Jane Terrell Gatlinburg- Sevierville Homes for Sale

it's the 75th anniversary of the Park this summer, and we did 2 fun things to celebrate. One was the annual night-trip to see the synchronous fireflies--this year we got smart and did it out of a campsite, so we were able to have a great grilled supper before hiking up to see the flies...actually I have to admit that one family member had a sore knee so I stayed in the campsite with him. Everybody left, it got perfectly quiet except for the rush of the stream below, and then all the firelies came--a private showing just for us! We saw as many as I have ever seen before---so fun!

Then this weekend we went to the performance of the Kxonville Symphony Orchestra in Cades Cove--we got there early and got a spot under a huge Maple tree--perfect shade for the day. The rain held off and we were able to listen to the music and soak up the Cove. Most of us were selecting spots where our ashes will be spread, we love it so much there. Torrential rain on the way home--so glad it waited!

There are so many reasons I think this is the perfect place to live--I just have to keep adding to the list!

• They let school out early and close the streets, print "We Love You Dolly" Posters in the newspaper to wave at Dolly when she leads the parade.

• The Home Depot lets you take carpet samples out on "The Honor System".
• You really CAN smell the honeysuckle while you are eating roasted corn and listening to country music at the Bloomin' BBQ festival.

• I saw 5 bears in Cades Cove this week!

I spoke with 3 local lenders in Sevier County, TN in the last couple of days who service loans in Gatlinburg, TN, Sevierville, TN and Pigeon Forge Tn. I asked them about mortgage lending and why money was "so tight" and "not available" for those even with good credit scores. All three of them looked at me like I was on another planet....

One said "it's a revolving door here--we're getting all kinds of re-financing and new loans...there's money to lend here!

Another corrected me, saying that her bank (WELLS FARGO) was continuing to offer 90% loans on vacation homes or second homes!

It is so important to go right to the source, and not rely on the infomercials that cable TV has become to find out what's really happening in a specific market. Lenders here are saying "bring it on" and wanting to use their experience and creativity to address all kinds of challenges. Never hurts to get the information!

Contact Wells Fargo, BB&T or SunTrust (at (865)429-6400 here in town to get more info!

Just a reminder that furnishings (even including appliances) are considered by lenders to be "personal property" and are therefore not an automatic part of a short sale negotiation. Typically the owner of a property can remove personal property during the short sale process, unless it is part of the written contract. An addendum to the contract specialfically addessing the personal property in the home is one way to deal with this.

It's so easy to get overwhelmed---switch your TV from channel to channel and one is worse than the next..Warren Buffet says we've fallen off a cliff, the wars continue, polar bears are challenged, real estate sales are in the dumps....it seems everywhere we turn there is just more and more. I was feeling this way, on this early spring morning in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, when I looked out my window and saw 100 robins in my front yard---OK I stopped counting at 86 but I know the rest of them were there! In an eternal symbol of spring's imminent arrival, they had stopped to give me the boost I needed! We'll make our way through these challenges, and be better, more grounded people for it! The robins will come and then the spring!