About Sevier County, TN

We had our first snow in October up in the higher elevations, and nothing yet down here in Sevierville, but there's somthing in the air I think... it's cloudy and gray and the leaves have lost the gorgous colors, turning a deep russet. We spent last weekend raking and blowing them in the front yard, whcih was no small task as the yard is full of 100 year old hardwoods....they make a lot of leaves! We got this first batch gathered up and then the best thing happened-- the grand niece and nephew arrived from Florida to jump in the piles! They never had experienced it before and it was the perfect fall adventure!

Maybe it's not really that wintry today-- after all it's 53 degrees...but looking at the Christmas lights that have already been strung around our festive towns, I think it might just be close!

Is the Smoky Mountain Market Changing? YES-- and here's how......

Here are some indicators of the Real Estate Market in Gatlinburg and Sevier County as a whole:

• The average SOLD price in Sevier County as a whole has risen 11.2% in the last 30 days. The per cent of asking price that buyers ended up paying was 92.6% of the asking price. This indicates that list prices are coming into line with market expectations.
• The average SOLD price in Gatlinburg has risen 4.2% in the last 30 days with the per cent of asking price paid being 91.6%
• The most sales have occurred in the $150,000 to $200,000 range with the average sale price in Gatlinburg being $207,218 and in Sevier County being $178,265.

What does this mean? It means that if you are shopping in the $150K to $200K range, you can expect some more competition than in other areas of the market. "Deals" that come on the market in this price range may generate multiple offers very quickly.

In addition, list prices are coming into line with the market at an increasing rate. This means that "low ball" offers may not be as successful as they have been in past months.

The flame upon the candlewick
On draughts aflutter pirouette
And waltz and reel to tempo quick
Then lay in wait for Winter’s breath.

R Weisser Oct. 2009

As another Autumn foliage season comes to a close, I begin to look back to all of the falls of my past with fond remembrance. It’s always been my favorite season.

Full of color, and football, and the smell of leaves and the tastes of apples and pumpkins! It’s the last hurrah of temperate weather before winter sets it, a time of warm days and cool, crisp evenings. A most pleasant time of year for both dreaming and reflection!

Each fall is different with it's own personality, and presents it's own special touches. As for me, I am going to observe, and taste and savor each offering of the season.

And enjoying every moment of it!

Flutter and flurry and winter's chill
Toss fire-hued petals aloft until
The caress of earth, then lay in place
For one last show of nature's grace!

R. Weisser 2009

The one question that comes up the most this time of year is this: "Will it be a good leaf season?"

There are many scientific factors that affect leaf color. The amount of sunlight, recent rainfall, temperature and elevation can all affect leaf color.

But if there is one thing that I have learned over all of the years that I have been taking fall foliage photos is this: There is always good leaf color somewhere!

And like any good treasure hunter, I seek to find the caches of color wherever they may be!

It's a ritual of autumn that I have repeated every year for more than I care to remember.

And it's what I look forward to every year!

There is always a lot of confusion about how to correctly spell the word "smoky." Or is it "Smokey?" You see it spelled both ways so often because it is actually the correct spelling of the word either way!

But if you are referring to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, there is only one official way to spell the word, and that is with no "E" included. Now you can call them the the Smokey Mountains, as do many of the locals, especially on the North Carolina side.

But the more prevalent Tennessee spelling is "Smoky" and was chosen as the official adjective of the park!

Perhaps it was a cost saving measure. The elimination of all of those "E's" over all those years must have saved a small fortune on signage and printing costs. I mean, that could be millions of "E's" saved over all of the years since the park was dedicated.

And when you think about it, it's not smoke at all. It's mist, or fog, or ozone and other greenhouse gases being emitted from the foliage. But the Cherokee named the range Shaconage which roughly translates to the place of blue smoke.

Or it could be equally translate as the place of blue mist, or blue greenhouse gases. Who knows, but it sure is a beautiful place!

Photos courtesy of Richard Weisser and SmokyPhotos.com, but if you type "smokeyphotos.com it will work just fine!