Do you have dreams of self-sufficiency? Living off the land? Look no further than beautiful Tennessee where homesteading is ideal for more reasons than one.

1. Tennessee Law protects homesteaders.
   A homestead exemption is granted as an automatic benefit to property ownership, which means you don’t have to file a “homestead claim” if you need to file for bankruptcy. This handy chart shows you how Tennessee’s exemption compares with other states.

2. Grow, baby, grow!
With up to 9 months of growing season, fertile land, mild climate, and plentiful rain, Tennessee is extraordinarily favorable to planting and harvesting.

3. Community and culture
Not only are the climate and laws homestead-friendly, but so are the people! You’ll never be alone in your dreams of self-sufficiency in Tennessee. In fact, it is home to multiple homesteading conferences, including the Homestead Festival, held at Rory Feek’s Hardison Mill Homestead in Columbia, TN.

Ready to establish your homestead in Tennessee? Reach out!

It’s not unusual for buyers to make multiple offers before scoring the home of their dreams. But knowing what an emotional drain that can be, I’m here to help you create a strong offer that is attractive to sellers.

1) Submit a pre-approval letter with your offer

Sellers are looking for qualified buyers and in a multiple-offer situation, they have the luxury of choosing the most qualified buyer. Make your offer stand out, even amongst higher offers, with the addition of your pre-approval letter.

2) Surprise the seller with generosity

Most of the time, occupancy is conveyed at closing or by the end of the business closing day. Surprise the seller by generously offering to delay occupancy by a couple of days after closing. In the grand scheme of things, that 24-48 hours isn’t going to make much of a difference, but it’s a great way to add weight to your offer.

3) Boost your earnest money check

An earnest money check presented with your offer is a good faith gesture that tells the sellers you are a serious buyer. Consult with your Realtor® on the typical earnest check amount for your area then bump it up by a couple hundred dollars. If multiple offers are submitted with an earnest check of $1000, for example, but your offer includes an earnest check of $1200, that will stand out to sellers.

4) Shorten the inspection period

Each region has a typical inspection period. Your Realtor® can provide insight into those stats and you can beef up your offer by shortening that period by a few days.

5) Hire a good agent

A seller’s market is not the time to go rogue. Sellers know that there are a lot of moving parts to a successful closing and they don’t want to risk anything falling through. Paying for a professional is a built in cost for sellers anyway! The sellers are paying the listing agent who, in turn, shares their commission with the buyer’s agent. Not only does hiring a professional provide you with a more hassle-free experience, but it strengthens your offer.

Ready to go house hunting? Call me at (865) 307-4805 to get started today.

……..but, oddly enough, I’ve always enjoyed math. Except for geometry. There’s nothing fun about geometry. Give me algebra and calculus any day.

I was homeschooled and my mother was always flabbergasted at how I could make the exact careless mistake each and every time I attempted to solve an equation. But I had fun doing it. ha! Lucky for me -and maybe, you, too – no higher math knowledge is needed for this topic: Is it more profitable to list a home For Sale By Owner or hire a Realtor and pay his/her commission?

Let’s dig in!

In the past month, I have spoken with many homeowners selling their home without a Realtor. I have asked each one the same question. “What made you decide to sell your home without an agent?” And except for two cases, the reply has been, “I’m going to save money doing it myself.”

I get it! Upon first look, that answer seems very plausible. After all, when I am contracted to list a home on a seller’s behalf, I do expect to be paid for my time, marketing knowledge, education, tools and resources, branded videos, role as acting coordinator between buyer’s agents, inspectors, title agents, and so on. A homeowner would rather keep 100% of his profits rather than 94%.

But let’s take a second look.

According to the National Association of Realtors, in the year 2021, FSBO homes sold for a median of $260,000, whereas the median for agent-assisted homes sold was $318,000. Now is where we pull out some grade school math to determine if it’s truly more profitable to list your home yourself or with an agent. To keep things simple, we will assume that there is no outstanding loan on these median homes and the seller gets to pocket the entire agreed-upon price. FSBO is keeping 100% remember so he walks away from the closing table with $260,000 in his pocket. (We are ignoring the fact that often, FSBO still pays a small commission to the buyer’s agent, but I digress.) Agent-assisted got his $318,000 but now has to pay his agent the contracted 6%. He writes a check for $19,080. That’s no small bananas! Let’s see how much he walks away with. 318,000 minus 19,090 is…….well, lookey-here! Agent-assistant median guy is walking away with $298,910 in his pocket! Poor Mr. FSBO thought he was getting the better end of the deal but he actually lost $38,910.

Ouch.

The moral of this story is…..if you’re considering selling your home, don’t be like poor Mr. FSBO. Call me today to set up your complimentary listing consultation. Rachel Lane (865) 307-4805.

