IDEAL serves as an acronym to identify the advantages of rental properties:
• Income from the monthly rent contributes to paying the expenses and a return on the investment
• Depreciation is a non-cash deduction that contributes a tax shelter
• Equity grows monthly as the mortgage amortizes due to some of each payment being applied to the principal
• Appreciation is achieved as the value of the property goes up
• Leverage can increase the return on investment by using borrowed funds to control a larger asset
The combination of these characteristics working together makes rental real estate a very good investment for today’s economy and years to come. Increased rents, high rental demand, good values and low non-owner-occupied mortgage rates contribute to positive cash flows and very favorable rates of return.
Contact me for more information about actual opportunities in our local market.

Finding a list of companies from a phone book doesn’t mean they’ll be reasonable and reliable, it just means they have a phone and are willing to pay for an ad.  Searching on the Internet may direct you to a website that appears to be a local company but really is a marketing company who will sell the lead to a repairman or company who will pay a referral fee.

There are consumer organizations like Angie’s list who rate repairmen and contractors but they usually require an annual membership fee to be able to access the information.  There are also services like Renovation Experts or Service Magic that are registries for contractors but they may not be the most competitively priced.

Your best recommendations are going to come from friends, family and neighbors you trust who have actually used the repairmen before and would use them again.  The problem here is that you might have to make multiple calls before you can find a friend who can recommend the type contractor you need.

Repairs are a normal part of selling homes and we certainly come in contact with lots of contractors.  This experience leads us to understand who is reputable and reasonable as well as who to avoid.  As part of our commitment to helping you be a better homeowner from the time you buy your home until you sell it, we’re more than happy to make a recommendation of good repairmen or other professionals you might need.  Give us a call…we want to help.

The Knoxville Museum of Art is located in downtown Knoxville, overlooking the 1982 World’s Fair Site. It opened in March of 1990 in a 53,200 square foot marble-clad building. The Museum is home to a large collection of art and crafts and hosts traveling exhibitions from regional, national, and international artists.

Get more information about the Knoxville Museum of Art.

Knoxville loves women’s basketball, so it’s fitting that the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame is a part of the Knoxville community. The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame is much more than a museum. Our mission is to “honor the past, celebrate the present, and promote the future” of women’s basketball by supporting community initiatives and outreach.

Get more information about the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

Autumn in the Great Smoky Mountains is busy and beautiful. The annual show of the fall foliage colors attracts huge numbers of visitors from both near and far with the peak coming from mid-October to early November. There are numerous drives and hikes available that allow you to see the beauty up close. Some 100 species of trees grow in the Smoky Mountains, and most of them are deciduous, making for a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors.

Get more information about the Smoky Mountains fall foliage.

Tellico Dam and Tellico Lake are part of an extension of the Fort Loudon project. The dam diverts water from the Little Tennessee River to Fort Loudon Lake rather than creating electricity.

Tellico Lake’s breathtaking backdrop of the Great Smoky Mountains and Cherokee National Forest is stunning. On Tellico Lake, you can find just about any water activity your heart desires. On almost any given day you will see someone sail boating, pleasure boating, swimming, fishing, water skiing, or jet skiing. Lakeside parks, boat launches, picnic areas, overnight camping and marina facilities make enjoying water activities easy.

Get more information about Tellico Lake.

If you’ve not had the opportunity to experience Winterfest in Pigeon Forge, we invite you to join us this year to see why Winterfest is a perennial favorite for visitors and local residents alike. Winterfest begins in November and continues through February, and you’re welcome anytime. We’ll leave the lights on for you . . . all five million of them!

Get more information about Winterfest in Pigeon Forge.

Home to the annual Tennessee Valley Fair, Chilhowee Park is located in East Knoxville on Magnolia Avenue. The park is over 50 acres in size. It has a 4,500 seat amphitheater and a 2 story exibition hall with over 57,000 square feet. It is a great location for trade shows and other large events.

Get more information about Chilhowee Park.

The Worlds Fair Park in downtown Knoxville is the location of the Festival on the 4th. Thousands of visitors from around the region gather to enjoy a day of music, entertainment, food and a spectacular fireworks show. The festivities start at 2:00 PM and last all day until the fireworks show at 9:35 PM.

Find out more about the Festival on the 4th at the World’s Fair Park, or call the Knoxville Office of Special Events at 865-215-4248.

The winding Foothills Parkway was designed to provide beautiful vistas of the Great Smoky Mountains along their northern flank. The original plan was to build a 72-mile scenic drive from Chilhowee Lake to I-40 near Cosby, but middle sections of the parkway have not been finished.

Although Foothills Parkway is not completed, finished sections are open for traffic on the opposite ends of the parkway. The unfinished sections are open to pedestrian and other non-motorized traffic.

Find out more about the government’s future plans for Foothills Parkway.