By David Israel, Business Manager
Today from 11:30 until several minutes after President Barack Obama was Inaugurated, not much work was getting done in our office. I was glued to my computer watching our great nation shift power from one political party to to another. No matter which side of the row you sit on, you have to take great pride in the fact that our country can change power with an oath and a handshake. No violent over throw, no bullets or bombs; just pomp and circumstance.
Living in Chattanooga and watching CNN from my computer was an amazing experience that really brought tears to my eyes. I can only imagine what the 2 million people standing in The National Mall in Washington were feeling. Everyone who attended witnessed an historic moment in our nations history (you wouldn't find me in that crowd for any type of money!) which is pretty young compared to the rest of the world.
I take great pride in my country and look forward to our new President making some good decisions for this great nation of ours. The job will be tough, I have no political aspirations myself, and I am sure mistakes will occur. But, this is a time for our country to come together as one to fix some of the problems that face our country and our world.
Personally, I hope that President Obama will provide incentives for home buyers, tweak the $7,500 first time home buyer tax credit and create options to help out those facing foreclosure. Real estate could easily lead the recovery and interest rates don't get much better than today's rates.
I look forward to seeing action speak louder than words in the days, weeks, months and years ahead!
By David Israel, Business Manager
How do you "HullaBowloo"? With an "unbelievaBowl" party benefiting the Chattanooga Area Food Bank.
"HullaBowloo" will be a night for "Bowlicious" food, "enjoyaBowl live music, "applaudaBowl" performances and a chance to be part of a most "admiraBowl" cause, filling the bowls of Chattanooga's hungry.
Saturday, January 17, the Chattanooga Area Food Bank will be transformed into a festive, urban scene, alive with street dancers, an outdoor cafe, roving musicians, a local "watering hole", a park, and even a community garden. As you roam through the streets of the city, learn more about the many programs supported by the Chattanooga Area Food Bank while being "bowled" over by all the wonderful food and entertainment offered at every turn. Imagine yourself singing karaoke, break-dancing in the street or even shooting some hoops. The evening will come to an end with dancing to the "Bowldacious" music of "Peace, Love and Happiness". So how do you "HullaBowloo"?
$45 per person, call 622-1800 to reserve your seats!
If you would like to hear about this spectacular event, call Andy Hodes at 423-664-1818 he will be attending and can tell you all about the event or give you some great real estate information on the Chattanooga real estate market. Your call to him will be "enjoyabowl"!
By David Israel, Business Manager
Let me start off this article by stating that I do not show houses, however, I have been asked the question on numerous occasions, "will my house sell faster if I take down my wallpaper and paint the walls?". My answer is always YES - and everyone on the team concurs! I have read a few articles on the subject of Paint vs. Wallpaper and there are distinct advantages to having wallpaper on your walls. There are also many disadvantages.
In the Chattanooga real estate market, most buyers these days are looking for simple neutral painted walls. Wallpaper is just a turnoff to most of the buyers in today's market. Remember, I always say that you only get a first impression once. Wallpaper usually is a bad first impression. I don't want to knock wallpaper, I grew up with it all over my house (ended up trying to take it down myself as a teen-ager, what a disaster!). There are so many colors, textures and designs that you can choose from. I feel that wallpaper is an expression of an individuals personality. There are some beautiful homes that I have visited in Chattanooga that are well decorated and the wallpaper is beautiful. If people didn't like wallpaper there wouldn't be thousands of companies selling the product.
So, what is my point. Selling real estate in Chattanooga can not have a personal expression of one's self. A house must be staged to sell. In my opinion that means tear the wallpaper down all over the house and paint the walls.
We had a client selling his home in the Chattanooga area, it was a unique home at that, and it was covered in wallpaper from the 1970's. In 2007, this wallpaper was just not appealing, but our client felt that buyers would overlook the wallpaper. His home was priced pretty well, mostly because Andy Hodes is an expert in getting homes priced to sell in our market, after a few discussions he asked us what he could do to get his home sold. The first thing out of our mouth's was 
to pay to have someone come in and take down the wallpaper and paint the entire house in neutral colors. He was not happy to spend anymore money on the house, and we explained that this will sell the home in Chattanooga. Well, he listened and it took a couple weeks to strip the wallpaper, prime the walls and paint the house. Two weeks later the house went under contract.
This experience was only the first of many The Scenic City Team has had in the Chattanooga real estate market. Every time we give this advise, we get results. This doesn't mean that you have to paint your walls the same color white or beige. There are so many color variations to choose from. The one thing you don't want future buyers to dwell on is how your walls look, you want them to look around and picture themselves living in your home.