Thinking about selling your home and wondering how to increase your market value? I got you! Let’s dive in……

1) Finished Basement

The average cost per square foot to finish a basement is $15 and can include waterproofing, installing a sump pump or drain, wiring, framing and more. Return on investment can be as high as 75%!

2) Open Floor Plan

This feature has been on buyers’ wishlists for decades and it’s not going away any time soon. Before you start knocking down walls, consult with a contractor to ensure that you do not inadvertently compromise the integrity of your home.

3) Hardwood Flooring

Installing or refinishing hardwood floors can be quite a project, but according to the National Association of Realtors Remodeling Impact Report of ’19, return on investment can be expected to exceed 100%!

4) Increase Curb Appeal

Make an impact with buyers before they walk through the front door by sprucing up your lawn. Manicured lawns with trimmed edges, mulched trees, and attractive plants have a 100% return on investment.

5) Hire a Realtor

Many homeowners who attempt to sell their home For Sale By Owner do so because they want to save money. Statistically, however, homes listed by Realtors sell for 20% more than FSBO! A professional not only guides you in upgrade options, but also creates a marketing strategy, coordinates between agents, inspectors, lenders, etc, and offers advice based on their expertise. Don’t go it alone! Call me at (865) 307-4805 for a consultation.

Ranked consistently as one of the top 10 places to live in Tennessee, Maryville is a beautiful city with a rich heritage. The first settlement dates back to 1785 and over the years, the city has seen steady growth as more people have fallen in love with the culture and history of Maryville.

Visitors come from all over to watch football games, both High School and College (the Maryville Rebels have an impressive record with 15+ State Playoff Titles and 35 District Titles) tour the stunning Maryville College campus, stay near the Great Smoky Mountains but away from the touristy bustle, or check out the ever-expanding employment opportunities.

Whether you’re coming for a visit or, as a local, you just need a quiet few days away from home, these unique AirBNB stays will provide a memorable experience.

1. Little River Tiny House

This tiny home comes complete with hammock, grill, firepit, and a rooftop deck – perfect for viewing the night sky over the river. Click here for more details and availability: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/44588661

2. Converted WWII Train Car

Platform 1346 is a renovated troop train kitchen car and has been showcased by Travel Channel, the Today Show, House Beautiful, and more! Click here for details and availability: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/21384530

3. Aircraft Hangar Mid-Century Loft

Terminal1344 is beautifully decorated and features a Beachner V8 special aircraft frame suspended over the sitting area. Click here for details and availability: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/35546733

4. Huckleberry Flynn Farm

I’ve saved my favorite for last! This sheep farm is owned by some friends of mine and they are well known for spoiling their guests. Click for details and availability: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/50130611

I still remember the first time I made New Year’s Resolutions. I was in 3rd grade. Each student was given a piece of paper shaped like a baby and the baby’s belly was lined like a journal. I only remember one of the resolutions I wrote down that day: make straight A’s.

As an adult, making resolutions look a little different. I’ve graduated from paper babies and have been known to fill many pages instead of a few lines. I often take an entire weekend alone in an AirBNB to reflect on the year before, then pray and set intentions for the year to come. I write out a vision for multiple areas of my life: family, finances, giving, fun, career, etc.

One exercise I’ve enjoyed using for the past two years is the Seven Layers Deep exercise! I’ve found that when making goals/resolutions, especially when they pertain to career and finances, I experience guilt stemming from a fear that I’m selfish in my desires. Seven Layers Deep reveals the root motivation behind each of my goals and never once has that motivation been a selfish one.

How does it work? Write down one goal for yourself. That’s your Level 1. Then ask yourself the question: Why is that important to me? Write down the answer and that’s your Level 2. Ask again, Why is that important to me? Your answer is Level 3. Continue until you reach Level 7. This level is your deepest motivation for your initial goal!

Let’s try it together……

Goal and Level 1: I will double my income in 2022.

Why is that important to me?

Level 2: I want to increase our giving amount and travel budget.

Why is that important to me?

Level 3: I want the kids to be more involved in giving plus I want to give them some fun experiences after the stress of the last couple of years.

Why is that important to me?

Level 4: It’s important to me that the kids fully experience the beauty of our world instead of simply reading about it in books.

Why is that important to me?

Level 5: I want them to stay curious and never lose their sense of wonder.

Why is that important to me?

Level 6: If they know how to seek out answers for themselves, they will not be as easily swayed by ignorance and/or manipulation.

Why is that important to me?

Level 7: In our current cultural climate, my children will need to be firm in their convictions and brave enough to stand for them.

Well, that got intense fast! And that’s the beauty of this exercise. I started with a goal that could be seen as egotistical but what I found is that my goal is driven by a legacy vision.

Now it’s your turn! What insights did you uncover?