance, renting a single-family home in Nashville used to be 23% more expensive than in Knoxville in Q2 2022; now, that gap has narrowed to 17%. Meanwhile, Chattanooga’s rental prices are now 12% cheaper than Knoxville’s, a notable increase from 7% last year.

U.S. Average 30-Year Mortgage Rates and the Outlook for 2024

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As a real estate professional, it’s important to understand the dynamics of mortgage rates and their impact on the housing market. This year, we’ve witnessed U.S. mortgage rates soar to their highest since 2001, culminating in a significant quarter-point increase from last year, even jumping over 8% in October. This uptick has directly contributed to one of the lowest home sales records in history, as higher borrowing costs have deterred many potential buyers.

However, there’s a silver lining. The rates have seen a decrease of over one percent from the highs of late October. This downward trend as well as recent news from the Fed indicates a potential easing of mortgage rates in 2024. As rates become more favorable, borrowing becomes less expensive, thus encouraging home buying. This expected shift can revitalize the housing market by increasing demand, stabilizing prices, increasing affordability and encouraging a resurgence in home sales. In essence, while 2023 has been challenging due to high mortgage rates, the anticipated fall in rates in 2024 is likely to bolster the housing market, providing a more favorable environment for buyers and sellers alike.

JUNE 2023 Knoxville Real Estate Market Update: Rising Rents, Home Prices, and Mortgage Rates

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Welcome to the Knoxville Real Estate Report! In this video, we’ll dive into the latest trends and insights shaping the housing market in our beautiful city.

First, let’s talk about apartment rents. Over the past year, Knoxville has seen a remarkable increase of 9.2% in apartment rents, outpacing the national average growth of 2.3%. This means that finding a place to rent in Knoxville has become more competitive, and prices are on the rise.

In June, the Federal Reserve decided to keep interest rates steady after a string of ten consecutive rate increases. However, officials hinted that future rate hikes may be necessary next month if inflation doesn’t continue to decrease. This decision has implications for the housing market, as higher interest rates can impact the affordability of homes and influence buyer behavior.

Speaking of the housing market, East Tennessee has experienced a notable increase in housing inventory throughout June. However, the number of homes listed for sale remains approximately 60% lower than pre-pandemic levels. This shortage of available homes contributes to the high prices and rents we are currently seeing in the region.

The recently released “The State of the Nation’s Housing 2023” report from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies confirms that home prices and rents remain high in East Tennessee. With higher interest rates locking homeowners in place and slowing construction, the market faces challenges in meeting the demand for affordable housing.

Home sales in Knoxville saw a boost in May, partly due to a temporary decline in mortgage rates the previous month. Buyers in today’s market are highly sensitive to mortgage rates, and their fluctuations can impact home sales in the coming months. Additionally, the lack of inventory and new listings has intensified competition, especially for homes priced under $400,000.

In summary, while market activity has somewhat normalized, the housing market in Knoxville is still far from ordinary. Higher mortgage rates and historically low inventory levels create a dynamic that is unfamiliar territory for many. Although the situation may seem unsustainable, data suggests that these market conditions are likely here to stay.

Looking at housing inventory, we observed a modest increase over the past month, which is typical for this time of year. Active listings in June were up around 20% compared to the previous year. However, inventory levels remain well below pre-pandemic averages across all counties in the East Tennessee region. Although most counties experienced month-over-month increases in inventory, the growth was relatively subdued compared to historical trends.

Now, let’s talk about mortgage rates. Currently, rates are just over one percentage point higher than they were a year ago, resulting in a 20% increase in the required monthly payment for the median-priced listing. These higher rates have led many homeowners to hold off on selling their homes and moving, contributing to the low inventory we’re seeing in the market. As a result, prospective buyers are increasingly turning to the new-home market.

Looking ahead, the outlook for mortgage rates remains uncertain. Despite the Federal Reserve’s decision to pause rate hikes in June, there is a possibility that rates will resume their upward trend in the near future. With inflation still above the Fed’s target, it’s likely that rate increases will be on the horizon. As a result, mortgage rates are expected to hover around 6.5% throughout the summer months.

In Knoxville, only a small percentage of homes listed for sale have a lower estimated monthly payment compared to a year ago. This indicates that while home price growth has slowed, it remains positive, and lower monthly payments are limited to a few listings at the top end of the market. That wraps up our Knoxville Real Estate Report. Stay tuned for more updates on the local housing market. If you found this information valuable, be sure to like this video and subscribe to our channel for future updates. Thanks for watching!

Have questions? Need a market analysis on a particular part of town or home? Need help buying or selling a home in East Tennessee? Contact Troy Stavros with CornerStone Realty Associates at 865-999-0925 today!

APRIL 2023 East Tennessee and Knoxville Housing Market UPDATE

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The Current Housing Market in East Tennessee: Rising Prices, Low Inventory, and High Demand

The Knoxville real estate market and the broader East Tennessee region are experiencing a significant surge in housing prices due to a combination of factors, including an incredibly low inventory of homes for sale and a high demand driven by an influx of people migrating from other parts of the country. As a result, both homebuyers and renters are feeling the impact of these market conditions.