So, the next time you are thinking about changing the way your walls look, don't just jump into the pool without taking the temperature of the water. It could be the difference in having your home "for sale" in Chattanooga for more time than you would like. Always feel free to contact us for advice and input.
Related Articles:
What These Three Penalties Can Teach You About Selling Your Home
Eleven Tips on Getting Your Home Ready For "Showtime"
If you are planning on Selling your Home in Chattanooga you need to Call Andy at 423-664-1818 or email Andy@AndyHodes.com to help you "Price your Home Correctly". This phone call could "save you hundreds of dollars" and many "days on the market".
Thanks largely to Tuesday's Federal Reserve statement, the historic drop in mortgage rates over the last few weeks continued a little further this week. Lower than expected inflation data from the November Consumer Price Index (CPI) report also was favorable for mortgage rates. According to Freddie Mac's weekly survey, average 30-year fixe
d conforming mortgage rates fell to the lowest level in 37 years. Mortgage rates turned slightly higher late in the week, however, raising the question of whether the downward trend will continue.
In a unanimous vote, the Fed cut the target Fed Funds rate from 1.00% to a range between 0.00% and 0.25%. The 75 basis point cut was larger than the consensus forecast for a 50 basis point cut. According to the statement, the Fed will employ "all available tools" to stimulate economic growth. Most notable for the mortgage industry, the Fed mentioned the option of expanding the purchase of large quantities of mortgage-backed securities. Mortgage rates generally move based on changing levels of demand for mortgage investments. Immediately following the release of the statement, mortgage rates dropped due to this expected increase in demand.
In the housing sector, November Housing Starts fell -19% to a record low. Building Permits, a leading indicator, showed a similar decline. The slowdown in the building of new homes will help reduce the inventory of unsold homes on the market.
By David Israel, Business Manager
Channel 3 holds 24th Annual Food Drive for Chattanooga Area Food Bank
Let's give a big slap on the back to the owners, management and employees of WRCB Channel 3 in Chattanooga for their incredible work on December 10, 2008. The Chattanooga community decided to give not only with their hearts, but with their groceries. The "Share your Christmas Food Drive" collected over 117,000 pounds in three locations, Chattanooga, Cleveland and Dalton, GA. The food collected in Cleveland and Dalton will stay in those areas to help the local groups that feed the ones in need. The food collected in Chattanooga will go directly to the Chattanooga Area Food Bank.
Channel 3 broad-casted live from each location all day from 5:00am to 6:00pm. It certainly does the heart well to know that during these rough times in our economy, people still are willing to give to those less fortunate then themselves.
If you are still looking to participate, you can still donate food at the following locations:
Any Area Bi-Lo
Any Area Chick-fil-A
Any Area Food Lion
Any Area Publix
Wal*Mart (Soddy Daisy location only)
Greenlife Grocery
If you are searching for information on Chattanooga Real Estate there is no better source than The Scenic City Team!
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Welcome! Here You Can Find Great Information on Chattanooga, North Chattanooga and East Brainerd, Tennessee Real Estate Looking for homes? Search everything the web has to offer, right here!
Chattanooga, Tennessee - The Scenic City - was a great place to be raised; I can say that because it's my home. I'm most proud that in 1905 my great-grandfather, Abraham, chose Chattanooga to be his family's new home after leaving their home in Russia. It was a great choice and the fifth generation of Abraham's descendants (my kids) are being raised right here in the Scenic City. I loved being raised in Chattanooga, so much that, after earning a degree in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, I left Chattanooga for 15 long years. After I got a few things figured out, I returned for good.
While I was away from Chattanooga I lived in South Florida for a few years working in non-profit administration and then I moved to New York City where I met my incredible wife, Melody, and began a career in Risk Management. My first risk management position involved administering a claims department that primarily defended medical malpractice claims for several of New York's largest hospitals. Concurrently I earned a M.B.A. from Baruch College - City University of New York. I had my sights set on corporate risk management and fortuitously a position with a chemical company that took me next to Wayne, New Jersey. A few years later I finally convinced my wife, who hails from New York City, that Chattanooga is where we need to be; so we packed up the truck and headed South.
Returning to Chattanooga is the best thing I've ever done. It's simply the right place for me to be, not to mention that the rest of my family loves being here too. While I was away, Chattanooga transformed itself from a polluted city without much to offer to the incredible Chattanooga we've come to know and love. The beautiful mountain and waterfront scenery is abundant wherever you go. In 15 years, Downtown had transformed from nothing more than boarded-up store fronts to a vibrant, user-friendly and beautiful city centered around the Tennessee Aquarium, the Hunter Museum of Art and the Creative Discovery Museum plus restaurants, hotels and plenty of things to do. It was a great homecoming!