One of the primary reasons for the rising prices in East Tennessee is the shortage of available homes. The inventory of houses for sale has reached historically low levels, creating a highly competitive market. With fewer homes on the market, potential buyers are faced with limited options, leading to increased competition and bidding wars for desirable properties. As a result, prices are being driven up as buyers vie for a limited supply of homes.

The region’s popularity as a destination for relocation is a key driver of the high demand in East Tennessee. Many people are choosing to move to this area due to its natural beauty, affordable cost of living, and growing job opportunities. This influx of new residents has intensified competition for housing, further fueling price increases.

Rents in Knoxville, specifically, have been significantly impacted by these market dynamics. According to recent data, apartment rents in Knoxville were up 12.75% in the first quarter of 2023, far surpassing the national average of 4.46% growth. The scarcity of available rental units has given landlords greater leverage, allowing them to raise rental prices to meet the soaring demand.

While the rising prices may pose challenges for renters, homeowners in the region are benefiting from the current market conditions. A recent report from the National Association of Realtors revealed that middle-income homeowners in Knoxville accumulated an average of $109,890 in housing wealth over the past decade as their homes appreciated in value. The sharp increase in home prices has provided homeowners with significant financial gains and enhanced their overall net worth.

The speed at which homes are selling in East Tennessee is remarkable. Statistics show that half of the homes sold were under contract in 16 days or less. Furthermore, 23.8% of homes sold for more than the asking price, with 12% selling for at least $10,000 over asking and 4% selling for at least $25,000 over asking. This data indicates a highly competitive market, with buyers willing to pay a premium to secure a property.

New construction has played a role in meeting the demand for housing, representing 15% of total home sales in the area. However, it is still not sufficient to offset the low inventory levels and escalating prices in the overall market.

Buyer competition remains fierce, although there has been a slight decline in the number of offers received on average. According to the Knoxville Area Association of Realtors’ Market Pulse Survey, the typical listing in the Knoxville area received 2.2 offers in the first quarter of 2023, down from 6.2 offers in 2022. Nevertheless, multiple offer scenarios are still extremely common, with half of all homes receiving at least two offers.

Affordability is becoming a growing concern in East Tennessee, particularly as mortgage rates have increased in recent weeks. Economic uncertainty has placed upward pressure on rates, with the current average rate for a 30-year loan standing at 6.69%. The higher interest rates are discouraging some homeowners from listing their homes for sale, as they are locked into lower rates below 4% or even below 3%. This further constrains the available housing supply and exacerbates the affordability problem in the market.

In conclusion, the housing market in East Tennessee, including Knoxville, is experiencing a surge in prices driven by a combination of low inventory and high demand.

MARCH 2023 East Tennessee & Knoxville Housing Market Update

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Knoxville Real Estate Market Shows Signs of Growing Beyond Its Affordable Reputation

The Knoxville real estate market has always been known for its affordability, but new data shows that the city’s median listing price is now higher than the national average. This suggests that the competitive advantage of Knoxville’s affordability may be slipping away, making it more challenging for homebuyers to find homes within their budget. In the fourth quarter of 2022, the median listing price in the Knoxville area was $426,633, compared to $412,743 nationally. By February 2023, the local median listing price had increased by more than $42,000 compared to the U.S. average, making Knoxville the 47th-highest among the top 150 U.S. housing markets. One of the significant issues contributing to the shortage of inventory is that fewer people are moving. Life event movers, who typically move up or down in the housing market, are staying in their homes longer, creating a “mortgage lock-in” group. With over 60% of outstanding residential mortgages in Tennessee having an interest rate of 4% or below, potential sellers are hesitant to list their homes for sale, given the prospect of trading out their current mortgage for a new one with a much higher interest rate. This has led to fewer homeowners putting their homes on the market, particularly those priced under $500,000, where new listings are down 19% year-over-year.

Additionally, some homeowners who have to move are opting to keep their existing house with their sub-3% mortgage, rent it out, and buy a new home without selling their current one, which further exacerbates the inventory problem.

Investors represent another group that has not contributed much to the inventory. While institutional investors with Wall Street money have slowed their purchasing, none of them are selling, creating no discernible inventory coming from investors at this time.

Distressed homeowners represent the third potential source of inventory, but as of now, essentially none of these people are selling homes either. With the US still having record employment and the big layoffs in the tech sector generally finding work quickly, there are no indications of this group selling homes at this time.

According to experts, homeowners in Knoxville can see that they have a really good deal where they currently live. Therefore, unless something dramatically changes, the current environment is expected to remain.

The Knoxville real estate market’s challenges are not just about inventory, however. Tennessee’s population surpassed seven million residents in 2022, marking the largest year-over-year population increase since 2007, according to the Tennessee State Data Center. This growth is driving up rent prices, with Knoxville experiencing the second-fastest rent growth of any US metro area in 2022, according to a report from the National Association of Realtors®.

As Knoxville continues to grow, it will be essential to address the inventory shortage and affordability issues to ensure that the city remains an attractive place to live for both current residents and newcomers.

Have questions? Comments? Want to talk about the market? Want to talk about buying or selling a home in East Tennessee? Contact Troy Stavros at CornerStone Realty Associates today at 865-999-0925. My team and I look forward to serving you!