Along with changing homes, changing careers was at the top of my list. I looked for an opportunity where I could help other people and have more control over my own destiny. Real Estate was the perfect match that brought together my attention to detail, my love for helping people and virtually no ceiling that might stop my ability to grow and be successful. I took the classes, passed the tests and got my license; I was on my way.
Currently I'm a licensed Real Estate Broker in both Tennessee and Georgia, a founding member of Keller Williams Realty - Chattanooga East, and have remained ranked in the top 2% of Chattanooga Realtors for the past few years. In 2006 I founded The Scenic City Team, putting together the best real estate talent in Chattanooga that provides expert and friendly service to our clients throughout every transaction. I'm proud of my team, their expertise, and the way they put our clients first - just like me!
I'm so lucky to have an incredible wife, Melody, along with two sons, Micah and Jonah, who are proud Chattanoogans just like their Dad. Spending time with them, plus my parents and friends, is on the top of my list of favorite things to do. When I'm not with the family or selling real estate, I'm volunteering in the community or proudly teaching students at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where I've been an Adjunct Professor of Finance for many years.
Check out our blog, The Scenic City Scoop, and let us know when you are ready to buy, sell or trade real estate here in Chattanooga, my favorite place to be.
Welcome!
Here You Can Find Great Information on Chattanooga,
North Chattanooga and East Brainerd, Tennessee Real Estate 
Looking for homes? Search everything the web has to offer, right here! Don't miss our Feature Homes.
Need local real estate information? We've summarized much of what is important about the Chattanooga, North Chattanooga and East Brainerd real estate market in this site.
Need expert advice? No web site, large or small, can take the place of a top real estate agent. Not even ours!
This site is filled with ways that you can contact us for one-on-one expert help and advice. That's our job.
Contact us with confidence! We guarantee your privacy will be respected. And we offer the services on this site for free and without obligation. Why? We want to be YOUR real estate agents. As your trusted, professional real estate partners, we will help you find the best home in your area within your price range. And together we will sell your home, for as much as the market will bear, and as quickly as possible.
Buying and selling a home is one of the biggest events in your life. As top Chattanooga, North Chattanooga and East Brainerd real estate agents, we have the experience and track record you are looking for. Please let us help.
- Andy Hodes & The Scenic City Team
Read What People Are Saying About Us
We always ask our clients to write or email us, and tell us truthfully how they appreciated our service to them. Their feedback is so important! Here are a few highlights of what people are saying about us...
Some months ago after no success in having my home sold, I contacted Andy Hodes to serve as my real estate agent. Within the first few weeks of having Andy and his co-worker, David Israel, I knew I had found the right real estate team based on the contacts through e-mail, fax, and telephone conversations.
In a "horrible" sellers market, Andy and David not only kept me updated on what was going or "not going" on, but made a number of suggestions they thought would enhance the home and increase the chances of a sale, no matter how bad the market might be.
My home was not a basic or standard home in a neighborhood that would or could appeal to most families looking to purchase. The home, a very unique one, would only appeal to a few selected categories of buyers. However, I followed all of the advice and suggestions made by Andy and I was rewarded by the sale of my unique house. In the tough real estate market, very few sellers get exactly what they want, and I was no exception; however, with the help of Andy and David, my home was sold and I am a very satisfied customer.
Andy is a very professional, personal, knowledgeable, and excellent agent. I would recommend his team, without reservation to any purchaser or seller. They're great!!!
N. Pearlman (November 2007)
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"From the beginning of our relocation, Andy helped us see Chattanooga as our new hometown. It all started with Andy listening. He really took the time to get to know us and to help us find the right home for our family. Andy's enthusiasm for Chattanooga is contagious. My family's search for a new home meant leaving the familiar for the unfamiliar. Working with Andy helped make our transition a smooth one. From house shopping to move-in day, Andy and his team were a pleasure to work with. Ultimately, Andy helped us find the perfect home for our growing family. I highly recommend Andy the Scenic City Team."
K. Richards (July 2007)
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When we interviewed potential agents we were most impressed with Andy's preparation, honesty and great knowledge of the real estate process. He lived up to all his promises by keeping in close contact with us during the process of selling our house. His business minded approach made us feel that we were in the hands of a true professional. In fact his professionalism was unmatched by any agent we interviewed or worked with in the past. Andy and his staff always returned our calls and answered all our questions in a timely and professional manner. Andy made sure during the entire the sales process that everything was done correctly even if other agents were willing to cut corners. We have and will continue to enthusiastically recommend Andy.
It really was a pleasure working with Andy and his team.
D. & C. Poss (January 2008)
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